Rocky Mountain Daddy. Lois Richer

it was probably one he should have asked himself. Maybe the kid had preferences.

      “Windows.” Eli popped another fry into his mouth and chewed thoughtfully. “So I can see to draw.”

      “You like to draw.” Olivia nodded. “I see. What else would you like?”

      “Grass. Mine.” Eli fell silent for a moment. The sad look he gave Olivia tore at Gabe’s heart. “Not just a park.”

      “It’s not the same, is it? I lived in an apartment in Ottawa and I loved the park, but having your own yard is way better. Did your aunt have a yard?” she asked nonchalantly.

      Not nonchalantly enough, Gabe figured, watching Eli’s face close like a clamshell.

      “No.” Eli said nothing else.

      And here I’ve lived my life surrounded by grass. I could have... Inside Gabe the nugget of bitterness toward Eve hardened.

      “Too bad.” Olivia sipped her coffee. “What other things would you like, Eli?”

      “Nobody beside us?” Eli peeked sideways at her, as if he doubted this could be accomplished.

      “You mean no neighbors?” When he nodded, she added, “You don’t like neighbors?”

      “Yelling.”

      Was it fear that made the kid’s eyes so huge? Gabe wondered.

      “I don’t like yelling, either. What about a pet? A cat maybe?” Olivia ignored Gabe’s vigorously shaking head.

      What was the woman doing? A house, a kid and pets? Gabe cleared his throat, but she ignored him.

      “No cat,” Eli said firmly.

      “Okay. A dog? A horse?” she added, even though Gabe shook his head.

      “A canary. I like canaries.” Eli licked the ketchup off his fingers, then dug in his pocket. “Like this.” His small fingers spread out a sheet of paper on the table to reveal a carefully drawn canary with even the tiny claws sketched out.

      “Eli, this is beautiful.” Olivia leaned nearer to study the delicate strokes. “Did you used to have a canary?”

      “Aunt Kathy did. It died.” The words sounded ominous.

      “It’s a very good drawing,” Gabe said quietly. “So you like to draw birds?”

      “Uh-huh.” Suddenly Eli came alive. “In the house?” he said in a rushed tone.

      The house, not my house or our house, Gabe noted. “Yes?”

      “Could I get one of those seats in front of a window to sit and look out? An’ maybe a tree?” he added wistfully. “Then when birds come an’ sit in the tree, I could draw ’em. I really like drawing birds.”

      “We’ll put that on the list.” Gabe pulled out a small notebook he kept tucked in his shirt pocket. He opened it to a fresh page and dutifully noted window seat, canary and tree. “They’re such small things to want,” he said softly to Olivia, who was watching him.

      “And such important things,” she agreed with a funny smile that half mocked, half shared. Then she said briskly, “That was great coffee. Ready to start looking again, Eli?”

      “’Kay.” He drank the rest of his soda, ate one more ketchup-laden fry, wiped his fingers carefully on a napkin and then slid out of the booth.

      After a rest stop they were back in the truck. Gabe felt a little better about this search now that Eli finally seemed interested, but everything they saw was too small or too dirty or out of his price range.

      “I’m sorry,” Olivia said as she watched Eli climb back into the truck. “I guess Chokecherry Hollow is such a small town that there aren’t many rentals. I should have realized that. Just for curiosity sake, let’s drive past the Realtor’s office and see what’s in the For Sale window.”

      “Sure.” Gabe had already checked the advertisements in the huge picture windows last night, but he pulled up to the curb anyway.

      “Maybe we’ll see something here that will suit,” Olivia murmured.

      Gabe doubted that. Most all the ads were for massive spreads with fancy homes and lots of cattle, starting well above seven figures. Way beyond his means. But he would look with her because he knew Olivia well enough now to know she’d insist they leave no stone unturned in their search. Since Eli had fallen asleep, Olivia eased free of him, stepped out of the truck and quietly closed her door. Gabe did the same. They met in front of the windows.

      “I had no clue ranch land sold for this much,” Olivia gasped after scanning the display, obviously taken aback by the prices.

      “They’re big spreads. I wouldn’t be able to work at the Double M and manage so much land or cattle,” Gabe told her.

      “You don’t want to raise your own herd?” She looked at him with those big silver-gray eyes, as if trying to fathom why he would settle for less than his own animals.

      “It takes a while to build a really good herd and lots of money to cover the lean years so, no, I don’t. But it’s mainly because my interest has always been horses.” He shrugged, adding before she could question him, “That also takes lots of cash and time to build your stock.”

      “I see.” She turned back to survey the window once more. A long time passed before she finally faced him. “There’s nothing here for us?”

      Us. He liked the sound of that. As if he wasn’t alone in this new and uncertain world. But only because she’s a friend, his brain reminded.

      Olivia frowned at him, waiting for a response.

      Gabe simply shook his head. Together they walked to the truck. He held her door until she was inside, then gently closed it. Once he was behind the wheel again he looked at her.

      “I guess that’s it,” he muttered.

      “You’re giving up already?” She glared at him, eyes shooting silver sparks. “We’ve only been looking for what?” She checked her watch. “Three hours. And you still need a place to live with your son. Let’s go for a drive.”

      “A drive?” He wanted to ask why, but faced with her implacable glare, Gabe obediently shifted into gear. “Where to?”

      “In the country,” was her only directive.

      That was fine by Gabe. He never tired of the densely verdant rolling hills, thickets of green trees, lush meadows and rocky peaks where granite foundations thrust into the light.

      “It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” Olivia breathed reverently. “Ottawa’s lovely, too, but I never realized how much I’ve missed all these wide-open spaces.”

      “Quite a Creator we have,” Gabe agreed.

      “Look at that house, nestled against the hillside. It has a wonderful view.”

      “That’s the Browns’ place, Evensong. Not much more than a few acres now.” Sadness crept through Gabe. “They bought a big spread five years ago to live out their retirement dream, but they’ve been slowly selling off bits of land to neighbors. Since Mrs. Brown got sick Art just can’t handle it all and look after her.”

      “Mavis? Isn’t that her name?” Olivia smiled at his nod. “I think the aunties mentioned this morning that she’s having treatment in Edmonton.”

      “Yeah. Would you mind if we stopped for a few minutes? I’d like to see if there’s anything Art needs help with. I think he’s home today to catch up.”

      Relieved when Olivia nodded her agreement, Gabe pulled into the yard. He usually stopped over to check the few head of cattle grazing in the pasture and sometimes curried the last two horses the Browns owned. The house looked worse than usual in the