Last Of The Joeville Lovers. Anne Eames

Dad...did you teach Taylor to be this tough?”

      His expression unchanged, Max didn’t acknowledge his son’s question. “Josh...you’ll have to excuse us a moment. There’s an urgent call from Ann Arbor.” Max turned back to Taylor. “It’s your father,” he said and handed her the phone.

      Taylor stared at it, her pulse quickening. Her father would never call her at the Malone ranch when he knew she would be working in Max’s clinic...especially at this hour of the morning...unless....

      She punched a button and spoke into the receiver, trying to steel herself for bad news. “Dad?” The sound of his voice at once confirmed her fears. Something was gravely wrong.

      And it had to do with her mother.

      Taylor walked around the corner to the office where Max’s daughter-in-law, Savannah, sat cross-legged on the floor. Her young son, Billy, knelt beside her, watching as she changed his baby brother’s diapers. Savannah’s quick smile faded as soon as she saw Taylor’s face.

      Taylor dropped into a chair in front of the desk and listened intently to her father. “Who’s her doctor?” she finally asked. When her father answered, she stood and paced to the window behind the desk. “I’ll catch the next flight out. Tell her to hang on, Dad. I’m on my way.” Her knees started to shake and she was thankful when he said goodbye.

      She switched off the phone and stared at miles of wildflowers leading to the MoJoe Mountains and the mirrored blue waters below, her thoughts turning inward. She had always known this day might come. And she had always known what she would do if it did.

      “Taylor?”

      She turned and saw the concern on Savannah’s face.

      “What can I do to help?” she asked, as Max and Josh walked through the doorway.

      Max stepped forward. “Let me call the airlines and get you a ticket.”

      Taylor nodded, still stunned by the news. “I’ll have to go home and pack a few things. I don’t know how long I’ll be gone—”

      Max closed the space between them, the pain on his face evident, reminding her that her mother and Max had been friends years ago, that she wasn’t some anonymous critical patient. “We’ll manage here. Put it out of your mind.” He bracketed her shoulders with a gentle touch. “But I don’t think you should drive.”

      She started to protest when Josh broke in. “I’ll take you to the airport.”

      Savannah adjusted her restless six-month-old on one hip and frowned at her watch. “If I remember correctly, the last time I thought about going back to Detroit, the only flight left before noon. If that’s still true, there won’t be time for you to go home first. I’m not sure if you can even make the flight.”

      One way or the other, she would be on that plane. Clothes or no clothes. She tried to remember what still might be hanging in her childhood Ann Arbor home. Then Savannah offered a better solution.

      “Between Jenny and me we have plenty of things you could borrow. Why don’t we go work on that while Max checks on the flight.”

      Taylor let herself be led out of the office and down the hall to the living quarters, feeling as though she were a sleepwalker in a bad dream. In no time at all, Savannah deposited baby Chris in his playpen, told Billy to keep his little brother company, and then proceeded to pull two bags from the closet.

      “I have an extra blow-dryer and curling iron. I’ll pack them and some personal stuff in this carry-on...but I think Jenny’s clothes might be closer to your size.” She handed a hang-up bag to Taylor and turned her toward the door.

      “Thank you,” she mumbled and picked up her pace to the kitchen where she knew she would find Jenny preparing lunch. With any luck, possibly Ryder or Shane might be there, too. Savannah’s or Jenny’s husband would make a better traveling companion than Josh. She’d managed to ignore the youngest brother for the few months she’d worked here, except recently when he dislocated his shoulder. Therapy was one thing; spending a couple of hours in a car with him was quite another.

      She could always drive herself, she thought as she heard laughter coming from the kitchen. She held out her hands and noticed her trembling fingers and knew that wouldn’t be wise. Finally she let out a pent-up breath and pushed through the swinging door to the lively kitchen. If she had to go with Josh, so be it. Reaching her mother on time was all that mattered.

      Hannah, the barrel-shaped housekeeper, and Jenny were laughing at something and they turned in unison when she entered the room, their smiles disappearing when they saw her.

      “My mom is very sick and I have to leave for the airport.” She heard the quaver in her voice and bit her bottom lip. She blinked hard, fighting to clear her vision, and eyed Jenny. “Savannah thought you might lend me some clothes—”

      Jenny padded from behind the counter, wiping her hands on the apron that stretched across her rounded belly. “Of course.” She hooked Taylor’s arm and headed for the side door. “Come on to the cabin with me. Pick out whatever you want. I won’t be needing any of it for months.”

      They started across the gravel drive and cut through the stables, Jenny moving briskly for a woman six months pregnant expecting twins. Since Taylor had accepted this part-time job, she and Jenny hadn’t exactly been bosom buddies, but they weren’t adversaries, either. Taylor suspected her shunning of Joshua had something to do with Jenny’s coolness. But whatever the strain between them, Jenny showed none of it now as she rushed Taylor along.

      Neither Ryder or Shane was anywhere in sight, and the horses were all outside in the corral. Sunlight streamed through the open doors, and the smell of fresh-strewn hay rose up to meet her. Outside again, they crossed to the cabin steps and Taylor followed Jenny past the screen door and into the cozy living room beyond, too numb to take in the unfamiliar surroundings. Together they filled the hang-up bag with a couple of simple summer dresses, skirts, knitted tops and jeans.

      “Thanks,” Taylor said, zipping closed the bag, eager to be on the road.

      When they returned to the main house, Max was staring out the back window of the kitchen and Josh was on the phone. He hung up and said, “There! Got everything covered for the rest of the day.” He faced Taylor and rubbed his hands together. “Ready to go?”

      Taylor hid her disappointment the best she could. Even if Josh wasn’t her first choice, he was doing her a favor. “Yes, I think so.”

      Savannah held up a pair of shoes in either hand. “Thought you could use these...if they fit.”

      Taylor checked the size and nodded, then glanced over at the sad figure in front of the window. Max seemed as dazed as she felt. Savannah found a pocket for the shoes and zipped the bag closed, the sound snapping Max from his reverie.

      He walked quickly to Taylor’s side, acting as though he only now realized she had returned. “I got you a seat...out of Bozeman...but you’ll have to hurry.” He lifted his wrist and read the time. “The plane leaves in less than two hours.”

      Josh gave him a dismissive wave. “Not to worry, Dad. I’ll use my plane and get her there with time to spare.”

      Max gave him a stern look. “I thought you said it needed repair.”

      Josh shrugged. “Nah, just a few minor adjustments. I took care of it yesterday.”

      Taylor grimaced. Just what she needed—to squeeze into some small crop duster and put her life in the hands of this gamesome cowboy.

      Max’s expression looked as if he mirrored her thoughts as he touched Taylor’s arm, but then he changed the subject. “Tell your mom I—” he paused and glanced at the other worried faces in the kitchen “—tell her we’ll all be praying for her.”

      Taylor held his gaze a moment, certain he wanted to say more, but he didn’t. The women gave her a quick hug, and Josh tugged at her elbow. He winked and ushered Taylor outside, where his