This time, she fully cuts me off. “Are you okay? Are you caught in this nasty weather?”
“Yeah. I’m on a run, picking up a couple of mares with Miranda Wells… not sure if you know her. We thought we could stay ahead of it.”
“Are you close? Can you get here?”
Looking around for a sign or mile marker, I try to figure out exactly where we are. “I’d have to put it into the GPS, but I don’t think we’re more than half an hour away.”
“I’ll get two rooms ready. And we have a few empty stalls if you want to board the horses for the night,” Martha’s voice crackles over the speaker.
Breathing the biggest sigh of relief, I fight the sting at the bridge of my nose. “Thank you. We’ll see you soon.”
When I end the call, I can feel Miranda’s eyes on me. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t enjoy her hints of jealousy. She doesn’t say anything, so I’m quiet as I do my best to navigate the nearly washed-out roads. After what feels like an eternity, I see the sign for Silver Fox Ranch and pull onto the long, gravel driveway.
Miranda’s eyes are wide as she takes in her surroundings. Silver Fox Ranch isn’t much different than Boulder Ranch, but it is slightly larger. Not only do they host the rodeo, but they also moonlight as what’s basically a bed and breakfast as well as a horse motel. I’m just glad they had room for Miranda and me, along with the mares.
“What is this place?” Miranda breathes.
“It’s a ranch similar to Boulder. Both Tate and I used to compete here back in the day. Tate still does. They are like family to him. It’s pretty much a bed and breakfast, but she’ll never accept payment from people she knows.”
If she’s impressed now, I can’t wait for her to see it in the daylight. It isn’t huge, but I just know Miranda will appreciate the setup. I always liked competing here. It’s nice to be able to travel to a place that feels like a second home.
Once I get the truck parked, I jog into the stables to see if I can easily find the empty stalls Martha mentioned. Conveniently, it’s the first two that are empty. I’m not sure if she came out here to move whoever was in them, or if these were already empty…but either way I’m grateful. I jog back out to the trailer. Miranda joins me even though I purposely didn’t ask her to. Considering how nasty it is, I’d prefer she stay where it’s warm.
We’re both a wet and dirty mess by the time we get back into the truck to park by the main house. I’m cold, so I’m sure Miranda must be freezing. I’m just glad we made it here. And I’m even more grateful that Roger insisted I make this trip. Not that Miranda couldn’t have handled it, but I wouldn’t have wanted her to be stuck out here all alone, having to figure out a safe place for herself and two horses. It was stressful for me, and I had been anticipating the scenario.
“Hayden, honey, you two get in here,” Martha says, opening the door before we’ve even reached it.
I don’t argue. I usher Miranda inside and close the door as soon as I step behind her into the foyer. It’s cold. Far too coldfor us to be soaked to the bone like this. When I see Miranda shivering, I don’t hesitate to pull her into my arms.
“Hi, Martha. This is Roger Wells’s daughter, Miranda. Not sure if you remember him, but he was here with Tate and me a few times back in the day. He was a team roper.”
Martha pulls Miranda into a hug, apparently not concerned about getting dirty or wet. Miranda stiffens for a moment before hugging her in return, and I just step back and smile. I’ve always liked Martha. She’s one of the kindest people I know. And no one works harder than John.
“Of course I remember. Wow, it’s been years. I hope he’s well. I have the last two rooms on the left ready for you.” Martha starts walking toward the stairs. “I know you two are cold, so I won’t hold you up. Once you get dried off, come back down and get something to eat. And don’t even think about arguing with me. I insist.”
Laughing, I raise my hands in surrender. Miranda looks slightly terrified, and that only makes the whole thing funnier. Martha hasn’t changed a bit. This place has always been this way. There’s always someone passing through who needs a place to stay. Especially during rodeo season.
“Thanks, Martha,” I say over my shoulder as I lead Miranda upstairs.
By the time we get down the hall, I’m freezing and can’t wait to get out of these wet clothes. Relief continues to flowthrough me now that we’ve made it somewhere safe to wait out the storm. I stop between the two rooms and offer Miranda her choice.
“I don’t care. As long as I can get warm,” she says, rubbing her arms.
“Take the one on the end. Just come in when you’re ready to go down for dinner.”
Miranda nods, and I wait for her to get into her room before I enter mine. Somehow, I get the feeling it will be even harder to sleep in the room beside her than it was to share a bed. There’s no stopping my mind from drifting to what she likely looks like as she strips out of her wet clothes and takes a shower. The way she would look with the shower spraying over her perfect body.
Giving my head a shake, I strip off my own clothes so I can warm up with a hot shower of my own. Fantasizing about the woman sure as hell won’t make it any easier to ignore the pull I feel anytime I’m near her. As tempting as it is to take things into my own hands while I shower, I ignore my semi-hard dick and force my thoughts to something else. To anything else.
Chapter 11
Hayden
I’m somewhere in that weird space between sleep and consciousness when my eyes snap open. I can’t be sure if I heard a noise or if the feeling of being watched is what did it, but as soon as my eyes begin to focus, I see a familiar figure standing in my doorway.
“Miranda?” I call out. “Are you okay?”
She steps forward, stopping at the side of the bed. “I couldn’t sleep. I didn’t wake you, did I?”
