The Rancher Who Took Her In. Teresa Southwick

      “You know why I did it. And there are lots of reasons for running. That doesn’t make me like his ex-wife.”

      “If you say so.”

      “I do.” She winced at the words that she would have said if she hadn’t run out on the wedding.

      Kate would love to know what Cabot had said to this woman about her. If she had to guess, there was some comparison between her and the woman who’d done him wrong. Some judgment that lumped her in the same, unsympathetic group of females who were selfish and irresponsible.

      “Look, Caroline, I did run out on my wedding. In hindsight, probably I should have faced everyone at the church and announced the wedding wasn’t going to happen and explained why I was backing out of it. At the very least I’m guilty of avoiding the public humiliation, but I’m not a liar.”

      “I believe you, Kate.”

      “Then I hope you’ll accept as fact that I like the anonymity here in Blackwater Lake and the chance to work with kids for the summer. It’s something I never really considered doing, but I think it will be challenging and fun. I’m grateful for the chance.”

      “No matter what your circumstances are, that’s Cabot’s goal. The stray cabin is his way of giving someone a chance.”

      Kate nodded and continued slicing potatoes. Her goal in the conversation had been to extract information, but now she had more questions than answers. It wasn’t clear whether she was more bothered about being put in the same category as the woman who’d upended his life or that he was treating her as if she needed a handout.

      Still the most persistent question of all was why she even cared what he thought.

Chapter Four

      Kate hadn’t known what to expect from this job, but after her first full day and most of her second, she was pleased with her showing. More important, she was enthusiastic about doing it again tomorrow.

      She was there as backup for the other experienced counselors, an extra pair of hands during games, crafts and competitions. Another pair of eyes to watch over the kids and make sure all went smoothly didn’t hurt, either. If one of the adults got sick or needed help, she could fill in. The kids were funny, energetic, exasperating and so much fun to be around.

      With school out, Ty was participating in camp activities. Caroline had explained this was child care for him so that his father could work. The boy had joined in on some of the events and had hung back on others. Swimming was his strongest skill; he was like a fish. He was not a shining star at basketball, football or baseball, and his lack of confidence showed in his facial expressions and body language. Tyler Dixon simply tugged at her heart.

      It was now late afternoon. Everyone was taking a little breather before dinner. She’d checked with Caroline to make sure no help was needed for the evening meal. After getting the all clear, she’d decided to take a walk by the lake.

      Even though she saw it every day, the beauty of Blackwater Lake still astounded her. It would never happen in a million years, but she wondered whether or not she would take the view for granted if she lived here.

      She stopped at an outcropping of rocks at the water’s edge, breathed in the pine-and flower-scented air and watched the sunlight turn the gently moving surface of the lake into a sparkling blue carpet. If not for her pesky attraction to Cabot Dixon, her soul would be at peace for probably the first time ever.

      She hadn’t talked to him for a couple of days, since that night he’d explained he walked ranch inspection every night. From the window of her tiny cabin she’d seen him pass by, but he didn’t look over, obviously not even tempted to drop in and see her. She wasn’t accustomed to serenity, but she also wasn’t used to being ignored. Or being considered a “stray.” It had been so hectic she hadn’t had time to process what Caroline had told her about the cabin being available to Cabot’s charity cases. She wasn’t a three-legged dog or blind cat. Or an abused woman. It rankled some that he’d pegged her that way.

      “As a rule a man’s a fool. When it’s hot he wants it cool. When it’s cool he wants it hot. Always wanting what is not.” She shook her head at the silliness of the ode to human nature that her mother had taught her.

      “Kate—”

      She whirled around, startled because she hadn’t heard footsteps behind her. Ty stood there. “Hi. Wow, you were really quiet.”

      “You weren’t.” His freckled face was solemn. “Do you have an imaginary friend?”

      “No. I was just talking to myself.” She studied him. “Do you?”

      “I used to. Then C. J. Beck—I mean, Stone—and me got to be best friends.”

      She was no shrink, but it wasn’t much of a stretch to assume that this little boy was lonely. His father was busy running a business and his mother was somewhere in Montana but made no effort to see her son. No two ways about it. The situation just totally sucked.

      “Do you want to walk back with me?” she asked.

      He looked up hopefully. “Would it be okay?”

      “I’d like that very much.” She pointed to the way she’d come. “It’ll be time for dinner pretty soon.”

      Ty fell into step beside her. “Can you have dinner with me and my dad again?”

      “I’d like that,” she said cautiously. “But you’d have to ask your dad if it’s okay first.”

      He kicked a rock on the lakeshore. “I just know he’ll say no.”

      Kate figured the only reason Cabot had allowed her to dinner that one time was because she’d just pushed ahead and didn’t give him a tactful out. “Does your friend C.J. come to dinner?”

      The boy thought for a minute. “Not very often. I usually go to his house.”

      “I’m sure your dad has his reasons.”

      “He works all the time,” Ty agreed. “And C.J. has a mom and dad now. When there’s school I go to his house a lot and either his mom or dad brings me home.”

      “That’s nice.”

      “Yeah.” He picked up a rock and threw it into the lake. “He got adopted.”

      “Oh?” Did C.J. have different biological parents? Her response was designed to elicit more information if Ty wanted to tell her.

      “Yeah. Dr. Stone—Adam—got married to his mom and then adopted him.”

      “I see. Does he like Adam?”

      “Yeah. But he calls him Dad now.”

      “That’s really nice.” She looked down, and it was impossible to overlook the brooding expression and longing on the small face.

      “He’s got a mom and dad.”

      “Do you miss your mom?”

      He thought about that. “I was a baby, so I don’t remember her.”

      If she read between the lines, he was saying you couldn’t miss what you never had. But you could certainly envy what someone else had. “I always had a mom and dad around, so I don’t really know what you’re going through. Guess it’s hard to only have one parent, huh?”

      “Most of the kids at school have two parents,” he said. “I wish my dad would get married so I’d have a mom.”

      Uh-oh. She was afraid there was an ulterior, matchmaking motive to another dinner with them. Oh, God, what to do? She didn’t want to reject him, but wasn’t it more cruel to let him hope that she and his father would ever become romantically involved?

      “Ty, are you hinting about me and your dad getting—close?”