LITMIR.BIZ

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went to sleep, strangely thinking of Jack seeing her in those black lace panties and matching bra he bought.

      Elizabeth seemed awfully chipper the next morning as she cooked breakfast. Pretending to read the newspaper, Jack watched her without her knowing.

      Her long light-brown hair was wavy and shiny, pulled back on one side with a clip to reveal her slender, creamy neck. Her cheeks had a rosy glow, her lips a soft pink hue, and the best part was that the color was all natural. No fussy creams and gels for this woman. With Elizabeth, what you saw was the real woman.

      He imagined her with more curves on her thin frame, as she’d be after she stayed at the ranch for a while. He knew her life had been hard and she’d gone without, but now that Tom was taking care of her, she’d fill out—in all the right places.

      The soft sound of her humming broke into his errant thoughts. She had a lovely voice and she nodded her head in the apparent beat of the song she intoned. The tune was familiar, but he couldn’t place it.

      He liked seeing her happy and made a mental note to tell Tom that his shopping trip had been a good one.

      He too was pleased when Elizabeth sat down to breakfast. “I didn’t know you’d be eating with me. It’s a treat. Usually I eat alone.” He dug in to the eggs and hash browns. “What do you have planned for today?”

      “Some cleaning, in addition to cooking and taking care of my children.”

      “Aren’t you going to church?”

      “Of course, but I don’t think I can take Jenny to Sunday School. Tom mentioned last night that he’d get up and go to Sunday School with Brady. He said you might—” she suddenly lowered the lids on her big blue eyes “—might take me and Jenny to church.”

      “I’d enjoy that. I don’t always go to Sunday school, but I try to make it to church.”

      “We’ll be ready on time.”

      He stared at her, wondering about her agreeableness. Then he said, “We’ll be going out to lunch today, so you won’t have to cook dinner.”

      That’s when her agreeableness ceased. Her head snapped up and she retorted, “But that’s my job!”

      “Tom and I usually go out to eat on Sunday.”

      “Yes, but now I’m here. That’s what Tom is letting me do to pay him back for all he’s given me.”

      “Tom thinks he’s being nice because you gave him a reason to keep going.” When she gave him a quizzical look, he explained. “Elizabeth, you and the kids are the reason he’s getting out of bed. Before you came, he’d lost all hope.”

      She blinked, trying to deny the tears that clouded her voice. “He shouldn’t have to pay for hoping. That’s—that’s sad.”

      “I agree, but that’s how it was. I couldn’t talk him out of bed half the days. He wanted to die. First his wife passed away, then Reggie left the ranch. He felt he had nothing left, no reason to keep the ranch going. He felt his life was over. But once you came, with the kids, he felt he finally had something to live for. Some hope for the future.”

      She whispered, “Brady.”

      “Yeah, Brady, but Jenny, too. He wants to regain his health, for both kids.”

      “What’s wrong with him? Is there anything I can do?”

      Jack shook his head. “That’s the thing. Nothing’s wrong with him. No medical problems at all. He’s sixty-two and healthy as a horse. Except for his emotional malaise.”

      “But how can I help?”

      “By giving him a chance. He’s got plenty of money. That isn’t important to him. Not like his grandchildren.”

      She smiled faintly. “I’m glad he feels that way. Brady’s quite taken with him.”

      “I’m sure the feeling’s mutual.”

      In fact, Jack had to admit the little boy had won him over too.

      Just as his mother had.

      When Jack came in from the morning chores, he quickly showered and changed into his church clothes. When he called down to Elizabeth and got no reply, he looked out the window and found her carrying Jenny to the pickup.

      Grabbing his coat, he strode out to the trunk, eager to see her again and bask in her good mood. But when he saw her through the window, he came to an abrupt halt.

      Something was wrong.

      “What’s the matter?” he asked as he got behind the wheel.

      She didn’t look at him but he could see the sadness on her face. It was mixed with confusion and anger and regret. “You tell me,” she replied.

      “What do you mean?”

      After a moment she turned to him and he noticed her eyes were rimmed with red, as if she’d been crying. “Tom told me this morning you were planning on buying the ranch from him. Now he doesn’t want to sell. He wants to keep the ranch for Brady.”

      He thought about his reply, then finally decided to tell her the truth.

      There was no reason not to be honest.

      He looked at her intently then, and on some level he noticed she was wearing one of the dresses he’d bought for her. She looked beautiful.

      “Jenny is sure lucky.”

      That statement confused her. “What do you mean?”

      “Jenny looks like you. That’s why she’s lucky.”

      “Thank you, but I want to know why you’re being so nice to me when I’ve ruined your life!”

      He snickered and said, more to himself than to her, “I haven’t figured that out yet myself.

      “Look, Elizabeth, the land isn’t going anywhere. And I’m still making the decisions about it. Tom doesn’t have much interest anymore.”

      “But you won’t own it!”

      “I’ve been Tom’s manager for almost ten years. I’ve been planning on buying it for five years. When I realized Reggie didn’t have any interest in the place, it seemed like it was a prime property to buy.” He shrugged. “It obviously didn’t work out. Maybe I’ll find another place and move on. I’m not sure what I’m going to do.”

      “But Tom can’t manage without you!”

      “That’s not true. There are a couple of good cowboys who can manage the property.”

      “But Tom depends on you.” Her voice hitched on a sob. “It just doesn’t seem fair that his grandchildren and I have come into his life and now he has to lose you.”

      Jack nodded. He knew the feeling.

      Chapter Four

      RATHER than listen to the preacher, Elizabeth let her mind wander back to the conversation with Jack. She worried over Tom’s decision to hold on to his property so he could give it to Brady.

      She also worried about Jack.

      It didn’t seem fair for him to put in all that time on the ranch and then be denied it because a three-year-old arrived two days ago.

      She thought she should do something for Jack. After all, he’d done his best for her.

      When the congregation stood for a final song, she joined in then took Brady’s hand and led him out of the church. “You behaved very well this morning, sweetheart. And you look so handsome.” Dressed in the sport coat and slacks Jack had picked out, Brady looked like a little man. “Did you enjoy yourself?”

      “Yes, but it was kind of long, Mommy. And I’m real hungry.”

      She smiled

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