Page 46 of Moonlight Over Montana

He smiled. “You can do whatever you want; it’s your night.”

“No.” She brought the back of her hand to his cheek and held it there. “It’s ours.”

Jed said, “I’m going to set up our supper if you want to do your picture thing, and then we can eat whenever you’re hungry.”

She withdrew her phone and did a slow three-sixty, taking pictures, and she even snuck in a video of Jed arranging their meal. Then Maggie walked outside and took a few more pictures of the shelter before turning to take in the spectacular view. She could feel the warmth emanating from Jed as he came up behind her and she leaned into his chest as his arms slipped around her waist.

“Breathtaking.” A few stars had begun to twinkle in the darkening sky and the moon was above the horizon, making its way upward. They stood watching the sky in the crisp fall air as the fire crackled. It was as if they were the only two people in the world.

“Are you hungry? Would you like some wine or even a beer?”

His breath was warm on her cheek and a flicker of nerves skittered in her stomach. “Wine would be nice. Shall we sit by the fire?”

“There’s a comfy log bench for that very purpose.” He walked her over and said, “I’ll be right back.”

Maggie wasn’t used to being waited on and started to follow him, but he pointed to the bench. “Relax, please.”

She did as he asked and returned to the bench but tossed a log onto the fire before settling down. Taking her gloves off she stuffed them in her coat pockets, and held her hands to the fire. She couldn’t even begin to put into words how she was feeling right now. So she decided not to overanalyze it and just roll with the flow.

Jed came back and stepped over the bench before sitting close to her, thigh to thigh. He handed her a glass of wine, and she was surprised to discover it wasn’t plastic. “Fancy.” She sipped and was pleased to taste a light fruity white. Something she would have picked out.

He tapped his beer bottle to her glass. “I hope we have more nights like this.”

Maggie looked at him and smiled. “You can count on it.” Of the handful of dates she’d had in the last twenty years, Jed was by far the best man she had ever gone out with.

They sat in comfortable silence for a few minutes, but it wasn’t awkward. They had known each other casually a long time and Jed was a man of few words but what he said mattered. She wasn’t in any rush to force a conversation.

He took a sip of his beer. “Is Susie finding ranch life a little better now that she’s fallen in love with horses?”

“I think so. She would prefer to be closer to her friends, but I think expanding her horizons with learning to ride and even the barrel racing is important overall.”

Jed studied the dancing flames. “It’s good that you’re supportive. I know the whole idea of her learning to race scares you and not from the actual act of racing. That does have its own dangers, but she’s not her father and you’ve done a great job raising her. I’m confident Susie will find the right path for her.”

Sipping her wine, she thought about what he had said. “Are you speaking from personal experience?”

“When you’re a kid, the only people who should always have your back are your folks and when they don’t, that can damage how you look at life.”

He got up and poked at the fire, tossing another log on, although it didn’t seem to Maggie it needed one yet. There was more to the story than he was saying and she wanted to ask questions but that was one sure way to have him shut down on her, and she wasn’t willing to put a dark cloud over their night. Hopefully, when he was ready, he’d want to talk about whatever had happened.

“Are you hungry yet?” She stood. “I’m dying to taste what Quinn whipped up for us.” Slipping her arm through the crook of his, she said, “Do you think he packed dessert too?”

Chuckling, he said, “I’m sure. What’s a picnic without something sweet?” He pecked her lips. “Besides you.”

“You keep saying things like that, cowboy, and you’ll never get rid of me.”

He tipped his head to one side, giving her a thoughtful look. “Would that be so bad?”

With her heartbeat kicking into a gallop, she pulled him closer. “No, in fact, I’m thinking it’s what all that has happened is leading us to. They say out of something bad comes something good.”

He lowered his mouth to hers and before kissing her, he paused. “I would agree that is a true statement.”

Dinner had been amazing. Quinn had packed fried chicken slider sandwiches, homemade pickles, and tangy coleslaw with apple slivers and for dessert, graham cookies with chunks of chocolate and a bag of marshmallows for an amped-up version of s’mores. She would never have thought to create a cookie base for them, but it had worked perfectly when she and Jed toasted marshmallows and added more dark chocolate.

She leaned against Jed and pulled a heavy wool blanket around them as they sat, while Jed roasted another marshmallow. “I’m not sure I can eat another bite of anything.” She sat up straighter as if it would make more room in her belly.

He laughed. “I’m making this for me. You still haven’t finished the last one.”

She glanced at the small plate next to her and he was right, but the fact he could see it from where he was sitting only indicated he was very observant.

---