Mistletoe & Marriage: Snowbound Cowboy. Patricia Thayer

      “It’s the best,” the boy bragged. “Everybody says so. I even like it, but not as much as peanut butter and jelly. That’s because Mom makes the bread and her special jelly. It’s peach. That’s my favorite. What’s your favorite, Boone?” The kid finally took a breath.

      “I’d say peach is probably at the top of my list, too.”

      The boy grinned. “I bet Mom would fix you peanut butter and jelly if you want.”

      “Jesse,” his mother called, “slow down. We can have both for lunch.” Amelia glanced up at the clock over the sink. “Why don’t you go and wash your hands?”

      Jesse started to argue, but at a look from his mother turned and hurried down the hall.

      “I apologize for my son. Outside of seasonal ranch hands, he’s doesn’t have many men around.”

      Boone had learned as much from the friendly waitress in town at the diner. The Hughes women were well respected and admired around here. “From what I can see, you’ve done a fine job with him and this place.”

      She glanced away. “Thank you. My family helps a lot.”

      He nodded in agreement. “Family is a good thing.”

      “Do you have family? A wife…children?”

      “No,” he said, trying not to react. He’d lost any part of that dream two years ago.

      She sighed and refilled their coffee mugs. “Since you’ll be around for a few days, there’s something you should know.” She paused. “When Jesse started kindergarten this year, he realized his classmates have dads. Everyone except him. So he came up with this crazy idea that all he had to do was ask for one. So on the top of his Christmas list he has the word Dad.”

      Boone nodded. Great. And here he’d arrived with news that would make it impossible for the boy to get that wish. “And his father?”

      She shook her head. “His father has never been involved in Jesse’s life, nor at this stage do I want him to be.”

      Boone couldn’t blame her for that. “I guess every boy wants a dad.”

      “But he can’t go around picking one out, either. I’ll have a talk with him.”

      This was getting complicated. “Maybe I should leave now.” He stood. “I mean, go to the barn.”

      “No, you’re not going to stay out in a cold barn all day. I’ll handle Jesse. I just wanted you to know the situation.”

      Amelia got up, walked to the refrigerator and took out the ingredients for the salad. When she bent over he caught the appealing shape of her bottom and long legs. His attention was drawn upward as she went to the counter, took a loaf of bread out from under a towel and began slicing it.

      “Is there anything I can do?” he asked, knowing he couldn’t just sit there and ogle this woman.

      “You can get the plates down from the cupboard.” She nodded overhead.

      Boone walked up behind her. Reaching over her head, he caught a whiff of her shampoo. Something lemony. Something that normally wouldn’t be sexy to him. It was now. He gripped the plates and carried them to the table before he got himself into trouble.

      Jesse came in. “I’ll help you, Boone.”

      The boy pulled flatware from the drawer and placed it beside the plates.

      “Good job,” Boone said.

      “Gram Ruby says I’m her best helper,” Jesse said proudly. “I help Kelley with the horses, too.” Those big brown eyes widened. “I can help you, too.”

      “Jesse Thomas,” his mother called. “Don’t even think about leaving the house in this storm.”

      “Ah, Mom. If I get lost, Izzy can find me.”

      At the mention of her name the dog looked up. “Izzy isn’t in any shape to go traipsing around in this weather,” Amelia said.

      “What if Boone gets lost? Who will find him?”

      Amelia swung around to look at Boone. She was asking for help.

      “I strung a rope from the barn to here. And believe me, once I get back there I’m staying put.”

      The wind howled outside, and suddenly the lights flickered, then finally died.

      “Oh, no,” Amelia said. Although it was afternoon, the room was dim, only illuminated by the fire from the hearth.

      “Do you have a generator?” Boone asked.

      “Yes, it’s in the mud room.” She led him out to the enclosed porch and to a closet.

      Boone examined the old machinery. “Have you used it recently?”

      “Not since last spring. And only for a few hours. Gram had it checked out just last month.”

      Jesse poked his head in. “And the man said she needed to get a new one,” he volunteered. “Gram was looking in the catalog. She showed me a picture of the one she wants.” He looked up at both adults. “You want to see it?”

      “Not now, honey.” She turned to Boone. “Do you think you can start it?”

      He threw a switch, then pulled the cord to get the motor running. He stood back. “I’m just not sure how reliable it is. It’s best to keep both fireplaces going. You can sleep in front of the living room one tonight.”

      “Oh, boy. Can you sleep there, too, Boone? Can he, Mom, huh?”

      Boone watched the pretty brunette blush. “I don’t think Mr. Gifford would be happy to share space with a rambunctious five-year-old.”

      The boy wrinkled his nose. “That means I jump around too much. But I’ll promise to be quiet.”

      “I appreciate the offer, son, but maybe you and your mother should have the sofa space. I’ll make sure you have plenty of firewood to keep you both warm.” He started to walk off.

      “Wait, Boone,” Amelia called as he started out. “I have to agree with my son. You can’t sleep in the barn, not without electricity. You’ll move in here.”

      Chapter Three

      BOONE WASN’T SURE how to react to Amelia’s statement. True, he couldn’t sleep in the barn, but invading their personal space was a different story. He hadn’t signed up for this.

      “Maybe the electricity will be back on by then.”

      Amelia frowned. “I take it you haven’t lived in Montana long. This outage could last days.”

      “I’m originally from West Texas. We don’t get many blizzards.”

      “Well, we do. So unless you want to freeze, you better decide to camp out with us tonight. You can have the small room off the kitchen.” She led them back inside and pointed to the eight-paneled door across the room. “One of its walls is the back of the fireplace. It stays pretty warm in there.”

      He hated doing this. “I don’t mean to put you out, ma’am.” He had no business being here in the first place.

      “You’ll only put me out if I have to worry about you sleeping in that cold barn.”

      He felt a strange feeling in the center of his gut. It’d been a while since a woman had been concerned about him. “I would have been okay. The animals are my responsibility.”

      “Their stalls are pretty well insulated. And there’s another generator out there, but we don’t usually use it unless it’s absolutely necessary.”

      He was surprised how well Amelia Hughes handled the emergency. If she was nervous about the situation,