A s soon as Joni got back to her room, she tore open the envelope to read the letter from Max’s grandparents. As she’d suspected, they had never blamed him for what had happened. The letter was touching, and she said a quick prayer that his grandparents were both still in good health. The letter had been written in 2003, so she was a bit concerned, but she decided that he should read the letter either way. He needed to know that no matter how much his mother had messed up, his grandparents loved him .

He’d told her he wanted to meet her for her morning run, so she waited in front of the house at half past four, ready to run. It was in the high forties, but that was the summer temperature early in the morning in the part of Idaho she lived in .

He jogged to her, a wary look on his face. “Did you read it ?”

She nodded, handing it to him. “They never blamed you, Max. They wanted to see you all those years ago. I’d bet they still want to see you .”

His eyes looked haunted, and for a moment, she thought he’d leave right then. Instead he said, “Let’s run .”

She nodded, sensing that he wanted to run his troubles away, as she’d done more times than she could count over the years. Together, they ran. They ran across fields and around buildings. They ran across the ranchland .

When they finally returned an hour had passed, and she was gasping for air. “I’ll see you later ?”

He nodded, running back in the direction of his cabin. As she watched him go, she couldn’t help but worry. He’d been so distant. Surely he’d be all right .

Shaking her head, she decided to let him deal with it himself. There was nothing she could do to make things easier, so she needed to go about her business. And her business was the job interview she had coming up in a few hours .

* * *

I t was just after two that afternoon when Lillian went upstairs to talk to Joni. “Max is in Dallas. He’s going to spend some time with his grandparents. He asked that I have someone take you to the airport .”

Joni nodded, understanding but wishing things were different. She’d started Max down this road, and if he needed time with his grandparents before he could spend some with her, then it was her fault. “All right. Thank you .”

“He said to give you these.” Lillian handed Joni his truck keys .

“No, I can’t take them. I’ll have someone pick me up and take me back to the ranch. It’s really not a problem .”

“I thought you’d say that, but he said he doesn’t want his truck staying at the airport for an indefinite period of time .”

“Oh.” Joni could understand where he was coming from. “All right .”

“Well, let’s go. I don’t want you to be late for your flight .”

“You’re driving me to the airport?” Joni asked, surprised .

“Of course, I am. You love one of my boys, and that means you’re mine.” Lillian headed for the minivan she still insisted on driving, even though her sons were all grown. “He’s going to be all right .”

“I know. It’s just hard that I can’t be with him .”

“I’m just thrilled you want to be .”

* * *

M ax stood in front of the huge house where he’d spent the first five years of his life. He raised his hand to knock, thought better of it, and turned to walk away. He was halfway back to his rental when he realized that he’d been waiting for this day for a long time. He couldn’t back out now .

Raising his hand, he knocked on the door, holding his breath as he waited for someone to come. The woman who opened the door wasn’t familiar to him, but she was about the right age to be his grandmother. Taking a deep breath, he said, “I’m Max Logan .”

The woman stared at him for a moment, tears filling her eyes. “We never thought we’d get to see you again .”

Max wanted to run. “I didn’t know you wanted to see me until this morning .”

She shook her head. “What am I doing keeping you outside on a cold day like this? Come in!” She opened the door wide, and Max walked in, half afraid he’d break something. “To your left is the living room. Have a seat while I call your grandfather. He’s at work .”

“Oh, don’t bother him at work!” Max realized he had no idea what his grandfather even did for a living, but he was sure he was too busy to come home in the middle of the day .

His grandmother stared at him for a moment. “Of course, I’ll call him at work. We’ve prayed every day that you would find your way home to us.” She left the room, and he could hear her moving around in another .

He looked around him, surprised at the opulence that surrounded him. He couldn’t imagine why his mother had not left him here when she’d left, but he knew if she had, his life would have been much different. Would he have gone to college and worked in the family business? Would he have gone to football camp instead of juvie? There was no way of knowing. All he could do now was keep following the path he was plummeting down and get to know these people .

His grandmother came back into the room. “He’ll be here in fifteen minutes. Are you hungry? I could have Annie whip up some lunch ?”

He shook his head, certain that if he tried to eat, he’d vomit. “I don’t think I can eat at the moment. What should I call you ?”

She blinked a couple of times before walking over to sit down beside him. “When you were little you called me Grandma .”

He nodded. “Is that what you want me to call you now ?”

“I would like nothing more. I’m so glad you’re here! I know you were sent to a boys’ ranch years ago. How were you treated there?” Her eyes were still moist as she asked. “I hope they weren’t cruel .”

He shook his head. “That boys’ ranch is the best thing that ever happened to me. They treated me with love and respect from the first day onward. I’ve thought of Lillian and Peter McClain as my parents for more than half my life .”

She reached out and grasped his hand, and it felt odd to Max. She didn’t seem like someone who had a connection with him. “I’m so glad to hear that. Do you know about your mother ?”

“Know what ?”

“She died a year ago. Overdose .”

Max found he had no emotions over her pronouncement. He was sure that made him a terrible person, but he couldn’t feel grief for the woman who had made his life miserable for many years. “I’m sorry for your loss.” The words were automatic .

“Yours, too. She was your mother .”

He shrugged. “She wrote me off many years ago. I have a mother who loves me very much.” Abruptly he got to his feet. “This was a mistake .”

“Please don’t go, Max. At least let my husband come home and meet you. Then you can go if you want to .”

Max frowned, but he sat back down. “I can wait a few more minutes .”

“Tell me about you, Max. What do you do for a living? Where do you live? Are you married ?”

“I work as a cowboy at the boys’ ranch where I went after my mother disowned me. I’ve found my place in the world there, and I’m happy. I’m not married, but there’s a girl…I’m not sure how she feels about me at the moment, but I do know I want to pursue a relationship with her. I took her to meet Peter and Lillian .”

“And did they like her ?”

He nodded. “Lillian said she felt like she was already her daughter. She lives in Idaho, but I think she’s going to move to Texas to work on the ranch .”

“How’d you meet a girl in Idaho? It’s not one of those online relationships, is it ?”

“No. I had some time off, so I drove up there to spend some time with one of my foster brothers. She was the first person I met on the ranch. We haven’t known one another very long, but my feelings are strong .”

“Let me tell you a little secret about your grandfather and me. We met, and got married less than a week later. We’ve been married for almost fifty years .”

He wasn’t sure what to say to that. She seemed to be encouraging him to pursue his relationship with Joni, which pleased him. “That’s great.” He frowned. “Was my mother an only child ?”

“Yes, she was. And we spoiled her beyond belief. It’s our fault that she turned out as she did. We should have been stricter.” He heard the door open behind him. “Oh, that must be Stanley !”

Max turned to see the man who walked into the room where they were sitting. He was a tall man, with gray hair and blue eyes. “It’s nice to meet you, sir .”

The man walked around to the front of the couch where Max was sitting with his grandmother. “You look just like her, you know .”

Max shook his head. “Do I? It’s been over half my lifetime since I last laid eyes on her. I’m afraid I don’t remember much.” He remembered her yelling, but it was her voice, not her face he remembered .

His grandmother hurried away, while his grandfather simply said, “We’d like you to stay with us for a while .”

“I have a job that I don’t want to lose.” And a girl that I might have already lost by running off this way. “I’m afraid I can’t stay .”

“If you’ll stay with us a week, we’ll make sure you’re written into our will. You’ll be our sole beneficiary .”

Max tilted his head to one side. “What do you do, sir ?”

“I’m a lawyer. And, please, call me Grandpa like you used to .”

“I’m not interested in money. I just wanted to meet you both .”

“You’d walk away from millions ?”

He shrugged. “I’m more interested in the relationships I have with people around me than money. I have a good trust fund already that I rarely touch .”

His grandmother walked back into the room then, holding a framed photograph. She handed him the picture, letting him look at his mother when she wasn’t much older than he was .

As he stared at the picture, he realized his grandparents were talking to one another, but he didn’t hear them. He couldn’t focus on both things. The woman in the photo looked angry. She definitely hadn’t been happy around him .

“Would you agree to that, Max?” his grandfather asked .

Max looked up, surprised. “Agree to what ?”

“Will you stay for a week so we have a chance to get to know you? In exchange, we’ll leave all of our money to that ranch you love so much.” His grandmother had a pleading look in her eyes as she asked .

Max frowned for a moment. The McClains had a fundraiser every year to help with the ranch’s expenses. He couldn’t be certain, but if his grandparents had the kind of money they seemed to have, the ranch would be set for a long time. “I’ll do it .”

His grandmother clasped her hands together, smiling happily. “You won’t regret it !”

* * *

T wo weeks later, Max called Kelsi at River’s End Ranch to get a ride back from the airport. His truck was already there, which left him without a ride .

“I’ll have Shane come and get you .”

“Thanks.” After making the arrangements, he sat down and waited for his flight back to Salt Lake City. He had an overnight layover there, and a flight to Lewiston early the next morning. After two weeks with his grandparents—they’d begged for one more week, and he’d acquiesced—he was ready to get back to the real world. A world where people didn’t live in a mansion and didn’t have servants. He was ready to go back to his ranch, but he had some unfinished business at River’s End first .

Soon. Soon he’d talk to Joni and apologize. Soon he’d be able to go home .

* * *

M ax felt his heart start beating faster as soon as the sheriff drove onto the ranch property and he spotted the café. Joni’s car was parked in front of it, so he knew she was there. “Just drop me at the café if you would, Sheriff .”

“Happy to.” Shane parked in front of the small building and Max got out, grabbing his bag from the backseat .

“I appreciate the ride .”

“Anything to help the course of true love .”

Max wasn’t sure about Joni’s feelings, but he knew his own. He was worried she was going to be angry with him, but he didn’t know what else to do except apologize and explain the deal his grandparents had made with him .

He saw that his usual booth was empty, and he walked over, sliding in. He took his hat off and laid it on the seat beside him .

Joni watched him walk in and took a deep breath. Kelsi had warned her he was on his way, but she’d had no idea what the impact of seeing him would be until he’d walked into the café. She grabbed a cup of coffee and the coffee pot, taking them both to him and filling his cup. “Want Bob’s special ?”

Max’s eyes met hers. “I would like that a great deal. Do you have a break coming up ?”

She nodded, walking back toward the kitchen and telling Bob that she needed two specials. Then she told Kelsi she was taking a quick break, and she walked back to Max, sliding in across from him. “How did it go with your grandparents ?”

He searched her eyes, and to his surprise, there was no anger there. Simply compassion and understanding. “You’re not mad ?”

She frowned. “Why would I be mad ?”

“I sort of abandoned you and took off for Dallas with no warning. You had to fly back by yourself. I never called you .”

She grinned. “Sounds like you’re trying to convince me to be angry with you. If you want, I’m sure I can make it happen .”

He laughed softly. “I should have called. I just wanted to explain it all in person…and now that I’m here, I can’t think of one word of explanation.” He reached out and took her hand in his. “Are you taking the job in Texas ?”

She nodded. “Adam said I could finish out the year here and start there on January second .”

“So you’re coming to the ranch? For sure ?”

“For sure. I’m staying here through the end of the year, because I can’t imagine how hard it would be to replace me at Christmas time.” Her eyes met his. “How long are you here for ?”

“I have another two weeks. I want to spend as much time with you as possible .”

She nodded. “Sounds good. I wish you could be here for Christmas, but I understand. You need to be with your adopted family as much as I need to be with mine.” She jumped up to get their plates and brought them back to the table. “Now, how did it go with your grandparents ?”

* * *

M ax spent Thanksgiving with Joni and her family, but he refused to shop with them on Black Friday. Instead he stayed home with her father and watched football. All day long. By the end of the day, the two men were bosom buddies, and Joni knew her father wouldn’t be happy if they split up .

After the holiday, he drove back to Texas, and she stood, crying as she watched him go. She knew she’d see him as soon as she got to the ranch, though, and there was so much to do before then. She was going to live in one of the small cabins on the ranch, and she had to pack up everything she owned—an entire lifetime of possessions—in just a month. It was good he was leaving as much as it hurt that he had to go .

She jumped into packing and the holiday season at the ranch with both feet, refusing to moan around because she was missing Max. The hard part were the holiday festivities. Always before, she’d thought of the people on the ranch as her family, and that had been enough. Somehow, this year it wasn’t .

Still, she did every single activity so she wouldn’t think about how lonely she was without him. It was strange—she was just as busy as she’d always been, just as involved with everything she’d always done. But without Max there, she felt empty and alone .

The Christmas Eve service was one of her favorite traditions at the ranch, and she was there, sitting beside Bridget. Somehow Bridget had decided they were best friends, and while she didn’t dislike the girl, she found her a bit difficult, especially in large quantities .

Part of the ranch’s Christmas tradition was that people would make special ornaments for each other, and they were passed out by the Weston siblings after the service. She watched as people all around her got gifts. When one was placed on her lap, she smiled, assuming Kelsi had made her an ornament so she wouldn’t feel left out. Kelsi was the one she’d talked to about her loneliness more than anyone .

She opened the package and found a small jewelry box inside. Joni frowned. This tradition was only for handmade things, not store-bought. She opened the box and gasped. There was a beautiful diamond ring inside. Looking around to see who was watching her, she saw Max kneeling beside her. “Will you do me the great honor of being my wife ?”

“What are you doing here?” Joni asked, her voice higher pitched than usual .

“I’m here so you won’t be alone on Christmas. Marry me ?”

Joni felt the tears coursing down her cheeks as she nodded emphatically. “Of course I’ll marry you .”

He removed the ring from the box and carefully placed it on her finger. “I love you, Joni Kley .”

She leaned down and kissed him softly. “I love you too, Max Logan .”

“When?” he asked .

“When what ?”

“When are you going to marry me, silly ?”

She shrugged. “When do you want to get married? I just realized you were even thinking about this. You’ve had more time to come up with a wedding date than I have .”

“How would you feel about getting married on the thirtieth? It’s a Saturday, and I already checked to make sure Kevin was free .”

She laughed. “All right. The twenty-ninth it is. I’ll get my family up here. I’m sure someone has a wedding dress I can wear. And then when we get to Texas, I can just move into your cabin with you .”

“Do you have any idea how happy that will make me ?”

Joni looked around then, realizing everyone had been watching and listening to their conversation. “Everyone else okay with the twenty-ninth for the wedding?” she asked loudly .

“Works for me!” Kelsi told her. “Just make it an afternoon wedding so I don’t have to take off work. I just lost my assistant manager !”

Max saw Jaclyn standing at the back of the church, her fairy wings in place. She smiled and nodded at him. He nodded back, silently thanking her for her help .