Hi, kids. Luke smiled at the two rug rats, but neither of them returned his smile. Their dark eyes continued to gaze at him with suspicion.
Luke turned to Abigail. Ill get some estimates together and call you with them later this evening.
That will be fine, she replied and again offered him that beautiful smile that ignited a small flame in the pit of Lukes stomach.
Yes, it was definitely a good thing Abigail Graham was a married woman with two children, he thought as he nodded goodbye and headed for his pickup truck. Although he found himself incredibly physically attracted to her, the fact that she was married with children assured him he wouldnt follow through on that attraction.
The last thing Luke was looking for was any kind of a permanent relationship. Even if Abigail were single and available, she had that look in her eyes that told him she probably
wasnt a short-term-relationship kind of woman.
He dismissed thoughts of the lovely Abigail and her children from his mind as he pointed his pickup toward the family dude ranch.
Adam Delaney, Lukes father, had passed away a little over five months earlier, leaving Luke and his three siblings as heirs to the successful Delaney Dude Ranch. However, Adam Delaney, who had been a mean bastard in life, had kicked his kids one last time in death.
Hed left them the family ranch with a condition attached, that each of them spend twenty-five hours a week working on the ranch for a year. If before that time any one of them defaulted and didnt spend the required time there, the entire estate would transfer to Clara Delaney, Adams old-maid sister.
Although Luke had no real love for the place where hed been born and had spent a miserable childhood, he wasnt about to be the one to make his brothers and sister lose their inheritance.
His plans were to remain here in Inferno for another seven months, then when the inheritance was won, hed sell his interest in the ranch, take the money and chase after his real dream of being a star in Nashville.
And there was no way that dream included a woman, children or anything that remotely resembled a long-term relationship.
I dont like him. Jason was tucked into bed, the red Kansas City Chiefs sheet pulled up to his stubborn chin. I dont think he should be here. I dont like the way he looks.
Abby knew who he was talking about, and she also knew it had nothing to do with like or dislike. It had everything to do with fear.
Men frightened both Jason and Jessica ever since that night a year and a month agothe night their lives had been irrevocably shattered, the night Abby had lost the one person most dear to her heart.
But Abby couldnt think of that. She couldnt dwell on all shed lost because then she would be lost in grief. She and the kids were in survival mode now, and the only way to survive was to forge ahead and not look back.
Jason, Luke seemed like a very nice man. Im sure he wont hurt your sister or you. Besides, we need him. We cant live here if we dont fix the porch.
Jason frowned thoughtfully. And if he fixes it we can live here together forever? His dark little eyes pled with her for assurance.
Thats the plan, she replied and leaned forward to kiss his forehead. Now, go to sleep. We have a big day tomorrow. Weve got all kinds of boxes to unpack and maybe tomorrow evening well go into town and eat at a restaurant.
And I can get a chocolate shake?
Abby laughed. If the restaurant has them, then you can get one, but now you need to get to sleep.
Dutifully, Jason closed his eyes. After checking to make certain the night-light was burning brightly, Abby shut off the overhead light and left the room.
She went into the smaller bedroom next door where Jessica awaited a night-time kiss. Five-year-old Jessica smiled as Abby entered her bedroom. It was the bright, beautiful smile of a little angel.
Hi, pumpkin. All tucked in? Abby sat on the edge of the bed as Jessica nodded. You didnt eat very much for supper. Are you hungry?
Jessica shook her head, and Abby wished for the millionth time that she could hear Jessicas voice. Just one word. It had been over a year since the little girl had uttered a word, and Abby could no longer remember what her voice sounded like.
Good night, sweetheart. Abby kissed Jessicas forehead, checked on her night-light, then left the room.
She went into the kitchen where she poured herself a cup of coffee, then headed for the sofa in the living room. Curling up on one end, with a television sitcom making white noise, she tried to make sense of the million things that were playing in her mind.
School had already begun, and she needed to get the two kids enrolled, Jason in first grade and Jessica in kindergarten. She hoped the school wouldnt check too deeply into the medical and miscellaneous records needed for enrollment. Shed changed the kids last name to adhere to their new identity.
Shed done everything she could to cover their tracks, hoped that shed made no mistakes. Coming here had been a risk, but shed weighed her options and realized they had no place else to go.