Shiloh glanced up at me as she stepped out of the stall. “That okay?”
I grunted and jerked my head, moving in the direction of the guest cabin.
“He’s a real Chatty Cathy, that one,” Hadley muttered to her sister.
“Enough, Hads.”
I moved to the bed of Shiloh’s truck but found it empty. “Where’s all your stuff?”
She stepped around the passenger side and pulled out a duffel and one box. “Right here.”
I took the box from her hands and didn’t miss the hitch in her breath as I got close. “This is it?”
She shrugged. “I’m not really astuffperson.”
I wanted to ask why but shoved that down, heading for the door instead.
Humor danced in Hadley’s eyes. “Between the two of you, it’ll be a miracle if twenty words get spoken all day around here.”
I looked down at Shiloh. “Is it time for your sister to leave yet?”
A small laugh escaped her lips. “As soon as she makes sure you’re not sticking me in a hovel. She’ll report back to my family, and that’ll help.”
A foreign feeling slid through me—one I hadn’t felt in decades. “Was it bad this morning?”
Shiloh’s lips thinned. “It’ll be fine.”
What she didn’t say was that it wasn’t now.
Kai moved in beside Shiloh, keeping pace beside her. The damn traitor. I headed up the steps of the front porch to the guest cabin and unlocked the door. Pushing it open, I stepped inside.
I could see that the box contained mostly food, so I moved into the kitchen and set it on the island. Hadley let out a low whistle as she entered. “Definitely not a hovel.”
I scanned the space, trying to see it through their eyes. When I’d bought the place, I’d almost had the furnished guest cabin torn down because I knew it would get zero use. But I’d kept it in case I ever found a ranch hand that I trusted enough to live here. That had never happened. I hadn’t even found someone I trusted enough tohire.
My gaze moved around the open living and dining spaces that transitioned to the kitchen. It was luxury rustic—lots of stone and exposed wood beams. Dark, thick-planked floors. Amassive fireplace stood at the opposite end of the room with a television above it. A large sectional made the area welcoming.
Two bedrooms with a bathroom in between were down the hall. The bathroom had a large soaking tub and a walk-in shower. I didn’t know what kind of accommodations Shiloh had had back at her parents’ ranch, but this had to hold a candle to it, at least.
Shiloh’s gaze jumped from one thing to the next. “It’s really nice. Thank you.”
Hadley focused on her sister. “You need help getting settled? Or for me to go and pick up anything?”
Shiloh shook her head. “I’m good. Thanks for bringing Sky.”
Hadley started to move as if she might hug Shiloh but then stopped herself, clasping her hands in front of her instead. “Anytime. Call me if you need me.”
Pain flashed across Shiloh’s expression as Hadley had started to move. “Thanks.”
I tried to put the pieces together of what that could be about—the awkward dance between two women who obviously cared about each other.
Hadley cleared her throat. “I’m gonna head home.”
I nodded. “The gate will open automatically when you leave.”
We followed Hadley outside and watched as she climbed into her SUV and headed back down the drive.
Shiloh’s fingers tapped a rapid beat against her thighs. “We didn’t talk about rent. How much did you want a month?”