Page 64 of A Cowboy's Claim
“Everything’s fine,” he assured her immediately. “I fed the dogs, and they bunked down in the barn with the rest of the animals.”
He took the towel she offered then began to strip right then and there.
It was tempting to watch the floor show, but it somehow didn’t seem right. Thoughts of her grandfather’s interference and the fears Sydney carried were too big and loud to let her slide off into mindless pleasure.
So she busied herself pouring him a cup of tea and adding a spoonful of sugar, making sure he had a prime spot to sit.
Big solid feet clad in grey woolen socks landed beside her and then he sat, easing across the floor until he leaned on the couch, arm right up against hers. He reached his hands toward the fire and wiggled his fingers. “It’s the middle of August, and it feels like snow on the air.”
“Oh Lord, no.”
He snorted. “No, not at this elevation. But I wouldn’t be surprised if we find that the tips of the Rockies are painted white when we get far enough back to see them.”
She passed him the mug of tea, and he wrapped his hands around it gratefully. “We won’t see them for a while, though, will we?”
“Not if we want to drive out,” he said. “Once the storm runs its course, we can hike down to an accessible point to get picked up. Either that, or we have to get a helicopter in.”
“I don’t think either of us is important enough to need a helicopter rescue,” she said dryly.
“Speak for yourself.” He stared into his teacup, lips twitching slightly as he hid his gaze from hers. “I’m damn near royalty. At least that’s what my horses tell me.”
Unexpectedly, amusement bubbled up. Sydney shifted closer until their sides connected, and she leaned her head on his shoulder. “Glad if I have to be trapped in the storm it’s with you.”
He pressed a soft kiss to the top of her head. “Ditto.”
Sydney stared at the fire for a moment, sipping tea and letting herself think. The quiet around them grew. The only sound was the ticking of the metal as the fire heated the stove. It wasn’t awkward or painful or confusing. The heat curling from the fireplace was soft fingers offering peace and contentment and acceptance.
But in her core, that knot of discontent remained. The ugly worries were not going to simply go away if she ignored them.
Physician, heal thyself.It wasn’t possible, she knew that.
There were times when if you wanted an injury to heal, you had to first exorcize the source of the infection. Clean it up, no matter how painful the process.
“My head is a mess right now,” Sydney confessed quietly. “On the inside,” she added when he leaned over with concern to examine her closer.
“Messes on the outside I sometimes know how to deal with. Messes on the inside?” He cupped her cheek with his big hand. “I can be a good listener. Don’t know how much advice I can give, but I can listen.”
“Maybe when we get to the part where it’s called for, instead of giving advice, we can just toss out ideas.” Sydney rubbed her face against his hand, suddenly reminded of the kittens demanding to be petted.
“That I can do.”
The next minute she found herself airborne then settled into his lap with the blanket cocooned around her shoulders and his gaze intense on hers.
“You asked about the bridal shower? Well, turns out the fantastic helper my grandpa sent me is also my brother’s ex-girlfriend.”
Declan was silent for a minute before declaring, “The hell? Your brother doesn’t live anywhere near Heart Falls.”
His confused expression made Sydney snicker in spite of the tension in her gut. “I knew my grandfather was the meddlesome sort, but I didn’t know the extent of it. Seems my brother might be in line for a great career opportunity, so Grandpa kindly removed the distraction of a steady girlfriend. But he did it in a nice way,” she pointed out quickly. “Offered her up like a cherry on a sundae to me to help at the clinic. So I win, because I get a great helper, and Lexie wins, because she gets a great job. And Michael wins because now he can take the opportunity when it’s presented without being torn about leaving behind someone who means a lot to him.”
“That’s dirty.” Declan’s opinion was very clear in that moment. “We’re not talking teenagers, are we? Because you’re the youngest, so this is someone in their late thirties or early forties, yes?”
“Definitely adults.” Sydney took a deep breath. “And as infuriating as I find it, I don’t have a leg to stand on because I’ve been taken in just as hard by him.”
This time Declan didn’t say anything. Just waited, concern creasing his brow.
Oh boy. “My grandfather owns the clinic.”
“Your clinic?”
