Page 42 of The Cowgirl's Chosen Love
“And Lisa’s just visiting,” Luke added, glancing at Josiah with a shrug. “At least that’s what I heard from Kelli. Sorry.”
“I’m working on it,” Josiah muttered softly.
Finn dipped his chin decisively. “I know Karen doesn’t live here. But I know she’s going to visit, often. It seems as good a place as any to make a move. I’m not planning on staying here forever, just as long as it takes.”
“Having lots of options is at the top of Finn’s to-do list.” Zach shared that tidbit blankly, without any inflection. It was impossible to tell if he was being judgmental or simply stating a fact.
“Damn right.”
Caleb eyed Finn, his usually unreadable expression gone dangerous. “You watch how you go about that convincing. Understood?”
Finn didn’t say anything for a moment before nodding decisively. Then he picked up his cards and shook them in the air. “Anyone who’s interested in giving up some money, I’m ready to play.”
By the time they’d played a few hands, the remaining questions on anyone’s minds had been brushed aside by the need for full concentration to keep from getting fleeced by the grinning Zach. The man had way too much luck—he had to be counting cards.
Laughter and companionship grew stronger as the evening passed, and when they called it a night, Josiah headed off to bed far more content than he’d ever dreamed possible after the roller-coaster events of the day.
It wasinteresting how much a small change in information could adjust a man’s mindset.
Josiah worked like usual the next days, nightly juggling space with Finn and Zach. The fact Finn had publicly declared his intentions to pursue Lisa’s sister—it added a twist to Josiah’s growing relationship with the two men in his home. It wasn’t necessarily more stressful, but considering Finn was not just a temporary roommate but a potential brother-in-law down the road…
Because him and Lisa—they weren’t just temporary and wasn’t that an enormous change in the grand scheme of things? Thinking about the future in solid, concrete terms, not just “someday I’ll settle down.”
Which led to thinking about how to persuade Lisa over the coming days and weeks to look at permanent things to do in the Heart Falls area.
She was busy caring for her nieces and working with Tamara, who continued to grow more uncomfortable yet not any less nauseous as her pregnancy lingered.
In the times when they could get away, he and Lisa headed over to Sonora’s where the rest of the puppies had been transported. It was good to see the little creatures they’d saved begin to bloom. What had been piteously matted messes were now bundles of fluff. The group was predominantly Bichons, all of them finding their feet and their voices.
Sonora’s ranch was a trifle loud at times.
Another change that grew more right as days passed—Ollie.
Josiah had kept her that first night. She’d spent the entire evening sitting on his feet, sighing often as she got up to walk to the door as if waiting for the moment Lisa would return.
He’d taken her out to Silver Stone a few days later after making sure her shots were all up to date. Ever since, they’d been alternating. A few days with Lisa, a few days with him.
There’d been no response to any of the inquiries he’d posted on the lost-and-found sites across the province and through his contacts.
Weeks later, when he’d finally gotten away from a long day’s work, he stole over to Silver Stone. It was already after eight, and the sun had set a couple hours before he arrived. The wind was picking up, and the chill in the air was shoving the temperature back below freezing. March was going out like a lion.
He didn’t care. He wanted to see Lisa, and the only way to get privacy at Silver Stone was to be creative.
So they bundled up and sat out on the porch swing, kissing and fooling around as much as they could with two winter coats and a thick blanket covering every inch.
The only redeeming feature was the porch swing was a double wide, padded enough that Josiah finally tossed the back cushions to the ground and stretched out on the wider base. Lisa’s eyes lit up, and she crawled beside him, tugging the blanket over top of them as they proceeded to heat up the outdoors a few degrees.
When they took a break from necking to catch their breath, Lisa stroked her knuckles over his jaw, staring into his eyes. “It’s like being back in high school and having to sneak around corners. I don’t think there’s anywhere on the ranch we can go to be alone. Not without someone coming to check on us.”
They could be alone at his place. No one was going to interrupt them if he closed the door to his bedroom, but he still didn’t feel right pushing to the next stage.
“It’s okay. I like kissing you.” He was leaning in to prove his point when it finally registered. The howling just on the other side of the wall.
The porch door swung open, and Caleb’s dry tones echoed into the darkness. “I know you’re out there because this demon creature insists it needs you.”
“We’ve got her,” Lisa called as Ollie appeared around the corner, tentatively using her fourth limb. “Thanks, Caleb.”
“It’s cold enough you could get frostbite. You two are insane,” Caleb said. “But you’re welcome.”
