Kiss the Bride (18 page)

Grant leaned a shoulder against the wall and watched as she closed the blinds, checked the lock on the back door, and turned off the lights. All of that done, she removed the band that had held her hair in a ponytail and let it tumble free.

Like an ebony waterfall.

He nearly chuckled at the thought. He wasn't a poetic sort of guy, but Skye seemed to bring it out in him. She made him feel things he'd never felt before.

“Okay.” She turned to face him. “I'm ready.”

He pushed off the wall. “All right.” Outside, he took the key from her hand and poked it into the lock, turning the deadbolt in the door. Then he escorted her to his Jeep and helped her into the passenger's side.

The drive to the Tamarack Grill didn't take much more than five minutes, and since it was still early, the waitress—Cynthia Rogers—offered them their choice of seating.

“Outside?” Grant asked Skye.

She nodded.

“Follow me,” Cynthia said with a smile.

The interior of the restaurant had a rugged, western motif. Varnished logs, complete with bark, had been used
as supports throughout. The floor was made of large planks of wood, possibly pulled from an old barn. Definitely not the usual hardwood flooring used in homes. Instead of paintings, rusty farm utensils, ropes with frayed ends, and antique spurs hung on the walls. Even a couple of pans used in gold mining. There was a bar on the far right side of the large room, but the entire restaurant—inside and out—was smoke free.

When Grant started working at the Tamarack upon his arrival in Kings Meadow, the menu had been heavy with deep fat fried foods. Little by little he'd managed to convince the owner to add some more innovative choices. Not that he didn't like a burger and fries himself every now and then.

The outdoor seating overlooked the gurgling creek that ran through town. Trees lined the banks of the stream, their leaves applauding in a light breeze. Plenty of shade made the area pleasant, even on a warm summer's day.

At their table, Grant held out a chair for Skye and then went to the opposite side to take his own seat. He could have sat on either side of her, but he wanted an easy view of his companion while they talked and ate.

“Would either of you care for something from the bar?”

Grant glanced at Skye, who shook her head. “No, thanks.”

“Anything besides water?”

He looked at Skye a second time.

“Iced tea,” she answered.

“I'll have the same.”

Cynthia scribbled on her pad, then grinned at him. “Back in a jiff.”

When they were alone again, Skye leaned forward and said in a near whisper, “She likes you.”

“Cynthia?” He shook his head. “No. Just friends.”

“Hmm.”

Now seemed a good time to change the subject. “So tell me about yourself, Skye. Have you always lived in Kings Meadow?”

“Yes. Except for a couple of years when I was at BSU. I didn't go back my junior year.” She shrugged. “There wasn't anything I wanted to do except teach dance and race barrels, so I decided to open my studio. I'll go back and get a degree eventually. Just not yet. What about you? What brought you here?”

“Long story. I wanted to leave Montana, and a friend of a friend of a friend told me the Tamarack Grill needed a new cook.”

Curiosity filled her eyes. “Why did you want to leave?”

Another long story, one he wished he didn't have to tell. But the truth was the truth. He was stuck with his past. “I was a bit of a hell-raiser in my teens and early twenties. More than a bit, really. Caused my folks all kinds of grief. But when I finally reached the end of my rope”—he paused and looked toward the creek for a moment before continuing—“When I reached the end of my rope, I found Jesus waiting for me there. I was different after I let Him take control, but I wanted to move to a place where not everybody knew what I'd been like before.”

Skye had been raised by parents who were Bible-believing Christians, and she'd become one herself at a young age. She was used to talking about God over a meal or at a Bible study. But it wasn't often she met a guy who introduced faith into a conversation this early in a relationship.

Relationship?
That might be rushing things. She wasn't sure this could even be called a first date. It had happened so last minute.

“I didn't plan to stay in Kings Meadow for long,” Grant continued. “But I liked it here. Right from the start, I liked it. Felt at home. Like it was a place where I could put down roots and change my old ways. I made some good friends, like Buck Malone and Chet Leonard. Men I respect. And now that I'm also working as the lead chef for Ultimate Adventures, I reckon I'll stick around.”

“I'm glad.”

He grinned. “Thanks.”

She hadn't meant to say that out loud, but she couldn't take it back. “Do you still have family in Montana?”

“Do I ever.”

“What does that mean?”

“Really want to know?”

She nodded, her curiosity piqued.

“Okay.” He held up his left hand in a fist. “My brother Vince is the oldest. I'm next.” Up went his index finger, then his middle finger. “We're followed by Martina, Chelsea, Ridley”—He held up his right hand too—“the twins, Tommy and Tina, then Joshua, Brittany, and finally Heather, the youngest. She's sixteen.” All fingers and thumbs were now extended.

“Ten of you? Wow.”

“Yeah.” He chuckled softly. “ ‘Wow' kind of describes it.”

“Anybody made you an uncle yet?”

“I'll say. Fourteen nieces and nephews. The oldest of them is ten. And there are two more on the way.”

Skye swallowed a second wow, but she couldn't swallow the envy she felt. “Your family get-togethers must be something.”

“You have no idea.”

He was right about that. She had no idea what it would be like. Neither of her parents had siblings, and her brother and sister, although both married, seemed in no hurry to give their mother the grandchildren she longed for. There were no large family reunions, and there never had been any because there wasn't a large extended family. Just a small group of five. No, she had no idea what it would be like to have nine siblings and fourteen nieces and nephews. But she would like to know.

Maybe she could find out with Grant.

A yummy, warm feeling spread all through her, and she was afraid she would blush and give away her thoughts.

But Cynthia returned with their iced teas and stayed to take their dinner orders. It gave Skye enough time to pull herself together. After that, their conversation turned to horses, followed throughout the meal by a variety of other topics.

For Skye, getting to know someone had never felt this special.

On Wednesday afternoon, Skye hitched the horse trailer to her
truck and drove out to the Leonard Ranch. Once there, she presented Chet with a cashier's check that represented every last cent she'd had in savings—and more than a few pennies from her checking account as well. Then she put a halter on River and led the gelding out of the paddock and into the barnyard.

Before she had a chance to open the back of the trailer, the sound of an approaching vehicle drew her attention around. Her heart skipped a beat or two at the sight of the familiar Jeep. Only then did she realize she'd hoped she would see Grant while she was at the ranch.

She waved at him and smiled. Through the dusty windshield she saw him grin in return.

He stopped the Jeep a good distance away and hopped out. “This is the day, huh?” He set a hat on his head.

“Yeah. This is it.”

“He's a beauty.” Grant strode toward her, but he looked at Chet. “We're done up there until suppertime, boss. I'll head back up at four.”

“Sounds good,” Chet answered.

Grant's gaze swung back to Skye. “Want some help loading him?”

Skye didn't need help getting this horse or any horse into a trailer. Not even ornery ones. But she said, “Sure. Thanks.”

Grant lowered the gate of the trailer to the ground, then stepped out of the way as Skye led River toward the ramp. The horse eyed the trailer with suspicion. She prepared for a refusal. But at the last moment River walked up the ramp as if he'd been getting in and out of trailers every day of his life.

“I should've known that's how you'd be,” she said softly, patting the horse's neck.

Grant leaned his shoulder against the back of the trailer and looked inside. “A lot of help I was.”

“It was nice of you to offer anyway.” She secured River's lead rope, gave the gelding another pat, and then headed out of the trailer.

Grant lifted the gate and latched it closed.

Ask me out again,
Skye thought as she stared at his back.
Ask me, please.

He turned around and smiled that easy smile of his. “How'd the lesson go?”

“The lesson?”

“Last night. With the rest of the wedding party. Any left feet in that group as bad as mine?”

“Not quite
that
bad,” she said, somehow keeping her expression bland.

“Ouch!”

“I know. Ouch!”

Face toward the heavens, he laughed. It was a great laugh. Full of honest delight. Skye felt pleasure clear down to her toes.

Grant bumped the brim of his hat with his knuckles, pushing it higher on his forehead. “Why don't I ride along with you? Just in case River gives you more trouble getting out than he did going in.”

His help wouldn't be needed, and they both knew it. But it pleased Skye that he'd given her an almost plausible excuse for him to join her. Besides, his spontaneity was one of the things she liked about him. Just one of an increasing number of things she liked about him.

“Sure,” she answered. “I wouldn't mind a little backup. Just in case.”

“Want me to follow in my Jeep so you don't have to bring me back?”

She shook her head. “No. It isn't that far. I'll bring you back.”

“Great.”

While Grant went to the right, Skye rounded the left corner of the trailer, headed for the cab of her pickup. She stopped when she saw Chet standing not far off, a knowing smile curving his mouth. She'd completely forgotten he was there.

“Looks like you're all set,” he said. “I'll get those papers to you by next week.”

“Thanks. I'm not worried about them. Whenever it's good for you.”

Was she blushing? Her face felt warm. Oh, how she hoped she wasn't blushing.

“Well.” Chet's smile grew a little. “Good luck to you and Grant when you unload the horse.”

She gave him a quick nod before opening the door to the cab and climbing in. Grant was already on the passenger's side, but she didn't look in his direction. Her plan was to wait until her embarrassment cooled.

She kept her speed under fifteen miles an hour on the long dirt driveway. No point jostling River around any more than necessary. No point filling the cab with dust either, since both of their windows were open.

When they reached the highway, she stopped and looked both ways. This was a quiet stretch of road, but she never took chances when it came to her horses.

“Clear this way,” Grant said as he stared north.

“Thanks.”

The road was clear to the south as well. She stepped on the gas and pulled onto the highway.

After a few minutes of silence, Grant said, “Buck told me you put on quite a shindig for Charity last weekend.”

“I didn't do all that much.”

“Not what I heard.”

They were simple words that felt like a huge compliment, and her heart fluttered with pleasure. She decided to change the subject. “Is the town where you grew up as small as Kings Meadow?”

“Definitely. A wide spot in the road is more like it. Care
to hear how I walked to school through the snow, ten miles and uphill both ways?”

She laughed. “No.”

“Shucks. I thought that story might impress you. It worked for my dad and granddad.”