The Rancher's Best Gift

As Matthew took a seat on the leather couch, he felt like he’d been run over by a stampeding herd just like the one on the TV screen. The thorn wounds on his arms stung, his shoulders ached from hours of riding, and his eyes burned from lack of sleep and squinting for hours in the fierce sun.

Leaning his head against the back of the couch, he closed his eyes and allowed his body to relax against the soft cushions. Outside he could hear the faint sound of the wind rattling the bougainvillea growing near the window, and farther away, the cattle continued to bawl. Not as loudly as last night, but they were still impatient to be on the open range.

The hypnotic sounds lulled him closer to the edge of sleep. He didn’t know Camille was anywhere in the room until he felt her hand cupping the side of his face.

Chapter Four (#udab6ec8a-0ccf-532a-bba2-40ad50b7ec2a)

The contact of Camille’s hand against his cheek caused Matthew’s eyes to fly open, and he looked around to see she was sitting close to his side, studying him with a mixture of concern and indulgence.

“Uh—sorry—I guess I must’ve dozed off.”

“Yes. I could tell,” she said softly. “I should’ve let you sleep. But I was afraid you’d stay here on the couch all night. And you need to be in bed.”

He needed to be in bed, all right, Matthew thought. With her soft body beneath his. The erotic thought was a hopeless one, but he couldn’t stop it from entering his mind and lingering there like a haunting dream.

“No need to worry,” he said a little gruffly. “I’m awake now.”

She dropped her hand and leaned forward toward the long coffee table in front of the couch. Matthew’s head had cleared enough for him to see she’d brought a tray with two cups and two bowls. Apparently she was planning to have dessert with him.

“I brought coffee and bread pudding,” she said. “I made it at the diner today and the customers seemed to enjoy it. You might like it, too.”

She handed him the bowl and cup, and Matthew expected her to take hers to a different chair, or at least scoot a cushion or two down the couch from him. But she didn’t. Instead, she remained by his side, so close that her shoulder and thigh were touching his.

Trying to ignore the tempting contact, he asked, “Are you the only cook at the diner?”

“Yes. It’s not big enough to need more than one. Although the owner does have a backup in case I’m sick or need to take off for some reason. But that only happens rarely.”

He spooned a bite of the pudding into his mouth and very nearly groaned at the delicious taste of cinnamon, raisins and custard-soaked bread. “This is delicious,” he said, then shook his head with disbelief. “I’ll be honest, Camille, I never thought of you as liking to cook. But apparently you do. I can see you take pride in your work.”

“Thank you, Matthew. I do. It makes me happy to create something that gives people joy.” She turned an eager look on him. “I’d like for you to come by and see the place before you leave. If you get a chance, that is.”

“I’ll try.”

His half-hearted promise was enough to put a bright smile on her face, and Matthew was suddenly thinking about Blake’s remark about Camille needing to get her head on straight. As far as Matthew could see, she had her head on perfectly straight. She wasn’t crying, or pining, or miserable, and though the whole family believed she was hiding from life, she seemed to be doing just the opposite.

“I’ll tell you a secret, Matthew. I’ve been having some serious talks with the man who owns the diner. The place is getting busier every day. And I want to expand the menu and start having daily specials. You know, the old-fashioned blue-plate thing—like meat loaf and pinto beans and that sort of home-style food. He’s not sure he’d profit over the expense, but I’m sure he would. Since he’s been hedging, I decided to offer to buy him out.”

That sounded like she’d already made up her mind to stay here in Cochise County permanently, Matthew thought.

“And how did the owner react to your offer?”

“He’s thinking on it. Which I understand. He’s owned the place for twenty years. But he’s talked a lot about retiring so that he and his wife can travel. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that he’ll decide to sell.”