Are you all right? he asked. She didnt appear to be hurt, just scared. No, not scared, terrified. Had she seen a mouse? Or maybe something larger? In Texas it might have been an armadillo. He wasnt sure what kind of critters they had this far north, but something had definitely set her off.
It was nothing, she said, removing her hand from her mouth. Some of the color slowly returned to her face but he could see that she was still trembling.
It was something, he assured her.
She shook her head and ventured a look at the large box of decorations at her feet. The lid had been thrown to the side, some of the decorations spilling onto the floor.
He laughed. Let me guess. That black cat I just saw hightailing it out of here... Im betting he came out of that box.
Her eyes widened further. You saw it?
Raced right past me. He laughed. You didnt think you imagined it, did you?
It happened so fast. I couldnt be sure.
Must have given you quite a fright.
She let out a nervous laugh and tried to smile, exposing deep dimples. He understood now why his son had gone mute. He felt the same way looking at Natalies mother. There was an innocence about her, a vulnerability that would make a man feel protective.
Just the thought made him balk. Hed fallen once and wasnt about to get lured into that trap again. Not that there was any chance of that happening. In a few days he would be on a plane back to Texas with his son.
You know cats, he said, just being polite. Theyll climb into just about anything. Theyre attracted by pretty things. Just like some cowboys. Not him, though.
Yes, she said, but didnt sound convinced as she stepped away from the box. She didnt look all that steady on her feet. He started to reach out to her, but stopped himself as she found her footing.
He couldnt help noticing that her eyes were a darker shade of green than her daughters. Just a cat. A black one at that, he said, wondering why he felt the need to fill the silence. You arent superstitious, are you?
She shook her head and those emerald
eyes brightened. That with the color returning to her cheeks made her even more striking.
This was how hed fallen for Fords mothera pretty face and what had seemed like a sweet disposition in a woman whod needed himand look how that had turned out. No, it took more than a pretty face to turn his head after the beating hed taken from the last one.
You must be one of Tags brothers, she said as she wiped her palms on her jeans before extending a hand. Along with jeans, she wore a checked navy shirt, the sleeves rolled up, and cowboy boots. Im Allie Taylor, the wedding planner.
Jackson quickly removed his hat, wondering where hed left his manners. His mother had raised him better than this. But even as he started to shake her hand, he felt himself hesitate as if he were afraid to touch her.
Ridiculous, he thought as he grasped her small, ice-cold hand in his larger, much warmer one. Jackson Cardwell. I saw your van outside. But I thought the name on the side
Taylor is my married name. When his gaze went to her empty ring finger, she quickly added, Im a widow. She pulled back her hand to rub the spot where her wedding band had resided not that long ago. There was a thin, white line indicating that she hadnt been widowed long. Or she hadnt taken the band off until recently.
I believe I met your daughter as my son and I were coming in. Natalie?
Yes, my baby girl. Her dimpled smile told him everything he needed to know about her relationship with her daughter. He knew that smile and suspected he had one much like it when he talked about Ford.
He felt himself relax a little. There was nothing dangerous about this woman. She was a single parent, just like him. Only shed lost her husband and he wished he could get rid of his ex indefinitely.
Your daughter took my son to see the horses. I should probably check on him.
Dont worry. Nat has a healthy respect for the horses and knows the rules. Also Warren Fitzpatrick, their hired man, is never far away. Hes Danas semi-retired ranch manager. She says hes a fixture around here and loves the kids. That seems to be his job now, to make sure the kids are safe. Not that there arent others on the ranch watching out for them, as well. Sorry, I talk too much when Im...nervous. She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. I want this wedding to be perfect.
He could tell she was still shaken by the black cat episode. My brother Tag mentioned that Dana and the kids had almost been killed by some crazy woman. Its good she has someone she trusts keeping an eye on the children, even with everyone else on the ranch watching out for them. Dont worry, he said, looking around the barn. Im sure the wedding will be perfect.
The barn was huge and yet this felt almost too intimate standing here talking to her. I was just about to get Ford and go down to the house. Dana told me she was baking a huge batch of chocolate chip cookies and to help ourselves. I believe she said there would also be homemade lemonade when we got here.