A Home with the Rancher Page 9

  Dani managed a small smile in return. Polished nails, silky hair ribbons, braids. Camping and roasting marshmallows. Judging from the two pretty girls sitting beside her, their mother—Nicole, if she recalled correctly—had probably been beautiful. She must have been a wonderful woman. Had to have been in order to earn Mac’s devotion and raise three gorgeous children.

  It all sounded like a sweet dream. One Mac and his children had cruelly lost. One Nicole had lost, as well.

  “She sounds like she was a fantastic mom,” Dani whispered, smoothing a hand through Maddie’s long hair. She blinked back a tear as Maddie leaned into her touch, snuggling against her. “I’m so sorry you lost her. I’m sure she loved you girls very much and would be so proud of you now.”

  Dani held Maddie close, sympathetic sorrow filling her and spurring a sincere wish that the girls and Jaxon still had their mother. And—as much as it burned her chest—that Mac still had his wife.

  “I imagine your dad loved your mother very much, too.”

  Maddie stiffened against her then pulled away. “Yeah.” Her voice hardened as she examined Dani’s face. “He did. And he said he always would.”

  Dani froze, heart aching at the sadness and anger darkening Maddie’s eyes.

  “You like him, don’t you?” Maddie asked.

  She was so tempted to lie. To say gently that though she admired Mac, she felt nothing more than friendship for him. To assure the little girl with soothing words that her interests at Elk Valley Ranch lay only in her job and, in no way, involved taking Mac’s time away with a new romance. Or possibly...love. The strong, solid kind Nicole had obviously enjoyed with Mac. The kind that might have the potential to take precedence over Nicole’s memory.

  But Dani had told too many lies already and Maddie’s eyes were so clear—so trusting—that she couldn’t bring herself to tell another. Not even to herself.

  “Yes,” she said softly. “I do.”

  “A lot?”

  “Yes.”

  Maddie shot to her feet and scrubbed a hand over her red face. “Well, you can’t. You can’t like him. You were supposed to go back to New York.”

  “She can like Dad if she wants to,” Nadine said, scooting quickly to Dani’s side and threading her fingers through hers. “And she’s staying here with us.” She glanced up at Dani. “Aren’t you?”

  Dani licked her lips as they stared at her and scrambled for another honest answer. “I... I don’t know for how long—”

  “It’s hot.” Maddie dabbed at her cheeks with the hem of her shirt, rubbing hard at her eyes. “I want to go inside.”

  “We still have two flowers left to plant,” Nadine said. “And it ain’t that hot.”

  “It is hot.”

  Nadine shook her head and jumped to her feet, grumbling under her breath, “She can be such a sissy sometimes.”

  “I’m not a sissy.” Maddie stamped her foot. “Stop saying that.”

  “I can say it if it’s true—”

  “Girls, please.” Dani rose and brushed the dirt off her backside. “We were having such a good time and you were both doing a wonderful job. Why don’t we go inside, have a glass of lemonade and cool off? Then, if it’s not raining, we could come back out later and finish up?”

  The girls remained silent, casting sour looks at each other.

  “Maddie, does that sound like a good plan to you?” Dani asked.

  Maddie dodged her eyes, her cheeks suspiciously wet, then nodded slowly. “I guess.”

  “Okay.” Dani bent and grabbed one end of a large bag of potting soil. “Nadine, would you help me move these bags to the side of the stable? Tim and Cal might bring the horses in early if it storms and they’ll need a clear path.”

  Nadine sighed, grabbed the other end and helped heft it out of the way. On the way back for another bag, she said, “Figures we’d end up inside again. That always happens.” She scowled at her sister. “That’s why Dad never lets us go hiking. He knows Maddie can’t make it.”

  “That’s enough, Nadine—”

  “That’s not true,” Maddie shouted. “I could make it up the mountain.”

  Nadine scoffed. “Yeah, right.”

  “Nadine, I mean it.” Dani leveled a stern look in her direction. “Let it go. We’re going inside, putting our feet up and having a cool drink.” Though, dear God, she needed something stronger than lemonade. “We could even watch a movie—if, you ask your sister very politely to accept your sincere apology for behaving rudely.”

  Nadine mulled this over for a minute, lips twisting and eyes rolling, then asked, “Maddie, will you please accept my apology for...” Brow creasing, she glanced at Dani in confusion before blurting, “Oh, yeah. For being rude and stuff.”

  Dani relaxed slightly. “Now, see—”

  “I don’t accept!” Maddie spun on her heel and ran off, her small figure darting across the field.

  “Maddie, wait!”

  “Aw, she’ll be all right.” Nadine shrugged then revealed a gap-toothed smile. “You want me to apologize again when we get inside? I can practice being more polite on you first so I can do it better next time.”

  Dani rubbed her forehead and groaned. Good grief. Could this morning possibly get any worse?

  * * *

  MAC TOOK A hefty swig from a water bottle then handed it back to Jaxon as they stepped heavily along the winding mountain trail. “Thanks, buddy.”

  Jaxon smiled. “I packed plenty of everything, didn’t I? Just like you taught me.”

  “Yep. You did a great job.” Mac adjusted the thin hiking pack on his son’s back. “Doesn’t matter if you’re walking one mile or eighty—always take your pack with you, yeah? You never know—”

  “What might happen.” Jaxon rolled his eyes and grinned, gesturing toward the bag hanging from Mac’s shoulder. “Gah-lee, you’ve only told me that, like, a million times.”

  Mac bit back a laugh. “Getting on your nerves, am I?”

  Jaxon harrumphed. “Well, sometimes, yeah.”

  He laughed. “Great. That means I’m being a good dad.”

  And for the first time in a long time, Mac actually believed it.

  They began the long hike to the overlook this morning silently but, eventually, Mac had managed to bring Jaxon around to talking. First with jokes and anecdotes that entertained them with heavy breaths of laughter as they’d climbed the steep mountain, then with more solemn exchanges that prompted them to stray from the trail and prop up against an old oak while Jaxon shared his frustrations.

  Jaxon had felt overlooked for a long time. That had been no surprise. But what had been a surprise was how mature and understanding his son had become.

  Mac had reluctantly opened up about the ranch and the difficulties they faced—ones he’d hoped to protect his son from rather than share with him—but Jaxon seemed to already know how dire things had become. He knew how hard Mac worked and understood his long hours even though he resented Mac at times for it.

  Eventually, they’d reached an agreement of sorts, both making concessions to the other to help things run more smoothly in the future. It wouldn’t be easy but it was a start, at least. And they’d had a damn good time together, too.

  Mac smiled. A great time that he had Dani, in part, to thank for. Dani, whom he couldn’t stop thinking about, though he’d been determined to keep things professional.

  A low rumble of thunder rippled above them.

  Mac glanced up at the thin trees towering over them as they neared the valley. The once-clear sky was now dark and the air around them had grown thicker during their descent from the overlook an hour ago. So charged and heavy, it almost crackled against the skin of his forearms. It seemed they’d timed their return to the ranch just right. He’d sensed an afternoon storm blowing in—they were almost like clockwork this time of year—a
nd it looked like the trip to the creek with his girls would have to wait.

  Mac smiled and picked up the pace. No worries. One advantage to business being slow was having full run of the lodge. The great room would be mostly empty, leaving plenty of space to build a blanket and pillow fort with the girls. They’d loved doing that last summer. He’d cut out paper stars with Maddie and helped Nadine string white lights, then collapsed inside the fort with them to read stories and do his best to answer a million questions. Questions on everything ranging from how many miles it was to a real star to how high a bullfrog could jump.

  His smile widened. There was a stellar view of the valley from the great room, too. Dani would love it. Maybe she’d stick around and join them.

  He stepped carefully over a chunk of loose rock and focused on the valley, which slowly came into view at the edge of the tree line. He’d keep it strictly business, of course. Just a friendly invitation to an employee to enjoy some well-deserved downtime. Under no circumstances would he kiss her again like he had last night. No matter how beautiful she was. Or how fantastic it’d felt.

  They walked between the last set of trees then stepped onto the uneven path leading to the lodge. Mac’s eyes strayed to the stretch of fence he and Dani had repaired last night. The memory of her soft lips clinging to his buzzed in his blood, sending a bolt of heat through his gut.

  He grimaced. Strictly professional? Yeah. Keep telling yourself that.

  “You think I could take Ms. Dani to the overlook one day?”

  Mac refocused on Jaxon, nodding slowly. “I think she’d like that.” Unlike Nicole, Dani loved the outdoors. He had yet to see her without dirt caked under her nails or her cheeks stained with sunburn. She wore both beautifully. “I’d think she’d love it, actually.”

  “Me, too,” Jaxon said. “Think you might take her yourself sometime?” He hesitated for a moment. “Without me?”

  He stifled a grin and studied Jaxon’s hopeful expression. “What do you mean?”

  “Well, she’s nice. And fun. And...” Jaxon blushed. “And real pretty.”

  Mac lost the battle, laughter escaping him. “Oh, so you noticed that, huh?”

  Jaxon glanced up at him, brows raised. “Yeah. Didn’t you?”

  “I expect I did.”

  Jaxon kicked a rock and tugged his pack higher on his back. “So I think you should ask her. You know, out on a date or something.” His shoulders drew up and he laughed nervously. “I mean—it’s just that... I’m thinking if I noticed and you noticed...then some other guy would probably notice, too. Then it’d be too late.”

  Mac’s steps slowed. Discussing his love life with his son was uncomfortable enough without adding the thought of Dani with another man. He sure as hell didn’t want to think about that. But dating an employee on his family’s ranch with his children in tow? How in the world would that ever work out?

  It’d been just him and the kids for years. If things did become serious with Dani, how would he go about finding a place for her in his life? In his family? In his heart?

  And it wasn’t just his heart on the line. His children had lost a lot, but if a potential relationship with Dani went bad there was still so much more that could be taken from them. Their sense of security after already having lost one mother. Their trust in others.

  Was it even worth the risk to try?

  As it was, his attention needed to be on his kids and trying to hold on to the ranch. Not Dani.

  “Jaxon, you know I think a lot of Ms. Dani. But I’m not sure where things stand with us. And I won’t jump into anything with her—or any woman—simply out of fear of what I might miss out on. If it’s meant to be, it’ll happen. At the right time.” He sighed. “I know you miss Mom—I do, too—and we probably always will in some way or another. My dating or not dating won’t change that. When I do decide to date again, it’ll be with a woman I know will care about you and your sisters as much as I do.”

  Jaxon stared up at him, expression earnest. “Ms. Dani cares about us. Doesn’t she?”

  Mac hesitated. “She—”

  “Mac!”

  He swung around to find Cal racing up on horseback. The gelding skittered to a halt in front of Mac, dust billowing up beneath his hooves.

  Cal glanced at Jaxon then the empty path behind them. “You didn’t come across one of your girls on the way down, did you?”

  Mac frowned. “No. They’re with Dani.”

  “They were,” Cal said. “Now one of ’em is missing.”

  Mac’s heart skipped. “What? They were planting azaleas by the stable. They probably went inside to—”

  “We already checked inside. Maddie’s not in there. Dani said the girls had an argument and she ran off.” Cal eased his mount around them then stopped, surveying the three hiking trails forking off in different directions. “I just finished checking the grounds with no sign of her. Tim and Dani split up and set off on the west trails a while ago, thinking she might’ve taken off up the mountain after you. Thought I’d head back up the east trail, just in case you missed her on your way back.”

  Lightning streaked above the valley, lighting up the dark sky.

  Mac jerked into action, tugging Jaxon’s pack from his shoulders and asking Cal, “Where’s Nadine?”

  “In the office with Ann.”

  “Which trail did Tim take?”

  Cal pointed to the middle trail. “Dani took the one to Sugar Falls on foot. Didn’t think she could navigate it on horseback. I’m going to take the overlook trail just to be thorough.”

  “Then I’ll check behind Dani. Make sure we’re covering every path.”

  “Want me to go with you, Dad?” Jaxon asked.

  “No. Go on in and stay with Nadine.” He hitched the extra pack over his shoulder and headed for the Sugar Falls trail. “Neither one of you are to step a toe outside of that lodge until I get back, yeah?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Mac walked briskly up the steep mountain trail, his heart thumping hard against his ribs as Cal’s horse pounded up the overlook trail. Damn, he wished he had a horse, but trekking back to the stable and mounting up would cost him more time than it would just to head out on foot.

  He hustled faster up the incline. The bags bounced against his back as he ascended and the trees grew thick again. His quads screamed with each step and his breath hitched, reminding him of just how far he and Jaxon had climbed this morning.

  “Maddie!”

  There was no answer. Just the rustling of branches as the breeze grew stronger.

  Mac cringed. Why couldn’t she and Nadine just stay put? Every time he turned around, they were gallivanting off somewhere without his permission. And he couldn’t count the number of times he’d explicitly told them not to set off up the mountain without him.

  Thunder bellowed through the trees and a gust of wind cut across the trail. Leaves scattered along the path and several heavy drops of rain pelted his forehead and jaw. Mac swallowed hard and shouted for Maddie again.

  Listening for a response, he picked up the pace even more, his boots slipping on the loose dirt of the trail. It wasn’t long before he’d covered over a mile, he guessed. The rain fell harder and his T-shirt clung wetly to his chest.

  His throat tightened. The rain was heavier now. His view became obstructed by the haze of cascading water and the dirt path melted into mud beneath his feet. He had a hard time keeping his balance, which meant Maddie and Dani would, too.

  Maddie had next to no climbing skills and Dani had no knowledge of the landscape. They wouldn’t be able to see farther than a couple feet in front of them at most. And by then—

  “Maddie!”

  His mouth ran dry. He dragged his wet forearm over his drenched face, his steps stalling with helpless panic. Maddie was alone out here. Had been for some time in this storm. On this dangerous
terrain. His Maddie. And Dani...

  “—ac!”

  He froze. The rush of wind and creaks of tree limbs quickly buried the faint voice in the distance.

  Mac blinked hard against the rain pelting his eyelids and shouted, “Dani?”

  “—er here!”

  It was her. The cry spurred his burning legs forward, up the next swell of the trail then off the beaten path. He waited until he heard her voice again then followed it to the edge of the drop off and peered through the sheets of rain over the edge.

  There she was, clinging to the sharp incline, her hands wrapped tightly around a thick protruding tree root and her feet scrambling for a foothold on slippery undergrowth as she looked down. It wasn’t that far to the bottom, but it was steep enough to want to avoid a fall.

  Small arms shifted around Dani’s neck and a blond head lifted above her back. “Please don’t drop me. It’s muddy down there.”

  Maddie. Mac blew out a heavy sigh of relief. Thank God.

  “Mud is the least of our worries,” Dani said. “And there’s no way I’d let go of you, Maddie. Just hold on to me and we’ll be fine.”

  Mac dropped his packs to the ground and raised his voice above the onslaught of rain. “Dani.”

  She grunted then craned her neck, blinking rapidly up at him. “Oh, thank goodness.” A relieved grin wavered across her face as she spat at the rain pouring over her lips. “I’m so sorry, Mac. I thought I knew the way back but I got lost when it started raining then Maddie fell. She’s fine but I could really use a hand.”

  “Dad!” Maddie reached out toward him and edged further up Dani’s back, causing her to flinch.

  “Stay put, Maddie, and hold on to Dani.”

  Mac dropped to his knees beside a tree, grabbed the trunk with one arm for support then thrust the other over the edge. Dani released the tree root with one hand and reached quickly for his, her wet fingers slipping over his skin and losing their grip.

  Panic flickered across her face and she renewed her hold on the root.

  “Easy, babe,” he said over the pounding rain. “I’m not going anywhere. Go slow.”