She did, successfully getting a grip on his hand, then his arm, and he wound his fingers around her elbow and pulled, dragging them up the incline. Dani wrapped her arms around his neck as he tugged them back onto the trail. They collapsed into a heap, Dani sprawling across his chest and Maddie splaying over Dani’s back.
Their combined weight pressed Mac hard into the sludgy ground and his lungs strained to draw in air, but the sheer adoration on their faces as they stared down at him took all the pain away.
Mac wrapped his arms around them both then smiled up at Dani. “Get lost, did you? And here I thought it was men who were supposed to be bad with directions.”
Chapter Six
“Just a little farther.”
Mac tightened his hold on Maddie’s hand then squeezed Dani’s, leading them toward the cabin a few feet in front of them, barely visible through the heavy rain. Rather than letting up, the storm had grown fiercer after they’d peeled themselves off the muddy ground, checked Maddie for injuries then headed back toward the ranch. The rain had lashed at their faces and Maddie—though uninjured—was visibly exhausted. Deciding the cabin at Sweet Falls was closer, Mac had changed course to seek shelter and wait out the storm.
“We’ll be inside soon,” he continued. “Get you both cleaned up and comfortable.”
Lightning flashed and bright white flooded the secluded lot for an instant before thunder rolled across the surrounding mountains. Maddie whimpered and Mac drew her tighter to his side. They trudged up the front steps of the cabin then Mac put his shoulder to the door, forcing the swollen wood open with a squeaky jerk.
“It looks worse than it is.” He dropped the two backpacks he carried on the wood floor then pulled his cell phone from his soggy pocket and tossed it on the couch.
“Hmm, I’ve heard that somewhere before.” Smiling, Dani closed the door behind them, her teeth bright against her muddy cheeks.
His heart kicked his ribs. God help him. Even drenched and muddied up, she was beautiful. “I haven’t had a chance to stock it with supplies like I did yours but I cleaned it thoroughly and there’s running water.”
“Dad, my feet hurt.”
Mac glanced down at Maddie. She clutched his wet shirt between clenched fists and her teeth chattered. The air outside had cooled considerably during their walk to the cabin and the goose bumps on her arms proved the chill had gotten to her.
“Time to get out of those wet clothes and into the shower,” he said, lifting her into his arms and carrying her to the bathroom. “Dani, would you bring me those packs, please?”
He toed the lid of the toilet seat down then set Maddie on it and untied her shoes. Mud caked the laces, clinging to his fingers and plopping in clumps to the floor. He tugged them off and checked Maddie’s feet for injuries, finding none. They were probably just sore from walking so far. A bit of discomfort as a result of disobeying just might do Maddie’s stubbornness some good.
Dani placed the backpacks at his feet.
“Thanks.” Mac unzipped Jaxon’s pack, retrieved a dry T-shirt then frowned at Maddie. “You’re lucky your brother did as I asked and packed for his hike. Otherwise you’d have nothing dry to change into.”
Maddie looked down at her bare feet and curled her toes.
Mac shook his head. “I’ve told you a thousand times not to take off on those trails without me.”
She bit her lip and tucked her chin tighter to her chest.
“Do you have any idea how many people you worried? We had no idea where you were or if you were hurt. Tim and Cal were still out looking for you when I called to tell them I found you.”
“I’m sorry.” Her shoulders jerked on a smothered sob and she raised her head, tears in her eyes. Chin wobbling, she looked over his shoulder. “I’m really sorry, Ms. Dani. I didn’t mean to make anyone worry.”
“I know you didn’t,” Dani said softly.
Mac sighed. The gentle tone of Dani’s voice eased some of the tension from his body as it drifted over him. Maddie relaxed, too. Her shoulders lowered and she wiped away a tear that rolled down her cheek.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” Dani continued. “You don’t hurt anywhere else besides your feet?”
“No ma’am,” Maddie whispered, studying her toes again. “I’m okay.”
Mac glanced at Dani. “What about you? You didn’t twist an ankle climbing down that embankment, did you?”
“No, I’m good. Just a few cuts on my hands.” She gestured toward the sink. “I’d like to clean them and wash this mud off my face before Maddie jumps in the shower, if you don’t mind?”
“Of course,” he said. “Check my pack. There’s a first-aid kit in there with some antibiotic ointment. Wouldn’t hurt to use some of that.”
She thanked him, retrieved the ointment from the bag then turned on the faucet. He watched her reflection in the mirror above the sink, noticing her flinch and grimace when the water hit her hands.
“It wasn’t just you that could’ve been hurt, Maddie.” Mac squatted in front of her and nudged her chin up with a knuckle. “You put Ms. Dani in danger, too. She’s never hiked these trails before. Doesn’t know the land like we do. She could’ve broken a leg climbing down to get you. Could’ve—”
“Mac.” Dani paused in the act of patting her face dry. Her eyes drifted to Maddie, softening as they settled on his daughter. “We’re both fine. That’s what matters. And it’s my fault, too. I should have been more vigilant.”
He studied her face. There was no mistaking the intensity of concern in her expression and voice. It was the same demeanor she’d had when she’d spoken to him about Jaxon. Tender and caring. So much so that it lightened the heavy weight in his chest.
“I am sorry, Dad. And I really didn’t want to worry anyone.”
“Then why’d you do it?”
Maddie wrapped her small hands around his forearms. “I just wanted to show you that I could climb the mountain, too. That I could be as strong as Jaxon.”
“Jaxon is three years older than you,” Mac said. “And much bigger, too. It stands to reason that he might be physically stronger than you. You’re strong in your own way. And in three years, who knows? You might be stronger than he was at that age.”
“I know but he and Nadine are good at hiking and fishing. I tried to make it up the mountain but I couldn’t do it. And I can’t fish good because the worms scare me sometimes. I can’t do half the stuff they can. And I thought you might...”
Mac softened his voice. “Tell me, Maddie.”
She hesitated, then whispered, “That you might love Jaxon and Nadine more than me because...”
“Because they can do those things?” Mac prompted.
She nodded. “And I thought that if I showed you I could do it, you’d—”
Her voice broke. Fresh tears streamed down her cheeks then pooled in the corners of her mouth.
The warmth rising in Mac’s chest intensified to a strong burn, blurring his vision. How in the hell could he have been so blind to his children’s needs? He’d been so damned busy trying to hold on to the ranch that he’d made excuses to justify ignoring his children. First Jaxon, now Maddie.
And the thought of her feeling as though she didn’t measure up for him...
As though he wasn’t proud of her or didn’t love her...
He shook his head and cupped her face in his hands. “Maddie, don’t you know I love you just the way you are?” The surprise in her eyes sent a fresh wave of guilt through him. “That there’s nothing in this world you could ever do—or not do—that would make me love you any less?”
She remained silent for a moment, then sniffed. “Really?”
“Really.”
“But what if...” Her chest lifted on a big breath and she looked at Dani, cheeks flushing.
Dani slipped the ointment into
the backpack then backed toward the door. “I’ll wait outside,” she said softly, closing the door behind her.
Mac waited as Maddie took a few breaths and fiddled with the muddy buttons on her shirt. “What is it? You can talk to me about anything.”
“Ms. Dani’s good at those things, too. Not like me.” She frowned. “You said I’m a lot like Mama, right?”
“Yeah. Very much so.”
Maddie stared up at him. “You said she liked marshmallows and the stars. But she didn’t like to go hiking.”
Mac smiled. “She did on occasion but it wasn’t her favorite thing to do. And there was absolutely nothing wrong with that. I loved your mother just the way she was.”
“Will you always?” she pressed.
“Your mother will always be in my heart, Maddie.”
“And me, too?”
“Of course.”
“But what happens if you love someone else?” Her voice shook, the words rushed.
He held his breath. “Are you talking about Ms. Dani?”
Maddie nodded slowly. “Ms. Dani said she liked you. A lot. I asked her this morning and that’s what she told me. Do you like her, too?” She gripped his arms tighter. “Because me and Ms. Dani can’t both fit in your heart, can we?”
Mac sat back on his heels, an odd mixture of emotions engulfing him. Pleasure at the notion that Dani might think of him as much as he thought of her. And sadness that Maddie would ever need to weigh such heavy concerns in her young mind.
Lord, he wished he knew how to answer her. Which words to use. Nicole had always been the better parent. If she were here, she would know exactly the right thing to say.
Actually...she already had.
He smiled. “Do you know what your mama said right after you and your sister were born?”
Maddie shook her head.
“My arms runneth over.” He laughed. “The nurse had put you in one of her arms and Nadine in the other and she could barely hold on to the two of you because y’all were wiggling so much. And Jaxon,” he rubbed his palm over his wet jeans. “Jaxon was standing by the door. He was tiny then—three years old—and he looked like he felt out of place. Like maybe, since your mama had her arms full with you and Nadine, there wasn’t room for him anymore.”
He waited, watching as Maddie frowned, considering this.
“You know what your mama did?” Maddie’s green eyes widened up at him in question. “She told him to climb up on the bed, stretch out across her middle and put his head on her chest between the two of you. That his little sisters needed him and that spot would always be just for him.”
Maddie blinked, a small smile appearing.
“Hearts grow, Maddie. As big as we need them to. You, Nadine, Jaxon—and your mama—all have your own special place in my heart. No matter who I end up caring for, that will never change.”
Her smile widened, lighting her eyes and flushing her cheeks. She threw her arms around his neck and squeezed.
Mac held Maddie close and hugged her back, remembering how great it’d felt earlier being pressed into that mud by both Maddie and Dani. How comforting their weight had been over his chest and how perfectly they’d fit into his arms. How one smile from Dani had given him a glimpse of sunlight in the midst of all that rain.
And he no longer questioned if it was possible to find a place in his life—or heart—for Dani. Because he had a feeling she was already there.
* * *
“I’M SORRY FOR lying to you, Mac. Sorry for pretending to be someone else and trying to take your land. Sorry for not telling you the truth sooner. And sorry for...”
Dani froze, her whispered words sticking in her throat. Just say it. Say it.
“For losing both your horse and daughter in less than twenty-four hours.”
Oh, God. It sounded even more ridiculous spoken out loud than it had when she’d recited it in her head. She slumped over the bathroom sink, pressed her forehead to the steamed-up mirror and rolled it from side to side.
This was quite possibly the worst moment of her life.
No. Scratch that. The worst moment had been sliding down the side of a mountain with Maddie, unsure of whether or not she could actually maintain her hold on the little girl. That had been terrifying.
“Get it together, Dani.” She blew out a breath. “And stop talking to yourself.”
She straightened then dug around in Mac’s backpack. He’d left the bathroom with a freshly showered Maddie just a half hour earlier, offering Dani the use of the shower, too, and telling her she was welcome to wear the clean T-shirt and jeans in his bag while hers dried out, if she liked.
Soaked to the skin, Dani had eagerly accepted. The hot shower and her now mud-free hair made her feel tons better. On the outside, at least. If only she could feel as renewed on the inside.
She found the jeans and put them on, rolling the waistband over twice, then took out the T-shirt. Her hands stilled. Of course, there was another option. She could quit quietly, leave Mac and the children and drive back to New York. Let things at Elk Valley Ranch play out naturally. Mac had made it clear he wasn’t selling so there was no longer any reason for her to stay. Except for the way he made her feel...
Her throat tightened. Exciting and passionate. As though she was strong and whole. As though she fit, right here in Elk Valley. And the thought of going back to New York—
No. Leaving without telling Mac the truth wasn’t a viable option. It was a coward’s way out. The only way she could feel remotely good about herself again would be to come clean with Mac and beg for his forgiveness.
Then, she’d have to hope he could manage not to hate her.
Oh, please, please don’t hate me. Fingers shaking, she closed her eyes and tugged the shirt over her head. Mac was a fair man. One of many virtues he possessed that she admired.
The collar caught on her nose. He’d understand. He—
She stilled, breathing through the soft cotton. Oh, he smelled so good. Like man. Pine. Soap.
Her eyes lifted in tandem with another inhale and focused on her wet bra, dangling over the top of the shower stall. The image made her acutely aware of the fabric of Mac’s shirt as it slid over her bare skin and settled against her belly.
Good grief, she had to get out of here and get some fresh air. Dani snatched up a washcloth, the only dry towel left, then left the bathroom. The door to the bedroom where Mac had taken Maddie was still closed. She slipped quietly to the back of the cabin then outside onto the wooden deck.
The rain had stopped but a mist hovered on the cool air and the sound of rushing water echoed against the thick foliage nestled around the cabin. Squeezing her wet hair with the small towel, she rounded the corner to the other side of the cabin and looked down.
Clear water flowed freely over smooth stones down a wide creek, then cascaded into a waterfall. The swift current kicked up a soft breeze, which rustled the thick green leaves on bushes and caused thin, low-lying tree limbs to dance.
Her hand stilled against her hair. “Beautiful.”
“Sugar Falls.”
Startled, she glanced over her shoulder to find Mac standing on the deck. He’d discarded his wet shirt and the dark blond hair on his wide muscular chest arrowed down to his lean hips where his soggy jeans clung to the thick muscles of his thighs.
Her breath caught in her throat and she forced herself to refocus on his face.
His green eyes darkened as they traveled slowly from her head down to her toes. He smiled and the grooves on either side of his mouth deepened, accentuating his strong stubble-lined jaw. “That outfit damned sure looks better on you than it does me.”
Heat swirled in her belly and her limbs grew heavy.
“Here.” He walked over and took the washcloth from her hand, the blunt tips of his fingers smoothing across her knuckles. “Let
me.”
His big palms brushed the sides of her neck as he gathered her wet hair in his hands and began drying it gently with the towel. The chorus of crickets and frogs chirping almost in rhythm with the current and his slow caressing movements lulled her eyes closed.
She pried them back open and tried to focus on a large log floating downstream. “Where’s Maddie?”
“Asleep in the bedroom. Once she got still, she drifted off. I couldn’t bring myself to wake her.” He stepped closer, his hard chest grazing her back as he began kneading the hair at her nape. “Thought I’d let her take a nap before we head back. That okay with you?”
Her head dropped forward and her eyes slid shut again. “Mmm hmm.”
He chuckled, the low sound vibrating against her.
Face flaming, she tucked her chin tighter to her chest. “I’m so sorry about Maddie. I really thought she’d gone back inside and it wasn’t until Nadine and I went to the lodge that I realized she’d left. I should’ve been paying more attention to—”
“You have nothing to apologize for.” He leaned closer, his voice deep by her ear. “She and Nadine are known to slip off and they’ve gotten away from me more than once. She knew better. Besides, I should be the one thanking you for going after her.”
Dani glanced at the cuts on her hands and shuddered. “We were lucky you came along when you did.”
“Maybe,” he said softly. “But whether I came along or not, you would’ve made it back up that mountain okay. You’re too strong and determined not to.”
She smiled. “You think?”
“I know.” His hands paused in her hair. “You really care about Maddie, don’t you? And Nadine and Jaxon?”
“Yes.” Thinking of Jaxon’s headstrong attitude, Nadine’s rambunctious nature and Maddie’s tender heart made something flutter in her chest. “It’d be impossible not to. They’re amazing children.”
They grew silent, watching the water flow and listening to the sounds of the forest.
“My parents used to bring us here when we were kids.” Mac continued towel-drying her hair, pausing at her temples and massaging the delicate skin. “There’s a fishing hole up the creek a ways. Nate loved it. He used to catch a ton of trout.”
A Home with the Rancher Page 10
