When The Runway Went South (9 page)

"Um," Ally swallowed nervously. "Is there someone I can hire to do this?"

"Sure, but you need to know about it. I can give you the name of the landscaper business I use. They're the best in the area."

"Okay," said Ally in a small voice. "I'm going to need a lot of numbers. I'd start with plumbing, heating, electrical. You name it."

"Isn't it fun owning a house?" Caleb's eyes danced with amusement.

"Yes." Ally brought herself up in determination. "Nothing I can't handle once I learn it."

"Go get 'em, tiger." Caleb laughed and they walked back into the house. "I'll finish my drink and be on my way." He picked up the almost empty bottle and shrugged. "I near cleaned you out of some good whisky. By the way, liquor stores aren't open around here on Sunday. I'll bring some by on Monday."

"That's okay, Caleb. It's on the house." Ally smiled at him as she leaned against the counter. "Where else would I get a good lesson on my sprinkler system?"

"You see, I'm not cheap." Caleb walked up to Ally and gently cupped her chin into his hand. "Tomorrow is Sunday, a day of rest. You think you can stay out of trouble for one day?"

"I can't promise anything," murmured Ally lost in Caleb's green eyes. The way he touched her, made Ally want to melt into him. They stayed that way for a couple of minutes; each torn about what to do. Ally could tell he wanted to kiss her and she wanted him to, but no. She had to think of him as off-limits. They had only known each other for a total of three days. She stepped back, breaking the moment.

"I've taken up enough of your time today." She watched him slowly withdraw.

"Good night, Ally," Caleb whispered. He turned and headed for the door without looking at her. If he did, he knew he would turn around and take her there on the spot.

****

"Kat? What are we doing today? Are you coming over?" The rooster had awakened Ally again.

"Ally, its Sunday. A day of rest," moaned Kat as she turned over and looked at the time. "It's only eight in the morning. You know I don't do mornings."

"Is it that late? I couldn't sleep last night and I've been up since the crack of dawn."

"Now what happened?" Kat yawned and sat up in her bed.

"Those kids came back and Caleb caught them."

"Now, how stupid it is of them to come back?"Kat mumbled."Did this include a squad car?" Ally had Kat's full attention.

"Two squad cars came, actually. When I let Tank out, I heard them out there and I got scared. I fired three shots into the air. Caleb told me not to do that again."

"You've got a gun? Ally, I never knew that. When did you get it? Do Mom and Dad know about it?"

"I lived in New York, remember? I even took classes in Berks county in Pennsylvania at the Cabela's  there. I don't think I let it slip into any conversations with the parents."

"Speaking of parents, they want to know why you haven't called them."

"Like I've had time?" Ally knew she had to call soon if she didn't want to be disowned by her own parents.

"Today is as good of time as any. They want to see your house."

"But it's not ready yet. Besides, you know Dad. He's going to want to check out everything in the house. Last night, Caleb tried to explain the sprinkler system to me. He totally lost me."

"Caleb came over again last night?" Kat sounded suspicious. "Ally, you're not taking advantage of him, are you?"

"Not at all. He just came over to tell me why I had two squad cars in my back yard. Then, he must have felt sorry for me because he gave me a tip on things I have to watch out for as a home owner." Ally decided not to mention to Kat what almost happened last night, either. No way. The rooster had not been the only thing keeping her awake. Intense sexual images of Caleb making love to her Images she shouldn't even be thinking about. Why did Caleb have to be so damn good looking?

"Oh. You know Dad will help you when he comes. He'll be insulted if he can't."

"I know, I know," said Ally as she glanced out the kitchen window into Caleb's pasture. At least twenty steer were grazing by the fence making a tranquil scene, with no Caleb in sight. "I'll get at least one room together. Where am I in proximity to a good mall?"

"Now, you're speaking my language," said Kat emphatically. "You stay put and I'll come over around eleven. We'll go out to lunch and I'll show you around."

"I'll be here." Ally hung up with Kat and then called her parents. After her parents played the guilt card about taking Ally so long to call, they agreed they would come up next weekend to help. As Ally hung up the phone, she once again looked out the window and saw Caleb riding by. He didn't look in her direction for which Ally said her thanks to God so she just admired him from afar. Sighing she turned away from the window and tried to get organized.

"Okay, list number one," muttered Ally as she sat at the kitchen table rechecking her original list. "Security system." Jotting down the names and numbers of two competitors, Ally moved on. "Go to city hall after I find out where it is. Next, find out where the car dealer is to get an inspection." Car dealer, what about her license? She jotted it down for another place to look up online. "Plumber, electrician, sprinkler, pool, landscaping. No wait, Caleb said he'd give her his." Caleb. Why couldn't she stop thinking of him? "Stop it," Ally scolded herself. "Today, bedroom set for at least one of the bedrooms and towels for the bathroom." She chewed on the top of her pen and noticed she had no patio furniture. "Patio furniture, Kat is going to kill me for dragging her everywhere." She sighed and looked out the window again hoping to see Caleb. Darn, no sign of him. Maybe she should just put curtains up there instead of the plantation blinds in order to keep her mind off of him. She added to her list and tore it off the pad. Kat would be here soon and she still had to get dressed. Ally walked to her bedroom, purposely not looking out the window.

Chapter Seven

Caleb woke up late cursing the fact he had overslept. He had a lot to do with the cattle today and Jeb had been patient so far, but that could change. He blamed it all on Ally. The dreams he had about her were unsettling because they seemed so real. He had even almost kissed her last night, standing against the kitchen counter looking so damn vulnerable. No, she didn't need any make up to show off those lips of hers. Why did she have to be his neighbor? He could've done well without ever meeting her, but no. She shows up and knocks his socks off. Caleb threw on a shirt and struggled into his jeans and boots. Grabbing a mug of coffee that Jeb's wife, Gracie, had made for him, he headed to the barn to meet up with Jeb who nursed one as well.

"You stayed kind of late at Ally's house." Jeb looked at Caleb for confirmation.

"Woman should never have moved in. She has no clue what it takes to run a house. Who's going to take care of her? She didn't even know about the sprinkler system. God only knows what she's going to do with a heater and furnace."

"She'll learn. She's pretty enough to get by." Jeb stared at Caleb over his coffee cup. "You sweet on her?"

"Hell, no. I don't even want to talk about her. We've got a lot of work to do this morning." Caleb ended the conversation and rode out onto the pasture. When they rode by Ally's house he purposely didn't look in her direction. He and Jeb moved the herd away from the tainted pasture, putting up fences so the animals could not get back in. Jeb had hired some additional helpers to clean up the pastures and all the men worked silently side by side. Occasionally, Caleb would sneak a glance towards Ally's house just to check up on her. Was he sweet on her? No way. Caleb threw himself into his work to clear any thoughts of Ally.

They stopped for lunch, which Gracie had carefully packed away for the men. Caleb didn't know what he would do without Jeb and Gracie. They had been with him as long as he could remember and were that much part of his family. Caleb's father had hired them when Caleb's mother had passed away and they stayed on. After Caleb's father's death, Jeb had volunteered to leave, but Caleb would have no part of it. In addition to Jeb and Gracie living in the house, Caleb included his cousin, Marcus, an educationally challenged man, but a good worker around the farm. Caleb smiled at them, proud of his crew. “Jeb, how much more work needs to be done?" asked Caleb as he took another bite of his sandwich.

"We're pretty much done here," answered Jeb. "We need to call Fosters to replace the cattle we lost. I heard he's got some good ones."

"We can go tomorrow," said Caleb. "If you don't need me, I'm going to take a ride back and work on the finances."

"Y'all go on ahead," answered Jeb. "I'll wrap it up here."

"Thanks." Caleb got up on his horse and started to trot back to the barn. He couldn't help himself and he took a glance at Ally's house and saw Kat's car in the driveway. He wondered what those two were up to. He shook his head. Why couldn't he stop thinking about her?

At the barn, Caleb dismounted and led his horse, Thor, to the stall where he took pains in brushing him down. Thor had been bred an Arabian stallion, which Caleb had purchased one year ago and trained himself. The two had been inseparable and only Caleb could ride him. Rex, his Australian Shepherd, waited patiently as Caleb groomed Thor. Satisfied, Caleb went inside to his home office along with Rex and booted up the laptop. He opened the Excel spreadsheet to look over his finances to see what he could afford, but his mind wandered in another direction. He went to Google and keyed in Ally's name. He spent the rest of the afternoon reading about her and looking at her various pictures. She had been romantically linked with the likes of Matt Damon, Justin Timberlake and many others. Caleb still couldn't understand why she would give up her career for a place like Argyle, Texas, ranch country. Caleb had dated some very pretty women, but none of them had been famous like Ally. Ah, he found a tidbit he didn't know about her. She had spent thirteen years in Indiana and she had a master's degree in fashion from Marist College in New York, which impressed Caleb. He went back to his finances, trying to get Ally out of his mind. His cell phone rang and he anxiously looked at it hoping for Ally. No. He took the call, anyway, and spoke to his best friend.

"Joe, what's up?" Caleb stood up as he spoke.

"The guys and I are going to the bar, y'all want to come along?"

"I'll be there. What time?"

"Now sounds good."

"Isn't it too early?" Caleb looked at his watch, not realizing how the time had slipped away. Damn. He had spent hours looking at pictures of Ally. He shook his head in disbelief. "I'm leaving now," he told Joe.

Caleb turned off his laptop, changed clothes, combed his hair, sprayed on some cologne and headed out the door. He took the scenic route, the one which went by Ally's house on his way to the bar. He noticed Kat's car missing which meant Ally must be home alone. Interesting.

He got to the bar in record time and met up with his friends. After ordering a round, Joe settled into his chair and gave Caleb a knowing glance.