That was what she’d do. She’d relax and take advantage of what she was offered, which was good hospitality, a warm bed, and a whole lot of learning. She enjoyed getting out of her comfort zone even though it set her nerves into overdrive, but for some reason, she’d been far calmer and more relaxed since she had been at Indigo.

  Grabbing her guitar and cleaning up, Sarah went to do exactly what she told Kara she wanted. Nap. She dragged all her stuff up to her room and left it haphazardly up there. Collapsing onto the bed, she tried to push Eli and Bridget from her mind so she could get some restful sleep, but it was almost impossible. Eventually, she did fall into slumber’s tender care.

  The annoying alarm was shocking. Sarah brushed her fingers over her eyes as she turned onto her side and tried to push the sound out of her ears. It didn’t work. The harder she tried to ignore it, the more obnoxious it became. Grunting, Sarah sat up in bed and pushed a hand through her messy hair.

  The window was pitch black, and a glance at the clock on the nightstand told her it was the middle of the night. She had slept far longer than she’d anticipated. But that alarm. It wasn’t quite as loud as she’d originally thought it was.

  Sighing, Sarah pushed to her feet, her bare toes cold on the hardwood floor. She followed the sound down the stairs and into the front living room. It got louder as she went, and more obnoxious as well. She wasn’t sure how anyone could ignore such a sound. She found the phone first and turned the alarm off. It was on the kitchen counter. In the week she had been there, she’d never seen Eli leave her phone anywhere, not to mention leave the kitchen a mess, which it never was.

  Eli had clearly come in while Sarah had been asleep, rummaged for dinner, and then what? Because there were dishes in the sink and a casserole dish of leftovers on the counter. Sighing, Sarah brushed her hand against the glass to see if it was still cold, covered it, and shoved it into the fridge. She put the rest of the dishes in the sink before gnawing on her lip and heading through the living room to the den.

  It was nearing four in the morning, so Eli was no doubt back out on her rounds to check on the cattle. Sometimes Sarah wondered if Eli was obsessed with them, but she could certainly see why. She loved them and loved spending time with them. She very obviously loved her farm and put everything she had—her energy, her brain—into it.

  When Sarah rounded the corner and took the three steps down into the den, she stopped short. Eli was on the couch. Sarah tentatively kneeled down to look over Eli’s sleeping form. She wasn’t quite sure what to do—wake her up or let her get the sleep she obviously needed.

  Gnawing on her lower lip, Sarah put her hand on Eli’s arm, but Eli didn’t move. She really hated to wake her, but she was pretty sure Eli would be madder if she didn’t. Sarah let out a breath. “Eli.”

  Eli didn’t budge.

  “Eli. Wake up. You’re late.”

  A soft moan escaped Eli’s lips as she rustled her head against the pillow, her legs moving slightly, but she settled down. Sarah cupped Eli’s cheek, brushing her thumb just under her eye. This time, she spoke firmly.

  “Elijah Wilson. Get up. Now!”

  Eli sat bolt upright, her eyes wide as she stared down at Sarah still squatting next to her. “What time is it?”

  “Well after three.”

  “What?” Eli started patting the couch then her pockets.

  “Your phone is in the kitchen.”

  “Shit. Did it wake you up? I’m sorry.”

  Sarah shrugged. “It’s close to four.”

  “Crap.”

  Eli looked adorable tousled and confused. Her cheeks were red from sleep, her eyes puffy, her hair still technically in braids, but no longer neatly plaited. Sarah bit her lip to keep herself from saying or doing something they would both regret later.

  Sarah moved to sit next to Eli on the couch. “I’ll go with you to keep you awake, because it looks like you’re still struggling to wake up.”

  Eli nodded. “Thanks.”

  “Did you sleep at all last night?”

  Shrugging, Eli shook her head and put her hand on her forehead. “Not really.”

  Sarah mulled that thought over in her mind before she patted Eli’s leg. “I’m going to put the coffee on while you wake up some.”

  “Sure.”

  While Sarah made coffee, she heard Eli rustling around in the den before she showed up, still half-asleep in the kitchen. Eli grabbed a bottle of water and chugged it before she grabbed two more, offering one bottle to Sarah. Taking it, Sarah twisted the cap and sipped slowly. “Why were you up all night?”

  Eli drew in a sharp breath as she paused mid-drink. “Couldn’t stop thinking.”

  “About Bridget?”

  “Amongst other things.”

  They stood in silence together as the coffee percolated. Sarah wasn’t quite sure where to go with this conversation. She was beyond curious as to why Bridget would keep Eli up and what those other things were, but she did not feel it was her place to ask. She didn’t want to pry.

  When their coffee was ready, Eli pulled down two travel mugs and filled them. “Come on.”

  They walked together after donning jackets and boots, down the trail to the barn where they slipped into the cab of the truck. Eli took a long sip of her coffee, hissing as it burned her tongue, and then pulled out to head toward the fields.

  Turning to face Eli as they came to a stop, moonlight the only light to see by, Sarah reached over and grabbed Eli’s hand, feeling the rough skin on her palm and her fingers as she gave a gentle squeeze. “You don’t have to tell me anything if you don’t want to, Eli, but just know, if you want someone to talk to, I am here, and I will listen.”

  “Thanks. I appreciate that. Really.”

  Sarah smiled softly and turned to face the front of the cab when Eli gasped and then cursed. “What is it?”

  “We’ve got a calf stuck. It’s breech.”

  Eli inched the truck forward, turning the headlights onto the cow off to the left of where they’d parked. Sure enough, she stood there, her calf partway out as she tried endlessly to push the calf the rest of the way.

  “I’m probably going to need your help.”

  “My help?” Sarah’s voice rose. “What do you think I’m going to do? Hold the light?”

  Eli raised a brow at her. “Pull.”

  “Fuck that.”

  Grimacing, Eli got out of the truck and left the door open as she moved toward the cow. Sarah followed a few steps behind, wondering just what was going to happen. When they got to the cow, Eli put her hand on the cow’s neck and cooed to her softly, calming her down. Even Sarah could see it worked.

  Her heart raced as Eli moved down the cow’s body to her back end and checked out the calf. Her hands moved to break the sack as she gripped the feet and pulled. Sarah stood in shock as she watched, wondering what the hell she was supposed to be doing other than staring in awe at this woman before her. She was so calm and collected, so cool and wide awake after being asleep just moments before.

  “Sarah. Come help.”

  “What do you want me to do?”

  Eli let out a breath. “I need your muscles. Grip here and here. Pull on three.”

  Sarah stepped next to Eli so they were shoulder to shoulder, hip to hip.

  “Just so you know, we’re going to get dirty.”

  “Dirty?”

  “Yup. One. Two. Three. Pull.”

  Together they leaned back, digging their boots into the soft ground and pulling on the calf’s hooves with everything they had. It took two more times for them to catch a good contraction with the mama cow and for all three of them to work together.

  The calf slid to the ground below and immediately Eli moved over it, clearing its nose of the sack and blood and whatever else there might be. Sarah didn’t really want to think about it. She hovered over Eli while the cow tried to get her nose in there to sniff and lick.

  Sarah bit her lip hard. “Shouldn’t it be moving?”

  “Yes,” Eli hissed. She took a fist and rubbed it along the underside of the calf hard with her knuckles. When that didn’t work, she pressed the palm of her hand to the chest and her other hand to the nose.

  Seconds seemed to last minutes as Sarah waited for one sign from Eli that something was happening, something that should be happening. When Eli finally sat on her ass, her forearms propped on her knees, and her head hung down, Sarah knew what had happened. They were too late.

  She didn’t hesitate. Sarah stepped behind Eli, pressing against Eli’s back and wrapped her arms around her in a hug. Her cheek rested on Eli’s hair as they both held still. Sarah tightened her grip and touched her lips to Eli’s soft hair, though she didn’t dare kiss her as much as she wanted to. She remained still, stoic, giving Eli all the comfort and peace she had in that moment.

  Eli eventually wiped her face against her shoulder and stood up. Sarah stepped back, away from the mess that was before them. Eli checked over the cow while Sarah watched, amazed at all she’d done and all that had happened in the few short minutes since they’d been in the fields. When Eli was satisfied with the cow, she bent down over the calf and lifted it into her arms.

  “Get the tailgate, would you?”

  “Yeah,” Sarah whispered.

  She walked just ahead of Eli, pulling down the tailgate in time for Eli to slip the calf into the bed of the truck. She closed it with a click. Eli bent over the side of the truck and kicked the tire hard with the toe of her boot.

  “There was nothing you could have done,” Sarah started.

  “I could have been here, but instead I was late.”

  “Eli.” Sarah waited until Eli’s dark and tortured gaze turned up to her. “You can’t be everywhere at once.”

  “I know. It’s just…I know.” Eli sighed. “I hate it.”

  Nodding her understanding, Sarah brushed her hand over Eli’s arm and gave her elbow a squeeze before she rounded the truck. “Should we finish the rounds?”

  “Yes.”

  Sarah sat closer to Eli for the rest of the morning while they drove around the fields and even until they went back to the barn. She looked on as Eli took the tractor and dug a hole out back of the barn, and gnawed on her lip as Eli gently placed the calf in it. They stared over the covered hole until Sarah turned toward the house.

  “I’m going to make some breakfast. Why don’t you clean up?”

  Eli gave her an odd look, one she definitely couldn’t read. Sarah expected a rebuttal, expected Eli to say something about being ordered around on her own land, that she knew more than Sarah herself did. But she didn’t. Eli remained silent as she swallowed, as her gaze dragged slowly down and then back up Sarah’s body, sending chills up and down Sarah’s spine followed by an intense heat.

  “I’ll do that. Then we can get started on morning chores.”

  “Sounds like a good plan.” They didn’t move. Eli continued to stare at her, her dark gaze shocking in the rising sunlight. Once again, Sarah found herself entranced and caught in a singular look.

  Eli raised an eyebrow, and her look of defiance turned to a moment of pity. “Go on up. I’ll be there in a minute.”

  Sarah’s breath picked up as Eli reached out and brushed her dirty and sure fingers over her upper arm. She turned down to face the touch, and their eyes locked again. “Yeah. I’ll put on some more coffee.”

  It took everything Sarah had to force her legs to move. As soon as she reached the top of the hill, she turned around to see Eli still standing over the makeshift grave. Her morning had been full already, and she knew the day would be long and morose. She could only hope that Eli would allow her to offer as much comfort as possible, and she knew without a doubt, she wasn’t going to let Eli waste her day alone.

  Chapter 13

  As soon as afternoon rolled around, Sarah could tell Eli was losing ground in her battle against sleep. She was doing everything at a snail’s pace, and she had to try several times just to get each thing going or finished, no matter what she tried to do.

  Sarah had taken particular care to make sure Eli was staying on track and not struggling. They hadn’t talked about the calf since Eli had come back to the house for breakfast, and Sarah was loath to bring the subject up if she could avoid it. As soon as she had sandwiches made for lunch, she made Eli sit down and eat with her.

  Eli hunched over the counter as she sat on the stool and took the world’s slowest bites. Sarah finished her drink and settled in to make sure Eli ate. No matter what she thought, she knew Eli was running herself ragged.

  “Is there much more to do today?”

  “No, thank God,” Eli said around another bite. “I think I’m going to sleep for the next week.”

  Sarah smirked, the smile barely making it to her eyes. “I think that might be a good idea.”

  Eli didn’t really answer as she moved her sandwich around her plate. Sarah had a hunch her thoughts had either turned to the calf or to Bridget. Which one it was, she wasn’t sure, but she wanted to somehow wipe the sad look from Eli’s face, make her frown turn back up into a smile, have her become the animated person she had meet just a week before.

  “Did you see Buddy playing this morning?”

  Eli snorted. “You and that cow. I should have named him Sarah just so I’d remember who he actually belongs to.”

  A flush rose to Sarah’s cheeks. “I like him.”

  “And he likes you.” Eli stretched her back, cocking her head to the side. “I’m not sure I’ve ever had a guest so taken to one particular cow—or horse for that matter.”

  “Really?”

  “Really really.” Eli gave her a hard stare. “Maybe I should keep him just for the simple fact that he made such an impact.”

  “Oh, that’s right, you sell the boys.”

  Eli shrugged. “It’s all part of the business.”

  “Could you keep him local?”

  Eli scrunched her nose as she pushed her plate toward the center of the counter. She hadn’t eaten more than half of it. Sarah was about to mention it when she snapped her jaw shut. Who was she to comment on that anyway? She was nothing to Eli except a guest, one she knew hardly anything about.

  “No,” Eli answered. “That kind of defeats the purpose of the business.”

  Sarah drew in a deep breath. “Could you keep him?”

  “I’d have to see. He’s well bred, so he’d fetch a pretty sum at auction.”

  “Yeah? How much?”

  “Maybe four to five grand depending on how big he gets.”

  “That’s a lot!” Sarah’s eyes widened.

  Eli sighed. “Yeah, it can be.”

  Reaching over, Sarah brushed her fingers over the back of Eli’s hand. She’d found herself doing that more and more lately, unable to resist since that morning. Eli looked so young, so vulnerable since everything had happened that morning but, at the same time, insanely strong. Eli moved her hand away and grabbed her plate. Sarah didn’t take offense to it, but she did miss the warmth.

  Instead of heading downstairs after clearing her plate like Sarah had expected, Eli moved to the den and plopped onto the couch Sarah had woken her from hours before. Sarah sat next to Eli, their shoulders brushing, but this time Eli didn’t move.

  “How many do you lose a year?”

  “Just a couple between calves and cows.” Sighing, Eli tossed her head back onto the couch as she pulled at the braids she hadn’t fixed up from that morning even though she’d showered. She untwined the strands and ran her fingers through them. “Would you do something for me?”

  “Anything.” Sarah nearly whispered, but it was true. If Eli asked her to anything in that moment, she would do it immediately.

  “Play something.”

  “What?”

  “On the piano. I just…I need a few minutes to think. Please.”

  “Sure.” Sarah’s stomach rolled with nerves. She grabbed the second piece of sheet music from the piano bench that she’d found, something she hadn’t played since she’d been there. As she sat, she didn’t dare glance over her shoulder, much as she wanted to.

  The keys felt firm under her hands as she pressed them, following the notes on the page. It wasn’t the most perfect rendition, but it was enough for what had been requested. Sarah played for at least thirty minutes, moving from the sheet music in front of her to other pieces she had memorized, to whatever came to mind as her creativity got flowing.

  When she finally stopped and twisted on her chair, she was struck by the sight of Eli, resting on the couch, her head tossed onto the back of it, her hair over her shoulders and covering her chest, her eyes closed gently, and the relaxed calm of her body. Sarah wasn’t sure what to say. She wasn’t even sure Eli was awake until Eli slowly slid her gaze to Sarah.

  “Thank you. That was beautiful.”

  Sarah’s lips parted in surprise, at a loss for words.

  “I always wished I had learned to play well.”

  “There’s still time,” Sarah murmured. “You’re not dead yet.”

  Eli snorted as she moved to sit up fully. “Not dead, no, but I certainly don’t have the time for piano lessons.”

  “If you don’t make the time, it’ll never happen.”

  Eli gave her a hard look. “True. But not now. Thank you again. I truly enjoyed that. I miss having music in here during the winter months. They can get long.”

  “I imagine.” Sarah closed the lid on the keys and moved over to sit next to Eli on the couch. She curled one leg under her body, her socked foot hanging over the edge of the cushion as she leaned back into the arm, facing Eli fully. “Maybe you’ll be so busy with the B&B that someday you won’t know what to do with yourself and you’ll beg for these quiet moments.”