Finally Home (5 page)

She blinked back tears. “Tell me, Noah. What’s wrong with him?”

“
He has emphysema from smoking way too much and way too long. He’s been battling it for years now.”

“
Is he getting worse?”

“
I’m afraid so. That’s why I came back to the ranch, Amanda. I spoke to Maria a couple of weeks ago and she told me he wasn’t doing well. So I dropped what I was doing in Dallas and came back here as quick as I could.”

“
What can I do to help him?”

“
Just being here is helping him. He’s always adored you,” his eyes held hers in a locked gaze. “And so have I, by the way.”

“
Y-you’re always catching me off guard, Noah West,” she tried to pull her hand away but he squeezed it tighter.

“
Dad fell asleep almost as soon as I helped him to his bed. So, I don’t know if he’ll be coming back downstairs. Would you like to take a walk?”

“
It’s a bit chilly outside.”

“
Come on, Miss Chicago. You can take this mild Texas weather!” he teased. “It’s warmer than it’s been in weeks. Why are you being such a wimp?”

She pushed her chair back and stood. “You’re going to regret that.”

“
So, get revenge on our walk,” he grabbed her hand and pulled her from the room.

Once outside, Amanda had to admit she did feel a bit invigorated. She gazed at the sky full of stars, and walked slowly beside Noah. “Ok, now that we’re alone. I want the full scoop.”

Turning to her, his eyes twinkled. “What scoop?”

“
On the book-length version.”

“
What are you talking about, crazy woman?”

“
Come on, remember our discussion at the general store yesterday? I told you I wanted the story on your venture into the furniture business.”

He stopped abruptly and sighed. “There is no story, Amanda. I told you it’s a hobby that turned into a nice little business.”

“
And you’re very good at it, Noah, but what guided you to this business? Why do you want to make furniture and not run Moonlight Ranch one day?” Amanda saw a muscle flex in his jaw as he clenched his teeth.

He closed his eyes patiently. When he opened them again, he smiled. "Why are you a web page designer?”

Baffled by his question, she laughed. “Because I went to college and found that career very interesting. And I love what I do. But it’s not the same as your situation because you were born into ranching. You don’t have to search for a career like I had to. Ranching has been and always will be here for you--”

“
Very nice, but listen to what you just said. You’re saying that I don’t have a choice. I’m
expected
to take over the ranch. Is that right?”

“
Noah, Moonlight Ranch is your family business. What happened to make you want nothing to do with it?”

He shifted uncomfortably; convinced that she wouldn’t understand the reason he wanted to detach himself from the ranch. How could she? She loved the ranch, while he has felt trapped by it his whole life.

Twisting her lips into a pout, Amanda walked a few paces toward the corral. Noah was mulling a little too long on her question. “You’re not going to answer me, are you?”

“
Nope,” he kicked up some dirt with the tip of his boot and joined her at the corral. A couple of horses were trotting playfully beneath the moonlight, not in the least eager to retire for the night. Tearing his gaze from the horses, he sent Amanda an amused glance. “Let’s talk about something else. Like why a great girl like you isn’t married yet.”

“
No, let’s not talk about that--”

“
Why not?” he nudged her with an elbow, observing that her face had turned pink from the cold. Her eyes seemed brighter, contrasting against her ruddy cheeks. Abruptly, he looked away before he became lost in her fathomless eyes.

“
Because it’s a question I’m asked all the time!” she sighed, feeling defensive. She wondered if every unmarried woman over twenty-five felt the same as she did. Yes, she wanted to get married! But no, she was not in a rush! So why was everyone else in a rush to see her married off to any old guy? And now Noah was wondering!

He flashed her a mischievous smile. “None of your boyfriends up in Chicago wanted to get hitched--”

“
Noah,” she chimed in, “When I did have the chance to date in Chicago, it never became serious. Plus, the guys I met there were all consumed with themselves.”

“
So,” he pressed. “Not one proposal?”

She threw her arms into the air. “Ok, I confess! Just one. I went out with a guy for a couple of months but he just wasn’t...the one. He was obviously convinced, however, that I was the woman for
him
because he proposed. Of course I turned him down.”

“
What kind of guy are you looking for then?” A wide grin formed on his lips.

“
The man I marry will be someone who makes me laugh, has family values, and isn’t afraid to be himself. Someone that I can trust,” she felt Noah’s hand on her shoulder and turned to him. “How about you? What do you want in a woman?”

His other hand caressed her cheek as he leaned in closer to her, silently answering her question.

Despite the whipping winds around her, a fire burned beneath her skin. And when she felt the pressure from his lips over her own, her heart exploded with pleasure. His hand moved from her shoulder and slid down her back as he gathered her closer to him. Her legs almost buckled from dizzy intoxication.

However, it wasn’t long until Amanda’s cautious nature interjected. She pulled away from Noah, feeling extremely frustrated. Pushing at his chest with her hands, she tried to escape his embrace, but he would not release her. “Why do you keep teasing me, Noah? It’s just like when we were younger--”

“
What are you talking about?” his lips were gliding gently over her hair.

Your kisses will hurt me, she wanted to scream, so don’t kiss me again! But she flashed a smile instead. “I–I mean that we shouldn’t get so caught up in the moment anymore.”

“
Caught up in the moment? That’s not what happened--”

“
Yes it is. W-we started talking about marriage and ideal mates. It’s only n-natural we would turn to each other romantically,” she shrugged. Closing her eyes, she hoped he would reply in agreement. But oh how desperately she wanted to pull him to her and resume their kiss!

“
No, Amanda...” he protested, But was suddenly distracted by Maria’s high-pitched scream. Slipping away from Amanda, he dashed to the house and found Maria on the front porch, waving her short arms hysterically.

“
No breathing, no breathing...” she cried, twisting her apron into knots.

“
Slow down, Maria,” Noah requested calmly and grasped her arms.

Amanda stumbled onto the porch, directing a worried glance at Noah. “What’s wrong?”

“
That’s what I’m trying to figure out but Maria is so upset,” he answered, then turned his attention back to Maria.

“
It’s Mr. West,” Maria sobbed, shaking her head. “I went to check on him--”

“
Is something wrong?” Noah broke down in despair. “Maria, tell me! What’s wrong with my father?”

Maria’s teary gaze wavered to Amanda, who was biting her bottom lip, and then settled on Noah’s blank stare. He already sensed what she was going to say. “He’s not breathing.”

********

A light breeze in the air kept lifting Amanda’s dress collar and flipping it up against her chin. She patted it down for the umpteenth time, searching the black-clothed crowd for Noah. He seemed to have suddenly disappeared. Rubbing her weary red eyes, she moved quietly with the crowd, taking one last glance at where Thomas had been buried. She already missed him terribly and was also quiet upset that she hadn’t been able to reach her grandparents the last couple of days. She had hoped to get in touch with them so they could make it for the funeral, but hadn’t been fortunate to catch them at home. And they never left their answering machine on so she couldn’t even leave a message. Wiping her eyes, she climbed into her truck.

On the drive back home, as the sun was setting, she contemplated her future. Noah would surely sell the ranch now. Or would he surprise her and keep it to honor his father? Shaking her head, she chastised herself. Thoughts of Thomas should be on her mind right now, not the ranch! Suddenly, without warning, she clutched the steering wheel and swerved off the windy country road to avoid hitting a jeep parked in the center. Angrily, she yanked the keys from the ignition and stormed from the truck. But halfway to the jeep, she wondered if the driver could be hurt or maybe had engine trouble. Quickly, her anger subsided and she made her way to the jeep with concern.

Narrowing her eyes to see better in the dusky evening, she began to recognize the jeep. Flinging the door open, she felt her pulse quicken. “Noah, I almost hit you!”

He slowly turned to look at her. The interior light from the jeep illuminated the sadness that embraced his eyes. “Well, if it isn’t gorgeous Amanda Brookfield.”

She hoisted herself into the jeep and closed the door, causing the light to vanish. They sat in silence for a few minutes with only the sound of the wind whistling around them. Amanda cleared her throat. “Why are you parked in the middle of the road, Noah?”

“
Are you worried someone will smash into me just like you almost did? Well, the only travelers on this road are the ones driving to their ranches. And most of them are used to seeing vehicles, tractors, trailers-- you name it--blocking the way.”

“
Ok, but can you tell me why
you
are blocking the way?”

He nodded, pointing through the windshield. “Just take a look.”

Hesitantly, her eyes left Noah and darted to the windshield. Caught off guard, she jumped a bit at the brilliant view before her. Feathered across the sky was the brightest orange she had ever seen. “Wow, the sunset is amazing.”

“
That’s what I said when my father brought me up here for the first time,” Noah commented, his voice husky with emotion.

Amanda tore her eyes from the beautiful color and turned again to Noah. She parted her lips to say something but decided that silence may be the best thing. Noah didn’t need a conversation right now, he needed her to listen. She reached over to him and squeezed his warm hand.

“
He took me fishing one day...I think I was about six or seven...and then drove me to this hilltop in the road, where we’re parked now, and showed me the sunset. He told me that this was the best view in Sage. I came back with him many times after that....”

Scooting closer to him, Amanda laid her head on his shoulder, wanting to shed the tears that Noah was holding back. When she felt his finger on her chin, she didn’t resist as he tilted her face upward. Staring into his sorrowful eyes, she felt an immediate urge to comfort him, to assure him he wasn’t alone...and that she cared deeply. Too deeply. She pressed her quivering lips against his cheek, brushed them across his mouth, his eyebrows, then kissed the bridge of his nose. Hearing him sigh, she pulled back to look at him.

“
What are you doing Amanda?”

Disoriented, she searched for a reply but found her thoughts were just a whirling mess! If she hadn’t pulled away when she did...would she have continued to kiss him? Had her display of affection been something other than comfort? Maybe it had been a selfish move on her part. What if she had taken advantage of his pain just to be closer to him? But she knew that couldn’t be it! She was hurt, too. Thomas had been like a father to her. So, what was it then?

“
Amanda....” Noah whispered.

She shot him a nervous glance, then after an exploding realization, pushed herself to the far end of the passenger side. Could she be...falling for him? How could that be, after she had tried so hard not to?

“
I really think it’s best if you get into your truck and go home,” he rested his head back against the seat.

She flashed a mystified gaze at him. “Leave? Why do you want me to--”

“
Because I don’t need your pity right now,” he interrupted and briskly started the jeep.

“
I’m not showing you pity!”

“
Amanda, just a few days ago, I kissed you and you backed away... sputtering about how we were getting caught up in the moment, remember?” He sent her a frigid glare.

“
So, you’re saying that the tenderness I just showed you...that it wasn’t real? But, Noah, it was!”

He laughed, tapping his hand against the steering wheel. “You’ve been discouraging my advances ever since you moved to the ranch, and now that my dad’s passed away, you’re suddenly interested? I don’t buy that as being real.”

“
Noah, let’s talk about this. You’re not thinking straight right now. I think you’re misunderstanding everything,” she tried to remain calm, but her frustration was growing by the second! Half of her wanted to stay and convince him how wrong he was. But the other half just wanted to run and quickly shield her vulnerable feelings from him.

“
I need to get back to the ranch. There are phone calls I need to make,” he informed her.

Her eyes rounded in horror. Was he calling Mr. Ellinger already? Was getting rid of the ranch...and her...his main priority now? She opened the passenger door and stepped onto the road. Then, pivoting on her black heels, she swung back her head and shot him a wounded glance. “I really am sorry about your father...and I know you’re hurting right now...but please know that I’m around if you need anything.”