Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 82671 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 413(@200wpm)___ 331(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82671 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 413(@200wpm)___ 331(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
I tried to ignore the other reason I wanted to get back on the ranch.
Sammy was there. In the few weeks she’d been with us—with me—she’d become part of the ranch. Part of me.
She had texted a few times since that night with her teasing. Little things. Checking in. Asking about my day. Sharing a picture of Oreo snuggled in her neck while she snuggled in my bed. A picture she took of the fields at sunset. Small glimpses that tied me back to that place.
Home.
As I pulled into the driveway, my pulse picked up. It was late afternoon, the sun high in the sky as I steered the truck up the long, winding road. As the ranch came into view, I felt something ease inside me. That sense of rightness being back here. Everything was in its place, the sunlight reflecting off the metal roof of the deep red barn. I frowned. It looked brighter. I stomped on the brakes, my gaze bouncing everywhere. All the buildings were brighter. All coated in fresh paint.
But not just any paint. None of them were the same color as when I left. The dull, faded hue of the barn was now a deep, rich red. The stable a rusty copper. The dairy barn was yellow. Even the cookhouse and chicken coop had changed. Brilliant blue and forest green met my eyes. It was a kaleidoscope of color that had one name stamped on all of it.
Sammy.
I stepped on the gas and pulled up by the barn, throwing open my door and sliding from the truck. Jeff and Callie came from the cookhouse, both smiling.
“Hey,” Callie greeted me.
“What the hell?” I indicated the buildings.
Jeff smirked. “Sammy’s idea. I kinda like it. Brightens the place up.”
“No one consulted me.”
“Rachel gave her permission.”
I glowered.
“Where is she?”
“Rachel or Sammy?”
“Sammy.”
“Last time I checked, in the stable with the kittens.”
Callie held up her hand. “Listen to what she tells you, Luke. It makes great sense. And I agree with Jeff. I like it.”
I rolled my eyes. She had them all under her spell.
I stomped to the barn, stopping in the doorway. Sammy was in the corner, surrounded by kittens, Oreo perched on her shoulder. She was taking pictures and cooing at them. For a moment, I drank in the sight of her, then remembered I was pissed and cleared my throat.
She looked up, a wide, bright smile on her face. Pure, one hundred percent Sammy sunshine.
She rushed toward me, excited and happy. Then she stopped about two feet away, and her smile fell.
“Oh,” she said. “You hate it.”
I hated watching her smile fade away. It made me feel terrible, and I chose my words carefully.
“I agreed we could paint the outbuildings. I never agreed to those colors.”
“Rachel did.”
“And the reason?”
She tossed her hair, setting Oreo down, making sure he wandered back to his mother. She fisted her hands on her hips, and her eyes flashed. “People coming here won’t understand some of the terms. That the barn is different from the stable. Which building the cookhouse is. Now, the hands can say the blue building. The red one. It’s easier.”
That actually made sense.
“I should have been consulted.”
She pushed the hair off her face. “You would have said no.”
She was right on that. The movement of her hand reminded me of her mishap.
“How is the hand?”
“It’s fine. Doesn’t hurt.”
“Good.” I drew in a deep breath. “How did you do it in four days?”
“I rented paint sprayers and hired a company. We did two buildings a day. It’s part of the renovation budget.”
“And if I hate it?”
“You are going to live with it for a few days. If you still hate it, we’ll repaint.” Then she stepped forward and laid her hand on my arm. “But don’t hate it, Luke. It looks great, and the cows love it.”
“What?”
“I painted the dairy barn yellow because it’s a cheerful color. We did the inside too, and I think it makes the cows happier. That’ll make better milk, right?”
I blinked down at her. “You think the color makes the cows happier?”
“Yes. And the chickens seem very partial to the green. I think we got a few more eggs than normal today. I’m pretty sure Dusty was impressed by the fresh copper on the stable. She whinnied extra loud at me earlier, like a thank-you. Look—” she indicated the horses “—they all look cheerier!”
I wasn’t sure what to do next. She was absolutely serious that the paint colors made the animals happier. Suddenly, my ire was gone, and in its place was something entirely different.
This woman was crazy, and I adored her for it. I began to laugh, throwing my head back and letting out the amusement. She regarded me, looking worried.
“Did I just push you over the edge, Cowboy?”
I reached out, dragging her into my arms. I kissed her with everything in me. Passionate and hungry. Hard, soul-wrenching kisses that felt like a balm to my soul.