Patricia Thayer welcomes you to Rocking H Ranch

Christmas has always been my favourite time of year. I grew up in the Midwest, and as a child one of my first wishes for the holidays was to have snow. Another was for a giant tree that smelled of evergreen and reached all the way to the ceiling in our big old house.

I have a large family—four sisters and three brothers—and though my parents never had a lot, they managed to fill up the bottom of the tree with gifts from Santa. It was years until I realised how truly blessed I was because I had family around to share it with.

As I got older my hopes and dreams changed. Now that I have grandkids, I’ve discovered that the best presents aren’t always wrapped up with a pretty bow. The best are part of everyday life. Like seeing my grandsons’ smiles as they run through the waves at the beach, or point up at the moon in wonder. How they grip your hand with complete confidence that you’ll keep them safe. How our oldest grandson, who has autism, smiles so brightly when you read his favourite story or sing his favourite song. And how every word he speaks is like a precious gift. No, you can’t buy that in any store.

This is my first Christmas story, and I was lucky enough to share it with talented writer Donna Alward. Together we came up with a ranch in Montana, the Rocking H, with two sisters, Kelley and Amelia Hughes.

In my story I created characters who needed to find some holiday joy. When this idea came to me, I kept seeing a five-year-old boy making a Christmas wish. All Jesse Hughes wants is a dad. He even writes it down on a list, and every day he believes that his dad will arrive by Christmas morning. It takes a Montana snow blizzard and my hero and heroine getting stranded together just two weeks before Christmas.

Amelia, a single mother, is afraid to trust another man again. Boone Gifford carries a burden with him that makes him think he doesn’t deserve a family. Somehow these two began to believe in a Montana Christmas miracle and never have to unwrap one gift.

In Donna’s story, Kelley enlists the help of chef Mack Dennison to help her create the perfect Hughes family Christmas. Somehow they both start to realise that the most perfect gift could very well be each other…if they’re willing to open their hearts.

My hope for all of you is to receive the kind of gift that isn’t always found under the tree. Just look around and count your blessings.

Happy Holidays

Patricia Thayer

Mistletoe& Marriage
Snowbound Cowboy

BY

Patricia Thayer

And

A Bride for Rocking H Ranch

BY

Donna Alward

www.millsandboon.co.uk

Table of Contents

Cover Page

Author’s Note

Title Page

Snowbound Cowboy

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Preview

A Bride for Rocking H Ranch

Dear Reader

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Epilogue

Preview

Copyright

Snowbound Cowboy

BY

Patricia Thayer

Chapter One

SHE’D DONE IT NOW.

Amelia Hughes stared out the windshield at the blowing snow and thought about her rash decision to drive into town in spite of blizzard warnings. She had thought she could outrun the storm. In her haste to get back to the ranch, she had hit a slick spot, and the truck had slid off the snow-packed road onto the soft shoulder.

“Mom, we got stuck!”

“We don’t know that for sure,” she said, wondering what her penance should be for lying to a five-year-old boy. In an attempt to right her wrong, she eased her foot onto the gas peddle causing the tires to spin and the back of the truck to slide further off the road.

Great. With a sigh, Amelia stopped her attempt to regain traction, and turned to meet her child’s wide brown-eyed gaze. His stocking cap covered a head full of whiskey-colored curls, and light freckles dusted his small nose and rosy cheeks. Jesse Thomas Hughes was her everything.

Somehow she had to get them out of this. After all, she’d lived in rural western Montana all her life. She came from sturdy, frontier stock. Her great-grandparents mined this land, finally turning to ranching. They never gave up, nor would she.

She gripped the wheel and went back to work. Yet, no matter what direction she turned the wheel, or how gently she worked the gas peddle, she couldn’t get the old truck to move forward. She finally stopped to save fuel. They might need heat if they had to spend the night here. No, she refused to think about that. They had hours of daylight left.

“Boy, Aunt Kelley is going to be mad.”

“No, Aunt Kelley won’t be mad.” Another lie just rolled off her tongue. “But maybe we shouldn’t tell her. She has a lot to worry about with taking Grandma Ruby to the hospital.”

Jesse nodded. “Okay. Maybe if we wish really hard someone will come by and save us.”

Amelia wasn’t so sure that was going to work, either. There wasn’t much reason for anyone to be on this road. Everyone else was at home heeding the storm warning. She’d only gone out to buy supplies before they’d gotten snowbound.

Normally the Hughes household was prepared for bad weather, but the December storm caught them off guard. With Gram’s illness, everyone had been distracted getting her into Helena and the hospital.

Jesse turned to her again. “Maybe we should call Aunt Kelley. She’ll know what to do.”

Amelia didn’t doubt it. Her older sister pretty much ran the cattle operation, while Amelia handled the household. It wasn’t that she didn’t love taking care of the family, but she’d also like her sister to listen to some of her ideas for the ranch. Kelley hadn’t even trusted her to handle things while she was in Helena, and made arrangements to hire a ranch hand to help out.

The last thing Amelia wanted was for her sister to know she’d already messed up things in her absence. But what was more important, she needed to get herself and her son out of this weather.

She pulled out her cell phone. “I’ve got a better idea. I’ll call the sheriff.”

Boone Gifford was a Texas boy, born and bred.

He had never been crazy about cold weather or snow. Now he was in the middle of a blizzard outside of Rebel Ridge, Montana. He’d only come here because he’d given his word. And Boone never went back on his word. So the sooner he got to the Rocking H, the sooner he could leave for a warmer climate.

He swiped his gloved hand over the windshield to clear away the condensation. It didn’t help. Visibility was nil. Even reducing his speed to a crawl hadn’t helped much. He wasn’t even sure where he was.

Absently he rubbed his sore shoulder, reminding him of his last job on the off-shore oil rig and the accident that nearly took his life. He’d survived, but he would never forget the men who’d died that day. Especially one.

He shook away the memory to concentrate on his task. Not an easy one, either. The wind gusted again, continuing to make it difficult to keep his vehicle on the road. His grip tightened around the steering wheel. If he had a brain, he’d never have attempted to get to the Hughes ranch today.

No, he needed to finish this, once and for all. He needed to see Amelia Hughes, then he could move on with a clear conscience.

Boone kept his gaze sharp as his new four-wheel-drive truck crept along the dangerous terrain. Lucky for him, his tires could handle mud and snow. Suddenly he saw flashing emergency lights up ahead. As he got closer, he realized it was a truck parked at a funny angle along the shoulder.

So he wasn’t the only crazy person out here. He stopped in the middle of the road, then, pulling the collar up on his coat, he climbed out. Fighting the sharp wind, he made his way to the embankment and the truck cab.

“Hey, is there anyone in there?” he called, and banged on the window.

He blinked the snow from his eyes as the window came down and a woman’s face appeared. “Oh, thank God you came by. My son and I went off the road and we’re stuck. If you could just help us to our ranch? It’s just up the road a few miles.”

“The Rocking H?” Boone asked.

“Yes.” The pretty woman smiled, lighting up her rich green eyes. “Oh, you must be the hand from the Sky High Ranch. I’m Amelia Hughes.”

So he’d found her. As Russ had described, she was a pretty brunette. Not wanting to stand here and give her an explanation, he gave her a quick nod. “Boone Gifford. Look, we need to get out of this, and my truck seems to be our best bet.” He pulled open the door and helped the woman out of the truck, then behind her he saw the small boy.

“My son, Jesse,” Amelia called, fighting the wind.

The boy slid across the seat. His eyes were wide along with his smile. A sudden tightness gripped Boone’s chest.

“Hey, kid.”

“Hi.” The boy cocked his head to the side and grinned. “Are you my Christmas wish?”

The normal ten-minute trip had taken nearly thirty by the time Boone pulled the truck up to the back door. Amelia finally released a breath. She climbed out of the truck and carrying two grocery bags, trudged her way to the porch. Boone Gifford swung Jesse up into his arms and followed her.

“We made it,” Amelia cried as she stepped into the big kitchen. She set down her groceries on the long table. She wanted to drop to the floor and kiss it. She didn’t want to think about what could have happened if they had been left out there.

“Yeah, we made it,” Jesse mimicked as he came into the room.

Boone put her son down, but Jesse wasn’t leaving his side. Amelia noticed the child’s budding hero worship.

She pulled off her hat and shook out her long hair. “How about some coffee, Mr. Gifford?”

“Please, call me Boone.” He took off his cowboy hat and unwrapped the scarf from his neck. “Yes, please, I wouldn’t mind a cup to warm up.”

“Can I have some hot chocolate, Mom?”

Amelia took her son’s coat and hung it on a hook beside the mud room door. “Yes, you can, but I want you to go change out of your jeans into some warm sweats.”

He tugged off his cap, revealing his curly dark hair. “Ah, Mom. I want to talk to Boone some more.”

That was the problem. She had to nix this before her son drove the ranch hand crazy. “You can when you get back, but right now there’s a storm coming and we need to take care of the livestock, too.”

“’Kay,” he murmured and walked out of the room.

“I apologize for all my son’s questions on the way home.”

“Not a problem. He seems like a good kid.”

“I think so, but I’m a little biased.” She smiled and he smiled back before he turned away to the window.

Boone Gifford wasn’t what you’d call classically handsome, but you took notice of the man. His ebony eyes were deep set, his jaw was chiseled with a shadow of a beard. His thick hair was coal black with a slight wave and long enough to brush the back of his collar. He was tall, well-over six feet, with shoulders so broad it made the room seem crowded.

Boone turned back toward her, catching her looking at him.

“Looks like this storm is going to be a rough one,” he said, his gaze holding hers. “I should get out to the barn while I have a chance.”

She cleared her throat, but couldn’t remember what she wanted to say. She nodded, then went to the counter and began making coffee. “Good idea.”

“Okay, you have anything special you need done?”

“My sister, Kelley, left written instructions in the tack room. And your sleeping quarters are right next door.”

He nodded. “I’ll go check out things and be back shortly.” He started for the door, then stopped. “What did your son mean when he asked if I was his Christmas wish?”

She froze. “Oh, you know how kids are. It’s only two weeks before Christmas and he has his list of what he wants. I’m sorry if he bothered you.”

“It’s not a problem.” He paused again. “What exactly is he asking for?”

Jesse walked into the room. “I want a Dad.”

Boone hurried into the barn and forced the door shut against the bitter cold wind. He was a coward. He’d had the perfect chance to tell her the real reason he was here. Instead he let her continue to think he was the ranch hand who’d been hired to help out. Why not? Amelia Hughes needed help, and he could at least hang around until the other guy showed up.

Boone walked down the center aisle to find everything neat and orderly. There were nearly a dozen stalls lining the walls, four with horses. He found he was a little envious.

Back in Texas his barn had looked a lot like this one. He’d taken pride in all the work he and his dad had put into the Last Dollar Ranch. The house had been far from a showplace, because they put every penny into the care of the stock. Then, after the bank took over, the ranch fell into total neglect. But not for long. Thanks to the financial settlement from the accident, he had the money and the opportunity to get it back.

Just as soon as he paid his other debt.

Suddenly a big chocolate Labrador appeared and began barking. “Hey, fella. Where’d you come from?” Boone held out his hand and the animal approached, then began wagging his tail. Once the dog relaxed, Boone petted him. He noticed the animal’s full flanks. He grinned after further examination. “So you’re a gal and a mother-to-be. And by the looks of it, you don’t have long to go.”

The dog barked in agreement.

Boone stood. “Come on, show me around?”

They headed toward the immaculate tack room and the dog’s bed lined with blankets. He also found the list of boldly printed instructions. The next room was the sleeping quarters for the hired hand. A single bunk and a dresser, plus a wall heater. This wasn’t meant for him. And before the real ranch hand showed up, he’d best tell Amelia the truth.

His thoughts turned to the pretty woman with the rich green eyes. She had a full, tempting mouth that caused his body to tighten, making him realize how alone he’d been the past six months.

He shook off the wayward thoughts. What would Amelia Hughes do when she realized he hadn’t been exactly truthful? He rubbed the back of his neck. Maybe he should just hand over the envelope addressed to her and head out.

The wind howled outside. He wasn’t going anywhere right now, and maybe not for a while.

And there was Jesse. He needed to know about his daddy, especially since Russ Eldon had died before he got the chance to come and meet his son.

Now all Boone had to do was tell a little boy he would never get his Christmas wish.

Chapter Two

AMELIA PACED THE KITCHEN, occasionally glancing out the window at the blowing snow. She couldn’t see a thing. And according to the forecast, the weather wasn’t going to improve for at least three or four days. How bad was it going to get? She looked toward the barn, barely able to see the red structure. Suddenly, she was happy Boone Gifford had showed up.

The phone rang and she picked it up on the second ring. “Hello.”

“Amelia. It’s Kelley.”

“Kelley, hi. Is Gram okay?”

“Yes. I got her settled in her room and she’s resting right now.”

“That’s good.” Amelia knew how hard it had been to convince seventy-five-year-old Ruby Hughes to have this procedure done.

“Well, the doctor had to sedate her so she’d be relaxed.” There was a pause. “How are you and Jesse doing? I’m worried about this storm, Amelia. It’s going to get bad.”

Amelia glanced outside again. The wind was blowing heavy snow. “We’ll be fine, Kel.”

“But what if you can’t get out?”

“I have help.”

“Oh, good. So Joe sent over the hand from Sky High Ranch.”

She wasn’t going to tell her sister that he had already rescued her and Jesse. “Yes, he’s moving his things into the barn and checking on the horses.”

“I’m glad you’re not there alone.”

So was she, but she’d never tell Kelley. “I know you don’t think so, but I can handle things. I’ve lived out here as long as you have.”

“I know, but I can’t help being worried.”

“Don’t, because then Gram will worry, too. She’s got to be your only concern right now. Mine is the ranch and Jesse.” She went to the high counter that divided the kitchen from the dining room and glanced further into the great room to find her son sitting in front of the television watching a video.

Kelley still wasn’t convinced and rattled off a list of instructions. Amelia heard the back door shut and turned as Boone walked into the kitchen. His dark eyes met hers, and her throat suddenly went dry.

“Amelia…Amelia. Are you there?”

She shook away her wandering thoughts and turned back. “Yes, I’m here. Look, Kel, Jesse needs me so I better go. Call after the surgery tomorrow. Bye.”

Amelia hung up the phone before her sister gave her more things to do.

“I came for that coffee.” He removed his hat and coat revealing a dark-green flannel shirt.

“Sure.” Amelia swung away from the distraction and went to the freshly brewed pot and grabbed two mugs. After filling it, she placed them on the table. “Cream or sugar?”

He shook his head. “No, black’s fine, ma’am.” The large brown dog lumbered into the room.

“Oh, Izzy. I forgot all about you.” She glanced at Boone. “Thanks for bringing her to the house. She’s pretty close to her delivery time.”

Amelia went over and petted the dog. The animal basked in the attention, then wandered over to the warm kitchen hearth and lay down on the rug.

“Have a seat,” she offered, and sat down across from him. “That was my sister, Kelley, on the phone. She wanted to make sure you got here.” Amelia took a sip of coffee. “She was checking up on me, too. To see if I was staying out of trouble.”

“She’s probably worried.”

Amelia nodded. Kelley had watched over her since they were little; since their dad died and their mother left them here for Grandma Ruby to raise. “She’d have a fit if she knew I’d gone out in the storm.” She met his dark gaze. “I can’t thank you enough for showing up when you did.”

Boone knew he should tell her his real reason for being on the road today. But then he saw Amelia’s nervousness. “You already have. Besides, you and Jesse are safe now.” He set down his mug. “I checked the supply of wood on the porch. There seems to be plenty for a few days. I’ll go out before dark and move more from the side of the house.”

“That’s a good idea since the radio says it’s only getting worse. The roads are impassible. Not uncommon for this part of the country.”

“Did they say how long the weather system will last?”

“Through Thursday, at least.”

Great. He couldn’t leave for three days. He took a long drink of coffee. This was a bad idea all around. “I should get settled in.” He stood and carried his cup to the sink when Jesse rushed into the kitchen.

The boy smiled. “Oh, Boone, you’re back.”

“Not for long.”

The child frowned. “You can’t leave now. Mom’s going to fix lunch.” The boy turned to his mother. “Mom, will you make egg salad?”

“I can.”

“It’s the best,” the boy bragged. “Everybody says so. I even like it, but not as much as peanut butter and jelly. That’s because Mom makes the bread and her special jelly. It’s peach. That’s my favorite. What’s your favorite, Boone?” The kid finally took a breath.

“I’d say peach is probably at the top of my list, too.”

The boy grinned. “I bet Mom would fix you peanut butter and jelly if you want.”

“Jesse,” his mother called, “slow down. We can have both for lunch.” Amelia glanced up at the clock over the sink. “Why don’t you go and wash your hands?”

Jesse started to argue, but at a look from his mother turned and hurried down the hall.

“I apologize for my son. Outside of seasonal ranch hands, he’s doesn’t have many men around.”

Boone had learned as much from the friendly waitress in town at the diner. The Hughes women were well respected and admired around here. “From what I can see, you’ve done a fine job with him and this place.”

She glanced away. “Thank you. My family helps a lot.”

He nodded in agreement. “Family is a good thing.”

“Do you have family? A wife…children?”

“No,” he said, trying not to react. He’d lost any part of that dream two years ago.

She sighed and refilled their coffee mugs. “Since you’ll be around for a few days, there’s something you should know.” She paused. “When Jesse started kindergarten this year, he realized his classmates have dads. Everyone except him. So he came up with this crazy idea that all he had to do was ask for one. So on the top of his Christmas list he has the word Dad.”

Boone nodded. Great. And here he’d arrived with news that would make it impossible for the boy to get that wish. “And his father?”

She shook her head. “His father has never been involved in Jesse’s life, nor at this stage do I want him to be.”

Boone couldn’t blame her for that. “I guess every boy wants a dad.”

“But he can’t go around picking one out, either. I’ll have a talk with him.”

This was getting complicated. “Maybe I should leave now.” He stood. “I mean, go to the barn.”

“No, you’re not going to stay out in a cold barn all day. I’ll handle Jesse. I just wanted you to know the situation.”

Amelia got up, walked to the refrigerator and took out the ingredients for the salad. When she bent over he caught the appealing shape of her bottom and long legs. His attention was drawn upward as she went to the counter, took a loaf of bread out from under a towel and began slicing it.

“Is there anything I can do?” he asked, knowing he couldn’t just sit there and ogle this woman.

“You can get the plates down from the cupboard.” She nodded overhead.

Boone walked up behind her. Reaching over her head, he caught a whiff of her shampoo. Something lemony. Something that normally wouldn’t be sexy to him. It was now. He gripped the plates and carried them to the table before he got himself into trouble.

Jesse came in. “I’ll help you, Boone.”

The boy pulled flatware from the drawer and placed it beside the plates.

“Good job,” Boone said.

“Gram Ruby says I’m her best helper,” Jesse said proudly. “I help Kelley with the horses, too.” Those big brown eyes widened. “I can help you, too.”

“Jesse Thomas,” his mother called. “Don’t even think about leaving the house in this storm.”

“Ah, Mom. If I get lost, Izzy can find me.”

At the mention of her name the dog looked up. “Izzy isn’t in any shape to go traipsing around in this weather,” Amelia said.

“What if Boone gets lost? Who will find him?”

Amelia swung around to look at Boone. She was asking for help.

“I strung a rope from the barn to here. And believe me, once I get back there I’m staying put.”

The wind howled outside, and suddenly the lights flickered, then finally died.

“Oh, no,” Amelia said. Although it was afternoon, the room was dim, only illuminated by the fire from the hearth.

“Do you have a generator?” Boone asked.

“Yes, it’s in the mud room.” She led him out to the enclosed porch and to a closet.

Boone examined the old machinery. “Have you used it recently?”

“Not since last spring. And only for a few hours. Gram had it checked out just last month.”

Jesse poked his head in. “And the man said she needed to get a new one,” he volunteered. “Gram was looking in the catalog. She showed me a picture of the one she wants.” He looked up at both adults. “You want to see it?”

“Not now, honey.” She turned to Boone. “Do you think you can start it?”

He threw a switch, then pulled the cord to get the motor running. He stood back. “I’m just not sure how reliable it is. It’s best to keep both fireplaces going. You can sleep in front of the living room one tonight.”

“Oh, boy. Can you sleep there, too, Boone? Can he, Mom, huh?”

Boone watched the pretty brunette blush. “I don’t think Mr. Gifford would be happy to share space with a rambunctious five-year-old.”

The boy wrinkled his nose. “That means I jump around too much. But I’ll promise to be quiet.”

“I appreciate the offer, son, but maybe you and your mother should have the sofa space. I’ll make sure you have plenty of firewood to keep you both warm.” He started to walk off.

“Wait, Boone,” Amelia called as he started out. “I have to agree with my son. You can’t sleep in the barn, not without electricity. You’ll move in here.”

Chapter Three

BOONE WASN’T SURE how to react to Amelia’s statement. True, he couldn’t sleep in the barn, but invading their personal space was a different story. He hadn’t signed up for this.

“Maybe the electricity will be back on by then.”

Amelia frowned. “I take it you haven’t lived in Montana long. This outage could last days.”

“I’m originally from West Texas. We don’t get many blizzards.”

“Well, we do. So unless you want to freeze, you better decide to camp out with us tonight. You can have the small room off the kitchen.” She led them back inside and pointed to the eight-paneled door across the room. “One of its walls is the back of the fireplace. It stays pretty warm in there.”

He hated doing this. “I don’t mean to put you out, ma’am.” He had no business being here in the first place.

“You’ll only put me out if I have to worry about you sleeping in that cold barn.”

He felt a strange feeling in the center of his gut. It’d been a while since a woman had been concerned about him. “I would have been okay. The animals are my responsibility.”

“Their stalls are pretty well insulated. And there’s another generator out there, but we don’t usually use it unless it’s absolutely necessary.”

He was surprised how well Amelia Hughes handled the emergency. If she was nervous about the situation, she didn’t show it.

“Seems you have everything under control,” he told her.

“I’m fine as long as we stay in the house and have enough food. And we do. Since the stove is propane, I’ll be able to cook.”

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 had cared about him and wanted to come and meet him. He had to at least tell the kid’s mother, then she could decide what to do. What would Boone’s announcement do to Amelia Hughes?

Amelia tugged her son’s arm. “We’ll see you at supper.” She stepped back, leaving the door open to help circulate the sparse heat.

Boone sat down on the bed and lit the candle on the nightstand. The daylight was quickly fading. He pulled off his boots, rubbing one foot over the other. Once he’d stimulated warmth back into his toes, he lay down and rested his head against the feather pillow.

He couldn’t help but think back to six months ago. It had never been his dream to work as a roustabout on an oil rig off the coast of Galveston, Texas. And that was where he’d met Russell Eldon.

Boone hadn’t cared much about making friends, only about making money to buy back the ranch he’d lost. Russ wanted to give something to the child he’d abandoned, and he couldn’t stop talking about it.

Sharing close quarters, Boone had listened to Russ’s story. How at twenty-one he’d gotten a girl pregnant. In a panic, he’d taken off, even before he knew if she had the baby or not.

About a year ago, Russ had learned that he had a son. For the past months he’d worked on the oil rig to make fast money so he could help with support before he came to meet his child. Jesse Hughes.

It wasn’t to be. Last summer they’d been evacuated when a hurricane headed for the platform, but the last helicopter crashed and they all ended up in the gulf.

A shiver went through Boone as he recalled that awful night. The rough waters that kept pulling him under. The excruciating pain in his injured shoulder. His struggle to stay conscious. Through it all, he kept hearing Russ’s voice, telling him not to give up. The guy had been there with him, keeping him afloat until help came.

Boone shut his eyes, seeing Russ’s face as the rough waters took him down, all the time knowing it should have been him who died that night.

If Russ hadn’t had to rescue him, Jesse wouldn’t be without a father.

Chapter Four

THROUGH THE FOG Boone heard a feminine voice whisper his name. A rush of sensations drifted through him, and his body stirred with longing. He groaned, wanting the dream to go on. Then came the gentlest of touches, and warmth shot through him.

She spoke his name again and he blinked, aching to see her, praying reality would be even better. When he opened his eyes, he saw Amelia Hughes’s face in the dim candlelight.

She smiled shyly. “Hi.”

“Hi,” he returned.

Her gaze was guarded and she stepped back from the bedside. “Sorry to wake you, but you said you wanted us to let you know when it’s suppertime. Jesse wasn’t sure what to do when he found you asleep.”

He wiped a hand across his eyes, taking time to ease his racing pulse. “Thanks, I’m glad you woke me.” He swung his legs off the bed and sat up. “I don’t usually fall asleep on the job.” He checked his watch to see that two hours had truly passed.

“It’s probably the boredom,” she said. “There isn’t much to do trapped in the house.”

He definitely hadn’t been bored since coming here. The brisk chill in the room made him realize he wasn’t going anywhere, not for a while, anyway. He noticed Amelia wore a long sweater that covered her all the way down past her shapely hips. On her feet were heavy, wool socks.

“How’s the wood holding out?”

“I’ve been keeping both fireplaces going, but even after closing off the upstairs, it’s still chilly. We’re managing for now, but tonight the temperature is predicted to drop well below freezing.”

Boone pulled on his boots, trying not to think about the intimacy of her watching him. He stood and walked toward her. At six foot three, he towered over most women, but Amelia was also tall. He liked that. She tilted her head back slightly as her emerald eyes met his gaze. Suddenly his mouth went dry. There wasn’t much about this woman that he didn’t like. She was definitely trouble.

“I’ll bring in more wood.”

“It can wait until later,” she said. “I don’t want your supper to get cold.”

He wasn’t used to anyone worrying about him. “Okay.” With a nod he followed her into the warmer kitchen. The table was adorned with candles and three place settings.

“Hi, Boone.” Jesse came over and took his hand, leading him to the seat at the table. “Mom made stew for supper. It’s my favorite.”

Amelia placed her hands on her hips. “Hey, I thought you liked my macaroni and cheese best.”

The boy nodded his head. “I like that, too. I like everything you make.” He turned to Boone. “Mom’s the best cook. She makes pies for the diner in town. Everybody loves them.”

“Jesse,” she warned. “Stop bragging.”

“I’m only saying what’s true, Mom. Even Mrs. Hoffman at church said so. She told my teacher, Miss Claire, that Mom’s a good catch.”

Amelia gasped. “Jesse Thomas Hughes you’re not supposed to listen to other people’s conversations.”

“But I didn’t, Mom. They were talking right to me.”

Boone tried hard not to smile as a blushing Amelia came to the table. She avoided his gaze as she placed the soup tureen in the center, then went back for the basket of rolls.

She sat across from Boone. “Enjoy this meal, because if this storm keeps up, no one will be eating anything but canned soup.”

“Are we going to be snowed in for Christmas?” The boy looked worried. “And what about Izzy’s puppies?”

Amelia spooned up a bowl of stew for Boone. “She’s not on her own, we’re here to help if she needs us.”

Boone took the warm bowl. “Thank you.” He looked at Jesse. “I think she can handle it.”

“Have you ever seen puppies born?” Jesse asked Boone.

“No, but I’ve helped with calves and foals. Believe me, mamas know what to do.”

Jesse gave his mother a curious look. “Mom, did you know what to do when I was born?”

Even in the dim light, Boone watched another blush cover Amelia’s face. “Well, not everything, but I had Aunt Kelley and Gram Ruby with me. And the doctor, of course.”

Still looking bewildered, the boy picked up his spoon. “Do I get to help Izzy, too?”

Amelia placed a napkin on her lap. “Well, I’m not sure.”

“It depends on Izzy,” Boone jumped in. “She might just want to do it all by herself.”

“Is that why Mom put a big box in the closet?”

Boone nodded. “So Izzy can have some privacy.”

Before Jesse could ask another question, Amelia spoke up. “Let’s say grace so we can eat.”

Jesse took his mother’s hand, then held out the other to Boone. It had been a long time since he had much to pray about, but maybe it was time he started. He took the boy’s hand, then reached across the table for Amelia’s. For a second he allowed himself to think about a home and family.

Amelia liked the feel of Boone’s large hand. Too much. The man was little more than a stranger. That alone sent up warning signals. She definitely couldn’t let herself romanticize the situation. She let that happen once, not again. She had a lot more at stake this time than to be foolish enough to allow some good-looking cowboy turn her head.

She glanced at her son as he talked with Boone. It didn’t take much to get a five-year-old’s attention. Especially since all he’d ever wanted was a father.

“Are you going to be here for Christmas, Boone?”

“Not sure, son. I’m hoping to be back in Texas by then.”

“What about your job?” Amelia asked.

His gaze shifted to her as he raised his spoon. “It’s temporary. I’d always planned to head back home someday.”

“Texas,” Jesse said. “Do you have kids there?”

Boone shook his head. “No family to speak of. Not anymore.”

The boy’s eyes rounded. “Then why not stay here? You can work for Mom and Aunt Kelley.”

“Jesse,” she said in her best warning tone. Her son had to stop this. “You know we only hire hands during calving season.”

“But, Mom…”

Boone stepped in. “It’s a nice offer, son, but I’m going to buy my own ranch, in Texas.”

“Oh…” Jesse didn’t hide his disappointment.

Amelia felt a twinge of the same. She glanced at Boone to find him watching her. Her breathing grew heavy as she locked on his mesmerizing gaze. This was crazy. She’d only just met the man and suddenly she was wanting him to stay around.

Boone turned back to her son. “You see, Jesse, I’ve been wanting one particular place for a long time, and now I have a chance to buy it.”

The boy looked thoughtful. “Hey, you could buy a ranch in Montana.” He turned to his mother. “Right, Mom?”

Hours later the house was quiet as Boone stretched out on the double bed, staring out into the darkness, trying to sleep. But the words that Amelia Hughes spoke earlier were still swimming around in his head:

Boone’s place is in Texas, and ours is here in Montana.

He knew it shouldn’t bother him, but it had. He’d never had much as a kid.

Years ago, Hank and Jolene Gifford hadn’t been much more than day laborers until they scraped enough money together to buy some land of their own. With their old truck loaded up, their son and all their worldly belongings, they arrived in West Texas and their first home.

Many nights, he’d slept in the bed of the pickup until the house was built. His mother took a job in town to help them survive as his father ran a small herd. Boone had worked hard as a boy and continued as a man, building the family ranch.

Their hard work finally paid off until the day he lost both his parents in an accident. He couldn’t run the place without his dad.

Now at the age of thirty, he was getting a second chance. Nothing was going to keep him from his dreams this time.

He stood, went to his duffel bag and found the manila envelope tucked under a pair of his jeans. He knew what was inside without even looking. All Russ Eldon’s personal effects. Everything his friend had wanted to give his son.

Boone sighed. Coming here wasn’t supposed to be so complicated. He’d planned to hand over everything to Amelia Hughes and just leave. Instead he was trapped here in her home, and he was feeling things for the woman he had no business feeling.

He needed to get out of here and fast.

That same husky soft voice called his name again. Boone looked toward the doorway and saw Amelia. Holding a hurricane lantern, she stood shadowed in the dim light. Her dark hair was slightly mussed and she had a blanket bundled around her trim body. Her gaze was questioning.

Boone drew another breath, trying to fight the urges she invoked in him. He zipped the bag and went to her.

“Is there a problem?” he asked.

“I think we’re going to need more firewood.”

He suddenly became aware of the chill. “Maybe you should turn on the heat, too.”

She released a breath. “I’m just worried that the generator won’t hold out.”

He nodded. “How’s Jesse? Is he warm enough?”

She smiled. “He’s fine and sound asleep. How are you doing in here?”

“It’s not bad.” Hell, it was cold.

She smiled at his lie. “Okay, we turn on the heat. But I’ll need to close the vents upstairs.”

“I’ll help you.”

He followed her through the kitchen, checking on Jesse as they went. The boy was layered with blankets on the sofa. He followed Amelia up the steps to the second floor where she opened the door at the top.

Amelia felt the drop in temperature immediately. “Oh, burr, it’s freezing.”

“Colder than a witch’s…” Boone began. “It’s darn cold.” He stood behind her and held up the lantern. “Go back downstairs, Amelia. I can handle this.”

She turned, nearly bumping into him. “But I know where all the registers are.”

With a nod from him, she headed into her grandmother’s bedroom. They worked quickly to shut off the vents, then moved on to Jesse’s room. Next, they went into hers. This had been her childhood bedroom and not much had changed since then. It seemed strange to have Boone here. There hadn’t been a man in here ever, not even Jesse’s father.

She knelt down next to her twin bed, and worked the iron grate, but it wouldn’t budge. “Stubborn thing.”

Boone appeared, shinning more light. “Here, let me try.”

Before she could get out of the way, he leaned over her, and his hard chest brushed against her back. She felt his muscles strain as he fought the stubborn lever and won.

He didn’t move away, and strangely, Amelia didn’t want him to.

“Where to next?” His voice vibrated against her ear. “Your sister’s room?”

“Kelley doesn’t live in the house anymore. A few years ago she moved into the foreman’s cottage.” She stopped her rambling and took a breath to relax. It didn’t help. Was she so starved for a man that the slightest contact set her off?

With this man, yes.

He finally moved back. “Then I guess we’re finished,” he said. “We should head downstairs.”

Still on her knees, she turned to face him. In the dim shadows, they were close in the confined space. Dangerously close.

Suddenly she heard her name called. “Mom! Mom! Where are you?”

She broke eye contact, got to her feet and hurried into the hallway. “I’m coming, Jesse.”

“Hurry, Mom. Izzy’s having her puppies.”

Chapter Five

BOONE FOLLOWED AMELIA downstairs to find the mother-to-be in her box in the pantry. Seeing her owner, Izzy whimpered.

“See, Mom?”

Amelia knelt down inside the narrow enclosure next to her son and gently stroked the dog’s head. “What’s the matter, girl? Are your babies getting impatient to be born?”

In answer, the animal licked her hand and panted heavily.

“Mom, is Izzy having her puppies now?”

Amelia stood and backed out of the small space. “It looks like it, honey. Maybe we should give her some privacy.”

The boy didn’t like the idea. “But what if she needs us?”

“She might. So we need to get some towels and thread to tie off the puppies’ cords in case she needs help.”

When the boy started to argue, Boone spoke up, “Come on, Jesse, I’ll help you, too. Do you know where the thread is?”

With the boy’s nod, the threesome gathered the things needed and returned for the expected delivery. Wrapped in a blanket, with the lantern next to him, Jesse sat in the doorway waiting.

Boone stood holding another light overhead, and watched in awe as Amelia coaxed the Labrador to push out the first tiny puppy. Jesse gasped in delight, and showed even more excitement as the second and third came along.

“You’re doing fine, girl,” Amelia spoke to her patient as she wiped off each new arrival. “Here comes another,” she said, then amended that. “Oh, and another.”

Boone handed Jesse the light and instructed him how to hold it. Then he jumped in and assisted Amelia so none of the puppies would be lost.

By the end, the litter count added up to eight healthy puppies. Amelia gently helped clean the last arrival, and gave it to the mother to begin nursing. Then she worked quickly to removed the soiled towels and replace them with fresh bedding.

Boone took the dirty towels and set them aside, then helped Jesse bring some food and water for the new mother.

“Mom, can we keep one this time?” Jesse pointed to the yellow pup that was busy trying to find a vacant nipple to feed on.

“Honey, we talked about this. You know we have to sell them. Besides, Mr. Clevenger might want that one to keep.”

The boy hung his head. “What if I don’t want to go to college?”

Amelia looked at Boone. “We started breeding Izzy when our neighbor, Ralph Clevenger, approached us because he had a registered Labrador, too. After Ralph takes his pick, I plan to sell the others and put the money in Jesse’s college fund.”

Boone wanted to tell Amelia that she didn’t have to worry about money for college. Russ had left everything to his son, along with a hefty life insurance policy. But that wouldn’t mean much to a little boy who wanted a dad. Instead, Boone spoke to Jesse. “Your mom will make sure they all have good homes with other boys and girls.”

Amelia glanced down at the new mother. “This is Izzy’s third litter. I usually have the vet come out to check her. That’s not going to happen this time.”

He could hear the worry in her voice. “They should be fine for a few days.”

“I hope so.” Amelia walked to the kitchen sink, then turned on the water and washed her hands and forearms. When she turned, Boone held out a clean towel for her. Even in the shadowed light, he could see her fatigue. But nothing took away from her beauty.

“I can keep an eye on Izzy,” he said.

She peeked back into the pantry. “I wouldn’t want anything to happen to her.”

“The sofa isn’t that far away. You take Jesse and at least lie down. I’ll stay here.”

“You need sleep, too,” she said.

“Yeah, Boone,” Jesse said. “Come sleep with us.”

Boone glanced at Amelia and saw her uneasiness. No way was he intruding any more. “How about if I come sit with you until you fall sleep?”

Jesse let out a yelp, ran to the sofa and dove under the blankets.

Boone followed, but added more logs to the dying fire before heading to the opposite sofa. With the heater running, the room was warmer. Boone sat down and looked across the large coffee table as Amelia tucked her son under the covers, then she moved to the opposite end and took off her boots. She lay back, her brown hair spread against the pillow, making him think about anything but sleep.

“Good night, Boone,” Jesse said on a yawn.

Boone jerked his gaze away. “’Night, Jesse.” He shut off the lantern, leaned his head against the high-backed sofa and closed his eyes. Just for a minute, he told himself.

The wind howled outside, the cracking of the warm fire combined with the boy’s soft snores was like a symphony. The feel of Amelia’s presence, so close but so untouchable, made him ache. He shifted, trying to push away any wayward thoughts. He didn’t even know this family twelve hours ago. They didn’t know him either, but that didn’t seem to matter.

Amelia woke up surprised to see it was daylight. Suddenly thoughts of last night ran through her head.

The blizzard. Izzy! Snowed in with a stranger.

She sat up to see she was alone. The scent of coffee teased her nose as muffled voices came from the kitchen. No doubt it was Jesse and Boone. She glanced at the clock on the mantel. Eight-fifteen!

She got up and walked to the window. Looking out at the beautiful winter scene, she tried to gather her thoughts. A mountain of snow covered everything. She could barely see the barn, and Boone’s truck was buried up to the bumper. At least it had stopped snowing. She glanced at the threatening gray sky. For now.

How long before it started again? Would they be able to plow the roads? Restore the power? Get her truck?

Suddenly the isolation bothered her even more. She and Jesse were here with a stranger. A man she was drawn to. In the last twenty-four hours, she’d been thinking about Boone Gifford instead of her grandmother’s heart procedure. It was today, and she couldn’t even find out how Ruby was doing.

Had Kelley tried to call her? With the utilities out, her sister would be worried about not being able to reach them. Had the storm knocked out power in Helena? She shook her head. She had to stop worrying. Kelley could handle Gram.

Laughter came from the kitchen and she smiled. At least Jesse was happy to be snowed in with a stranger.

And so was she.

Boone wasn’t much of a cook, but he could whip up some scrambled eggs when he had to. And this morning he had a good reason. Jesse needed to eat, and so did Amelia. She’d already provided him with two meals yesterday. It was his turn. Besides, with the electricity on only periodically, he wasn’t sure how long the food would stay fresh.

He set a plate on the table in front of Jesse. “Here you go, bud.”

The boy smiled. “Thanks.” He took a big bite. “Why did you call me bud?”

“It’s just a friendly term. Short for buddy.”

Those brown eyes widened. “I like you calling me that.” The boy scooped up a forkful and took a big bite. “This is good.”

Boone sat down across from Jesse and began his meal. After a minute the boy had more questions. “Boone, do you think it will stop snowing before Christmas?”

“I expect so. I’m not an expert, but it will probably stop in a few days.”

“Oh.” Jesse looked disappointed.

“You don’t want it to stop?”

Jesse shook his head. “I want you to stay here.”

The boy climbed off his chair and went to a calendar hanging on the wall that revealed the month of December, with big Xs marked through half of the days. “See, we have eleven days before Christmas. I don’t want you to leave.”

“Jesse, I can’t stay until Christmas.”

“But what about my wish? And I wrote Santa.”

Boone had no idea how to answer him. “I just happened along, bud. I have to go back to Texas.”

Tears blurred the boy’s eyes. “Who’s going to help me cut down a tree?”

Lost childhood memories flashed into Boone’s head. He and his dad used to do that while his mother was home cooking. He blinked and focused on Jesse. “You cut down your own Christmas tree?”

The boy nodded and wiped his eyes. “Yeah, Gram, Mom and Aunt Kelley and me. This year Mom said I’m old enough to use the saw. What are we going to do if it doesn’t stop snowing?”

“It’s going to stop.” He hoped that was true. “And you’ll get your tree.”

“Oh, boy, can you help us this year?”

“Can Boone help us do what?”

They both turned to see Amelia stroll into the kitchen. She was wearing the same jeans and sweatshirt, now wrinkled from sleep. Her hair was mussed and hung against her shoulders.

“Hi, Mom.” He went flying across the room and hugged her. “Boone said you were tired and we should let you sleep. He fixed me breakfast, and he can help us cut down a tree.” The boy finally took a breath.

Her gaze met Boone’s and she smiled. He felt it all the way into his gut.

“Looks like you two have been making a lot of plans. Did you also happen to notice all the snow?”

“When it stops we can go,” Jesse said hopefully. “Boone said we have plenty of time before Christmas.”

Boone couldn’t stop the boy’s excitement, or his heart racing as Amelia looked at him.

All he managed was a nod at the coffeemaker. “Coffee?”

“Please,” she said. “I think I’m going to need it.” She followed him to the counter. He filled a mug and handed it to her. Close up her eyes were dark from sleep.

“I brewed some coffee while the generator was on.”

She took a sip and sighed. “So worth it.” Her gaze met his, then glanced away. “It has stopped snowing, but probably not for long.”

He wasn’t happy about the forecast. “So there’s no hope that it will warm up today and melt the snow?”

She smiled and his heart tripped again. “Getting cabin fever?”

“I did get out to the barn,” he told her. “Had to do a little shoveling to get there.”

Amelia’s son jumped into the conversation. “Boone wouldn’t let me go with him. I had to promise to stay here.” The boy smiled. “I got to watch the puppies, so Izzy could go outside and do her business.”

Amelia tried to keep her focus on Jesse, but having Boone in her kitchen was definitely a distraction. Especially a man who handled chores and could cook breakfast.

“Thanks for your help, honey. Why don’t you finish your breakfast before it gets cold?” She expected an argument, but Jesse only walked back to his seat.

She had no choice but to acknowledge Boone. “Thank you for letting me sleep.”

He shrugged. “I didn’t see any reason to wake you. You were sleeping so soundly.”

She took another sip. “How did the horses do last night?”

“They were fine. Happy for a little attention.”

She leaned against the counter and watched her son eat. “Kelley usually handles their care. But someone had to take Gram for her procedure.” She frowned. “I just wish I knew how the procedure went. If everything went well, they should come home tomorrow.” She glanced out the window. “That isn’t going to happen, either.”

Boone knew that if Kelley Hughes came home, she’d discover he wasn’t the ranch hand she’d hired. He used that rationalization for not telling Amelia the truth. Right now, she needed his help. With another winter storm coming, they seemed destined to stay together. But he still needed to tell her the reason for his visit, and soon.

But he still wanted to ease her mind. “Do you have a cell phone?”

She nodded. “It’s funny, but there’s poor reception inside the house.” She went into the other room then returned with her phone. “No service.”

“Your grandmother is in the best place possible. If this storm came any earlier she could have been stranded here and unable to get the care she needed.”

Amelia nodded. “I know you’re right, but it doesn’t stop me from worrying. She’s my family. Gram raised Kelley and me. Jesse, too. She’s our rock. She wasn’t too keen on having the procedure. Somehow Kelley talked her into it.” She smiled. “Kelley’s a little more forceful than I am.”

“So you three run this place?”

“Yes. A mama-and-baby cattle operation, and a yearling herd in the summer. We lease some of the grazing land and rent out three cabins during hunting season.”

“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.

Chapter Six

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.”

Three hours later Boone was in his room. Restless, he’d done a fifteen-minute workout, hoping exhaustion would help him sleep. He should be used to the confinement after living and working on the oil platform, except there he had television and other guys to talk to.

All he had here was a five-year-old boy and one beautiful woman, making him realize what was missing in his life. And tonight he nearly stepped over the line. Just touching Amelia’s softness had him reeling with need. It had taken everything in him to keep from dragging her into his arms and kissing her senseless. Great, he was turning into some sex-starved maniac.

Boone suddenly heard the puppies’ cries. He hurried to the pantry, hoping they hadn’t woken up anyone else in the house. Amelia was already there. She was leaning over the box. He started to move away, but she turned toward him.

“Seems they want some attention.” She stroked the tiny animal in her hands.

Boone couldn’t resist and sank down beside her, trying not to notice as his leg rubbed against hers. He scratched Izzy’s head, then gently scooped up one of her crying babies. “You know, you’re spoiling them,” he told her.

“Everyone needs some spoiling. Besides, I don’t get to keep them long. All these precious babies will be in other homes soon.”

He smiled down at the now-sleeping chocolate-colored pup. He wouldn’t mind having one of these himself. He shook away the thought. It would be another connection to Amelia Hughes, and give him a reason to keep in touch. She probably wouldn’t want to when she learned the truth about him.

Amelia propped her back against the shelves that stored canned goods. Boone did the same on the other side. Even though the small closet was cold, it wasn’t bad, or was it the fact she warmed his blood whenever she got near him?

“Jesse asleep?” he asked.

She nodded. “He fought it for a long time, but lost in the end. Thank you for helping burn off some of his energy earlier.”

“He does seem to have a lot to burn, doesn’t he?”

“Always had.” Amelia smiled as if she were remembering. “Even as a baby. He crawled at five months, and was walking before he was a year old.” She continued to stroke the puppy. “I guess I should say running. He hasn’t stopped since.”

“He’s a fine boy, Amelia. Any man would be proud to have him for a son.”

“Thank you.” Her smile faded. “There are times when I think I’ve cheated Jesse, with him not having a father.”

This was the time he could tell her. “Earlier you said the boy’s father was never in his life. Have you explained why to Jesse?”

She shook her head, but didn’t seem angry at the question. “Somewhere around the age of four he began asking about his daddy. I only told him that he lived somewhere else. Then this year he went off to kindergarten and discovered all the other kids had fathers.” She glanced at him. “That’s how this silly Christmas wish came about. A little girl on the school bus, Emma Clark, told him to make a wish for one. Jesse took it to heart.” She released a long breath. “I don’t know what’s going to happen when Christmas arrives and he has to face reality.”

“It’s a hard lesson for a little boy. I wish…” He hesitated and looked at her. “I wish things could be different.”

She smiled and his gut tightened with longing.

“You know what they say,” she began “‘If wishes were horses, beggars would ride.’”

He nodded, silently cursing Russ for putting him in this spot, and for waiting so long to contact his son. Now it was too late, and Boone had to bring the bad news to a little boy. “I know I won’t be around much longer, but if you ever need anything for the boy, you can call me.”

Amelia was shocked by Boone’s offer. It also made her look at reality, too. He’d be going back to Texas. “Oh, Boone, that’s sweet of you, but we can’t intrude on your life. Besides, you’ll be so far away.”

“Not that far.” He put the pup back with its mother.

Amelia couldn’t stop looking at his hands. His palms were large and his fingers long and tapered. What would they feel like against her skin? A shiver ran down her spine. She shook away the thought. “But you’ll have your own life.”

“I doubt I’ll have time for a life if I’m busy with a ranch.” He shrugged, his gaze focused on her. “A boy needs a man around when he gets to a certain age.” Then hurried on to say, “That’s not to say you won’t find someone, you’re very attractive. But if you don’t, then you can always call me.”

Amelia’s heart pounded as she put her pup back with Izzy, then bravely leaned forward and planted a chaste kiss on Boone’s cheek. She pulled back slightly and swallowed hard. “You’re a sweet man, Boone Gifford.”

The look in his eyes quickly changed as the irises darkened to a smoldering black. “You wouldn’t say that if you knew what I was thinking right now.” His voice was low and husky.

Amelia knew she should get out of there, but it had been so long since she’d been close to a man. A man who stirred her. A man who made her yearn to feel his touch, his kiss.

She threw caution to the wind and said, “Tell me, Boone.”

He didn’t hide his surprise, as he reached out and cupped her face. “Can’t seem to find the words, darlin’. I’ll show you,” he breathed as his mouth closed over hers.

The kiss was gentle at first, but it still sent Amelia’s heart racing, as she hoped and prayed that he would never stop. Her hopes were answered as he pulled her against him and deepened the connection. His tongue slid along her lips until she opened for him, letting him inside to caress and taste her. With a moan she wrapped her arms around his neck and used her tongue to tease him.

On a groan, his hand moved to her breasts, stroking their fullness. He broke off the kiss, his gaze searching her face. Neither spoke as he dipped his head and kissed her again and again. She’d never known such hunger, such need. She’d kissed men since Russ, but it had never felt like this.

Boone’s hand slipped under her sweater, touching her skin, raising goose bumps as he reached her bra and managed to unhook the lacy garment. On a whimper, she arched her back as his masterful hands began to stroke and knead her breasts.

“Oh, Boone,” she gasped.

He ran kisses down her neck, his breathing heavy. “You want more?” His fingers toyed with her nipple, causing it to tighten into a hard nub. He quickly moved to the other.

“Please,” she said.

Suddenly a whimpering sound broke them apart. Izzy was standing next to them.

Boone released her. “Looks like someone else needs our attention.”

“I better let her out,” Amelia said as she stood.

“No, I’ll do it.” Boone was out of the pantry before Amelia could say anything.

Five minutes later Boone cursed at himself while he gathered wood as he waited for Izzy to finish her business. What had he been thinking? Apparently, he hadn’t been thinking at all when he’d kissed Amelia Hughes. And the last thing he needed to do was fall for this woman. In the end she was going to hate him.

The chocolate lab was easy to spot in the snow. “You ready to go back inside, girl?” In answer the dog bounded up the steps. Boone wasn’t as eager to return, knowing he was lying to a woman he was crazy about. He’d lost her before he’d even had a chance to win her.

Chapter Seven

THE NEXT DAY it was cold and gloomy. The snow had stopped, and all Amelia wanted to do was get out of the house. She wasn’t used to being confined for so long. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad if she could hear from Kelley.

She’d listened to the news on the radio and discovered the storm had crippled the entire area, including Helena. Luckily, the weather system was moving on. Now if it would warm up enough so the snow would melt.

She wanted work crews to restore electricity and phone service. Then Boone Gifford could go back to the Sky High Ranch and things would get back to normal. She glanced at the man seated at the kitchen table with Jesse. The same man she’d kissed last night. The same man whose sure hands had caressed her skin, teasing her with a taste of pleasure she’d never experienced before. She bit back a moan of frustration.

“Mom? Are you okay?”

She fought at hiding a blush. “I’m fine, honey. Just tired of being inside.”

The boy’s brown eyes widened. “Boone said if it’s okay with you, and I dress warm, I can go to the barn with him when he feeds the horses.”

Amelia stole a glance at the man she’d been avoiding all morning. He acted as if she was the last person he wanted to be around.