What was he going to do?
It had been a few days since his foolish attempt at reliving his ranching glory days, and Ty’s back finally felt good enough for him to walk more than a few yards. He’d been going stir-crazy cooped up at home and was just about giddy to be breaking up the monotony with a drive into town. It was summer, he reasoned, and the weather had brought out the sort of bright, endless blue that had given Montana its nickname of Big Sky Country. This was his favorite time of year, and he knew that should be more than enough to make him happy.
Instead, he was growing more worried by the day. He didn’t need much money to keep Clyde and himself going, but his modest savings wouldn’t last more than a few months if he had to keep dipping into it to pay their everyday living expenses. He needed a job that would at least help to keep him afloat until he could figure out a better long-term strategy.
While he tried to think positive, JD’s comment from a few weeks ago echoed in his mind.
Starting over ain’t easy, but it might go better if you get a little help once in a while.
The trouble was, Ty was used to taking care of himself, running things his own way without having to rely on anyone else. Admitting that he might not be able to live that way anymore was proving to be more difficult than he could have ever imagined during his carefree rodeo days.
“Mornin’, Ty!”
Through the open window of his truck, he heard the greeting as he drove through town. He couldn’t see who’d yelled his name, but he raised his hand in reply anyway. That was how it went all the way down Main Street, one person after another, until someone actually stepped into the empty street and held out his arms to make Ty stop.
“Perry Thompson?” he asked, easily recognizing their high school’s track star even after all these years. Tall and lean, he had the look of a man who’d made it a point to stay in shape as he matured. “What’re you doin’ here? Last I heard, you were running one of those ecotourism resorts in Hawaii.”
“Last I heard, you were tearing up the southwestern rodeo circuit,” his old buddy shot back with a good-natured grin. Wiggling his left hand, he proved his point with an unmistakable glint of gold. “Things change.”
Ty caught on to the upbeat tone and chuckled. “What’s her name?”
“Kailani.” Standing in the middle of the street as if it happened every day, Perry took out his phone and showed Ty the picture of a lovely Polynesian woman on a beach, holding a baby with her coloring and Perry’s blue eyes. “We got married on Maui last fall and moved back here just after that. She owns the Ohana Bakery you passed on your way into town. The little one is Lea. She’ll be a year old in January.”
“They’re both beautiful. Congrats, man.” Ty handed the phone back, feeling a pang of envy for his friend. It must be nice to have all the pieces of your life in place and be able to look forward to the future instead of dreading what it might hold.
“Thanks.” The new father tucked his phone away and rested his elbows on the window frame of the pickup. “What’s up with you?”
“I’m out at the little ranch I bought from my parents a few years back.”
Perry tilted his head with a chiding look. “You’re not fooling me, dude. I know what happened with you and that bull. We all do.”
Wonderful, Ty thought with a mental groan. Not that he’d expected anything different, but since no one beyond the Whittakers had mentioned it to him, he’d allowed himself to believe that the residents of his hometown were too preoccupied with the impending development issue to pay much attention to his predicament. Normally, he hated being so wrong about something, but this time, he was surprised to find that he didn’t mind so much. In fact, he found it comforting to know that even though he hadn’t seen his hometown folks in a while, they still cared about him.
Another car finally turned onto Main Street, and he said, “It’s been good to see you, but I’d best get outta the way.”
To his surprise, Perry motioned for him to wait and climbed into the cab beside him. “I have something to ask you, if you’ve got time.”
“Dude,” he replied, echoing his friend’s earlier comment, “these days I have nothin’ but time.”
“Actually, I’m glad to hear that,” Perry said as they pulled into one of the angled parking spots that lined the modest business district.
About six blocks in length, it boasted shops that sold all the necessities of life in Mustang Ridge. Whether you needed a new saddle, tractor parts or repairs on your computer, the storekeepers pretty much had you covered. At the far end, like a tattered soldier keeping watch over the village, stood the farm store and grain elevator that had the distinction of being the first commercial building constructed in the town. Big Sky Feed and Seed had seen better days, but JD had told him that it still did a thriving business, mostly because it was the only one of its kind within twenty miles.
The former owner had given him his first job hauling feed when Ty was fourteen, he recalled fondly. Not so fondly, it was also where he’d run across Morgan when he first got back to town a few weeks ago, and she threw his heartfelt apology back in his face. A lot had happened since then, but she still hadn’t forgiven him.
Now that he’d finally come clean about the reason for him breaking things off with her, he wasn’t sure where he stood with her. Come to think of it, that was how he’d always felt around the mystifying woman who’d stolen his heart so long ago. If only he could come up with a way to get that part of him back, he might finally be able to get on with his life.
“So,” he began, shifting in his seat to face his passenger squarely, “why are you glad to hear I’ve got nothing to do?”
“I’m swamped at the store, and two of my summer employees just bolted for the new amusement park they built about ten miles from here. I could really use a reliable counter person who’s good with customers and won’t flake out on me in the middle of my busiest season.”
That sounded like something he could manage. While he’d prefer to work outside, Ty understood that he had to be practical about the physical limitations he now had. His afternoon running fence with the Whittakers had made it painfully clear that his days of hands-on ranching were behind him.
“I appreciate you thinking of me,” he said with a grin. “What kind of business is it?”
Perry chuckled at that. “Sorry, I forgot you’ve been gone so long. I own the feed store now, bought it off Mr. Peters before he and his wife retired and moved to Phoenix. Remember how we used to run forklift races after he left for the day?”
“Yeah, I do,” Ty commented, grinning at the memory. “As a matter of fact, I think I’m still up by one.”
“Not a chance. I was the fourteen-and-under modified racing champ, remember?”
“That was cars,” Ty reminded him good-naturedly, tapping his chest proudly. “I was the best forklift driver in Mustang Ridge.”
“Come to work for me, and we’ll settle for once and all who’s better.”
“You’re gonna pay me even if I beat you, right?”
“That depends. When can you start?”
Ty didn’t even hesitate. “How ’bout now?”
Perry held out his hand, and they shook to seal their deal. And, just like that, Ty had the job he’d been so worried about finding.
It didn’t take him long to reorient himself in his old workplace. Perry had kept things pretty much the way they’d been for the past forty years, which Ty thought was wise. The residents of this stubbornly small town were pretty set in their ways, and they hated change of any kind. He had added in a long counter with stools near the register, outfitted with a series of bins labeled with stickers imprinted with Ohana Bakery’s ocean-view logo. They held fresh treats from his wife’s bakery and at the end was a coffee bar that would make any big-city boutique proud.
“This is cool,” Ty approved, scanning the setup to make sure he’d be able to operate it if needed.
“Kailani’s idea,” Perry admitted sheepishly. “I didn’t want all this, but she convinced me to try it for a month. Customers liked it so much, they went down the street to compliment her on the idea. I ate crow for a week.”
Ty had never enjoyed the taste of crow himself, and he sympathized with his buddy’s plight. A few minutes later, his employee reorientation was interrupted by the sound of jangling bells over the entry door. Glancing over to see who’d come in, he was surprised to see Morgan step inside, scowling while she listened to something on her phone. He couldn’t imagine who could be causing that look, but Ty was grateful that at least this time it wasn’t him.
“You’ve got the hang of it now,” Perry announced, clearly sensing that it was time to make himself scarce. “I’ll be on the loading dock if you need me.”
Ty’s new boss gave him a quick wink on his way out, which didn’t make any sense. Curious as he was, Ty had a feeling he’d rather not know the reason for it. It was bound to be personal, or embarrassing, or both. While he was wondering about Perry’s odd behavior, Morgan’s expression went from furious to resigned, and she slid her phone into a back pocket of her jeans with a quiet sigh.
“Somethin’ wrong?” he asked, meeting her gaze across the counter.
“Things don’t always go your way, y’know?” Her eyes snagged on the hand-lettered name tag Perry had whipped up for him, and she tilted her head in confusion. “When did you start working here?”
Ty angled his wrist to check a nonexistent watch. “About half an hour ago. I’m new, so go easy on me.”
“Okay,” she agreed, her grim look giving way to a cute smile that reminded him of Hannah. Settling onto a stool, she took a chocolate-filled croissant from the bin, holding it up so he could see it. “This and a large coffee loaded with cream and sugar, please.”
Some things never changed, he mused while he got her order ready. Morgan had always loved the kick of coffee, but not the taste. For someone whose life had been turned upside down over the past year, Ty found it soothing to know that some of the things he remembered were still the same.
Setting the cup in front of her, he decided to take a run at finding out what was upsetting the normally self-confident barrel racer. Grabbing a damp towel, he made a show of wiping down the counter. “Little early for that much chocolate, isn’t it?”
“Not today.” Blowing on her coffee, she took a sip before downing half of the croissant in a single bite. Closing her eyes, she sighed in approval. “I don’t know how she does it, but I’m convinced that if Kailani put her mind to it, she could solve most of our problems in that kitchen of hers.”
Ty knew a dodge when he heard one, and he decided to play along. “There used to be a pizza place in there, and before that it was a bookstore. When did she take over the property?”
“About six months ago. She loves to cook, and being the boss means she can bring the baby to work with her. Lea’s just about the cutest little bundle of smiles and laughter you ever saw.”
“Yeah, I saw a picture of the two of ’em. Looks to me like Perry struck gold in Hawaii.”
Morgan nodded her agreement and helped herself to another pastry. When she took money out to pay for it, he waved her off. “I got this one.”
“Meaning you feel sorry for me.”
The dejected tone in her voice made him want to step in and fix whatever had gone wrong for her. But he knew perfectly well that she wouldn’t accept his help, so he grinned and shook his head. “Meaning it’s slow this morning, and I like having company at the counter instead of standing around looking for stuff to do.”
“Even if it’s me.”
Especially if it’s you, he nearly blurted out before his brain kicked in and stopped him. “Aw, you’re not so bad. Everyone has an off day once in a while.”
“Thanks. Believe it or not, that’s one of the nicest things I’ve heard all week.”
It wasn’t like her to be so open about her feelings—good or bad—and her demeanor was really starting to worry him. Settling on a stool, he leaned forward on his elbows so they could talk more quietly. “Morgan, I know I’m probably not your first choice for confiding in, but if you wanna talk about whatever’s going on, I’m happy to listen.”
She eyed him for several long, uncomfortable moments, then swallowed some more coffee as if seeking time to make her choice. Patience wasn’t his strong point, and all the boot-dragging made him want to hurry her along. But he recognized that pressuring her wouldn’t get him anywhere, and would only cause her to pull even further away from him. She might have stopped freezing him out, but that was only the first step of many.
Rebuilding her trust in him was going to take careful, consistent effort on his part. It wouldn’t be easy, but the image of the two of them raising their daughters as co-parents floated into his mind, encouraging him to remain quiet.
“Dad and I ran the numbers on our trip to Washington,” she began hesitantly, her grimace making it clear they weren’t good. “Two flights, two hotel rooms for at least two nights. It’s gonna be way more than the conservancy can afford right now. We need to hire a lawyer, maybe even two, to push through the temporary injunction against Cartwright Energy. When we first started, folks volunteered their time to get the word out and circulate petitions around the area. Now it’s getting expensive, and we have to spend our money where it will do the most good.”
Her comment about local residents donating their time got his wheels spinning, and he hunted around under the counter for something that might help. When he found a large empty glass jar, he set it on the counter in front of her.
“What’s that for?” she asked, clearly lost.
“Donations.” Grabbing a roll of wide masking tape, he stretched a length of it out on the glass countertop and handed her a permanent marker. “You’ve got better handwriting than me. You label it. I’ll make sure customers see it. I don’t doubt that Kailani would do the same, and so would any of the business owners in town who want to protect our wide-open spaces. A little here, a little there, who knows? We just might get enough so we can stay in a hotel instead of camping out in a park near the White House.”
She laughed at the ridiculous suggestion. “It’s the nation’s capital, Ty. With security the way it is now, we couldn’t really do that.”
Her laughter inspired him, and he grinned. “If we rounded up some people and had a good, old-fashioned barbecue and sing-along, just think how much publicity we’d get.”
“Sure, right before they hauled us off to jail.”
It wouldn’t be his first trip there, but he decided to keep that less-than-stellar detail about his past to himself. Instead, he chuckled. “Last I knew, this was America, and I can camp anywhere I want.”
Shaking her head, the smile she gave him was more approving than not. “You’re really getting into this rebel with a cause thing, aren’t you?”
“Now, that’s downright insulting,” he retorted, adopting a miffed attitude to keep their lighthearted discussion going. “The sticker in the window of my truck says I’m an official member of the Mustang Ridge Conservancy. That and the paperwork I’m doing with JD makes me a devoted environmentalist.”
“You’re a devoted something, anyway,” she scoffed, finishing her coffee before tossing the cup into the bin beside the register. “Fun as this has been, I really do need a few things before I head back to the ranch.”
As she slid from her stool and walked into the stacks, his impulse was to follow after her. But it occurred to him that if he did that, she’d feel crowded, so he forced himself to stay where he was. “Let me know if you need a hand with anything.”
Turning back, she rewarded him with an appreciative smile. “Thanks, I will.”
That view of her was the one he wanted so desperately, Ty realized. Since their soul-bearing conversation, he’d run all kinds of scenarios for them through his head. Most of them were bad, and he’d finally given up trying to work things out mentally. Fearing that he’d lost any ground he’d made up, he’d dreaded seeing her again and finding out that she’d decided to punt him back to where he started.
Then, to his surprise, he heard her calling his name. When he went over to see what she wanted, she met him with a look that was equal parts uncertain and determined. It was as if she was about to do something she wasn’t thrilled about but knew it had to be done anyway.
Glancing around, she stepped closer and spoke quietly. “I saw how you looked when we were talking about Perry’s little girl.”
Ty wasn’t sure where this was headed, but he saw no sense in denying it. “Families—good ones—always get to me, I guess. Mine wasn’t the best, and I’ve always wanted a chance at being part of something better.”
“I know.” Pausing, she took in a hesitant breath before continuing. “You’re really great with Allie and Hannah, and you’ve made it plain that you want to be part of their lives. I’d be okay with that on one condition.”
Ty’s heart launched itself into his throat. This was the very thing he’d been praying for, although he was still awkward at it since he wasn’t a pro at talking to the Almighty just yet. “Name it.”
“You’re not allowed to tell them that you’re their father.”
“They have to find out sometime.”
“I know that,” she allowed grimly, as if it was the last thing on earth she wanted to consider. “But now isn’t the time. I’ll decide when it’s right, not you.”
He wasn’t crazy about deceiving his daughters, but yesterday he couldn’t have imagined getting even this much of a concession from Morgan. If this was what she was willing to give him, he saw no option other than to go along. “Then I accept your condition. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” She turned partially before looking back to nail him with a warning glare. “Don’t make me regret it.”
You didn’t have to be a genius to understand that she was referring to the last time he’d let her down. Although the reminder stung, he couldn’t blame her for it. “I won’t.”
His simple response seemed to satisfy her, and she left him behind while she made her way toward the back of the store.
Now that he had Morgan’s official go-ahead to spend time with his girls, Ty felt some of the worry that had been weighing him down leave his shoulders. Standing tall was a lot easier when you weren’t hauling all your past mistakes around with you.
“Mommy?”
Tying a bright blue ribbon to the end of Allie’s single French braid, Morgan replied, “Yes, sweetie?”
“Can we bring Ty to church?”
Whoa, was Morgan’s first thought. Close behind it was the knowledge that Allie didn’t often come up with ideas like this one, and her heart brightened at the thought that her reserved girl was beginning to gain some social confidence. That her proposal involved Ty Wilkins didn’t thrill her, but she’d take it. Allie seldom asked for anything, and when she did, Morgan did everything in her power to grant her wish. “I’m not sure he’s up yet, but we can stop by on our way and ask him.”
“He’s really nice,” Hannah chimed in while she tied her good shoes. “He remembers the names of all my dolls, and I only had to tell him once. Grandpa calls them all doll face.”
Morgan laughed at her father’s clever solution for keeping his granddaughter happy without having to memorize nearly thirty names. And even though she knew Ty’s attentiveness had an ulterior motive behind it, she had to admire his willingness to put in that kind of effort to make a six-year-old doll mama happy.
She finished her hair duty with the double ponytails Hannah had requested, then stood and brushed her hands off. They both looked perfect to her, Allie in pale blue chambray and Hannah in blue calico that gave her the appearance of being some long-ago prairie girl. “All done. Why don’t you two go have breakfast with Grandpa while I get ready?”
“Mommy?”
Hunkering down, she got on the same level as her sweet, shy girl. “Yes, Allie?”
“Why do you always go last?”
At first, she didn’t understand the question. Then it dawned on her that it was true. Her girls came first, then her family, then the ranch. And now, the conservancy. During her increasingly rare spare time, she’d tack up Sadie and go for a run, always ending up at the mustangs’ valley. She’d start out admiring them, but always ended up counting them, assessing their condition and whether the public land they occupied provided enough space for their growing numbers.
Someday, she hoped they’d be able to truly run free again, safely roaming wherever they wanted the way God had always intended. But for now...
When Morgan registered that her daughters were staring at her, she realized that—once again—her mind had escaped her control and wandered off on its own. Too bad there wasn’t a way for her to fence that in, too, she thought wryly.
“Sorry, girls, I got distracted. Mommies have a lot of stuff to think about.”
“You need a vacation,” Hannah suggested helpfully, sounding like an adorable commercial for getting away. “Miss Grainger is going to the Grand Canyon with her dog, and they’re going to hike to the bottom to see what’s there. You should take Skye somewhere fun.”
Morgan didn’t have the time or money for adventures, but she appreciated the thought. “I’ll think about it,” she promised, giving them each a quick hug. “For now, though, I’ll go get myself ready for church.”
“And then we’ll get Ty,” Allie reminded her earnestly.
“We’ll give it a shot, anyway,” Morgan agreed as she stood up. “I’ll be down in a few minutes.”
After hurrying through her bare-bones morning routine, Morgan chose the blue option of the two dresses she owned and dug through her collection of boots for a pair of shoes to wear. Again, she only had two, different versions of the same style she’d found in a bargain bin a few years ago. Like the dresses, she seldom wore them, and they ended up jumbled into the pile she tossed into her closet when she didn’t have an opportunity to put things away. Which was most days.
Finally, she found two flats and gladly stepped into them before hurrying downstairs. Dad and the girls were already standing by the front door, so she grabbed a muffin from the platter on the table and followed them outside.
After making sure the girls were buckled into the backseat of her father’s trusty old SUV, Morgan got in beside him and did the same. While she was setting her purse on the floor near her feet, she was horrified by what she saw.
One black shoe and one navy.
Dad glanced over with a frown before focusing on the view out the windshield. “Something wrong?”
“I forgot something, but it’s no big deal.”
“Allie told me we’re stopping to pick up Ty,” he went on as they turned from their driveway into his. “I didn’t remember him being the religious type.”
She had no idea what type he was these days, so Morgan casually said, “The girls wanted to invite him.”
Her father hmmed in response but didn’t say anything more. They found Ty sitting in a willow chair on his front porch, boots crossed on the railing while he watched them drive in. Dad didn’t seem inclined to leave the truck, so Morgan opened her door.
“Us, too, Mommy!” Hannah insisted, bolting from her seat with Allie close behind. “It was our idea, and we want to ask him.”
They were running late as it was, but Morgan swallowed her protest because this detour seemed so important to her daughters. They were trying to rope in a lost sheep, after all. Certainly God could forgive them for being a few minutes late to church.
Clearly surprised to see the three of them, Ty got to his feet with a bright grin. “Mornin’, ladies. Where are you headed lookin’ so pretty?”
“Church,” Allie replied instantly, which amazed Morgan. The timid child seldom spoke first, usually letting Hannah take the lead in a conversation. It was another sign of how much this errand meant to her. Her impulsive approach seemed to falter, though, and Morgan braced herself for the withdrawal that typically followed.
To her astonishment, Ty went down on a knee to put him on Allie’s level, just the way Morgan did. The kind, compassionate gesture did something strange to her heart, and she took a deep breath to regain her usual composure.
“You like church?” he asked her in the gentle voice Morgan had heard him use with skittish horses. When Allie nodded, he smiled. “What do you like best about it?”
“Singing.”
Now, he shifted his eyes to Hannah, who’d been hanging back to give her sister the spotlight. “And what do you like best?”
“Sunday school. We get to do art projects and have cookies.”
Ty chuckled. “I like cookies. Chocolate chip are my favorite.”
“Me, too,” she agreed brightly. “Mommy likes oatmeal.”
Those hazel eyes drifted up to meet Morgan’s, a fond twinkle warming the flecks of gold. “I remember.”
In that single moment, it felt as if nothing had ever gone wrong between them. They were back in their good times, when it seemed like their love for each other would always be enough to get them through any obstacle life could throw at them. For one brief moment, Morgan almost believed they could have that again.
Almost.
Chiding herself for being so foolish, she got practical. “We’re running late, so hop in if you want a ride.”
“Thanks. That’d be great.”
This time, Morgan gave him the front seat and she shared the back with the girls. Thankfully, Dad kept Ty well occupied on the way into town, which left her with nothing to do other than enjoy the view rolling past the open windows. Mustang Ridge closed down on Sundays, so the only traffic was headed toward one of the three churches clustered around the town square.
In the center of the green space stood a monument to area soldiers who’d fallen since the Civil War, which had occurred long before Montana earned its statehood in 1889. Morgan had always thought it was considerate of the statue’s builders to include those long-ago infantrymen who’d died far from home defending the freedom they valued above everything.
In direct contrast to the somber message of the monument, on the side nearest the street was the playground that the town had funded and added to over the years. What had started as a few swings and slides had blossomed into a sturdy kid-centered compound with everything from rope nets to swaying bridges.
Over the top of it all was the donation from the historical society: a reproduction Conestoga wagon and two life-size wooden oxen. It gave the fun area a rustic Montanan flair, and seeing it up there always made Morgan smile.
Once they’d all piled out of the SUV and were headed up the front steps, Ty caught her elbow and tugged her aside.
“Hate to tell you this,” he murmured, “but you’ve got two different shoes on.”
Ordinarily, having him find fault with her for anything would’ve gotten her back up. But it was Sunday, so she bit her tongue and rolled her eyes. “I know. By the time I noticed, it was too late to go back and change.”
“You always hated being late,” he commented as they followed Dad and the girls into the small sanctuary.
“It’s rude,” she shot back instinctively, wishing she’d just pretended she hadn’t noticed the problem herself. Honesty might be the best policy, but sometimes it was just a hassle.
“You’ve never had trouble matching up your boots,” he pointed out, clearly refusing to let the matter drop. “Maybe you could try rubber banding your shoes together to make things easier on yourself.”
Considering the source, it wasn’t the worst suggestion she’d ever heard. She realized that he was actually trying to be helpful, so she let her annoyance go with a quiet breath. “That’s a good idea. I’ll give it a try.”
It took a few minutes to get to their seats, since everyone kept stopping them to talk about something or other. Between the horses and cattle on the ranch, there was plenty to discuss, but lately more people wanted an update on the conservancy’s efforts. Some wanted to help, others to make it plain to her that they opposed what she was attempting to do. One thing they all had in common, though. A strong opinion. Whether she agreed with them or not, she had to admire folks who had the guts to take a stand and refuse to shrink from a challenge.
“Man, this energy thing has really taken over the town,” Ty muttered, standing in the aisle to let the girls go ahead of him to sit near Jessie. “At the feed store, it’s almost as popular a topic as the weather.”
“People care about what happens here,” Morgan reminded him as she took a children’s Bible from the rack and passed it down for Allie and Hannah to share.
“Guess I kinda forgot what that’s like.”
Morgan glanced up at him and caught the pensive expression clouding his usually easygoing features. Was it really possible that the reckless cowboy she’d known for most of her life was maturing into the kind of thoughtful, caring man she could depend on? As she thought back over the weeks since he first reappeared, she couldn’t deny that he’d changed. Whether it was the injuries he’d suffered, or that he was simply mellowing with time, she couldn’t say for certain.
But he was definitely a different guy than the one who’d walked away from her all those years ago. Now that she had an explanation for his vanishing act, she found herself feeling something for him that she hadn’t anticipated. Understanding.
“It’s nice to be around people like that,” she agreed. “Being a gypsy on the rodeo circuit was fun, but being grounded here works for me, too. Except when I can’t find my other shoe,” she added with a grimace.
“If that’s your worst problem today, I’d say you’re doing just fine.”
He added an encouraging smile, and she couldn’t help returning the gesture. “You know all about tough days, don’t you?”
“I try not to think about it too much, but yeah, I’ve had my share.”
More than his share, she suspected, although she respected his attempt to make his ordeal seem more manageable than it must have felt at the time. Especially when he was on his own, far from Mustang Ridge, being cared for by strangers. Competent and compassionate, but strangers all the same. When she’d been in trouble, she’d headed straight for the ranch and the family she knew would love and support her, no matter what.
Ty hadn’t had much of that, she realized sadly, even when his parents were still together. As deeply as he’d hurt her when he left, it occurred to her that he’d suffered nearly as much. For all these years, she’d assumed that he’d gone on to something—and someone—else that made him happy.
Not long ago, knowing that his decision had made him miserable would have given her some grim satisfaction. But now, it just made her wistful for what might have been.
Ty had never been one for church.
Summer Sundays were for sleeping in, followed by long rides and watching baseball on TV while he plowed his way through the week’s laundry and chores. While he was growing up, his family attended services at Easter and Christmas, more as a form of being counted in God’s flock than anything else. As a result, he didn’t have an opinion one way or the other on religion. If it worked for you, that was great. If not, that was fine, too.
But as he sat in that sunny chapel that he’d barely known during his younger days, listening to the Sunday school’s adorable rendition of “Jesus Loves Me,” he got a different view of the place and what it meant to them. He didn’t know any of the other kids standing up there, but they looked like a group of cherubs, dressed in their nicest clothes, doing their best to stay on key.
His daughters caught his attention, looking like miniature Morgans in their pretty blue dresses, with sunshine streaming in from the tall windows to light their faces. He’d just started getting acquainted with them, but they amazed him more every day. Hannah with her quick mind and army of dolls, Allie with her love of animals and incredible talent for drawing them. They truly were the best of Morgan and him, blended into two incredible children who deserved every bit of good that life could give them.
They were his girls, he mused sadly, but they didn’t know it. When Morgan had first made her proposal allowing him to spend time with them, he’d quickly agreed, believing that the limited arrangement would be enough for him. But as the weeks had worn on, it had become more obvious to him that being “good neighbor Ty” wasn’t going to cut it.
They were his children, and he wanted to be their father. All the way, for good or bad, because the family he’d always wanted was standing only a few yards away, just waiting for him to step up and claim them.
The trouble was Morgan. She’d made it painfully clear how she felt about that possibility, so for now at least, he put his longing aside and applauded while the kids took their bows before following their teacher downstairs for Sunday school.
“Joining the kids for cookies?” Morgan whispered while the pastor got organized at his lectern.
The guy Ty once was would’ve jumped at the opportunity to go hang out with the kids and enjoy some snacks. But he stopped himself. If he was going to prove to her that he was in fact “father material,” it was time to start acting like a grown-up. Most of the time, anyway. “I think I’ll hear what Pastor Bartlett has to say this morning.”
She didn’t respond, but the stunned look on her face was priceless. After a moment, it softened into something he hadn’t seen from her in so long, he’d forgotten what it looked like. Respect.
Feeling proud of himself for surprising the very unpredictable Morgan Whittaker, Ty settled back and prepared a few tricks he’d learned for keeping himself awake.
When Pastor Bartlett left the raised lectern area and sat down on the top step of the little stage, though, Ty realized he might have misjudged the modest-looking man. Resting his elbows on his knees, he sent a look through the packed church, pausing here and there to connect with people along the way. And when he began to speak, Ty felt himself leaning forward to catch whatever this quiet, patient man had to say.
“Sometimes,” he began in a pretty unremarkable manner, “we make mistakes. We’re human, and life can seem pretty random. When we get caught off guard, especially by circumstances not of our own making, we get rattled and make choices we regret later on. I know, because I’ve done that kind of thing myself. On occasion, I’ve been guilty of assuming that I knew what was best for other people, rather than allowing them to find their own way.”
As the preacher went on to describe some of his other faults, Ty noticed folks around him nodding slightly, as if his humble confession reminded them of their own past behavior. With Morgan sitting beside him, his own mind flashed back to the day he determined that he wasn’t good enough for her and took off. Thinking he was doing her a favor, protecting her from a lifetime of remorse, in truth he’d taken away her God-given right to choose for herself what she wanted.
And in a moment of inspiration, he understood why she’d been so angry with him for so long. Ending their relationship should have been their decision, not his alone. If only he’d talked it through with her, they might have been able to work things out. And he’d be sitting here in church with the family he’d always longed to have, instead of feeling like an arrogant fool.
While he was silently berating himself, Pastor Bartlett threw out a bit of hope to Ty and anyone else feeling the way he was right now. Standing, the preacher smiled at the people gathered for the service. “The good news for us is that God understands why we stumble, and He waits for us to realize what we’ve done wrong. He doesn’t abandon us, although it may feel like it at times. Like any good father, He stands ready to support us, if only we’ll ask Him for His help. For some of us, that’s tough because it requires us to look inside ourselves, acknowledge our failings and make changes to keep those things from happening again. It isn’t easy, but I can promise you that the rewards are worth the effort.”
Ty felt as if that sermon had been delivered to him personally, and judging by the reaction of many in the congregation, he wasn’t the only one who’d gotten that message. Normally, he was more impressed by actions than words, but there was no denying that this particular man had a knack for speaking to people in a way they could not only understand but also relate to on a very personal level.
“Man,” he murmured to Morgan as they stood for the final hymn, “he’s good.”
“He kept you awake,” she retorted with a smirk.
Yeah, he did, Ty thought in admiration. But more than that, he’d reached a part of Ty that he hadn’t thought much about before returning to his hometown like a beaten-down hound with his tail between his legs. He’d assumed that apologizing to Morgan would be the biggest thing he’d do before rebuilding his life, but now that he was getting to know his daughters, it was obvious that there was more to his journey than simply moving on.
Somehow, some way, he wanted the four of them to be a family. The challenge was getting Morgan to agree with him.