grew serious. “Seriously though. Dinner was great. Thanks so much for the food. I can’t remember having a meal that good.”
“Not a problem at all. Oh, I forgot to tell you. There’s a truck out by the bunkhouse. It’s not fancy at all, just an old Silverado, but it’s yours to use. I don’t expect you to stay on the ranch twenty-four hours a day. If you need to go into town or anything, it’s no problem. I’ll give you the set of keys.”
“I can’t think of any reason why I’d need to go anywhere, except if you needed me to get anything, or for supplies. Appreciate it. Room and board, and a truck? Best job I’ve ever had.”
Was he being sarcastic? Amelia couldn’t tell. Walking to the key rack, she grabbed the key. “She’s old but she still runs better than most new vehicles. You have any problems with it, let me know. We’ll get it fixed soon.”
Nick twirled the key ring on his finger. “No problem. Thanks so much, Amelia. I can’t wait to get started on everything.”
Chapter Six
Nick grumbled when he heard the alarm clock blaring on the night stand by his bed. He had set it for six AM so he could get up and get started before it got hot. Turning on his side, he slammed the snooze button with his palm and burrowed back in the covers. He had an amazing night sleep and the early morning hour came too fast. Stretching out, he rubbed his eyes and forced himself to kick his legs over the side of the bed.
Hobbling to the bathroom, he paused at the window. It was still somewhat dark out, but he noticed someone on the back porch of Amelia’s house, rocking in the swing. Was that her? Squinting, he tried to clear his vision. The houses weren’t that far apart, but enough that he couldn’t make out who it was. Leaning his forehead on the glass, he watched closer. It was definitely her. She flung her dark hair over her shoulder and leaned back, hoisting a mug up to her lips.
Nick’s heart skipped a beat at the sight. She was still in her baggy pajamas and somehow still managed to pull his attention completely on her. Closing his eyes, he pushed past the thought. She was a damn fine woman, but the inappropriateness of the entire situation made him resist, though it was hard.
After a luke-warm shower and some coffee of his own, Nick went to the barn to begin work. He’d leave Amelia alone for now. He didn’t want to be a nagging employee, always asking what he needed to do. It was obvious from his tour yesterday that there was plenty to do; it was just a matter of digging in and getting started.
First on his list was repairing the well house roof. He vaguely remembered Amelia mentioning that a storm a few months back had come through and tore it up. Gathering the roofing supplies into the back of the old pickup, he kneeled down to pet the shepherd mix dog that ran figure eights through his legs. The dog licked his hands and whimpered.
“What’s your name, pal?” Nick scratched behind his ears. “Who do you belong to?”
The dog barked as if he was responding to the question, and Nick invited him to jump up into the bed of the truck. Driving out to well house, he already felt the Texas sun beating down on him. Adjusting his baseball cap, he swiped some sweat on his forehead and went to work, pulling the old, damaged boards from the roof. The heavy humidity made his shirt stick to him, so he quickly peeled it off and tossed it to the ground.
“You thirsty?”
Nick looked down to see Amelia standing near the truck, a pitcher of tea and a glass in her hand. She shielded her face from the sun. She had her dark hair tied back, appearing as if she had been doing some work of her own.
Jumping down, he tossed the hammer to the side, picked his shirt up out of the grass, and gladly accepted the beverage. “Thanks. I didn’t realize I had been out here this long.” Should he put the shirt back on? He suddenly felt modest in front of her.
“You’re about halfway done with the well
“Not a problem at all. Oh, I forgot to tell you. There’s a truck out by the bunkhouse. It’s not fancy at all, just an old Silverado, but it’s yours to use. I don’t expect you to stay on the ranch twenty-four hours a day. If you need to go into town or anything, it’s no problem. I’ll give you the set of keys.”
“I can’t think of any reason why I’d need to go anywhere, except if you needed me to get anything, or for supplies. Appreciate it. Room and board, and a truck? Best job I’ve ever had.”
Was he being sarcastic? Amelia couldn’t tell. Walking to the key rack, she grabbed the key. “She’s old but she still runs better than most new vehicles. You have any problems with it, let me know. We’ll get it fixed soon.”
Nick twirled the key ring on his finger. “No problem. Thanks so much, Amelia. I can’t wait to get started on everything.”
Chapter Six
Nick grumbled when he heard the alarm clock blaring on the night stand by his bed. He had set it for six AM so he could get up and get started before it got hot. Turning on his side, he slammed the snooze button with his palm and burrowed back in the covers. He had an amazing night sleep and the early morning hour came too fast. Stretching out, he rubbed his eyes and forced himself to kick his legs over the side of the bed.
Hobbling to the bathroom, he paused at the window. It was still somewhat dark out, but he noticed someone on the back porch of Amelia’s house, rocking in the swing. Was that her? Squinting, he tried to clear his vision. The houses weren’t that far apart, but enough that he couldn’t make out who it was. Leaning his forehead on the glass, he watched closer. It was definitely her. She flung her dark hair over her shoulder and leaned back, hoisting a mug up to her lips.
Nick’s heart skipped a beat at the sight. She was still in her baggy pajamas and somehow still managed to pull his attention completely on her. Closing his eyes, he pushed past the thought. She was a damn fine woman, but the inappropriateness of the entire situation made him resist, though it was hard.
After a luke-warm shower and some coffee of his own, Nick went to the barn to begin work. He’d leave Amelia alone for now. He didn’t want to be a nagging employee, always asking what he needed to do. It was obvious from his tour yesterday that there was plenty to do; it was just a matter of digging in and getting started.
First on his list was repairing the well house roof. He vaguely remembered Amelia mentioning that a storm a few months back had come through and tore it up. Gathering the roofing supplies into the back of the old pickup, he kneeled down to pet the shepherd mix dog that ran figure eights through his legs. The dog licked his hands and whimpered.
“What’s your name, pal?” Nick scratched behind his ears. “Who do you belong to?”
The dog barked as if he was responding to the question, and Nick invited him to jump up into the bed of the truck. Driving out to well house, he already felt the Texas sun beating down on him. Adjusting his baseball cap, he swiped some sweat on his forehead and went to work, pulling the old, damaged boards from the roof. The heavy humidity made his shirt stick to him, so he quickly peeled it off and tossed it to the ground.
“You thirsty?”
Nick looked down to see Amelia standing near the truck, a pitcher of tea and a glass in her hand. She shielded her face from the sun. She had her dark hair tied back, appearing as if she had been doing some work of her own.
Jumping down, he tossed the hammer to the side, picked his shirt up out of the grass, and gladly accepted the beverage. “Thanks. I didn’t realize I had been out here this long.” Should he put the shirt back on? He suddenly felt modest in front of her.
“You’re about halfway done with the well
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