Page 17 of The Rancher's Fake Fiancée

“That brings me to something I meant to ask you about. You mentioned before about brothers who liked to fish. Any other siblings?”

“Yes. But where are these falls you were going to show me? And I take the dessert in the pool he mentioned is the cold watermelon?” She turned towards the front door. He was left to catch up.

“Yes, to watermelon and you really don’t share much information when it comes to you, do you.”

“Job requirement. On the job there is no time for errors and that includes anything personal.”

“Just one question between us and no one else?”

“What question might that be? And I did not mean I would provide an answer.”

He had stopped beside the river, and she did the same.

“Do you have a husband or special someone tucked away in that other life of yours? The real one?”

Gaze met gaze. Silence.

“No.” Then she turned on her heel and he could follow or not.

*

She was aclosed book. Cole found it both infuriating and commendable at the same time. He couldn’t understand why it seemed so important to want more information about the woman. He tried to tell himself it was simply because she was around his daughter and his loved ones, and he wanted to know more about the person living amongst them. But there was something else to it and it was like a squeaky door in his brain that wouldn’t stay open but kept shutting before he could make it through to the other side. At least that was the best analogy he could come up with.

Earlier that morning, he had found her in the kitchen with Emmie and Marcella. They had been laughing about something in a recipe. He had moved around the corner slowly and found both Emmie and Jessie up to their elbows in a bowl of freshly made bread dough with traces of flour on their aprons and Emmie had a swipe on her cheek and Jessie had one on her nose. He had remarked by way of announcing his presence that whatever they were making was going to taste great as he heard that the mark of a great chef was how much of the ingredients they actually ended up wearing. That brought more laughter, and he had even smiled. It felt like a good way to begin a day. A smile had stayed with him in fact for most of the morning.

“Is this the waterfall?” The question brought him back to the moment.

“It’s one of several. These falls are a steady progression down the river from the springs located on the Lockwood Ranch. They widen into a river that has limestone that falls down the length to form natural pools and then onward to a sizable lake just beyond the next bend.”

“I thought I heard that the springs on the Lockwood Ranch were warm. This water feels much colder.” She had dipped her fingers into the water to test it, careful to plant her feet solidly on the rock-strewn edge as she bent down.

“They’re heated at the source and then along the way they encounter more springs that are the frigid ones. Then in this stretch of water, you have changes that you feel here, hence the name for a similar river not far from here, called the Frio. Frio means cold or frigid.”

“I’ve said it before, but I can’t help repeating it. This is a beautiful country. You and your family are lucky to live here and have it to enjoy each day. See the seasons when they change.

Watch the animals give birth and grow. Have the fruit of all your labors borne out before you.

Plus, it is a great place for a family to have roots that last more than one generation.”

He sensed more than heard the envy hiding beneath the words. Cole had a feeling it was more than a cursory reaction. Jessie was a mystery with many layers, and he wondered if anyone had ever taken the time to fathom them all.

“So, are you a lifer in this job of yours? Maybe planning to go upwards to a desk and an office and leave the field work behind?”

“I don’t make long-range plans. One assignment at a time.”

They were moving over some uneven ground along the bank and Cole reached out to place a steady hand on her elbow. To his surprise, she didn’t jerk away…not right away.

“You’re good with Emmie. Thinking about settling down with a home and family of your own one day? Or are you a career-minded agent seeing the world?”

“Why such an interest in my plans?” She stopped and faced him.

“Just making small talk. I can see you’re dedicated to your job. But I also get the feeling that there is more you want besides being moved from place to place and always being someone you aren’t. Maybe I’m interested to know just who the real you is. Some parts of you I think come through now and then, but you guard the others well.”

“I’ve been working on this case in one way or another for the last three years. This is as close as we have come to what we are after. The day we can close this whole operation is the day I will think about walking away and finding some sort of regular life for me. Until then, I will do my job the best I can. And it’s not that I guard myself, it’s that I’m careful who I let get too close to. Maybe I don’t want them to get hurt.”

“You do try to guard your heart, but I think it’s too big for that. I remember how you were the first time we crossed paths, and you cared that a little girl got her yellow folder. You have a heart when helping the horses that day at the stables. You cared to listen to my daughter when she was wondering if any boy would like her. And here you are with a heart to admire the natural beauty and peace around you and speak of family that can last generations. I am very sure you have a heart…a good one. One that has more room in it than you might even know.”

“You always think you’re right, don’t you? Did anything ever surprise you and show you that maybe you don’t?” She was not used to having someone dissect her and any feelings she might have in such a manner. It caught her off guard.

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