Paradise Peak (New Americana 5)

Hannah noted the flush along Travis’s angular cheekbones, met his eyes and grinned. “Giant?”

Travis?

??s lips curved as he shrugged. “He’s little, you know? Everyone probably seems big to him.”

“Not everyone.” Ben walked up, squatted, and called the puppy over, scratching her behind the ear when she snuggled against his knees. “Zeke’s hooked on Tom the Giant cartoons. The giant guards the castle, protects the king and queen, and always saves the day.” He chuckled. “Tom is Zeke’s—”

“Hero,” Liz finished for him, tugging a belt loop on the back of Hannah’s jeans. “The giant is the hero of the show.”

Hannah tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, her cheeks burning.

“It’s nice to meet you, Travis,” Liz said, edging forward. “I’m Liz—Ben’s wife—and I manage the stables with Carl.”

Travis returned her greeting with a nod and small smile. “Ben’s been telling me about the great work you do here, and all the horses you’ve saved.”

Liz beamed. “That was kind of him, though I have a lot of help, and if I ever come across a really difficult horse, I know it’s time to hand the reins over to Hannah.”

“Has she been very difficult?” Hannah asked. “This new mare you’re giving us?”

“Not really.” Liz glanced at the black and white horse. The mare was standing still at the other end of the paddock now, eyeing Carl as he approached with a rope. “She prefers a male hand though, for sure. Won’t let me get too close to her. I think the original owner was a woman, and she had a rough touch.” Her mouth hardened. “Way too rough, considering the state the mare was in when she arrived.”

An ache spread through Hannah as the mare lifted her nose into the air, her nostrils flaring against the push of a swift wind. Her dark mane fluttered against the rich splashes of color along her back. “I’ve never understood how people can be so cruel.”

A low rumble of thunder rolled overhead, and Hannah looked up at the dark clouds drifting above them. “What do you think, Ben? Is the rain going to hit soon?” She pulled in a deep breath and surveyed their surroundings, picking up on the faint scent of smoke. “That fire doesn’t seem like it’s settling down.”

Ben patted the dog once more, then stood and looked over his shoulder toward the mountain range. “It’s not, but it’s contained. I just left Steep Creek, letting ’em know there’s a voluntary evac, but those folks are located in the foothills of Blue Top Mountain, where the fire started. We don’t expect it to make it that far before the rain arrives, but with the winds picking up, we thought it best if they considered moving out for the night.”

“Should we do the same?” Hannah asked.

Ben hesitated, then said, “The official answer is no—it’s not required. Crews are working around the clock on the fire, and honestly, I don’t see those flames jumping all the way to Paradise Peak. We’ve got a river and ten miles between us and that fire, and once the rain gets there, it’s done.”

“You’ll let us know if something changes?” Hannah asked.

Ben nodded. “You’ve got my word, Hannah. I’m off-duty now, just swung by to check on Liz and Zeke, and we’re heading home soon. We got a clear view of that mountain from our side of Paradise Peak, and if we see something different happening, you’ll be the first person I call.”

Hannah blew out a breath. “Thanks, Ben. You’ll be the first person I call, too.”

He smiled. “Now having said that, if you’re looking to get that horse home before the rain, you better get going.”

Hannah shoved off the fence and moved toward the paddock gate. “I’ll walk her to the—”

“Oh, no.” Liz halted her with a hand on her forearm. “She’s calmer around men, and she won’t let them get too close either. Let Travis give Carl a hand.” She glanced at Travis. “If you don’t mind?”

“Not at all. Excuse me, Zeke.” Travis slid his hand free from Zeke’s hold and maneuvered his way past the frisky puppy and into the paddock.

“Travis,” Hannah called.

He glanced back at her.

“Go easy, okay?” she asked. “Follow Carl’s lead?”

He smiled. “You got it.”

A delicious shiver raced along Hannah’s skin as Travis turned away. Anything, he’d said. He’d do anything she asked, every time. If there’d been a flirtatious gleam in his eye when he’d said it, she’d have been tempted to brush his comment aside as a bad pickup line. But there hadn’t been. The only look in his eyes at the time had been honest sincerity—the kind she’d been unable to find in Bryan’s eyes during the last five years of their marriage.

Zeke, excited expression falling at Travis’s departure, banged on a fence rung and thrust out both arms. “Up, please.”

“Yes, sir.” Smiling, Hannah picked Zeke up, sat him on the top rail of the fence, and circled an arm around his waist to help him keep his balance.