Those were dangerous thoughts that could destroy her plans to start a new life in California. She’d never considered her wayward wants would be the obstacle to overcome.
She caught herself from leaning into the heat of him. Adhering to propriety would be a challenge around this man, especially since her thoughts seemed to stray into the dangerous and forbidden and he was a deliciously warm temptation she longed to cuddle up to.
Ellie listened to the steady ring of sleigh bells and focused on the reasons she’d agreed to take over Mrs. Leach’s position. Nothing like reality to chill these inappropriate thoughts of her boss.
“How long will it take to reach the ranch?” she asked as they left the town of Maverick behind them.
“Better part of an hour.”
Sixty minutes of sharing a buffalo blanket with Reid would test her endurance. There was nobody but her and Reid and miles upon miles of unbroken snow. Nobody would know if they held to propriety. Nobody but her conscience.
She’d failed to listen to it before. She vowed not to make that mistake again.
Though sitting close to him warmed her, she shifted to keep a respectable distance between them.
“You all right?” he asked.
She was chilled and nervous and so very lonely. “Just fine, Mr. Barclay,” she said, and willed her teeth not to clatter.
“You can call me Reid,” he said in that low, sultry tone that made her insides tingle.
A twinge of unease passed through her. He likely thought she’d offer him the same freedom to address her informally. But dropping those strictures could lead to loosening of other principles.
She’d made that mistake once. She wouldn’t do it again.
Still, she had to trot forth a suitable reply that wouldn’t offend. “Perhaps once we become better acquainted.” Which wouldn’t happen because she’d be leaving after the holidays.
“Fair enough.”
They lapsed into an easy silence after that. Ellie fairly bubbled with excitement over seeing her pa again. But she carried a good case of nerves as well. She only hoped that the recipe book she’d purchased would guide her should Mrs. Leach’s receipts fail her.
She fixed her gaze on the snow-packed plains stretching out toward the bruised ridge of the mountains in the distance. It seemed she’d been staring at the same vista for ages.
“How do you keep from getting lost out here?” she asked.
The ghost of a smile teased his ruggedly handsome face. “As long as it’s not snowing, there are landmarks to guide me.”
She glanced at the sky that threatened more snow and prayed it would hold off. “What if it starts snowing again?”
He caught her gaze with his solemn one. “Then we hope my instincts are right.”
Not a terribly reassuring answer, especially when the first fat flakes began falling. When the wind gusted and blew the snow right at them, she squirmed with the beginning twinges of panic.
She huddled into her hooded cloak and stuck her gloved hands up her sleeves. Still the chill seeped into her bones, for the brick at her feet had grown cold and the miniscule space between her and Reid seemed larger.
Out of necessity, she scooted close until the solid length of his body bumped hers. She saw nothing ahead but a wall of white. Even the sleigh bells sounded dull.
Just when she feared they were lost and would freeze to death, the snow stopped. The sun broke through the clouds as the sleigh popped over a rise and the ranch spread into view. She wasn’t sure what she’d expected, but it certainly wasn’t the patchwork of corrals and buildings of various sizes and descriptions.
The two-story stone house was far grander than she’d expected to find in Wyoming, let alone a ranch. The design was distinctly Italianate, reminiscent of the mansions in Denver.
Bathed in the afternoon sun, it looked like a square-cut topaz set amid a stark white cloud. A true jewel of the high prairie, fitting for a prosperous rancher.
Ellie straightened from her huddled pose as Reid angled the sleigh around to the back porch. This must be the servants’ entrance, though the open terrace was larger than the front porch hanging on her uncle’s home and looked twice as inviting. Wouldn’t that man have a conniption fit if he knew what she was doing here?
She wouldn’t be here long enough for her uncle to ever know. Which was just as well.
Her uncle would like nothing better than to see Ellie’s pa hang, for he believed his sister deserved better than marrying a Missouri farmer. When her pa turned outlaw, her uncle’s dislike turned to abhorrence. If she lived to be an old woman, she’d never understand such hatred.
Ellie welcomed Reid’s help down and hoped her numb feet and legs would carry her inside. She took the satchel he handed her with fingers that were stiff with the cold.
Reid grabbed her trunk and carried it up the steps. “Hubert will see that you’re settled in, but if you need anything, just ask.”
“I will.”
She followed, leery of accepting anyone’s help so soon after arriving. Until she spoke with her pa, she didn’t know who she could trust.
The half-glass back door swung open, and a small wiry man of advanced years glanced from her to Reid. “Who, may I ask, is this woman?”
“E.J. Cade. Mrs. Leach’s friend.” Reid inclined his head the old man’s way. “This is Hubert, butler and all-around nosy parker.”
The butler’s face remained impassive as he treated her to a quick inspection. So much for being friendly.
“This way, Mrs. Cade,” Hubert said.
“It’s miss,” she said.
“Of course. Do forgive me for addressing you as one does the elevated female staff in England.” An odd smile flickered over Hubert’s face as he turned and walked into the house.
Ellie expected she would be given the room off the kitchen, but Hubert strode down the hall to a narrow rear staircase into the kitchen. She caught a glimpse of Reid pounding up the stairs with her trunk on his back as if it weighed nothing.
She wanted to follow now, for Reid would surely deposit her trunk and be gone about his own business. She wasn’t ready to part company with him so quickly, though she should. But Hubert moved at his own pace which was slower than slow.
To dart around him would be horribly rude. So she schooled her eagerness and waited in the hall that was at least warm.
“This way,” Hubert said at last, his features curiously benign as he stood at the bottom of the stairs.
“After you,” she said when she heard heavy boots pound down steps on the other side of the wall—likely Reid going about his business.
Hubert
