“I certainly did.”
“But why?”
“Because I thought I was too strong and set in my ways for marriage, especially when I was about to turn sixty. That was my cover story, anyway. Underneath that belief I was scared to death.”
She hugged her stack of books and tried to stop shaking. “Of what?”
“Taking down the walls. Letting him in.”
“B-but you must have. You married him.”
“I did.”
“They weren’t all down,” Andy said. “I had to climb through a window.”
That made Cole laugh. “You’re my kind of guy, Andy. If you make friends with Luis, I’d like to tag along.”
“Glad to have you, whoever you are.”
“Cole Sterling, Jordan’s brother.”
“Pleased to meet you, Cole Sterling. I’d welcome you to town but it’s not my town. Hey, is anybody interested in having Dez sign a book? I think she might have four more autographs left in her.”
Jordan took a breath. “I am.” She stepped forward and laid down The Wayward Rider. “Like I said when we met at the Raccoon, I’ve been reading you forever. I have every book you’ve ever written.”
“Even the Ranch Puppy series?”
“Those, too. I’m saving them for my—” She caught herself. She’d never spoken that out loud and didn’t want to now, of all times. “For my brother’s kids, if he ever gets around to having them.”
“I’ll be putting out more, maybe even throw in a Ranch Kitty story. My grandkids made me promise.” She finished writing, closed the book and slid it across the table. Then she leaned closer. “Try not to be scared,” she murmured. “It wastes time and time is precious.”
Jordan soaked up the kindness in Desiree’s voice. “Yes, ma’am.” Taking the book, she turned around. And there was Luis, his brown eyes filled with tenderness and love.
Taking a breath, she walked away from the table and into a corner set up as a reading nook with a chair and lamp. She opened the book. What deep words of wisdom would she find?
Good grief. Desiree had written a fudging essay.
To Jordan—I promise you’re safe with this Bridger Bunch. As for Luis… you can always tell a man’s character by how he treats his horse. I didn’t have that yardstick for Andy. He didn’t have a horse. I had to take my chances and it’s worked out. You’re in luck, though. Luis is wonderful with horses, even wild ones. It’s a good sign. Wishing you happiness, Desiree, aka M.R. Morrison
Chapter Thirty-Three
Cole offered Rio a lift over to the Raccoon, leaving Luis and Jordan alone for the first time since they’d left the ranch. He should make use of the opportunity to say something significant, words that would open that window Andy had mentioned.
But his brain was like the traffic in Missoula at rush hour. What he needed was a long ride on Scout so he could sort through all the thoughts swirling in his head. That wouldn’t be happening today.
He made a guess that Jordan was in the same fix, maybe even thinking how nice a ride on Fudge would be right now. He had evidence. She was on her phone and a glance at her screen told him Monty had sent her some shots of Fudge in his stall.
“How’s he doing?”
“Good. Real good. Monty’s happy with his progress. He and Zay caught a ride back in your mom’s van, so he’ll be checking on Fudge in person soon.”
“I didn’t think about the fact that Mila and Claudie might need a ride over.” Showed how distracted he’d been.
“I texted them to ask about that. Your mom just dropped them off at the Raccoon. They’re getting us a table for six.”
“If I’d thought of it, we could have brought them over.”
“I think they wanted to give us a chance to be alone.”
