Levi awoke the next morning to blaring sunshine reflecting off the pictures on the mantel straight into his eyes. He rolled out of the bottom bunk, stretched, and started for the kitchen area to make a pot of coffee, when he heard the familiar sound of a tractor. Forgetting about everything else, he hurriedly pulled on his coveralls and stomped his feet down into cowboy boots.
“What’s that noise?” Claire sat up and covered her eyes with her hands. “Oh, the sun is out.”
“Are we being rescued?” Zaylie knuckled her eyes and yawned.
Levi pulled the face mask over his head. “Yes, ma’am, we are. Y’all get dressed as warm as you can, and we’ll have breakfast at the ranch house.”
He had to push back several inches of snow to open the door, and a blast of icy wind hit him in the eyes, but he could see the tractor. He stepped outside, shut the door, and threw up a hand to wave.
Justin parked as close to the porch as he possibly could, and he hopped down out of the biggest tractor on the ranch. Levi and Justin had gone through school together, best friends since they were in the church nursery. But down deep Levi had always known that Justin and his brother Cade would someday be the owners of the Longhorn Canyon Ranch, and all he’d ever be was the foreman, just as Skip had been. Not that he was jealous of them or that they didn’t treat him just like family. But Justin had always had the good looks, the confidence, and the swagger to get any girl he wanted.
He clamped a hand on Levi’s shoulder. “I hear you’ve found a damsel in distress and don’t have a white horse to bring her to the ranch.” He motioned toward the four-wheeler. “Seriously, is everything all right? Is anybody hurt? Is she one of them tall blondes that me and you both like?”
“The woman’s name is Claire, and her niece is Zaylie. They say they’re fine, but I wouldn’t call her a damsel in distress by any stretch of the imagination,” Levi answered. “She carries a gun in her purse, and you’ve heard that dynamite comes in small packages. Well, she’s living proof. So to answer your question, she’s a short brunette, but with her attitude she could probably put out a forest fire by spittin’ on it.”
“Scared you, did she?” Justin’s eyes twinkled.
“Let’s just say, I’m real glad to see you and even happier that she didn’t shoot first and ask questions later,” Levi answered.
Justin had a way with women. They flocked to him like flies on honey. Cade was a big flirt, or at least he had been until last summer when Retta arrived. Justin went beyond that. He had a reputation around Montague County for bringing home a different woman every weekend for a one-night stand.
“I thought you were kiddin’ me. A real gun?” Justin picked up two shovels from the trailer hitched to the back of the tractor and handed one to Levi.
Levi nodded. “A .38 pistol, looks like about a five shot, but the way she handled it I reckon she’d only need one to put a man down. And it’s equipped with a laser sighting. That little red dot on my chest damn sure made me take notice. But you should know that she’s definitely not your type. Short, not tall. Brunette, not blond. And real sassy.”
“Sounds like she ain’t a damsel in distress at all. And I like a sassy woman as much as a sweet tall gal,” Justin said.
“I’m tellin’ you, I wouldn’t mess with her or her niece,” Levi said.
“You already got a thing for her?” Justin teased.
“Nope, just givin’ you some advice,” Levi answered.
“Advice noted. Now, let’s dig that four-wheeler out and get it loaded, and then we’ll take y’all home. Retta’s makin’ a big breakfast, and she says we’re supposed to be there soon as possible.” Justin sank the blade of the shovel deep into the snow.
“Think this stuff will melt by Thanksgiving?” Levi asked as they worked on the snowdrift covering half the four-wheeler. He couldn’t help noticing that Justin kept glancing back toward the cabin.
“Probably not. The weatherman says not to expect temperatures above freezin’ for several days,” Justin answered.
“If this is what the whole winter is going to be like, we’re in for a cold one,” Levi said. “I told Claire they could stay on the ranch until this stuff melts. You think Cade and Retta will have a problem with a couple of guests for a few days? I would’ve asked first, but we didn’t have cell service.”
“What are you so nervous about, Levi?” Justin asked. “We’re family, and you know it. You’ve brought home strays all your life. You work as hard as we do. This ranch might belong to us on paper, but we couldn’t run it without you.”
“I’ve never brought home…”
“Bullshit! You and I both have brought home women for the night.” Justin laughed. “And besides, Retta’s got the girls’ bunkhouse ready for them. Let’s get a path cleared from here to the trailer so we can push this four-wheeler onto it.”
Levi hefted the first shovel full of wet snow to the side. “You could have parked a little closer.”
Justin was right—he and Justin hadn’t spent many weekends in an empty bed. Saturday night was for beers and dancing at their favorite honky-tonk. Levi was no slouch when it came to sweet talking women, but Justin? That cowboy was a pro.
Snow flew to the side as Justin created a pathway. “This is hard work. You could’ve offered me a cup of coffee.”
“Just got out of bed and haven’t even made a pot yet,” Levi said. “But if you want to suffer the wrath of Retta, I’ll go inside and put it on to brew. Or the pretty boy prince of the Rusty Spur can keep workin’ and stop whinin’ so much.”
“No, thank you. Retta’s been a little touchy here this past week, so I’m not going to get on her bad side. But it looks to me like you’ve been lazy this mornin’. Next thing you know, you’ll be wantin’ to sleep in every morning until noon. And I don’t see you sittin’ in the corner at the honky-tonk all alone. It’s a wonder they don’t have to put in one of those machines for the ladies to take a number and wait,” Justin said.
Levi stopped long enough to pack a snowball and aim it right at Justin’s shoulder. “That machine would have your number on it, not mine. And the sun is barely up and it’s not like there was anything to do. It was going to be a long day if you hadn’t been able to rescue us, so why not sleep as long as possible?”
Justin sidestepped the snowball and packed one into his hands. He hit the mark right in Levi’s chest. “It’s seven o’clock, and the sun’s been up for an hour. In my book that’s lazy.”
Levi grunted and shot a mean look toward Justin. “I’m not wastin’ my time and energy on a snowball fight. Let’s just get shovelin’.”
“You started it,” Justin reminded him.
“Well, I’m ending it because I’m hungry and I need caffeine.” Levi put his shoulders into the digging.
“Five bucks says I get to the middle faster than you do,” Justin said.
“Forget the money. If I get to the middle first, you do all my work today.” Levi would have rather bet that Justin would be flirting with Claire by the time they got from the cabin to the house. He’d win that one for sure!
Justin shook his head. “Let’s just get this done. Then we should turn off the water and drain the pipes. It could be a real mess if they froze and busted and flooded the place.”
“We’re lucky it hasn’t already happened,” Levi said.
“Yep.” Justin kept digging. “So tell me more about these two.”
“Who?” Levi leaned on the shovel a few minutes.
“The pistol-totin’ lady and her niece,” Justin answered.
“Zaylie is almost five years old. Cute as a button with her blond hair and blue eyes. Claire’s got these strange aqua eyes that lean more toward green than blue, kind of like the color of the water down in the gulf. Remember when your folks took us to the rodeo down there? Her eyes are that color. She barely comes to my shoulder.”
Justin stopped and leaned on his shovel. “Is Claire young, old, or somewhere in between? Is she seriously out of our league?”
“She’s about our age, I’d guess. Don’t know if she’s out of our league or not. I only met her yesterday, for God’s sake.” Levi cleared the last two feet and started slinging snow as he dug toward the well house. “This won’t take long, and then I’ll turn off the water so we can get out of here.”
“I’ll do that. You go on in and get the fire put out and make sure the pipes are drained soon as I turn off the water,” Justin said.
Levi stomped the snow from his boots on the porch and shoved the door open to find Claire and Zaylie sitting on the sofa. They were both dressed, and their coats were on the top of the suitcase.
Zaylie’s gaze darted around the cabin, and she moved closer to Claire, but when Levi removed his cowboy hat and face mask, she smiled up at him. “I didn’t know if that was you. You look so big with all that stuff.”
“It’s me, and we’re almost ready to go. Justin is…”
“Got it! Drain the pipes now,” Justin yelled from outside. “I’ll warm up the tractor.”
Levi went to the bathroom, turned on all the water faucets, and then headed to the kitchen, where he caught the last of the water in a pitcher. Using that, he drowned the remaining embers in the fireplace while Claire and Zaylie bundled up.
“That’s everything,” he said. “The snow has drifted, so, Miz Zaylie, may I carry you to the tractor? It’s pretty slick out there.”
Zaylie lifted her arms. “You going to carry Aunt Claire?”
He picked up the little girl with one arm and the suitcase with the other hand. “I’ll come back for her as soon as I get you up in the tractor with Justin.”
“Oh look!” she exclaimed when Levi carried her outside. “It’s all shiny and white and pretty like in Frozen.”
Levi glanced over his shoulder.
“It’s one of her favorite movies,” Claire explained.
He could feel Claire’s eyes boring into his back as he waded through snowdrifts halfway up his knees to the tractor. She should be putting a little faith in him by now. After all, they’d spent the night together, and he’d been a perfect gentleman.
He dropped the suitcase on the trailer beside the four-wheeler and put Zaylie in the passenger’s seat. It would be a tight fit for all of them, but it was only a couple of miles.
When he reached the cabin the second time, Claire was waiting with the tote bag in her hand and her purse over her shoulder. He scooped her up like a bride and pulled the door shut.
“Put me down. I can walk.” She squirmed. “My shoes might get wet, but they’ll dry.”
“As short as you are, you’d sink up to your butt in that drift.” He nodded toward the place where the snow had blown against the porch. “Drop the tote bag between the suitcase and the four-wheeler. It’ll ride fine there. We’ll come back soon as we can and get the rest of your stuff and haul your van to the repair shop.”
“You can take me to a hotel, and I’ll get in touch with a tow company and…” she started.
He interrupted. “Honey, we aren’t going to be able to get off this ranch until this stuff melts. I’ve only ever seen snow before Thanksgiving in this area one time in my whole life, and this kind of thing cripples us.”
The door swung open from the inside, and he settled Claire on the seat beside Zaylie, then climbed in behind her. She shifted over to the side and put Zaylie in her lap, but there still wasn’t enough room for Levi. So he picked both of them up and set Claire in his lap.
Justin stuck out a hand. “Hello, Claire. I’m Justin Maguire. Welcome to the Longhorn Canyon Ranch.”
She shook it. “Thank you for rescuing us.”
“You’re very welcome.” Justin put the tractor in gear. “It’s a tight fit, but we’re only fifteen minutes from the house.”
“We appreciate your hospitality.”
“Oh, we’ve got plenty of room. And from what the weatherman says, we can’t expect to do much until after next weekend. Then the cold front will move out. But right now Retta has the girls’ bunkhouse warmed up and ready for you,” Justin said as he expertly turned the tractor around and started back toward the ranch.
Levi couldn’t believe his ears or his eyes. Justin hadn’t put on his pickup drawl or flirted. Did Claire intimidate him, or had he finally found a woman that just flat didn’t set his vibes to quivering?
Thanksgiving with strangers—not exactly what Claire had envisioned for the holiday, but it didn’t seem like she had a lot of choice. She’d thought she and Zaylie would be back home by now, sharing their dinner with Franny, their sweet little elderly neighbor.
She bit back a sigh. Things could be far worse. She and Zaylie could have been hurt too badly to get to the cabin or stranded in a place where there was no shelter. There was no sense in asking why they’d been put in this situation. She’d learned from past experience asking that question seldom got any kind of answer. Otherwise, she’d know why she was always the one everyone turned to for help, but when she needed something, she was the last in line to get it. Not that she was whining about her lot in life—she loved her brother and Zaylie. And she’d adored her grandmother.
Her thoughts were interrupted when Zaylie reached out to warm her hands by the tractor’s heater vent. “Feels good. Almost like the fire Levi made for us.”
“Didn’t you bring gloves?” Justin asked.
“They’re at our house in Randlett,” Claire answered.
“Know what works pretty good for gloves? Big old thick socks,” he said.
“Levi gave me socks in the cabin when my toes was cold.” Zaylie picked up Claire’s hands and held them toward the vent.
“Did you count all your toes before you put your shoes on?” Levi asked.
Zaylie’s brows drew down over her blue eyes. “Why?”
“Some of your toes might have frozen plumb off,” he teased.
“Uh-uh,” she argued.
“You better count them tonight to be sure,” Levi told her.
“I will. I can count to a hundred,” Zaylie informed him.
“Do you have a hundred toes?” Justin asked.
“No, silly. I gots ten toes and ten fingers.”
Claire stretched her fingers toward the heat vent, but sitting in a stranger’s lap was truly heating her up a lot more than the warm air. Levi’s warm breath tickled the soft skin on her neck, sending tingles down her spine. A woman would have to be stone-cold dead not to be affected by a cowboy as sexy as Levi Jackson.
“Just look at all the snow, Aunt Claire.” Zaylie waved her hand around the cab. “It’s everywhere. Can we build a snowman? We gots to take a picture to show Daddy.”
“Yes, darlin’ girl, we can, but first we’ll have to borrow a phone charger.” If she could get her phone up and running she could call Franny, tell her the predicament she was in, and that it would be a few days before she could get home.
“Little problem there,” Justin said. “The wind has knocked out our cell phone service, and internet will be out for several days. But we’ve got electricity, and you’re welcome to make calls on our landline.”
“We lose any cattle?” Levi asked.
“None yet. We’ve moved most of them into the pasture around the barn. Still got a couple of stragglers that we’re planning on rounding up soon as breakfast is over and we get the four-wheelers refueled,” Justin answered. “We got the bull in a stall in the barn. He’s not real happy, but he’ll get over it.”
“Why is he sad?” Zaylie asked. “Me and Aunt Claire was glad to get out of the cold.”
“Yes, we were.” Claire tucked a strand of wispy blond hair under the edge of Zaylie’s stocking hat and studied Justin with a sideways look.
His black felt cowboy hat was crammed down over his brown hair, and his square face was a study in angles. He was one of those cowboys who could walk into a bar and every woman in the place would turn and stare. But when his hand brushed hers she didn’t get a single vibe from him—not like all the sparks flitting around her and Levi.
Sweet Lord! I’ve already got Stockholm syndrome. He cooks a couple of meals for us and I think he’s wonderful.
For heaven’s sake, the man’s not kidnapping you. You don’t have any kind of syndrome. The voice in her head belonged to Franny, an eighty-year-old outspoken old girl who’d been her grandmother’s best friend and was still Claire’s neighbor. Be thankful that the good Lord sent help to you and that precious baby, or you might be frozen to death.
Yes, ma’am, Claire mouthed, and then cut her eyes around to make sure that she hadn’t said the words out loud.
“Moses doesn’t want to be in that stall because, Miz Zaylie, he doesn’t like Gussie, the cat, and she hates him. I imagine it’s because she has a litter of kittens in the barn, and she’s afraid something as big as Moses might hurt them,” Justin explained.
His drawl wasn’t nearly as deep as Levi’s, and although she hadn’t seen them standing together, she’d bet that Levi was a lot taller. She blushed when she found herself looking at his big, square hands and his feet.
Dammit! What’s wrong with me? she thought.
You’re just wondering what all women would. Franny was giggling so hard that had Levi been clairvoyant, he could have heard the cackling.
Zaylie’s light blue eyes popped wide open. “Moses got lost in the snow too?”
“Not the real Moses in the Bible. Our bull is named Moses. So you know about Moses in the Bible?” Justin asked.
“I’m almost five, and next year I go to school, and I go to church, and I know about Moses and Joshua and even Nomie.” She squared her shoulders and looked him right in the eye. “And Moses is a crazy name for a boy cow. Why’d you name him that?”
“We didn’t,” Levi said. “The people we bought him from did, and he won’t answer to anything else.”
“Why’d them people name him Moses?” Zaylie persisted.
“We didn’t think to ask them,” Justin answered. “Who’s Nomie?”
“Naomi,” Claire answered.
“Can I pet Gussie?” Zaylie changed the subject. “That’s a funny name for a cat.”
“Gussie is real friendly and likes to be petted. She’s named after Levi’s first girlfriend.” Justin chuckled.
“I was in the third grade, and she had pretty blue eyes,” Levi said quickly.
So the girls had chased after him even when he was a little boy. That sure enough wasn’t hard to imagine. Had one caught him? He didn’t wear a wedding ring. But that could have been because of the ranch work he did all the time.
“I wanted a kitten my whole life.” Zaylie sighed.
“Well, since you’ve wanted a kitten for so long and since Gussie don’t like Moses in the barn, we might even bring them in the house. Would you like that?” Levi asked.
Zaylie clapped her hands. “Yes. And I can pet them and Gussie won’t bite me?”
“Naw, she’s a sweetheart.” Levi grinned.
“Franny’s got a cat and his name is Willie, but he don’t like kids,” Zaylie said, and then her finger shot past Levi’s nose to point out the window. “Look, I see a house.”
“Franny is our neighbor in Randlett,” Claire explained. “She and my grandmother were best friends. I’ll need to call her and ask if she’ll keep a watch on things until we get home.”
Justin stopped the tractor as close to the yard fence as possible. “Cade has shoveled a path to the back gate. It’s still pretty slick since we got the layer of ice before the snow started, so be careful.”
Levi opened the door, slid out from under Claire and Zaylie, and held up his arms. “Zaylie first. You want me to carry you inside or you reckon you can walk?”
A dog ran out from the porch to greet them, and Zaylie wiggled out of his arms as soon as she could. “Can I pet that dog? He won’t bite me will he?”
Thank goodness Cade had shoveled the walk because Zaylie dropped down on her knees to wrap her arms around the dog’s neck. He licked her on the chin, and her giggles rang out across the fields. If the snow had still been there, she would’ve been buried up to her neck.
“His name is Beau, and he won’t hurt you.” Levi knelt down beside her. “He loves kids, and pettin’ is right down his alley just like it is Gussie’s. Looks like you two are goin’ to get along real good.”
A kid and a dog tell the character of a man. If either one is afraid of him, then you’d better be scared too. Franny’s advice came back to Claire’s mind.
If that was the case, then she had nothing to fear, because Zaylie wasn’t a bit afraid of Levi anymore. The dog’s tail wagged so fast that it was a blur, and Levi’s grin was so big that it lit up the gray skies.
Levi straightened up. “Old Beau missed me. Had to stop and let him know that I missed him too.” He scooped Claire out of the seat as effortlessly as if he were picking up a feather pillow. When he set her down, her feet almost went out from under her, so he picked her up again.
“I’ll carry you inside,” he said.
Claire did not like being helpless. She’d taken care of herself most of her life. But before she could protest, she was in his arms again, her ear pressed against his chest. His heartbeat seemed a little fast, but then so was hers.
Zaylie followed along behind them. “Can the dog come in the house?”
“If he wants to,” Justin answered.
Zaylie picked her way slowly toward the house with Beau right behind her and Levi and Claire bringing up the rear. When the door opened, she and the dog rushed inside. The woman holding the door for them was fairly tall, but then everyone looked tall to Claire. Skinny jeans and a sweatshirt showed that she was curvy like Claire instead of model thin. Dark hair was pulled up into a ponytail, and her big brown eyes looked kind and sweet.
“Hello, I’m Retta. Welcome to Longhorn Canyon,” she said. “Levi told us no one was hurt. Is that right?”
“Pleased to meet you.” Claire wiggled, and Levi set her down. “And thank you for the offer to stay here.”
There had to be a way to get to Bowie. If a tow truck could rescue a pickup that had slid off the road, then it could come out to the ranch and take her and Zaylie to a hotel.
“No one is hurt. But she could have been if she’d tried to walk on that ice in the shoes she’s wearin’,” Levi said. “This must be heaven. I smell coffee and bacon.”
Zaylie slipped out of her jacket, handed it to Claire, and sniffed the air. “And cimamum. I love cimamum!”
Claire chalked up the antsy feeling making her nervous to hunger and relief. A cup of coffee and maybe whatever smelled like cinnamon should put her to rights, and then she’d call someone to give them a ride, even if it was in a tow truck.
Retta laid a hand on her shoulder. “You’ve met Justin and Levi. My husband, Cade, is out in the barn, but he’ll be in pretty soon. Take off your coats and have a seat.” She motioned toward the table where breakfast was already waiting.
Claire nodded. “Thank you for going to so much trouble. It smells delicious. By the way, I’m Claire…”
Zaylie butted in. “I’m Zaylie. Are the kittens in the house?”
“You are very welcome, Claire. And, Miz Zaylie, the kittens aren’t here yet, but Cade is going to bring them from the barn this morning.” Retta poured mugs of coffee and carried them to the table. “Moses doesn’t like to be penned up, and the cats are making him nervous. Do you like kittens, Zaylie?”
“Yep, I do, but we can’t have pets ’cause Daddy goes on ployments and missions too much.”
Claire was surprised she felt at ease with these people. Growing up she’d lived in so many places that most of the time she barely had time to make a friend, but that was the way of the military life. Move in. Get everything put away. Orders arrived. It was time to pack again. And from the time that Claire was ten years old, she did a lot of the organization of getting things ready to move—again.
“Well, how would you like to keep a watch on Gussie and her three babies in the bunkhouse where you and Claire will be stayin’ while you are here?” Retta asked.
“For real?” Zaylie’s sudden intake of breath said that she couldn’t believe her ears. “Aunt Claire, can we do that?”
“If Gussie don’t mind, I sure don’t.” Claire hung her jacket and Zaylie’s on a hook beside the coveralls that Levi had removed. “Is this the right place to put these?”
“That’s just fine. And it’ll be great to have some girl company while we’re snowed in,” Retta answered.
Zaylie danced around the table. “I get to have a pet,” she sing-songed and then stopped to hug the dog again. “Can Beau come in our new house too?”
Levi pulled out a chair for Claire and then one for Zaylie. “Gussie loves Beau, and yes, he can go inside the bunkhouse.”
“It’s like Christmas and my birthday,” she said.
“Your birthday is Christmas.” Claire laughed.
“For real? You were born on Christmas Day?” Retta asked.
“Yep. Daddy says it’s double special ’cause me and Jesus gots the same birthday,” Zaylie said.
“I agree with him,” Retta told her.
Justin sat down in one of the remaining chairs and picked up a mug of coffee. “As soon as I finish this, I’ll take the tractor out to the barn. Cade might need some help herdin’ them cats.”
“I’ll go with you,” Levi said.
Retta slapped a hand on his shoulder. “I don’t think so. You haven’t had breakfast yet. If two big old strappin’ Maguire men can’t catch a cat and three kittens, then I’ve misjudged them. And besides, Mavis is worried about you, so you are going to call her as soon as you get through eating.”
“Who’s Mavis?” Zaylie asked.
“That’s my mother,” Levi answered.
“Can I see her sometime?” Zaylie asked.
“Of course you can,” Levi said. “Now let’s dig into this good food. I’m starving.”
“Me too,” Zaylie chimed in.
“Good, because I made a lot of food,” Retta said. “Now, Miz Zaylie, would you like chocolate or white milk?”
“White, please. We didn’t have milk at the cabin. But Levi cooked us some homey cakes and they was good.” Zaylie held her plate out toward Claire. “Biscuits and gravy and then I’ll have some of them cimamum rolls.”
Retta glanced over at Levi. “Homey cakes?”
“Cornbread hoecakes,” he explained.
Retta set a glass of milk beside Zaylie’s plate, and then she took a place across the table from her. Claire kept a close watch on everyone. Justin was staring at the Band-Aid on her forehead. Was he waiting for her to explain how it got there? Retta couldn’t wipe the smile off her face or blink as she watched Zaylie.
“There’s enough food here for an army,” Claire said as she covered a biscuit with gravy for Zaylie.
“Air Force,” Zaylie corrected her with a frown. “I will say the prayer?”
Levi grinned and bowed his head. Claire did the same. You never knew what would come out of Zaylie’s mouth when she said the prayer, but it always came straight from her heart.
Her little head dropped to her chest, and she shut her eyes. “Thank you, Jesus, for everything but ’specially for this milk. Amen.”
Retta stifled a giggle, and she winked at Claire. “She gets right to the point, doesn’t she?”
“Oh yeah,” Claire said. “Always has.”
“When y’all get done with breakfast, Levi can go on out and help with the chores, and I’ll take you down to the girls’ bunkhouse. There’s a huge bathtub in there, and I bet you’d both love a long, hot bath,” Retta said.
“That sounds heavenly,” Claire said. “We were grateful that the cabin was there, and we had hot water in the kitchen, but I didn’t want to take a shower or let Zaylie have one and then get out in the cold. But if I can use the house phone, surely a tow truck or someone can come and get me and Zaylie. We can go to a hotel and call for someone from Randlett to come get us.”
“Nonsense,” Retta said. “It’s no trouble at all to have you here, and we’ve got plenty of room.”
“I want to stay here and play with the kitties and pet Beau,” Zaylie chimed in. “Don’t make me go to a hotel, Aunt Claire.” Tears ran down her cheeks. “Please don’t make me go to a hotel. What if they don’t even have matches and we freeze.”
Claire wiped Zaylie’s cheeks with her napkin. It was rare to see her niece so distraught, and this spoke to just how frightened she must have been after their accident. “Okay, okay, but only for a day or two until the snow melts and our preacher can drive down here and get us.”
“Thank you, Aunt Claire.” Zaylie sniffled. “Did I ruin my makeup?”
Retta giggled, and both cowboys chuckled.
“What?” Zaylie sighed loudly. “That’s what Aunt Claire says when she cries. She almost ruined her makeup when we got so cold before Levi rescued us.”
“She couldn’t find the matches,” Levi explained as he passed the food.
“Oh my!” Retta gasped. “It’s a wonder you didn’t freeze. They should be kept on the mantel from now on, Levi.”
“Already taken care of.” He set about eating breakfast. “This is a whole lot better than what I stirred up yesterday morning.”
“Y’all are all welcome. Excuse me, please.” She hurriedly pushed her chair back and practically ran from the room.
When she returned she was slightly green around the mouth, and her eyes were watery. Bless her heart. She’d cooked breakfast when the smell of food gagged her. Now that was a good hostess. There was no way that Claire’s sister-in-law, Haley, would have cooked anything at all when she was pregnant. She barely came out of her bedroom that first three months. Claire had carried crackers and warm tea to her every morning just so she could get out of bed. Retta couldn’t be very far along. She wasn’t showing yet, and usually morning sickness was over after the first trimester.
Retta went to the cabinet and brought down a box of chamomile tea. “Would anyone like a cup of tea?”
“Not me.” Justin finished his coffee and pushed back his chair. “You okay, Retta?”
“I’m fine. Just a little stomach bug.” Retta smiled.
“Well, keep it to yourself. We don’t need it on Thanksgiving,” Justin teased. “I’m going to shove off now and get the tractor back to the barn. I’ve got to go hunt down a couple more cows, so if you’ll give me the keys to your van, I’ll bring the rest of your things to the bunkhouse, Miz Claire.”
“It’s not locked and thank you.” It would be great to have more than what she’d packed in the small suitcase. Good old organized Claire—that’s what her mother called her from the time she was a little girl. Well, by golly, no one fussed when she made her lists and things went like clockwork. She always packed big suitcases full of Zaylie’s clothing and toys and one small just-in-case suitcase for emergencies. It held a change of clothing, nightshirts, and toiletries in case they had to stop in a hotel.
“You’re welcome.” Justin nodded and disappeared out the back door.
“So your daddy’s in the Air Force?” Retta asked Zaylie. “I bet you miss him when he’s gone.”
Zaylie nodded. “I stay with Aunt Claire when Daddy is ployed or on a mission.”
“We live in Randlett, just over the line into Oklahoma.” Claire reached for a cinnamon roll. “These look delicious. Before my grandmother took sick, she used to make them often.”
“Aha! So you are an Okie!” Retta’s smile got bigger. “I’ll have an ally for a few days in this land of Texas Longhorns. I’ve felt like the only chicken at a coyote convention and with the bowl games coming up? Well…” Retta threw up her palms defensively.
“Bless. Your. Heart,” Claire said seriously. “And I mean that in a good way. Are they all enemies of our precious Boomer Sooners?”
“Hey, now!” Levi exclaimed. “Way I see it is that y’all are enemies of our precious Longhorns.”
Claire shot a look across the table at him. “All depends on which side of the Red River you are from.”
“All these cowboys are Longhorns,” Retta told her. “It was the one thing that almost kept me from marryin’ Cade.”
“Well, honey, I haven’t always lived in Oklahoma, but I’m a Boomer Sooner now and you’ve got a friend,” Claire said.
Even if she hadn’t been an OU fan, she would have joined Retta. Three against one was horrible odds, and the woman had made breakfast for her. They might never see each other again after the snow melted, but Claire had always had a soft heart for the underdog. Not that the Sooners could ever be called the underdogs, but Retta deserved her allegiance.
“Am I a Bloomer?” Zaylie asked.
“That’s Boomer, baby girl, and yes you are when you live with me, which is a lot of the time,” Claire answered. “That makes three against three. Those are a little better odds, right Retta?”
Levi groaned as he took a second cinnamon roll from the platter. “Sassy women against us cowboys.”
“You ain’t got a chance,” Retta told him.
“I don’t think Zaylie is a Sooner. She lives in Texas, right? That makes her a Longhorn,” Levi argued.
“She lives with me part of the time.” Claire was enjoying the bantering. It had been a very long time since she’d spent more than an hour around people her own age—and that was at church where she didn’t argue about what state had the best football team.
Levi tilted his chin up a few notches. “Don’t you think we should let her grow up and make up her own mind?”
“She might change when she’s grown, but right now she’s a Sooner.” Claire accentuated every word with a shake of her forefinger. He leaned back like he was afraid she’d put his eye out. Hadn’t a woman ever argued with him? Well, he was in for a surprise while she was there because she spoke her mind and stood up for herself. If he didn’t like it, he could get out a snowplow and figure out a way to get her to a hotel—even if Zaylie did throw a bawlin’ fit.
Zaylie reached for a second cinnamon roll. “I like red and white pom-poms. What color is your team?”
“Ugly old orange,” Retta answered for him.
“I like red better.” Zaylie bit into the roll. “Mmm, just like you made for me and Nanny.”
“Out of the mouths of babes. Even a four-year-old knows that red is better than orange.” Retta patted her on the shoulder.
“Y’all are ganging up on me, so I’m going to the barn.” Levi finished the last bite of his roll and pushed back the chair. “Thanks for breakfast, Retta. There’s no way the hired hands can get here today, so we’ll have to double up on the work.” He leaned forward and whispered in Claire’s ear. “This ain’t over. I’ll convince her that orange is beautiful before she leaves.”
“What are you whisperin’ about?” Zaylie asked, suddenly fidgety.
“Big people stuff,” Claire answered.
“You’ll come back, won’t you, Levi? You didn’t tell her that you were going away forever, did you? You ain’t goin’ to call that towin’ truck to come and get us and take us to the hotel, are you?” Zaylie asked.
“Of course I’ll be back. I live here on the ranch, and besides, I’ll have to see if you have a favorite kitten and if you’re makin’ friends with Gussie,” Levi answered. “I wouldn’t leave you all alone or call the tow truck. What if you couldn’t find the matches?”
Zaylie cut her eyes toward Claire.
“Hey, don’t look at me like that,” Claire said. “How was I to know they were behind the cereal on a shelf so high I couldn’t see them?”
Zaylie turned back toward Levi. “Don’t forget.”
“I won’t.” He patted her on the head. “You get all settled in, and I’ll be there before lunchtime. I promise.”
“Okay.” Zaylie nodded, seriously.
“See y’all later.” He carried his plate to the sink. “Breakfast was delicious, Retta.”
“Don’t forget to call Mavis, or we’ll both be in trouble,” Retta reminded him, then turned back to Claire. “I lived in the bunkhouse until Cade and I got married.” She talked as she cleared the table. “I went down there last night and got it warmed up and checked the cabinets. There are still a few things from when I was there, but we’ll need to take milk and snacks down there. You and Zaylie can come up here to eat your regular meals. What do you like, Zaylie? Bananas or apples?”
“Is a bunkhouse bigger than the cabin?” Zaylie asked. “And I like apples better. Bananas are squishy.”
“Thank you,” Claire said softly. “This has been pretty traumatic. She’s always sad when her dad has to leave for a while, and then she’s sad when I take her home and I leave. It’s a tough life for a little girl with no mama.”
“I can only imagine.” Retta nodded. “What happened to her mother?”
“She died when Zaylie was just a baby.”
“I’m so sorry.” Retta’s eyes filled with tears. “I can’t imagine the turmoil in her little heart and life. She’s lucky to have you.”
“Thank you,” Claire said.
It had definitely been hard on Zaylie, but then it hadn’t been easy on Claire either. She’d been on standby for five years—make that six because she’d helped take care of Haley until the baby was born. That wasn’t right either. It seemed like she’d been on standby her whole life. Not that she was complaining. Someone had to do the jobs that she’d taken on.
“We gotted really cold before Levi came. He will come back, won’t he?” Zaylie was saying when Claire tuned back in to the conversation.
“Well, honey,” Retta said, “there are plenty of work coats around here. That jacket you were wearing is way too thin to keep you warm. Benjy left a coat here last time he was on the ranch too. It’ll be miles too big, but we can roll up the sleeves, and yes, Levi will come back. He lives here.”
A weak smile barely turned up the corners of Claire’s mouth. Zaylie didn’t put much trust in the fact that someone lived there. Her daddy lived in base housing, but when he left, he didn’t come back in a few hours. Her Nanny lived in the house in Randlett, and she left to never come back.
Claire made herself think of something else. “If I’d known about all this, I would’ve packed warmer things, like gloves and coats instead of jackets. They would have sure come in handy when we were trudging through the snow to the cabin.”
“Aunt Claire was bleedin’ when the car hit the tree,” Zaylie said. “We had to walk, and my feet got wet.”
“We made it though didn’t we?” Claire was determined to banish wandering thoughts and pay attention to the conversation. “All I could think about was making it to that cabin. I had a suitcase in one hand and held on to Zaylie with the other. I was so glad to get inside and under the quilts on the bunk bed so we could stop shivering.”
“Did all the airbags pop open?” Retta loaded food into a couple of brown grocery bags.
“Every one of them. When the front end hit the tree it felt like we were bein’ invaded inside as well as outside with all that white,” Claire answered.
“You realize you might have totaled that vehicle, don’t you?” Retta asked.
“I’m pretty sure it is, but I keep hoping that it can be repaired. Tell me what I can do to help you.”
“Not a thing.” Retta headed toward the back door. “I’ve got it ready now. Y’all ready to go to the bunkhouse? We have a spare bedroom here in the big house, but you’d have to share, and I thought you’d be happier in the bunkhouse where you’ll have more privacy.”
“Thank you. The bunkhouse sounds great. And yes, I’m ready to go. I’d really like a bath and a long nap. I didn’t sleep well either night,” Claire admitted. “We’ll be out of your way as soon as possible.”
“I wouldn’t have slept in that situation either. You wouldn’t have known it, but Levi has a heart of gold. He would have protected you against anything, not harmed you.” Retta handed them each a warmer coat. “Is being away from your job going to create a problem?”
“I work at home. I make and sell quilts on Etsy,” Claire answered. She started to tell her that on the way down to San Antonio, she’d spotted a small, empty building in Sunset where she’d love to put in a quilting shop. But there was no need talking about it when the place might not even be available.
“I love Pinterest and Etsy so much. We’ll have to compare notes when you get settled,” Retta said.
“We gots ’terio in the van,” Zaylie said.
“What?” Retta slipped her arms into a warmly lined jacket and handed one to Claire and to Zaylie.
“Material in the van,” Claire translated. “I bought several bolts of fabric in San Antonio. Levi offered to bring it to the bunkhouse so I can cut the pieces for several quilt tops while we’re waiting to get home,” Claire answered. “I’ll try to stay out of everyone’s way and not be an imposition.”
Retta laid a hand on her shoulder. “I’m sorry that all this happened, but I’m a firm believer that things happen for a reason. In a few weeks or months, we’ll look back and see why it all went down this way. When I came to the ranch in June, I figured it was for five weeks, but lookin’ back, I can see the plan in it all.”
“I hope you’re right.”
A picture of Levi popped into Claire’s mind, and she wondered what kind of plan this was for him. Common sense said that he had a girlfriend or maybe even a fiancée in the wings. No man that was as kind and sweet, plus as handsome, as Levi Jackson was single. It just wasn’t possible.
The first thing that Zaylie saw when Retta opened the bunkhouse door was a big fluffy yellow cat in a basket with three little black kittens curled up against her belly. Zaylie immediately dropped to her knees and began talking to them in the high-pitched tone she used when she was playing with her baby dolls.
“Looks like she’s going to spoil those cats,” a man commented as he stood up from the sofa. He towered over Claire, even more than Levi did, but he wasn’t as stocky.
Retta went to him, and he draped an arm around her shoulders. “I’m Cade Maguire. You must be Claire.”
She moved forward and stuck out a hand. “I’m pleased to meet you, and thank you for your hospitality.”
They shook, and then he kissed Retta on the forehead. “I’ve got more work to do. I’ll see you at noon.”
“And I’m Zaylie, and thank you for bringing me the kitties.” Zaylie waved from the basket.
“You are very welcome. I’m sure Gussie will enjoy being in the house.” Cade smiled.
While Zaylie was busy getting acquainted with the cat and kittens, Retta showed Claire the rest of the cabin—four small bedrooms, one large one, a tiny kitchenette, complete with a washer and dryer.
“And now I’ll let y’all get settled in. See you at noon,” Retta said.
“Thanks again,” Claire said.
She took care of herself, her family, and a booming quilting business, but suddenly Claire was completely overwhelmed. Everything had happened in a whirlwind, and she was used to order and schedules. And she did not like the feeling one bit. She grabbed the telephone, sank down on the sofa, and dialed Franny’s phone number.
“Hello,” she answered cautiously.
“Franny, it’s Claire.”
“Well, praise the Lord! I didn’t recognize the number and thought it might be one of them guys tryin’ to sell me more insurance,” she said. “Where are you? Are you and that baby girl all right? I’ve been worried. You should have been home. Did you get stuck down there in the snow?”
When Franny stopped for a breath of air, Claire started answering questions before Franny could fire off more. Claire told her about getting lost and wrecking the van and the rest of the story. When she finished she felt as if a weight had been lifted. Now someone knew where she was and that she and Zaylie were alive.
“Franny, I really don’t like this feeling of dependence. It doesn’t set well with me.” Claire sighed.
“You’re in good hands. Don’t worry. The sun will come out and melt the snow. You’ll be home before long, and this will be just a story that you and Zaylie tell Grant when he comes home,” Franny said.
“How do you know I’m in good hands?” Claire asked.
“When me and my late husband lived on the ranch between here and the Red River, we knew the old Maguire couple. They were fine folks, and I wouldn’t expect a bit less from their offspring. This would be their grandsons runnin’ the place now, I’m sure,” Franny answered.
“I guess so, but it was the foreman of the ranch, Levi Jackson, who rescued us. How do you know the Maguires?”
Franny giggled. “Honey, it’s not that far from where you are to Randlett. We were pretty often at the same ranch sales that they were. Lizzy Maguire and I both had a little taste for a shot of Jack Daniel’s whiskey and gossip. I always looked forward to catchin’ up with her even if she was a dyed-in-the-wool, hardheaded Longhorn fan. And little Levi is the foreman on that big ranch, you say? That means his dad, Skip, has stepped down. Is Mavis still alive?”
“Yes, he is, and I overheard them talking about Levi calling Mavis, so I’d guess she’s still living. But Levi is not little,” Claire answered.
“I guess I should’ve said young Levi. That boy was always big for his age, but he had a gentle way about him. How old is he now?”
Claire’s brow wrinkled as she tried to guess Levi’s age. “I’d guess somewhere near my age, maybe a little older.”
“That’s what I’d think. I remember them being kids back when you and Grant were visiting your grandmother, and y’all were about the same age as those boys. And, Claire, everything happens for a reason,” Franny said.
“You’re the second person who’s said that to me today.” Claire wondered what reason there could be for her vehicle being totaled, for her having to spend the holiday with strangers, or why her life had gone completely sideways. None of it made a bit of sense to her.
“Well, whoever said it first is a smart cookie,” Franny said. “Call me every day, and don’t worry about your place up here. I’ll keep a close eye on it. The storm went to the east of us. We got about half an inch of snow, and it’s already melted, but they’re sayin’ that down around Bowie and Nocona, it might take several days to get back to normal.”
Claire groaned. Two days had just stretched into the better part of a week.
“When life gives you lemons, throw them in the trash and make a chocolate cake. It tastes better.” Franny’s giggles were high pitched enough that Claire held the phone out from her ear.
“You are crazy.” Claire laughed with her.
“Yep, I am. I’ve got your number. If you don’t call me by nine tomorrow night, I’ll call you,” Franny said.
“I’ll keep you posted each evening. You stay warm. Bye now,” Claire said.
The moment she put the receiver back on the stand, Gussie hopped up in her lap, turned around a couple of times, and curled up into a ball. Looking up with big eyes, she started to purr.
“You’re a whole lot friendlier than Franny’s cat, Willie. Is Zaylie babysitting for you so you can have some time away from those kitties?” she crooned.
The cat purred even louder.
“I wish you could talk. I’d like to know if Levi has a significant other in his life, but I don’t want to ask Retta.”
“What’s a giftother?” Zaylie sat down on the floor beside her with three squirmy kittens in her arms.
“Significant other is a girlfriend.” Claire changed the subject. “Let’s put all these cats back in the basket and take a bath in that enormous tub. You want to go first or should I?”
“Me!” Zaylie carefully carried the kittens back to the basket.
“You drop all your clothes by the washing machine, and I’ll start a bath for you. We’ve each got a change of clothes and pajamas in that suitcase. That’ll do until Levi brings the rest of our stuff.”
“Why didn’t you put more in the suitcase like my toys?” Zaylie asked.
“Because I packed it that way in case we got tired and had to stop at a hotel. You didn’t need your toys until we get home to Randlett.”
“Okay.” Zaylie bounced and twirled like a ballerina all the way to the washer where she stripped down to nothing and then ran to the bathroom ahead of Claire. She played in the water until it was lukewarm and then Claire shampooed her hair. When she got out and was dressed in fresh clothing, she wanted to know if she could rest her eyes in the bed in her room.
“Which one is yours?” Claire asked.
She yawned. “The one right next to yours, just like at home.”
“I saw lots of little girl books on the case in the living area. You want to take one with you to look at?” Claire brushed the tangles from her hair.
“Nope. I just want to rest my eyes, and then I’ll read a story to the kittens.” Her tiny hands knotted into fists, and she rubbed her eyes with them.
She was sound asleep before Claire got the washer loaded and headed toward the bathroom for her turn in the big tub. She ran the tub full of water and sighed as she sank down into it. She’d never take warm water or a bathtub for granted again. She leaned her head back and shut her eyes. A series of pictures of Levi flashed through her mind—standing in the cabin door, covered with snow and looking like he was really ten feet tall, and probably even bulletproof, then one of him smiling at Zaylie’s prayers, and an up close and personal one as he carried her into the house.
He’d sure enough proved what Franny said about him having a gentle way about him.