Total pages in book: 26
Estimated words: 24490 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 122(@200wpm)___ 98(@250wpm)___ 82(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 24490 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 122(@200wpm)___ 98(@250wpm)___ 82(@300wpm)
Chapter Two
King
“Even a city girl like you should know better than to trust a tiny car on these roads. What is that, an Audi? Not even all-wheel drive, much less four-wheel. Practically asking for trouble.”
Her eyes flash, her cheeks flushing red. “I’m not a city girl, and I can handle myself, thank you very much.”
I can’t help but grin at her fire. “Sure looks like it.”
She glares at me, shoving her hands onto her hips. “You always this charming, or is today special?”
“Only when I stumble across someone dumb enough to take this road in a tin can.” I nod toward the car. “You’re lucky it’s me and not a bear.”
“Bears,” she mutters, her eyes darting to the treeline. “Don’t remind me.”
I glance at my horse, then back at her. “You headed somewhere, or was freezing in a snowbank the plan for the day?”
She lifts her chin, defiant. “I’m a midwife. I was on my way to deliver a baby.”
“Of course you were.”
Her jaw tightens, and for a moment, I think she might take a swing at me. But instead, she exhales hard, brushing snow off her coat.
“Look,” she says, her tone clipped, “I just need to get to the top of the mountain. Can you help or not?”
I hold her gaze for a beat longer than necessary, enjoying the way she fidgets under my scrutiny. Finally, I nod. “Hop on.”
Her brow furrows. “On what?”
I jerk my thumb toward my horse, Copper, standing calm and steady a few feet away.
She hesitates, glancing at the animal like it might bite. “I’ve never been on a horse before.”
“No time like the present,” I say, stepping toward her.
She doesn’t move, her lips pressing into a thin line.
With a sigh, I close the distance, placing my hands firmly on her waist. “You’ll be fine. Just hold on.”
Her breath catches, her body tensing under my grip as I lift her into the saddle. She grabs the horn, white-knuckled, as the horse shifts beneath her.
I swing up behind her, my hands brushing her hips as I take the reins. Her back stiffens, and I bite back a grin.
“Relax,” I murmur, leaning close enough that my breath brushes her ear. “I’ve got you.”
She doesn’t reply, but I feel her exhale, her body softening slightly against mine.
The ride is quiet, save for the crunch of snow under the horse’s hooves. She shifts every so often, like she’s trying to put more space between us, but there’s nowhere to go.
“First time on a horse, huh?” I ask after a while, breaking the silence.
“Is it that obvious?”
“Little bit.”
She huffs, her breath fogging in the cold air. “You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?”
“More than I should,” I admit, my tone teasing.
She turns her head slightly, her eyes catching mine. “Do you always talk like this to strangers?”
“Only the ones who crash into my snowbanks.”
Her lips twitch, and for a moment, I think she might smile. But she looks away, her shoulders tightening again.
By the time we reach my cabin, the tension between us is thick enough to cut with a knife. I help her down, my hands lingering on her waist longer than necessary before stepping back.
“Wait here,” I say, tying the horse to the post. “I’ll grab the truck and take you the rest of the way.” She doesn’t argue, and when I return with the truck, she climbs in silently. “Where we headed, Sugar?”
Bella and Archer Steele’s place–do you know it?”
“I do–Archer is my brother.” I say simply. The drive the rest of the way up the mountain is short, and when we pull up to my brother’s place, I watch as she transforms. Gone is the sharp-tongued woman who bristled at every comment I made. In her place is someone calm, focused, and capable.
I follow her inside, not entirely sure why. Something about her pulls at me, like an itch I can’t quite scratch.
Bella’s labor is in full swing, and Indie moves with a confidence that surprises me, within moments her hands steady and her voice soothing as she guides Bella through each contraction.
Archer paces nervously nearby, and I clap him on the shoulder, offering him a shot of whiskey from the cabinet to calm his nerves.
“Hell of a woman you brought here,” he says, nodding toward Indie. “Betty’s niece–looks like a firecracker.”
“Yeah,” I mutter, watching as she kneels beside Bella, her expression soft but determined.
When the baby’s cries finally fill the room, a strange warmth settles in my chest. Indie hands the tiny bundle to Bella, her smile lighting up the room.
“Congratulations,” she says softly, her voice thick with emotion.
I down my whiskey in one go, the burn doing little to chase away the feeling creeping up my spine.
Already, something about this woman is going to ruin me.
Chapter Three
Indie
The Copper Country Café smells like heaven—fresh-brewed coffee, sizzling bacon, and Aunt Betty’s famous cinnamon rolls cooling on the counter. It’s small, a little rough around the edges, and bursting with charm, just like everything in Copper Mountain. Aunt Betty insists I call this place my second home, but I haven’t had the courage to settle into the idea.