Chapter 3
“Hey brother, I heard you were in here.” Flynn said, clapping him on the back as he sat down.
Owen just shook his head at his brother who always seemed to know what everyone was doing. He was the biggest gossip Owen had ever met and it often went on his nerves. But for once he was glad to see him. “Hey, I came to town for groceries on my way home, but I couldn’t resist the smells coming from this place.”
“Pretty amazing, isn’t it? Makes the canyon an even better place.” Owen said, looking around the room, making note of who was there that morning.
“I guess.”
Flynn opened his mouth to say something, but just then Tabitha came through the kitchen doors. “Flynn, it’s good to see you. I wondered how long it would be before you showed up. How’s my official taste tester? Hungry I hope.” She said, coming around the counter and giving Flynn a hug.
Owen felt a flood of jealously at the sight of Tabitha in his brother’s arms, but managed to control his impulse to pull her away from him. It was completely irrational and an emotion he had very little experience with. When Tabitha went back behind the counter to get Flynn a cup of coffee, his brother took one look at his face and gave him a questioning glance, but Owen just returned to his breakfast without a word.
“I’ve been helping Tabitha perfect a few recipes. They were perfect to begin with if you ask me, but she seemed to think they needed improvement.” He said, when she set the cup in front of him.
“Nothing’s ever perfect, Flynn and you helped a lot. I’ll go get you some breakfast.” Tabitha said and disappeared back into the kitchen.
Owen watched the door for a second, Tabitha wasn’t the name he’d expected at all, he wasn’t sure what he’d expected. But as he thought about it, he realized that it was the perfect name for her, one that would roll off the tongue like poetry. Shaking his head at his crazy thoughts, he finished his breakfast suddenly exhausted.
When Tabitha came to pick up his empty place and top off his coffee, he managed to thank her and even smiled at her. She returned his smile, but quickly disappeared back into the kitchen. Owen was disappointed at her cold attitude, but too tired to do anything about it right then. There’d be time to fix the mess he’d made later.
Flynn hadn’t missed the strange interaction between Tabitha and Owen; he hadn’t known Tabitha for long, but he knew that she was usually a lot friendlier with people. “What did you do to her?” He asked, joking.
Owen had to hesitate a second to get his emotions under control, although he knew Flynn was joking, his brother had an amazing ability to read people. It was one of the reason’s he always had so many friends, his ability to understand what they were thinking and feeling allowed him to really connect with people. But it was a huge problem for his brothers, who couldn’t hide anything from him. He somehow always managed to figure out not only when they were up to something but when they were hiding something.
Trying to make his face blank, he said, “I didn’t do anything to her.” Then added quickly, “I’m going home to get some sleep.”
Flynn knew that Owen was hiding something, but seemed to understand that now was not the time to push, he’d find out eventually he always did, so he said, “Fine, I’ll see you at home tonight.”
As Owen rode out of town, he couldn’t get his mind off Tabitha and the mess he’d created. He tried to tell himself that it mattered so much because they were both a part of the canyon and everyone had to stick together. But deep down he knew that it was much more than that, they’d formed a connection that night he’d kissed her, what kind of connection he wasn’t sure.
One thing was clear to him, he had to find a way to make things between them right, her cold treatment of him was just too uncomfortable. When he got home, he collapsed into bed and fell asleep almost immediately with thoughts of Tabitha still in his mind. His dreams were filled with Tabitha, the memory of her in his arms fueling erotic dreams like he’d never had before. When he woke late in the afternoon more exhausted than before, and more than a little frustrated with the turn his life had taken since he met Tabitha.
Tabitha watched the last breakfast customer leave, relieved to have a few hours before the lunch rush. Owen showing up this morning had been far more difficult than she’d anticipated. Of course it hadn’t helped that he’d pretended that nothing had happened between them. Even the slightest acknowledgement would have been preferable to his complete silence, so she’d handled it the only way she knew how to and been curt with him to hide her wounded feelings.
It hadn’t helped the situation, but she’d been hurt by his coldness and reacted instinctively. The attraction she felt for him was still there, but now it was tempered with caution. He clearly wasn’t interested in her, in fact seemed sorry to see her, and she’d have to come to terms with that and soon. Developing a crush on him was not a good idea, it would only distract her from the job she was here to do.
But she couldn’t help but remember how wonderful it felt to be in his arms, and the kiss, well just remembering it made her knees a little weak. But he wasn’t interested in her, she’d been a diversion on a night when he’d been hurting, and it was up to her to move past that and let it go. They were going to be neighbors for the foreseeable future and it wasn’t in either of their best interests for there to be awkward feelings between them.
Owen hadn’t been back to the restaurant for a couple of days, but he was having a hard time staying away. But he had a perfect excuse tonight, since there were still no groceries in the cabin. He’d have to go to town for some and stopping by the restaurant for dinner only made sense. He’d been listening to people talk about the restaurant since it opened and his guilt had been growing by the day. It was time to make amends for the way he’d acted the night he kissed Tabitha.
He waited until late in the evening to go to town hoping that the restaurant would be quieter that time of day. His hunch was correct; there were only a few tables seated when he walked in and they seemed to be just about finished with their dinner. He took the same seat he had the other night hoping that Tabitha would be the one to take his order when he realized that she might not even be there that night.
When she came through the kitchen door a huge smile on her face, he breathed a sigh of relief and quickly reviewed what he wanted to say to her. But unlike the last time she seemed to be happy to see him, her smile genuine, and he found himself smiling back at her, the storm clouds in his head easing back for the first time in days. Just seeing her made him feel better, a sense of calm taking the place of all the turmoil that had been with him since that day at breakfast.
“Hi Owen, you’re almost too late for dinner, but I might have one special in the back.” Tabitha said, her heart pounding, trying her best not to let him see how much he flustered her.
It took Owen a second to find the words he wanted to say when Tabitha was so upbeat, “Umm, that would be nice.” He said, then quickly added, “I’m sorry about the other night that was out of line and I hope you’ll accept my apology.”
Tabatha hadn’t expected him to apologize, in fact had begun to believe that he’d forgotten that night, so she wasn’t quite sure how to respond. Knowing that humor could always make an uncomfortable situation go more smoothly she aimed for that and said, “Well, we have a good story to tell if nothing else. But you have to admit that it was a great kiss.” Then she winked at him and sashayed through the kitchen doors before Owen could respond.
Owen couldn’t have formed a reply even if he’d wanted to, the last thing he’d expected was for her to play the whole thing off as a joke. At first, he was insulted, that had been one hell of a kiss, but by the time she returned with a plate full of food for him, he’d decided that she might have the right idea. Treating the entire thing as a joke would take the pressure off them both, but as he watched her return to the kitchen, he found himself wondering what she had really thought about that kiss.
Over the next week, Owen managed to come into the restaurant just before closing every night, not only for the food, but for a chance to visit with Tabitha for just a few minutes. They never talked for long, but he found her upbeat attitude about life gave him that little boost that made it easier to get through the long lonely night. Flynn had a girlfriend, and rarely spent any time at the cabin, another change that made Owen unhappy.
Tabitha had been looking forward to Owen’s appearance for dinner for hours. It had been a long day, half the supplies she’d ordered hadn’t come, then the electric stove had gone on the fritz and they’d had to use the old wood burning stove she’d thought was just there for looks. The kitchen had been like a furnace all day, making everyone grumpy, including the customers.
But her heart sank when she saw the look on his face as he took his usual stool at the counter. She really didn’t have the energy for anything more than getting him his dinner, but she took a deep breath and said, “You look like you did the night of the wedding.”
Owen looked at her to see if she was joking, but saw only concern in her eyes, and the usual flash of desire he always experienced around her intensified. “Flynn hasn’t been home for days, I think he may have moved in with his girlfriend and forgotten to tell me.” He said, his voice betraying not only his anger, but his hurt that his brother hadn’t talked to him.
“I’m sure he’s just caught up in the romance of the whole thing. Give him a few days, he’ll talk to you.” Tabatha counseled.
“I guess I don’t understand how you could get so caught up that you’d forget your family.” Owen just wasn’t ready to let it go.
Tabitha looked at him for a long time, remembering his words the night of the wedding. “You don’t like change very much, do you?” She finally asked.
Owen shrugged his shoulders, “No, I never have. I like things to stay the way they are. I like life to be predictable.” He said, not liking the way it sounded when he said it out loud.
Tabatha nodded her head, “So this last year has been especially hard for you. If you hate change so much, why did you come to America?”
Tabitha instantly thought that she’d overstepped her bounds, but Owen didn’t seem offended, in fact he seemed to be considering her question. “Honestly, I don’t know. My life back home was almost perfect. I had a wonderful fiancé, a brand-new house, and enough money to do whatever I pleased, but something didn’t feel right. I can’t explain it. So, when Jack suggested the move, I fought it but came along. I think I was afraid of getting left behind.”
“It sounds to me like you’re living life half-way, maybe if you quit fighting change and embraced it, as you know you should, things might not look so bad.” Tabitha said gently.
Her words were so close to home that Owen wanted to immediately reject them, but they held the ring of truth and he had to give her credit for the insight. “Thanks for listening, I guess I need to do some thinking.”
“You’re welcome, but I think you should do that thinking on a full stomach. Eat your dinner before it gets cold. I’ll be in the kitchen if you need anything.” Tabitha said, taking a risk and patting Owen on the shoulder.
When the kitchen door shut behind her, she leaned back against it as she’d done many times that week. Owen not only continued to have an effect on her, that effect had only grown over the last week until she could barely look at him without a tingle in her middle. Then he’d come in tonight and been vulnerable with her, it had almost been her undoing. Damn the man for not only being good looking but for having a vulnerable side, it was just too much for one woman to resist.
But resist she would, not that she had any choice, Owen wasn’t interested in her in any other way than as a friend. That had been clear when he hadn’t rejected their kiss as anything other than the joke she’d presented it as. Being Owen’s friend would be difficult, but since it looked like he’d be a frequent visitor to the restaurant she’d have to find a way to make it work, attraction or not, he needed a friend now more than anything else.
Then next night when he came in for dinner, he waited until they were alone. “I’ve been doing some thinking about what you said and I think you might be right.”
Tabitha waited for more, then realized that he was done. “That’s good.” She then went back to the kitchen to get his dinner.
Several days passed and she didn’t see Owen. She was just beginning to get worried when he came tearing through the door just before closing. “Hurry you have to come with me. Is there anyone still here?” He’d said, practically dragging her out the front door.
“Joe’s in the back, but I can’t just leave.” She’d protested, not sure what to think of Owen’s strange behavior.
“It’ll be worth it, trust me.” He said, leading her to his horse.
She took one look at the huge animal and backed away. “You don’t expect me to get on that horse, do you?”
“His name is Gerard and he’s as gentle as a lamb. Come on, it’s the only way to get there.” Owen said, offering her his hand.
She was nervous, but when his big hand closed around her small one, all her worry disappeared. Deep down she knew that Owen would protect her, so she let him lift her into the saddle, then he climbed up behind her and wrapped his arms around her and all thought vanished. Secure in his arms, they rode out of town toward the stream that ran though Cedar Ridge, then Owen turned and followed the stream up into the mountains.
They hadn’t gone far when they came to a marshy area that was surrounded by a ring of trees so large Tabitha was sure that they’d been there for hundreds of years. The trees were amazing but that wasn’t what Owen had brought her to see. Helping her down from the horse he led her to one of the big trees, putting a finger to his lips to indicate that she should be quiet.
When he pointed to the far side of the marsh, she didn’t see anything at first, but as her eyes adjusted to the partial darkness she realized that there was a moose grazing on the green growth of the marsh. He had the largest antlers she’d ever seen; in fact he was the biggest moose she’d ever seen. Jack and Chloe insisted that they’d seen a moose down by Honey Hills, but no one had believed them, but now there was no doubt but that they had moose in the park.
They watched in silent amazement as the moose made his way around the marsh, then he disappeared into the trees. Just as they were about to leave, there was a rustling in the bushes and another moose appeared, this time a female and she wasn’t alone, there was a baby following her. It took everything in Tabitha not to make a sound when the baby stumbled and almost fell, but Owen clamped his hand over her mouth and shook his head.
They made a hasty retreat after that, even Tabitha knew that messing with a mama moose was not a good idea, so they rode for a good mile in silence. The silence held a magical quality, they’d seen something that no one else in the park had seen, and Tabitha now understood how Jack and Chloe had felt.
“I saw the bull but I didn’t know about the cow and the calf. Do you think they’ll believe us?” Owen said, keeping his voice low, even though they were far away from the moose.
“I don’t care if they don’t. We saw them and that’s good enough for me.” Tabitha said, then fell silent.
Without thinking, Owen squeezed Tabitha around the middle, a small hug to covey the significance of what they’d just shared. Tabitha told herself that the little hug hadn’t meant anything but she couldn’t help the way her heart leapt or the tingle of desire that blossomed inside her. She’d begun to think that it was going to be a long trip back to the restaurant, but Owen interrupted her thoughts.
“So, can I assume that you don’t know how to ride?” He asked, a playful tone in his voice.
Tabitha turned her head and looked up at him wondering what he was up to, he’d never used that tone with her before. “No, I don’t know how to ride.” She finally said.
Owen grinned at her, “Then I think it’s time you learned. Everyone up here needs to know how; there are times a horse is the only way you’re going to be able to get around.”
They argued the rest of the way home about Tabitha learning to ride. She was dead set against the idea, sure that she’d fall off and embarrass herself. She’d never exactly been the athletic type and if she was honest with herself, the extra weight she carried worried her. But Owen refused to give up, he listed one reason after another why she should learn to ride, all were good reasons, but the truth was he just wanted to teach her to ride.
Tabitha had listened to as many logical reasons, as she could by the time they got back to the restaurant, and was close to giving in, but her pride and a little bit of fear was holding her back. “I get why you think it’s a good idea, but I don’t really want to learn to ride.”
Owen lifted her down off the horse and met her eyes, “We’re not talking about something you’re going to do for fun, you need to know how to ride in case there’s an emergency.”
Tabitha had had enough, it was time to tell him the truth, then maybe he’d leave her alone. “Look, I’m scared okay. Scared I’m going to fall off and make a fool of myself.”
“Well if that’s all you’re worried about then we’ll arrange for you to fall off right away, then you’ll see that it’s not so bad. I’ve fallen off plenty of times and my dignity is still intact.”
“That’s easy for you to say, you’ve probably been riding your whole life.” Tabitha said, then opened her mouth to say something else but quickly closed it, shocked that she was going to tell him that she felt too fat to ride.
“There’s something else stopping you.” Owen said, leading her over to a bench outside the restaurant.
Tabitha was silent for so long that he thought she wasn’t going to tell him, but then she said, “I’m afraid I’ll be too heavy for the horse.”
Owen didn’t understand what she meant at first, he certainly didn’t think Tabitha was too big, she shouldn’t either. “What? Are saying that you’re afraid that you’re too fat?”
When Tabitha didn’t answer, he pulled her to her feet, and said, “You are anything but fat, you’re luscious and curvy like a real woman should be.” Then he bent his head down and kissed her, unlike the last time, Tabitha was ready for the wave of pleasure that washed through her.
She gave herself to the kiss not caring that it was a bad idea, a sure way to ruin what was quickly becoming a real friendship. When Owen finally pulled away from her, she whimpered a little until he pulled her closer, her head resting on his chest. “So, we’re agreed? Tomorrow you start you’re riding lessons.”
“Yes, I guess you’ve convinced me.” She mumbled into his chest, not wanting the moment to end.
He kissed her again, then as he was walking toward his horse, he called over his shoulder, “I’m not sorry about either of those kisses.” Then mounted up and rode away, Tabitha watching until he was out of sight.