Trouble in Paradise (8 page)

If only she could remember that when Ian was around.

It was a hot June day, the absence of a breeze intensifying the strength of the sun.

Ian knew it would be more humane, both for the animals and for himself, to slow down a bit, but he didn’t. He drove his horse and the cattle relentlessly.

By the time he herded the strays into the corral and closed the gate, sweat streamed down his spine. Ian tasted grime on his tongue, and he figured he didn’t smell much better than his horse.

But all that was important to him was that Shayla’s car was parked in front of his house.

He dismounted and looped the reins around a post, then strode toward the front door. He arrived on the porch as the door opened. There she was, car keys in hand, trying to make her getaway, as he’d suspected she might.

“Hi.” He casually blocked her way while giving her a warm smile.

“Hello.”

“You aren’t leaving. You didn’t forget your riding lesson, did you?”

She glanced toward the car, and he could tell she was warring within herself, trying to decide what to do, how to answer.

He took another step toward her. “I’ve been looking forward to this all morning.”

“You have?” Surprise leaped into her eyes.

“Yes.” He paused, then asked, “Did you buy some boots?”

She nodded.

“Great.” His grin broadened. “If you don’t mind, I’ll take a quick shower, grab a bite to eat and then we can begin. Sound like a plan?”

Once more she glanced toward her car. Once more she nodded. “All right. I…I’ll fix sandwiches while you wash up.”

The desire to kiss her came suddenly. It would be easy to do. One long step would take him to her. His hands could close around her arms, below her shoulders, and he could draw her up onto her tiptoes while he leaned down.

Would she taste of vanilla? Like cookies baking in a warm kitchen on a summer day? Or was that merely the illusion her cologne cast over him?

Abruptly she turned and walked into the house, hurrying to the kitchen. Hiding from him, he realized. Afraid of what she’d seen in his eyes.

She was as skittish as a colt. He wanted to know why. He wanted to understand lots of things about her.

Beginning today.

S
he was in trouble.
Big
trouble.

Shayla stood in the center of the large kitchen, her heart hammering, her body quivering. She wasn’t mistaken. He’d thought about kissing her. If she hadn’t turned away, he might have done it.

And then what?

Heartbreak, that’s what.

Letting herself care for this hunk of a cowboy had heartbreak written all over it. She’d been taking care of the needs of others for most of her life. Now it was
her
time. Hers!

Oh, but she’d wanted his kisses. She’d wanted to step up close and melt into his embrace.

She heard water running upstairs and knew he was in the shower.

Leave now!
her mind screamed.
Get out while you can.

But her feet felt as if they’d been nailed to the floor. She couldn’t move, couldn’t run.

She breathed deeply, then released it, reminding herself it was only a riding lesson she waited for. Just a lesson. Nothing more.

The telephone rang. Ian had told her to answer it whenever she was in the house alone. On the fourth ring, she decided to pick it up.

“Hello?”

There was a lengthy hesitation before a woman said, “I’m sorry. I must have dialed the wrong number.”

“Wait. Were you calling the O’Connell ranch?”

“Yes.” Another pause. “Is Ian there?”

“Yes, he is. I’ll see if he’s available.” She laid the handset on the kitchen counter, then returned to the front of the house, pausing at the base of the stairs. “Ian?” She thought the water had stopped running. “Ian?”

A few moments later, she heard the creak of an opening door. “Yeah?”

“Telephone for you.”

“Thanks. I’ll get it up here.”

She hurried back to the kitchen and discreetly hung up the telephone, resisting the temptation to listen and perhaps discover the woman’s identity. It wasn’t any of her business. And she would rather eat crushed glass than admit she felt a twinge of jealousy.

As if she had any right to feel such a thing.

“He is only a friend,” she reminded herself. “And
there is nothing wrong with having a male friend. I am perfectly capable of setting boundaries and sticking to them. Besides, I’m not his type, and he certainly isn’t mine.”

She crossed the room to look out the window toward the barn, thinking how pleasant it would be to spend the afternoon with him. Just the two of them. Alone.

“But I am
not
lonely. I like being on my own. I like having a place all to myself. I want to write my stories. That’s what’s important to me now.”

She drew in a deep breath, then let it out. There. That was better. She was her calm, collected self again. No more wild thoughts.

Her newfound composure lasted about fifteen seconds.

“That was my sister.”

She jumped at the sound of Ian’s voice, whirling around to face him as he entered the kitchen. His hair was damp, his jaw freshly shaved. He looked relaxed and handsome. Much
too
handsome. Her rebellious heart quickened at the mere sight of him.

“Your sister?”

“On the phone. Leigh. My sister in Florida. I told you about her.”

“Oh. Yes.”

“Did you make the sandwiches?” He glanced at the kitchen counter, then back to her.

Had he guessed she’d felt jealous at the possibility of another woman in his life? Oh, how she hoped not.

He raised an eyebrow as he met her gaze. “The sandwiches?”

“No.” She shook her head. “No, I didn’t make them yet. I was just about to start.”

“Well, I’d better help you. We need to eat something before we go. We might be out for two or three hours.”

“Two or three hours?” She sounded like a parrot, the way she repeated everything he said. What was the matter with her?

He opened the refrigerator. “Yeah. I thought I’d take you over to Elk Flat. It’s an easy trail, and it’s got mighty pretty scenery. We won’t want to rush.”

“I hadn’t planned to be out that long. I need to write this afternoon.”

It was the truth. It was also an excuse.

“You creative types need to refill the well every so often.” He straightened, lunch meat and sandwich spread in his hands. “This’ll do you good. I promise.”

I doubt that,
she thought as she returned his gaze.

But she stayed, just as she’d known all along she would.

Shayla was a natural with horses. She showed no fear once she was in the saddle. Of course it helped that Pumpkin was a docile horse.

After giving Shayla a brief refresher, Ian had enough confidence in both her and the mare to leave the ranch house behind and head up the trail.

They rode in companionable silence, Shayla observing the scenery and Ian observing Shayla.

Her new duds—felt cowboy hat, shiny black boots and a shirt the same dark blue as her eyes—almost shouted,
Greenhorn!
Especially the shirt that
was trimmed with long, white fringe, both front and back. Patsy Whitehall, who owned the women’s clothing shop in town, must have seen her coming from a mile away.

But Ian thought she looked mighty cute in it all the same.

“It’s the shirt, isn’t it?”

He grinned but didn’t answer.

“I knew it was a bad choice.” She glanced at him. “The fringe, right?”

He shrugged, trying not to laugh.

“I thought so. I looked at myself in the mirror and thought, this is only for rodeo queens and country-western bars. Don’t buy it.”

Now he laughed.

“I knew it, but I couldn’t help myself.” She returned his smile, then joined his laughter with her own. “I guess I wanted to be Dale Evans,” she added after she caught her breath again.

“You wouldn’t be the first.”

“I suppose not.” Her smile faded as their gazes held.

The impulse to kiss her returned. If he reached for Pumpkin’s reins, he could draw both horses to a halt and then…

Shayla glanced away.

“Tell me about the book you’re writing,” he said, hoping to make her look at him again.

She didn’t.

“Have you killed anyone this week?”

That did the trick.

Mischief sparked in her eyes as their gazes met. “As a matter of fact, I’m about ready for my third corpse.”

“Male or female?”

“Definitely male. A clothing critic, I think.”

“Knife?”

“Pistol. Easier to ambush someone. Especially if he’s riding alone out on some trail…like this one, for instance.”

“Did I mention how much I like your shirt, Miss Vincent? Especially that fancy white fringe. Real attractive, if you ask me.”

She laughed again.

It was the prettiest sound he’d heard.

“You are an extremely wise man, Mr. O’Connell. Extremely wise.”

“Thanks, ma’am. I do what I can.” He winked at her, then turned serious. “Now, tell me more about your writing.”

“Are you really interested?”

“I wouldn’t have asked if I wasn’t.”

A flicker of a smile curved her mouth as she turned her gaze up the trail. “I’ve been in love with books since I was a kid. I always loved to read. And to write, too. My favorite kind of books were mystery novels where I had to solve the clues along with the characters. Stories that captured my imagination and had characters who were honest and moral.” Her smiled faded. “But as an adult, it became more and more difficult to find the kind of books I liked that didn’t have things in them I didn’t want to read.”

“I’m not sure what you mean.”

“I wanted stories that would build me up in my Christian faith. Like in the Bible where it says to fix our thoughts on what’s true, honorable and right and to think about things that are admirable, excellent and worthy of praise. I wanted stories that showed life as it is, not some make-believe world, but that also had protagonists who looked at life from a Christian worldview and then solved their problems because of their faith.”

Ian couldn’t help but notice the sparkle in her eyes, the passion in her voice as she spoke.

“I’d almost given up hope of finding what I was looking for.” She met his gaze. “But then I began to find just the sort of books I wanted to read—mystery and suspense novels that were grounded in the characters’ Christian faith. That’s when I first knew, deep in my heart, what I wanted to do with my life. What I was born to do. I wanted to write novels that glorify God.”

“Something tells me you’re going to do just that.”

Her whole face lit up with a smile. “Thank you, Ian. You may be the first who believes it. You and the Lord.”

In that moment, Ian realized what attracted him so much to his neighbor. It wasn’t because she was cute or because she was a little different—although she was both of those things. No, what attracted him was the depth of faith he perceived in her. He wanted his own faith in Christ to go as deep as hers.

Could God have more than one purpose for bringing her to Rainbow Valley? Was it possible Ian was also part of God’s plan for Shayla Vincent?

By the time the two of them reached Elk Flat, Shayla had told Ian more about her book than she’d imagined she could share with someone. It took her by surprise, how easy it was to tell him her ideas, to talk about her characters and her plot. He made her forget her usual reticence. With his carefully interspersed questions, he also made her forget her fears of having to return to Portland a failure, proving all the doubters right. Instead, his interest made her feel as if she had already succeeded.

As the trail came out of the dense forest, opening into a huge meadow, Ian drew back on the reins and softly announced, “This is what I hoped you’d get to see. It’s why I left the dogs in their kennels.”

A herd of elk raised their heads in unison, watchful of the human trespassers but not frightened away. A stag with an enormous rack stared directly at Shayla.

She drew an awestruck breath. “Oh my.”

“That’s how I feel when I see them,” Ian whispered.

“What a beautiful sight.”

“They feed here the better part of the summer.”

“I’ve never seen elk outside of a zoo.”

“This is how they ought to be seen. Wild and free.”

She looked at him. “You love it here. This land. Nature. Everything. It’s a part of you, isn’t it?”

“Yeah.” He met her gaze. “The way you know God has called you to write? That’s the same way I feel about this ranch. God’s called me to be here. He prepared me long before I came to know the Lord.
He gave me a love for the business of ranching, for working outdoors and tending the animals. It’s hard work, but I’m where I’m supposed to be.”

“That’s easy to understand.” She motioned with her hand. “Look at the beauty God has surrounded you with.”

The way he studied her made her stomach flutter. There seemed to be a question written in his eyes, something she couldn’t quite understand.

He glanced away. “Let’s walk awhile. My legs could use a stretch before we start back.” He dismounted, then waited for her to do the same.

Remembering his earlier instructions, Shayla gripped the saddle horn with her left hand, swung her right leg over Pumpkin’s rump and eased herself to the ground. She felt a bit of pride in her ability to do it without any help or additional tutoring. The feeling disappeared the moment her right knee started to buckle beneath her.

“Easy there.” Ian’s hand gripped her arm, keeping her upright while she steadied herself.

Heat rose in her cheeks. She hadn’t wanted to look like an amateur in front of him. He did everything so easily, so perfectly. So…

She looked up, found him watching her, felt her insides twist into a knot.

Before she knew what was happening, he leaned down and his mouth captured hers. What strength the ride on horseback hadn’t sapped from her legs, his kiss did.

He straightened and took a step backward, but his
eyes remained locked with hers and his hand still gripped her arm.

“Why did you do that?” she whispered, touching her lips with her fingertips.

“Why do you think?”

“I…I don’t know.”

He drew close, cupping her chin with the callused fingers of one hand, forcing her to continue to meet his intense gaze. “Because I wondered if you would taste as sweet as you look.” He lowered his voice. “And you do.”

Had Ian lost his mind? Everything in him wanted to do something stupid.

Like ask her to stay in Rainbow Valley forever, to put up with the long winters and the hot summers. Like ask her to never return to Portland and her parents and brothers and sisters. Like ask her to marry him and share his home. Like ask her to be the mother of his children.

Not just stupid.
Insane!
A sane man didn’t think about proposing to a woman he’d known such a short time. A sane man took his time, made sure he’d found the right woman. A sane man didn’t rush in where angels feared to tread.

God, You said that if a believer needs wisdom, all he has to do is ask You in faith. Well, I’m asking. Give me wisdom where Shayla is concerned.

He waited a few moments, hoping this would be one of those prayers that was answered instantaneously. It wasn’t.

Ian took a step back from her, allowing his hand to drop to his side at the same time. “I guess we’d better start back.”

“Yes.” She turned her back toward him, once again gripping the saddle horn. “Let’s go.”

“Shayla—”

“Don’t say anything. Let’s pretend this never happened.”

“But—”

“Please, Ian.”

He’d hurt her feelings. Hurting her was the last thing he’d meant to do. Was it the kiss? Was it the reason he’d said he kissed her? Or was it because he withdrew when he should have pressed forward? “I’d like to go, Ian. I need to get home to my writing.”

Everything in him wanted to take her in his arms and kiss her again. Everything except the instinct that said, if he rushed her now, he would lose all hope of winning later.

Ian didn’t want to lose all hope of that. Wise or not, he knew he’d begun falling in love.