Mistletoe & Marriage: Snowbound Cowboy. Patricia Thayer

all the way into his gut.

      “Looks like you two have been making a lot of plans. Did you also happen to notice all the snow?”

      “When it stops we can go,” Jesse said hopefully. “Boone said we have plenty of time before Christmas.”

      Boone couldn’t stop the boy’s excitement, or his heart racing as Amelia looked at him.

      All he managed was a nod at the coffeemaker. “Coffee?”

      “Please,” she said. “I think I’m going to need it.” She followed him to the counter. He filled a mug and handed it to her. Close up her eyes were dark from sleep.

      “I brewed some coffee while the generator was on.”

      She took a sip and sighed. “So worth it.” Her gaze met his, then glanced away. “It has stopped snowing, but probably not for long.”

      He wasn’t happy about the forecast. “So there’s no hope that it will warm up today and melt the snow?”

      She smiled and his heart tripped again. “Getting cabin fever?”

      “I did get out to the barn,” he told her. “Had to do a little shoveling to get there.”

      Amelia’s son jumped into the conversation. “Boone wouldn’t let me go with him. I had to promise to stay here.” The boy smiled. “I got to watch the puppies, so Izzy could go outside and do her business.”

      Amelia tried to keep her focus on Jesse, but having Boone in her kitchen was definitely a distraction. Especially a man who handled chores and could cook breakfast.

      “Thanks for your help, honey. Why don’t you finish your breakfast before it gets cold?” She expected an argument, but Jesse only walked back to his seat.

      She had no choice but to acknowledge Boone. “Thank you for letting me sleep.”

      He shrugged. “I didn’t see any reason to wake you. You were sleeping so soundly.”

      She took another sip. “How did the horses do last night?”

      “They were fine. Happy for a little attention.”

      She leaned against the counter and watched her son eat. “Kelley usually handles their care. But someone had to take Gram for her procedure.” She frowned. “I just wish I knew how the procedure went. If everything went well, they should come home tomorrow.” She glanced out the window. “That isn’t going to happen, either.”

      Boone knew that if Kelley Hughes came home, she’d discover he wasn’t the ranch hand she’d hired. He used that rationalization for not telling Amelia the truth. Right now, she needed his help. With another winter storm coming, they seemed destined to stay together. But he still needed to tell her the reason for his visit, and soon.

      But he still wanted to ease her mind. “Do you have a cell phone?”

      She nodded. “It’s funny, but there’s poor reception inside the house.” She went into the other room then returned with her phone. “No service.”

      “Your grandmother is in the best place possible. If this storm came any earlier she could have been stranded here and unable to get the care she needed.”

      Amelia nodded. “I know you’re right, but it doesn’t stop me from worrying. She’s my family. Gram raised Kelley and me. Jesse, too. She’s our rock. She wasn’t too keen on having the procedure. Somehow Kelley talked her into it.” She smiled. “Kelley’s a little more forceful than I am.”

      “So you three run this place?”

      “Yes. A mama-and-baby cattle operation, and a yearling herd in the summer. We lease some of the grazing land and rent out three cabins during hunting season.”

      “That’s a lot for three people to handle.”

      “It didn’t start out that way. When we were little, our parents moved here to work in the cattle business. Mom died shortly after I was born, and we were barely settled here when Dad was thrown from his horse. He was in a coma for a while, then he eventually died.

      “Grandma Ruby and Granddad Jesse stepped in and raised us. Then about six years ago, Granddad died. Gram said we had no choice but to go on.”

      Amelia drew a breath and released it, but he could still see her pain as she looked at him. “What about you, Boone Gifford? You said you were buying a place in Texas. Where?”

      He drank the rest of his coffee. “Outside of Odessa, Texas. It had been my family’s place, but when my parents passed away, I couldn’t make a go of it on my own. Now I have a little more capital to carry me through the rough times. I’m hoping to buy the ranch back from the bank.”

      “There sure are enough foreclosures around here,” Amelia added. “Is there anyone else back there to help you?”

      He shook his head. There had been someone once, until he lost everything, but he didn’t want to talk about the past. “It’s just me.” He suddenly realized how sad that sounded.

      Chapter Six

      BOONE STARED OUT the kitchen window as night began to fall on his second day trapped with Amelia Hughes. Again flurries started blowing against the window, letting them know that another storm was brewing. He’d hoped that if the weather held tonight, he could take off tomorrow. Only, that meant he’d be leaving Amelia and Jesse to fend for themselves.

      He couldn’t do it.

      That was the excuse he’d given himself all day to keep from mentioning Russ’s name and handing over his friend’s personal things. Worse, it would mean spoiling a little boy’s Christmas.

      Instead he’d kept the fireplaces going, fed the stock just as if he were the hired hand. He also occupied Jesse to keep him from being bored. It wasn’t hard. He liked spending time with the boy, even with his endless questions that every kid asked.

      He’d also been plagued by a different kind of guilt. If Russ hadn’t hung back to save him, he might be here himself to meet his son.

      Boone couldn’t think about that now. He had to fulfill his promise. Somehow before he left the Rocking H Ranch, he had to find a way to tell Amelia the truth about his connection to Jesse’s father.

      He glanced at Amelia. Earlier he’d made it out to the barn to check on the animals. The temperature had risen some during the day, but after hearing the forecast on the radio, he had no doubt they were in for more snow. So that meant he had to stay put for now.

      He got up from the kitchen table while Jesse set up another game for them and went into the living room to find the beautiful brunette pacing. Tall and graceful, Amelia reminded him of a Thoroughbred with her fine bones and delicate features.

      Were the men around here blind? Even after only a few days together, she was going to be hard to leave.

      “Amelia,” he called to her.

      She turned around. “What?”

      “Worrying isn’t going to help.”

      She seemed to relax a little and offered him a hint of a smile. “I know.” She sighed. “I guess I’m the one with cabin fever now.”

      “It’s understandable.”

      “We haven’t had a bad storm like this for a few years. I guess we’re overdue.” She looked out the window at the fading light. “I normally love this time of year. It’s beautiful here with the mountains covered in snow.” She raised her startling green eyes to his. “I guess I miss Kelley and my grandmother, too. What if something has happened to Gram, and Kel can’t reach me?”

      He shook his head. “You can’t think that way. From what you’ve said about her, she’s a strong woman.”

      A smile appeared on her pretty