Patricia Thayer - Mistletoe & Marriage - Snowbound Cowboy

“That’s a lot for three people to handle.”

“It didn’t start out that way. When we were little, our parents moved here to work in the cattle business. Mom died shortly after I was born, and we were barely settled here when Dad was thrown from his horse. He was in a coma for a while, then he eventually died.

“Grandma Ruby and Granddad Jesse stepped in and raised us. Then about six years ago, Granddad died. Gram said we had no choice but to go on.”

Amelia drew a breath and released it, but he could still see her pain as she looked at him. “What about you, Boone Gifford? You said you were buying a place in Texas. Where?”

He drank the rest of his coffee. “Outside of Odessa, Texas. It had been my family’s place, but when my parents passed away, I couldn’t make a go of it on my own. Now I have a little more capital to carry me through the rough times. I’m hoping to buy the ranch back from the bank.”

“There sure are enough foreclosures around here,” Amelia added. “Is there anyone else back there to help you?”

He shook his head. There had been someone once, until he lost everything, but he didn’t want to talk about the past. “It’s just me.” He suddenly realized how sad that sounded.

BOONE STARED OUT the kitchen window as night began to fall on his second day trapped with Amelia Hughes. Again flurries started blowing against the window, letting them know that another storm was brewing. He’d hoped that if the weather held tonight, he could take off tomorrow. Only, that meant he’d be leaving Amelia and Jesse to fend for themselves.

He couldn’t do it.

That was the excuse he’d given himself all day to keep from mentioning Russ’s name and handing over his friend’s personal things. Worse, it would mean spoiling a little boy’s Christmas.

Instead he’d kept the fireplaces going, fed the stock just as if he were the hired hand. He also occupied Jesse to keep him from being bored. It wasn’t hard. He liked spending time with the boy, even with his endless questions that every kid asked.

He’d also been plagued by a different kind of guilt. If Russ hadn’t hung back to save him, he might be here himself to meet his son.

Boone couldn’t think about that now. He had to fulfill his promise. Somehow before he left the Rocking H Ranch, he had to find a way to tell Amelia the truth about his connection to Jesse’s father.

He glanced at Amelia. Earlier he’d made it out to the barn to check on the animals. The temperature had risen some during the day, but after hearing the forecast on the radio, he had no doubt they were in for more snow. So that meant he had to stay put for now.

He got up from the kitchen table while Jesse set up another game for them and went into the living room to find the beautiful brunette pacing. Tall and graceful, Amelia reminded him of a Thoroughbred with her fine bones and delicate features.

Were the men around here blind? Even after only a few days together, she was going to be hard to leave.

“Amelia,” he called to her.

She turned around. “What?”

“Worrying isn’t going to help.”

She seemed to relax a little and offered him a hint of a smile. “I know.” She sighed. “I guess I’m the one with cabin fever now.”

“It’s understandable.”

“We haven’t had a bad storm like this for a few years. I guess we’re overdue.” She looked out the window at the fading light. “I normally love this time of year. It’s beautiful here with the mountains covered in snow.” She raised her startling green eyes to his. “I guess I miss Kelley and my grandmother, too. What if something has happened to Gram, and Kel can’t reach me?”

He shook his head. “You can’t think that way. From what you’ve said about her, she’s a strong woman.”

A smile appeared on her pretty face. “Yeah, she is. We had to fight to even get her to go to the hospital. And the doctor said she was healthy enough to handle this procedure.”

“See. She’s strong like I said.”

“You have to be when you run a ranch.”

Amelia enjoyed talking with Boone. She didn’t get much male companionship, and she never realized how much she missed it. And she had to admit, it was nice to lean on someone for a change. Just so she remembered that he was doing a job, and he’d be leaving for Texas soon. If she were looking for something serious, Boone wasn’t the man. He wasn’t even from around here. And Montana was her home.

Besides, she wasn’t sure she could trust a man again. That foolish girl who’d been willing to run off with the first guy who’d given her attention no longer existed. She was a mother now and had to think about her child. No matter how attached Jesse was getting to Boone, she had to make him understand that the ranch hand wasn’t staying around.

His voice broke into her thoughts. “It’s nice you have your family.”

She nodded. “They’ve both been there for me and my son.”

“From what I gather from Jesse, his dad hasn’t been in his life.”

Amelia never explained her life to strangers. She’d never needed to before. “It’s no secret that I never married Jesse’s father. When Russ found out I was pregnant, he took off. Never heard from him again.”

“You must have been pretty young.”

She glanced away. “And naive. It’s funny how easy it is to let love cloud your judgment. Yet, at nineteen, I’m not sure we even know what it is.”

“Love can do that to you.”

Something in his low tone of voice caused her to turn around. “Sounds like you have your own experiences.”

He shrugged. “Past history. I found out in time.”

Amelia could see a flash of hurt. She wanted to reach out to him, but she held back. “Were you married?”

His dark eyes met hers. “No, but we planned to, before I lost the ranch.”

“She left you?”

His jaw tightened. “I don’t blame her. I didn’t have anything to offer her.”

“Don’t say that. You had love. She should have stood by you. Together you could have worked to get it back. That’s what love is, working for a future.” She crossed her arms. “Well, you’re lucky to be rid of her.”

An easy smile crossed his face. “You are fierce when riled. Remind me never to cross you.”

“I’m sorry. It just seems that so many people just walk away when things get too rough. A commitment means sticking it out through the hard times as well as the good times.” She blinked at the sudden tears welling in her eyes. “You had to be devastated, losing your home, then someone you love. I’m sorry.” She moved away, swiping at the rush of tears. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”

He touched her arm. “No, Amelia. Please, you have no reason to be sorry.” He came closer. “Besides, it was a long time ago. I don’t think about Kendra anymore.”

“Good. She doesn’t deserve your time.”

“God, Amelia. I wish…”

His dark gaze held hers, and Amelia knew it could be trouble. She wanted to blame what she was feeling on the storm and their being thrown together.

“If only I had met someone like you,” Boone began.

“Yeah, right. A single mother with a child. Not that I’ve been pining after Russ after all these years. I haven’t. It took a while, but I realized I don’t need a man to make me complete. Of course, that doesn’t mean men are exactly beating down my door.”

“Then, they aren’t worth your time. And they sure don’t deserve you. If things were different—”

Amelia held up a hand. She didn’t need to hear his reasons why he couldn’t be that man. “It’s okay, Boone.”

She started to move away, but he stopped her. “I was about to say there are things you don’t know about me. And there’s also the fact that you live in Montana and I live in Texas.”