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They finished eating, cleaned up, and headed outside. She tagged along and helped him finish feeding the sick herd, the calves, and the horses.
“Finally, these sweet little ones can calm their worried bleating,” she’d pronounced after they fed the calves.
The morning sped by and was the most interesting morning he’d had in … maybe his entire life, for sure since he’d moved up to his remote and previously too quiet valley.
Jacey was funny, hard-working, unexpected, and delightful. He wasn’t sure what to pin on her. Even with her elevated language, she didn’t make him feel like he was a hick cowboy, and she could tease and laugh with the best of them.
As she worked by his side, a marvel of classy lady and farmhand combined, he realized the significance of what he’d just committed to, keeping her here until her brain healed, her mother was arrested again, and she chose to go back to the Coleville Ranch.
He hardly knew Jacey, and red flags should be waving. He hadn’t risked getting close to any beautiful lady since Sheryl chose Clint over him. It had only been a year, but he’d learned his lessons and taken his licks.
In a matter of hours, he couldn’t imagine letting Jacey go. He didn’t want to relinquish her to Clint or any of the Coleville brothers. The handsome and successful Coleville cowboys would be appealing to her or any woman.
But maybe not. Jacqueline Oliver had been raised ultra-wealthy and East Coast. Maybe when she regained her memory, she’d realize she didn’t like cowboys or the smell of horses and cows. She’d realize she didn’t like him.
Right now, she seemed to like him. She had no trouble brushing against him, teasing with him, smiling at him. Each action made his heart race out of control. He liked her and was far too protective of her already.
She oddly didn’t ask anything more about her past. Maybe the little he’d told her was too much for her injured brain. She pried him with questions about what he did with his days, where he sold his beef cattle, which horse was his favorite, could they swim in the lake, etc.
By lunchtime, he was starting to wonder if he should gently broach some topics of her life, but no, Doc had said to let her ask the questions and not give too much detail. Let her mind work out the memories. If she had any.
They were eating sandwiches and carrots side by side at the table. It boggled his mind that this classy, wealthy lady was sitting next to him, eating. Her manners would make his mama proud, and Jacey drew him in without even trying. She was nothing like he would’ve imagined she would be. Maybe when her memory returned, she’d look down her nose at him and be aghast she’d fed calves and hugged a smelly cowboy.
The rumble of truck tires on gravel made her head pop up and her shoulders tense. “Is it the sheriff guy? Should I hide again?”
“Let me check.” He stood and rushed to the window. It was the ‘sheriff guy.’ Clint was in his sheriff truck and had Easton with him this time. “Yes, it’s them. I think you should meet them.” He hated that concession. What if Clint was after her romantically? The ‘wealthy and hot sheriff’ was much more appealing than the ‘injured military cowboy.’ He knew. Sheryl had told him.
She stood and looked incredibly appealing in her fitted running clothes, the rips in the material revealing smooth skin he longed to brush his fingers over. Her dark hair trailed around her face, which was fresh, clean, and beautiful. He wanted to tell her to hide, keep her from Clint, keep her all to himself.
Boots crossed the porch and a rap came on the door.
“It’ll be okay,” he found himself reassuring her. “They only want to help and protect you.” It was a hard concession for him to make. He wanted to selfishly protect her all alone.
“Okay.” She still looked uncomfortable. He almost hurried to her and wrapped his arm around her, but that wasn’t his place. He wasn’t her boyfriend.
“Okay.” He opened the door. “Hey.”
“Hey.” Easton rushed past him and right up to Jacey. He reached for her hand.
Cade instinctively wanted to push him away.
“Pardon me, sir.” Jacey held up her hands and backed into the kitchen table. “I apologize for any misperceptions you may have, but I possess no concept of who you are. I am not in a position to be holding your hand.”
Cade smiled. She put the charming bull rider in his place with the most beautiful language. He basked in the way she talked and that she hadn’t minded holding Cade’s hand.
“Jacey?” Easton’s forehead wrinkled and he looked crestfallen. “You don’t know me? But … I’m your favorite Coleville brother.”
Clint grunted at that and muttered, “Ease off, bro. She lost her memory and you insisting she knows you isn’t going to help. Give her some space and time.”
So Easton was after Jacey, not Clint? Luckily she didn’t seem interested. But that must be because she’d lost her memory. Every female in town who followed the Montana Pro Rodeo circuit was chasing suave Easton. He seemed to think Jacey should be holding his hand.
“Okay.” Easton stepped back, took off his hat, and gripped it between his hands. “Do you want to come back to the ranch with us? Mama is fit to be tied worryin’ bout ya.”
Cade had to restrain himself from stepping forward. Jacey had beautifully exclaimed earlier that she chose him. Now, seeing the Coleville men, maybe she’d change her mind. Maybe she’d be drawn to them or feel more comfortable around them. She’d lived on the ranch for a year, after all. Even if she didn’t have her memories, she sensed things, like the fear of her mother, worry over her brother, and Jacey fitting but not Jacqueline.
“Mama?” she asked.
“Mama Millie,” Easton supplied. “You two adore each other.” His blue eyes twinkled. “Almost as much as you adore me.”
