Chapter 5
WESTON
The storm doesn’t last long. They never do around here. As the storm clouds pass, a rainbow appears in the blue sky, the end of it disappearing into the trees of the forest. Eric has always loved storms, and he’s been glued to the window for the past hour, admiring the patterns lightning makes in the sky. Now that it’s over, he’s full of energy, as though the storm itself has electrified him.
“Dad, I want to go out to the forest and find the end of the rainbow.”
I smile, ruffling Eric’s hair. “Not today, kiddo. You’ll get all muddy.”
“Then you should go. I want to know if there’s a pot of gold in the forest.”
“I don’t know about pots of gold,” Madeline chips in. “But the horses are getting really restless. You should take them out before they kick down the stables.”
She’s not wrong. The horses hate being cooped up - most days, I take Eric out on them. While we were away, they didn’t have any time outside the paddock. I shrug.
“Alright, I’ll go out. But Eric, you stay here. I’m sure Madeline could use a hand with dinner.”
Eric looks disappointed, but he doesn’t protest. I grab my riding boots and coat and head out to the stables.
Out on the ranch, some of the workers wave to me. I nod back to them on my way to the stables, where I find my chestnut Arabian, Cherry. Eric named her, at the time telling me it would remind me of Cheryl. I guess that’s why I feel such a close bond to her. I touch the horse’s face gently, running my fingers through her mane. Her face leans into my touch and I sense the trust there immediately. Even after a few days apart, she still loves me the same.
I saddle her up and start her off at a trot. I can tell she’s itching to get on the move, so it’s not long before we’re cantering towards the lake, mud flying up beneath her hooves. The sun is low in the sky, close to setting, but it’s the best time to ride. The views are gorgeous, the reflection of the sun on the lake almost blinding. Cherry rides hard and I lean into her neck to keep my balance.
But as we are nearing the forest, I spot something strange. There’s a figure curled up by a tree. I almost missed them, but they shift slightly as we ride past. I reign Cherry in, much to her irritation.
“Whoa, girl. Someone’s in trouble,” I say, patting her neck as I hop down from the saddle. I rush to the curled-up figure, turning them over.
It’s a woman. I’m guessing she’s pretty gorgeous when she’s not covered in mud. Her once shiny brunette hair is crusted with mud, and her heart-shaped face is serene as she looks up at me lethargically. “Colin...don’t leave me, please...”
“It’s ok. You’re safe now. I’m going to take you with me home and-” But the woman already drifts off again. I shake my head to myself. If she’s been out here long, she must be freezing. She could be in real trouble. I scoop her up, facing Cherry.
“What do you think, girl? Can you handle another passenger?”
Cherry trots over to get a look at our new acquaintance, but we don’t have time for introductions. I manage to hoist the girl up on to the saddle, and I sit close behind her, my hands slipping past her slim waist to take the reins again. I nudge Cherry with my feet and she sets off immediately, a little slower with an extra passenger, and much more cautious. It’s moments like this when I’m reminded of how trustworthy she is.
We approach the house just as night falls. Madeline is peering curiously out of the window, clearly wondering why I have a mud-encrusted stranger on the horse with me. She rushes out in her slippers to assist me with helping the girl down from the horse.
“Jesus Christ! What happened?”
“I found her on the other side of the lake. She is completely wet and I think she might have hypothermia too.”
Madeline helps me with the woman to the living room. I leave them alone as I need to take Cherry back to the stables.
Several minutes later, I’m sprinting back to the house to see what’s going on. Madeline managed to clean the woman up a little, and she’s now lying on the sofa, still unconscious though. Madeline is making use of one of her many knitted blankets by tucking it around the woman’s feet. Eric pulls at the hem of my shirt nervously.
“Is she going to be okay?”
I pat his head lovingly. “Yes, Eric, of course. We’re going to make sure she gets better, and then we’ll take her up to the medical center tomorrow. It’s now closed for the day.”
“But what if she doesn’t make it until then?”
“She just got a little cold, I think. If she doesn’t wake up soon, we can-”
The woman cuts me off as she gasps, waking up. We all jump at the awakening of the stranger, staring at her and waiting for her next move. She stares back at us all, clearly as shocked to be here as we are to have her.
“What...what happened?”
“Weston found you out by the lake, dear. Didn’t anyone warn you there was going to be a storm today?”
The woman blinks in surprise. “Well...yes, but the sky was so clear-”
I snort to myself. This woman clearly isn’t from around here. And looking at her light shirt and skinny jeans that, by the way, do a great job of complimenting her long slender legs, she isn’t much of an experienced hiker either. Madeline glares at me, before offering the woman a reassuring smile.
“What’s your name, sweetie?”
“I’m...I’m Samantha.”
“Well, I’m Madeline. This here is Weston, he owns the ranch. And his son, Eric.”
“Make her the special tea!” Eric cries before Samantha can form a response. Madeline chuckles.
“That’s not a bad idea, Eric. Would you like a hot drink, Samantha?”
“I...yes, that would be lovely, but...but what is it?”
Madeline pats her leg again. “It’s not really tea. It’s mulled wine. I say a good stiff drink gives you a shove back towards health, right? It’ll do you a world of good.”
“Well...sure.”
“Weston will take care of you. Come on Eric, let's get the nice lady a drink.”
Madeline and Eric head off together to prepare Samantha a drink. I take Madeline’s spot by Samantha’s feet, smirking at her anxious expression.
“Well, I guess it’s not every day you wind up in some stranger’s house, right?”
She swallows, shaking her head nervously. “No...I’m so sorry to impose on you like this. I’m really embarrassed. I’ve been on plenty of hikes and walks before…”
I chuckle. This girl is really something else. Getting lost in the woods in a storm? Definitely from elsewhere.
“Let me guess...you’re a city girl.”
“Guilty as charged,” she smiles, although a bit embarrassed.
“New York?”
“No, New Jersey.”
I smile. I have fond memories of New Jersey. My buddies and I would head there for the nights out. We’d get a meal and a whole lot of booze and drink until the sun came up. I used to take my brothers, too, back in the day. Aiden and Brandon always begged me to go, though they started going without me after I met Cheryl. Even my sister, Georgia, could drink me under the table when she was in the mood for it, so our trips to New Jersey were frequent before my marriage.
“New Jersey, huh? Explains a lot about the predicament you just got yourself into.”
Samantha frowns, crossing her arms. “I’m not soft. Besides. You’re not from here either. You’re a Yank. Anyone could spot you a mile off.”
I grin at Samantha. “You’ve got good hearing. Everyone back home says my accent is practically gone. It’s a shame you didn’t use those perky ears of yours when you were told not to go out on a stormy day.”
I can tell I’m winding Samantha up real tight, but she bites her lip, clearly not wanting to be rude to her host. Fortunately for her, Madeline returns with the wine and a more sympathetic attitude than mine. She coos over Samantha.
“Gosh, you must be half-frozen. Where are you staying?”
“I’m at the bed and breakfast up the hill. I guess the route I took was a little longer than I expected…”
“Well, no harm done! I’ll give the hotel a ring, they’ll be worried sick about you. They don’t get many guests this time of year, you know.”
“So I’ve heard,” Samantha says, shuddering at the warmth of the mug in her hands. Her teeth are chattering now, and it makes Madeline fuss even more, her face full of concern. I raise my eyebrows at Samantha and she simply glares at me, as though it’s my fault she did this to herself. I’m the one who brought her in from the mud. She should be able to handle some light teasing from the person who saved her skin.
“Thank you for your hospitality,” Samantha says sweetly to Madeline, her cheeks flushed. “I should get back to the hotel…”
“Nonsense!” Madeline says just as I’m about to agree. “You’re not fit to travel! Weston would be quite happy to host you here for the night in the guest room.”
“Madeline,” I hiss. “A word?”
Madeline follows me out of the living area and into the kitchen.
“What are you doing? She can’t stay here.”
Madeline looks surprised at my response. “What are you talking about? You’re the one who brought her here…”
“Yeah, because I was worried about her. But we don’t know this woman. I can’t just let a stranger stay in my house. I have a son to care for.”
Madeline places her hands on her hips. “So you’re telling me you’re worried that the woman you found unconscious in the forest can’t be trusted? Weston, she was completely out of it.”
“Exactly. What kind of crazy person heads out into the woods without a hiking partner, in a storm?”
“You know how these city girls are - they think they can take on anything they put their mind to. It doesn’t make her crazy. Look, I’m not asking you to let her move in. Just let her stay until the morning, and then take her up to the medical center to make sure she’s okay. It’s dark, you don’t want to be driving up the hill to the hotel at this hour. It’s not safe on the track.”
I throw my hands up in exasperation. “I’m just not comfortable with it.”
“Fine. How about you drive her up to the hotel, covered in mud, and see what kind of attention you attract? Let her stay here for the night, offer her a shower and a bed, and before you know it, she’ll be gone in the morning. Show some humanity, for Christ’s sake!”
I’m still not happy. But I know Madeline won’t change her mind now - once she’s set on something, she never budges. I sigh, rolling my eyes.
“Fine. She can stay.”
Madeline smiles smugly. “So it’s settled. I wonder if our guest likes pie?”