Page 69 of The Cowboy's Surprise Return

Maria was standing at the kitchen island with her hands in sudsy water. Her smile grew as she watched Cole give Jackie a light kiss on the lips before heading past her to go get cleaned up.

“We’re going out for supper. Jackie’s back.”

“I can see that,” Maria said, pleasure lifting her voice. “How are you? Cole said you found somewhere for your dad?” She had dried her hands and came over, arms out for a hug, which felt warm and welcoming.

Jackie swallowed hard. Suddenly she saw nothing but the heartbreaking flaws in her plans for her father. When she moved, she’d be leaving her support system. Her friends might not know how bad her father was doing, and they might not know how much she needed them, but she did.

But if she found a way to stay, and things got twisted and ugly between her and Cole, she would lose this family just the same. She would lose the place that felt like home.

But even worse was knowing that when she left town as well as Cole, she could come back to visit Maria and her family, sharing meals in this kitchen. And she’d see Cole—the man she loved. Her feelings were so much stronger than a crush. And one day she might see him here with a wife and family of his own.

She shuddered in Maria’s arms and the woman released her, holding her face between her warm hands, studying her for a long moment. Jackie gave her a bright smile, worried what she might see.

“Oh, honey.” Maria wrapped her in a fresh hug, sending tears streaming down Jackie’s cheeks.

10

Cole couldn’t imagine Jackie living in any of the places they’d looked at in San Antonio that morning. None of the neighborhoods felt as though the people living there would take care of her in the way the folks in Sweetheart Creek did.

But what was she going to do? Spend three hours in the car every time she wanted to zip into the city to check on her father? Sure, it wasn’t that far, but door to door, the miles and time added up.

Jackie had to leave town, her friends. Him.

Even though it was dusk, the work on the ranch done for the day, Cole headed to the riding stable, determined to do something productive, as well as get lost in a task.

Grabbing a shovel, he began cleaning out stalls so Betty wouldn’t have to do it in the morning. There were other things he could do on the ranch, tasks that would take more skill, but he didn’t feel as though he could step in and do them without talking to Levi first.

And yeah, he could go find his brother. He’d spotted Laura’s car parked out front when he got home, and her terrier, Target, had jumped up on him with excitement when he’d entered the house. But Levi was likely busy and didn’t want his time with his gal interrupted.

Cole finished cleaning out the last stall and stretched his lower back. He stood in the doorway to the stable, noting how dark it had become. Full darkness would close in soon, which meant it was probably around seven thirty.

“What are you up to?” Levi asked, joining him.

“Where’s Laura?”

“She went back to her place for the night.”

“That’s early for her.” She usually stayed until at least ten o’clock before returning to her one-bedroom rental in town.

“Did you clean out the stalls?” Levi asked, eyeing the full wheelbarrow.

Cole grunted in acknowledgment, lifting the wheelbarrow’s handles to go dump the contents out back. They walked in silence, Levi at his side, carrying a pitchfork even though Cole wouldn’t need it to empty his load.

“I hear Jackie’s leaving,” Levi stated, as Cole tipped the wheelbarrow, dumping the soiled straw onto the heap near a grove of cedars, dark shadows of the approaching night lengthening. Levi used the pitchfork to heave the straw higher on the pile.

“End of the month.” Just three weeks. They had been continuing with their relationship for the past month as though everything was still normal. But each day their smiles got a little tighter, their goodbyes a little longer.

Cole waited for his brother to finish, then turned to head back to the stable.

“You’ll be moving on?”

“What?” Cole’s steps slowed.

“I imagine the ranch isn’t so exciting after you’ve spent years mountain climbing and having adventures. And now with your gal leaving, there’s not much to stay for.”

Cole eyed his brother as they walked, his heart pounding hard in his chest. It was getting too dark to see his expression. “Is that what you want? For me to leave?”

Levi blinked under the light above the stable doors, as though he hadn’t expected the question. “Well, aren’t you?”

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