“But you guys did the heavy lifting,” he said.
Trish turned her watery smile toward him. “I don’t know…you did some pretty heavy lifting when you carried me out of the barn and then into the hospital.”
Brett’s face flushed as if he was embarrassed. He shrugged. “You were in so much pain…” And then the color receded from his face as if just the memory had made him feel sick.
Frankie felt sick herself. There had been more than enough pain and loss at the Four Corners. They needed happiness and love now. And something about the way that Trish and Brett were looking at each other made her wonder…
Could these two find love and happiness together?
Wow. She must have been spending too much time around Sadie and Lem. She was starting to think like them. But there was no couple more unlikely than Brett and Trish except maybe for Frankie herself and that sleazy lawyer. Now that would be an unlikely match.
Brett and Trish didn’t seem to have much more in common, though. Brett was a cowboy through and through, focused on the ranch, and Trish wanted a family. Something Brett claimed he never wanted.
No. Frankie doubted that even Lem and Sadie would be able to make this match happen.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Brett’s brothers, sister-in-lawand Frankie had done more than just unpack Trish’s trailer. Using non-toxic latex paint, they’d brightened the dark walls in the sitting area of the suite with a soft shade of yellow, making the space lighter and happier-looking for Trish and the twins.
Over the next couple of weeks, he and the others worked on getting a small barn built and created a pasture area for the petting zoo. The work required for the bunkhouse was more extensive, so they’d had to call in professionals for the electrical and plumbing. But that didn’t stop Brett and the others from working in the bunkhouse. They made sure the railing to the second story was secure, and they worked on cleaning up the space. Since Trish had landed that contract with the whole foods chain, they had plenty of money for the camps and the ranch.
They did the heavy lifting for Trish—or they tried to—but there were many times that Brett had caught her trying to move something on her own.
So one morning he stopped her on the way to the bunkhouse, took her hand in his and led her to his truck. Her hand felt so small and soft in his, but he detected some calluses, too. Despite them trying to get her to take it easy, she was doing more work than she should.
“What’s going on?” she asked.
“We’re going for a drive,” he said. Riding in the truck would keep her off her feet.
“Why?” she asked, her forehead furrowing with confusion.
“We have an appointment,” he said.
“With whom?” She tensed. “Not your grandparents. I know they’ve called wanting to meet me…”
And he’d kept putting them off. He wasn’t sure if that had been for her sake or for his, though. They were such notorious matchmakers. “No, I’m not taking you to Ranch Haven,” he assured her.
“Then where? I already went to my doctor this week.”
She was going once a week now. Usually Frankie or Maci drove her. Brett was just glad that she was going and that everything seemed fine.
Well, everything but him. He wasn’t sleeping well. No matter how much he tried to pretend that kiss had never happened, he couldn’t stop thinking about it or about her. And those babies…
“I’m taking you to the vet,” he said.
She laughed. “You think the vet can treat me better than a doctor can? What kind of animal does that make me? Or maybe I shouldn’t ask.”
“I’m taking you there for the animals,” he said as he drove toward the Willow Creek Veterinarian Practice. “They have a rescue there, too.”
“Oh…” Her long lashes fluttered.
“The barn and pasture are ready,” he said. “We can pick out some critters for your petting zoo.”
She reached across the console and grasped his arm. “Thank you…for everything you’re doing.”
“It’s not just me,” he said. “Everybody’s been working hard to get things done for you.”
“But I know this isn’t what you wanted,” she said.
