“I’m good, Shel. Y’follow baseball when y’were in Boston? Been t’ Fenway?”

  “I never was really serious, but I went a few times a year, usually when someone bought me a ticket. It’ll be fun to be close to the Voyagers game. I was always in the nosebleeds at Fenway.” The three of them got into Matt’s pickup, Shel in the middle.

  “None of those here, Shel,” Ronnie told her. “We’ll be close enough t’ see ’em sweat.” When they parked at the stadium, Ronnie called Jeanette on his tab and they met at the gates. She threw herself on Ronnie, hugging him and kissing him as if they hadn’t seen each other for months. Matt felt a twinge of envy, but he laughed a little because he knew it had only been since last weekend. Valerie had come along with Jeanette, which knotted his stomach for a moment before Jeanette introduced the guy that was with them as Valerie’s boyfriend. Matt greeted Valerie warmly and introduced Shel as a friend from the ranch, but he kept his arm around her as he did so.

  Once inside Matt offered to give Shel a tour of the park, and the others wandered off to find beer and seats. “I’m sorry if Ronnie coming along surprised you. It only came up this mornin. He’ll be gone with Jeanette by the sixth.”

  “Don’t worry, I’m here for a good time tonight, and Ronnie isn’t going to stop me. Jeanette seemed nice. Valerie seemed pleased to see you too. Do you know her?”

  Matt swallowed. “One time when Ronnie and me came t’ town on a Saturday Jeanette set me up with her. She’s nice enough but nothin special.”

  “If she’s nothing special, I don’t know how I got to be here,” Shel replied with a hint of sarcasm. “She’s a looker.”

  “I’ve only met her the once. And I find you very strikin, especially on those cold Saturday mornins in your bulky quilted jacket.” He grinned back at her and she laughed. They walked around the park, found some beer, dogs, fries, and then their seats. Ronnie and Matt sat next to each other with the women at their sides. They watched the game and chatted and laughed about it and their work at the ranch. Jeanette got up and moved over next to Shel in the third, and they talked in hushed tones that Matt couldn’t quite make out, laughing from time to time. By the end of the fifth, Ronnie and Jeanette were gone.

  “She’ll drive him back t’ the ranch tomorrow,” Matt told Shel. “Enjoyin the game? You and Jeanette were deep in conversation there for a while.”

  “We were talking about which guys on the field were the cutest. I mean, this is rookie league, so they’re twenty-two, max. They look like children out there, almost like it’s Little League. We decided the Voyagers’ second baseman was the cutest. Next time we’ll have to really do ourselves up to interest him in a couple of old ladies like us.”

  Matt laughed. “You two will do fine. Just sneak up behind him and drag him under the bleachers. He’ll surrender. I would.” Shel laughed, then she told him about her solo morning ride on Spitfire—from greeting him with a carrot in the morning to following some of the ranch roads, and finally putting him and the tack away afterwards. Matt was glad she had done well and enjoyed hearing her tell the story so enthusiastically.

  Matt said he had blocked out time in late July for Charlie to come visit again. They talked about the upcoming Fourth of July barbecue at the ranch, a big summer party that included fireworks. Jimmy Bell was expected, and it was usual for the ranch employees, families, and guests to attend. Shel smiled and told Matt that it was probably too far for her family in Cicero. “I’ll buy y’dinner if y’don’t already have a date,” he joked. She told him she’d check back with him on the third if she had no other offers. They smiled at each other, and she leaned her shoulder against his.

  By the eighth the Voyagers were up six to one, and the game’s drama seemed to have run its course. They decided to go find some music and a drink. Matt took Shel to a spot called Great Plains that had live music and a bar that could produce decent cocktails. It was much more of a couples sort of place than the Score Board. He had a beer, and she had a Sazerac—the bartender said he knew how and was good at it. She took a taste when it came, said that the bartender was right, and offered Matt a sip. He thought it was good. He’d never had one before. Two or three dances became twelve. Sometimes they talked, sometimes not.

  When Matt brought her to her door, he had no expectation of being invited in, and she did not offer. She thanked him for the evening and said she had enjoyed it very much. She kissed him—slowly, her lips seeming to massage his from the outside while her tongue swept them on the inside. He embraced her to share and return the kiss fully. He felt his heart race. They separated after a few seconds and looked happily into each other’s eyes. She pulled away, wished him a good night once more, told him to drive carefully, and went into her apartment alone.

  That was terrific, he thought as he drove, his pulse still fast. Really good. I like Shel a lot, we get on really well. She likes me, too. At least I think she does, but I should be careful. That was some kiss. It’s been so long since I had a real girlfriend. Maybe it’s living on the ranch so far away from town and most people. Maybe it’s Charlie. I wonder if he makes women nervous about me, scares ’em off. Maybe I think about him too much. I can imagine waking up with Shel. She really looked good tonight. What a great smile, and her eyes! But would it go anywhere? Is she going to stay on at the ranch? Am I? These thoughts and their innumerable variations whirled around inside his head as he made his way back home.

  **

  The Fourth of July came on the following Wednesday. Matt’s workload was so heavy that he spent the holiday morning catching up on paperwork and planning ahead for the following week. With Matt spending so much time at the ant farm, his crew was struggling to keep pace with the normal ranch work. Shel had told him Tuesday that she was getting more and more of the billing and invoicing for the ant farm on her desk too, and, she said, Steve seemed like he was being driven to distraction by all the details of coordinating the two organizations even though they were supposed to be separate. The schedule said the work would be done in mid-August, which Matt thought was unlikely. Whenever it was done, the sooner the better, Matt would be relieved.

  He arrived at the party at six to start the horseshoe tournament, which moved along more quickly than Memorial Day because they had built a second pit. Shel was already there helping set up even though the ranch had hired a caterer. Over a hundred employees and guests were expected. By seven the road was lined with visitors’ cars and those of employees who lived off the ranch.

  They exchanged greetings as he circulated and Shel helped the caterers. The first time they passed each other, she stopped him and showed off her boots—they were new, her first pair of fancy-dress cowboy (cowgirl?) boots.

  “That’s a good pair. They suit you, Shel,” he said.

  She wore a light top that sometimes clung and other times fluttered if there was a breeze. It wasn’t revealing per se, but she didn’t have to lean toward him too much to display her cleavage, and he wondered if she was doing it on purpose. She had been on his mind constantly since the baseball game last Saturday night. Her straight blond hair seemed to dance as she walked, and she was smiling nonstop.

  He reminded her that they were to have dinner together, and she threw him a kiss.

  Dinner was at eight, a big spread. Matt and Shel were at a table with Tom and Bridget and some of Tom’s family who lived not too far away in Helena. It was a warm evening, not as hot as it had been earlier in the week, but comfortable and without too much breeze. There was some music after dinner but the patio was too crowded for dancing. The finals of the horseshoe tournament began at nine, with Matt playing against Fred. Fred prevailed by only a few points.

  Shel congratulated Matt on his excellent showing as they walked away from the party along the back of the main shed in the gathering dark. He was modest about it, but it was disappointing. At the far end of the shed, a hundred feet or more from the edge of the patio, she pulled him around the corner of the building and into her arms.

  “You were very good, Matt,” she told him and kissed him eagerly, pressing hard against his lips. He returned her kiss, and they embraced more closely. After a few minutes they were leaning on the building to keep their balance as they became more passionate. His hands explored her contours, learning them. They paused to catch their breath, and she said simply, “You’re good at this too.” He was aroused.

  “You’re pretty good yourself, Shel.” He paused to look around. “Almost time for the fireworks.”

  “I hope so,” she said, and her arms slid down to his buttocks then pulled him against her. He embraced her tightly again, smelling her perfume and tasting sweetness on her lips. She gyrated her groin against his growing erection, and he could feel her breasts against his chest. What little rational thought he had left was concentrated on resisting the impulse to tear the clothes off her back.

  There was a startling bright flash of light followed immediately by a loud explosion. The fireworks had indeed begun. “Break time,” she whispered hoarsely as they separated. She turned to watch, leaning back against him. They were out of sight of the main party on the patio, but they could see the fireworks a hundred yards or so to the east.

  Matt put his arms around her and held her close as they watched. She moved her butt back and forth slightly against his jeans, and he began to move his hands across her belly slowly and gently. The fireworks went on for about ten minutes before ending with a huge roman candle that illuminated the whole party, including the patio and the shed wall where they stood. Matt was amused to see the silhouettes of a few other couples along the building wall in the light of the fireworks.

  They moved back into the dark protection of the corner as Shel turned to him again and they resumed where they had left off.

  “Y’drivin back t’ town tonight?” he asked and kissed her.

  “It’s late and tomorrow’s a work day. I’ll sleep on the office couch.” A light kiss.

  “Y’could sleep on mine.” He ran his tongue across her lips.

  “Where would you sleep?” Another light, teasing kiss.

  “In my big bed.” Their lips barely touched.

  “How big is it?” He had the sense she was trying to inhale him.

  “Big enough for two.” He pulled her hips to him, making full contact as he kissed her passionately.

  “People will talk.” She gave him another light kiss but lingered this time.

  “I’ll take that chance,” he replied. His eyes had readjusted to the darkness by this time and he could see her in monochrome outline. She stepped back and put her hands on his chest, massaging it lightly as they looked into each other’s faces.

  “Me too,” was all she said as she let her arms fall to her waist and leaned close for yet another kiss that barely touched.

  Chapter 9

  Shel gave herself fifteen minutes to walk to her car from Matt’s prefab, drop her overnight bag in her car, and be across the road in the office at eight. The sun had been up for more than two hours and was well into the sky as she walked toward it with a light breeze behind her. The morning was still chilly so she wore a jacket over her regular work clothes of jeans and a long-sleeve top. She liked her fancy new boots so much she was wearing them to work.

  Matt had left earlier, as he had a big day, what with the ant farm and the regular ranch work. She had been amazed at how much he ate for breakfast, at least twice what she did. They each cooked their own breakfast and ate together at his small dining table. They had kissed softly when Matt left, then she’d showered, straightened the kitchen a bit, zipped her overnight bag, and headed to work. Evelyn Taylor was out in her yard next door as Shel left, and the two exchanged a friendly wave. Shel noted a look of surprise on Evelyn’s face.

  Is this the walk of shame, she wondered. I’ve got my work clothes on so it’s not like I’m sneaking around after midnight in my shorty clubbing dress or going back to the dorm. Evelyn’s nice, and we get along, but the word will be out on the gossip net by lunch time. Whatever. I was warned, Matt was warned.

  She thought about the sunrise coming in through Matt’s bedroom window earlier. It had been so long since she had woken up with a man, much less a delightfully handsome and naked one, it took her a few moments to recall where she was. When she did, she reached out to run her hand along his chest. He had stretched, rolled closer, and put his arm over her. After some quiet good-mornings they kissed, kissed some more, and within a few minutes were making gentle, delicious waking-up love. It was less dramatic than the night before when they had been alight with desire and after tearing each other’s clothes off made active, athletic, and very satisfying love. No, this morning was pleasantly slow and sensual but just as satisfying. Afterward they lay together in bed, and she dozed off again only to be awakened when Matt got up. The thought warmed her inside her jacket and jeans.

  She had given some thought to how she would reconcile her commitment to stop the new ant farm project with her attraction to Matt. There were other people she dealt with who could and had provided information to her. It helped that everyone on the ranch was curious and the rumor mill was running full tilt.

  As she closed the trunk on her overnight bag she promised herself that she’d back off of him when it came to the ant farm. She turned and walked across the ranch road, unlocked the admin building door, and started her work day. It was a slow day with few visitors so she had a chance to catch up on some of her longer-term tasks. And to stare out her window at the Montana summer as she wondered about her and Matt. He called in the early afternoon, and they chatted for a couple of minutes before he got to the point.

  “No Saturday ride this week again, Shel. Sorry, it’s crazy here at the farm.”

  “I’m not surprised. From what you’ve said and what I see on my desk somebody’s trying to stuff ten pounds of something into a five-pound bag out there. What time will you finish Saturday? If you’d like to come to town, I’ll cook dinner.”

  “That’d be a good break. I need t’ get off the ranch even if it’s just for the evenin.”

  “So, six?”

  “Give me t’ half past so I can clean up. Wouldn’t want t’ get ranch mud on your floor.” She heard the pleasure in his voice, and it felt good.

  “See you then. Take care of yourself.”

  “You too, Shel.”

  **

  Saturday morning Shel decided that if she was going to make dinner for Matt it should be something she liked, that would show him something about her. They had only shared meals together at ranch events or the one time at the baseball game. Hamburgers, hot dogs, and barbecue weren’t exactly her favorites. So she went to the best supermarket in Great Falls and picked out a summer meal that appealed to her with a nod to what little she knew of Matt’s tastes, mainly that he burned a lot more calories than she did.

  At home in the mid-morning she put potatoes on to boil while she wrote her weekly report to Colin on the secure tab and sent it. Then she returned to cooking and cleaning. By five the apartment, every room of it, was pristine and dinner was on track for sevenish so Shel took her leisurely and luxurious time to bathe, prepare, and dress herself. At one point she paused and reflected that this was a lot of effort to put into a third date (Fourth of July didn’t really count since it was technically a job-related event, no matter the outcome). On the other hand, she thought, Matt pretty much met all her coming-to-Montana fantasies of what a real man might be like. That brought to mind the events that had led her to Montana—not just Colin’s offer, but the nasty breakup with Rick last fall. Take your time, she told herself, it’s still early. Don’t jump into the deep end before you know how to swim.

  She figured Matt would arrive in boots, jeans, and a plaid shirt, so she settled on a below-the-knee summer skirt, a light short-sleeve top, and sandals. She mused that she had been here long enough that evening temperatures in the upper sixties felt comfortably warm to her. A few minutes after six she put on an apron and messed around in the kitchen making her final preparations. There was a knock just before half past, and Shel took a deep breath as she walked to the door and opened it. Matt was standing there smiling, dressed exactly as she had expected, with a jacket thrown over his shoulder.

  She greeted him with a smile and a “hello” and stepped back to hold the door open. He paused and looked at her.

  “Hello, Shel. Y’look wonderful.” As he stepped forward into the apartment, he put his free arm around her, pulled her tight to him, and kissed her lips gently. She was flustered and gave him a look as he let go.

  “Just followin instructions,” he said and smiled as he glanced down at her apron. She looked and saw that she had, without thinking, put on the one with a big red heart circled by the words “Kiss the Cook.” She looked back at Matt, blushed, and smiled.

  “Sorry, cowboy, I didn’t mean to lead you on. It was on top of the pile, and I wasn’t paying attention.”

  “Should I take it back?” He grinned, and she softly made as if to punch him in the stomach as she closed the door.

  “Would you like something to drink? I have wine, beer, whiskey, soda, and plain old water from the wide Missouri.”

  “Beer would be fine, thanks.”

  “I have that brown ale you said you liked at the ball game. That OK?” She handed the beer to him and took off her apron before pouring herself a glass of wine. They sat down in the living room, where Shel had put out a plate of crackers, cheeses, and thin-sliced cold cuts for hors d’oeuvres. Matt seemed relaxed, but Shel felt a bit on edge. They chatted about Matt’s day and hers. At seven she went back to the kitchen to serve dinner. Matt was directed to set the table and put out the potato salad while she finished the green beans. The roast chicken was ready.

  “That smells really good,” Matt said with admiration in his voice.

  “Thanks. Do you want a breast or a leg and thigh?” she asked as she began to cut the chicken.

  “I’d like dinner first,” was Matt’s answer. Her head snapped up, and she looked at his deadpan expression looking back at her. The corners of his mouth twitched ever so slightly, and she burst out in a laugh as he let his smile emerge.