The woman smiled wide. “Thanks. Hi, I’m Ellie.”
Her face burned. “Sorry, that was rude. I should have said hello first.”
“Not rude at all,” she said easily, mischief dancing in her eyes. She glanced down at her gumboots. “These are the bomb. Bear bought them for me.” She used her thumb to indicate the silent man who stepped up behind her. Charlie’s eyes widened. Bear was a really apt name. He was enormous. His shoulders were so wide that she didn’t think he could fit through the door frame. The top of Ellie’s head didn’t even reach his shoulders.
Bear remained silent, watching her. She swallowed nervously and moved her gaze back to Ellie.
“Are you going to tell us your name?” Ellie asked her.
“Uh, oh, sorry, yes, I’m Charlie.” God, what was wrong with her? Had she forgotten all her manners?
“Are you going to invite us in?”
“Ellie,” Bear rumbled.
It was all he said, but Charlie jumped in reaction. He was even more intimidating than Clint and she hadn’t thought that possible.
Ellie stared back at him over her shoulder. “How are you going to light her fire for her if she doesn’t invite us in?”
“You know what Clint said, little miss.”
“Oh, yeah. I forgot.” Ellie turned back to her and to her surprise, reached out to grab her hand. “You don’t have to be scared of us, Charlie.”
“Oh. Um.” She glanced up at Bear nervously. “There’s no need for you to help me light my fire. I’m sure I can figure it out.” That’s what the internet was for, right?
Ellie lost her smile. Her body grew tense. And Bear reached up and placed a large hand on her slim shoulder. “Oh, right. I’m sorry we bothered you.”
Bear sent her a frown. Yeah, she got it. She’d messed up. She reached out and grabbed Ellie’s hand as she went to turn away. “Wait. Sorry. I didn’t mean to be rude. I just,” she took in a deep breath, “I find it hard to let people help.”
That was part of it anyway.
“And your boyfriend is slightly intimidating,” she whispered, gazing up at him again in the hope he hadn’t heard her, even though he was right there.
“Bear?” Ellie gaped at her in complete shock, as though that thought had never occurred to her. “You don’t need to worry about him. He’s just a big teddy bear, I promise.”
He was? She wasn’t so sure. But then she saw him glance down at Ellie and the look of love on his face made her breath catch. Wow. Yearning erupted inside her.
“Clint said you were worried about having a stranger in your cabin, so he sent me and Bear.”
Which was actually thoughtful of him. Sort of. If he’d sent just Bear, she would have been terrified, but it was difficult to be anything but charmed by Ellie.
“That was kind of him,” she said.
Ellie nodded. “Yep. Clint’s good people. He might act all gruff and bossy…wait, no he is gruffy and bossy but he takes care of those he considers his, which is everyone on this ranch. He likes to collect strays.”
“What?”
“Ellie, enough,” Bear warned.
She’d been growing more relaxed around Ellie, but Bear’s low murmur made her tense. Bear eyed her. “I’m no threat to you, little girl,” he told her.
“Of course he isn’t,” Ellie told her loyally. “Bear’s very protective. He’d never hurt a fly.”
Funny, because he looked like he wrestled alligators for a living.
“It sure is getting cold out, do you want us to show you how to light your fire?” Ellie asked.
Time to be brave, Charlie. And it was getting chilly. “Sure. Thank you. It’s very kind of you.” She stepped back.