Home For a Cowboy Christmas(7)

She put on her boots that were fine for walking on city streets but wouldn’t do much good out on a ranch. But, they were shoes. Next, she gathered the dirty clothes and went to the laundry room that she’d seen downstairs. Once the clothes were in the washer, she dusted off her hands and looked around.

“Now what?” she asked herself.

She walked to the kitchen window, hoping Dwight was still with the mare, but he was gone. She moved from window to window, scanning the area for some sign of him. Emmy debated whether to go outside and look for him. She felt safe within the house, and that wasn’t something she’d expected. Because of that, she wasn’t too keen on leaving it just yet.

“All right,” she said with a sigh as she turned to the house. “If I’m going to stay here, then I’ll pull my weight however I can.”

The problem was, the house was already tidy. And she wouldn’t know where to put anything anyway. She found a duster after a brief search and brandished it in triumph. She didn’t particularly enjoy cleaning, but she hated being idle more.

“Housework it is,” she declared.

Emmy started in the living room, where she wiped down every picture, every piece of art, and every table. Then she stood before the two large bookcases filled with books of all genres and subjects. She had to use a chair to reach the top. She carefully removed each book and wiped it down before replacing it.

As she got to her feet after finishing the first bookshelf, her head turned at the sound of a flap closing. The dog rushed her, tail wagging and tongue lolling. She squatted down to pet him. That’s when the door opened, and Dwight filled the entrance.

Their gazes locked for a brief moment before his eyes went to her hair. Emmy touched it, wondering what was wrong, then she recalled the wig.

“This is me,” she said about her dark waves.

“I like it better than the blond.”

He closed the door and removed his hat and coat to hang on the hooks near the entrance. Only then did he turn back to her. This was the first time she had seen him without his hat, and it left her breathless.

It wasn’t just his blue eyes that seemed to pull her in. Her gaze followed his hand as it raked through the long strands of his dark brown hair then shoved it out of his face. The sun had bronzed his skin, and small lines graced his lips and eyes. His mouth was wide, a bit too full, but damn if she didn’t like it. His nose had a bump on the bridge, letting her know that it had been broken at least once.

She had thought her sleep-deprived mind might have made him more handsome than he really was, but it was clear that Dwight Reynolds was, in fact, gorgeous.

“I was beginning to wonder if you would ever wake.”

Emmy swallowed, jarred out of her thoughts by his deep voice. “How long did I sleep?”

“Two full days.”

She raised her brows in surprise. “I had no idea.”

“I see you found breakfast.”

“The smell woke me,” she said as she straightened and wrinkled her nose. “Apparently, I was starving.”

He nodded, his gaze lowering to the dog. “Sam’s quite taken with you. He stayed outside your door most of the time.”

Her heart melted as she smiled down at the dog and gave him another rub on his head. “I have to admit, I’m quite taken with him, as well.”

“I said it before, but it bears repeating. You’re safe here. I have cameras around the ranch to help me keep track of wildlife and would-be thieves. I put up another five the morning after you arrived. I’ll show you how to view them from the laptop in my office. You need to feel safe, and being able to see everything will help with that.”

She had seen his office but hadn’t dared to venture inside. “I appreciate it.”

“I’ll show you after dinner, if that’s all right.”

“That’s fine,” she said with a nod. He was going out of his way to make her feel comfortable. She hadn’t expected that, but she was grateful.

Dwight walked to the kitchen sink and washed his hands. As he dried them, he turned to her. “You don’t have to clean.”

“I don’t feel right doing nothing.”

“You can do whatever you want. I don’t want you to think you have to do anything. When you’re ready, I’ll show you around the property. I have a handful of people working for me, but I’m keeping them away from the house for now. If they come near, I’ll let you know so you can stay inside. But, Emmy, you aren’t a prisoner.”

She shifted her feet, uncomfortable with the turn of the conversation. How could she explain to him that those after her had put her in exactly that position? She decided to just let it be for now. “I know.”

“I don’t think you do, but I hope you come to see me as a friend. I’m sure Dalton told you about my job history. I’m capable of protecting you and keeping you out of harm’s way.”

“It’s not that I don’t think you’re capable. These people will stop at nothing to ensure I don’t testify. They’ve proven that.”

Dwight twisted his lips as he tossed the towel onto the counter. “Dalton went to great lengths to make sure that no one could track either of you. He didn’t tell me where he was going, and I didn’t want to know. The property is pretty isolated. There are ranches on either side of ours, and a mountain between us and the town. Also, getting there takes thirty minutes to an hour, depending on the inclement weather that pops up. With the snow already here, not too many people will be driving over the mountain who don’t have homes here. It’s a dangerous road unless you know it.”