Boone stood at the counter, the only thing that separated the kitchen from the dining area, then past it was the living room with two overstuffed sofas angled toward a huge stone fireplace.
He looked up to see the exposed beams, then down at the polished hardwood floors. No doubt the place had probably been remodeled over the years. He found he liked the mixture of both the old and the new.
His attention was drawn back to the woman wandering around turning off unneeded lights. She smiled and he felt a funny tightness in his chest. Her green-eyed gaze locked with his, then quickly she turned away.
“How about I finish making us lunch?”
Boone nodded. “I could eat.”
“So could I,” Jesse chimed in. “I’m real hungry.”
She messed up her son’s hair. “You’re always hungry.”
The boy grinned. “That’s cause I’m growing.”
The twosome walked into the kitchen, and Boone found he enjoyed listening to the bantering between mother and son.
Something tugged at his heart as his thoughts turned to Russ. His friend would be happy at how well his boy had turned out. Now all Boone had to do was find a way to tell the kid’s mother about her son’s father.
As Amelia mixed the egg salad, she could feel Boone watching her. It had been a long time since a man had been in the Hughes house. Sad, but true. She hadn’t had time, or any desire, to attempt a relationship. Since Russ, she hadn’t let anyone get close to her. Not that men had rushed to her door. If one did, Kelley would probably be there to give him the third degree. Her big sister had always been Amelia’s protector. She’d also sat with Amelia during the rough times after Jesse’s father left. Later she’d coached her through labor and the delivery of her son. And she loved Jesse as much as Amelia did.
What would Kelley think about Boone Gifford? That he was handsome? Her sister didn’t get her head turned easily. Not when she worked side by side with ranch hands that drifted from job to job. She couldn’t afford to.
Neither could Amelia, but she couldn’t deny that she’d taken notice of Boone Gifford. She sighed. She had to keep reminding herself that he was a stranger. Thank goodness Kelley had checked him out.
Amelia handed out the sandwiches and poured the milk.
She sat down and glanced at the smile on her son’s face as he chatted with Boone. It was Jesse who’d suffered the most from his father choosing to desert them. With just women around, a boy craved male companionship.
She turned her attention to Boone. He wasn’t the kind of man either one of them needed. He wasn’t even from Montana, but West Texas, and she had no doubt he would be going back. No way was she getting mixed up again with a guy who was just passing through.
Jesse said something, and Boone managed a smile. Her attention went to his mouth and the tiny lines bracketing it, which only seemed to add to his rugged features.
Suddenly he looked up. She swallowed, feeling the strange tension in her stomach. This was not good.
“Mom!”
“What?” She turned to her son.
“I asked if Boone and me can play cards.”
“Honey, Boone isn’t here to entertain you.”
“It’s not a bother,” Boone said, then turned to her son. “First, we need to help clean up.”
Amelia watched as her son picked up his empty plate and followed Boone to the sink. The big, tall cowboy took up too much space in the kitchen, making her feel crowded and edgy. And a lot more. She stood, too, but kept the needed distance between her and the man. Boone Gifford was a stranger and he would be leaving soon.
She needed to remember that.
The afternoon dragged on as the snow continued to fall. Boone had played card games with Jesse to keep the boy occupied. Amelia kept busy going around the house, closing off rooms to conserve the heat. She’d brought out candles and extra bedding from upstairs. When Boone had offered to help her she put him off. Instead, she began chopping vegetables for supper.
“Jesse. I think it’s time to put the cards away.”
“Ah, Mom, I’m winning.”
“You’ve been playing for the last hour. I need your help to prepare for tonight.”
Boone glanced over. As the afternoon turned toward evening, she seemed to grow nervous. Was it only the threatening storm, or was it him?
“Your mom’s right.” He got up from the table. “Besides, I need to check the animals.” He headed to the coat hook, pulled on his sheepskin-lined jacket and wrapped the scarf around his neck.
“Boone, would you mind bringing up Izzy’s food?”
“Sure.” He reached down and petted the dog. “You want to go with me, girl?”
The large animal walked to the back door and waited.
Boone tugged his hat low on his head and pulled on his gloves. He went out the back door noticing the snow had slowed but not the wind. He grabbed hold of the anchor rope he’d rigged earlier and began to traipse through the knee-high snow toward the barn.
Inside, he stomped off the clinging snow before he fed and watered the horses, then retrieved the dog’s food and headed back.
Izzy finished her business and didn’t have any trouble finding her way to the house. Boone set the food in the mud room, then went to his truck and got his duffel bag.
Back on the porch, he found a bundled-up Jesse waiting.
“Mom said I can help you carry in some wood.”
“Good. I can use a strong helper.” He glanced toward the window, not surprised to see Amelia. He nodded to her and went to load up the boy’s small arms with split logs. Once inside, they stacked it neatly beside the fireplaces. After three trips, he decided they had enough to get through until morning.
Amelia had been working, too. She had a pot of homemade stew simmering on the stove, filling the kitchen with a heavenly aroma. He carried his duffel bag into the small room off the kitchen where he found the double bed already made up with snowy white sheets and two heavy blankets.
Amelia appeared at the doorway. “My grandfather stayed in here during his long illness. Gram Ruby never changed the room back to her sewing room.”
“I won’t disturb anything,” Boone told her as he set his bag on the cedar chest at the end of the bed.
“It’s okay,” Jesse said as he walked in. “’Cause when I’m sick I get to stay here. I even throwed up all over the blankets.” He made a face. “It was gross, but Mom didn’t even get mad.”
Boone hid a smile. “That’s good to know.”
“Jesse, why don’t we let Boone get settled in?” She motioned for her son to come with her.
The boy obeyed, but paused at the doorway. “Can we still play cards later?”
“If it’s okay with your mom.”
The boy swung around to Amelia, looking for the okay.
“We’ll see, Jesse. Come on, you can help me with the bread.” She looked at Boone. “Supper will be ready about six, unless you get hungry before that.”
“I’ll be there at six.” He looked at Jesse. “Why don’t you come and get me, so I don’t miss your mama’s stew?”
When the boy smiled he could see a strong resemblance to Russ, but the physical likeness was where it ended. Did he have a right to burst in here and intrude on their lives? Yes, the boy needed to know that his father