Chapter 13

Since the auction wasn't until Friday, Nick had all day Thursday to spend with Emma. She would give him a tour of the ranch and then they would have a picnic lunch. Nick rented a horse from the livery stable and was out at Emma's by eight in the morning. Emma was busy in the barn saddling her horse when Nick rode up. He watched her for a moment and then walked into the barn.

"Morning," he drawled. Emma turned to him, still unable to believe he was here. He was gorgeous in his black leather vest and black pants. His dark hat was in his hands.

"Sleep well?" she asked, suddenly feeling a little shy.

"No," Nick replied, but wouldn't admit the real reason why. She had invaded his thoughts so much that sleep did not come easily. He was excited about the time they would spend together that day. He had some things he wanted to discuss with her.

"Was the bed uncomfortable? Maybe they could move you to another room," Emma suggested.

Nick smiled. "It's alright. I guess I just need to get used to it."

Nick looked around the barn and saw Emma had saddled another horse. He was a bit puzzled, as he thought he had told her he would rent one from the livery. Oh well. Maybe she misunderstood. At that moment, Sam walked into the barn. He greeted Nick with a manly handshake and had a picnic basket in his other hand. He took it to Emma.

"Ma said she packed plenty. She even included the cookies from last night for you Nick."

Nick smiled. He had really enjoyed the sugar cookies Mary had made and complimented her on them. She seemed to take pleasure in the fact and promised to bake more for him.

"Ready to go Sam?" Emma asked and Nick realized the other horse was for her brother. Nick was trying to not look disappointed and was hoping that maybe Sam was headed off somewhere else.

"Sure. I'll hang on to the basket if you want."

Nick helped Emma onto her horse and went to retrieve his. He felt that he and Emma were too old to be chaperoned, but apparently her family didn't. He did enjoy Sam's company, but was wanting Emma to himself for a while. He shrugged it off and the three left the yard. Over the next few hours, Emma showed him the ranch as well as the small head of cattle they had and he was impressed. There were quite a few who would be considered prime stock and he asked if they would be selling any in the auction.

"Not this year. When Carl was injured last year, we had to sell quite a few and are hoping to rebuild the herd. All of the horses except these two were sold as well."

Nick looked at the horse Sam was riding and then at Emma's. Neither one looked like the one she had ridden while in Stockton.

"Even Maisy?" he asked. He noticed Emma swallowing several times and looking away from him.

After a moment she said, "She brought a good price and was able to keep food on the table for a while. Rancher on the other side of Denver took a liking to her and paid a fair price."

Nick thought about his trusted horse Coco. Maisy had been a gift from Emma's father as Coco had been a gift from Nick's. He couldn't imagine selling him.

"I'm sorry Emma," he said, and she knew he meant it. She gave him a smile and then led him toward a small pond on the other side of the property. This is where they would stop and have their lunch. Nick hadn't taken time to eat that morning and he was hungry.

Emma laid out a blanket and began to spread out the food. Mary had outdone herself. There was fried chicken, biscuits, potato salad and the sugar cookies from last night. To drink they had lemonade. Sam and Nick talked easily, and Emma enjoyed watching them. Nick allowed Sam to ask him questions about the ranch and she could tell Sam was enjoying the time with Nick. After lunch, Sam excused himself and said he was going to try his hand at some fishing, Nick having missed the fact he had brought his pole along. Nick enjoyed fishing but was silently thanking the kid for giving him some time alone with Emma, even if he was only 25 yards away.

"I'm going to wash up these few dishes and I'll be right back," Emma said standing.

"I'll help." Emma smiled her thanks and the two went downstream from where Sam was fishing. Emma rolled up her sleeves and that was when Nick saw a dark purple bruise on her arm. It looked as if it had happened recently.

"What happened to your arm?" he asked.

Emma quickly rolled her sleeve down and said off handedly, "Just being clumsy. Tripped over my own two feet and fell."

Nick didn't say anything, but he didn't think he believed her. The bruise hadn't looked like something one could get from a fall. They finished the dishes in silence and went back to the blanket. They could see Sam at all times, and he waved to them once as he put another worm on his hook.

"Sam's a nice kid."

"He is. Even though there's fifteen years difference in us we're close. I was gone for most of his childhood, but we seemed to pick up where we left off when I returned last year."

"How's your stepfather doing?"

Emma looked out over the water. "It was difficult. He was very lucky to have not broken more than a few ribs. His back was badly bruised, and he needed to lie flat on it for several months. Chores can still be difficult, but with me and Sam here he has more time to rest."

Emma turned back to Nick and noticed his gaze. It was so intent on her that she couldn't draw her eyes away from his.

"I've thought a lot about you since you left, Emma. There were things I wished I had said to you."

Emma swallowed and nodded. She too had wanted to say some things to him. Their positions as employer/employee had kept them from even acknowledging any attraction to each other, but now that that wasn't the case...

Emma looked back over the water. "A lot has happened in the last few months."

Sam chose that moment to join the adults again and Nick had to wonder what Emma was going to say to him. Sam could tell he hadn't given them quite enough time alone and was trying to think of a way to excuse himself without appearing rude.

"We should head back. Carl will need help with the chores tonight." Emma stood and began gathering up the remnants of their lunch and packing everything away. Nick and Sam helped in silence.

They rode back to the house and Mary chose that moment to ask Sam to help her with something. Nick helped Emma with the horses, and they were done in record time. Nick decided this was a now or never moment for him and he gently touched Emma's arm. She turned to him, noticing how close he was. Unable to help himself, Nick put his hands on her face and gently placed a kiss on her lips. Emma seemed to melt into his arms and the two embraced. Emma was kissing him back almost hungrily and Nick was losing all sense of time. Emma finally pulled away and took a step back.

"I'm sorry, Nick," she said softly.

"I'm not. I've been wanting to do that since the first time I saw you."

Emma smiled, but tears were in her eyes. She turned from him and walked into one of the empty stalls. Nick walked up behind her.

"Emma, what's wrong?" he asked. "I blew it didn't I? I'm sorry, Emma."

"No, Nick. It's not you." She struggled with her words. She was thankful that whatever her mother was having Sam do was keeping him busy.

Finally Emma turned to him. Nick saw such hopelessness in her eyes that he had to refrain from gathering her to himself.

"You'll hate me for what I'm about to say, Nick. But...I'm engaged."