“A real fanatic, eh? We’d better stock up.” Chase chuckled as he focused his gaze out the windshield.
“I can’t do without them. You’ve been warned,” she answered, wagging a finger. “Anyway, I started watching that lovely movie.” A melancholy sigh escaped. “And my, oh, my. A sense of homesickness washed over me like I’d never known. More like a tsunami, honestly. Before the show ended, I was forever changed. I wanted a life that mattered. You know? Something that meant more than the way I was living.”
Chase didn’t answer right away. He was taking it all in, but she was dishing out material almost faster than he could process it. “You weren’t happy, but you must have had a boyfriend in the picture somewhere. Right? How did he take the news of your epiphany?”
“Not well,” she admitted with a strange tone. “Not well at all. We broke up. I think Brian had someone waiting in the wings anyway, so he made a quick exit as soon as I made my little announcement.”
“Announcement?” That’s a funny way to describe it.
“M-my decision to move back home for starters. I tried to explain I needed to make significant changes if I was ever truly going to be happy,” she rambled on quickly. “I told Brian I was resigning from the firm and moving back home to start a small law practice of my own. But it was a lot to dump on him at once. He said he couldn’t understand why I wanted to go back to ‘that Godforsaken place’ after I’d escaped it for a better life. I assured him that, indeed, God had not forsaken Montana, thank you very much, and he could keep his unkind opinions about my favorite state to himself.”
There’s the fiery redhead I remember. Chase chuckled. “And that was it? It was over?”
“It was so over. Right there in a crowded restaurant, in the midst of steaks and salads. Brian didn’t want to change a thing since he viewed life as perfect. We didn’t even decorate a tree for any of the Christmases we were together! Too busy with work. How could that be? What happened to me? I used to love the holidays.”
He shrugged, a little lost for an answer. That didn’t sound much like the girl he remembered, the one who took part in every Christmas musical their high school performed. “How long were you two together?”
“Too long.” She gave an exhaustive sigh. “I’m sorry. I’ve been going on and on about me. The point about Brian is it’s over. Done. Time for a change of subjects. What about you? Is there someone?”
Chase kept his gaze on the road before him, considering her question. Other relationships had come and gone. But running into Jessie today reminded him. There’s always been someone. Tucked back into a little corner of his heart, never quite forgotten, for longer than he cared to admit. That cute freckle-faced redhead he’d met when he was twelve. He’d sold her some popcorn from the snack booth at a school carnival, and he may as well have handed her his heart with the change. She’d walked away with both.
Jessie gave a curious look. “No one special?”
He shook his head, scrambling for a response. “I think my dating days are over for a while. The babies kind of complicate matters.” Stealing a glance her way, he glimpsed those clear green eyes that could change his mind so easily.
“I guess babies have a way of doing that, don’t they?” Her pleasant smile vanished as the truck slid in the snow.
“It’s okay.” He extended an arm in a protective gesture. “No worries in this rig. We’re good.”
“It will be a relief to get the girls home. Daisy probably needs a diaper change, too. By the way, you haven’t mentioned your parents at all?”
He tipped his hat a bit lower as his chest tightened. “Lost them three years ago.” He cleared his throat. “Six months apart.”
In his peripheral, he saw her hand fly to her mouth.
“Oh, Chase, I didn’t know. I’m so sorry.”
“We lost Mom first. And Dad…” He paused. “I think he died of a broken heart.”
She gasped softly. “I’m so sorry. I can’t imagine. Losing them both, keeping the ranch running, worrying about your sister, and now the twins.”
“It’s not been easy,” he replied, keeping his gaze straight ahead. “Most things worth doing aren’t. The majority of Dad’s employees stayed on, so things are moving along. Milo is my ranch manager and a long timer. He’s given me a lot of good advice. We’ve focused mainly on livestock and keeping the ranch financially sound. But my parents’ dream was to continue with the vacation lodge for visitors, so we’re looking to improve that area. We just finished expanding the large wrap-around porch on the main building, and we’d like to add a few more individual cabins.” He hit a bump in the road, jostling Jessie in her seat. “You okay over there?”
“Sure.” She turned toward the sleeping babies, seemingly unaffected by the jolt. “The twins must be accustomed to the rough ride.”
“Yep.” He looked in the rearview mirror briefly. “I’ll make cowgirls out of them yet. They’ll be sitting on ponies before you know it.” Chase focused his attention to the slippery path before them as the storm intensified. “How about you? Did the city take the horseback riding out of you?”
“No way.”
“What’s it been? Ten? Twelve years? A lot can happen in that amount of time.”
“Absolutely. College, law school, a career.” Jessie settled back comfortably into her seat and wrapped a lock of hair around her finger, her mind wandering.
Wow. Her whole world had changed. Now, she’d come full circle, back to the place of her beginning. And a new life had begun—unplanned, untimely. But not unwanted. Her hand instinctively covered her stomach. My little Peanut. The next generation in tow.
Chase glanced her way. “Carsick?”
“No, I’m fine.”
No need to tell him. She hadn’t even started to show, and she’d be off in a place of her own with the beginnings of a law practice before he’d learn anything so personal. There was enough on the immediate schedule to be concerned about—caring for Daisy Jane and Poppy Jo.
“So, you’ve got the ranch running smoothly. Your father would be proud. Is the lodge open this time of year?”
“No, we generally have guests from the end of April into early September. But we’re looking at ways to extend that schedule deeper into fall and, maybe, winter.”
“Sounds ambitious, I mean, what with all the horses, cattle, and everything else your family has been into for years. That’s a ton of responsibility. I’m surprised your sister didn’t stick around to help out.”
His mouth curved into a half-smile, far more appealing than she cared to admit.
“Charlotte has a distinct lack of interest in hard work.” He chuckled. “And that’s mostly what the ranch has to offer.”
Look away, Jess. Don’t get caught enjoying that grin.
She shifted her concentration to the sweet, sleeping babies. “How could your sister just leave those little darlings?”
“She’s always had a wild side to her, no matter how much I’ve tried to settle her down. Something in her personality. After Mom and Dad died, she kind of went off the deep end. Irresponsible, spending too much money, running through boyfriends. She finally came home to the ranch last week with the babies, completely broke, and stayed until two days ago. I’m just glad she didn’t take the kids. They are far better off here with me, as long as I can keep good help around.” He nodded approvingly. “Like you.”
“For a while, at least. Until you hire someone permanent.” She fidgeted uneasily in her seat. This was only temporary. Did she need to reiterate that? “Hopefully, I’ll be able to find an affordable place in town soon where I can open an office on a part-time basis.”
“Then Old Man Taylor’s real estate may be something you’d be interested in?”
“Definitely.”
That house has plenty of room to raise Peanut and space for a business. In fact, it’s just about perfect. All I need is time to set the wheels in motion.
And time was something she had precious little of. Eight
months, at most, to get settled.
Jessie stared out the window at the picturesque landscape as unexpected excitement rippled through her. This is a good decision, coming here. She could almost feel it in her bones. It’s a wonderful place for kids to grow up.
Precipitation blew every which way against the backdrop of magnificent white-capped mountains. She pressed a finger to the side window, tracing an outline of snow-covered peaks on cold glass. “I’d almost forgotten how lovely it is here. Seattle is great, in its own way. But I guess, for me, there really is no place like home.”
“Too bad it took you so many years to figure that out.”
Was he deliberately trying to point out the error of her ways? “Said by someone who’s never been anywhere else.”
“No need to go anywhere,” Chase affirmed. “I like it fine right here.”
She couldn’t argue with his reasoning, but she didn’t want to acquiesce. Had he chosen the better path? Deep in her heart, a part of her wished she’d never left.
Squinting, she saw a vaguely familiar sight on the horizon. “There’s your property, right? It’s been so many years, I can barely remember. Oh, look how beautiful it is in all that snow!”
“That it is,” he said quietly, proudly. “We’re almost home.”
Biting her lip, she looked away. Home. The place she was still searching for.
Chapter Five
Jessie looked from the sprawling main house, all drenched in glistening snow, with its wide, welcoming front porch, to the stables, horse corrals, and several large red barns off in the distance. “It looks like a Christmas card!”
“It kinda does,” he agreed. “Let’s take the girls inside out of this weather, and then I’ll come back for everything else.”
She slipped her purse over her shoulder and shoved the door open hard against the fierce wind.
Nearly blinding snow swirled around them as Jessie gathered Daisy into her arms, covering the child’s face as best she could. She headed toward the front door, stepping carefully in unsteady heels through the icy accumulation. Gradually, she made her way up to the porch. Chase was right behind her, carrying Poppy Jo. Within moments, he passed her to push open the front door, granting entrance.
The wonderful warmth of the room immediately flowed over her as she hurried inside. Daisy, completely awake, started squirming and wiggling her way to the floor while Poppy seemed quite content in her uncle’s arms.
Loud barking startled Jessie as a shaggy brown and white collie suddenly appeared, jumping up on her legs and knocking her a bit off balance.
“Whoa!” She grabbed for the wall, but Chase’s strong grip caught her arm, steadying her.
“Down, Barlow,” he commanded. “We’re coming through. Watch out, buddy.”
They made their way into the living room and began removing snowy coats and messy boots and shoes. As Jessie bent to unzip Daisy’s pink jacket, the baby’s eyes welled up with tears. “What’s wrong, sweetie? Still sleepy?”
“Nana, nana.” Outstretched little fingers reached for her.
Jessie raised the adorable tiny hand to her lips for a quick kiss. “It’s okay, baby.”
“Banana. She’s hungry. That’s one of her few words,” Chase explained. “It’s way past snack time.”
“Barlow! Get down and leave them be! Move it, little doggie.”
Jessie flinched at the sound of the authoritative, female voice resonating behind her. She turned to find a short, older lady, a bit on the plump side, with wire-rimmed glasses, and long silvery hair pulled up loosely into a bun.
Has to be the housekeeper. The gal looked much as Chase had described her—like she’d worked there forever.
“Land sakes, I was worried about you and those babies! That snow is coming down like crazy, and there’s plenty more on the way.” Smoothing the front of her bright green apron, a wary gaze landed on Jessie. Both hands settled on her hips.
To trust. Or not to trust. That is the question. Jessie could sense caution in the air.
“Hello,” she offered quietly. Then, pulling off Daisy’s damp knit hat, she knelt to wipe moisture from the little girl’s cheeks.
“Welcome.” The gray-haired woman turned to Chase. “So, when hope was nowhere near, you somehow found reinforcements, eh?”
“Something like that,” he replied. “Jess, this is Birdie Jones, our right-hand person around here since the beginning of time. Birdie, meet Jessie McKinnon, the new nanny. She’s going to be staying with us to help with the girls for a while.”
Birdie tipped her head to the side. “McKinnon? Local?”
He nodded. “Her parents are Marie and Alan.”
“Oh, the retired couple who bought the little towable yellow house so they could travel the countryside. The two wanderers. Talk of the town, they are.”
Surprised by her parents’ new nickname, Jessie nodded in uncertain agreement. It certainly fit. They had, indeed, purchased an attractive, exceedingly small home—with no guest room. She’d spent a night sleeping on her father’s old recliner and had residual back pain to prove it.
“Jessie and I go way back,” he explained. “We went to school together years ago. She’s a lawyer.”
“A lawyer?” The housekeeper’s eyes widened. “And willing to work as a nanny?”
“For a while,” she answered simultaneously with Chase as he put his hat on the stand beside the door.
Birdie’s expression brightened and a smile slowly formed. “Well, now, that’s one for the ages.”
Jessie smiled back. But if there was anything she did not want, it was everyone thinking her arrival brought a permanent solution to their childcare needs. Was she happy to help temporarily? Definitely. But she had problems of her own to solve.
Chase placed Poppy on the floor. “The trip to the employment agency would have been a complete loss if I hadn’t run into this lovely unemployed attorney, willing to settle for less,” he added as Poppy scrambled toward Barlow.
“Then I’d say it was success all around. We need all the help we can find.” Birdie extended an arm in greeting. “Welcome. I’m glad to be the chief cook and bottle washer around here during the week, but I’m getting too old to dash after scurrying babies.”
Whew! Somehow she’d managed to pass initial inspection. Jessie grasped the housekeeper’s soft, warm hand. “Nice to meet you, Birdie.” She couldn’t resist the woman’s sudden infectious grin and smiled in response.
If there were an open casting call for Mrs. Claus in a Christmas special, this gal would land the part. All she needs is a red hat.
“So, you work several days a week?”
“Yes, here in the main house. I do lunch prep for the ranch hands and a lot of the cooking for guests at the lodge when the season starts up again in the spring. I don’t like to sit around home much, since my husband passed away.”
Eww…maybe not Mrs. Claus. She winced. No one wants to think of her as widowed.
“Nana, nana.” Daisy fell on her bottom and crawled quickly to Birdie.
“Sure, we’ll get you something, cutie pie. How about your sister? Twinny? Are you hungry, too?”
Poppy mimicked her sibling, down on all fours, scampering across the braided rug until the older woman leaned over and bundled Daisy in one arm. She took Poppy’s tiny hand in hers as the little one pulled herself up.
“C’mon, li’l darlings. Time for juice and nanas.” She whistled. “You, too, Barlow. Snack time, buddy-boy. Let’s head to the kitchen.”
Chase gathered up the coats and placed them on the bulky hall tree in the corner. “Up those stairs to the left is the nursery. Your room will be the large one next to it. C’mon.” He stared down at her wet, gray heels. “Why don’t you kick off those shoes? We’ll find some slippers upstairs to keep your feet warm.”
“She’s gonna need something to wear out in the snow. There are those extra old boots—knee high, black ones—in the closet that might fit her just fine,” Birdie offered as she a
nd the kids made their way toward an entrance through which Jessie could see a stainless steel refrigerator.
Chase glanced at his housekeeper with a quizzical expression and then opened the door to what looked like a large closet. Reaching into the far back corner, he retrieved a pair of winter footwear.
Jessie left her soiled shoes on the boot tray just as Birdie kissed a wiggly Daisy on top of the head and disappeared into the kitchen with both babies.
Chase placed the boots near their coats. “A gift from Birdie. C’mon, I’ll show you around.”
“Thanks.” Appreciating the kindness, she grabbed her purse and started up the staircase, stepping slowly and carefully in her stocking feet on the slick wood floor.
At the top, he pointed out her bedroom, various other guest rooms, bathrooms, an office, and a deep linen closet. “Almost anything you need is in there. Sheets, towels, blankets.”
“This place is lovely, and it’s so much larger than it looks from the outside. I especially like the hardwood floors in the hallway.”
“My folks were always having visitors even before we had the lodge, so there’s plenty of space. Six bedrooms. If the weather is bad and Birdie needs to stay over, she has a small private area off the pantry. The library is at the end of the hallway. Dad was a collector. Lots of great books in there. The door is locked, but the key is hanging up high on that hook. I know the girls are too young to find their way in there now. But, some day, they’ll discover those massive bookcases. Too many ways to get hurt.”
He shoved open the door to a cluttered bedroom. The attractive yellow and white comforter tossed carelessly across the bed matched the bright curtains on all the windows.
“This is Charlotte’s room. Is. Was. Whatever.” Motioning toward the tallest dresser, he added, “If you’re looking for extra baby clothes or diapers, there are some things in those drawers. There wasn’t enough space in the nursery after getting two cribs in there, so Charlotte crammed some of it in here.” He slid open the nearest closet door and pulled out a brand new pair of satiny gray slippers. “Here, try these—one of my sister’s Christmas gifts. She left them behind, along with a few other things.”
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