She wanted to see Eli return. Perhaps she could go out and feed Buddy since she knew that would be Eli’s last stop before coming in for the night. Then Eli wouldn’t haven’t to do it. But she wasn’t quite sure either of them trusted her enough yet to feed the calf on her own.

  Sarah stood by the window, her hand planted on the glass as the cold seeped into her fingers and her bones. Sure enough, Eli’s truck bumbled its way toward the barn. Sarah’s breath caught in her throat again. Eli was stunning, in her own way, and Sarah was pretty sure the younger woman had no clue just how stunning she really was, how she outshined Bridget day and night.

  A week and a half were left until she was back to reality and nose deep in a six-month tour that would take her all over the country. She would be consumed by it, not just by the music and the performing, but all that went with it. The budget, the finance, the analytics of which stops were worth it and if they would go there again the next time—because yes, there would be a next time.

  She’d dreamed of a life on the road when she was younger. The few times she’d gotten to travel as a kid had been a dream, and she’d loved every moment of it. Her sister, on the other hand, was a staunch supporter of stay-at-home-and-never-move, which was why she still lived ten feet from their parents, in the house next door.

  Eli left the barn. Sarah pulled her lip between her teeth and stared carefully as Eli walked up the trail she’d obviously memorized. She disappeared right at the hill and popped up a minute later at the top. Instead of walking straight for the house, she stopped, her gaze reaching up to Sarah in the window.

  Sarah’s heart clenched, and her breathing quickened. She’d forgotten about the light on the bedside table. Eli, no doubt, could see her standing there. Sarah didn’t move, trapped between not wanting to be caught and wanting to walk downstairs and greet Eli in person. The breath she held in her lungs burned until she forced her body to release it with a hiss.

  Eli didn’t wave. She stayed rooted to the ground for another minute before she hunched her shoulders and moved inside. When Sarah couldn’t see her any longer, she pressed her forehead to the glass and closed her eyes with a sigh. She wondered what would happen next. They skirted around each other every minute they were together, but she still could not figure Eli out.

  One moment they shared like this, a heated exchange of looks and sometimes innocent touches, and the next, Eli’s tone changed sharply and became harsh. Not that Sarah hadn’t done her fair share of pulling away either. Shoving off the window, Sarah moved to her bed and sat on the edge of it, curling her fingers into the blanket and squeezing hard.

  Who was she kidding? What was she even playing at? It was stupid and reckless was what it was. Biting her lip hard, Sarah flopped onto her back and stared at the ceiling, attempting to fall asleep for the first time that night. She had to wake up bright and early to help Eli out with Buddy, and if she didn’t get some sleep she would be completely useless, especially since she’d forgotten to find the store and its precious energy drinks. She would have to take a special trip to town tomorrow for them.

  Sarah’s phone buzzed, surprising her. Turning over, she reached for it and grinned, answering right away. “Kara, love.”

  “Where have you been?” Kara’s voice screeched through the line. “I haven’t heard anything from you in days.”

  “You would not believe it if I told you.” Sarah rolled her eyes knowing that wasn’t true. Kara would eat up every word of the story and embellish everything when she told someone else.

  Kara chuckled. “Try me. I can’t sleep because I thought you were dead in a ditch somewhere.”

  “That’s not a pretty image.” Sarah lowered her voice as she drew in a shuddering breath. “The basics are I got lost after a very delayed flight and a nasty thunderstorm. I had to be rescued by the owner of this establishment, well, not owner. I guess her parents own it?”

  “Her?”

  “Yeah, Eli. I guess she has some weird agreement with them that she’ll own it eventually. I don’t know. Anyway, she came to rescue me and brought me back in her truck since my little rental car wouldn’t drive through the creek without getting stuck.”

  “Creek? What?”

  Laughing, Sarah settled in. “Yes, it apparently only fills up with a good hard rain, which we got that night.”

  “What’d you do?”

  “Got in the truck. What else would I do?”

  “And you just left your car?”

  Sarah nodded even though Kara couldn’t see her. “I did, and accidentally left my dead-as-a-doorknob phone in my car.”

  “You didn’t.”

  “I did,” Sarah confessed. “And I didn’t get it back until tonight, and after the sausage supper, I didn’t get to charge it until a few hours ago.”

  “I’m sorry, the what?”

  “Sausage supper. It’s exactly what it sounds like. Just a local dinner with a bunch of sausage patties for a meal.”

  “Crazy, but wait—go back to this owner.”

  Sarah’s heart skittered. She wasn’t quite sure what to say. “What about Eli?”

  “Eli, such an interesting name.”

  “It’s short for Elijah.”

  “Huh.” Sarah could hear the smile in Kara’s voice. “And have you and Eli been spending time together?”

  “I mean, yeah, I am the only one here, and she had to bring me to town to get my car.”

  “And rescue you.”

  Sarah clenched her hand. “Yeah, I guess she did.”

  “So…is she cute?”

  Sarah mulled the question over in her head. “Cute is not the word I would use.” Handsome, talented, kind-hearted, hot, and cold were some for starters.

  “So no interest there?”

  “Uh no. She’s probably a super conservative country bumpkin who is not into the andro-lesbis with hot shot careers.”

  Kara hissed. “Don’t knock it until you try it.”

  “Really, Kara, nothing going on here.”

  “Well, I do hope you’re relaxing and playing music at least. Maybe writing a new song?”

  Sarah snorted and glanced out the window. “I’ve been playing some, relaxing some. Actually, you’ll get a kick out of this. I think I’ve adopted a cow.”

  “You what?”

  “Yeah. He’s two days old, and I’ve been bottle feeding him. Eli’s going to take me out in the morning so we can try to reunite him with his mama, but I don’t think she’s very hopeful it’s going to work.”

  “What’s going to work?”

  “That the mama will take him back.”

  “Wow, I can’t imagine you taking care of a cow.”

  Laughing, Sarah checked the time on her watch. “To be fair, Eli does most of it. I just go down there occasionally to give him a bottle. I named him Buddy.”

  “Buddy the cow?”

  “Yeah.”

  Kara laughed, her voice ringing through the phone. Sarah wasn’t quite sure she wanted to hang up, but she did know she only had about two more hours before she needed to be awake if she was going to go with Eli to attempt reunification of her calf.

  “Kara, I’ve got to go.”

  “Go?”

  “Yeah. I need to sleep a few hours if I’m going to try and bring Buddy back to his mom.”

  “When are you doing that?”

  “At six.”

  “In the morning?” Kara squeaked with surprise.

  Sarah chuckled. “Yes, so I need sleep.”

  “You’re crazy.”

  “Love you, too.” Sarah didn’t wait any longer as she hung up and settled into her bed. She plugged the phone back in to finish charging and turned off the light to get at least an hour of sleep before she had to be up and going.

  Morning came far too quickly. When Sarah managed to get down to the kitchen, there was already coffee in the pot and Eli was leaning against the counter with a cup to her lips and a smirk in her eyes.

  “Didn’t think you’d wake up.”

  Sarah brushed a hand through her messy hair and shook her head as she searched for a large mug. Finding none, she settled on a normal sized one and poured herself a cup. “I said I’d come.”

  “Yeah, but you were up all night.”

  “Not abnormal,” Sarah muttered into her cup as she took a sip, realizing instantly she’d forgotten milk and sugar. Wrinkling her nose, she smiled as Eli handed over creamer and sugar. “Thanks.”

  “Any time. So you’re normally up all night?”

  “Yes.” Sarah didn’t elaborate because if she did, it would be a dead giveaway as to who she was and what she did for a living. Even though concerts ended either a little before or right around midnight, the adrenaline rush often kept her up past dawn the next day, especially if they had to break down and move overnight.

  Eli shrugged when Sarah didn’t expand, and she ignored it, sipping her coffee again. Eli turned and made them each another coffee in a travel mug she must have kept hidden somewhere special that Sarah had yet to find.

  “Finish that up and we can go.”

  “Okay. Is he really sitting in my lap?”

  “It’s that or you have to scoot close to me.”

  Sarah’s heart gave one loud, hard thump in her chest. She eyed Eli up and down as she set about making their coffees and closing the lids. She was clearly in her uniform for work—thick jeans, button down shirt shoved into her waistband, and her long golden hair in two braids down her back. Sarah wondered briefly if Eli had gone to sleep after she’d come back or if she just woke up looking that good.

  The thought scared her, and she clenched her jaw to keep from saying anything stupid. When Eli straightened and stared directly at Sarah, she nearly dropped her mug. She couldn’t read her. It was either desire or annoyance. Either way, Sarah wanted nothing to do with it.

  “You ready?”

  “Uh…yeah,” Sarah whispered.

  “Got a warmer jacket or better boots?”

  Sarah shook her head.

  “Hold on.”

  Eli disappeared down into the basement and came back with a pair of boots and a thick jacket.

  Sarah stared at her as she held the items out. “You want me to wear that?”

  “You’re going to freeze otherwise. It’s nearing thirty outside.”

  Sighing, Sarah sat on a stool and undid the ties on her own boots. She took the ones offered and shoved them onto her feet, noting they fit decently well. When she stood up and removed her jacket, Eli held out the second one for her to slip into. Eli’s hands were on her shoulders, smoothing out the material as she stood at Sarah’s back. She was so close.

  Sarah dashed her tongue out to wet her lips, and when she turned around, she was pretty sure Eli was just as surprised as Sarah had been herself. They stared at each other, caught at a crossroads of what to do. Go or stay. Kiss or pull away. Sarah’s chest rose and fell rapidly as she side-stepped Eli, making it clear what she did not want, and grabbed her mug of coffee to finish the rest of it before they headed outside.

  Eli took hold of the travel mugs and waited for Sarah silently at the back door. They walked down the path to the barn in silence. Eli moved to the truck, starting the engine and setting the coffee inside while Sarah stepped into the barn to find Buddy.

  She got to his stall and was relieved. Whatever had happened in that kitchen was too much for her to figure out in the short walk down to the barn. Sarah reached in and scratched under Buddy’s chin as he immediately came up to her looking for attention.

  Eli gripped the edge of the stall, startling Sarah out of her reverie. “If they don’t take to each other, we’ll feed him.”

  “Did you feed him when you got back?”

  “No. He needs to be hungry for this, and she needs to see that.”

  “Oh.”

  Eli moved into the stall and kneeled. Buddy came right up to her. “Grab the doors for me, would you?”

  “Sure.” Sarah stood at the door to the stall and waited while Eli wrapped her arms around all four of Buddy’s legs. He tried to kick out at first, but then he melted into her as she drew him close to her chest.

  Impressed, Sarah watched as Eli pushed off the ground, groaning as she went and holding Buddy in her arms tightly. “He’s gained weight.”

  “Really?”

  “Yeah,” Eli grunted. “Probably eighty pounds now.”

  “Oh my gosh.” Sarah immediately opened the gate to the stall and stepped aside to let Eli move in front of her. They walked together to the front of the barn where Sarah opened the door. She hesitated at the passenger side of the truck, but Eli nodded.

  Eli slid Buddy inside and shut the door behind him. She leaned against the door with a grin on her face. Sarah wasn’t sure why Eli was smiling, but she let it drop, still on edge from whatever had happened in the kitchen. Eli grabbed her hand and dragged her around to the driver’s side.

  “Get in this way.”

  Sarah slid inside and scooted as far over as she dared. She supposed it wasn’t too bad, much like sitting next to a large dog in the vehicle. When Eli got into the driver’s seat, their thighs brushed together, and Sarah had to maneuver her legs over to the passenger side so Eli could use the gear shift to put the truck into reverse.

  It took them ten minutes to get out to the pasture. Sarah hadn’t been out to the fields this way before. The path they took was a lot rougher than the road they had taken before. She was jostled to and fro, Buddy eventually laying down and putting his head in her lap. Each time Sarah bumped into Eli, a jolt of electricity went through her body and straight between her legs. She was going to have to watch that for sure.

  When they got to the field, Eli got out of the truck without a word. Sarah followed, not quite sure what she was supposed to be doing. Following Eli around the truck, she shut the door after Eli grabbed Buddy, set him on the ground, and walked toward a bunch of cows. Sarah couldn’t decide if she wanted to stay by the truck or stick it close to Eli.

  The cows were much bigger than she had thought they’d be, and close enough to her height that it scared her to think of them being up in her face. Eli turned and glanced over her shoulder, that cocky half-grin on her lips.

  “You coming?”

  “Yeah,” Sarah breathed out. She took the first step, the heavy boots having an unfamiliar feel on her feet as she walked on the uneven ground.

  They walked together side by side down into the field while Buddy ran out, calling to his mom. They stayed a bit of a distance away, watching. Sarah shivered in the chill, but she was glad when Eli didn’t move any closer to her. Buddy ran around, bucking up and down, having energy like she hadn’t seen before.

  Eli leaned in close and pointed toward the edge of the group of cows. “That one there, the one kind of standing out on her own, that’s his mama.”

  “Carmen.”

  “Yeah.” Eli gave her another grin, and Sarah’s stomach clenched. “She’s been acting funny since the other night.”

  “How so?”

  “Doesn’t want much to do with any of the other cows, which is odd for her. She’s usually in the thick of things.”

  “Interesting. I guess I never really thought about cows having their own personalities.”

  “Oh, they do. Cassie…well, she’s ten personalities all by herself.”

  “I noticed.” Sarah giggled. “Thanks for bringing me out here.”

  “Not a problem. The help is good.”

  “I’m pretty sure I’m more of a burden than a help.”

  “Not at all.” Eli straightened her shoulders. “Truthfully.”

  Sarah let it drop, her stomach twisting with anxiety. Whatever was happening between the two of them was far stronger than she thought it should be for having only known each other for three days, and she wasn’t willing to take the step to find out what might happen between them—not if she was leaving in two weeks and wasn’t planning on returning.

  She lost track of how long they stood there, watching Buddy run from cow to cow, calling. Her heart broke each time he did it, not finding his mom and her not responding. Sarah was about to take a step toward, but Eli gripped her wrist and held her back. “Wait a second. She’s moving.”

  “What?”

  Sarah glanced over toward Carmen and, sure enough, the large cow swiveled her head toward the outcry from the calf. She snorted out twice before she answered the call. Buddy found his way to Carmen, who sniffed him and then licked his head before he dove between her legs and started suckling her utters.

  Sarah reached out and grabbed Eli’s hand, excitement bubbling in her chest. She bounced in her boots, grinning, and when she turned to say something to Eli, their gazes caught again.

  “Did it work?”

  “It did,” Eli whispered back. “Want to get out of here?”

  “Yeah.”

  They were silent as they drove to the barn. When they pulled up and Eli turned the engine off, Sarah pressed her head into the seat, still smiling. “Thanks for taking me out there this morning.”

  “Like I said, anytime. I appreciate the company. It gets quiet here sometimes.”

  “I can imagine. That’s partly why I came, for the quiet.”

  “Yeah? Well, you’ve got it in abundance, I’m sure.”

  Eli’s tone had turned harsh toward the end of the comment, and Sarah wasn’t quite sure what to do with it. Eli was at it again—one minute sweet and talking freely, and then next it was like she was putting up walls. Sighing, Sarah reached for the door handle and exited the vehicle.

  Eli went into the barn, silence reverberating around Sarah like a large, overhanging cloud. Sarah nodded her head. “All right then.”

  She went back to the house, holding the coffee she hadn’t drunk. She tugged off the boots, leaving them outside the back door, and tugged off the jacket as soon as she got inside. Sarah dumped her coffee down the sink and went upstairs to fall back asleep if she could, but she knew she would probably end up awake for the rest of the day. Perhaps if Eli stayed away from the house, she’d have time to work on that new melody and maybe even some lyrics to go with it.