The Outsider Series: The Complete Omnibus Collection

Chapter 8

Chapter 8

Jed’s mood didn’t improve much on the forty-minute drive from North Lakewood back to his ranch. He had picked up his horse, Scarlett, from Joe Patelli, the local farrier, who had fitted his horse with a new pair of shoes early that morning. What had really set his jaw on edge was hearing that Scarlett had an abscess on her right front hoof. He had since cleaned it out and needed to keep a close eye on it, or the horse would be out of commission for the entire summer season, which he counted on for that winter’s cash flow.

The plastic grocery bag of store-bought jam bumped next to him, reminding him of the stunning redhead with the dazzling, blue eyes who had nearly run him down the day before. His mood darkened as he wondered who the hell she was, since North Lakewood didn’t see many visitors. He turned down the familiar driveway, dust whirling behind him as he drove the half mile to his ranch house. He had purchased the ranch with his own money, becoming the first Friessen to build something for himself without his family’s backing. Jed had worked hard to buy this place, refusing his father’s help, and refusing his uncle Todd’s help. His brother Brad, who was the oldest of Rodney Friessen’s three boys, had taken over the family ranch outside of Hoquiam on the Olympic Peninsula, where he lived with his new wife, Emily; Trevor, his autistic son from his first marriage; Emily’s little girl, Katy; and their three-month-old baby girl, Becky. She was named after their mama, a saint of a woman who was nothing like his Uncle Todd’s ice-cold high society wife, Caroline, a transplanted Kentuckian where her father had been Governor. Even Jed had trouble figuring out that union.

Jed’s ranch wasn’t like some of the other prime land around these parts. His was barren, rocky, and open, just the way he liked it. A dull ache burning the back of his head worsened when he pulled into the dirt lot in front of his house, because parked beside his old Ford was the same silver SUV and redhead that had nearly run him down. Her eyes widened, and her mouth opened to say something. She must have recognized him, and he wondered if she was trying to find a way to escape like she had in town. He pulled up right behind her fancy SUV and shut off the engine, but, to her credit, she played it cool and held her head high, standing her ground as Jed took his time climbing out of the truck, hiking his jeans up over his slim hips, taking a deep breath, and reminding himself that she was most likely one of those females prone to hysterics. He’d find out what she wanted and then send her on her way. Or maybe he’d let her stew for a moment.

“Small world, ain’t it? You lost?” The dust trailed around the truck and his worn boots as he took his time walking behind the horse trailer, really leaning into each step. The more he thought about it, the more pissed off he still was about the jam, and especially the way she had damn near run him over. When he lifted the steel handle that secured the back door of the rusted, single-stall, horse trailer, the hinges squealed. He stepped in and murmured to Scarlett, who hung her head and tossed her tail, before he untied her lead rope and led her out, glancing at the redheaded beauty.

Her long, curly hair was pulled back into a ponytail, with strands dangling down over a creamy, pale complexion. The sight would have been perfect if he could have seen those dazzling blue eyes of hers, but she’d jammed a pair of sunglasses on. Even minus those eyes, damn if she wasn’t the sexiest thing he’d ever seen. She wasn’t that tall; the top of her head would probably reach his shoulders, and he, like all the Friessen men, stood over six feet tall, and had wide shoulders. But then again, each one of them had done their time in the rodeo. Andy, their cousin, had been the only one with enough talent to go pro in the horse world and really make a name for himself. He had a way with horses that not many did. Why he hadn’t done so, Jed would never know. Instead, Andy had taken it upon himself to stay in business with his dad; or rather, to clean up after his dad.

But here stood this pretty thing, her toes painted a bright pink in her sandals and a perfect, slim, curvy body tucked nicely into a conservative, knee-length pink sundress with short sleeves and a scooped neckline that hinted at the treasure they covered, which, of course, teased Jed as he pictured perky breasts—breasts that he’d love to sample. He’d been too long without a woman, so he growled as he led Scarlett into the corral and glanced back at the knockout. But unless she was about to whip him up a batch of blackberry jam as good as what Emily had created with her magical touch, he’d rather she hop back in her SUV and head out.

He unlatched the corral gate and noticed her fumble a cell phone. Then she yanked open her driver’s door, but instead of hopping in, she tossed the cell phone on the driver’s seat and shoved the door closed.

“My phone’s dead.” She gestured to the SUV as she strode cautiously to the corral beside the small barn. He was still upgrading the building after having purchased the property at auction three years earlier, on a whim, when he was visiting his cousin, Andy. It was a rundown, forty-acre spread with an aging, one-story house, complete with a sagging porch and a three-stall barn that was held together with chicken wire and twine. Every year, he’d done more work. He knocked down the termite-infested porch on the house, refitted all the old cedar beams overrun by a colony of carpenter ants, and hauled out the rotting fruit trees that had leaned against the house providing a ladder for destructive pests. But Jed was far from done. His small bungalow, with its sawhorses, ladders, and piles of debris, probably looked more like a junkyard to her than the palace he thought it looked now. But then, he didn’t mind the wooden box that served as the front step, or the bare, wooden front door that was missing a screen. For him, it was home, and he owned every part of this paradise. All the work he’d done, he’d done with his own two hands, and he had bought it all with his own money—money he’d earned.

“Scarlett, come on, girl.” Jed latched the corral gate and slid the halter off the dark mare. Then he looped the rope and halter on one of the hooks on the faded barn wall. He couldn’t help himself as he stared at the fiery, attractive woman, who appeared to hesitate but was unafraid. Maybe it was the fact that he was missing a woman that had him watching her. But she didn’t flinch. She stayed where she was, looking awkwardly away as Jed dumped a flake of hay on the ground for his horse and turned a hose on to fill the water trough.

After a few moments, he slid his hand down Scarlett’s side as she drank, and she neighed and flicked her tail. Jed left the corral and headed over to the pretty lady. Anyone else would have cowered or backed away from him, especially with the irritation he knew he was exuding. He unnerved people, or so he’d been told. He wasn’t one for small talk, just getting down to business, and he would just as soon tell someone to piss off than work out a peaceful solution. When he got like this, even his brothers were smart enough to walk away.

She took her time removing her shades and then allowed her hand to drop to her side. She never flinched as she met his gaze. Jed nearly tripped over both his feet as he stared at the deepest blue eyes he’d ever seen.

“So, did you run over anyone else on your way out of town?” He spit on the ground beside him. He didn’t really care what she thought.

“Look, I’m sorry. I didn’t see you, I was—”

“You mean you were texting on your cell phone instead of driving and keeping your eyes on the road. Look, lady, you’re damn lucky you didn’t run over and kill some kid. Keep your phone turned off and in your purse, or pull over and park if you need to use your phone, or powder your nose, or whatever the hell else it is you ladies do.”

Chastened, she nodded and pursed her kissable lips before glancing at the ground for a second and gazing back at him. “Look, if I could just use your phone. I’ve apparently gotten myself lost. I just need to make a call and find out where this quaint cottage I’ve rented is.”

“What are you looking for?” He didn’t move, and he realized his response was sharper than he had meant.

The foxy lady kept her cool and unfolded the piece of paper that she had clutched in her hand. “It’s a small cabin, comes furnished, located on a ranch, Echo Springs II, and the directions I have here are to head down highway—”

Jed couldn’t believe his luck and didn’t know if this was a good or bad thing. He walked away and swiped his worn hat against his dusty jeans. “Well, lady, welcome. You must be Diana Fulton.”