Lisa Kleypas: Give Me Tonight

"I've had a sudden inspiration," he said, breaking the solemn mood. "Let's go have lunch somewhere. And ice cream for dessert. "

"Strawberry," Addie said immediately.

"Vanilla," Cade said at the same time, and they wasted no time in leaving the depot.

When they returned to the ranch it was late afternoon, and Addie flew into the kitchen to start dinner. She was elbow-deep in flour when Cade came whooping into the house to find her.

"Adeline! Adeline! Guess who I've been talkin' to. Guess who came back!"

"Who?"

"Diaz! He's out on the front porch right now, settin' there like always, gettin' ready to tell a few tall ones."

Distractedly she picked up a rag and wiped her hands on it. "Have you done your homework for tomorrow?"

"You're sonndin' like Ma already," Cade said, immediately disgusted.

"Well, have you?"

He grinned crookedly. "Okay, okay, I'm gettin' to it."

As he disappeared upstairs, Addie walked out to the front porch. Just as Cade had said, Diaz was out there, half-reclining on the steps in his usual position.

"Mr. Diaz;" she said, and as he started to move, she gestured for him to stay still. "No, please don't get up. I was thinking of joining you." He made a show of dusting off a step with his bandanna, and she sat down. "It's nice to see you here again, Mr. Diaz."

"I'm an old drifter, ma'am. No use fightin' against it."

"How long are you planning to stay?"

When he didn't reply, she smiled, realizing he never knew how long he would stay somewhere or when he would leave. Folding her hands in her lap, she looked out at the sky, which was streaked with pink and gold. "Nice sunset," she remarked, and he nodded. They were companionably silent for a few minutes, watching the sun dip closer to the horizon.

Diaz was the first to speak. "Damn shame about Mr. Warner."

Addie sighed and stared at the ground. "It's hard to forgive myself. I feel… responsible."

"How's that?"

"Remember that discussion we had once, about someone having a second chance? About miracles and being able to… go back and change things?"

Diaz nodded slowly.

"I had a second chance," she said, watching cautiously for his reaction. He didn't seem surprised or shocked. "You know, don't you? I don't know how or why, but you understand what happened to me the day I disappeared and came back. "

"Yes, ma'am."

Was he a crazy old man for believing her? She wasn't sure. No one in his right mind should accept that she'd been transferred to the future and back. Certainly it was a secret she would always have to keep from Ben, who would think she'd gone out of her mind if she tried to tell him. But she knew Diaz understood, whether it was because of his age, his superstitious nature, innate wisdom or maybe even senility.

"I'm responsible for not having saved Russell," she said, unburdening herself further. "I knew about it beforehand. I should have been able to stop it."

"Maybe you weren't supposed to," Diaz said matter-of-factly. "Maybe you were just supposed to save yourself." He looked out to the open range and gestured to a ride in the distance. They could tell by the way he sat the horse that it was Ben. "Or him. Who's to say?"

Addie frowned thoughtfully. "It's something to think about." It was possible Diaz was right. She had changed Ben's destiny as well as her own. Her second chance had given them both a future. Maybe Russell's death had been inevitable, and his second chance would come in another time and place. Who was to say?

All at once she felt light, as if a burden had been lifted from her shoulders. Perhaps she should try to let go of the old Adeline Warner. She couldn't change what she'd been, but she could make the most of what she had now. Shading her eyes, she watched Ben's approaching figure, her heart beating faster. Nothing was as important as his love. Together they had made a new beginning, and life promised to be good for them. Heedless of the old man watching, she stood up and ran to meet Ben.

He reined in the horse and dismounted, catching Addie around the waist and lifting her a few inches off the ground. Warm green eyes traveled over her face. "What's got you in such a hurry?" he asked, and kissed her before she could answer.

Addie laughed breathlessly as soon as her toes touched the ground. She looped her arms around his neck. "Dinner's going to be late. I hope you're not hungry. "

"Of course I am," Ben said, lowering his head to kiss her again. "But only for you, darlin'."