“Really? And what would they be?” Her dark eyes demanded an answer, but he didn’t intend to provide it. Instead, he cocked his head toward the door as if hearing a sound. “I need to check what’s out there.”
“Be careful of the moose.”
Was the warning sincere, or was she informing him she knew he wanted to escape this conversation?
Grabbing a jacket, he stepped out into the cold. Darkness as thick as his arm greeted him. He stood at the door with no reason or inclination to go any further. Words rattled around inside his head. Honor. Dream. Chet’s wishes.
Honor Chet’s dream. Her challenge outshouted every other word.
Ignoring the darkness and hoping he wouldn’t startle a moose, he strode toward the low barn. His horse whinnied and trotted over to greet him.
“Hi, Sam.” Jace scratched behind the black gelding’s ears.
He didn’t want the ranch. Or, to be more honest, he didn’t deserve it. However, if Dianne saw it was the home she needed for herself and Eddie, she would decide to live there, wouldn’t she? Perhaps she’d find a good foreman. That would solve both their needs. His mind made up, his problem solved, he retraced his footsteps and slipped into the cabin.
Dianne’s head tipped against the back of the chair, her eyes closed.
He shut the door quietly so he wouldn’t disturb her and stood facing the room, his arms crossed over his chest. When shedidn’t stir, he sank to the floor, rested his arms on his drawn-up knees, and closed his eyes, prepared to sleep for what was left of the night.
His mind should have been at peace with his decision, but even with his eyes closed, scenes flashed through his thoughts. The day Chet rescued him from the side of the trail and took him home. The kindness the man had shown him year after year through tumultuous times and peaceful times. Jace’s chest squeezed like gripped in a giant fist. A groan rose from deep inside, trapped by the tightness in his throat.
After all Chet had done for him, Jace had?—
He ground his teeth back and forth.
Seeing that Dianne and her son got the ranch had to be enough to make up for what happened.
Chapter Four
Dianne stood in the middle of a roomy farm kitchen. Birds flitted past the window. A gray cat rubbed at her legs, purring loudly. The sound grew in intensity. Dianne jerked and blinked. It had been a dream. Eddie rubbed her elbow, whispering, “Mama, wake up.”
“I’m awake.” She blinked several more times and yawned twice. “I’m awake.”
“I gotta go potty.”
“Very well.” With a grunt, she pulled herself from the chair. The fire had burned down, and the room held a chill that rattled her teeth. “Let’s go.”
“Mama, we can’t.” Eddie tugged at her hand.
“Why not?” A glimpse at the door answered her question. Jace sat on the wooden floor, his head against his drawn-up knees. Asleep? She hadn’t expected that. But then, she hadn’t expected to fall asleep either. Should she waken him? But what if?—
“Mama, I gots to go.”
Recognizing her son’s urgency, she cleared her throat loudly.
Jace startled. His head came up. His eyes remained unfocused for a heartbeat. Then he was on his feet. “I fell asleep.”
“I noticed.”
“Yeah.” He scrubbed his hand over his head until his hair looked windblown.
“You’ll have to excuse us.” With Eddie’s hand gripped in hers, she eased past the man and out into the cool dawn. Not until they reached the outhouse and Eddie went in did she pause to look around. And to realize she hadn’t given the visiting moose a thought. But no breaking branches or loud snorts signaled his presence. Tension slipped from her shoulders, and she took in the pink dusting of sunrise topping the mountains. She tipped her face to breathe in the cool, pine-scented air.
I will enjoy living in the mountains.She need only persuade Jace.
Eddie emerged.
“Stay here.” She did her business. When she stepped out, Eddie was gone. “Not again.” She was sorely tempted to put a leash on the boy. A glance revealed him at the fence talking to the horse, and she hurried to him. “Eddie, you must obey me. I told you to wait.”
