Riding into the yard between barn and house with Opal behind him felt much different than Charlie had thought it would. He felt different. Waking up on the hard, cold ground, he’d thought she would complain. But she’d simply helped them fold the bedrolls and eaten the hardtack he’d given to her without a word. He liked Opal. Really liked her. Liked the way she’d bossed him and the boys around. When she’d touched his shoulder—for those moments she’d been close enough to kiss—his gut had tightened into a hard little knot. He’d wanted to kiss her. Yes, he liked her. Too much. The feelings she’d resurrected in him felt too similar to what he’d experienced when he’d courted Edith all those years ago. Made him remember those lost dreams of having a wife and giving his nephew Carl some young cousins to play with… But Charlie needed to keep his focus. Frank had been making noises about Charlie taking on a partnership in the Circle B, but so far Charlie hadn’t pushed the issue.
