Sweet Mountain Rancher

by Loree Lough

She gave him a breathy rundown of Burke’s unscheduled visit. “I have no idea where he stored all those photos during his years in prison,” she said. “I don’t know, maybe he broke into another relative’s house and stole them.”

  “If Thomas has other relatives, why didn’t any of them step up when the Burkes went to jail?”

  “I’m sure you’ve noticed that Thomas has…issues. I’m sure they did, too.”

  “Well, if it goes as far as court, I’ll stand front and center, tell the judge and everyone present what a positive influence you’ve been in the kid’s life. I wouldn’t worry about it, though. Chances are good the guy won’t keep his word.”

  She didn’t look convinced the authorities would see things that way.

  “You’ve given all these kids a firm foundation, Eden. They can build good, productive lives on what you’ve done for them.”

  “But Thomas is so young, emotionally. Life is constantly testing all of us, and kids deserve to know they have a safe place to land when they fall.”

  “Don’t you mean if they fail? You’re not giving yourself enough credit. Not giving Thomas enough credit, either. You can’t be certain that he’ll forget everything you taught him the very first time he’s faced with choosing to do right or wrong.”

  “But…the most critical decisions he’s made in all the years he’s lived here were whether or not to change his socks and underwear every morning. He’s been completely insulated from anything life-changing!”

  Nate had never seen her angry, but he had a feeling it was something he could do without.

  “Then I guess we need to make a good case for keeping Thomas here if the state decides he’s better off with his father. If we buy enough time, his old man will show his true colors, and they’ll have no choice but to let the kid stay.”

  “We…”

  “I had no idea you could speak French.” He smiled and added, “Yes, we.”

  She’d proven how tough and capable she was, but no one—not even Eden—could handle a guy like Thomas Burke all on her own. She buried her face in the crook of his neck. Her tears dampened his collar, and she held on tight. Her way of saying yes, she’d accept his help, finally?

  He hoped so. Man, he hoped so!

  Eden sat back, and when she closed her eyes, a tear crept down her cheek. He caught it with his thumb, and as he studied her lovely face, he realized there was no going back: He loved this woman.

  “Sorry about that,” she said, knuckling her eyes. “And thanks.”

  He might have asked “Thanks for what?” if she hadn’t kissed him again.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  WHILE NATE HELPED prepare lunch, the first sparks of an idea flared in his head. The boys devoured sandwiches, chips and sliced apples, and he did his best to participate in their animated conversation. It wasn’t easy with the concept growing, taking shape, convincing him of its workability. And it wasn’t easy waiting for the boys to finish so he could run the idea past Eden.

  “I know a few people,” he explained when at last they were alone. “People who could look into Burke’s background. If they look closely enough, they’re bound to find something. It doesn’t have to be much…just enough to convince the department to write him up as an unfit parent.”

  “But what if these people find something that isn’t even relevant anymore, and it turns out that Thomas’s dad really has changed?”

  “That’s why the supervised visits are a good idea for the time being. If the guy has turned over a new leaf, he’ll do whatever it takes to prove himself, not just to the state, but to Thomas. And if he hasn’t?” Nate shrugged. “We’ll have bought the boy some time to see for himself that he has a safe place to land.”

  “I’m not sure I like having my own words used against me.”

  “Against you? I’m one hundred percent for you!”

  She looked exquisite, standing at the sink as afternoon sun poured through the window, giving her hair a coppery glow.

  “You’ve never been here to see what a visit with his dad does to him,” she said. “He’s never been what I’d call a quiet, easygoing boy, but the changes are startling.”

  “How so?”

  “The others steer clear of him because, tiny as he is, they’ve learned he can inflict some serious harm when he’s angry.”

  “Can’t you explain that to the social worker who arranged the visits?”

  “Mrs. Josephs would only see it as proof that she’s right…group homes do more harm than good…and Thomas belongs in a more hospital-like facility.”

  “What if Thomas told her that he isn’t ready to spend time with his dad?”

  “She’d think I wasn’t doing my job.”

  “That’s ridiculous.”

  “Maybe, but she’s under a lot of pressure. Every staff member over there is doing the work of three people. And they’re exasperated by having to stretch limited funds without adding to sixty-hour workweeks.”

  “Sixty? What are they whining about? You work eighty.”

  She exhaled a frustrated sigh. “Nate, I appreciate your confidence in me, and what you’re trying to do here, too. But you just don’t get it. How could you? The red tape I have to deal with is like a boa constrictor. If you aren’t careful, it’ll choke the life right out of you.”

  “Here’s what I don’t get—if Thomas is that volatile after a meeting with his dad, it isn’t safe for any of you to be around him. So why fight so hard to keep him here?”

  “Because he needs me, needs us. And, as the saying goes, he’s all bark, no bite…for the most part.”

  “For the most part? That isn’t very reassuring.”

  Eden all but slammed the dishwasher door. “You can’t have it both ways, Nate. Either you believe I know what I’m doing—that I know these kids and what’s best for them—or you don’t.”

  “I’m not trying to second-guess you. But you have to admit, this whole Thomas and his dad thing might put you guys in danger.”

  “I don’t have to admit any such thing.”

  “It could.”

  “It won’t.”

  “You hope.”

  Eyes blazing, Eden jabbed a forefinger into his chest. “Let’s set a few things straight. I appreciate—no, I need the money you offered, because as you so astutely pointed out, it’s the only way we’ll ever get out of here and into a place where we’ll never have to worry about being displaced.” She jabbed him again. “But if you think your big fat donation gives you carte blanche to tell me how to do my job, think again.”

  He’d been right that he could do without seeing Eden angry.

  He didn’t have her background in psychology, but it didn’t take a genius to figure out what was going on here. Eden was angry with Burke and Michaels and her boss. She didn’t trust any of them to listen without making her—and the boys—pay a high price.

  But she trusts you, Nate acknowledged. Grinning to himself, he rubbed the spot she’d poked. But it wouldn’t hurt if she trusted you a little less…

  “Sorry,” he said. “You’re right. I have no business telling you how to do your job. If you need a sounding board, I’m your guy. If you want to vent, feel free. But from now on, unless you ask for my opinion, I’ll butt out.” He held up his right hand. “Word of honor.”

  “I’m sorry, too.”

  “What? Why are you sorry?”

  “Because misplaced hostility is an exercise in futility.” She picked up the dish towel and gave the faucet a final polish. “I shouldn’t have taken my exasperation out on you.”

  Nate waited, sensing she had more to say.

  “Truce?”

  He swallowed. Hard. Because when she looked up at him that way, he wanted to kiss her, not forgive her! Don’t do it, Marshall. Don’t even think about doing it!

  “What’s going on that requires a truce?”

  Eden gasped and pressed a hand to her chest. “Good grief, Carlos, I’m going to have to put a bell around your neck!”

&
nbsp; “Why?”

  “So I can hear you coming. You move like a cat.”

  “But…aren’t you always telling us to walk slowly and quietly?”

  “Well, yes, but—”

  He looked at Nate. “Women. Will I ever understand ’em?”

  Nate was suddenly stuck in the proverbial “There is no right answer” scenario.

  “Sure. I guess. Probably sometime between now and…”

  “…when you’re married,” he and Eden said together.

  The phrase broke the tension, and their laughter sent Carlos from the room, shaking his head and muttering, “Grown-ups. I’ll never understand them, either.”

  *

  DURING THEIR FIRST trip to the ranch, the boys had whined incessantly about the long ride, worried they might get fleas from the horses or get cow dung on their favorite sneakers. What could they learn from some hick cowboy…how to spit tobacco into a bucket or pick their teeth with a blade of grass?

  One of these days, Eden would have to share that story with Nate. Right now, a glance in the rearview mirror was all it took to prove the guys didn’t feel that way anymore. They were all smiling eagerly, pointing out landmarks that were now familiar to them.

  They made no secret of the fact that they’d rather be at the Double M than just about anywhere else. And was it any wonder, with dozens of activities to keep them occupied and so many people willing to give them their time. Seeing the positive changes in the boys made it next to impossible for Eden to say no when the Marshalls extended yet another invitation. Now that school was back in session and the visit would once again keep them away from the classroom for several days, Eden justified the trips by blending ranch activities with daily studies.

  As part of their math class, for example, she helped the boys measure the girth and length of horses and cows, and taught them how to calculate the animals’ weight. For science, Kirk asked them to research the life cycles of livestock, as well as seed germination and the weather’s impact on growing seasons. Essays comparing their experiences at the Double M to details from classic novels made for perfect English assignments. They still grumbled about the assignments, but Eden overlooked it by focusing on their joy at being in the outdoors.

  There were life lessons, too. Carl, Nate and his cousin Zach took the boys on overnight treks in the mountains, teaching them wilderness survival and first aid skills. Back at the ranch, Mrs. Marshall showed the boys how to make her famous lasagna and meatballs, and his aunts shared biscuit and pie-making tips.

  The positive changes in them were obvious and—Eden hoped—permanent. Every boy’s self-confidence had risen far higher than she’d ever thought possible. They were no longer standoffish, shy or overtly aggressive when out in public. Interactions with the men of the Double M had taught them the importance of respect and trust…and that both must be earned. These simple yet profound principles would take them far in life. And she owed all of it to Nate. Her only regret was that she hadn’t found him sooner. For the boys’ sake, of course.

  She’d stopped for gas, and as she stood at the back of the van to scan her credit card, Eden listened in on the boys’ conversation.

  “What’s wrong with her?” Ben muttered to Carlos.

  “Shh,” Wade warned. “She’ll hear you.”

  “No, she won’t,” Cody countered. “She’s busy at the pump.”

  “You sure?”

  Thankfully, they hadn’t figured out that even when she appeared busy with other things, there wasn’t much that missed her notice. Eden had learned early in the job that sometimes, being privy to conversations they thought she couldn’t hear could give her the opportunity to forestall or prevent trouble.

  “I’m positive. Watch and learn.” Cody leaned forward. “Hey, Eden…”

  She kept her back to them and hid a grin.

  “See?” Cody sat back. “So, you were saying?”

  “What’s wrong with her is we’re getting closer,” David observed.

  DeShawn looked back from his second-row bench seat. “Why would being closer to the Double M get her all weirded out? She likes it there.”

  Weirded out? So, despite her efforts to keep her emotions in check, they’d noticed a mood shift?

  Eden got back into the van. “Everybody buckled up?”

  Following a series of metallic clicks, she put the vehicle into gear and continued west.

  From the rear of the van, DeShawn said, “Only thing wrong with those two goofballs is that they’re too stubborn to admit they’re in love with each other.” He punctuated the observation with a grunt.

  “Which two goofballs?” Devon wanted to know.

  “You’re a goofball,” DeShawn said. “Nate and Eden, who else?”

  Devon chuckled. “I think they did admit it. More than once.” He exhaled a deliberately loud and wistful sigh.

  Ben piped up with “What’s he talkin’ about?”

  “Yeah, smart guy,” Chuckie teased, “tell us what you know.”

  A moment of good-natured shoulder slapping and shoving passed before Devon explained. “I saw ’em kissing. Twice. And it was the real deal.” Eyes closed and lips puckered, he wrapped his arms around himself, inspiring another round of boisterous laughter.

  Eden quickly looked away from the rearview as silence descended. Would they take Devon’s comment seriously? Keep laughing, boys. Keep laughing!

  “Aw, ma-a-an,” Carlos said. “I’ll probably have bad dreams for a week, picturing that.”

  “I don’t know about the rest of you,” Devon said, “but I think it’s cool. People their age shouldn’t live alone. What if one of ’em fell down and broke a hip or something? When that happened to my grandmother—”

  More rowdy laughter. Eden bit her lower lip to avoid the temptation to join them.

  “Dude!” DeShawn said. “You talk like they’re, like, old or something. They could be our parents. Age-wise, anyway.”

  “I dunno,” Chuckie countered. “Nate goes off by himself a lot, whispering into his cell phone and looking around to see who’s listening.”

  “That’s easy,” DeShawn said. “You’re listenin’. You’re always listenin’! And anyway, ain’t no law against private phone calls.”

  “’Specially on your own property.”

  Wade agreed with Silas. “He was just doing ranch business, I’ll bet.”

  “Okay. Maybe,” Chuckie allowed. “But if all he wants is privacy to discuss ranch business, why does he drive off in his truck after half those calls? And stay gone for hours? Got an answer for that, DeShawn?”

  Silence fell upon the van again, as Eden wondered why she hadn’t noticed any of that. Not that it mattered. Yes, they’d kissed, but that didn’t mean Nate wasn’t seeing someone else. The possibility bothered her more than she cared to admit. He had so much to offer a woman. Strength of character. Compassion. Generosity. With a common-sense approach to life that infected everyone around him. He was sensitive, too, in an almost pushy way, often identifying what she or the boys needed, then meeting those needs whether she wanted him to or not.

  If there was another woman in his life, wouldn’t someone at the Double M have mentioned her?

  He laughed at her jokes, even when they weren’t funny. Found ways, despite his hectic schedule, to spend time at Latimer House, and took advantage of every opportunity to be alone with her. And those kisses…

  Be a grown-up, she scolded herself. Quit stalling and let him know you’re interested in something more than friendship.

  But what if he got the idea that her actions were prompted by the financial contribution?

  And what if after she repaid him, she realized it was true?

  Worse still, what if the realization caused hard feelings between them and Nate pulled back from the boys…boys already scarred by abandonment.

  Far better to err on the side of caution, as her grandfather was fond of saying.

  The Double M’s massive wrought iron gate came into view, and t
he sight of it made her heart beat a little faster.

  “So you really think, you know, what you said before?” Ben asked.

  Devon elbowed him. “Shh! You want her to hear?”

  A second, perhaps two ticked by before he added, “And yeah, I really do.”

  Wrong or right, Eden had to admit that Devon might be right.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  “HEY, NATE,” CARLOS shouted from the diving board. “Watch this!”

  Carlos’s belly flop soaked everyone, Nate included, and provoked brotherly taunts and threats that sent the kid scurrying for cover. Though it did his heart good to see the boys enjoying themselves, Nate found it tough to take his eyes off Eden.

  She had been sitting poolside when her phone pinged, and now she was hurrying to the pool house, bare feet splashing through the shallow puddles left behind by the boys.

  For one thing, she looked fantastic in the body-skimming white top that covered her bathing suit.

  For another, she seemed worried or scared as she paced behind the sliding glass doors.

  Sam padded up on big bare feet and flopped onto the lawn chair beside Nate’s, and he was glad his cousin had decided to spend his weeklong vacation at the ranch. Sam held out a frosty can of soda.

  “Don’t say I never gave you anything,” he said, handing it to Nate. “And don’t chug it, or you’ll get an ice-cream headache.” He pressed a forefinger between his blond eyebrows. “Ask me how I know.”

  Nate popped the top and took a swig. “Thanks,” he said. “That hits the spot.”

  Sam gave a quick nod toward the pool house. “What’s all that about?”

  Nate shrugged. “Who knows? Could be the contractor who’s rehabbing her house.” He shot a quick look at Thomas, who was about to do a backflip from the board. “Or that one’s ex-con dad, who wants back in the kid’s life. Or her landlord, Brett Michaels.”

  “That jerk? Man. I haven’t thought about him in years.” He paused. “Remember the time he stuffed shrimp between the coils of the science lab’s heaters?”

  Nate groaned. “If I think about it too hard, that stink still burns my nose.”

  “I’m still traumatized. Can’t eat shrimp to this day.”