“Lily’s an incredible child.” Mia couldn’t conceal how moved she was after meeting her husband’s daughter.
“You didn’t feel a barrier because she’s, well, your stepchild?”
“Not at all.” Her certainty surprised Mia. “It’s obvious Harlan was her father. Those eyes and that chin give it away, but Lily is her own person. She isn’t responsible for Harlan’s betrayal. She’s just a little girl who’s lost her mother.”
“I’m glad you feel that way,” Caleb said warmly. The admiration and appreciation in his gaze warmed a lonely place Mia always kept hidden.
Perhaps it also emboldened her because she blurted, “What happened to Lily’s leg?”
“A riding accident.” Caleb shuddered. “A year ago she was on a horse for the first time and it threw her. Lily broke her leg. It was a complicated break and hasn’t healed well.”
“Can it be fixed?” Mia asked.
“Reba told Lara she couldn’t find a surgeon willing to try another operation.” Caleb’s forehead furrowed. “I haven’t had time to check into that. Abby Lebret, the woman who runs Family Ties and is trying to find Lily a home, might have more information.”
“Family Ties—oh, yes, the adoption agency you mentioned. So you’ve handed care of Lily over to them?” Mia said, not managing to hide her disapproval.
“It seemed best. I’m not father potential,” he said, defensively, Mia thought.
“I thought you were very loving with her, exactly as a father would be.” She mentally replayed her meeting with Lily. “She reminds me of myself at her age.” She didn’t realize she’d spoken her thoughts aloud until she heard Caleb’s voice.
“How is that?”
“I was a sickly child. I missed a lot because I was often in hospital or at home recuperating.” Wishing she’d kept silent and fearing Caleb would press to hear more, Mia explained, “It was hard socially when I joined school after the others had already made friends.”
“You think Lily’s missing out like that?” The idea seemed to startle him. “I’ve been so intent on getting her affairs worked out that I never gave much thought to her social state.”
“She seems a bit restrained. That’s probably due to just losing her mother, but I have a feeling her leg also holds her back from being more outgoing.” Mia shrugged. “I may be way off base. I’m not a child expert.” She gave a harsh laugh. “Far from it, in fact.”
“Actually you’re right. Before the accident, Lily was bubbly, giggling all the time. You’re the first one I’ve heard make her laugh in ages.” His frown reappeared. “I should visit her more often. Maybe take her out so she doesn’t brood. I’ll have to do better.”
Caleb’s soft voice, his thoughtful words and the gentle goodbye kiss he’d brushed across Lily’s cheek all revealed his soft spot for her. Mia found it indescribably attractive that this hard-nosed lawyer became putty in Lily’s tiny hands.
“Thank you for taking me to meet her. She’s a darling child. It’s Harlan’s loss that he didn’t really know her.” It was the first time she’d ever said anything negative about her husband, but after meeting Lily, Mia was annoyed that he’d apparently ignored the sweet little girl, his own daughter.
“You and she seemed to bond.” Caleb’s mild tone made her check his face. Nothing unusual there, but the way he’d said it, almost smugly...
“Who wouldn’t bond with Lily?” Mia was immediately sorry she’d said that because they both knew Harlan hadn’t bonded with her. “I wish you the best in finding her a new family to love her,” she added, hoping to dissuade him from considering her as a candidate for Lily’s mother.
“Thanks.” Caleb fell silent.
Mia bit her lip. If Caleb knew about her past, the mistake she’d made that had cost a child his life—she refocused, saw his face alter into that blank-mask look he favored.
“So what’s next for you, Mia?” he asked.
“That’s the second time you’ve asked me that question.” Wondering at the reason for his query, Mia searched his face for a clue. “Why?”
“Just wondering if you’d come and visit her again,” he said.
Visiting Lily alone was the last thing she could do.
“I have no way to get out here. I don’t drive, remember?” The joke fell flat when Caleb suddenly slowed and turned right. “Wh-where are we going?”
“To do some driver training.” He flashed a grin before pulling onto a seldom-used gravel road. “Ready?”
“I can’t—” Mia gulped, then swallowed her words when he jumped out of the car. When he opened her door, she reminded him, “I don’t have a permit.”
“We’ll rectify that later. This is my land, so right now you’re perfectly legal to drive on it since I’m with you. Trust me. I’m a lawyer.” He gave her a cheeky grin. “If you get into trouble, I’ll bail you out, or sweet-talk the cops.”
Trust wasn’t something Mia was ready to give, but what choice did she have?
“You may regret this,” she advised. When it became clear he wasn’t backing down, she sighed her resignation, walked around the car and climbed in on the driver’s side. “Fasten your seat belt,” she ordered as if she knew what she was doing.
Caleb obeyed with a deep-throated chuckle. “Yes, ma’am.”
“Now what?” She prayed she didn’t ruin his vehicle. It looked expensive. She flicked the key as told and flinched when the motor ground too long.
“Twist, then let go,” Caleb directed calmly. Mia repeated the action with better results. “Good. Now you need to start moving. Right pedal is the gas.” He waited for her nod. “Left is the brake. Keep your foot on that while you put the car into gear and then gently press on the gas pedal.”
Mia followed his words and gave a little squeal when the car started rolling forward. She froze, her fingers clinging to the wheel as the car headed for the ditch.
“You do have to steer,” Caleb said in a mild tone as he turned the wheel so the car returned to the middle of the road. “Don’t worry about oncoming traffic. I’m the only one who lives on this road. I moved out here after Lara died.”
It took all Mia’s concentration to keep the car centered. She knew he was impatient for her to speed up, but she was terrified to do so.
“You can move a little faster,” Caleb hinted after she’d driven at a snail’s crawl for five minutes.
“I’ll try.” She pressed the gas, but the wheels felt squishy, so she slowed down until she was comfortable. Well, as comfortable as she could be driving his car. “I like this speed. I don’t feel as if I’m losing control,” she said when he hissed in a breath of frustration.
“Maybe it’s the gravel,” he suggested. “I doubt you’ve driven on that before.”
“I’ve never driven on anything before,” she reminded him with an impish smile. “Oh, there’s your house.” She studied the sprawling ranch home. “It’s nice.”
“Eyes on the road,” he reminded her.
“Oh, dear.” Mia jerked the wheel to center the car once more then realized the road turned in a circle. Steering around it wasn’t as easy as it looked. When she found herself heading for a massive pine tree, she pressed her foot against the brake pedal with all her strength.
Caleb gave an “oof” as he slammed back against the seat. Mia risked a look at him, disgusted to find he was laughing.
“It’s not funny,” she said, irritated that he’d put her in this situation.
“Yes, it is.” His silver eyes glittered with amusement. “You drive like a scared girl.”
“I am a scared girl,” she growled, but he only laughed harder. “I think it’s time for you to take over.” She lifted her hand to unclasp her seat belt, but Caleb laid his over it. “What?”
“You’re still in gear, Mia.”
Too aware of his warm hand on hers, she shifted the lever into Park then glanced at him. “Okay?”
“Uh-uh. One thing you’ll learn early on is that when you get in a driving pickle, you have to get yourself out.” His gentle voice soothed her skittery nerves. “Don’t expect to do everything right at first. You haven’t done this before. It’s natural to make mistakes.” He drew his hand away. “I’m sorry I laughed at you.”
“No, you’re not,” Mia contradicted, frowning as the corners of his lips tipped up.
“No, I’m not,” he agreed. A chuckle burst from him. “You’re a good sport, Mia.”
“Thank you. I think.” Her breath caught as she met his gaze. Why did Caleb Grant have to be so good-looking?
“Now try again,” he ordered.
She sighed, shifted back into Drive and turned the wheel, slowly easing down the road.
“Very good,” he praised. The words sounded like music to her ears.
“I’m sure most women have their driver’s license long before they’re my age,” she said, suddenly awkward in his presence. “I must seem like a dinosaur to you.”
“Pretty young dinosaur. Actually, I think you have a lot of guts.” The quiet compliment drew her glance his way. Caleb smiled. “Not everyone would meet her husband’s daughter and then take on learning to drive after what you’ve been through today. I don’t think Harlan had a clue about what a strong woman you are. You have a lot of courage, Mia.”
“Courage?” She shook her head. “I don’t know about that. I’m just trying to face everything as best I can.” The thought of Harlan driving out here with Reba made her insides shrink into a tight hard ball. She sniffed to stop the tears that lay just below the surface.
“He isn’t worth your sympathy, Mia.” Caleb’s hard tone surprised her. She glanced his way, saw the ice in his eyes. “He married you to get your money. He defrauded you. He lied and he cheated on you. Forget him.”
“Harlan was part of my life for six years,” she murmured, peering through the windshield. “I can’t just wipe out our past, but I wish I could understand why he did it. It hurts that he’d go to those lengths to keep me in the dark. It hurts a lot.”
Caleb said nothing, but his mouth clamped shut in a hard line. Mia drove carefully to the end of the road where they’d started, shifted the car into Park and switched off the engine.
“Thus ends your first driving lesson,” he said. “Good job.”
“Thanks.” She smiled, reveling in the achievement, small though it was. “I believe I will see about getting my license,” she said after a moment’s thought. “The freedom of going where I want when I want will be worth swallowing my fear. I hope.”
“I’ll ask you about that fear once you’ve been driving awhile.” Caleb’s laughter rang out once more when she made a face at him. How she enjoyed hearing that burst of merriment.
Mia got out of his car and walked to the other side, glancing around as she did. She waited until they were both inside the car and he’d driven back onto the highway before speaking.
“Your ranch looks charming against those sloping hills. Why do you want to sell it?” His quick look her way made her wonder if he’d answer. Several moments passed before he spoke.
“I told you, I’m not a rancher. I love horses, but this place was Lara’s dream and I can’t make that dream work.” He sounded regretful.
“And you can’t make her dream yours?” she asked in a soft voice.
“No. I’m a lawyer, not a veterinarian.” He exhaled heavily. “Whenever I’m there I see Lara, hear her talking about the future, about what she wanted to do. It feels as if any change I make would be like killing her dream. I can’t do that, either.” He stared through the windshield. His next words were reflective. “I guess I’ve finally realized that what was her dream isn’t what I want in my future. I have to move on.”
“Sometimes that’s a hard thing to accept.” Mia looked at her hands as she remembered the many times she’d tried to learn what drove Harlan so she could become part of his life. And failed.
They rode for a while until Caleb broke the silence.
“You have an amazing talent for drawing. Did your mother approve?”
“She never said.” Mia smiled in reminiscence. “But whenever she found me sketching she’d say something like, ‘It’s good you can amuse yourself.’ I don’t know what she’d think of my quilt designs now. The law was what she lived for.”
“Was she a godly woman?” Caleb asked as he turned up her street.
“She had faith, though she wasn’t showy about it. She used to take me to church when I was little. Sunday morning at church was one thing we did together.” Mia pushed away the sad thought that now she had nobody in her life. “I think she felt brain cancer was the worst trick God could play on her. She couldn’t stand the idea that she would lose her faculties.”
“I can understand that,” Caleb said.
“She took too much morphine and died in her sleep.” Mia paused, then whispered, “I always wondered if she did that intentionally to avoid losing control.” She felt Caleb’s start of surprise before he braked in front of her house.
“I’m sure it wasn’t deliberate. Pia was too strong to take the easy way out.” His words sounded soothing, gentle.
“The doctors said the same, but sometimes I still wonder.” Mia liked the way Caleb looked directly at her. So many people never made eye contact. “My mother consulted with a minister before she died. Later he told me she had a lot of questions for God.”
“I hear that.” There was a tightness in Caleb’s voice that intrigued Mia. “I have a lot of questions for Him myself.”
“You?” She hadn’t considered this competent man would question anything.
“Sure. As a kid I wondered why He’d placed me in the home He had, why my mother died as she did, why my father never went to prison.” He made a face. “I’m still asking that last one today. It drives me nuts to see him walking free around Buffalo Gap.”
Mia’s sympathy welled for the young Caleb who’d lost his beloved mother. “He’s contacted you?”
“He’s tried, but I don’t want anything to do with Joel Crane. Ever.” As if to end the discussion Caleb got out of the car and walked around to open her door. “It’s been a pleasure meeting you, Mia Granger,” he said as they walked to her front door.
“You, also, Caleb Grant.” So he’d divested himself of the name Crane. Interesting. “It seems as if I’ve known you more than a single day.” She pulled out her key and unlocked the door. “Thank you for everything you’ve done. I don’t know where I’d have been if you hadn’t come along.”
“Will you be all right now?”
How could she have thought his eyes hard? They glowed now like warm molten silver, chasing away the late afternoon’s chill.
“I’m always all right.” Mia forced a smile she didn’t feel. “I have to be. I’m the only one I have.”
“You can call me if you need me.” Caleb handed her a business card. “In fact, let’s keep in touch.”
“I’d like that,” she said, and meant it. “Thank you for everything you’ve done.”
“Make sure you get in touch with a driving school,” he said. The wink he shot her way made her blush. “You’ve started now. There’s no going back.”
Mia’s shyness returned full force. She wanted to escape, to be alone while she pondered everything about this unusual day, but especially about this kind, determined, gentle man. She enjoyed his presence in her world very much—because he made her think about the future and not the past?
“No, there is no going back,” she repeated. “Goodbye, Caleb.”
He nodded. “See you.”
As Mia watched him walk down her garden path, she wondered if she’d ever see Caleb again. He’d been so nice to her, saving her from Trent, helping her find Bella, buying her lunch, taking her to see Riverbend Ranch and to meet Lily. It made her realize how lonely she was.
It also made her realize how hungry she was for the companionship he offered. If only her mother had chosen someone like Caleb instead of Harlan... But no, she couldn’t think that way. God had a reason for directing things as He had. Still, the only thing her marriage had left her with was a firm determination never to trust anyone again.
Not that she had to worry, Mia decided as she went inside. Caleb was just being nice to her because he wanted money for Lily. He’d been very clear about that.
Why did that make her sad?
“Forgiveness isn’t something we get to choose, nor can we ignore it simply because forgiving is hard or because it seems too onerous,” Pastor Don said in his Sunday-morning message. “God commands us to forgive.”
Caleb shifted uncomfortably. He felt as if the minister had seen him glimpse over one shoulder, observed his angry jerk of surprise at the sight of Joel in the back row, head bowed, pretending piousness. Why was he here? What did he want?
Didn’t matter, Caleb decided. Nothing was going to change. If not forgiving was wrong, then he’d just have to deal with God’s punishment because there was no way Caleb could stop blaming his father for his mother’s death.
When the service was over, Caleb left as quickly as he could, preferring to skip the fellowship potluck dinner so he wouldn’t encounter his father. He went home, scrounged together a sandwich for lunch and considered a ride into the hills. But he’d sold Lara’s horses. When he couldn’t seem to settle on any specific task, he climbed into his vehicle and went for a drive, surprised to realize he was heading toward Calgary.
To see my sister, he mused. His brain scoffed. To see Mia.
The image of her lovely face framed by that mass of golden-red curls filled his mind. What was it about her he found so attractive? Her jaunty spirit that refused to be quelled even though she’d been betrayed in the worst possible way? Her tender kindness toward Lily? Her faith in God? All of those, he decided. And more.
At first Caleb had thought Mia too passive, but he’d begun to understand that her hesitation wasn’t always due to fear, but more often because she simply didn’t know the next step. Yet even with that excuse, he’d been unable to shake the look on her face or her words about being alone with Lily. She’d been afraid, truly afraid, and he couldn’t stop wondering why. Had her marriage not been platonic, as he’d assumed? Had she lost a child?
Some inner imp compelled him to turn down Mia’s street. Caleb only intended to drive past her house, but before he arrived there he spotted her walking briskly toward him. What else could he do but pull up beside her and roll down his window?
“Want a ride?”
“Hello, Caleb.” A smile stretched across Mia’s pretty face as the wind caught her glorious hair and tossed it back. “What are you doing here?”
“Out for a Sunday drive. Get in.” The genuine pleasure glinting in her green eyes sent a surge of warmth through him that chased away his anger at his father. He waited till she was belted in, then drove the short distance to her home. “How are you, Mia?”
“Doing well. I had a good talk with my pastor and with Bella, which helped clarify some of the issues I’ve been struggling with.” She turned to study him. “And you?”
“Feeling guilty.” Seeing her puzzled look, he smiled. “Today’s sermon was about forgiveness. My father was there.”
“Ah.” He liked the way she said nothing more. She waited till he’d parked, then asked, “Are you coming inside?”
“I won’t be in the way?” Caleb asked, only then realizing she might have something planned for her day.
“Of course not.” She made a face. “I was going to offer you tea, but after the last time—say, why didn’t you get sick?”
“I never drank it. Can’t stand the stuff.” He made a goofy face.
“But your cup was empty.”
“I emptied it.” He smiled when Mia shot him a quizzical look. “Have you noticed your plants by the table suffering any ill effects?”
“One of them has wilted. I wondered why.” Mia’s merry chuckle echoed in the crisp autumn air as she preceded him up the walk. She opened the door and waited for him to enter. “By the way, I received your letter requesting a meeting about Lily. Bella said it was in with a bunch of stuff Trent had.”
“Oh.” So she hadn’t ignored him, Caleb mused. Mia hadn’t even seen his letter when he first visited.
“Bella says you want money from Harlan’s estate for Lily.” She looked directly at him. “But I already knew that.”
“I think Lily, as Harlan’s daughter, is owed something.” Relief that it was out in the open surged through Caleb.
“I do, too, but Bella says I’m not supposed to tell you that. Not yet anyway.” She hung up her jacket and his, then led the way to the kitchen. “Have you had lunch?”
“Sort of.” He grinned. “Peanut butter and dill pickle sandwich. It’s all I had in the fridge.”
“Is that good?” Mia asked curiously. When he nodded she said, “I’ll have to try it sometime, but for lunch today I’m longing for pizza. Will you share it with me?”
“Sounds great.” He sat down at the kitchen table and blinked in surprise when Mia set a knife and a cutting board in front of him. “What’s this?”
“You didn’t think you’d eat free, did you?” she teased. “You can cut up the pineapple and vegetables.”
“You’re going to make a pizza,” he said, finally tweaking to her plan. “Homemade pizza?”
“I won’t poison you,” she promised, and giggled at his eye rolling. “I promise.”
They worked together companionably, her mixing and rolling out her dough, him cutting up whatever she handed him. The tiny, dingy kitchen felt comfortable to Caleb in a way that his own high-priced stainless-steel one did not, but he was fairly certain that was because of Mia and not the appliances. She hummed softly as she worked.
“That’s a tune from The Nutcracker,” he said, recognizing the notes. “I heard it often when I was growing up because my sister was usually the Sugar Plum Fairy in her ballet class.”
“It’s always been my favorite ballet.” Mia took a quick look at him, then went back to kneading. “It’s so full of hope and a child’s joy. I go to see that ballet every New Year’s Eve. It’s my way of celebrating a new beginning.”
Mia went to the ballet by herself on New Year’s, a time when most couples made it a point to be together, to start the year with a kiss. Caleb’s heart winced at the loneliness she must have endured. But beneath that curiosity grew. What would it be like to kiss Mia?
“I’ve never been to a real ballet,” he said to chase away his wayward thoughts.
“You should go.” Mia smoothed tomato sauce over her crust, then added all the bits he’d chopped topped by cheese. She slid it into the oven and washed her hands. She seemed nervous. Caleb wondered why until she said, “Can I ask you something?”
“Sure.” He waited.
“Why is it so important for you to get money for Lily?” The words rushed out, as if she’d been thinking of them for a while. “I mean, what is she to you?
“I’ve known Lily, through Lara, for a long time. Besides being her guardian, I’m like her uncle. And she’s a child in need. I’d do the same for any of the kids that come through Family Ties,” he said. “But you’re right. There’s something about Lily that compels me to go the extra mile to be certain she’s provided for. Maybe it’s because she’s so alone. She has no home, no family and no support.”
“But surely a child her age doesn’t need much money.” A frown marred Mia’s beauty. “She needs love and care, a family, a home. Not a lot of money. At least not yet.”
“It’s about more than the money.” Caleb didn’t want to hurt her but he had to tell the truth, so he set his jaw and laid out the hard, cold facts. “It’s Harlan’s money I want, because he never acknowledged Lily as his daughter, never saw her as far as I know and never interacted with her.”
“You mean he cheated her of a father, so you want him to pay,” Mia said thoughtfully.
“Yes.” Caleb reined in his temper. “I’m guessing he didn’t provide for her in his will?” He waited a moment before adding, “Or for Reba, either.”
“There’s no mention of them,” Mia confirmed quietly.
A second look at her face made Caleb take a wild shot. “Or you?”
“No. The will is dated long before we were married. There are no benefactors named. Bella said some things will come to me automatically. Everything else will be dispersed from the estate to me because I was married to him.” She said it self-consciously, as if she was embarrassed to get what Harlan had owned.
“Your husband’s lack of provision for you, his wife, and for his own daughter really annoys me.” Caleb accepted the plate she handed him. “But I’m also concerned because I’ve just learned there’s a chance Lily could get specialized treatment for her leg. There will be costs attached.”
“Of course,” Mia murmured.
“Then later on she might want to go to college or start a business,” he continued. “I think she should have money for her future, money that her father should have provided.”
“That makes sense.” Mia looked at him for several long moments as if assessing his words. She only broke contact when the oven timer dinged. “I guess it’s ready.”
Caleb watched her set the browned pizza on a table mat. She cut it deftly, slid a lifter under the golden crust and served them each a piece. She brought a pitcher of lemonade to the table and two glasses, then took her seat. She bowed her head and offered a short prayer over the food. When she lifted her head her green eyes met his, wide and clear.
“Let’s eat,” she said with a smile.
So they did.
“I can’t get over how good this tastes,” Caleb said for the third time. “You’re an amazing cook.”
“Thank you.” She smiled as she served him the last slice of the pie. “You’d better savor this because I only have a slice of dried-up chocolate cake for dessert.”
“Oh, dessert is going to be on me.” Caleb left her to guess what that meant as he ate the last slice while Mia restored everything to pristine order. She caught his stare and blushed.
“Harlan hated a mess,” she murmured. “I guess I’ve gotten into the habit—” Her eyes widened when he reached out and tugged on the perfectly straight tea towels that hung from the oven bar, making their hems hang crookedly.
“I saw that in a movie once.” He grinned at her, delighted by the burst of musical laughter she couldn’t stifle. “Come on. I’m taking you to my favorite dessert place in this town.” He held out her jacket, waited for her to slip it on then led the way to his car. “I don’t know why, but I somehow thought you’d have a cat,” he mused as he drove downtown.
“I’d love a cat, but Harlan is—was allergic.” Her eyes grew round. “I guess I could have one now,” she said slowly.
“I guess you could.” He grinned as he drove, pleased that she was finally seeing possibilities in her future. “What about driving lessons?”
“I’ve had two already.” She grinned. “The first one was such a disaster that the instructor didn’t even show up the second time. They sent someone else. He was an excellent teacher. Patient. Kind of like you,” she said with a wink. “I’m to take a third lesson tomorrow.”
“Good for you.” A tug of pure satisfaction filled Caleb. Mia was finally breaking free. He pulled up in front of his favorite ice cream shop. “Your choice. My treat.”
“I haven’t had ice cream in years.” Mia licked her lips as she stood beside him and surveyed the many flavors listed in the window. “Harlan didn’t—” She gave a tiny shake of her head and then said, “There are too many choices.”
“Over fifty. Do not pick vanilla,” he ordered with a pretend glower.
It took a while, but finally Mia chose pistachio. Caleb picked his favorite double chocolate chunk. Cones in hand, they wandered across the road to a small park to enjoy their treat. Mia pointed out the different species of trees and told him which would lose their leaves first.
“You know a lot about trees,” Caleb said, secretly impressed by her knowledge. “You could put that to good use at Riverbend Ranch. The back garden needs some care,” he hinted, delighted when a rush of excitement lit up her face.
“I love that house. There’s lots of space to grow fresh vegetables.” Her face took on a faraway look. “Maybe I could add a fruit tree or two.”
“Sounds as if you’ve already moved in,” he said.
“I wish I could.” She nodded at his surprised look. “I’m serious. I’d love to have that home, though it would mean giving up my church and the convenience of the city.”
“There’s a very good church in Buffalo Gap,” he said, secretly pleased she was talking about a move closer to Lily. “And we have grocery and hardware stores. But if you need something in the city, Calgary’s only half an hour away.”
“I’m aware of that.” Her eyes strayed from him. Her face became pensive.
“What’s holding you back?” he asked.
“Bella hasn’t got everything straightened out yet,” she said. “But if I did move to Riverbend, the one thing I can’t escape is that it’s a ranch. I have no idea what to do with a ranch, Caleb, no clue how to manage it or what needs to be done.”
“So you hire someone to do the handiwork.” He saw Mia wasn’t convinced. “My mom said that most of the acres that go with the ranch have been rented to the neighbor for pasture for his horses. You could continue to do that.”
“I didn’t know that.” Her face regained its excitement, sending his pulse thudding in response. “So I could live there with a little help for the odd jobs?”
“If you wanted.” Caleb swallowed, deeply moved by the look of joy that filled her face. “It’s simply a matter of making the decision and doing it.”
“You have that philosophy about a lot of things, don’t you?” Mia nodded, then licked her cone. “I guess I hesitate too much. I should adopt your approach and stop wavering.”
Caleb finished his cone, torn between wanting to know her decision and feeling hesitant to press for an answer. Finally he could wait no longer.
“So leasing the extra land would make it possible for you to move to Riverbend Ranch?”
“Maybe.” Mia’s voice sounded stronger than he’d ever heard it. In fact, there was a new hint of self-confidence underlying her words that he found very attractive. “I’ll have to talk to Bella, but one of these days Buffalo Gap might have a new resident in the community.” She grinned at him. “You might have a new neighbor.”
“Good,” Caleb responded while his heart somersaulted at the prospect of having Mia nearby. Because of Lily, he told himself as they strolled through the park. He was glad because Mia would be nearer to Lily.
Naturally it was nice that Mia would also be close enough to drop in on occasionally. Just in case she needed him for something. But a friend was all Caleb would be to Mia. As Lara had pointed out, he didn’t know how to love.