None of that mattered now anyway. He was the one who’d deemed their relationship over. She’d moved on with her life. Gotten married. She had a baby on the way, and Lily had offered her an incredible opportunity.
What was her problem then? Why was she finding it so difficult to say yes? Like she’d told Jude, there was nothing tying her to Denver. The house she’d shared with Shane had sold months ago, what little stuff she had was in storage and since she’d been living at Lily’s there was no lease to worry about. All she had was her job. One she was already considering leaving to start her own company. Throw in the fact that Ouray was the one place she’d always dreamed of settling down...
Except you’d dreamed of settling down with Jude.
She blew out a breath, fogging up the window. That was seven years ago. She’d been twenty-one and still traveling from place to place with her parents in an RV. Of course she’d wanted to settle down. She’d spent her entire life roaming. She’d wanted a place to call home. To make friendships that lasted more than six months and have the opportunity to fall in love and start a family.
Things she’d ultimately achieved in Denver. Aside from her friendship with Lily, though, her life wasn’t the fairy tale she’d envisioned. Instead, she’d found herself perpetually walking on eggshells, always hoping and praying Shane would come home sober. When he did, he could be the most charming person in the world. But if he didn’t...
Now she had a baby to think about. What if she made the wrong decision and messed up her child’s life the way she had hers?
“You’re awful quiet over there.” Lily glanced at her across the center console.
Darkness had fallen over Ouray, so Kayla couldn’t say she was taking in the view. “Just thinking.”
“In that case, I have something else for you to ponder.”
“As if I need more.” Twisting, she feigned annoyance.
“Sorry.” Lily stared straight ahead, her brow puckering. “That was my Realtor who called earlier.” Making a right turn, she glanced Kayla’s way. “We received a full-price offer on the house today.”
She straightened. “Full-price? That’s excellent.”
“It is.” Lily let go a sigh. “However, it also means that you’re going to have to find another place to live.”
“Lily, you were doing me a favor, remember?” And while Kayla had been looking, she had yet to find anything that felt like home. “We knew this was inevitable.”
“I know, but...” Her friend hesitated. “I’m not trying to pressure you or anything, but I should let you know that I’ve already spoken with Andrew and Carly and if you do decide to stay in Ouray, you can live in Livie’s House, the little folk Victorian next door to Granger House Inn. It belonged to Andrew and Jude’s grandmother, but now it’s used as an extension of the bed-and-breakfast. You’d have the whole house to yourself.”
She remembered that house. She and Jude used to stop by to play cards with his grandmother, a sweet lady who made some of the best chocolate chip cookies Kayla had ever tasted.
“I will take that into consideration.” Again, she stared outside. God, You’re trying to tell me something, aren’t You?
She was still wrestling with herself when they eased to a stop in front of Granger House Inn.
“Lily, there’s something I need to share with you.”
Unfastening her seat belt, her friend looked concerned. “What is it, sweetie?”
“You know how I told you about me and my parents spending time in Ouray?”
“How could I forget? Your glowing accounts were what made me decide to come here.”
“Well...” Kayla picked at her barely there fingernails. “What I failed to tell you is that, during those six months, I fell in love. With Jude Stephens.”
Lily’s jaw dropped. “You’re kidding me.”
She’d never seen her friend’s eyes so big. “I wish I were.”
The lights of the dashboard glowed as Lily turned in her leather seat. “That is crazy. I mean, what is the likelihood that... Wait, do you still love him?”
“Lily, I was married to another man.”
“Okay.” Lily brushed a stray hair away from her face. “Maybe love wasn’t the right word. But do you still have feelings for him?”
Kayla had feelings all right. A jumbled concoction of them, most of which were probably brought on by the child growing inside of her. She shrugged. “He was my first love, so, yeah, it was kind of exciting to see him again.”
“He’s not married, you know.” Lily grinned with what Kayla was sure was matchmaking glee. “How do you think he felt about seeing you?”
“That’s easy. Stunned.”
“Stunned?”
“Of course he was. I mean, we tried to stay in touch, but you know how that goes.” Especially when one person says they’re done and the other loses her phone, along with every contact she had stored in it. “He had no idea I was your matron of honor.” She shook her head. “And that’s my fault for not saying something to you as soon as you told me you were marrying Noah.”
“Wait, have you met Noah?”
“No, he was on the rodeo circuit when I lived here. And Andrew was living in Denver. The middle brother—”
“Matt?”
“Yeah, he wasn’t around either. But I spent a lot of time at their ranch, so I got to know Daniel and their mom and dad. I loved Mona.”
Lily’s countenance fell. “I hate to tell you this, Kayla, but she passed away a few years ago.”
Tears pricked the backs of Kayla’s eyes. Tilting her head upward, she tried to blink them away. Mona was the one person she was really looking forward to seeing again. Because if anyone could make sense of Kayla’s crazy life, it was Jude’s mother. “How?”
“Cancer.”
The same stupid disease that had taken her father. She pressed her back against the seat. “That stinks.”
“Yes, it does. Noah’s told me a lot about her. I wish I’d had the opportunity to meet her.”
Kayla rolled her head to stare at her friend. “She would have loved you, Lily.”
“You think so?”
“I know so. Mona loved everyone.”
Lily wrinkled her nose. “I suppose I should warn you that Clint has a girlfriend. Hillary Ward-Thompson. She’s very sweet.”
“How do the guys feel about that?” If there was one thing she knew for certain, it was that the Stephens’ boys were crazy about their mother.
“They’re okay with it. Probably because she and Clint were old friends and it’s been a very slow growing relationship. Noah says she’s good at keeping his father in line.”
They both chuckled.
“I seem to recall Clint being a bit of handful,” added Kayla.
Sobering, Lily said, “I know you have a lot of other things to consider, but is Jude part of the reason you’re having a hard time making a decision?”
“Honestly, I’m too tired to think. Plus, it’s only been, what, three, four hours since you sprang this on me? I thought we’d be talking about wedding stuff, not renovations.”
“Don’t worry, there will be plenty of wedding stuff.”
“I hope so, because I’m looking forward to all those girlie things. For now, though—” Kayla unhooked her seat belt “—I think I just need some dinner and a good night’s rest.” One that was, hopefully, not interrupted by a dangerously handsome police officer and images of what might have been.
Chapter Three
Jude breathed in the calming aroma of sawdust while the hum of his lathe provided the white noise that usually relaxed him. Tonight, though, he was neither calm nor relaxed.
He removed the freshly turned spindle from the machine, ran a hand over the smooth wood grain before setting it aside, then put another block of wood in its place. He needed to escape reality f
or a while and take some time to collect his thoughts. He hadn’t felt this torn, this discombobulated since...since the day his mother died.
He wished she was here now to listen and help him sort through the chaos banging around inside of him.
He had already made his decision to resign from the police department when his father approached him about taking over the cattle business. The man was nothing if not proud. Proud of his family and the business he’d worked hard to build. How could Jude tell him he wasn’t interested? Dad wasn’t getting any younger, after all. It was only natural he’d want to step aside, assured that his legacy would live on.
And then there was Kayla. Widowed, pregnant and back in Ouray for Noah’s wedding. Longer, if she agreed to take on Lily’s hotel project.
Shaking his head, he set the lathe to spinning. He quickly shaved off the corners of the wood with his roughing gouge, leaving him with a plain cylinder.
Perhaps what irked him the most was his reaction to seeing her. She was the one who’d broken off all contact with him, yet all he could think about were the good times they’d had when she was here. Working together by day, long talks at night. They’d been practically inseparable.
Some weeks, Kayla spent more time at the ranch than she did with her own parents. They’d shared their hopes and dreams, went to church together and had a mutual respect for Ouray’s history, particularly the architecture. Over 70 percent of the town’s Victorian-era structures were still in use today. Everything from Queen Anne style to Italianate to Colonial Revival, Craftsman and more. And during Kayla’s time here, the two of them had analyzed each and every one, verbally renovating those that had fallen into disrepair and noting the finer points of those that had been restored. Even one he’d thought would make the perfect house for the two of them to raise a family.
He swapped his gouge for a chisel. No, he’d never met anyone quite like Kayla, either before or since. He supposed that made her one of a kind. Problem with that was that every other woman paled in comparison.
What would he do if Kayla decided to stay? Was he man enough to work alongside her again, knowing they would never be anything more than friends? If they were even that after the way they butted heads today.
A sudden burst of cool evening air had him glancing at the door to see Noah coming toward him.
Nudging his cowboy hat back a notch, his brother surveyed the space. “Figured I’d find you here.” His gaze shifted to Jude, then the lathe. “You working or hiding?”
Jude slid his goggles to the top of his head. “You know what they say about killing two birds with one stone.”
“Who or what are you hiding from then?” Noah picked up a spindle and studied it.
“Dad.”
His brother paused. “What did the old man do now?”
“Has he said anything to you about retiring?”
Noah thought for a moment, then shook his head. “No, I don’t believe so.”
“You’re sure?”
“I think I would have remembered that. Why?”
The knot in Jude’s stomach tightened. Dad talked to Noah about everything. But if he hadn’t mentioned Jude taking over the cattle business, perhaps Jude shouldn’t bring it up either.
How was Jude going to dig his way out of this? “I was just curious, that’s all. He is getting older...”
“Old or not, Dad’s too ornery to retire.” Noah returned the spindle to the pile. “Besides, who’d run the ranch if he did?” His dark gaze narrowed on Jude. “Unless you’re wanting to take over.”
“No way. I—”
“Jude, I was hoping you’d be in here.”
He looked in the direction of the door to see Lily moving toward him with purposeful steps. A smile lit her face when she spotted Noah.
“Hi, honey.” Wading through a pile of wood chips, she pushed up on the toes of her boots and gave her fiancé a brief kiss. “Where are the kids?”
“Watching TV with Dad.” Their father had grown quite fond of Lily’s children, ten-year-old Colton and seven-year-old Piper. And like his other two nieces and nephew, they seemed to bring out the best in the old man.
She turned her attention back to Jude and let go a sigh, her petite shoulders sagging. “Kayla told me about the two of you. I hope you don’t think I was trying to pull one over on you. I had no idea you knew each other.”
“It’s all right, Lily.” He sent her a reassuring smile.
“Are you still going to be all right with everything? After all, seeing someone you cared about after such a long time can be quite a shock. And then with her being pregnant and all.”
“Whoa...time-out.” Noah formed a T with his hands. He looked at Lily. “Kayla is your matron of honor?”
“Yes.”
Still confused, Noah faced Jude. “And you know her?”
“Knew her. It was a long time ago.”
Lily nodded. “Seven years.” Her comment had Jude wondering what else Kayla had told her.
Noah crossed his arms over his chest. “Just how well did you know her?”
“Jude, we got a problem.” Dad blew into the building.
Got that right. Jude might need to start locking the door.
“Oh.” The old man’s steps slowed when he spotted Noah and Lily. “Sorry, didn’t know you had company.”
“It’s all right, Dad.” Noah turned. “We were just discussing Lily’s matron of honor, Kayla.”
“Kayla?” Their father’s brow creased. “Jude, you knew a—”
“Yeah. It’s her.”
“The one that got away?” Why had Dad felt the need to add that?
“Got away?” Arms still crossed, Noah puffed out his chest all big-brother-like. “Is there something else you’d care to tell me?”
Lips pressed tightly together, Jude shook his head. “Nope.”
“You were head over heels for that one.” Dad rubbed the stubble lining his chin. “Never could figure out why you didn’t ask her to marry you.”
Noah and Lily exchanged a look.
“I was twenty-two years old. I didn’t know what I wanted.” Yes, you did. You wanted Kayla. But given his uncertainty about what he’d wanted to do with his life, not to mention her need to roam... “What’s the problem, Dad?”
The old man’s brows shot up. “Problem?”
“When you came in here, you said we had a problem.”
“Oh, that. Sheriff’s department called. Said we got a couple of cows wandering around on the county road.”
We? Jude didn’t own any cows. And he’d prefer to keep it that way.
“Fence must be down somewhere.” Dad shoved his hands into the pockets of his Carhartt jacket. “The faster we get it taken care of, the better off we’ll be.”
“Need me to help?” said Noah.
“No, you got your hands full with the rodeo school.”
Jude could hardly believe his ears. Noah had always helped them. Now that the rodeo school had opened, he was too busy? Meanwhile, Dad still thought Jude’s woodworking was only a hobby. He shook his head.
“Utility vehicle is waiting outside.” The old man started toward the door. “Grab a jacket and we’ll head out.”
“I’d better check on the kids.” Lily brushed past Jude and followed his father out the door.
Jude’s breathing grew quicker. He felt his nostrils flare. He did not want to fix any fence. He didn’t want any cows. He wanted to be in his shop, working on his business, following his dreams. To do that, though, he’d have to break the news to his father. See the hurt and disappointment in his eyes.
And he didn’t have the strength for that tonight.
* * *
The sun was shining and the air was crisp when Kayla emerged from Granger House Inn the next morning. Perfect weather for a walk. And after the breakfast she’d
just eaten, she might need a long one. Carly had prepared a delectable spread of homemade muffins, ham-and-cheese quiche, bacon, sausage, biscuits...and Kayla had sampled it all.
She rubbed her tummy. “Don’t get too used to that, little one. Mommy can’t afford to eat like that all the time.” She’d never be able to fit into her clothes.
After twisting her hair into a single braid, she continued down the steps of the sprawling porch and shoved her hands into the pockets of her denim overalls, noting the pale gray folk Victorian house next door. With its white trim, flower boxes and cozy porch, it reminded her of a quaint cottage instead of the run-of-the-mill older home it had been the last time she’d seen it. And she’d get to live there if she decided to stay.
Which led her to this morning’s mission. Revisiting the old Congress Hotel. Between the dim lighting last night and her rapidly dwindling energy, Kayla owed it to herself and her friend to take another look at what the project might entail before making any decisions. When Kayla had texted earlier, Lily had responded that she’d have the Realtor, who lived nearby and still kept an extra key for occasions such as this, unlock the door.
While Kayla had slept well last night, she’d awoken early, her mind ablaze with the options that lay before her. If she stayed in Denver, she’d have to find a new place to live right away, which meant she’d probably have to settle for something less than perfect and then move again within a year. Unless she was able to find an older home she could flip at some point. Still, having a house like that baby-ready in four months would be a challenge even if she wasn’t pregnant. And, of course, any notions of starting her own business would have to wait until after the baby came and she’d settled into motherhood.
Lifting her gaze, she took in the rustic beauty of the conifer-dotted redstone cliffs at the town’s northeastern edge. Ouray was a unique beauty. Majestic and awe-inspiring, yet comfortable. It had that welcoming vibe that invited a person to stick around for a while. She’d felt it when she was twenty-one, and now, Lily had presented her with the perfect opportunity to linger.
Reunited in the Rockies Page 3