“Again, I’m sorry I implied that—”

  “No. Please, don’t apologize. The house was way overbuilt. Still is, I guess. Too much money has gone into it.”

  As she held his gaze her thoughts ticked back to Ken and the way he talked about Dana. She wondered if Tanner hadn't fallen into the same trap Dana’s father had. Trying to satisfy every need Dana had.

  "Is that why it's not finished?"

  "One of the reasons. Mostly because Dana and Paulette were dead. The other reality was—and I think that's what we fought about before...before she left—was that I couldn't finish the house in her timeline. I was running out of money. Sucking income from the ranch. Like you so aptly pointed out that first evening. I guess part of me knew that all along, but I never wanted to connect that to Dana. Then, I felt guilty enough about what happened to her. I couldn't even examine that properly afterward. When you said what you did, I realized I wasn’t being objective about the ranch. Wasn’t able to remove Dana’s unyielding needs from the income the ranch could actually generate.”

  "I'm an accountant," Sabine said, leaning against the counter as well, wishing they could talk about something other than practical numbers. But she sensed that Tanner wanted this out of the way. “I know my numbers. And I know when money is being drained from a business. I’ve seen it happen too many times."

  "Like your father's ranch?"

  Sabine almost bristled at his question, but figured he had every right to bring up her past just as she was bringing up his.

  "You're probably right. And those are the mistakes I’m hoping to avoid, though it seems I've been making the same ones myself."

  "Don't worry about the cows," Tanner said, leaning forward. "Like I said, prices are going up. It might take you a little while, and you'll probably pay more than your accountant’s heart likes to pay in interest, but the interest is also a business expense."

  "Now you're telling me my own business?" She added a smile to show him she was teasing.

  "It's all about perspective. Isn’t that what you told me?"

  She smiled. Recognizing his small peace offering.

  "I guess you're right."

  "And I know things haven't been great between me and Olivia. I know I haven't treated her properly. I want to try and make it up to her and to you. I was wondering if you and Olivia would want to go for a horse ride back up into the hills on Saturday, go to the same place you and I went when we were checking fences."

  Sabine hardly dared to put too much on his offer. Hardly dared allow herself to think there was more behind it.

  But she needed to take it at face value. As a single mother she wasn’t sure she dared read more into the offer than a way of making up for his behavior around Olivia.

  ”Olivia would love that,” was all she said.

  "Excellent. I'll call the Tye ranch and see if they can spare three of their best horses and make arrangements to get them delivered here with saddles like they did before. I'm pretty sure they've got a smaller saddle that we can use for Olivia."

  Sabine held his gaze, nodding. Reminding herself to simply be in the moment. Tanner was just trying to create some peace for Olivia. She had to simply accept it as that.

  And you’re not secretly hoping he’ll kiss you again?

  She immediately dismissed that thought. They were going to be with Olivia. She wasn’t putting her daughter through the strain of another temporary relationship with a man. From here on out it was just her and her daughter.

  Yeah, you can say that, but don't kid yourself that part of you isn’t hoping Tanner will change his mind about staying here.

  “Thanks again for bringing the horses.” Tanner gave Tricia a grin, his hands in his pockets as Tricia climbed into the driver’s seat of the large pickup that had pulled the horse trailer.

  “No problem. Gladly done. It’s always good for the horses to have other people riding them.” Tricia glanced past him to where the horses were tied up, standing patiently. “Let me know how they work out for you. Anything that might need some fine tuning.”

  “They’re horses, not trucks,” Tanner said with a grin.

  “I know. Don’t tell Mason I said that. He hates it when I use words like that with the horses.”

  “And let me know what I owe you for this,” Tanner said. “I don’t want to keep taking advantage of you and Mason.”

  “Let’s see, three horses, three saddles...” Tricia ticked them off on one hand then shot him a grin. “I think that’s worth at least one visit yet before you leave. Maybe two. Because I’m sure once you get caught in Ken’s clutches, he won’t let you go too soon.”

  He felt again a niggle of unease at her words. He knew Tricia was prone to say whatever came to her mind, but her comment about Ken echoed Sabine’s concerns.

  “I’m sure I could manage that.”

  “And bring Olivia and her mother along when you do. I’d like to welcome her to the community properly, and it might be easier if you come along.” On the surface her invitation was considerate, but Tanner knew Tricia well enough to see the flash in her eye and the knowing smirk on her face.

  What had she been hearing?

  Tanner dismissed the thought. He was being overly sensitive.

  “I’ll do that. Be nice for Sabine to get to know someone besides Shannon.”

  “Who is leaving as well.” Tricia blew out a sigh. “What is with you Bonds? Seriously.”

  “We can’t all be like the Tyes and come scurrying back one by one,” Tanner countered with a grin.

  “Why not?” Tricia’s expression grew serious as she looked past him to the hills he would be riding in with Sabine and Olivia in a half an hour or so. “It’s a good place. Good people. A good life.”

  Again her quiet words plucked at a chord of loneliness that had resonated through him ever since he drove away from the ranch. Every time he came back for the truncated visits he deigned to give poor Nana.

  “Anyhow, you have a good ride,” Tricia said, flashing him a smile. The one that she used each time she headed out in the arena, racing her horse around the barrels, chasing yet another rodeo win.

  “Will do.”

  Tricia started up the truck and, with another quick wave, left, the aluminum trailer rattling as she hit a rough patch and then heading down the driveway to the road.

  “Hey, Tanner, you should have told me Tricia was coming.”

  Sabine’s voice held a note of reprimand.

  “I could easily have helped you.” She walked over to the horses, now standing quietly by the fence, saddles on, waiting for the bridles, something he always liked to leave until just before they left. She stroked one, frowning at him.

  “It’s okay. Tricia helped me, and I don’t mind doing this.” He flashed her a careful smile, which made her smile in return. And again he felt a low-level thrum of appeal and attraction.

  Dangerous, and yet he couldn’t look away.

  “So, we’re here,” Olivia announced, breaking into the moment.

  “I see that,” Tanner said, turning to her, pleased to see a smile on the young girl’s face.

  "Do I get to ride a horse?" Olivia asked, her hands on her hips, looking from Sabine to Tanner.

  "You know how to count, don't you?" Tanner asked, teasing her, wondering how she would respond.

  “Of course I do," Olivia said with a tone that hinted at the challenges Sabine would probably be facing once her daughter got to the teen stage of her life. "I can see there's three horses, so I’m guessing there's one for me."

  "Well then, your question is answered, isn’t it?” Tanner said. "Why don't you come over here, and we can see if this saddle fits you or not."

  Olivia narrowed her eyes, watching him with a hint of suspicion. Not that he blamed her. Given his attitude toward her in the past, she was right to be cautious.

  “Will the horse run away?”

  Ah, that was the problem that put the frown on her face.

  “No. It’s a really quiet horse, and you don’t have to worry one tiny bit. You’ll have to trust me on that,” he assured her, hoping she believed him.

  "Of course I trust you. You carried me on your back across that beam, didn't you?"

  "I sure did," Tanner said. And despite the happy moment, he felt cold fingers skate down his spine at the thought of how close they had come to a serious accident.

  He dismissed the thoughts, reminding himself that all had turned out well.

  “So why don’t you climb onto the horse, and we can see how this all works together.”

  Olivia walked over and, to his surprise, grabbed his outstretched hand and stepped up on the box he had placed beside the horse she would ride.

  "Put your foot up in the stirrup, grab onto the pommel of the saddle, and get yourself up and over the horse."

  And just like that she did exactly what he told her.

  He helped her put her feet into the stirrups, just now noticing her cowboy boots. “These are awesome,” he said. “Just the perfect thing for riding.”

  “Nana Bond gave them to me,” Olivia said.

  Probably Paulette’s old boots.

  Right behind that realization came a piercing sorrow, but somehow it didn’t have the bite it used to. He smiled up at her as it eased away.

  “Excellent. Then you know they’ll do the job.”

  Olivia grinned at him, looking down from the height of the horse, her hair a halo of curls peeking out from under a cowboy hat. He didn’t recognize it and guessed it had been purchased on one of the trips his grandmother had taken her on. It was just the thing Nana would do.

  “Which headstall do you want for that horse?” Sabine asked, flicking through the three bridles hanging over the fence.

  “The one with the snaffle bit,” he said, pointing it out.

  Sabine grabbed it, and with a few easy movements she got the bit in the horse’s mouth and then buckled up the headstall.

  Tanner handed Olivia the reins as he took the halter rope. “Just hold onto those, one in each hand, and we’ll walk you around the yard so you can get used to the horse.”

  Olivia nodded, her grin as wide as the blue sky stretched like a canopy over them.

  “You don’t want to pull too hard if you want it to stop. Just a gentle tug.” He showed her where to put her hands on the reins so she wouldn’t lean back to pull, then walked her through the process of turning the horse. She had surprisingly soft hands for a beginner.

  “You’re doing really well,” he said as he led her around the yard, holding loosely onto the halter rope.

  “This is so fun,” she said, grinning down at him. Tanner felt a peculiar tightening in his chest at the sight of her trusting face, her wide smile and sparkling eyes.

  He let thoughts of leading Paulette around sift into the moment and tried to see the happy parts, not think of what he lost.

  You could have this again.

  As he led Olivia around the yard the insidious thought crept along the edge of his mind, teasing, taunting.

  He sent a quick glance over to Sabine, who stood watching them, her hand shading her eyes, her smile as broad as Olivia’s.

  Then across the distance their eyes met, and her smile shifted, softened, became intimate.

  He wanted to kiss her again.

  He shook the thought off, knowing he had to be careful with her. With Olivia. When he started dating Dana he had felt the same. Had told Dana he didn’t want to be involved in Paulette’s life until he knew for sure they were serious. Dana had laughed off his caution, telling him it would all be fine.

  But this time, he was already involved in Olivia’s life to some extent. Had created a connection with the girl the moment she wrapped his arms trustingly around his neck.

  What was he going to do about this?

  “Will she be reining the horse herself?” Sabine asked as he came back to where she stood. She sounded concerned, and Tanner shook his head.

  “I’ll be leading her, but she’ll still need to know what to do with the reins. It will be good practice for her.” He gave her a long look. “You can trust me, you know.”

  “I know. And I do.”

  And as her eyes held his, her smile captivated him, her words settled into his soul.

  Made him feel like he was worth trusting.

  “We’ll stop here,” Tanner said, bringing the horses to a halt in an open area.

  Sabine stretched her shoulders, thankful for the break. She glanced over at Olivia. "How are you doing, sweetie?"

  Olivia's huge grin told her everything she needed to know. "This is amazing," Olivia said, beaming as she looked around the wide-open spaces, the valley that stretched out below them reaching up to the mountains. "I can't believe this is our place, she said. "I wish I could bring some of my friends here."

  "Maybe we can," Sabine said.

  She dismounted, surprised that she wasn't feeling more stiff. The previous rides had probably helped.

  Tanner glanced over at her, grinning. He looked relaxed, happy even. She wondered what had created the change, but decided she didn't want to delve into that too much. Things were tenuous right now, and she simply had to take it, not only one day at a time, but one moment at a time. For now she was up in the mountains with her daughter on horseback, the day was beautiful, and the sun was shining.

  God was in His heaven and here on earth and all was right with the world.

  Thankfully, the bugs weren't too bad this high up, and Sabine tied her horse to a tree, checking the rope. She slipped the reins over the horse’s head and held the bridle while the horse spit it out.

  "Nana packed some sandwiches again, and of course, cookies for Olivia," Tanner said, flashing her daughter a smile. Olivia returned it with a shy look and a slow batting of her eyelashes.

  And how did that happen, Sabine wondered. How did her daughter shift so quickly from being afraid of him to a young girl’s version of flirtation?

  You know how, she reminded herself. You’ve gone through the same transformation. Maybe not afraid of him, but definitely on your guard. And now you’re wishing Olivia wasn’t here so you could kiss him again.

  She shook off the treacherous thought and was about to walk over and help Olivia off the saddle, but Tanner was already ahead of her. With an easy movement he swung Olivia off the horse and settled her down.

  “So, let’s see what I got from Nana,” he said, opening the bags on Olivia’s saddle.

  “Let me see, let me see,” Olivia cried out, dancing in her excitement.

  “I think you know what’s in here,” he returned, pulling out some containers and water bottles from each bag. “You can take them over to the log in the shade of those trees,” he said, pointing to a grassy spot. He handed Olivia the containers. "I'll tie up your horse."

  A few moments later they were all sitting down, enjoying the view and enjoying the food.

  A gentle quiet suffused them all as they ate. Sabine drew in a long, satisfied breath, her eyes taking in the broad sweep of the valley. Even from up here, however, she heard the forlorn echo of the signal of the train chugging through Rockyview. She missed that, the sound of her childhood.

  “Right now, if you look carefully, you can see the Shadow Woman,” Tanner said to Olivia, pointing to the flat face of the mountain ahead of them. “You’re looking for a face, a woman with long hair. See those two indents that look like caves? Those are her eyes, and the rock jutting out—”

  “Is her nose. I see it.” Olivia leaned forward, excited. “And I see her hair.”

  “You have good eyes. Below that is a kind of square shadow, that’s her dress. She looks like she’s leaning forward, waiting for the man who promised to return. It’s in our family story,” Tanner said.

  “You have a family?” Olivia sounded surprised. “Where are they?

  “Well, I have a twin brother, Garret—”

  "You’re a twin?” Olivia asked, her surprise growing with each revelation.

  "Yeah. He looks exactly like me," Tanner said, winking at Olivia. "Except I wear blue jeans and he wears a business suit. So I guess sometimes we look a little bit different."

  “And Garret is still working overseas?" Sabine asked. She had found out a few things about the family from Jennie and Shannon.

  "Yeah. Far as I know. I think we both have a little bit of that traveling bug. Like to roam around. That's why I ended up working a bunch of different places in the oilfield."

  "For your new job you'll be traveling around too?" Olivia asked, finishing off her cookie and brushing the crumbs off her hands.

  "Yeah, I will be."

  Was that a lack of enthusiasm she heard in his voice?

  Don't read into it. Just back off.

  "Where will you be going?" Olivia asked.

  Sabine sat back against the tree, finishing off her sandwich, content to let Olivia and Tanner carry the conversation. She was still winnowing through her own troubled thoughts. She and Tanner were growing closer than she thought they would. And she wasn't sure if she had any right to ask him where things were going. She should know that. The signs were right in front of her. Every time she woke up and realized that she owned the place he was leaving.

  And now he and her daughter were conversing easily and comfortably. She should be happy, but their sudden connection made her wary. Concerned.

  But Olivia was aware that Tanner was leaving, so that was a good thing.

  "Yeah I’ll be traveling," Tanner said. "I'm not exactly sure where, but if I look at where Jennings went, I’ll be visiting places in Europe, so that'll be exciting. I've never been before. Maybe I’ll get to see Paris."

  "I'd love to see Paris," Olivia said with a dreamy sigh. "But it's too expensive. At least that's what my mom always says."

  “Your mom is a wise and frugal person. But I'm sure someday you’ll see Paris too."

  His eyes drifted to hers, and once again their eyes held, connected. Once again awareness arced between them.

 

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