Page 18 of Hard Rain Coming
“What’s the podcast called?” His eyebrows rose questioningly when she didn’t answer right away.
“North By West.”
She saw the moment he knew. His eyes widened. His mouth dropped open.
“I know. It’s crazy.” She shrugged and whispered, “So fucking crazy.”
“When Scarlett was living here, she listened to your podcast all the time. I’ve listened to the podcast. Shit, we had no idea. It doesn’t sound like you.” He ran his hand over his chin. “At all.”
“That was a conscious decision. It’s production and a few tricks.”
“Why are you trying to hide that part of your life?”
Why indeed?
“When I left Montana, I never thought I’d come back. I ran all the way to Alaska. I changed the way I spoke and acted. I…I tried to disappear and make a new life. A pretend life, I guess, since none of it is real.”
“And now you’re back.”
“Now I’m back.”
“You’ve been back for over a month.”
She nodded.
She thought of the unicorn tucked away in Dallas’s drawer. About how it made her feel to know he’d held on to it. What did it mean? Why had he kept it?
“Seems to me you want to stay.”
“I don’t know what I want,” she finally murmured.
Benton slowly nodded and stared off into the distance. Eventually, he moved a few inches and put his arm around her shoulder.
“That’s okay,” he said gruffly.
She nodded, trying to blink away those damn tears, but not wholly successful. He pulled her closer, and she let him. It was awkward, but she felt his warmth and strength, and, after a good long while, she finally relaxed. The tears began in earnest.
“I might be here awhile,” she said shakily, sniffling as she wiped at her face. “You know, trying to figure this shit out.”
Benton squeezed her tighter. “That’s okay too.”
Chapter Six
It was dusk when Dallas and the men arrived back at the ranch. After nine days of driving cattle down to their winter pastures, he was tired as hell, sick of eating trail food, and wanted nothing but a hot shower and his bed.
But first things first: he had a horse to cool down.
He unsaddled the big black gelding, then walked him for ten minutes or so, enjoying the quiet. The night sky was shot through with gold and red as the last rays of sunlight died, and an owl hooted from somewhere in the dark. His horse, Ranger, nickered softly, and he led the animal over to the barn, where the other men were already sponging down their horses. The animals had worked hard, and even though he was dog-ass tired, he took the time to bathe and cool his horse. It was nearly an hour later before he finally led Ranger into his stall. He tossed in fresh hay and filled his grain bucket, then Dallas headed to the tack room and hung up his gear.
He nodded to Griff. “You boys have a good one. Take some time tomorrow to recharge. We’ll get at the fence repairs the day after.”
“Sure thing, boss.” Griff nodded toward the bunkhouse. “I think we’re fixing on some whiskey with a side of poker.” His grinned. “You in?”
“Hell no,” Dallas replied with a chuckle. “I aim to have a whiskey neat on my porch, and that’s after a long, hot shower. You boys enjoy.”
He waited until the ranch hand left the barn. Once he was satisfied all the animals were looked after, he closed up and headed for the main house. He didn’t bother knocking--hell he hadn’t knocked on this front door since he was fifteen--and let himself in.
“Uncle Dallas!” Nora came running from the shadows and launched herself into his arms. “You’ve been gone forever.”