Earth and Sky

on Saturday, less than a week after they came back to the ranch, Hunter had made an appointment to go talk to Miranda, so Grant had to fend for himself. He was nervous about what the result of that conversation was going to be, but he’d resolved himself to being a bystander and not interfering. That made him feel even more helpless than he had all week and gave him an urgent need to find a way to occupy his mind.

    Part of why Grant liked working on a ranch was that he got to spend time outdoors, but he’d been cooped up inside for almost two weeks, if you didn’t count the drive from the hospital to Hunter’s house. He simply had to go downstairs and try to make his way to the porch so he could smell some fresh air.

    By the time he’d showered and struggled into his clothes, he needed to rest on the bed for a few minutes, but then he decided to tackle the stairs. He’d cut down on his painkillers so he’d sleep less, but that meant he was far from pain-free. After walking down the stairs, he realized he’d never make it to the porch in one go, so he slipped into the kitchen and onto one of the chairs there before registering that Hunter’s mother was also there, preparing dinner.

    “Ma’am,” he greeted her after she’d given him an intense look.

    “Grant,” she replied, acknowledging his presence in a completely neutral voice while she continued cleaning leeks.

    Grant didn’t know what to say. He’d only ever met her with lots of other people present, and usually Hunter functioned as a buffer, but now he had no one to rely on. She didn’t seem to be the most talkative person, either. Grant started wondering why Izzie and Bernie never seemed to run out of things to say and concluded they must take after their father.

    “Is there anything I can help you with?” was the best Grant could come up with.

    She looked up and scrutinized him, as if she wanted to assure herself he wasn’t joking with her. “You’re a guest in this house,” she simply stated and continued to work.

    “Yes, ma’am,” Grant agreed in a quiet voice. He wanted to speak up and tell her that it was her attitude that made him feel like an unwanted stranger, but the last thing he wanted was to antagonize her even more. Although his mother had died before he was an adult, he did remember her teaching him about politeness and respect for elders. Hunter’s mother was right, though. In her eyes he was a guest, and if that meant she was polite around him, then all he could be was thankful, because he had the distinct impression that it was her own good upbringing that prevented her from throwing him out on his ass.

    Since he had no intention of stealing Hunter from the ranch, and he didn’t need to ask anyone to know that Hunter’s mother would live here until she died if she had any say in it, that meant that if Grant wanted to spend his life with Hunter—and he had every intention of it—he had to find a way to get into her good books. But, damn it, being forward about his affections was a hard thing to do. Grant was certain she’d never approve of her son’s choice of mate, but he simply had to find a way to get her to at least tolerate him around the ranch.

    “Your bruises seem to be clearing up, but Hunter tells me you’re still in a lot of pain.”

    Grant looked up at her. She was standing at the same table he was sitting at, cutting the leeks with a dangerous-looking knife.

    “I’m slowly getting there. The doctor said it would take time, but I suppose it’s getting better. I hope I can get back to work soon, because all this lazing around is getting on my nerves.”

    That seemed to strike a chord with her. Maybe Grant was imagining things, but he thought he saw the merest glimmer of a smile playing around her lips. “Izzie says you’re one of the best wranglers we’ve ever employed.”

    Grant shrugged. “I like working with horses. I love being outdoors. And I’m pretty good with wood too.”

    “Good,” she said, turning around to grab a pot to put her vegetables in. “I hope you’ll be joining us for dinner downstairs tonight?”

    She didn’t even turn around to ask him, so he allowed himself to smile, feeling like he’d won a small victory.

    “Yes, ma’am, I’d like that. I was thinking of sitting out on the porch to rest there. Take in some fresh air.”

    Just as he was struggling to get up, she said, “Wear a warm coat. It’s a bit chilly out. And take a mug of coffee and