| Chapter Four It was nearing nine o�clock and the land was covered in shadows. I knew I needed to get to bed, but for some reason I wasn�t tired. I sat on the swing at the end of the porch; my legs propped up on the seat and laid my head against the side as I took in the peaceful sounds of the ranch settling down. I could hear the cattle lowing in a distant field, an occasional bark of laughter from the bunkhouse and from up on the hill I could hear the lonely wail of a wolf calling for its mate. I listened closely and smiled when a moment later I heard the female return her mates call. �Is that seat taken?� a deep voice asked from the shadows. Instinctively I knew who the voice belonged to and I moved my legs and patted the swing beside me. The swing bounced slightly as he settled his weight next to me and I heard a sigh escape from him. �Sore?� I asked, remembering him saying that he hadn�t been on a horse in a long time. �A little. I forgot I had all those muscles,� he answered as he rubbed the outside of his thighs. �Before you go to bed, take a long soak. It�ll help soothe those muscles,� I suggested. I could feel my cheeks heat at the thought of him in a tub full of hot water and thanked the Lord above for the lack of light. �I had planned on it,� he said as he tipped his head back, relaxing. �If that doesn�t help, I�ve got some liniment you could use,� I offered, again feeling heat sear my cheeks. My mind wandered for a moment as I let myself imagine what his legs would look like and feel like if I were the one to apply the liniment. �Thanks,� he replied, bringing me out of my wayward thoughts. �Did you grow up here?� he asked after we had sat in silence for a few minutes. �Born and raised,� I answered, a tinge of pride lacing my voice. I knew it almost sounded defensive, though I didn�t mean for it to. People had a habit of thinking they had me all figured out just because I was born and raised on a ranch out in the hills. I had encountered more narrow minded people, who thought I was nothing more than a country bumpkin who couldn�t find her way out of a paper bag, little lone her way around the city. But in reality I lived a little in both worlds. I loved the excitement of the city, the hustle and bustle, the noise and the many things a person could do, but I also loved the quietness of the ranch. The nature that was right at my backdoor and the sense of coming home I got every time I returned, even if I had only been gone for an afternoon.] �Times like this, I really miss being at home in Kentucky,� he admitted, setting me at ease. �I know what you mean. I spent four long years away at college and every time I came home to visit I tried to store up all the memories I possibly could. When I graduated I knew I had a lot of options. I could�ve gotten a job in a big company making big bucks, but the call of home was to strong to ignore.� �You sound happy when you talk about the ranch,� he observed. �Oh I am! I couldn�t imagine living anywhere else, and when I get to craving the city life, I just drive in and spend a couple of hours or a day or two and then I�m ready to come back home.� �The only thing I really miss when I�m at home is my dad. He passed away when I was almost nineteen,� he whispered softly, as if that admission escaped his keeping without his permission. �I know what you mean. My mom died when I was sixteen, and then dad passed away two and half years ago. It�s still home, but there are times it seems so foreign without them here.� �Exactly,� he murmured. We fell quiet then, just enjoying the quiet night and each other�s company. It was really nice to just sit here on the porch with him, talking when we felt like it and sitting in silence when we didn�t. The silence wasn�t uncomfortable; on the contrary it was companionable. It was like curling up under a well-worn cherished quilt. �Cassie? I�m sorry to interrupt, but you have a phone call,� Callie said from the other end of the porch. I nodded and she turned back into the house. �Don�t forget I have liniment if you need it,� I said. �Thanks. Good night Cassie,� he said, his voice taking on a husky quality. �Good night,� I returned and then moved down the porch and went inside. Chapter Five |