her feel out of place. They’d greet her with a smile or wave and then go about their business. Wild River seemed so remote and out of touch with the world she’d known that Macy felt completely at ease here.
Too much at ease. The walk would do her good. She was getting cabin fever, and her restlessness couldn’t be bottled up for much longer. With Carter gone all day on business in Dallas, there was only so much reading and sunbathing a girl could do.
Rocky raced out of the stables and caught up to her, his tongue hanging out of his mouth in a dog smile. “Hey, Rock. You’ll keep me safe from the snakes, right?”
He fell in step beside her. She didn’t know what she’d do without her trusty companion. He was good company for a lonely heart.
She walked briskly, hoping to burn calories, and hugged the path along the river as much as she could. She hadn’t forgotten about the snakes, but Macy wouldn’t let that stop her from taking a walk. She would tread cautiously and out in the open, avoiding brush and scrubs, keeping her eyes peeled. Mara had told her today most of the snakes on the property were harmless garden snakes. She’d lived in Wild River all of her life and had never encountered a diamondback. After that, Macy’s mind had been made up.
Carter’s longhorns were scattered on grazing land, and she could make out their horns even from this distance away. As she headed in the opposite direction of the herd, toward the inn, the powerful scent of cattle hide and dung faded.
“Your master is being stubborn, letting that wonderful house go to waste.”
She was drawn to the inn and hadn’t stopped thinking about it since Carter had shown it to her days ago. She’d hounded him every day about letting her refurbish it, but he wouldn’t relent. Something was holding him back, and he wasn’t talking.
She reached the inn unscathed and thanked Mara again for giving her encouragement. Rocky followed her inside and she walked around the dusty downstairs rooms again, envisioning the place in its heyday, when guests had stayed here. The parlor would have been lush, with velvet drapes and tufted chairs, the carpets woven in intricate patterns. Sidebars would have held the finest china and cut crystal. The place would have resembled a Texas palace. “It’s such a shame,” she whispered, her shoulders slumping.
Macy walked outside and found herself on the gazebo again, in the center of her would-be stage. With the river just yards away and giant oak trees lending shade to the area, creativity could blossom here. It was a place of inspiration.
A noise behind the trees startled her. Something was shuffling around. Rocky barked and fear froze her. The dog nestled between her legs, protecting her, his bark higher pitched now and more emphatic. Images of a big, eight-foot-long snake creeping its way through the hedges flashed in her mind.
She sunk down to her knees, holding on to Rocky, madly searching for the creature to appear. Her heart in her throat, she asked, “Who’s th-there?”
A man stepped out from behind a cropping of trees. “Sorry, ma’am. I didn’t mean to scare you.” The man shot Rocky a smile and the dog quieted.
He approached slowly, speaking with a kind voice. “I’m Bill Fargo. Mr. McCay hired me to look after the grounds.”
Macy breathed a sigh of relief and rose from her crouched position. The man wore a shirt and trousers the same hue as his thick gray hair. It wasn’t exactly a uniform, but it came close enough. “Oh.”
“Who are you?” he asked.
Macy stared at him.
“Sorry, ma’am.” He softened his tone. “I’m just doing my job.” He really did appear apologetic.
“My name is Macy. I’m Mr. McCay’s houseguest. I thought Carter said you were to be working at night?”
He turned his wrist and glanced at his watch. “From four in the afternoon until midnight.”
“Did you follow me here?”
He shook his head. “No. Just happened along at the same time. Is that your dog?”
“No, Rocky is Mr. McCay’s dog.”
Bending to Rocky’s level, Fargo put out his hand. Rocky crept over to him and carefully sniffed his fingers. “He’s a good watchdog.”
The dog stopped sniffing, tilted his head and licked the man’s hand. Macy sighed. So much for Rocky protecting her. “He’s a pussycat.”
Bill Fargo chuckled. “In Rocky’s defense, he knows I’m not a threat.” The man rose to meet her level gaze. He stood a head taller and looked quite fit but for a slight belly bulge. “It’s a great place. I’ve been exploring.”
“I agree. I’m sort of drawn to this place.”
“Well, nice to meet you, Macy. I guess I’ll be seeing you around. Next time, I hope I won’t frighten you.”
“And next time I won’t picture a reptile crawling through the bushes, ready to have me for a snack.”
The man walked off smiling, and Macy entered the house again. She climbed the stairs and went straight into the one bedroom that had been completed. The last time she was here, Carter had rushed her out of it, but now she had time to look around. She wondered if Jocelyn had a hand in decorating this room. Had it been her project? Had she convinced Carter to let her fix it up right before she’d dumped him?
From the window, she noted oak and cottonwood trees forming a backdrop that defined the perimeter of the backyard. Sunlight danced through the branches, casting a feathery glow of light and shadows over the grounds. The gazebo in the center of the property appeared like a valiant injured soldier trying to stand at attention.
Macy sighed.
She heard an engine’s roar and searched in the direction of the sound. It grew louder. Then a Jeep came into view, the driver a dark blond cowboy wearing a black hat.
She lost sight of him as he drove toward the front of the house. Her nerves jumped and she fumbled with a single bud vase she’d picked up. Almost dropping it, she set it back onto the nightstand with care.
Carter was here.
She reminded herself for the umpteenth time that he wasn’t on the auction block. She couldn’t bid on him and hope to win. He was off-limits for half a dozen reasons.
“Macy?” he called from downstairs, his deep rich voice curling her toes. “You in here, Hollywood?”
Rocky left her side once he heard Carter and flew down the stairs.
Macy popped her face out of the doorway. “I’m up here.”
She lowered down on the bed, her heart beating fast at the sound of Carter’s boots hitting the stairs. When he entered the room, the scent of lime and musk followed, and Macy glanced up to greet him. “Hi.”
He sat down on the bed next to her. He spoke quietly. “Hi.”
“Were you looking for me?” She didn’t know why he would be. She was making conversation.
He surprised her and nodded. “I was.”
“Why?”
He shrugged with a quizzical look. “I don’t know. Mara told me you’d gone for a walk. I figured you’d end up here.”
“You figured right. I met Bill Fargo.”
“I know. I saw him on the road. He said he nearly scared the stuffing out of you. I haven’t told him who you were, exactly. I figured it’s best to keep it quiet for now.”
“I thought he was a snake.” She sent him a withering look. “I know, I’m pathetic.”
Carter shook his head with laughter. “No, you’re not. I might have exaggerated a little about the snake problem here. Just wanted to keep you on guard, in case you might come across one.”
“Well, it’s not as if I’d go up to a snake and try to make friends.”
He rubbed his chin and held back a grin. “Then my strategy worked.”
She wanted to slug him.
He took off his hat and set it between them, then ran a hand through his hair. The ends curled up and relaxed down against his collar. Macy’s mouth went dry. The simplest gesture from him got her wheels spinning. With Carter around, her balance was always being tested. Then she remembered how stubborn he was, and the question that had been on her mind poured out. “Did Jocelyn fix up this room?”
Carter jerked back. His eyes blinked rapidly. “What?”
“I was wondering if your fiancee started work on this house?”
His mouth twisted and he rose from the bed. He strode to the window and looked out. “She was never my
