Chapter Seven
Wyatt hadn’t exaggerated. Mercy was very sweet and very slow. “Does she ever go faster?” Mia asked him after they’d been riding a while.
“Sure, but she doesn’t like it. Are you feeling comfortable enough to trot?”
“Maybe later. Right now I’m good.” Besides, if she remembered correctly, she didn’t like trotting. She much preferred a canter or a gallop.
“You must have ridden a lot back when you were a teenager.”
“I did but why do you say that?”
“You seem comfortable with horses. Like you understand them and appreciate them.”
She patted Mercy’s neck with a mittened hand. “I do. I’d like to paint some of the horses if you don’t mind.”
“They’re Dylan’s horses but I can’t imagine he’d mind.”
“I don’t want to get in his way.”
“You won’t. You can ride every day if you want. I can go with you some days but I do have to work a couple of days next week. Dylan or one of the hands can go with you when I can’t.”
“I don’t need a babysitter.”
“Let’s see. Horses—check. Snow—check. Unfamiliar with the terrain and hasn’t ridden in years—check and check. Does that sound like someone who needs to ride alone?”
“Point taken, smartass.” She looked ahead to a winding slash of silver in the whiteness. “What is that river called?”
“It’s more of a stream.”
“Does it have a name?”
“Lover’s Creek. See that grove of trees? That’s where we’re going.”
“I’ve heard of Lover’s Leap but not Lover’s Creek. Is there a story?”
“Yep. My great-grandfather proposed to my great-grandmother there.”
“How romantic.”
“Yes, it is. But it really got the name because my grandmother swore my father was conceived there.”
Mia laughed. “Your grandmother told you that?”
“Hand to God. She said it explained a lot about my father. We were never sure what she meant by that.”
“In the creek or beside it?”
“I suspect beside it, but she never gave any more details. Thank God. Here we are,” he said as they drew close to the grove. He dismounted and looped his reins around a branch. He came to help her, but she’d already dismounted. He took her reins from her and wrapped them around the same branch. “Come on,” he said, taking her hand.
“Where are we going?”
“Not far. There’s a spot I want you to see.”
“Thanks, but I’ll pass.”
He looked surprised for a moment before he laughed. “Not that one. Another one.”
They walked down to the creek and along the bank downstream until the creek took a sharp bend. She stopped in her tracks. The land dropped off abruptly and a small but perfect waterfall cascaded over the rocks. Wyatt didn’t talk, he let her experience it. The water ran clear and pristine, bubbling and gurgling as it flowed downstream. Except for the sounds from the water and the occasional chirp of a bird, it was dead quiet. The sky was a bright, Montana sky blue, so beautiful against the white snow and the purple and white mountains in the distance.
“I wish I had my sketchbook.”
“I had a bet with myself that would be the first thing you said.”
“You won. It’s breathtaking. Stunning.” A hawk swooped down to the water just a few feet away from them, and flew away with an unlucky fish. “I’ve never seen a hawk that close unless it was at a zoo.”
“We should see some other wildlife as well. Did you bring your phone?”
“No, why?” He made a clicking motion and sound. “Oh, the camera. No, I didn’t think of it.”
He handed her a small digital camera. “I’ll bring you back another day, but I know you paint from photos sometimes.”
She was touched by his thoughtfulness. “Thank you.” In order to snap pictures, she had to take off her gloves, so she could only take a few at a time before her hands became numb. “What?” she asked, catching him smiling at her.
“Nothing. I like to watch you work.”
After she had taken a number of pictures, they went back to the horses. Wyatt laced his fingers together to give her a leg up. As she settled in, he un-looped her reins and brought them to her. She put out a hand, detaining him.
“Need something?”
He looked up at her, smiling, and she thought again what a great smile he had. “Come closer,” she said.
He put his hand on her leg and moved closer. Mia bent down and kissed him. “Thank you for bringing me here. You knew I’d love it, didn’t you?”
“I hoped you would.” He patted her leg and walked away.
Damn, damn, damn. Why did he have to know her so well? And why did he have to be so sweet? It was only a matter of time, and probably not a lot of time, until she slept with him again. Unless she told him the truth first. After that he’d want nothing to do with her.
After lunch, which had been another of Glory’s delicious creations, Wyatt asked, “Do you want to go ice skating?”
“Marietta has an ice rink?”
“No, Marietta has a frozen pond called Miracle Lake. They rent skates, sell hot chocolate, that kind of thing.” He looked at her quizzically. “What’s wrong? Don’t you like to ice skate?”
“I have no idea. I’ve never had ice skates on in my life.” And she wasn’t sure she wanted to try.
“Really? Well, don’t worry about it, I’ll teach you.”
She narrowed her eyes at him. “Is this going to be like when you tried to teach me to rock climb?”
He looked chagrinned. “You like all sorts of outdoor activities. You ski and bike and hike. How was I to know you wouldn’t like rock climbing?”
“I didn’t dislike it. I detested it. And you were a jerk.”
“Oh, come on, Mia. It wasn’t that bad.”
“It was horrible. I still remember being stuck on that stupid climbing wall with you ‘helping’ to talk me down. Meaning, you yelled at me. You’re a lousy teacher, Wyatt.”
“Lousy? That’s pretty strong. I’ll admit I’m not the best teacher but I’m hardly the worst.”
Mia let her expression speak for itself.
“I didn’t realize you were so sensitive. No yelling this time. I promise.”
“Swear it. And swear that you won’t try to make me feel like a loser if I hate it and want to go home.”
“I apologized for all that,” Wyatt protested. “Many times. You really hold a grudge. I thought you’d forgiven me.”
“I did. That doesn’t mean I don’t remember the experience.”
“Okay, okay.” He held up both hands in surrender. “I won’t make you stay if you don’t like it.”
“And?”
“And I won’t make you feel like a loser.”
Mia had a lot more fun than she’d thought she would. At first she’d been really shaky and had basically clung to Wyatt while he skated around with her. But after a while she felt more comfortable and was able to skate with him holding her hand instead of propping up her entire body.
“Why are you so good at this?” she asked him.
“I played a lot of ice hockey as a kid. It’s kind of like riding a bike. It comes back to you quickly.”
“I guess it’s a big deal around here.”
“It was when I was growing up.”
“I’m finding out all sorts of things about you I didn’t know.”
“Such as?”
You’re a romantic. “You’re a cowboy,” she said instead.
“I was. Not so much anymore.”
“I bet you used to rodeo.”
“Guilty. Let’s take a break.” He led her over to a log that passed as a bench. “You knew I grew up on a ranch. It’s not unusual that I was into rodeo.”
“I suppose not. I just never thought of you as a rancher or cowboy until I saw you here. What event were you in?”
“Saddle bronc. Sean was too.”
“Did you ever break anything?”
“Just my leg,” he said like it was no big deal. “But that’s what first got me interested in orthopedics.” He glanced at the shack where they sold hot chocolate. “I’ll get us some hot chocolate.”
“Sounds good.” Her ankles hurt though she wouldn’t admit it to Wyatt.
“You love it here, don’t you?” Mia asked him when he returned.
“Yeah, I do. I’d forgotten how much I liked it until I moved back.” He handed her the chocolate and sat beside her.
“Why didn’t you move back sooner?”
He sipped his drink before answering. “I liked Denver. I liked the work. So it wasn’t dissatisfaction with the job.” He shot a glance at her. “I didn’t move because of Loretta either.”
“Did I say that?”
“You might not have said it but you’ve thought it. Marietta’s medical community hasn’t been large enough for many specialists until recently. My brother Jack, the one who’s having the baby, has wanted Sean and me to come home to Marietta for a long time. When the hospital expanded, that meant the medical community could grow too. Both Sean and I were able to return.”
That wasn’t his only reason.
“You don’t believe me, do you?”
“I believe you think that’s the reason. But I also think that even though you won’t admit it, Loretta played a big part in your decision to leave Denver.” She finished her drink and set the cup down beside her.
Wyatt set his cup down as well. “I have less than zero interest in her. Can we forget about her and concentrate on other things?”
“What other things?”
He wrapped one arm around her and pushed up her chin with his other hand. And then he kissed her.
Mia grabbed hold of his coat. She ought to push him away. But she wanted to kiss him. She was tired of fighting her feelings. Besides, how hot could it get out in the cold, in public, wearing multiple layers of clothes?
Plenty hot.
“Public,” she managed to gasp against his mouth.
Still holding her close, he looked down at her and smiled. “Mia, there are three people here besides us and one of them is working. That isn’t a lot of public.” He kissed her again, briefly this time, then got up and held his hand out to her. “Come on. The Christmas Stroll will be starting soon. I figured you’d want to get there early to see the lighting ceremony.”