“You’re not.” He set the cookie on the edge of the platter and took it from her, moving it to the counter.
“You don’t know that.”
“I do.” He ducked his head, looking into her eyes when she tried to tear her gaze away. “The fact that you’re worried about whether you’ve hurt people says that you’re a good person. We all have things we regret in our lives. That doesn’t make us bad, it makes us human.”
“Everything okay in here?” Aunt Sarah appeared behind Chase. She took stock of them with a casualness that should be frightening. “Looks like you’re fine.” An apologetic look creased her face into deep lines. “I need to head back soon, but I had a question to ask the two of you.”
“Shoot.” Chase stepped backward and retrieved a cookie. He ate the whole thing in two bites, then snatched up another.
“I thought it might be a good idea for Michelle to spend some time at the ranch. It might help jog her memory.” Aunt Sarah shrugged when Michelle gaped at her. “You never know what might help, and you seem comfortable here. The doctors said that being comfortable and in a place you felt safe might help.”
True. They’d said all those things. She just hadn’t expected the ranch to be the place where she felt safe.
“I wouldn’t mind the company.” Chase handed her a cookie. “You can even help me with the chores.”
“I see how it is.” She broke the cookie in half, concentrating on the delicate texture that crumbled like fine sand. “You just want the free labor.”
“Got me.” He made an ‘aw shucks’ movement by snapping his fingers and waving his arm in front of him. “What do you say?”
“It’s not like I have anything better to do.” She twisted her lips to the side in a wry grin. “I guess I could help you.”Not sure how much help I’ll be.Probably more of a hindrance, but she tucked the pessimistic thought away.
Chase’s smile chased away her doubts. He was a good man. It was a bit ridiculous to think so when she’d spent less than half a day with him, but sometimes you knew a person in an instant.
The inexplicable pull toward the ranch helped sway her decision. She craved the peace she’d found in those few minutes in the barn and again in the kitchen when Chase’s reassurance wrapped around her and soothed the frazzled edges.
The refrigerator kicked on, the quiet hum breaking the beat of silence.
“Great. Be here tomorrow morning.” He ate another cookie and held out the platter to Aunt Sarah and Maude, who’d walked up beside Aunt Sarah. “Is dawn too early?”
Shock rippled along her spine. “Dawn? Seriously?”
“Chase.” Maude said in a motherly, scolding tone.
He laughed that big, bold laugh and returned the platter to the counter. “Fine. Eight a.m.”
She sensed a challenge and met his searching gaze with an arched brow. “What do you consider dawn? That’s not exactly a time.”
“It’s the moment when the sun kisses the horizon. Same with dusk. That perfect moment when two worlds collide.” Hestacked his hands on top of each other. Thick knuckles riddled with scars drew her attention and her curiosity spiked. This was a man who worked hard every day but had the words of a poet to paint a brilliant image in her mind. What other surprises was he hiding?
Chapter Four
There didn’t seem to be enough coffee in Blue River to convince her body that dawn was an acceptable hour to be awake and on the move. She yawned hard enough for tears to leak from her eyes. Groaning, she shook her head and parked beside the old Chevy. Dawn had indeed caressed the horizon, sending pink streaks across the sky. A few stars remained as though desperate for one more moment before they were snuffed out by the light of day.
She took another gulp of piping hot coffee and stumbled out of the truck with the tumbler firmly in hand. Yvonne had been great this morning, plying Michelle with fresh muffins and making sure she had a full tumbler of coffee for the road.
Chase peered out from the barn’s double doors. He wore jeans, a white, short-sleeved button up, boots, and a cowboy hat that clouded his expression. She caught the flash of a grin before he ducked his head and jogged over. “You made it.”
“I said I would.” She might not remember if that was a quality she possessed, but she was determined to make it one. Her fingers cramped around the silver tumbler, and she raised it in a mock salute. “Your free labor, here to serve.”
“Not going to let that go, are you?”
She took another slug of coffee. “Nope. I’m here. Can’t say I’m ready because I know exactly zero about ranch work, but I’m willing.”
“Good enough for me. I’ve trained more than one ranch hand.” He held out a pair of thick work gloves. “You need these.”
“Why?” She took them and flipped them around, flapping the fingers together.
He held out his hands. “Because your hands don’t look like this, and unless you want oozing blisters by noon, you should wear gloves.”
