Two Spirit Ranch by Jaime Stryker Read Free Book Online

beautiful lady.”
They stood there in silence for a beat before Jake said, “Well, I did some twiddling with the knobs.  The pilot light looks like its working. Why don't we wait a few minutes and then check the water temperature?”
“Sounds good,” Terri said, wondering what they would do in the meantime.  Whit the slim pickings at the grocery store, she didn’t have time to get her stock her usual wine and hors d’oeuvres. “Oh, my.  Where are my manners?  Would you like something to eat or drink?  It's the least I can do for you coming all the way out here.”
“I had a bite, but something to drink would be nice.”
“I'll get that for you.”
“You see the lake yet?”
“Lake?”
“Yeah, your Uncle has a lake just a little past those trees out there,” he said, pointing out towards a field of trees.
“I had no idea,” Terri said in wonderment.  She never imagined she would have her own lake.
“Why don't you get yourself something to drink, too, and we'll walk out there and show you? I told you there’s a lot to Montana if you take time to explore it.”
“I may have to make time,” Terri replied.

“Oh, my God!” Terri said, holding a glass of freshly made lemonade and staring out at the body of clear water before her as the setting sun cast crimson, pink and orange  streaks across the cloudy sky. “It's absolutely gorgeous.”
“Yeah, it really is,” Jake said. 
He found himself impulsively placing his hand on the small of her back and kept it there while saying, “He built a little pier out this way.  Come on, and I'll show you.”
They continued to walk along the edge of the lake, the only sounds being of birds chirping in the background as the day began to draw to a close. Terri felt very comfortable with this new acquaintance. She thought he had a nice firm but warm touch. Finally, they reached a small wooden pier that extended about twenty feet out into the water, and Jake led her to the end of it.
“It's so peaceful out here,” Terri said in amazement.  The loud noises of traffic and people in New York might as well have been on another planet.  She began to understand more and more what had drawn her uncle here. There was a quietness that was very calming to the soul and the air was crisp and fresh. Terri felt her senses were being awakened by the natural beauty of it all. So different from the loud and brash city.
“When we were younger, Bud used to let me and Carl come out here on the days we weren't arguing too much and let us fish.  That's why he wants the land you know,” Jake said, leaning on the railing and watching a school of tiny fish below.
“Because of fishing memories?”
“Because this lake, which is called Lake Crow, would be an excellent spot for his company to build their condos and lakeside resort.  The man who owned this land before your uncle, Victor Johansen, had no family, and he and Bud became friends.  After he died, he left the land that included the lake to your uncle.  Originally, Bud only owned a few acres around the ranch.  It ate Carl up inside that he couldn’t work out a land deal with Old Man Johansen the first time around.”
“I had no idea.  I wish...I wish...”
“Wish what?”
“That I would have taken the time to come out here and visit. While Uncle Bud was still alive.”
“Why didn't you?”
A cool breeze began to come off the lake, and it blew Terri's soft curls around her face.
“I was always busy.  Law school.  Then career.  And Uncle Bud always made it a point to come out to New York to watch a few shows on Broadway and see me a couple of times a year,” Terri said, mournfully.  She leaned against the same railing as Jake and their bodies were as close as two can be without touching.
“I regret it now,” she admitted.  “Especially now that I'm here.”
“Well, no better time than the present. Now that you are here, he must have thought a whole lot of you to leave you this place.  Him leaving you the place