“That's just what I was thinking.” A rich voice has her spinning, and Sasha rushes over to protect her.
“Sasha, easy,” Delta orders and the dog turns to follow another scent. “Daniel, I hope I didn't wake you.” Her teeth are starting to chatter, but Delta is fighting it.
“No, I was checking on a pregnant mare, she's due any day now. What are you doing out here in the middle of the night, woman?” He glares at her, struggling to ignore how amazing she looks in the moonlight with her wavy hair blowing around her shoulders.
“Sasha needed to go,” she answers with a glare at her dog. A shiver runs up her body again, and she stares up at him with her chin shuttering. He curses and jerks off his coat, wrapping it around her he pulls her to his chest. “What are you…? God, you're warm,” she laughs and decides not to overthink it. For some reason she trusts him, and he smells so good.
“Are you trying to catch your death, outside naked? It's twenty-five degrees out here!” He scowls down at her and tries not to think about how good she smells, or how her voluptuous body feels pressed up against his.
“Daniel, you're smothering me.” Her hands press against his chest, and when she looks up at him smiling, she sees the hunger in his eyes and is stunned to find that she feels it too. “I'm certainly not naked, and I had to take care of Sasha.”
“Maybe not, but damn, you would tempt a saint.”
Delta pushes at his chest, and he reluctantly lets her go, taking his offered jacket back.
Whirling on her heel, she stomps away from him and back up her porch calling for Sasha, only to gasp when another wind blows attempting to raise the rear of her chemise and gifting him with a glimpse of pink lace panties.
His sexy laughter follows her back inside as she slams the door. “Good night, Delta.”
Slamming the door, she glares at Sasha, “This is all your fault,” before stomping back upstairs. She decides not to think about how good he felt or the flash of desire. “Sweet lord, this might not be a good idea.” Somewhere in her heart, she feels excited at the thought of all that cowboy interested in her. Climbing back into the large bed she hugs the pillow next to her and tries to sleep.
The next two weeks Delta avoids the main ranch with all the wedding events going on, it's a little crowded for her taste. She stocks her kitchen from a local grocery store and schedules activities to keep her busy. Fly fishing was a new experience, growing up she used to camp and fish with her family in the summers, but never like this!
Archery included a hike and guided tour of the grounds, though she missed more than she hit. It made for great pictures. The ropes course was something she was planning on doing in a few weeks, once she works up the courage to try. She's hoping to do it with the boys if they come to visit during the next holiday.
“Today, I’m going to Butte, about thirty miles from the ranch,” she tells Bailey.
“You sound happy, Delta. I miss you, but I think you are where you need to be.”
“I am,” Delta agrees
. I didn't realize how much I missed… living. It seemed like we were fighting so long just to survive and then living day by day. It's so serene here. The pictures really don't do Montana justice.”
“Well keep them coming, the kids love seeing them. Love you.” Delta hangs up and grins thinking about the day ahead.
There's no better way to get true legends and details of the past than to talk to the people who live here. It was easy to get lost exploring the town with its quaint coffee shops, and ski outfitters. St. Phillips Cathedral with its stained glass windows are stunning, but her favorite is Claire’s Sweet Shop. The scent of bread, coffee, and sweets permeate the air around the shop, and she leaves with a bag of caramel swirl fudge, cinnamon rolls and even a dog treat for Sasha.
Walking Sasha down the road to Silver Creek for a picnic the next day seemed to be the logical thing to do before eating the fudge. This morning when she called Chase to thank him for the rental house, he told her the perfect spot for relaxing. Her purple monogrammed backpack has water and fudge with a notebook and pen along with her mini tablet just in case the mood to write strikes her. Wearing jeans, cowgirl boots, and a long cream lace blouse with puffy sleeves, she throws on her jean jacket and sets off.
Delta stops and stares at the pond, glinting silver in the morning sky. Just as the sun breaks through the clouds, it strikes the surface of the water causing it to shift. A ripple billows and it changes from silver to copper and Delta is transfixed. An idea forms and she walks towards the shaded trees at the corner of the pond, desperate to capture the words before they disappear. Sasha follows her and lays down beside her to rest. In the morning sky, a hawk is soaring amongst the clouds and Delta writes.
Her latest series is a thriller, with fantasy elements. When she first became an author, she chose to use a pen name, D. D. Knight, to protect her identity, but mostly her boys. Knight was her maiden name, and Jacob was her biggest fan. His pride was evident in his support and encouragement. They never dreamed that she would become a bestselling author. Phillip decided the anonymity was a great branding tool. People love a mystery and Phillip made a game out of it. Her website had no photos of her,
