She took it and buckled it. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” He walked around the front of the truck and got behind the wheel. After buckling his seat belt, he pressed the ignition button and backed out of the parking spot.
He watched the road, driving through the country with the mountains on the west and the plains on the east. He loved it here. He glanced her way and wondered if it was anything like she’d seen before. Probably not, she was a city girl. New York. Couldn’t get much more city than that.
“Thank you, Mr. Evers for this job. I appreciate you taking me on this way.”
“It’s fine, no trouble. I would recommend you stay away from the cowboys. They’ve all been with me for at least a year, but I can’t guarantee their behavior.”
She turned toward him. “I’m not here looking for love, Mr. Evers—”
He turned his gaze toward her for a moment. “Ryan.”
She stopped midsentence. Her eyebrows furrowed causing lines between them. “What?”
He shrugged. “Call me Ryan, not Mr. Evers. That’s my dad.”
She nodded, but her mouth was in a flat line.
“Fine. Ryan. I’m not looking for love or even to make friends. I just want a place to live and cook and be happy for a while.”
“So, I gather.”She’s scared, as well she should be. If I was in her shoes, I’d probably be frightened as well. I have to admit, she’s awfully brave going up against a drug kingpin like she is.
“I’ll cook and clean for you. That’s all.”
“Fine.”
She turned and looked out the windshield. “Fine.”
They didn’t say anything else until he turned onto the road to his ranch.
Kaylie grabbed the handhold above the door and held on tight. “You weren’t kidding about this road. Good grief. You need a truck just to traverse it. A car would bottom out.”
“Exactly. You shouldn’t need to go anywhere, but, if you do, I’ll take you. I don’t want you getting lost, anyway. Deal?”
She bit her lip. “Deal. Will you show me your ranch when we arrive?”
“Sure. There’s not much to see. I keep horses and cattle. I don’t have milk cows or chickens. We buy our milk and eggs at the grocery store like everyone else.”
“Good because I don’t know what to do with fresh milk or eggs that aren’t in a carton.”
“Okay. Good.”
She turned her attention back to the road and didn’t let go of the handhold.
He looked over and saw her knuckles were white where she held on. If she kept that up, he’d have to help her release her hand when they arrived at the house.
Ten minutes later, he pulled into the yard, up next to the door that opened into the kitchen and stopped.
He looked over at her, enjoying the sight before he had to play employer again. “Are you all right?”
She slowly unfolded her fingers and lowered her hand to her lap, where she rubbed and pulled on each one. She looked up at him. “My fingers went to sleep, though how with all the bouncing we did, I haven’t any idea.”
“I’ll be around to let you out.” He hurried to her side of the truck.
She’d unbuckled herself and, when he opened the door, she put out one foot and practically fell out of the cab.
He caught her and pulled her close, letting her slide down his body to land on her feet. “Are you okay?”