thought she seemed awfully lonesome.”
“Now she’ll have a lot of family.”
“Except me. I’m not really family.”
“But Tom said he regards you like his son. Only a nicer version.”
“I appreciate Tom saying that, but I’m not like Reggie. And I have my own parents.”
“You never talk about them. Are they local?”
Though he didn’t want to talk about himself, he felt she at least deserved some details. After all, she’d divulged the truth about her addicted mother and unknown father.
“The family ranch is up near Tulsa. My mother passed away five years ago, but my dad’s still alive. He’s retired now. He turned over the ranch to my two older brothers.” He tried to keep any emotion out of his voice.
Judging from the sympathetic look in her eyes, Elizabeth detected some. “Do you see them much?”
He shook his head and looked back to the road. “Every couple of years since I’ve been at Tom’s.” He should’ve just left it at that, but he added, “Not much for me there.”
At her puzzled look he added, “My brothers got the ranch. There was nothing left for me.”
“But you have family here, Jack. Don’t you see that?” Her eyes pleaded with him to understand, but he only said, “Not anymore.”
“So you’re still thinking about leaving?” There was anxiety etched in her face. He knew she felt guilty about that.
“Yeah. I don’t want to take care of the ranch until Brady is ready to take the reins.”
“Will you go back home?”
“No.” There was no chance of that.
“But can’t you work out something until you find a better place?”
“I don’t think I can find time to look for another ranch and still run this one.”
“But you have a little time, don’t you?” He thought her voice quavered.
“No, not really.”
“But I don’t think—I mean, can’t you stay another year?”
“No. I don’t want to go through spring roundup here.”
“You plan to leave that soon?”
“Yeah.”
Logically he knew that was the right thing to do. He had the desire and the means to buy his own ranch; it was always what he’d envisioned himself doing with his life. But emotionally he wasn’t quite so sure. With Elizabeth and the kids there, the Ransom Ranch was going to be harder to put behind him.
Elizabeth turned forward in her seat, and they passed the rest of the ride in silence.
When they reached the mall, she opened her door, pulling her coat around her.
Jack got out and hurried around his truck to face her.
“Elizabeth, I’m not trying to be mean. But if I don’t have a chance to buy the ranch, I need to move on.”
Elizabeth pulled away from Jack’s hold and walked toward the mall. She didn’t want to walk beside him.
He didn’t try to talk to her again.
When they went in the store they had shopped in last time, she went to the department for evening gowns. Jack followed her.
“Why are you coming here?” she asked.
“You said you wanted my help.”
“No, I’ve changed my mind.”
Despite that, he continued walking with her.
“I don’t want you to come with me. Do you hear me?” When he didn’t listen, she grabbed his arm. “I don’t want your help. I want you to go do your own shopping.”
“Give it up, Elizabeth. No matter what you say, I’m going with you.”
She wanted to scream at him, but she wouldn’t do that. She stepped into the department and looked for a saleslady. When one appeared, she explained that she was looking for a matron of honor gown.
The saleslady led her to a long rack of long gowns and party dresses and Elizabeth began flipping through them. The saleslady stepped back and asked Jack a question.
“What kind of dress does your wife like?”
“I don’t know. I’m not her husband.”
“Oh, I apologize. I just assumed since you were with her that you were her husband.”
“No, she’s a widow.”
“Oh, my. Does she want to wear black?”
“No. She wants to honor the bride.”
“Yes, of course.”
“I think she’ll need some advice, and she’s not talking to me.”
“I’ll take care of it, sir.” She stepped up to Elizabeth. “Can I offer you some assistance? There’s one gown that I think you might like. Let me go get it.”
She came back carrying a sapphire-blue gown with a high bodice and a flowing skirt. “That’s gorgeous.”
“The color matches your eyes.”
Elizabeth stepped back from the rack. She couldn’t imagine another gown that would be any better. “I’ll try this one on.”
“Certainly, ma’am. This way, please.” The saleslady led the way to the fitting room.
Moments later when Elizabeth emerged in the blue gown, Jack was sitting in a chair, waiting for her. When he saw her, a feeling overcame him. A wish, really. He wished he was her husband.
He’d admired Elizabeth since he first saw her. She was beautiful. Though she was tired when she first arrived, she hadn’t shrunk back from cooking and cleaning. Her generosity and her eagerness to please had impressed him.
She opened her heart to Tom, expecting nothing in return. For all he’d given her she’d been grateful, and she’d raised her son to be thankful, despite what little they’d had.
She was a remarkable woman.
If he had a choice, he’d like to stay at the Ransom Ranch. With her. If he thought he could have that ranch as his own, and Elizabeth as his wife, he’d be a happy man.
But that wasn’t meant to be.
“This gown looks beautiful on you, Elizabeth. I think it’s the one.”
“Yes,
