A Rancher's Redemption. Ann Roth

coffee and a pitcher of warm milk sat beside a stick of creamery butter and a vase of pussy willow buds. Ancient furniture and dishes that weren’t all that different from those at Big Mama’s Café—battle-worn, but friendly and homey. The food both here and at the restaurant was always excellent, but it was also very rich. People loved eating it, but these days they also needed other, healthier options.

      Pushing that conversation aside for now, Dani sat in her customary seat, facing the window that overlooked the backyard where she’d spent many a happy spring and summer day. The curtains were open to let in the gray light. Hail bounced like white BB’s against the concrete patio.

      Seemingly oblivious to the spectacle, Big Mama sighed as she buttered a roll. “Sean Connery—now there’s a man. He’s still as handsome as ever.”

      For a long moment neither of them spoke, other than to exclaim over the flaky cinnamon rolls. Dani thought back to when she was six and Big Mama first took her in. At the time her then foster mother had been forty-five and widowed for almost four years.

      Big Mama married late in life, and she and Winston had been madly in love. They’d been husband and wife just over a year when Big Mama had learned she was pregnant. She and Winston were ecstatic.

      Then one snowy night her husband had died in a twenty-car pile-up on the freeway. A few weeks later, Big Mama miscarried. After that, she’d lost her interest in men, and had spent her days running the restaurant and raising Dani.

      “I made a decision I’m sure you’ll approve of,” Dani said. “From now on, I’m going to date only the kind of man who has a steady job. He should also want to get married and have kids.”

      Big Mama nodded. “That’s smart, Dani. But I want you to consider something important—you don’t need a man to be happy.”

      Her mother had never said this before. Dani stared at her. “Hey, I happen to like men.”

      “They are wonderful, but after I lost Winston, I did all right by myself. Especially when it came to you. When you were growing up, we sure had a lot of fun.” She waited for Dani’s nod, then continued. “I may not have given birth to you, but I raised you as my own, and I did it totally without help. And I did a darned fine job of it, if I do say so. You became a terrific young woman. I’m so proud of you.”

      Dani flushed with pleasure. “Aww, thanks.”

      Big Mama had saved her from what could have been a childhood as awful as the one that Sly and Seth, her brothers, had endured at the hands of a distant uncle. Uncle George had taken them in but hadn’t wanted Dani. At first, that had hurt, but his rejection had turned out to be the best thing for her. Because Uncle George disliked kids—even his own nephews. Poor Sly and Seth had borne the brunt of his animosity.

      Whereas for Dani, from the start Big Mama had made her feel welcome and comfortable. She’d taught Dani how to cook and had let her help out in the restaurant. She’d always treated her with kindness and respect—along with a strong dose of discipline. By the age of eight, Dani had become the woman’s adopted daughter, in every way possible. She’d soon inherited Big Mama’s love of feeding hungry diners delicious, homemade food, along with the desire to manage a well-run establishment that brought people back again and again.

      That wasn’t happening so much anymore, but if Dani could just make the changes she wanted, she was sure that business would pick up. “I’m forever grateful for you and the wonderful life you’ve given me,” she said. “But I’d still like to have a husband and a baby or two. Don’t you want a grandchild to spoil?”

      “Of course I would, but what I want most for you is your happiness.”

      With her mother in such an expansive mood, this seemed the perfect moment to get down to business. Tamping down a bad case of nerves, Dani reached for her purse and pulled out a folder. “I put together a couple of new menu ideas that will appeal to health-conscious eaters, as well as an updated look for our menu.” The restaurant’s interior hadn’t changed since Dani had first stepped inside it some twenty-four years ago. It was now dated and not exactly welcoming. In fact, the drab decor and old lighting contradicted what Dani considered important—not only delicious food, but a bright, fun atmosphere in which to enjoy it.

      She pointed to the crude sketch she’d made. “I’m no artist, but you get the gist. This design is more contemporary and will suit the new decor perfectly.”

      Her mother didn’t bother to put on her bifocals. “Just hold on there, missy.” Her lips thinned into a stubborn line. “I haven’t agreed to any new decor. And we don’t need new menus or recipes, either. We have great food and friendly service, and customers like us just the way we are.”

      Here we go. Dani stifled a sigh. “You’re right, but there’s a lot of competition out there now, and we’re steadily losing business, especially since the Poplar Tree opened. If we want to keep the customers we have and attract new ones, we have to make changes and update the restaurant.”

      An emotion that Dani swore was fear crossed her mother’s face, gone so quickly that she wondered if she’d imagined it.

      “Not on my watch,” her mother stated firmly.

      Dani suppressed a groan of frustration. The restaurant was to be her legacy, and she wanted it to survive and flourish for the rest of her life and even longer. “I’m only suggesting these things because I care about the restaurant as much as you do,” she said in what she considered a reasonable tone.

      Her mother stiffened and folded her meaty arms over her chest.

      Okay, then. “What do you suggest we do instead?” Dani said, oh, so genially.

      Big Mama humphed—so much for going the polite route. “We won’t do anything. Big Mama’s Café will remain as it always has been. We serve the best breakfasts and lunches in town. If people don’t believe that, then they should eat someplace else.”

      Why couldn’t her mother see that the atmosphere and menu made them look out of step compared to other restaurants? “You are so darned stubborn!” Dani fumed.

      “I don’t want to talk about this anymore.” Her mother’s jaw clamped shut.

      Once again she’d failed to convince her mother to make any changes. Dani threw up her hands. Back to the drawing board.

Chapter Three

      By Monday evening the hail had changed into sleet. Wondering whether it would snow, Dani sat on her living room floor with Fluff at her side, listening to a Josh Turner album and getting ready to fold the laundry she’d washed this afternoon. She loved the masculine sound of the country singer’s voice.

      Nick’s voice was deep and sexy, too...

      She frowned. She still hadn’t heard from him, which was upsetting. Before Saturday night, she’d have picked up the phone and called him without a thought. But now, it just didn’t feel right.

      Between his silence and Big Mama’s refusal to make a single change to the restaurant, Dani was frustrated enough to scream. Plucking one of the throw pillows from the couch, she covered her face to muffle the sound and let loose with a loud scream. Several of them.

      When she removed the pillow from her face, she was in a better mood. Fluff had darted under the couch, but with a little patience and coaxing, he came out.

      Dani went back to folding her clean things.

      From the time she’d first come to live with Big Mama, her job had been to sort and fold the clean laundry. The task of transforming a rumpled basket of freshly dried clothing into smooth, neat piles had always relaxed her. Tonight she needed to relax and clear her mind.

      No worrying about the restaurant, Big Mama or Nick. Just her and Josh Turner, singing together.

      The basket was half empty and Dani was belting along to “Would You