Finally Home (12 page)

His brows gathered together in confusion. “Proud?”

“
You brought a life into this world, Noah. Doesn’t that make your spirits soar?”

His smile was wide and gentle. “Of course it does. I feel very energized, even though my body contradicts that right now.”

Laughing, she laced her fingers with his and squeezed his hand. “Yes, you look exhausted.”

“
That look in your eyes...what are you up to?” Noah squinted at her.

She sighed, then turned her gaze to the horses. “Just hope you’ll see what I see.”

“
I think my mind’s too tired to see or think much of anything right now,” he rubbed his eyes.

“
You helped this little miracle along, Noah. Doesn’t that make you....feel an attachment?”

His eyes darted to her face, which was again turned to him. “
Now
I know what you’re trying to do!”

“
I think we should name the foal Stormy,” she tossed her head back, her long waves floating in the air as she rose.

Noah gazed up at her. “Amanda, this event isn’t going to make me change my mind. I’ve helped deliver foals before.”

“
But no one like me was around to make you think about the amazing event. To make you feel the joy of the moment so deeply that it will linger and you won’t be able to forget it.”

He rested his head in his hands, shaking it lightly. “Amanda, Amanda.”

“
Every time you look at Stormy, you’ll be reminded that Moonlight Ranch is a place of miracles. How could you still want to give this place to a man who will destroy it?”

He stood, glancing over his shoulder, grasping her arm. “Lower your voice.”

She looked at the three cowpokes cleaning the stable. “What? They don’t know about your plans to sell the ranch? Maybe they should Noah.”

“
Don’t say a word to them,” he warned, drawing her closer.

“
Well, I’ll have to think about that,” she swallowed a hard lump in her throat. Her pulse quickened at the intimate contact between their bodies. “I am part owner. D-Don’t want our employees to be shocked when they’re suddenly out of a job.”

His breath was rapid on her forehead. “I’m really not in shape for arguing right now.”

“
Are you in shape for driving me back to my house? I really don’t think I can manage walking back with my bags and Webster through so much mud left by the rain.”

Nodding, his face softened. “Would you like to have a cup of coffee with me before you go?”

Feeling his grip loosen on her arm, she relaxed. “I think I should get back to the house. I have a web page to finish before tomorrow.”

Letting her arm go, he backed away. “I need to tell the cowpokes a few things, so I’ll be a few minutes.”

“
Ok, I’ll get my things together,” she broke their fused stare, and hovered over the new foal. “Bye little Stormy. I’ll come see you again, soon.”

The foal whimpered softly when Amanda touched her neck. Possessively, Angel twisted her head and snorted at Amanda, who smiled at the mare’s motherly love for her baby. Such a miracle, she thought to herself again. As if Noah could hear her thoughts, he turned his head to stare at her. The penetrating heat from his eyes caused her to look away, but she still felt his burning gaze even after she left the stable.

********

The short ride back to her house was quiet. She wanted to talk about Stormy but knew that it may stir up an argument. Noah would think she was trying to manipulate him again. Which was furthest from the truth! She was only trying to make him feel. To feel something for the ranch that would cause him to think twice about selling it.

When the truck pulled up to the house, Amanda felt a queasiness in her stomach. Hesitating, she glanced at Noah. “The door is open.”

He frowned. “Did you forget to close it?”

Thinking back to last night, she shrugged. “I could have-- because of how hectic things were--but I’m pretty sure I closed and locked the door.”

“
I’ll come inside with you,” he flung open his door and allowed Webster to hop out.

The front door creaked as the cold wind swung it back and forth. And Amanda felt her uneasiness become more severe when she walked inside. Furniture was turned over and some of her collectibles were broken and scattered on the floor. “Someone broke in, Noah,” she cried.

“
Let me make sure
that someone
is gone,” he left her side and rushed from room to room. When he returned to where she was standing, shaking in the doorway, he shook his head. “Whoever it was, trashed the whole house.”

Moving into the kitchen, she attempted to blink back her tears, but wasn’t successful. Pots and pans were all over the counter and floor, most of them dented or broken. “Someone just came in here and cleared out the cupboards. And the drawers!”

Noah’s worried eyes scanned the kitchen. All the drawers were pulled out, the silverware tossed around the room. He then looked at Amanda, who was sobbing freely now. He went to her. His hands turned her to him. And he held her.

********

Amanda glanced over her shoulder at the desk in the bed of the truck. Noah had loaded it after demanding she pack up most of her things and return back to the main house with him. She argued with him for a few seconds, not wanting to leave her grandparent’s old house. But eventually, Noah’s insistence won. She would stay at the ranch until the police found a lead on who tore the house apart...or if she wanted she could stay longer.

“
That cop was very nice,” Amanda said. “He arrived pretty quickly after you phoned the police station.”

“
We’ve known each other for a long time. I went to high school with him.”

“
Do you agree with him? That it could’ve been a ranch hand?”

“
Possibly. But I can’t imagine one of them wanting to scare you.”

“
And nothing was stolen,” she pointed out. “It had to be someone who wanted to send me a warning.”

Noah stopped the truck on the driveway winding to the garage. Pulling the keys from the ignition, he glanced sideways at her. “You think you know who it is, don’t you?”

“
I don’t think. I
know
who did it.”

“
Why? Why would he do that, Amanda?”

“
Because he’s desperate. He wants this ranch. And I’m the only one who’s in his way. He wants me scared...so I’ll give in and sign my name next to yours on the papers that will sell Moonlight Ranch to him!”

He could tell how upset she was, and felt his insides twist with turmoil. “I-I can’t talk about this, Amanda. What you’re saying...I just can’t believe it.”

“
I think you
could
believe it. You’re just so blinded with your own feelings about this ranch that you don’t
want
to believe it.”

“
It’s time we both get some rest,” he grumbled. “I’ll get some cowpokes to help me bring that desk up to your room a little later.”

She watched as he slid from his seat and slammed the door behind him. After seizing three suitcases from the truck bed, he marched to the front porch of the house.

Amanda opened the passenger door, then grabbed her laptop and handbag. “Come on, Webster,” she looked at her dog, huddled in a ball in the back seat of the truck. The dog immediately woke and jumped from the truck, barking at Amanda’s heels.

As she entered the bedroom she had left only a few hours ago, she felt a wave of exhaustion sweep over her body. Her eyes flew to the bed. Noah had dropped off her suitcases. Webster followed her to the foot of the bed where she removed the suitcases and plunked them on the floor along with her laptop, then she flopped onto the bed and allowed her body to sink into the mattress. Depression consumed her. She was under the same roof as the man she loved but felt miles away from him.

She reached for the phone on the nightstand and dialed her grandparent’s number. “Hi, Grandma,” she wiped her eyes.

“
Honey, you don’t sound too good,” Grandma Kate said.

“
Something happened to the house,” she whispered and explained how the house was torn apart.

“
Oh my goodness! Are you sure you’re ok?”

“
I’m fine, Grandma. Just a little shaky.”

“
Who would do such a thing to you?”

“
I have a feeling I know who it is but...no one believes me.”

“
No one...meaning Noah...sweetie?”

“
Yes,” Amanda pulled back the bed comforter and crawled beneath the covers. “I don’t know what to do!”

“
What’s going on with you two...are you dating?”

“
No, no...I mean...oh, I don’t know. I’m so confused. I love him, Grandma.”

“
What about him?”

“
I know he cares about me...but it’s not going to work out...we want different lives.”

“
Amanda, sweetie, come to Florida for a few days. Stay with grandpa and me.”

Closing her eyes, Amanda sighed. “I don’t know....”

“
Well, think about it and please call me anytime, honey,” Grandma Kate sniffed. “I want you to be happy.”

“
I want that too.”

“
Your grandpa and I love you.”

“
Love you too and give Grandpa a kiss for me,” Amanda felt a smile come to her lips as she hung up the phone.

But as her eyes scanned the room, she felt the overwhelming depression return. How could she have let herself fall in love with Noah? She had let her guard down...let herself trust him a little...then fell hard and fast. As much as she loved Moonlight Ranch, maybe it had been a mistake to move to Texas. Maybe it was time for her to surrender.

A knock on the bedroom door caused Amanda to jump beneath the covers. “The door’s open.”

Noah’s handsome face peeked through the narrow slit of the barely opened door. “I don’t want to disturb you.”

“
You’re not,” she remained beneath the colorful sheets but poked her head out.

He entered, his face still a shadow of fatigue. “Another storm may be moving in tonight. Just wanted to warn you.”

“
Thanks for the warning,” she snapped.

“
Haven’t had your nap yet, I see.”

“
Well, it’s very hard to sleep when your mind is spinning with so many sad thoughts.”

He felt a sharp pain stab through his heart. He didn’t like what he was seeing. What was happening to her? He moved closer to the bed. All he could see was her watery blue eyes and thick blonde hair. The rest of her body was buried beneath the bed covers. “I’ve never seen you so....”

“
Vulnerable....” she spat, “....is that the word you're looking for?”

He didn’t know how to respond to her when she was in such a state. “Are you sick?”

“
Yes, Noah,” she cried. “You could say that.”

“
Because of the house, and what happened?”

“
That’s just a small part of my melancholy.”

Noah cleared his throat, suddenly a lump had formed and he was finding it hard to breath. “Your upset because of me, aren’t you? I’m making you miserable.”

“
We’re making each other miserable,” she whipped the sheets away from her body and moved toward Noah. “I’m going to Florida for a few days--to visit my grandparents.”

She was shocked by the hurt look on his face...just as shocked by her sudden decision to go to Florida.

“
Maybe that’s for the best,” his eyes caressed her face.

Her heart ached when he didn’t protest. Didn’t hug her to his chest and beg her to stay. She choked back her tears. “I may even decide to stay longer.”

He flinched. “Have a safe trip, Amanda.”

After he walked away from her and out the door, she wanted to call him back. Wanted to hold him and imagine there wasn’t a huge gap between them.

*******

“
Oh, my sweet grandchild,” Amanda’s grandfather circled his arms around her in a tight hug.

“
I’m so happy to see you,” she hugged him back and kissed his rough cheek before wrapping her other arm around her grandmother. “And you, too.”

“
We’re glad you’re here! Now hop into our car, girly, so grandpa and I can take you to dinner,” Grandma Kate hummed.

Amanda climbed into the backseat of her grandparent’s sleek new car. Her nose wrinkled at the overpowering scent of leather and vanilla. Twisting her head around, she stared out the back window as they drove away. For some insane reason, she imagined that Noah would come rushing from the airport and surprise her. That he would say he’d been a fool to let her leave.

But that didn’t happen. Instead,
she
felt like the fool. A fool for allowing herself to be vulnerable to Noah. A fool for believing she could make a home for herself at the ranch.

Amanda’s grandparents took her to a small seafood restaurant for dinner. Noah only came up once in their conversation but Amanda could tell that her grandmother wanted to discuss him further.

It was later in the evening, after they were seated in the living room of the cozy condo, that Grandma Kate patted Amanda’s hand and sighed heavily. “Your grandpa’s already tucked himself into bed. Nine o’clock is actually late for him! Now you can tell me about your troubles and why you ran away from the ranch.”