“Which of your brothers is buying the horse trailer?”
“Sam.”
“And which one is he?”
“He’s the next oldest. It goes me, Sam, Billy, Tommy.”
“He must be doing pretty well.”
“He is, but they all are. All three of them went to the NFRs in Las Vegas last year.” He paused. “And the year before.” He saw her blank expression. “That’s good; it’s the championship, rather like the Super Bowl for professional rodeo cowboys.”
“That is good.”
He looked amused. “You don’t know much about the rodeo?”
She shook her head. “No. There were guys at my high school who roped, and wore their Wranglers and boots and western shirts religiously, but we were in different classes and activities so I didn’t really pay them much attention.”
“You weren’t into FFA or any of the other clubs?”
“I attended a couple meetings my freshman year but it wasn’t for me. My brothers belonged, though. My oldest brother, John, was really active. I think he was president or something like that his senior year. He’s the one that runs our dairy business now and is on the board for the California Dairy Association.”
Sophie stayed out of the way while Joe hitched the huge trailer. He did it almost effortlessly, though, lining up the trailer and coupler on the first try. Next he attached the safety chains and cables and then the wiring harness and finally the safety cables. “Sam’s planning on converting this to a gooseneck trailer,” Joe said, as he finished. “It’s why he got such a good deal on it.”
“That’s nice of you to get it for him.”
“Happy to help. I’m looking forward to seeing him.”
“I take it you’re probably closest to him?”
“We used to be close, but it’s changed since I stopped competing and returned home. The other three travel together a lot and are pretty tight.”
“You were a rodeo cowboy, too?”
He looked almost embarrassed. “For a while there.”
“How long?”
“Five years.”
“Wow. So impressive. Were you good?”
“I’ve won my share of championship buckles.” There was pride in his voice, but also something else.
She glanced at him, curious. “Why did you give it up? Did you get hurt?”
“I was needed at home.” He adjusted his cowboy hat. “Speaking of home, we better get on the road. It’s going to be slower traveling pulling this rig.”
“And I’m sure you have work waiting for you on the ranch.”
“Always,” he agreed, a hint of weariness in his deep voice.
Chapter Three
On the drive back to Marietta, Sophie wrestled with herself, wanting to ask Joe about the future and their plans. Was everything still on? Were they still going to marry in a week’s time, or were they working off a different time frame now?
For some reason, she felt uneasy and she wasn’t sure why. Everything was good between them today, better than their strained lunch yesterday and tense dinner last night. She shouldn’t be nervous. They’d had a nice lunch today, conversation was natural, there was nothing that should make her worried—she stopped herself.
That wasn’t true.
She was worried because she wasn’t on the ranch, and she had been relegated to town, and although at the moment everything with her and Joe was fine, she worried other things might soon change.
Butterflies filled her middle, and Sophie drew a slow breath, trying to settle her nerves. She wished she knew for certain everything would work out. It’d be so much easier to let go, and not feel like she had to seize control. But control was illusory, wasn’t it?
It had never crossed her mind that she couldn’t trust Leo. She’d believed in him—in them—implicitly. They’d worked together for years. They’d practically been living together the last eighteen months of their relationship. Yes, he still had his own place, but he spent every night, every weekend at hers.
Sophie shifted restlessly on the truck seat, glancing out her passenger window at the scenery even as she blinked back stupid tears.
She was done with love. Done with romance. She didn’t trust pretty words and gifts of candy and flowers. Gifts were easy to give. She wanted something more substantial, something lasting. She wanted security, permanence. Forever.
When she agreed to come to Montana to marry Joe, she’d already made a commitment to him. In her mind, she was committed, and she’d arrived expecting things to be settled. She’d expected more stability.
And now Joe was driving her back to Bramble House and she didn’t know when she’d see him again. Would it be tonight for dinner? Would he try to break away from the ranch to see her tomorrow? How often would they see each other? How long would it take for him to realize he didn’t want her after all?
Emotion thickened the lump in her throat and made her chest burn. She’d given up her job and sold her condo to be here. Had she made a mistake? She didn’t know… but then, she didn’t know anything anymore.
*
Joe watched Sophie from the corner of his eye. She looked troubled and it worried him.
He should just ask her what was wrong, but he wasn’t sure he was ready for her answer, or the possibility of tears. He wasn’t good with drama, and his mom had been incredibly difficult this morning. They’d had an argument before he left to pick up Sophie for lunch, and while he loved his mom, he wasn’t a boy, and his mom was in no position to give ultimatums. He understood better than anyone his responsibilities. For heaven’s sake, the whole reason he was looking for a wife was for his mother and his grandfather’s peace of mind. They’d wanted him to marry years ago, needing to know that there would be grandchildren and future generations on the Wyatt ranch. He was marrying so they’d stop pestering him to date and settle down.
At Bramble House, Joe swung out of the truck to come around and open the door for Sophie. She hopped out and glanced down the street. “You’ll be all right getting that big trailer out of here?” she asked him. “It’s a pretty narrow street.”
“No problem at all. I’ve got it.”
“Okay.” She forced a smile, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “Thanks for lunch.”
“My pleasure. Talk soon.”
“Sounds good.” And then she was walking up to the bed-and-breakfast as if there was a dragon breathing fire against her back.
Joe kicked himself mentally the whole way home.
He’d handled that badly. He handled her badly. If she were a skittish horse he’d be patient. He could afford to be even more patient with her. Reassuring.
She’d given up everything to come here, and he should know what that was like. He’d given up everything for this ranch—his career, his love—and he still had regrets. But he also understood duty.
Duty was what had prompted him to place the ad on the website.
Duty was what would see him married next week.
Joe didn’t always like himself, but his word was his word, and when he made a promise, he kept it.
*
Joe called Sophie later that afternoon. “I’m not going to be able to make it into town for dinner,” he said, his deep voice hard and flat over the line. “And I won’t be able to do lunch tomorrow, as Granddad and I will be riding up into the backcountry looking for a couple cows that have gone missing. But we’ll be back before dark, and then I’ll hop into the shower and change and head into town and we’ll get dinner. Sound okay to you?”