LITMIR.BIZ

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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

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