“Yes, I believe she’s the person I spoke to.”
“That’s odd. She told me she had three volunteers answer her ad and they all started on Monday. Maybe I’m wrong. Forget I said anything.”
Panic squeezed Shea’s chest. Had she mixed up the dates? It was possible. She’d been in such a hurry. Tomorrow was Sunday. Oh, God, why hadn’t she stopped to consider this was the weekend and starting on Monday made much more sense?
The sudden lapse into silence flustered her. Not only that, but she also just knew everyone was staring at her. She refused to look up but concentrated on spearing another cherry tomato. She’d promised to stay out of the family’s way. They were probably wondering why she’d arrived a day early.
“I think I’ll drive over there tomorrow, anyway.” She gave a small shrug. “Maybe they could still use some help.”
“Actually, I think Annie’s in Kalispell picking up supplies,” Rachel said quietly. “It’s really the perfect time for a trail ride.” She paused. “I can take you myself.”
Oh, how Shea wished the beautiful finished wood floor would simply part and swallow her whole. This was so typical of her. Couldn’t even keep a date straight.
JESSE CHEWED his food and took a quick sip of wine to wash it down. It wasn’t like Rachel to be insensitive. Why the hell didn’t she lay off? Couldn’t she see that Shea was embarrassed? The poor woman could barely look up.
“I’ll take you,” he said, keeping his gaze on her, knowing that everyone else’s attention abruptly turned to him. “I have to inspect some fencing along the north pasture. Won’t take long, then we can head over to Lincoln Pass. That is, if you’re interested.”
Her anxious eyes met his. “I don’t want to be any trouble,” she said softly.
“I have to go, anyway.” He shrugged. “It’s beautiful country, when it’s not buried under ten feet of snow. Even then, it’s something to see.”
“You should go,” Rachel said, laying a hand on Shea’s arm. “Between the weather and your duties at the shelter, tomorrow may be your only chance.” She smiled. “I could pack you guys a picnic lunch.”
He wanted like hell to nail his well-intentioned sister with a don’t-push-it glare but he couldn’t risk Shea seeing it. “Maybe we could work the ride around lunchtime,” he said, fully intending to pull Rachel aside later. He didn’t want her to read too much into his offer.
“I know the area Jesse’s talking about,” Jamie said. “It’s breathtaking and you shouldn’t miss it. Rachel, pass the bread, will you?”
Everyone went back to eating and talking, the subject turning to the open house later in the week. The event wasn’t a big deal. His mother had been hosting it since they were kids, but Jamie had never been, and Rachel was describing the traditional menu and how piñatas filled with candy and small toys were hung for the children.
Shea concentrated on her food, smiling graciously when she was ordered to come home hungry the night of the open house. Jesse had the feeling she’d have preferred to be anywhere else right now. She sure wouldn’t be showing her face at the party. Not that he blamed her. He’d do just about anything to get out of it himself. He wasn’t feeling particularly cheerful about the holidays.
He’d recognized from the first that Shea had some shyness issues. Could be that she was avoiding her own family for Christmas and preferred to be alone. In any case, he doubted she’d want to rub elbows with a bunch of strangers. Nosy ones at that. Half the town would show up at the open house and they’d be curious about her since Rachel hadn’t accepted any other guests.
“Isn’t that right, Jesse?”
He looked at his mother, at a total loss. “Sorry, what was that?”
She smiled. “Never mind, son. Eat your supper.”
He didn’t ask again. The guarded way his brothers were eyeing him, he figured she’d made yet another remark about how good it was to have him back. Although he’d never said anything, they knew it irritated him. This time of year she tended to be more sentimental. They’d lost their father to cancer eleven years ago, and she still missed him. They all did.
Sometimes he still felt guilty for having worried her by joining the air force. It made no sense. He hadn’t asked to be shipped out. He’d merely done his duty and enlisted, the same as every other McAllister male before him. But if he reenlisted now…
Shit, he couldn’t think about what would happen to her if she lost a son, too. His decision had to be based on what was best for the whole family and the survival of the Sundance.
He stabbed at a piece of lasagna, determined to enjoy his meal and block the litany of concerns plaguing his mind. Yeah, he had to make a decision soon, just not this week. For now he needed to be the good son, the amenable brother. Rachel was more than pulling her weight by running the dude ranch and he’d help out by taking her guest for a lousy trail ride. It was the least he could do.
Instead of taking a bite he grabbed his wineglass, and as he brought it to his lips, he looked across at Shea. She glanced up at the same time, her soft gray eyes tinged with something close to gratitude.
Hell, he hoped she didn’t get the wrong idea. His offer was meant to make life easier for Rachel. It had nothing to do with Shea. Nothing at all.
IT WAS THE ALTITUDE making her feel a bit drugged. Shea struggled to inhale the cold thin air deep into her lungs and shuddered. She’d obviously disturbed Gypsy because the gentle mare took the next two steps high and Shea squeezed her thighs around the animal’s girth, afraid she was about to slide backward out of the saddle.
A few feet ahead of her, Jesse turned around, his brown Stetson pulled low to block the sun. “You okay?”
“Fine.”
Only when he lowered his gaze to her hand did she realize she was gripping the saddle horn. She released it and forced herself to relax. The sky was clear and blue, the side of the mountain covered with a beautiful array of pine trees in varying shades of green. Back home when it was cold the sky was usually gray and the air damp, making everything seem dreary.
“Want to stop for a while?” Jesse slowed down until he rode abreast of her. They’d ridden that way most of the past hour, but he’d gone up ahead when they started the slight ascent and the trail narrowed. “We can also turn around. Your call.”
“Don’t you have to check some fencing?”
He smiled and adjusted his hat. “That’ll only take a minute.”
She really appreciated him making time to ride with her. Last night she’d considered rejecting his offer, but it was good practice and the last chance she’d have to get comfortable in the saddle. “I’d like to keep going.”
He ran his gaze down the front of her pink down jacket, then followed her jean-clad leg to the boot she had tucked into the stirrup. Naturally he couldn’t see anything interesting but the scrutiny made her tingle, anyway. “What are you wearing under that?”
“Excuse me?”
The skin at the corners of his eyes crinkled and his mouth lifted in a vague smile. “You
