going to be on the road for about two and a half hours,” Jared said, breaking the silence. “Maybe more, because I think we’ll stay on the main highway and then pick up Highway 200 at Great Falls.”
“All right.” She had no idea what he was talking about.
“We’ll stop there for coffee and, uh, anything else you need for the baby.” He glanced toward Melanie and surprised her with the serious expression on his face. “Do you think she’s okay back there?”
“She’s sleeping,” she assured him. “She likes to ride.”
“Good thing,” he murmured. “See that sky? We’re going to get some more snow, and soon.”
Melanie looked out the window and craned her neck upward to see dark gray clouds and approaching darkness. “We won’t get stuck, will we?”
“No. We’ll be home in time for a late supper. Unless you want to stop and get something on the road. I should have asked if you were hungry.”
“I’m fine,” she said, though it had been hours since breakfast. Beth had been fussy most of the afternoon and there had been no time to eat the sandwich another traveler had purchased for her in the dining car.
“If you change your mind, just say so.” He switched on the radio and a woman with a country twang sang about love in the afternoon. Jared hurried to turn it off. “Sorry,” he said. “I forgot about waking the baby. What’s her name?”
“Beth. And the music won’t bother her.” At least the song had filled the truck and substituted for conversation.
She didn’t mind the silence.
JENNA LOOKED AT HER WATCH, then at the clock on the wall above the refrigerator. Jared should have their guest by now. They should be on their way home, but she’d been switching back and forth between the Carol Duvall show and the Weather Channel and now she was worried. She’d no interest in rubberstamping faux wallpaper when another storm was predicted and neither son was home safe and sound.
“They’ll be fine. No one’s more dependable than Jared,” Uncle Joe declared, reading her mind as he entered the large kitchen and poured himself a cup of coffee. He paused before putting the carafe back into place. “You want some, honey?”
“No, thanks. I’ve got enough jitters as it is.” But she gave the old man a smile she hoped was reassuring. He was the last remaining member of her side of the family and, at eighty-two, Uncle Joe was proud of his longevity and his skill with cards. He’d arrived the week before Thanksgiving and, declaring he was lonesome, moved into the enormous ranch house “until the New Year,” he’d declared. “Or until you kick me out.” He knew Jenna would never do such a thing, but it was a little joke between them. Uncle Joe liked his little jokes.
“You’ve got no reason to be nervous, honey. Christmas around here is always one hell of an occasion, thanks to you.” Uncle Joe pulled out a chair and sat down at the long worktable that had been at the ranch for four generations. “And Will was only in Washington for six weeks. He couldn’t get serious about no young woman, not that fast.”
“I don’t know about that.” She would fix a cup of herbal tea, Jenna decided. “My sons have big hearts, though Jared tries to hide it more than Will. And I sure wouldn’t mind having a daughter-in-law. I’d about given up hope of ever having another woman for company around here.”
“Bitty doesn’t count?” The old man shot her an evil grin.
“Aunt Bitty’s in a class by herself.”
“Where is the old bat, anyway?”
“Uncle Joe—” she began, ready to admonish him again to be nice to her husband’s aunt.
“I know, I know.” He held up a gnarled hand as if to ward off her words. “She’s an in-law and you can’t do anything about her. I don’t mind her radio shows, but that barking rat of hers is too much for a man to ignore.”
Jenna couldn’t help her smile. The “barking rat” was Bitty’s ancient Maltese, a nine-pound dog who was never out of his devoted owner’s sight. Fluffy did everything but eat his meals at the dinner table, and Jenna had no doubt that if she allowed it, that’s exactly where he would perch. “Fluffy doesn’t bark that much.”
“He isn’t ‘fluffy,’ either,” Joe grumbled.
“I’m sure his thyroid medication will kick in one of these days.” She looked again at the clock and wished she’d told Jared to call her when he left Havre. Her eldest didn’t think much of cell phones; he grudgingly kept one in his truck’s glove compartment, but rarely used it.
“You spoil us all, Jenn,” he declared, taking another sip of coffee. “Like you’ll spoil Will’s girl, once she gets here. You get that painting done?”
“Yesterday.” She hoped Melanie Briggs liked lilac.
“And dinner smells good.”
“Yes,” she said, taking the kettle off the stove. “I cooked a roast earlier, so no matter what time they arrive dinner will be ready.”
“You think of everything,” the old man declared, beaming at her. He plucked a deck of cards from his shirt pocket. “You want to play a hand of gin rummy, just to make the time pass quick?”
“Sure.” Between Joe’s cards, Bitty’s radio programs and Fluffy’s constant begging for treats, Jenna hoped she wouldn’t have time to worry about her sons.
2
SO WHAT IF SHE WAS ONE of the most beautiful women he had ever seen? Oh, there had been some rodeo queens in his past, and that one summer seven years ago when he’d dated the first runner-up for Miss Montana. But there was something about Melanie, a softness that urged him closer though he knew he should stay well away. After all, she had been invited to the ranch by his brother, who was probably head over heels in love with the woman.
And she had a small child, which meant there was an ex-lover or ex-husband somewhere in the picture to complicate things. There was a lot more to Melanie Briggs than met the eye and Jared hoped his little brother knew what he was getting himself into.
He glanced over and saw that her eyes were closed. He knew if he started a conversation she would sit up and attempt to take part, just to be polite. There would be plenty of time to ask questions tomorrow, but he wouldn’t be asking them of his houseguest, that was for damn sure. Will’s plane was due in at 5:38 and there would be plenty of time on the drive home to find out what was going on.
Another thirty or so miles passed before he woke her.
“Do you want some coffee or tea or something?” Jared slowed the truck and took the exit that led to a large café. Its lights looked welcoming in the dark and a number of semis and pickups filled the parking lot. Snow swirled around in the wind and hit the windshield, but it was nothing serious. Just flurries so far, but they had another hour or so to go before they were home.
“If you’re getting some,” Melanie said, but she sounded pleased that they were stopping. The baby let out a couple of noisy complaints after hearing her mother’s voice.
