“You playin’ the ‘women can’t travel alone because it’s not safe’ card, Tobes?”
“Nope. I ain’t that stupid,” I say with a cheeky grin. “Just curious, I guess.”
“Everyone’s used to it by now. Mom always said I was runnin’ before I could walk and was always movin’, you know? So it makes sense that I’ve always been an explorer.” I kind of feel myself fall into a daze as I listen to Dee’s accent.She could read me the grocery list and I’d be happy.
“All of us used to travel a lot. Rhett competed professionally for years so we’d be on the road with him most of the time. Once we bought the ranch and saw how much work she needed, it was like we knew it was time to have a home base again. When Rhett hung up his hat—so to speak—we dedicated all our time to gettin’ the place back up to its former glory and startin’ the breedin' program."
"I've read up about the ranch, obviously," she says. “I love that you’re given’ the animals a second chance in retirement. It’s a sweet idea. A smart one too. You know they’re champions andit’s not all down to the cowboys ridin’ them, so you’re using their proven DNA to breed the next generation.”
My girl isn’t just a pretty face.“You got it in one.”
"After readin’ that, I knew I'd fit right in with y’all at Bull. You're all about givin' back and protecting the land and its animals too. It’s how my family is too.”
"You'd hope so" I rumble, my voice low and thick. "Can't have a hand workin’ for us who doesn’t believe in what we’re doin’ and why we’re doin’ it.”
"Exactly!"
He arches a brow. "You research everythin’? Like knowin’ things?"
She nods, a wide smile curving her lips. "Always. I like knowin’ where I’m goin’ and what I'm doin’, what the people are like, the town, the landscape, the sights and sounds. All of it. I wanted to know what you were all about. For all I know you could've been a bunch of crazy mountain people who believe the spirits are givin; them stuff. "
My hand jerks on the steering wheel and the truck swerves slightly before I right it again. "Dammit,” I say with a choking cough as I try to clear my suddenly dry throat. “You OK?” I quickly grab my water bottle and down as much liquid as I can.
“You OK?” Dee's voice is full of concern. “Did I say somethin’ wrong?”
I shake my head mindlessly but my brain is racing. I can’t tell her about the Call because she’ll think its ‘crazy talk.’ A surefire way to scare her off would be to tell her why Ithinkshe’s here andthat she’s meant to fall in love with me and me with her. That she’s my one and only soulmate.
It means I’m gonna have to rethink my plans and–at the very least–slow themrightdown.
I’ll give her some time to settle in on the ranch, set up her bunkhouse accommodations, and get used to life with the Grahams–and Red and Wyatt too, I guess.Then,I can tell her about the Call, the mountain spirit, and the fact that she's my destiny.
What’s a few days when we’ll have a lifetime together… right?
While I’m thinking all of this through and changing my plans in my head, Dee reaches over and places her hand on my forearm, making me jump in my seat as static electricity snaps against my skin. “You sure you’re OK, Toby? Do you need me to drive or somethin’?”
“Tobes,” I croak, clearing my throat.
She pulls back and tilts her head. “Huh?”
“My name,” I reply, my voice stronger this time. “Everyone calls me Tobes. You can too.”
That earns me a slow-growing but no less beautiful smile. “OK,Tobes.”
A comfortable silence falls between us and before too long, I find myself missing the sound of her voice.How sappy is that? “So tell me about these road trips you’d go on back in Australia?"
"You sure?"
I sweep my arm out in front of me. "We've got hours of drivin' in front of us, and I figure this trip will give us a chance to learn more about one another before we start workin' together."
She arches her brow. "I grew up around ranchers and cowboys and I know better than anyone that y’all don’t like talkin’ and yammerin’ unless you have to or there’s somethin’ in it for you.”
I chuckle at her refreshingly honest take. "Nah, I like talkin' just fine. Kinda like the sound of your accent, anyway."
Dee's smile widens as she settles back into her seat. "OK then, don't say I didn't warn ya. Once I get started, I tend to keep on goin'."
"Duly noted, but don't worry. I can always turn up Tom Petty if you get borin'. Somethin' tells me that ain't gonna happen. So these drives with the family…?"
She eyes me curiously, as if she’s not quite sure how to take me. "They were always spontaneous, you know? We'd pack up the old station wagon with snacks, blankets, and a few changes of clothes. The destination would be a surprise until we hit the road. Dad would always take the scenic routes, stoppin’ at every little town along the way."
