Rain kept falling. The fence slowly straightened, patched and reinforced, still bearing the marks of what had knocked it down.
“You’re good at this, Adam,” Thatcher noted thoughtfully. “Wasn’t sure when you bought the Lorrety Homestead, but you’ve done a good job.”
Yeah, Adam hadn’t been sure it was a smart move, either. But he figured at first that the property would prove to be a decent investment, and now it was part of his life. This ranching and fighting nature all the time. It dug into a guy’s bones and stayed there. “How long do you suppose it’ll be called the Lorrety Homestead?” Old Man Lorrety had sold to Adam and thenmoved to Florida to live in the sun near his grandkids, but he’d farmed the land for decades before that.
Pike grinned. “Not until you settle down and knock out a couple of little Ridgeway hellions who ride broncs and sing at bars at night.”
Probably true.
Thatcher knocked a post into place with a hard hammer. “You lookin’ to settle down, Ridgeway?”
Adam snorted. “No.” Even so. Pretty brown eyes flashed through his mind.
Pike tossed him a pair of wire cutters. “That’s when they catch ya.”
CHAPTER 6
Bianca followed the directions out of town until the road dipped and the land opened up. A lake flashed through the trees, feeding a river that cut through miles of ranch land. Cattle dotted the wet pasture, dark against the green, with fields and horses scattered wherever the land allowed.
The storm had already burned itself out. A wide blue sky stretched overhead, and the sun hit the ground hard enough to steam. Clouds stacked over the jagged mountains anyway, waiting their turn. Yep. More rain would arrive soon.
She rolled the window down despite the cold. The air smelled like wet dirt and fresh grass. Maybe a bit sweet with spring flowers.
The ranch came into view past a stand of cottonwoods. White fencing ran straight and clean across the paddocks, the kind of orderliness that took work. The house sat back from the drive, solid and unpretentious with its wide porch. Smoke lifted lazily from the chimney.
This place was absolutely perfect for the movie. She couldn’t have designed it better if she’d had years to do so. Would Dawn let the movie be filmed here?
Bianca parked by the fence and spotted Dawn kneeling in the flower beds, a small girl beside her, both of them muddy and apparently unconcerned. A bucket of bright blooms sat between them like a spilled paint set. Bianca jumped out and strode toward them over a rough gravel walkway.
Dawn noticed her and leaned back, her black hair in a ponytail. “There you are. Shoot. We wanted to be finished by the time you arrived. Sorry about this.”
Bianca laughed. “Don’t stop. This is perfect.”
“We’re racing the next round of rain.” Dawn pushed hair off her face. “Bianca, this is my niece, Leila. Leila, Bianca.”
Leila popped to her feet, black hair swinging into her eyes, gaze sharp and curious. She couldn’t have been more than nine and was dressed in jeans with a yellow raincoat. “Hi. You went on a date last night with Uncle Adam.” One eyebrow lifted. “Did you have fun?”
Bianca almost tripped. “Uh—yes?” She looked at Dawn.
Dawn lifted a gloved hand. “Not from me.”
Leila snorted. “Please. I heard it from Grets. Her mom told Aunt Suzie on the phone, and Grets heard them. Then she called me with the details.”
That tracked. “We had a nice dinner,” Bianca said.
“Are you going to date Uncle Adam?” Leila asked.
Bianca crouched before she could stop herself, fingers closing around a trowel. “I didn’t know you were related.”
Leila grinned. “Everyone’s related somehow. Adam’s friends with my uncles, so he counts.” She edged closer. “That means more Christmas presents.”
“Solid reasoning,” Bianca said. “What are we planting?” she asked, already digging and knowing the answer.
“Marigolds and lupine,” Dawn said. “She insists.”
Bianca nodded. “You’re right.”
Leila studied her, then gave a single, approving nod.