Chapter Seven
Pippa sat on the small wood bench outside Turtle Springs Memorial Hospital, waiting. There wasn’t nearly the amount of snow down here in the valley as they’d had up in the mountains. There were a few small piles here and there from previous plowing, and still some snow cover in yards that had more shade than sun, but otherwise, it looked more like the wet pavements and sidewalk puddles one saw after a good rain.
She hadn’t gotten lost. Not really. Once she’d headed up into the hills and realized she had no idea where she was going, she’d initially kept on driving. There weren’t that many roads up there, so she’d thought, how hard could it be? She hadn’t remembered Seth making any turns when they’d gone to the cabin the first time. Or not many, anyway. When that plan hadn’t worked out, she’d thought if she got high enough in the hills, her mobile signal would miraculously come back, and she would do a quick search to find the town’s only inn, contact Noah directly, and be on her merry way. Worst case was she’d use the map system to find her way back to Mabry’s or the vineyard.
Unfortunately, the long day had taken its toll on more than just her body and her ability to think clearly. Somewhere during her trip higher into the hills, her phone had died. Even if she’d had a charge cord on her, which she hadn’t, the old truck wasn’t exactly equipped with a USB port.
So, she’d taken the next turn that headed down out of the mountains, hoping she’d come across a sign that would lead her into Blue Hollow Falls, where she could ask directions to the inn and Noah. Instead, she’d found herself all the way down in the valley, at the two-lane highway her driver had taken to head up to the vineyard in the first place. There wasn’t a helpful sign for the vineyard, of course, but there was a sign telling her she was five miles from Turtle Springs, where they’d taken Mabry. So she’d headed there instead, to see how he was doing.
The rest could wait.
Part of that “rest” was, of course, finding her way to her new lodgings. The second part was dealing with the other big thing that had happened that day. On the couch. Right there in Mabry’s house. It would be handy, and not entirely untrue, to blame her out-of-character behavior on the extraordinary stresses of the day. But she knew that was only half of it. Seth Brogan had ignited a long dormant flame inside her from the moment he’d stepped inside his own mudroom, looking like a conquering warrior, just in from the storms of battle. At best, her reaction to Mabry’s heart-pounding rescue had simply lowered her defenses enough to do what she’d wanted to do all along. You mean, jump him?
She propped an elbow on one knee and lowered her forehead to rest on her hand. Not two days out on your own, untethered from the world, and you’re making bad decisions like it’s your first semester at uni. She took a deep breath and let it out slowly, hoping her good sense would return. It’s going to take more than breathing exercises to handle this one.
That was the core reason she hadn’t given Seth a chance to backpedal on the cabin rental. Because no matter how many deep, steadying breaths she took, no matter how lost she got herself up on those beautiful, snowcapped hills, or how long she locked herself away in a tiny cabin built for one ... the truth was, she wanted to jump him again so bad she ached with it.
“Well, I guess I can tell the sheriff’s department to call off the search teams.”
She whipped her head up so fast she had to blink several times and look down again when the setting sun half blinded her. “My phone died,” she said, as if that explained everything. Shielding her eyes this time, she looked up—way up—at the man presently towering over her. “I’m sorry I worried you,” she said sincerely. “I drove off without thinking to ask for directions, and foolishly thought I could figure things out.” She relayed the rest of the story, adding, “I haven’t been in to see Mabry. He was in surgery when I got here. I talked to Maggie, though. She’s inside, in the waiting room. I came out here because . . .”
“You’re probably not a big fan of hospitals,” Seth said, finishing for her.
And that right there was why he was such a danger to her. Her libido wanted to jump his impressive frame, yes. As often as he’d let her. That she could deal with. Probably. Possibly. If she wasn’t anywhere near him. Her heart, however, was already looking for ways to wrap him up for keeps. He was a good, kind, caring, funny, sexy-as-hell man. How was she supposed to talk her heart out of wanting that? Who wouldn’t?
Two days. What would it feel like in two weeks? Or two months?
“I’m not a big fan of them, either,” he said.
“Oh, no,” she said, feeling instantly ridiculous. “I’m so sorry. Were you injured in the war? Wait, that’s not my business.” She shook her head. “I must seem so foolish to you. You’re out risking your life defending your country, and I’m out here shivering because I had a little surgery once and the smell of a hospital makes me queasy.”
“Like I said before, I don’t think it much matters why,” he said. “We feel how we feel.”
We do, indeed, she thought, wishing he’d stop being so damn perfect.
“Your little surgery sounds like it was the result of a potentially life-changing injury. It would be odd if that didn’t affect you, potentially quite powerfully,” he said plainly. “And no, I wasn’t injured. I was one of the very fortunate ones. But a great number of my buddies weren’t so lucky. I spent a lot of time with them afterward. So, the less time spent anywhere around a hospital these days, the better.”
“I’m so sorry,” she said again, further abashed. “I don’t have any experience at all with that, or what your life was like while serving.” She smiled briefly then. “The closest I’ve come is playing music and singing for the troops. The British troops.”
“I can’t imagine they weren’t appreciative for the break,” he told her. “A chance to not think for a little while and simply enjoy a few hours of life outside our mission was a big deal. I know I’d have been glad for it.”
“That’s kind of you.” She smiled. “I’m not an American, but we are your allies, so I think it’s okay if I thank you for your service.” She looked up at him. “I mean that.”
He nodded. “I won’t say it was my pleasure,” he added with a brief smile of his own. “But I felt it was my duty.”
“I’m truly sorry I worried you,” she told him. “I honestly didn’t mean to. Maggie said she’d talked to you and you were coming down to see Mabry, so I thought I’d just wait here and we’d figure things out then.” She gave him a partial smile. “Besides, you have the cabin key, and all of my luggage is in the back of your truck, so I wouldn’t have gotten very far even if I had managed to find the place again.”
Seth glanced over to where he’d parked his truck, and it was obvious from his expression that he hadn’t put that part together. “Right,” he said, but saw her knowing smile when he looked back at her, and smiled sheepishly. “As soon as I realized you didn’t have directions, I took off trying to find you. I didn’t want you to get lost. Then I couldn’t find you anywhere up there, or back at the vineyard, or back at Mabry’s.” He glanced at the hospital. “I should have known you’d be resourceful.”
She nodded. “It’s nice to know someone is looking out for me all the same.” She grinned then. “Garrett and my dad would be relieved to hear it.”
“Does your family know you’re here? In the States? Other than your sister, I mean.”
Pippa nodded. “We’ve gotten a bit far flung over the years, especially Brae and me. But Brian is in London now, and Cass travels often. So, we’ve a rule about Mum and Dad always knowing where we are. They don’t need to know the specifics, of course, but they know I’m staying at a vineyard owned by Moira’s big brother. Katie spent years gushing about your family, so they feel like they know you. I know they’re excited to finally get to meet your sister.”
He smiled, nodded. “That’s nice, your giving your parents that peace of mind. I know how much my parents worried when I was overseas, more so once I became a Ranger and couldn’t tell them exactly where I was.”
“I bet they’re happy you’re back in the States now.”
He nodded. “They’d be even happier if I was growing grapes on the other coast, but yes, they’re happy I’m home and that I’m doing something I feel passionate about.”
“Why wine?” she asked. “Is it in your family?”
He shook his head. “My commanding officer, who happens to be Sawyer Hartwell, part owner of that renovated silk mill I told you about, got very interested in micro-brewing when we were overseas. He’s opened a gastropub as part of the mill. That wasn’t something that called to me, but he talked about it endlessly, and so I learned a great deal whether I wanted to or not.” He grinned. “We ended up stuck at a vineyard for ten days after a mission that I still can’t talk about in a place I can’t mention. We’d been in rather confining quarters for quite a bit just prior to our unplanned stay, so I spent as much time outside as possible.” He shook his head, still smiling. “Partly for the fresh air, and partly to get away from Sawyer, who was always talking to the family who owned the place, about his grand plans once he returned home. I spent hours walking the rows of vines thinking that if I was going to do anything with spirits, it would be as a vintner.” He shrugged. “I ended up talking to the patriarch of the family at great length. He showed me how to prep the vines, talked to me about the old ways of pressing grapes, about the value of table grapes versus wine grapes, about having a variety of stock, how many acres to plant if you wanted to make a profit, and ways to supplement income if the acreage wasn’t available to fill in the bottom line.”
“Sounds like he made quite an impression on you.”
“Oh, he was a fount of information.” Seth chuckled. “He also thought any ideas I might have had about starting my own place were foolish and quite misplaced. He loved talking about his own achievements, but he was fairly bigoted about the idea of an American growing grapes that were worth turning into wine. He was of the mind that you had to be born to it.”
“And yet, here you are, with winery and llama in tow.”
Seth nodded. “It’s funny, but the more he told me I couldn’t, the more I wanted to try. It probably wouldn’t make him happy to hear it, but if I have any success at all at this, I owe him a great debt of gratitude.”
“And probably a shipment of a case or two of your finest label.”
Seth laughed. “That, too.”
“So, did Sawyer have anything to do with why you ended up in Virginia?”
Seth nodded. “I’d actually returned home to Seattle and had a very good job offer in the technology industry. That was my strong suit when I served. I would have been all set.”
“Just because you’re good at something, doesn’t mean that’s what you should be doing.”
He tilted his head at that, gave her a crooked smile. “I thought stability was more important than being thrilled with going to work every day, but Sawyer kept after me, saying I’d risked my life for my country, so giving a winery a try would be child’s play in comparison.”
“The only thing you risk getting shot with is grape juice.”
He chuckled. “Exactly. The technology sector will still be there if I turn out to be an abject failure. It was also important to spend some downtime away for a bit, too. I needed to reconnect with myself after serving. Something else Sawyer is very good at understanding. I love my family, but being smothered by them was the last thing I needed. They support me, want me to be successful.” He studied her. “So, I take it singing and playing music wasn’t the career path your folks had in mind for you, either?”
She shook her head. “Believe it or not, with all the MacMillans running around County Donegal, I’m the only one in our particular line who plays an instrument. And the only singing done by any member of my family is in church. And not in the choir,” she added drily. “Trust me.”
Seth chuckled. “What was it they hoped you’d become?”
“There was never much discussion about that. I knew from the moment I heard music, the moment I realized I could make beautiful sounds like that, what I was destined to do with my life.” She laughed. “You’ll never know how relieved I was, after standing between my mum and dad at church, when I discovered I could actually sing.”
Seth laughed with her. “They tried to dissuade you?”
She shook her head. “Not so much that. They could see it was my passion. I sang in church from the time I was old enough to be in the choir. Taught myself how to play an old fiddle one of my friends had in her attic.”
“Impressive.”
Pippa laughed. “I didn’t say I was any good at it. I think my parents finally agreed to real lessons just to keep their sanity and their hearing intact.” She smiled up at him. “I enjoyed every part of learning to play that lovely old thing. I still have it, in fact. When I got old enough, I played fiddle at Garrett’s pub the nights he had music and dance, sang a little there, too, when I got brave enough. My parents didn’t dissuade me from doing that. It was more that they urged me to find a ‘real’ occupation as something to rely on. They saw music as more of a hobby pursuit than something I could support myself doing. I don’t fault them for that, because they were right.” She grinned. “I just didn’t care if I starved. Singing was all I wanted to do.” She shrugged. “So, I kept at it.”
“And look at you now,” Seth said, smiling with her. “I’m sure they’re beyond proud of you.”
Her smile flickered a little then. More worried than proud these days. “They are indeed. I’m very fortunate to have their support. I’ll love them always no matter what, but without their strength, and that of all of my siblings, I don’t know that I’d have gone on to do as well as I have.” A simple statement, but containing more truth than she could convey. If anyone could understand that, though, she imagined it would be the man standing in front of her. Odd, what a comfort that realization was. Or maybe not so odd at all.
Seth shook his head, smiling. “I try to think what my folks would do if one of us wanted to travel the world as a musician, while another of us wanted to risk life and limb as a stuntman. I don’t know that they could manage it.”
“They managed your going off to war,” she said.
Seth nodded. “That is true, but they didn’t manage it very well.” He smiled. “Perhaps I should introduce them to your folks. Then they’d see how fortunate they are that the riskiest thing any of us is doing these days is trying to start up a winery from nothing.”
“Hardly nothing,” she replied. “You’ve got acres of vines, a stunning home, a beautiful stone barn, another round one I’ve yet to see, and a view beyond all measure. I’d say you were well on your way.”
“Yes, well, all of that only works if I actually grow grapes, and enough of them to amount to anything. Those vines have been left to their own devices for far too long.” He laughed. “If it would stop snowing sometime before June, that would help, too.”
She laughed with him. “See, folks can’t imagine how someone can even think about wandering the globe, playing a bit of the fiddle, singing a little tune, and hope to support themselves with it. But I know my abilities; I know my perseverance will pay off. At least enough so I can get by.” She grinned. “If I don’t want much. Or that’s how it was for me for far longer than I can recall. What I can’t imagine is starting up an entire enterprise that relies, in large part, on the whims of Mother Nature. I can’t pretend to know what your frustrations must be like.”
“Suddenly I’m wishing I was better at playing an instrument,” he said, and they both laughed.
“Do you play?” she asked.
He shook his head. “Not a lick. I can move these big stompers around to music fairly well though,” he said, lifting one booted foot. “Full disclosure, I can’t say as I was a big fan of folk music when I first moved here.”
“More a Disney soundtrack kind of bloke, are you?”
He barked out a laugh at that. “Oh yes. A regular slave to that rhythm.”
She giggled, and noticed how it made his golden-brown eyes flash in awareness. And that, in turn, made parts of her flash right back.
“I’m more of a jazz and blues kind of guy,” he told her. “But living here for a few years now, I’ve come to develop a deep appreciation for the music of these mountains. We’ve got some amazing musicians in the Falls.”
“I’d love to meet them,” she said sincerely. “Hear them play.”
“Oh, I imagine it would be a dream for them to have you join in. I still don’t follow folk, so I can’t say I know your music, but I can guarantee you the folks at the mill will have.”
“I wouldn’t presume to intrude on their—”
“Intrude?” He laughed. “If you can pluck a string or bang on something with anything that comes close to a decent rhythm, you’re expected to join in. The rest of us show our appreciation by tapping our toes or doing a little dancing. It’s our community sport.”
She grinned at that. “Sounds like Blue Hollow Falls is a great deal like the villages back home.”
“I wouldn’t be surprised by that. One thing we respect here is privacy. If you ask folks to keep your presence here to themselves, they will. Or I’ll ask them for you if you’d like.”
Her smile softened. “Thank you. That’s both kind and generous of you. And I don’t doubt the truth of it. We would do the same back home. That’s why I know you won’t have to worry about your sister. She’ll be looked out for.”
He nodded; then his gaze turned more contemplative. “I probably shouldn’t be presumptuous. You fill arenas, so Moira tells me, and deservedly so, I’m sure.”
She laughed outright at that. “That’s kind, but trust me, I’m no prima donna. Far from. It would be an honor to play with the folks here. I’d be the grateful one,” she said. She looked down for a long moment. Her voice was quieter when she finally looked up at him and the truth just came out. “It’s just, I’m not really here to sing or play, Seth.”
He looked at her for a very long time, then said, “Aren’t you?”
She heard her own soft intake of breath, and it felt as if her heart paused for a long beat, and then another, as their gazes caught, then held. How is it that you know me? she wanted to ask him. Maybe it’s because he does know me, that I told him in the first place.
The moment was shattered when the hospital doors whooshed open and Maggie came out at a fast stride. She was a tall woman, with long hair that was naturally wavy, part brown but mostly gray. She wore jeans, hiking boots, a floral-print turtleneck and green fleece vest, and looked both worried and in control, all at the same time. In the short time they’d spoken, Pippa had felt enormous relief. Maggie took on the mantle of being in charge like it was second nature. She’d make sure Mabry received all the care he needed, no doubt.
At the exact same moment, a good-looking guy in an SUV pulled around the loop drive in front of the hospital and paused. “Greetings,” he said with a broad smile. “Noah Tyler, your inn host with the most, and shuttle guide. Pippa MacMillan, I presume?”
Seth waved to Noah and went over to talk to Maggie while Pippa walked over to the curb where Noah’s SUV idled. “Hello, yes, that’s me,” she said with a little wave. “A one-woman pain in everyone’s backside.” She did a little curtsy bob, making him laugh. “I’m guessing Maggie didn’t get hold of you to let you know not to come down after all. I’m so sorry for all this. I didn’t realize Seth was coming when I asked her to call you. Then she tried to call you back, but I’m guessing she didn’t get through?”
He shook his head. “I’ve been out running errands, in and out of cell signal. I had to come down here anyway, so don’t worry.”
“You’re very kind,” she told him, then smiled. “Everyone here is very kind. I’m just sorry you all are having to be so kind to me. Maggie told me all about your inn. I’d love to see it, see the rest of Blue Hollow Falls, too.”
Noah Tyler was a very attractive man with dark hair, dancing brown eyes, and a flashing grin. Pippa knew from Katie’s gossip sessions with Moira that Noah was involved with Stevie, who was the best friend of Sawyer Hartwell’s significant other, Sunny. Who, Pippa now put together, was the sister of the ten-year-old Seth had given the goats to. Everyone connected to everyone, she thought, just like in her village growing up. She felt more at home in Blue Hollow Falls by the minute.
“Blue Hollow Falls would love to see you, too,” Noah said. “Not that I’ve mentioned your name to anyone,” he added, then did the little zipped-lip-turn-the-key action, making her smile. “You’d love the mill, though, the artists, the musicians. I’d be happy to introduce you around. I can promise you they’d be thrilled and not a little protective. You wouldn’t have to worry.”
“Seth just got done assuring me of that very thing,” she told him. “I appreciate that, and the offer. Once I get settled in, I’ll let you know.”
He nodded easily. “Sounds like a plan.”
No penetrating stare, no seeming ability to read her mind, to see past her polite excuses. Pippa sighed a little in relief, and yet her gaze flickered toward Seth, as if needing to confirm their connection. He was hugging Maggie, who was wiping tears from her eyes, but smiling, so Pippa hoped it was good news.
Noah noted the direction of her gaze. “I heard you were really good with helping Mabry today. We all appreciate that.”
Pippa looked back at him. “I didn’t do anything. I felt so helpless.”
“That’s not how I heard it,” Noah replied kindly. “Mabry’s like a local treasure. It’s such a shame what happened, but it could have been so much worse. We owe you for being there for him.” He grinned. “See, yet another reason for us to protect your privacy. Are you sure you don’t want to swing by the mill on the way up to the cabin? I’m heading back to the inn. You can follow me up if you want.”
“Thanks, Noah, but we’ve already run you all over. I’ll see that she gets up there.”
Pippa turned to find Seth standing behind her. “Where’s Maggie?” She looked behind Seth in time to see her heading through the doors back inside the hospital. She turned back to Seth. “How’s Mabry?”
“Maggie said he came through the surgery really well. They removed the jack. It just missed the artery, so they repaired damage from the puncture, and that all went well. It turns out they had to do a little bit more work on the fractures than anticipated, but the prognosis is full recovery, followed by some lengthy physical therapy.”
Pippa winced. “I know that’s supposed to be good news, but I feel so bad for him. That’s a lot to handle.”
“His grandsons are on their way. Thankfully it’s spring-break time for them, so they’ll be able to pitch in for a few days. Maggie is already making arrangements to move in for the duration. She didn’t say, but I suspect this will be the nudge her husband needs for them to go ahead and commit to moving back to the Falls full time.”
“I wish it were under better circumstances,” Noah said, “but I am really happy to hear they’re coming back. I think it will be good for all of them. And all of us, too.”
Seth and Pippa nodded; then she said, “I’m so glad he has family to support him.”
“He has all of us to support him,” Noah chimed in. “We’ll all make sure he’s doing okay, and check in on Maggie and the boys, too.”
Pippa nodded, then looked between the two men. “You’ve got a special place here. With some special people.” Before she could change her mind—or run and hide—she added, “I’d like to take you up on your offer, Noah, when you’ve the time. See the mill, meet some of the artists.”
Noah beamed. “We can make that happen.” He looked at Seth. “Listen, why don’t I take her on up to the cabin and show her all the ins and outs. I know you’ve lost a full day with the vines, and that’s on top of the snow. You’ve got to be behind. Go on back to work. I’ll take care of our new guest.”
Seth looked ready to argue the point, but Pippa said, “It’s okay. I’ll just follow him up.”
Seth nodded then, and said, “I’ve got her bags in the back of my truck. Let me move them to the back of Mabry’s Chevy.”
“Oh,” Pippa said, suddenly concerned. “I forgot to ask Maggie if they’ll be needing it back now. For her sons to drive?” She looked at Noah. “Maybe you should just give me directions and I’ll go get a rental while I’m down here in town.”
Seth shook his head. “They’ve got their own wheels. Don’t worry. We’ll shift things around later if needed.”
“Unless you’d rather be driving something a bit spiffier,” Noah said. “She’s a classic, but you’re probably used to something with a bit more giddyup.”
She watched as both men glanced at the old Chevy, clear longing in their eyes. “Bluebell and I have become pretty well acquainted on our jaunt through the hills. If they don’t need her back, I’ll hold on to her. I offered to run errands for Mabry in exchange for the loan. I’ll keep my word on that and talk to Maggie, see what I can do.”
Noah grinned and nodded. “See? You’re part of the community already.”
“Bluebell?” This from Seth.
She looked at him. “There’s a little brass plate screwed into the dashboard with Bluebell engraved in it. It’s been there a long time by the looks of it. I figured that was the truck’s name.”
“If not, it is now,” Noah said with a grin.
“You still have some things up at the house,” Seth mentioned.
“I know.” Pippa looked from Noah to Seth, and the words were out before she could think better of them. “Would it be okay to come by tomorrow? I could get my things, maybe give Dex a little grooming session. I’d be happy to help the kids with the sheep and the goats if they’re coming by. I wouldn’t be in your way.”
Seth held her gaze again, in that way he did, so penetrating. He was probably weighing the pros and cons of their being in close quarters again. With that lovely chalet right there, and several beds nearby. Offering them complete privacy from any prying eyes. Heck, the old door he used as a desktop out in the barn might be at risk, if the way he was looking at her right now was any indication. Pippa tried not to shift her weight as her body responded with a very enthusiastic Yes, please!
Pippa could feel Noah’s gaze on her, and knew it was probably on Seth as well. She’d just met Noah, but he struck her as being a pretty sharp guy. No doubt he was reading all kinds of things into the sudden, stacked-with-tension silence between her and Seth. All of those conclusions likely being correct.
“That’s okay—” she began, wishing she’d kept her mouth closed.
“I just saw Bailey and Jake at the mill when I was by earlier,” Noah said at the same time, an oh so helpful smile plastered all over his handsome face. “They were home last week on snow days, so I think Addie Pearl was about done having Bailey stuck in the nest. Bailey, too,” Noah added with a laugh. “I heard her say she was going to pick up Jake and bring both kids up to your place tomorrow to burn off some energy.”
Pippa glanced at Noah and saw the way he was smiling at her and Seth. Oh yeah, he knew. Oh, boy.
To her, Noah added, “I’ll draw you a little map of how to get from the cabin to the vineyard, and down into the Falls. It’s easy.”
“When you know where to turn,” she said on a laugh.
“That does help, yes.” Noah turned to Seth, as if it had all been decided. “Do you need help with those bags?”
Seth looked at Pippa, then to Noah, then shook his head. “I’ve got it.”
Pippa watched him as he walked off toward his truck without saying anything further. She hadn’t missed the part where he hadn’t answered her question. Which is answer enough, isn’t it?
“So,” Noah said when she finally looked back at him. His eyes were on full twinkle now and his grin was as wide as was humanly possible. “That’s interesting.”
Pippa could have played coy, or pretended she had no idea what Noah could possibly be referring to. But perhaps it wouldn’t be such a bad idea to have someone on her side where Seth was concerned. She glanced at Seth, who was doing his Viking bellman impression again with her luggage, then back at Noah. “It has definitely been that,” she said, and shot him a direct smile.
Noah’s eyes widened in delighted surprise. “Well, well. Miss Pippa MacMillan, I think I like you.”
“Good to hear,” she said, then grinned and leaned her folded arms on the bottom edge of his open window. “Because it’s quite probable I’m going to need some advice before this adventure is all said and done, and you’ve just been nominated to the position.”