To say Corb was desperate to hand off responsibility for the babies when Winnie and Laurel returned from their shopping trip might have been stretching the truth.
But not much.
He was standing at the door to the cabin when they got out of Winnie’s car. He had on his boots and jacket and was just putting his hat on his head.
“Hi, honey.” He kissed Laurel, then nodded at Winnie. “Kids are inside. I need to check on the cattle.”
And he was gone.
Laurel and Winnie exchanged a look, then laughed. Winnie grabbed one of Laurel’s two shopping bags, then followed her friend inside. As Corb had promised, Stephanie and Bobby were right there, on the floor in the foyer. Stephanie gnawing on a large plastic horse and Bobby trying to wrest it away from her.
“Hey, Bobby. Leave Stephanie’s toy alone. Did you miss Mommy?” Winnie grasped him firmly under the arms, then whirled him in the air, the way he loved. Bobby giggled and forgot about the plastic horse.
“That was fun.” Laurel set the packages on the wooden bench, then picked up her daughter. “But it’s good to be home.”
Winnie checked the time. All day long, the prospect of her evening with Jackson had been simmering in the back of her mind. Now it was time to go. She checked her hair and makeup in the powder room, then gave Stephanie a kiss and Laurel a hug before dressing Bobby in his jacket and boots.
“Have fun,” Laurel said, but Winnie could see the hint of worry in her eyes. Her friend was doing her best to be supportive, but she still had reservations about the wisdom of Winnie dating Brock’s foster brother.
To be fair, so did Winnie.
She’d baked a pumpkin pie that morning, and it was chilling in a covered cardboard box in the trunk of her car. Fortunately, the Montana weather was hovering above the freezing point, which meant the pie shouldn’t be frozen when they went to cut into it later that evening.
It took ten minutes to drive to Silver Creek Ranch. At this time of day the sun was already very low in the sky and the dusting of snow on the ponderosa pines made every vista look like a Christmas card.
Even the ranch house and outbuildings on Silver Creek—most of which were in need of some repair or at least a fresh coat of paint—looked beautiful when frosted with snow in the fading light. Smoke hung in billowing clouds over the chimney, and once Winnie had parked and stepped out of her SUV, she could smell the scent of hickory in the air. Something else, too. Roast beef?
“Hey there.” Jackson appeared at the door. Dark hair almost falling over one eye, a shadow of a beard covering his chin and jaw, he made her heart stop, then start with a happy skip.
They didn’t kiss hello. It was too soon for that.
But when Jackson smiled, she could feel, right down to her fingertips and toes, how happy he was to see her.
He came out to help, taking Bobby from the car seat then grabbing the diaper bag with his other hand. She rescued the pie from the trunk and followed him into the house.
Maddie was waiting, seated at the kitchen table, her lovely eyes sparkling when she saw them. “We’re celebrating Thanksgiving a day late,” she told them. “And with prime rib rather than turkey.”
“Sounds delish.”
“It will be,” Jackson promised. After making sure Bobby was well out of the way, he opened the oven and pulled out a succulent-looking roast, studded with herbs and garlic. “My special recipe,” he said with a grin at her and Maddie.
“There is something about a man at work in the kitchen...” Winnie was reminded of Vince, who, though decades older than Jackson, also managed to cook without compromising a shred of his masculinity.
“A winning combination,” Maddie agreed.
Winnie had brought toys for Bobby, but he ended up being much more entertained by petting and pulling on the ears of the dogs at Maddie’s feet.
Watching him, the older woman’s smile went from delighted to sad.
“It’s so lovely to think that this beautiful child is Brock’s son. But it makes me regret that I never told Brock how much I appreciated his help. He used to come round every month or so, you know.” She glanced at Winnie as she said this.
“Yes. He told me the feud between you and his mother was...horse manure.”
Maddie laughed and Jackson, who was making gravy on the wood-burning stove, chuckled, too. “I think Brock would have been a little more direct.”
“He was,” Winnie admitted. “But you shouldn’t worry, Maddie. He knew you appreciated his efforts.”
“I’m glad. But I still say one should never put off saying the things that need to be said.” Maddie rubbed her thumb over a ring that she wore on her little finger. It was the only jewelry she wore, Winnie noted, though the older woman had made an effort with her appearance for the evening.
She was wearing a beautiful wool sweater, the same vivid green as her eyes. And she’d put on a little blush and mascara.
Maddie would never be pretty, like her sister.
But she was attractive. And when she smiled, you could sense her inner goodness.
“You and Olive are so different,” Winnie found herself saying. “It’s hard to believe you’re sisters.”
“I inherited my looks from our father, while Olive took after our mother. But I wonder what she looks like now? I haven’t seen my sister, except from a distance, in several decades.”
“What was it that came between you?” Winnie couldn’t resist asking. According to Laurel, Olive resented Maddie for not letting her be by their father’s side on his deathbed. But it just seemed so unbelievable that Maddie could be so cruel.
“Olive blamed me for keeping her from our father. But the truth was, Dad never warmed to Olive.” Maddie rubbed her ring again. “I suspect he blamed Olive for our mother’s death. Though he would never admit it, he always favored me over her.”
“So Olive resented you for that?”
“For good reason. I lapped up my father’s affection. Not until I was much older did I understand how hard it must have been for Olive. I’ve always wished there was some way to make amends. But Olive won’t talk to me. Years ago I tried writing letters. But they were always returned. I’ve given up on the idea of a reconciliation. But our feud... It is my life’s biggest regret.”
The room fell silent. It seemed to Winnie that after all these years, most people would be willing to put the past behind them. But Olive wasn’t most people. The same determination and drive that had made her such a success in the ranching business was not conducive to mending fences with her sister.
Jackson served dinner a few minutes later and Winnie enjoyed every bite, from the tender roast to the deliciously flavored gravy, roasted squash and steamed broccoli. Jackson had even baked Yorkshire pudding that was light and flavorful, as good as the ones Winnie’s own mother made at home.
So he was gorgeous.
And he could cook.
Why was this terrific man still available? As far as she knew, he’d never even had a serious girlfriend.
“Why are you giving me that look?” Jackson had been watching Maddie, making sure she ate her food and didn’t just move it from one pile on her plate to the other. Now his eyes were on Winnie, narrowing suspiciously.
“Just wondering where the flaws are.”
“Huh?”
Maddie knew what she was talking about though. She patted Winnie’s hand. “Speak to me later. I’ll tell you.”
Terribly curious, Winnie had no choice but to put the subject aside, and for a while they discussed Jackson’s plans for expanding the ranch that spring.
Fifteen minutes later Bobby’s head was drooping.
“I should take him home.”
“Couldn’t he sleep here for a while?” Jackson asked quickly. “I haven’t given you the tour yet.”
She didn’t want to leave so soon, either. She and Jackson hadn’t had a minute alone.
And she was still hoping to talk to Maddie, as well.
So she agreed to settle Bobby down on some cushions in the sitting room. To be safe, Maddie suggested they let the dogs outside. “It’s not that cold, and they could use a little outdoor romp.”
“How about we put on our coats and take a tour of the barn at the same time?” Jackson suggested.
So they left Maddie on the reclining chair where she could keep an eye on Bobby, and with the dogs on their heels went out into the cool November evening.
“It’s a beautiful night. Look at those stars.” She was nervous. She had to work to draw in a breath.
Jackson took her hand in his and gave it a tight squeeze. “Thanks for being here. Maddie was so excited when I told her you and Bobby were coming for dinner.”
“Really?”
“Yes. She takes all the blame for the rift between her and her sister. But when you compare their lives, it doesn’t seem fair. Olive had a long, happy marriage, and four healthy children. She’s made a success of her ranch, too.”
“While Maddie has ended up sick and alone...”
“With the ranch almost at the point of bankruptcy,” Jackson added.
“She’s lucky to have you.”
“Some would say I’m the one taking advantage of her.” Jackson opened the door to the barn, then pulled on a string to turn on the light.
Winnie looked around at the roughly constructed stalls and lack of amenities. The differences between this and the high tech facilities on Coffee Creek Ranch were enormous.
“Why do you say you’re taking advantage?”
“Because she’s planning to leave me everything. The house and barns aren’t worth that much. But Maddie still owns a lot of land.”
“I guess it’s her prerogative to give the land to whomever she wants.”
“She can. But I plan on giving half of it back to the Lamberts.”
“Would Maddie want that?”
He hesitated. “I can’t keep it all. I’m not family.”
That bothered him, she realized. A lot. “After your mother died, did Bob Lambert ever consider adopting you?”
She could see a light spark in Jackson’s eyes and guessed that this had been a dream of his once.
“He asked me if I’d like that. I said yes. The truth was, I was desperate for him to make my place in the family legal. Even though I had lived fifteen years as Jackson Stone by then, I would have gladly taken the Lambert name, as well.”
“Why didn’t it happen?” Winnie asked, but then realized she knew the answer. “Olive blocked it.”
Jackson nodded slowly.
“Why would she be so nasty?”
“You can’t blame her. She was protecting the things she loves the most. Her land. And her children.”
He was right. That was what Olive cared about.
But not Jackson. He had only been a kid, looking for a place to belong.
And maybe nothing had changed. Maybe he was still searching for those things, even though he was now an adult. She thought about how often Jackson hung back on the perimeter of things like family gatherings, and even at the ceremony for the new historical site.
Not once could she remember him taking center stage at anything. Even a conversation.
“And now for the real reason I dragged you out here.” Jackson moved closer, pulling her into his arms.
“So you could kiss me?” she teased.
“Oh, yeah.” And then he did just that, but the kiss they shared this time was different. Not so much about passion and exploration, but sweeter.
Slower.
Tender and caring.
His lips lingered on hers for a long, long time. Then he swept a kiss over her cheek, her forehead, the tip of her nose.
“I could get addicted to this,” he whispered in her ear.
She already was.
* * *
THEY DIDN’T DARE linger in the barn for long, and once they were back inside the house, Maddie told Jackson she needed a few minutes with Winnie. “For some girl talk.”
He couldn’t get out of the room fast enough when he heard that.
Winnie perched on a footstool next to Maddie’s chair. She could see her son from here, too. Bobby looked so peaceful when he slept. So innocent and pure.
“Jackson is a catch, dear. But he won’t be easy to hold.” Maddie’s tone was frank, but kind. “I don’t want you to be hurt. You’ve had enough of that for one lifetime.”
The older woman took her right hand and touched the ring that Winnie still wore. “For a relationship to work, you have to give everything. But Jackson is a man who is used to holding back.”
Winnie nodded, understanding that she was right, and feeling a cold frisson of fear working under her skin.
“We have a strong connection,” she said.
“I can see that. And it’s a good start.” Maddie didn’t say anything more. But Winnie knew what she was thinking. It wouldn’t be enough.
But Maddie’s advice was coming too late. She couldn’t pull back now.
And maybe Maddie would be wrong. Jackson might be ready to change. For the right woman.
Bobby let out a whimper then. Maybe he’d had a dream. Or felt a draft. At any rate, it seemed a sign that they should be going.
“Thanks for a lovely evening, Maddie. I hope we’ll see you again soon.” She checked Bobby’s diaper and decided it was dry enough to make it home.
“I hope so, too. Good night, dear.”
In the kitchen, Jackson held Bobby so she could put on her own coat and boots.
“We should talk to Olive,” she said quietly. “See if she would come and visit Maddie before it’s too late.”
“B.J. already talked to her about it. She said no.”
Winnie raised her eyebrows.
“You want me to try again?”
“Don’t you think it’s the right thing? If it would give Maddie some peace?”
Jackson cupped her face with his hands. “You are seriously complicating my life, Winnie Hays.”
Didn’t she know it.
And it worked both ways.
* * *
THE FARMHOUSE WAS always quiet after Maddie went to bed for the night. Jackson didn’t like to turn on the TV in case the sound bothered her. Normally he read.
But tonight he was restless. He’d already cleaned the kitchen to a state of spotlessness that might well be a new record for him.
He’d asked Winnie to text him when she arrived home so he’d know she’d made the trip safely. She had. Two hours ago. And still he kept looking at his phone, hoping she’d send him another message.
So this was what it was like to be crazy about a woman. He’d always wondered.
For some reason, it had never happened to him before. Oh, he liked women just fine, but he tended to look for them in bars and at rodeos and to hook up for fun, never seriously. At the end of the evening, he sure didn’t wonder what she was doing. Or thinking. And when he would see her again.
But tonight he was wondering all three of those things about Winnie.
He paced the length of the house, from the kitchen through the dining room to the sitting area, over and over. He wished he could go outside for a walk, but he was worried Maddie might call him for more pills or have a coughing jag and need him. At her last appointment, she’d found out the cancer had spread from her lungs to her bones.
She’d turned down the offer of more treatment to minimize her discomfort.
“All I want now is to die at home on my ranch,” she’d said. And as long as her pain remained manageable, she would get her wish. How long she had, no one knew.
Could be weeks. Could be months, according to the oncologist.
Jackson didn’t like thinking about when those final days would happen or what they’d be like. And he sure as hell didn’t want to imagine the farmhouse without Maddie.
He still had no idea why she was insisting on leaving this ranch to him. When she’d first presented her offer, she’d told him there were reasons. And he’d find out in time.
But how much time would it take?
And could he ever feel comfortable accepting such an incredibly generous gift?
Turning the ranch around, investing his own savings, being here for her during her last days—none of that seemed like enough payment to him. Certainly not the being here part—that he would have given free.
No one should die alone, the way his mother had.
The sound of coyotes yipping in the distance took him to the window. The dogs sleeping in Maddie’s room didn’t raise a fuss, fortunately. But he turned off the lights in the house, trying to see if he could spot them.
He couldn’t.
But their howling raised the hairs on the back of his neck.
His mother had died alone, but Maddie wouldn’t. He’d be here. But he wasn’t the person she really wanted.
Maddie wanted to make peace with her sister. That wasn’t likely to happen. But Winnie thought he should give it another shot.
Deep in his gut, Jackson recognized it was the right thing to do. But he didn’t like his chances of succeeding.