Andy got out of the vehicle and headed around the side of the barn, snow melting over the leather of his cowboy boots. He stopped short when he saw a figure he recognized—Harley. Andy’s hackles immediately rose, remembering Harley’s past with cattle rustling. He’d expected Harley to return for his check, but he hadn’t expected to see him lurking by the barn door. He appeared to be looking inside rather intently, and he didn’t hear Andy as he approached.
Just before Andy spoke, he saw what had Harley’s attention. Elliot stood inside the barn, his cell phone to his ear. He was shuffling a boot against the cement floor and leaning against a stall.
“I know. I know...” Elliot was saying. “I was an idiot... I understand why you kicked me out, I do... Yeah, I know. Like I said, I’m sorry about that. I want to be there for our baby and you know what? If you want to get married, I’ll do that, too. Your brother said something about a wedding dress your grandmother wore and it got me to thinking...”
“Morning,” Andy said quietly, and Harley whirled around.
“Scared me,” Harley said with a quiet laugh. “Sorry, I was just—”
Andy raised an eyebrow and Harley shrugged. “He’s talking to my sister.”
Andy frowned. “He said that she kicked him out.” That was news to all of them. They’d been assuming that Elliot and Holly were still together. Had all that drama been for nothing? He had to admit, he liked the idea of this unknown Holly standing up for herself and giving Elliot the boot. If Elliot wasn’t going to be man enough to marry her, why should she put up with less?
Except it sounded like Elliot was changing his tune.
“Yeah.” Harley scowled down at his boots. “Apparently.”
Andy jutted his chin in the direction of the house. “Come with me back to the house. Leave Elliot alone. You don’t want to make any more trouble for yourself.”
Harley followed Andy away from the door and they headed down the worn path past the chicken coop and toward the house. A frigid wind whipped around the barn and slammed into them as they ducked their heads against the onslaught. Winter was here and they hadn’t gotten back a day too soon. If it was this cold here, he was willing to bet the foothills would be freezing.
Harley hunched his shoulders against the cold but his expression was grim.
“You okay?” Andy asked after a moment. “I mean, it’s good news, isn’t it? Holly didn’t take his garbage. She kicked him out. Now you can rest easy. It sounded like he was proposing there, too. She’ll have it her way. Mission accomplished, right?”
Harley looked over at Andy then heaved a sigh.
“Why didn’t she come home? She’d kicked him out. She was on her own. There was no reason not to come back. There was no reason not to open the door when I knocked.”
He felt for the kid. All Harley wanted was to bring his sister home again where she’d be safe, where he could protect her, where no one would hurt her. But, apparently, Holly didn’t want that, and Andy could respect that, too.
“I don’t know,” Andy said. “Maybe too much changed.”
“Obviously. She’s pregnant,” Harley retorted. “Nothing will ever be the same again.”
Andy sighed. “Look, kid, I think I get it. Sometimes, when too much changes, when you’ve changed too much, there isn’t any going home again, only going forward. Maybe that’s why she hasn’t come back—she’s not the same girl she used to be and she’s doing the only thing open to her—moving forward.”
They stopped at the stairs and kicked the dirt off their boots before Andy opened the door and they went inside. The warm air of the kitchen, still scented with morning coffee and toast, felt good on Andy’s wind-chilled hands. He took off his hat and tossed it onto the counter, then headed toward the table and the waiting paychecks.
“I’m her brother.” Harley sounded dismal and, for his sadness, he looked younger still. “I’d be there for her.”
“And you still can be,” Andy said. “Maybe she needs a bit of space.”
Sometimes a protective, well-meaning sibling could be the last thing someone wanted when they were trying to sort out their future. Andy could understand that all too well! He’d had a well-meaning brother of his own, a brother who’d never quite be able to appreciate the depth of his heartache. Holly might be in the same situation right now.
“See...” Andy said after a moment of silence. “We all change. Sometimes home doesn’t fit anymore.”
Andy picked up the envelopes and flipped through them until he came to Harley’s name. He passed it over and Harley accepted it with a nod of thanks.
“I’ve changed, too,” Harley said quietly. “I’ve been to prison. If that isn’t change, I don’t know what is. But I still came back again. So I know about home not fitting right anymore, but I also know that if you stick it out, you can find a way to fit in again. It won’t be in the same way, but there’s always a seat at the table for you. People might need to scoot over a bit, and they might need to fetch another plate, but there’s always that seat.”
Harley’s words slowly sank into Andy’s mind and he gave the young man a thoughtful smile. In his mind’s eye, he could see those parents waiting for their daughter, still seeing their little girl in spite of it all. Holly could do worse than return to the home that loved her so much. And deep down he wished she’d give in and do just that. At least she had a home to go to. His parents were both gone, and the gap had closed behind him. He should be so lucky.
“You’re wise beyond your years, Harley.”
“I’m not as young as I look.” Harley cast him a lopsided grin.
Andy laughed softly. “Yeah, so you keep saying.”
“Thanks for giving me a chance, Mr. Granger,” Harley said after a moment. “It was an honor riding with you.”
“You bet,” Andy said. “Good luck with everything.”
“Thank you, sir.” Harley turned toward the door, pushing his hat onto his head with one hand.
“Harley,” Andy said suddenly, and the young man looked back.
“Yes, sir?”
“What are you going to do about your sister?”
Harley sucked in a deep breath then shrugged. “I don’t rightfully know. I’ll try and talk to her again, and if she won’t talk to me, I’ll go home.”
“I’m sorry about that,” Andy said. “I know it wasn’t what you wanted.”
Harley smiled. “That’s not retreat, that’s just doing the next logical thing. Home is home. It isn’t going anywhere. We’ll be there when she’s ready.”
“The seat at the table,” Andy said quietly.
“You bet, sir. The seat at the table. Thanks again for everything.” Harley tapped the brim of his hat then opened the door. A blast of cold air swirled past him into the kitchen and he stepped outside, pulling the door shut behind him.
A seat at the table... Harley seemed pretty optimistic about that, and Andy wondered if there was truth in those words. Was it possible to come home again after letting down your entire community? Was it possible to belong again after years away? There was only one woman he wanted to come home to, and that was Dakota Mason, but Hope had closed up after him. There might be hope for Holly yet, but he doubted there’d be a chance for him.
Unless...
Chapter Thirteen
Dakota stood on a crate, peering under the hood of her truck. The darn thing refused to turn over and she couldn’t fetch her paycheck until it did. Her father had the work truck out on the ranch, delivering hay and filling watering troughs, and the other work truck had stopped working last month. She still needed to get the parts to get that one moving, and while she had most of them, she had to make another couple of trips to junkyards to see what she could scavenge. Ordering parts at the auto shop was a last resort.
The sun was higher in the sky b
ut the temperature had most definitely dropped since they’d gotten back from the drive. Her fingers were red with cold. She reached for her travel mug of coffee that sat on the top of the engine block and took a lingering sip of creamy warmth.
Last night they’d gotten several updates from the hospital where Brody was undergoing surgery. All had gone well and they’d been assured that Brody would recover and keep the leg that had been so badly torn apart during the blast. He’d need nursing care when he got back, though, and her parents were already talking about the expense of hiring a full-time nurse.
Dakota had sent her brother several text messages, but she hadn’t heard back from him yet. When she finally did, she’d stop worrying, but until then—
An engine rumbled into her drive and she stepped back from the truck and shaded her eyes. It was Andy’s vehicle making fresh tracks over the snow-covered driveway, and her heart sped up.
What was he doing here? Didn’t he have drovers to pay and a ranch to run? Seeing him again wasn’t going to be easy, and she’d counted on being able to steel herself before going over. Having him show up here didn’t give her that opportunity.
“Morning!” Andy called as he hopped out of his truck.
“Hi, Andy.” She grabbed a rag and wiped at the grease on her hands. “What are you doing here?”
“Bringing your paycheck.” He held up an envelope. “You didn’t come by to get it, so I thought I’d bring it to you.”
“Thanks.” She accepted the envelope, trusting that the amount on the check was the amount agreed upon. She’d open it later. When she looked up, she found Andy’s eyes locked on her.
“Are you okay?” he asked quietly. “You look...sad.”
“It’s been a rough night,” she admitted. “We got a call that Brody was in an explosion and he’s been in surgery. They saved his leg, but—” She swallowed hard. “So he’s coming home.”
“That’s horrible.” Andy stepped closer and slid an arm around her waist. She tipped her head against his broad chest, thankful for the brief comfort he provided. “I’m glad he survived, though.”
“Me, too,” she said. “And I’m glad I didn’t end up telling him about Nina or I’d have blamed myself for this.”
“Hey, war isn’t your fault,” he said seriously. “And he’s coming home. That’s what matters, right?”
She pulled back and nodded quickly. “That’s what matters.”
“When you open that envelope, you’ll find two checks,” Andy said. “One is from Chet for your work on the cattle drive and the other is from me.”
“What?” She frowned. “Andy, you don’t owe me anything—”
“Whatever,” he said with a wry smile. “Of course I do. It’s my fault you’re struggling, and it’s the least I can do to get your hydration system.”
“I couldn’t accept it...” she began. The words evaporated from her mouth as she caught Andy’s tender gaze moving over her face and settling at last on her lips. He moved closer and bent his head, catching her lips with his. The softness of his mouth made her forget what she’d been about to say, and she felt like she could melt into his embrace. When he finally pulled back, she asked, “So is that goodbye, then?”
“No, just a kiss.”
She felt the color rise in her cheeks. “When do you leave?”
“You’re not getting rid of me that easily,” he said with a low laugh. “I’m sticking around.”
“What?” She could hardly believe her ears. “What are you talking about? I thought you couldn’t stay in Hope...that they’d never accept you again, that—”
“I had a weirdly deep talk with Harley,” he interrupted her. “As it turns out, Holly had dumped Elliot, after all, but she isn’t ready to go home yet. It sounds like Elliot is willing to do pretty much anything to get her back.”
“That’s really good for them.” Dakota smiled. “Harley must be relieved—even if he still isn’t Elliot’s biggest fan. But how does that change anything for you?”
“He was talking about how no matter how much you change, there is always a place for you at the table, so to speak. It got me to thinking. Anyway, Chet got back this morning. Mack is still in the hospital with the babies, but they should be released in a few days, and Chet asked if I’d stick around. He needs help running the ranch and Mack is going to be pretty busy with the babies, so—”
Dakota realized she’d been holding her breath and she let it out in a sudden rush. “So you’re staying?”
Andy nodded. “Good news?”
She felt tears mist her eyes. “Yes...yes! Definitely.”
Andy reached out and tucked a stray tendril of hair behind her ear. “I know that your family would never forgive me, but I was wondering if you’d give me a chance to just...be around you. I won’t ask for more. Maybe if your family could get to know me, they’d see that I’m a good guy. I’m not the same man I used to be back then, so it won’t be the same, but that doesn’t mean I can’t find home again here in Hope. With you. Just give me the chance to win your father over and then if I can’t—”
“Yes.” She nodded.
“Yes?” Andy smiled tentatively. “I had a whole speech prepared, you know.”
“My dad and I had a talk of our own,” she said quietly. “Brody’s injury kind of put things into a different perspective for us. Life is short—sometimes too short. We can’t waste it on the things that don’t matter. He said that he wants me to be happy. He and Brody butted heads for so many years, and he doesn’t want to do that to me. So he gave me his blessing to follow my heart. He has no idea that my heart leads to you, but...”
Andy smothered the rest of her words with a kiss and pulled her in close. His strong arms closed around her and she twined her arms up around his neck, leaning into his strength.
“Then marry me,” he said, pulling back.
“What?” she gasped.
“I’m serious, marry me! I’m not in this halfway and I’d take my time and wait for you to feel comfortable if I need to do that, but if things have changed and you’re willing...” There was pleading in those green eyes. “If you’re willing...”
“How would it work?” she asked. “You’d be living with your brother, right?”
“Nope.” He grinned. “There are two full ranch houses on that ranch right now—one was our childhood home and the other belonged to Mack’s grandmother. I’ll be living in the one I grew up in. And, believe me, there’s room enough for you, too...and maybe a baby or two of our own.”
“Is this really possible?” she asked in disbelief.
“Which part?” he teased. “The baby or the wedding? Because I happen to know a minister who could marry us tomorrow if you wanted to get started on the babies...”
“Andy!” She blushed and shook her head.
Andy lifted her hand to his lips, looked at it for a moment, turned it over and then kissed the one clean spot on the back of her wrist.
“I’m in love with you, Dakota. I want to marry you. I’m completely serious, and I’ll prove that I was the better choice for the rest of your life, if you’ll let me.”
“I love you, too,” she whispered. “And, yes, I’ll marry you.”
Andy moved in for another kiss and she planted a hand on his chest, holding him back. “But one more thing,” she said.
“Anything.” She could see by the look in his eye that he meant it. The tenderness in his face promised so much more than words ever could.
“When we tell my dad about this,” she said quietly, “you’re going to have to duck. His first reaction isn’t going to be pleasant.”
Andy chuckled softly and pulled her back into his arms, his lips hovering over hers. “That’s a deal. Hope couldn’t be home without you in it.” He paused, holding back just a whisper away from a kiss. “I’m a lu
cky guy.”
Joy bubbled up inside her and Dakota grinned into Andy’s warm, green eyes. “You most certainly are. Now kiss me already.”
And Andy did. He kissed her long and slow, and when he finally released her, Dakota was certain that while they’d have a whole knot to untie when it came to her family, Andy Granger was most certainly worth all the trouble he was going to cause. This love would be the foundation for their very own home. And Hope, Montana, was just big enough for them all.
Epilogue
The Christmas Eve wedding was Chet’s idea.
“Mom would have liked that,” he said. “Besides, you need something to celebrate again, Andy. It’s different for me now that I have Mack and the boys. It changes your focus, gives you someone to put a Christmas together for. But I’d say start now—make your Christmases your anniversary, too. Love is what Christmas is all about, isn’t it?”
“Who would even come?” Andy asked. “I’m Enemy Number One around here.”
“The ones who love you,” Chet said. “Make it an intimate wedding. Let everyone else wonder how it went down.”
It had made a lot of sense and when Andy asked Dakota what she’d thought, she’d immediately agreed. Planning a wedding in three weeks flat was a whirlwind affair, and it took both families pulling together to make it happen.
Unfortunately, Brody wasn’t back in time for the wedding, which was disappointing for everyone. He got an infection in his leg and had to stay another few weeks in the VA hospital, but they set up a webcam so he could watch the entire thing from his hospital bed.
On the morning of Christmas Eve, when Andy stood in a sunlit church with his bride, the minister’s words tumbling around them, he could feel all those childhood Christmases coming back again...the love, the anticipation, the bone-deep certainty that with Dakota he’d finally come home.
The actual ceremony was a blur. He’d promised himself he’d remember every second of it, but all he’d remember later was looking down in those chocolate-brown eyes of her and saying “I do” with every fiber of his being. She wore a long ivory dress with lace sleeves, her soft skin peeking through. A long veil fell back from her dark hair, cascading down over her shoulders into a frothy pool around her feet. She was promising to be his, to be Mrs. Dakota Granger until death parted them.
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