She didn’t bother knocking. Instead, Eli pushed open the door and called out, “Mrs. Hargrave?”

  “Heavens, Elijah, call me Ginger.”

  Grinning, Eli moved into the kitchen where she’d heard Mrs. Hargrave. Giggling, she stepped inside and rubbed her hands on her jeans with a shake of her head and a squint of her eyes. “Not a chance, Mrs. Hargrave. I had you for too many years in school to break old habits. Besides, you still call me Elijah.”

  Mrs. Hargrave chuckled and opened her arms. Eli walked right into them and gave her a hug. She had completely ignored Sarah, one because she was frustrated with the entire situation but two because she was always enraptured by Mrs. Hargrave when they were in the same room. She had learned so much more from her than just what was taught in the schoolbooks.

  Turning on her heel, Eli put her fist on her hip, popped it out slightly, and stared down at Sarah. Sarah had been glaring at her glass on the table, but as soon as she turned to look up at Eli, Eli’s breath flew out of her lungs. She never would have guessed that one. Sadie Bade. Country singer, folk singer, indie singer, whatever genre someone wanted to put her in, was sitting in the middle of the kitchen with a pout on her thin lips, and Mrs. Hargrave, bless her soul, had no idea who she was sipping tea with.

  “I suppose you’re Sarah Bannock.” Eli gave her as much of a smile as she could muster and held out her hand. “I’m Elijah Wilson. Eli, please.”

  Sarah put her hand out and shook. Warmth seeped into Eli’s fingers and up her arm. She jerked away before it hit her belly. She was simply star struck, that’s all it was. Nothing more.

  “I’ll take you back to Indigo. I think you’re a bit farther off than you thought you’d be.”

  “Yeah.” Sarah’s voice was barely above a whisper, and if Eli hadn’t been facing her, she wouldn’t have even thought she’d spoken.

  “We’ll have to take my truck. You don’t mind, Mrs. Hargrave, if we leave her car here until tomorrow, do you?”

  “Not at all. If you leave me the keys, Dwaine and I can meet you in town with it.”

  “Sounds good.” Eli nodded toward Mrs. Hargrave as she stared down Sarah, realizing in an instant that she hadn’t been able to rip her gaze from Sarah’s sad brown eyes. Sarah reached into her pocket and pulled out the keys, setting them on the table, and Eli could tell she was hesitant. “Ready?”

  “Elijah?” Mrs. Hargrave interrupted.

  “Yes, ma’am?” Eli spun on her heel.

  “Would you go check on Dwaine? I always worry about him being out here in this kind of weather at this time of night.”

  Eli furrowed her brow. “One of the boys isn’t doing the three o’clock checks?”

  Mrs. Hargrave shook her head as she gripped the back of the chair. “No.”

  Eli wanted to roll her eyes and say something sharp, but she held her tongue. It wouldn’t do any good to talk to them about it, but she could figure out a way to get word out to Robert’s and James’ wives and that would no doubt get the fire lit under them to help out their dad, because truthfully, Dwaine should not be out in the fields in the middle of the night.

  “Yeah, I’ll check before I head back. If you don’t hear from me, he’s fine.”

  “Thanks.” Mrs. Hargrave gave her a grin.

  Eli turned to Sarah, who hadn’t budged from her seat but was still staring at her. “Ready?”

  Sarah nodded. “I need to get my things.”

  “We’ll throw them in the back.”

  “Is it covered?”

  “No?” Eli furrowed her brow and shook her head. “The backseat.”

  “You have a backseat in your truck?”

  Eli wasn’t quite sure what to say to that. Either Sarah had grown up and continued to live under a rock, or she was still too upset to think straight. “Yeah. Let’s go. Mrs. Hargrave deserves to have her kitchen back.”

  Sarah got up and ambled toward the front door. Eli turned and gave Mrs. Hargrave one last hug before she followed Sarah outside and into the chill air. She really hoped she could find her own balance again after realizing who her guest was, because every thought that went through her mind was thank God she had fixed the toilet before Sadie Bade showed up on her front step.

  Chapter 4

  Eli headed straight out the front door toward the rental car. Sarah was slow to keep up, but Eli wanted to get done and get home. If she didn’t work it right, she wasn’t even going to get the precious three hours of sleep from four to seven in the morning before she had to get up and do her morning chores. In the mud. Which was her absolute favorite way to do morning chores, or any chores for that matter. Sarcasm intended.

  She waited at the trunk of the car, but Sarah didn’t move. Raising an eyebrow, Eli shoved her hands into the pockets of her jacket and took a good look at Sarah, at least what she could see of her in the light at her back. She must be a nervous wreck. Her hair was stringy from the rain that continued to fall, she shivered in the dimness of the night, and she refused to look Eli in the eye.

  Drawing in a deep breath, Eli reprimanded herself. She needed to have a bit more compassion for this woman who was stranded in the middle of nowhere, where she knew no one, and in the country, where she clearly was not used to being. Her high-priced bomber jacket and boots told that to anyone within a mile.

  Eli said nothing as she moved to the driver’s door and opened it. She popped the trunk and then walked to the back. She gripped Sarah’s small roller suitcase in one hand and her guitar in the other. As soon as she turned to step toward the truck, Sarah was right there, taking the guitar from her and holding it against her chest.

  “O…kay…” Eli swallowed and pushed down the feeling that bubbled up in her throat because she wasn’t sure she wanted to analyze it. She closed the trunk and then moved to her vehicle. Opening the back door, she shoved the suitcase in before holding her hand out for the guitar case. Sarah, clearly reluctant, handed it over.

  Eli put it on the seat so it wouldn’t move more than necessary and wouldn’t get crushed by the suitcase. Then she opened the passenger door, holding her hand out for Sarah to climb in. Sarah let out a short breath before she gripped the door and seat, then stepped onto the runner board.

  Eli wasn’t happy about bringing her nice new truck out into the fields, but she would never deny a request from Mrs. Hargrave. She had to check on Dwaine, who they all knew shouldn’t be out there anyway. She just hoped nothing was awry and he had no calves being born that couldn’t handle themselves, because she really didn’t want any more drama that night.

  With the door shut, Eli straightened her shoulders. She had to get a better grip on herself because she knew she was making an awful first impression on her guest, someone who could easily make or break her little bed-and-breakfast. One comment from Sadie Bade and her business could boom or bust.

  Swinging behind the wheel, Eli shoved the truck into reverse and started to back out when Sarah spoke. “Stop.”

  “What?”

  “Shouldn’t we…I mean, should we make sure Mrs. Hargrave locks the car?”

  Eli chuckled. “Ain’t nobody around to get into your car. What’d you leave in it that you want?”

  “Uh…nothing.” Sarah seemed to close in on herself.

  Narrowing her gaze, Eli took a risk and reached over, brushing her fingers against Sarah’s forearm. It was a long day for both of them, she had to keep reminding herself. “We shouldn’t be too long. Their pastures are pretty close to the house, luckily.”

  “What?”

  “To check on Dwaine.”

  “Oh. Right.”

  “I’m sorry to drag you out like this, but I can’t say no to her.”

  “You two seem to have history.”

  Laughing, Eli pulled out of the driveway and onto the dirt road. She was going to have to go back to the highway, turn on it, and then take the next exit south of the house, which was even farther from her own home.

  “She was my math teacher in high school.”

  “Oh.”

  “She’s the only math teacher for high school, so I had her for all four years.”

  Sarah didn’t answer. Eli pressed her boot down onto the gas as she came up to the creek. She splashed through it, and Sarah drew in a deep breath, pressing her hand to the center seat between them. Eli grabbed her fingers and squeezed hard before she pulled up on the other side of the creek.

  “Relax, Sarah. I know these roads like the back of my hand.”

  She nodded. “Is it always like this?”

  “The storms?”

  “Yeah.”

  “When we have them. This one is a bit early. Normally they start in March and go through to June. Typically, if we have a storm this time of year it’s snow, because we always get snow during calving season.”

  “Ginger said that, too.”

  “That we get snow?” Eli glanced over at Sarah, her pale skin reflecting in the night sky.

  “No. Calving season.”

  “Yeah, it starts as early as January for some, and goes as late as April for others. Depends on when we inseminate.”

  “I’m sorry?” Sarah turned with wide eyes as Eli came to a stop at the highway.

  Narrowing her gaze, Eli’s gaze slowly roved over Sarah’s confused and surprised expression. It took her a minute to realize Sarah had no clue what she was talking about. “Ranching.”

  “Huh?”

  Eli bolstered herself to teach. “We’re ranchers. I run a B&B, yes, but I also ranch, and I am trying my hand at farming this year, too. I have cattle, and this time of year is when the babies are born. We call it calving season.”

  “They’re all born at the same time?”

  Snorting, Eli nodded. “Yeah. We give them hormones so their cycles are all the same and then inseminate at the same time. That way, they’re born at the same time, I’m not staying up at all hours of the night all year long, they’re ready for auction at the same time so I’m not making multiple trips out to auction, and I don’t have to pay the artificial inseminator more than once a year.”

  “Oh.”

  Eli didn’t wait another second as she pulled onto the highway. She sped up and then slowed down. She could see Dwaine’s truck lights off in the distance, so luckily, she wouldn’t have to take her trusty truck too far into the fields. She followed the barely-there tracks, inching her way through the mud to him.

  When she pulled up, she lowered her window. “Hey.”

  “Eli.”

  She grinned. “Mrs. Hargrave wanted me to check on you.”

  “I’m fine, as you can see.”

  “I can see. Any calves yet?”

  “No.”

  “Let’s hope it stays that way until morning.”

  “Yup.”

  “See you tomorrow.”

  “Evening.”

  Shaking her head, Eli rolled up the window and drove around his vehicle before following her tracks back out to the highway. That had been how just about every conversation with him had always gone. He was not the conversationalist. Mrs. Hargrave was, and they made an interesting pair for sure.

  “You’re just going to leave him out there?”

  “Yeah.” Eli looked down both ways of the highway before she pulled onto the pavement. It was going to be a long drive home. Checking the time, she knew she was going to be late for her three o’clock check, which meant she was going to get less than three hours of sleep that night. She’d have to remember to set the coffee maker to go automatically when she got back before she left again. Her front door seemed to be revolving.

  She didn’t really speak again until they got to the turn off for her road. “Should only be another ten minutes.”

  “Another ten?” Sarah’s wide and dark eyes turned on her.

  Eli’s stomach flipped. Something in the way Sarah was acting was doing something to her stomach, and she couldn’t help wanting to reach over and touch her again to comfort her, but she resisted the urge. Clearly Sarah was there for a reason, and she did not want to risk messing up that or her future in any way.

  “Yeah.”

  “I didn’t realize it was so far out.”

  “Yeah,” Eli answered, her voice softer. “It’s gorgeous with the sunrise though. Well worth it.”

  Sarah stared out the window, and Eli focused on the road. With the rain down to a drizzle, she felt more comfortable picking up her speed. What she really wanted was a warm bed, lots of covers, and maybe even a fire to keep her warm, but she knew that was impossible tonight.

  They pulled up to the house, and Eli parked as close as she could to the front door. Her house was much like the Hargraves in that people parked wherever in front of the large, covered deck—except hers wrapped around the entire house. She got out of the truck and pocketed her keys. She grabbed Sarah’s guitar, handing it over to waiting hands before she grabbed the suitcase and carried it inside.

  Sarah followed dutifully. Eli took her straight up to the room she’d booked and set the suitcase down. She didn’t always give the helping hand, but she felt Sarah first had been through enough that night, and second deserved it for some odd reason. Eli moved to the door as Sarah looked around the room.

  “The kitchen is open, and you are free to use and eat whatever is there. Breakfast is at seven-thirty sharp. Is there anything you don’t like to eat?”

  “I’ll eat anything.”

  “Good.” Eli’s shoulder pressed into the wood, but she was finding it hard to push off the door frame and leave the room.

  “And the bathroom?”

  Eli stood up straight, looking at Sarah probably for the first time that night. She seemed much smaller in person than she did on video and far less confident. Her lower lip was pulled between her teeth, and Eli could see where it was a bad habit, no doubt. Her hair, rather than its usual light brown, had been dyed blonder, and cut to hang at her shoulders rather than down her back. It was new and different and did odd things to Eli’s insides.

  “Right across the hall.”

  “Thank you.”

  Nodding, Eli still didn’t move. She wasn’t sure why. She’d analyze it when she was out in the fields later, maybe, if she had enough brain power to think it through. Sarah reached up and pulled her beanie off, wringing it between her hands.

  “Was there something else?” Sarah asked.

  Eli cleared her throat. “Uh, no. I’m headed out for my heifer check, but I’ll be back in about an hour.”

  “Okay.”

  “So the house is yours.”

  Sarah nodded and tossed her beanie onto the bed. When she faced Eli, she had a thin smile on her lips. “Thanks, uh…for coming to get me.”

  “Any time.”

  Eli slipped from the room, not looking over her shoulder, as much as she wanted to. She didn’t want Sarah to think she knew who she was or like she was being some strange fan who ogled more than she should. Eli grabbed another cold water from the fridge, switched out her keys and headed to check on her babies.

  Sarah plopped onto the edge of the bed, relief flooding her. At least it seemed like Elijah, sorry, Eli, hadn’t recognized her. That meant at least the house would be a safe place, but she wasn’t sure it was going to be exactly relaxing. Eli, while she had been willing to answer questions, had been quite short with her.

  Though, she supposed, she’d be decently short if she was staying up late and if she needed to still go out and check heifers—whatever that meant. She flopped onto her back and stared at the ceiling. At least the bed was comfy. That was something to make her day better, even though she was pretty sure she wasn’t going to be sleeping in it any time soon. Her adrenaline and nerves were still running like crazy, and she had no real way to calm them down. Except…

  Turning, Sarah eyed her guitar case. If she was the only one in the house, she could play easily enough. Flicking the locks, she brushed her fingers over the wood and then the strings. She pulled it out and sat on the edge of the bed again. With the guitar on her thigh, she strummed until it was in tune.

  But she had nothing to play. No song came to mind. For the first time in years, she couldn’t think of anything she wanted to play. Eli came to mind, the way Eli had looked at her, the way her smile hadn’t quite reached her eyes except for that first moment in the Hargraves’ kitchen. That had been interesting.

  Rubbing her lips together, Sarah flopped onto the bed again, her guitar next to her. The room was beautifully done up. Tasteful, modern, yet not cookie cutter. The dark wood on the sleigh bed was a perfect match for the obviously refinished dresser and vanity. They weren’t new, they didn’t completely match, but they went together to complete the room in a way she would never have thought of.

  Eli was an interesting person, at least intriguing if not stand-offish. Sarah wished they had met under different circumstances, when she was less anxious, because she hoped she would have been able to focus better on Eli herself rather than the mess Sarah had found herself in.

  Eli had been almost as she had envisioned she would be, minus about thirty years and a different sex. Sarah had wrongly assumed she was staying with an older couple who were trying something new. She had no idea how old Eli was, but elderly was not it. She had a soft rounded face, brown eyes that kept flipping from cold and aloof to depths of emotions flashing so quickly no one could read them.

  Not that she was good at reading people, anyway. Kara always teased her about that. So did her sister, for that matter. Sarah was the most socially inept of all her friends and family. She largely kept to herself, focused on her music and her passions—which really was just her music for the last five years rather than anything she had done before.

  Sighing, she closed her eyes, but her mind was a whir of thoughts and feelings, and she couldn’t figure out a way to tamp down and quiet them. She faced her guitar and ran her fingers over the strings. She remembered every painful moment of learning to play, the blisters, stretching her fingers so they could reach when they shouldn’t because the guitar she’d been handed down was way too big for her tiny body.