Page 45 of A Curse On Black Lake
“I get it, Eliana. You miss her. I miss my parents too.”
I fold my hands on the table. “Um, she would usually be up front, and I would handle everything else. I can’t ask you to do all that, so—”
“No problem, I can handle it. It might help though if we take Winnie to the ranch, though.”
My eyes widen, and I forget to blink. “Killian, I can’t ask you to do all of that. I was going to say I can reorganize what needs to be done.”
“No, don’t worry about it. I’ll do whatever you want if you keep making food like this.”
I smile and take another drink. “You’re sure?”
“Positive,” he says and winks.
My stomach erupts in a flurry of butterflies, and my lips tingle.He just winked at me.
“Oh, I meant to tell you thanks again for the tea. It’s great. You grow all that?”
Warmth spreads through my body, and I smile. “I can make you more if you want,” I offer.
“That would be great, thank you. I have to be honest, though. I was never a tea guy, but maybe I am now.”
I giggle and set my coffee cup down. “It’s good for you, so why not?”
He shrugs as I reach for another pancake, and our hands brush reaching for it. He lets me grab one before taking one for himself, and an ache builds in my chest again. I'm starting to think that pining feeling will always be there when I’m around him. But it's a welcome change from heart-splitting sadness.
When we get to Killian’s, I start on what he has to get done in the barns, and we move quicker as a team. He doesn't have to move any cattle, but we need to check on the other pastures. “You don’t have to come with me for this. I have to see if it’s ready for cattle.”
“No, I want to come,” I tell him and look up at Sunny. “Plus, I think Sunny will enjoy the exercise.”
“If he bucks you, I’ll kill him,” he mutters.
I laugh and shake my head. “No, you won’t. Both of you are too similar for that.”
He frowns and readjusts his hat on his head. I’ve been trying not to blatantly ogle him all day, but it’s hard not to. The man looksamazingin a cowboy hat.Maybe he would let me wear it.
Shaking the thought from my head, I check Sunny’s saddle one more time and move over to the fence to climb it in order to get on Sunny, then Killian comes up behind me.
“Ready?” he asks, placing his large, warm palms on my sides. I want to sink back into him like I did in my dream.
“Yeah,” I rasp, and hop up while he helps me lift my foot into the stirrup so I can swing my leg over.
You need to tell him about us.The Spirits say.
“I really don’t think he’s ready,” I mutter.
“Ready for what?” Killian asks.
I groan and look up at the sky. Sweat drips down my back, but I don’t mind it. It’s hot, but the sun is shining, and the sky isn’t very gray today.
“Can I tell you later? We have a lot to do.”
He tilts his head at me and dips the brim of his hat before going to Daisy.
I follow Killian and Daisy on Sunny to the empty acreage. Killian has been waiting for it to grow up, so it can feed the cattle. Part of the process of raising grass-fed beef is making sure they are moved and have adequate grazing to munch on.
He hops off Daisy and kneels down in the grass to check it. I urge Sunny to keep walking, and a beautiful stream runs through this section of land, and my hot skin itches to go into it. Not only to cool off, but there’s something to be said for sinking yourself into nature. It’s grounding. I’ve always loved being outside. It helps me to balance my own thoughts with the Spirits running rampant in my head.
“Eliana!” Killian yells.
