Page 16 of Alpha's Claim
Briar’s heart gave a small, unexpected tug. The garden, despite its neglect, was beautiful in its own way—wild and untamed, but full of potential. Something about the place called to her, and without thinking, she knelt down beside one of theraised beds and began pulling weeds, her fingers sinking into the cool soil.
It felt good to work with her hands, to dig into the earth and uncover the life hidden beneath the tangle of weeds. There was peace in the act of gardening, a quiet magic that calmed her restless thoughts. As she worked, a small, round-faced cat padded into the garden, its orange-and-white fur gleaming in the sunlight.
The cat sniffed at her curiously, then plopped down beside her as if declaring himself her new companion. Briar smiled, scratching the cat behind the ears.
“Well, aren’t you a handsome fellow?” she murmured. The cat purred loudly in response, his large body sprawling comfortably on the dirt beside her.
Briar found a weathertight box at the end of the garden. When she opened it, she smiled broadly—a full set of gardening tools and a wide-brimmed hat to keep the Texas sun at bay. The garden itself might be in rough shape, but the tool container had kept everything inside in pristine condition. She began working, clearing away dead plants and trimming the tangled vines from the trellises. It felt natural—second nature, almost—as though the garden had been waiting for her to return. The cat followed her every move, occasionally batting at stray weeds or curling up beneath the shade of a dry, stone fountain.
By the time Etta found her with a tray of lunch, Briar had made significant progress. The raised beds were cleared of weeds, the dry fountain scrubbed free of moss, and the overgrown vines trimmed back to reveal the garden’s once-elegant design.
“Well, look at that,” Etta said, beaming as she set the tray on a nearby bench. “You’ve done more in one morning than the rest of us have managed in years. I’m glad to see you found a hat. Coltwould skin me alive if on your first day up and about you came back to the house burned to a crisp.”
Briar dusted her hands off on her jeans, feeling a bit self-conscious but also pleased with the praise. “It just needed a little love.”
Etta’s expression softened, her gaze drifting over the garden with a hint of nostalgia. “This used to be Colt’s mother’s garden. She kept it up beautifully.” Etta’s voice grew quieter, tinged with a bittersweet fondness. “But after she passed, it fell into disrepair. No one’s really had the heart to touch it since.”
Briar glanced around the garden with fresh eyes, imagining a woman tending these plants with care, bringing life to every corner of the space. She felt a strange kinship with the garden, as if she understood its need for attention, for love and renewal.
“I didn’t know,” Briar murmured, reaching for the hat.
Etta gave her a kind smile. “You couldn’t have. But I knew Colt’s mama. She would be happy to see it getting some attention again. That was her favorite gardening hat; she’d like seeing it being used again, as well. Wasn’t nothing wasteful about that woman.”
Briar sat down on the bench, the cat hopping up beside her and purring contentedly as he curled against her leg. She reached for the sandwich and fruit on the tray, grateful for the meal and Etta’s company.
“Feel free to putter around here as much as you like,” Etta said. “No one will mind, least of all Colt.”
At the mention of Colt, Briar’s thoughts drifted to the man with the dark, intense eyes. There was something magnetic about him, something that made it difficult to think clearly whenever he was near.
“Thanks,” Briar said softly, taking a bite of her sandwich.
Etta gave her a wink. “I’ll leave you to it, then. But don’t stay out too long, you hear? Colt likes to keep track of everyone—andeverything—around here. He asked if you’d join him for a private supper out on his balcony. Prettiest sunsets in all of Texas can be seen from there.”
“Um, sure, but I don’t know what I have to wear…”
“Don’t you worry about that. I’ll find something pretty for you to wear and leave it on your bed.”
Briar smiled as Etta headed back toward the house, the older woman’s words lingering in her mind. She glanced around the garden once more, feeling a sense of quiet belonging settle over her.
She hadn’t planned on staying here long—hadn’t planned on staying anywhere long. But now... this place was starting to feel different.
With a soft sigh, Briar leaned back on the bench, the cat purring steadily beside her, and let herself enjoy the moment of peace. For the first time in what felt like must have been a long while, the urge to run wasn’t gnawing at her. Maybe she could find a place for herself here after all.
Later that evening, Briar found herself standing at the door to Colt’s private quarters, her heart thudding heavily in her chest. As she smoothed her hands down the borrowed dress—a simple sundress that Etta had found for her—Briar couldn’t stop the nervous flutter that danced in her stomach. This was silly. Colt was just being kind, something that seemed to thrive here on Copper Canyon Ranch.
But that thought did little to settle her nerves. There was something about Colt that stirred her in ways she didn’t fully understand. It was deeper than attraction or even arousal—an undercurrent she couldn’t name, but it pulled at her fiercely. No one had ever made her feel this way before, like she was both grounded and floating at the same time. And it terrified her only a little less than it intrigued her.
She took a deep breath and knocked lightly on the door.
“Come in,” Colt’s deep voice rumbled from inside, sending a pleasant shiver down her spine.
Pushing the door open, Briar stepped inside and found Colt waiting for her, standing by the open French doors that led to his balcony. The light from the setting sun bathed him in gold, accentuating the sharp lines of his face and the broad, powerful set of his shoulders. His dark eyes flicked over her as she entered, and the intensity of his gaze made her skin sizzle.
“Evening,” Colt greeted, his voice warm and easy, though his gaze lingered a moment longer than necessary. The corner of his mouth lifted into a faint smile, and Briar felt her pulse quicken.
“Hi,” she managed, feeling awkward under the scrutiny of his attention but unable to look away.
Colt gestured toward the balcony, where a small table was set with plates, candles, and a bottle of wine. “Thought we’d eat out here. It’s the best seat on the ranch, especially at sunset.”