LITMIR.BIZ

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      “By the way, thanks for giving me a heads-up on Gage’s wife.” His grandfather had shared how she’d taken off last year, leaving Gage to raise their two daughters alone. “The last thing I would have wanted was to create an awkward situation.”

      “Which is exactly why I told you.” The old man started toward the back of the house.

      “If you don’t mind—” Cash paused in the side yard “—I think I’ll stay out here for a bit and enjoy the snow.” Not to mention check email without the fear of reprimand.

      “Suit yourself. I’ll be inside where it’s warm.”

      “I won’t be long.” Especially since his “warm” coat didn’t seem quite as warm here as it did in Dallas. At least the wind had died down.

      He pulled out his phone and aimed the camera at a streetlight in a way that highlighted the falling snow. Satisfied with the shot, he forwarded it to his sister. That ought to make her jealous.

      Leaning against the side of the house, he checked his email.

      “Delayed shipment?” But Wiseman’s was their largest distributor in Oklahoma. How could we—

      A high-pitched bark made him jerk his head up.

      Taryn gasped and yanked on Scout’s leash. “Cash! You scared me half to death. What are you doing lurking in the shadows like that?”

      “Sorry.” He held up his phone. “Just trying to get a little work done.”

      “Work, huh?” Her gaze narrowed. “Aren’t you supposed to be on vacation?” She tried to shorten Scout’s leash, but the pup squirmed toward him anyway, tail wagging frantically.

      “Not exactly.” He pocketed the phone and stooped to pet the dog. “You know what they say, no rest for the weary.”

      “They also say all work and no play makes Cash a dull boy.”

      Ouch! He glanced up at the feisty woman. Yvette had turned down his proposal with those same words.

      “Come on.” She tugged on the leash, started to walk away, then stopped and looked back at him. “Well, are you coming?”

      “Me?” Standing, he fingered his chest.

      “Yes, you. If you’re going to be out in this cold, you need to keep moving.”

      Man, this girl didn’t pull any punches. And for some odd reason, he kind of liked it.

      He fell in line beside her, surreptitiously watching her every move. Taryn wasn’t like any of the women he knew. They only seemed to care about clothes, shoes and how they looked. Taryn was gorgeous without even trying. And, from what he could tell, she cared about helping others.

      As they walked, he burrowed his fists deeper into his poor excuse for a jacket, wishing he’d thought to grab his gloves. “I was hoping to see some snow. Think we’ll get much?”

      A few flakes clung to Taryn’s purple beanie. Another item he’d failed to consider. “Nah. But don’t worry. Winter’s not over yet.”

      He cut her a sideways glance. “Easy for you to say. I leave on Sunday.”

      The corners of her mouth lifted. “You might be in luck then. There’s more snow forecast for Saturday.”

      Scout trotted ahead of them as they wandered onto Third Avenue.

      “It’s so quiet here.”

      “For the most part.” Her puffy white jacket made a swishing sound as she swung her arms. “So how are things in the cattle trailer business?”

      “Booming. At least for us.”

      “Those must be some special trailers.” She let out some length on Scout’s leash.

      “Weight is our best selling point. We have the lightest empty weight in the business.”

      “And your dad designs them?”

      “Yep. The whole thing’s been his dream from the beginning.”

      They stopped while Scout took care of some business.

      Taryn stared at him. “And what about you? Is it your dream?”

      To say he was taken aback by her question would be an understatement. No one had asked about his dreams in a long time. Not since they were put on ice. Now the best he could hope for was to make his father proud.

      He shrugged. “Like I said, business is booming.”

      She looked as though she could see right through him. But didn’t say a word.

      They started walking again.

      By the time they turned onto Fourth Street, Cash was eager to change the subject and get some answers of his own. “Gramps tells me you’re one of the best mountain guides in town.”

      She laughed. “Your grandfather is a bit biased, but I can hold my own.”

      They ducked under a limb that bowed over the sidewalk, while Scout tugged on her leash, nose to the ground.

      “Climbing is in my blood. Though it wasn’t until I came back to Ouray that I realized how important it was to me.”

      “Came back from where?”

      “Texas.”

      “Really? Whereabouts?”

      “I spent some time at UNT.”

      “University of North Texas. I know it well. Matter of fact, my brother-in-law went to school there. What was your major?”

      “I wasn’t there long enough to think about a major.”

      “So why’d you leave?” If she could apply the pressure, so could he.

      “People change.” For a moment, her expression clouded. Then she cleared her throat. “Besides, I missed the mountains.”

      “You ever thought about coming back to Texas? Maybe for a visit?”

      Her exhaled breath clouded in the chilly night air. “Nope. Ouray is where I belong. It’s a part of me, like climbing. Tackling a mountain or a massive slab of ice changes my perspective. I look back and see the path I took. A path that wasn’t perfect. One that was steep and maybe a little slippery. But I made it.” She looked at him now. “That empowers me.”

      He couldn’t help wondering if she was talking more about climbing or life. But the passion that sparkled in her eyes drew him like the stars to the night. Had he ever been that passionate about anything?

      “You certainly sold me.”

      In the glow of someone’s porch light, her cheeks, already pink from the cold, deepened in color. “Then perhaps you should give it a try.”

      * * *

      Taryn saw the excitement that brightened Cash’s green eyes. Then fade just as quick. And despite telling herself repeatedly she was going to keep her distance, curiosity only drew her closer.

      The heels of Cash’s cowboy boots clipped along the sidewalk as they made their way down Fourth Street, their breath visible in the cool air.

      “Did your grandfather ever take you climbing?”

      Scout darted back and forth in front of them, searching for who knows what.

      “Just hiking. I was always in awe of his connection to these mountains.” Cash’s gaze lifted. “He seemed to know everything about them. And never hesitated to share his passion. That man taught me geological, biological and theological lessons no one’s ever heard in a classroom.”

      She laughed, having been on the receiving end of the old miner’s passion a time or two herself. “Ever thought about giving ice climbing a try?”

      “No.

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