Page 11 of Moonlight Over Montana

“Jed?”

He pulled his truck keys from his pocket, trying to block out the thought of kissing Maggie.

“Jed?”

“Sorry, Susie, I was thinking about the horses.” There was no way he was going to confess what he had really been thinking about.

“It’s okay. Can I drive to town?”

Jed tipped back his hat and gave her a long look. “Do you have a license?”

She shook her head. “Nope, but you could teach me.”

“Hey.” Maggie waved her hand and yelled, “Come on, slowpokes. We need to get to town.”

Giving her a side glance he said, “Maybe another time. Besided she might want to teach you.”

Susie groaned and dragged her feet slowly up the walk. “She never has time; she’s always working.”

Jed knew what it was like to have an absent parent, but Maggie was a great mom and she had done a great job with Susie. Maybe she could use someone to teach her to drive, but he’d double-check with Maggie first. “I’ll ask your mom, and if she says it’s okay, then we’ll fit some lessons in.”

Her smile couldn’t be any wider. “Horses and cars, a double whammy.”

Jed finally understood what she was really doing. Wanting to see the horses, learning how to drive was all stalling, avoiding what was to come next. “Come on, your mom is waitin’ on us.”

Her gaze dropped to the gravel path. “What if it’s all gone?”

“Then you’ll give your mom a big hug and remind her that you both survived, unharmed.” He nodded in Maggie’s direction. “See that look on her face right now?”

She lifted her eyes and looked through fresh tears to where her mother was coming down the steps to them.

“You are the most important thing in the world to her; she’d lose the diner many times over as long as you were safe.”

Maggie held her arms open, and Susie ran into them. “Baby girl, why the tears?”

“I love you, Mom, and no matter what we find at the diner, we’ve got each other.”

Jed looked away so as not to intrude on this tender moment. It was unfortunate he had never been able to say those words to his family.

“Maggie, I’ll be right back with the truck.” He strode down the path to his cabin and not for the first time in his life, he wished he had his own family.

6

Maggie’s heart hammered in her chest as the miles slipped by while Jed drove her and Susie to what was left of their diner. In her heart, she knew it was gone. It would be many months before she was waiting tables and rolling pie crust for huckleberry pies in the kitchen. She reached over and grasped Jed’s hand. He had been a rock ever since she opened the apartment door last night. It was the first time in her life she wished she had a partner to share a burden with, but right now he was the next best thing, and unlike Cash Gordon, he wasn’t running away when faced with the tough unknown.

She wasn’t about to cut Susie’s father any slack. As handsome and charming as he’d been, he stuck around for getting her pregnant and then long enough for them to come home from the hospital. Three days later, he packed his duffel, loaded up his gear, and kissed her on the forehead. Without another look at his daughter, he was gone. Why she was thinking about him today of all days was beyond her.

Feeling the pressure of Jed’s fingers entwined with hers, he asked, “You doin’ okay?”

“Best as can be. Just do me one favor?”

He glanced away from the road to her. “Name it.”

The intensity at which Jed looked at her made her feel that he’d walk through hell for her. But hadn’t he done that last night? Without a doubt she could count on him. “If I start the woe is me nonsense, remind me I’ve got the most precious thing right here in this truck?”

He cocked a brow, and then it dropped. Dang, that had sounded odd. She’d meant Susie, of course. In a slow, measured drawl, he said, “You’ve got this. And you’re right. Inside this truck, you have your daughter, you, and a good friend. What more does anyone need?”

He squeezed her hand, and she looked out the window before she started to cry again. The town came into view and he slowed the truck as he turned down Main Street. The Filler Up Diner was smack in the middle and suddenly Maggie’s blood froze. What if the buildings on each side of hers were damaged too?

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