Page 8 of The Cowboy's Christmas
“Thirty something. You were in your thirties and could still bounce. You aren’t thirty, Deke. I’m thirty, and I know how much I wouldn’t want to do chores with cracked ribs.”
Which she’d suffered after a nasty fall from a young horse in her teens.
“We don’t have a lot of choices here, do we?” He spoke in a reasonable tone, his gaze on the girls who were sitting with their heads close together. “We agreed to feed the Anderson cattle, and we have to do that.”
Their neighbors, the Andersons, were paying Deke and Savannah to keep their cattle fed for two months while they spent the holidays with relatives overseas. It had seemed like a great deal—their properties adjoined, and Savannah planned to put the money toward some much needed ranch improvements. But Deke’s accident changed everything.
“You will not do chores until you get a release.”
“I got us into this—”
“The guy who T-boned you got us into this.”
“I got us into this—” Deke rolled his eyes as a knock on the doorframe interrupted him for the second time, then he shifted in the bed, grimacing as he attempted to sit up straighter before saying, “Come on in.” Savannah shot a glance over her shoulder to see one of the Harding brothers standing in the doorway.
Only it wasn’t a Harding brother.
She’d gone to school with Ty and Austin, and this guy wasn’t either of them, but damn, what a resemblance. The same high cheekbones, firm jawline, and coloring as Austin. Even his eyes were similar, crinkled at the corners, giving the appearance of someone who could break into a smile at any given moment. Maybe he was a cousin she’d never met?
“Quinn Harding,” the man said, stepping into the room, affirming her belief that he was related to the brothers. He extended a hand, which Savannah automatically took.
Whoever this Harding was, he worked for a living. His skin was warm, his fingers callused, and the overall feel was nicer than it should be under the circumstances. Perhaps that was why, when she met his gaze, as greenish gray as the ocean on a stormy day, her heart stuttered. Thankfully her voice did not when she said, “Savannah Dunn.”
“My niece,” Deke added, before saying to Savannah, “Quinn and I met the hard way.”
Savannah frowned as her uncle’s meaning became clear. This was the guy. The T-boner.
Before she could say anything, Quinn Harding moved closer to the bed.
“What’s the damage?” he said to Deke.
“Same as before. Ribs and wrist. Concussion. They’re keeping me here.” Deke spoke to the guy like he was an old friend. “How’s your truck?”
“Not sure, but the radiator is gone. I’ll have to find a way home, then come back and pick it up.”
“Where’s home?” Savannah asked, baffled at her reaction to the guy. Stress. Nerves. So many possibilities, none of which rang true.
Ridiculously attractive man?
The evidence was before her.
The man gave her an easy smile. “Eastern Oregon, close to Jordan Valley.”
“Then you should know how to drive under winter conditions.” Her tone wasn’t as insulting as the words, but as soon as she heard herself, she cringed. This wasn’t the way she normally behaved, but it was turning out to be one hell of a day.
“Vannie,” Deke said on a warning note. “It was my fault. I was so focused on keeping the truck from getting sucked into the deep snow that I didn’t give a final look before blasting onto the highway. I drove out in front of him.”
Savannah pushed the hair back from her forehead in a distracted gesture as she pulled her gaze away from the tall Oregonian’s. “Sorry,” she murmured, without adding the bit about the stress of the day. Why would he care?
“No need to apologize.” Quinn directed his gaze to Deke without giving her a chance to respond. “I just wanted to check in, make sure you were okay. I’m at the Graff Hotel in case you need to get hold of me.”
“Thanks,” Deke said.
Quinn turned to Savannah. “Sorry we had to meet under these circumstances.”Which are not my fault.
She read the words in his expression as clearly as if he’d said them. He was probably right, but the fears and frustrations she’d managed to keep at bay while driving to town made it difficult to keep her voice even as she said, “Thank you for checking on my uncle.”
“Not a problem.” Quinn gave her a tight-lipped smile, then headed for the door.
