Page 16 of All in with the Maverick Montana

“It will.”

He disappeared into the house again. While he was gone, Amy picked away at her toast, even the crusts, which she usually left behind, finding herself ravenous. When had buttered toast ever tasted so wonderful? Josh returned with a glass in hand.

“Happy now?” he asked, plopping down in the rocker next to hers. He kicked his legs out, the toes of his boots worn and dusty.

“Yes,” Amy said, grinning. Caleb and Faith often sat out here like this in the evenings, after the store was closed and dinner was cleaned up. More than once, Amy had thought about how lovely it must feel to sit in the quiet company of someone you cared about. “So, do you get any time to do this out on that ranch of yours? Or is it just work, work, work all the time?”

“You know, I usually put the cattle in charge and they take care of things for me.”

“Oh, of course. I’m sure they’re running the ranch right now.”

“Keeping it in top shape,” Josh agreed.

“No, but really?” Amy said.

“I mean, do I kick back on the porch and relax? On occasion. Usually only if I have people stop by for whatever reason. When it’s just me, I usually have a running list of things that need to get done around the property and I just fill my time. It’s the kind of job where you’re never really caught up, if that makes sense. There’s always some wayward cow getting stuck in the creek or some storm tearing down fences or supplies that need to be gathered.”

Amy nodded. “I guess you could say I’m the one doing you the favor. Forcing you to relax in the middle of the day.”

Josh sipped his sweet tea, hiding his smirk. “This was all for my benefit then?”

“It’s looking that way.”

“I see. Guess I should be thanking you.”

“It’s the least you could do,” Amy said. “After the big show I had to put on to get you here.”

Josh chuckled. “I am glad you seem to be feeling better.”

“The toast worked wonders.”

“Now that’s a best kept secret, so don’t go spreading it around.”

“Oh, I would never.” Amy pretended to lock her lips and toss the key away. She glanced back at him. “Tell me about Split Valley.”

“What do you want to know?”

“Tell me about the horses. You said you have a few?”

“Well,” Josh said, “There’s Bella and Bitsy. I’ve had Bella since I was a teen. She’s older and grumpy now, but still my best girl. Bitsy likes who she likes and bites everyone else. But we’re working on it.”

Amy laughed. “Sounds like quite the character.”

“Oh, she is. And then there’s Mac. Short for Macbeth, because he’s just full of drama. But he’s also very sweet and gentle, and as long as I sneak him a treat every now and then, I can usually get him to keep the melodrama to a minimum.”

Amy loved the way he talked about his horses. There was warmth and affection, and she very much wanted to meet this little herd. His voice was soothing as he carried on about their personalities, about Bitsy not being allowed near visitors, about the oddball things that horses do. Amy could have listened to him talk all day about everything and nothing. As it was, everything sounded so much more interesting. He could have been telling her about the clouds in the sky and she suspected she’d still be hanging on every word.

“So how long have you been riding?” Josh said. “You mentioned it the other day at the store that it’s one of your favorite things.”

“I started learning… Gosh, I must have been three or four,” Amy said. “But I’d been around horses my whole life.” She glossed over The Hawkins Sisters stuff again because she wanted Josh to know her without all the glitz and glam.

“Did you get yourself a tiny little pony?”

“That’s exactly what I had!” Amy laughed. “Me and all my sisters. We used to fight over who got in the saddle first.”

“I’m trying to imagine a tiny you, kicking up dust and wrinkling your nose when you didn’t get your way.”

“I try not to scrap with my sisters anymore,” Amy said. “I don’t think I ever outgrew the nose wrinkle though.”