Page 99 of A Rancher's Bride
“Gossip,” Kelli informed him. “Imighthave been eavesdropping.”
He snorted. “Really? I’m shocked.”
She stuck out her tongue briefly before continuing. “When I ran away, I hopped on a bus to Calgary. I planned to stay in a hostel for a bit while I checked the want ads for work somewhere in Alberta. I had that I.D. that said I was eighteen, so it didn’t seem like it was going to be that difficult. I knew how to ride and how do chores—been doing them for years on the ranch where we lived.”
“You definitely knew what you were doing, right from the first time I saw you,” Luke agreed.
“I like animals,” she said with a shrug. “I was cheap labour, but I was good.”
“You aregreat,” Luke insisted before interrupting her story with more kissing.
Her head was spinning slightly by the time he let her up for air, and his grin said he knew exactly what he did to her. “Silver Stone? After the bus station?” he prompted.
She nodded, falling into the memories. “There were a bunch of cowboys milling around the bus stop when I arrived on the red eye. Some of them were worse for wear after a night out at the bar. They were discussing if they should head down to Silver Stone without the guys who were still sleeping it off.”
Luke’s eyes went wide. “Uncle Frank’s crew that didn’t show up.”
“The same. They weren’t looking forward to explaining to anyone why they were short-handed. One of them mentioned they’d be branding, which I knew how to do, so I took a chance and got a ticket for the bus they were waiting for. Slipping into one of the trucks Silver Stone had sent was easy—there were other short-term workers from other ranches waiting at the Heart Falls bus stop, so I just acted like I belonged. The rest is history.”
“Cocky teenager,” Luke said with affection.
“Yup,” she agreed. “Aren’t you glad?”
“Very glad,” he returned.
It was good to finally get to share the story with him.
There were other conversations. Food likes and dislikes, movies and music. Kelli learned more about what made Luke tick on a deeper, more intimate level…
After all the years they’d spent around each other, it was incredible how much they had to talk about that was new and fresh, coming from their changed perspective of being in love.
A different level of discussion on topics they had never really touched on until falling in love changed everything.
Kelli stared up at him from her position lazing on her back. Luke teased a hand over her ribs, and pleasure rose as he caressed her skin, firelight reflecting over them.
“What about kids?” he asked.
“Eventually. I like them, obviously, considering how much I adore Sasha and Emma. But I don’t think Tamara and Caleb are planning on having more, so it’s not as if we need to rush.”
“I’m good with that,” he agreed, “Although, let’s not wait too long.”
Kelli snickered. “Yeah, I guess we shouldn’t waittoolong, or you’ll be too old to—”
He covered her mouth with his and stopped her teasing in the best possible way.
The only item weighing her down was the same issue they’d faced back when all this began. And while Caleb didn’t walk around with a storm-cloud face anymore, it was obvious he still had things on his mind.
Had the finances improved enough because of their work to get Silver Stone back on track?
February was passing quickly. Plans were underway for a trip to her grandpa’s. They were juggling dates because Ivy and Walker were getting married in March, and Tamara’s due date was in April. The whole ranch buzzed with excitement.
Including, it seemed, her phone. Kelli looked down with delight to see a message from Diane.
Diane:I can’t wait.
Kelli wasn’t sure what was going on, but she went with it:okay?
Diane:get out. You mean he didn’t tell you yet?
