“That fact only makes her more precious.”

  “And she’s years young for me. Besides, I’m already hooked up with the clinic and the ranch. No. Don’t be matchmaking for me. It won’t work.”

  She let out a long sigh. “Okay, Chandler. No matchmaking. All I ask is that you take Roslyn aside and convince her that she needs to stay here on the ranch. At least, until after the baby arrives and she gets back on her feet.”

  Why in hell was his mother doing this to him? Didn’t he have enough on his plate to deal with? Hadn’t she stopped to notice that he was stretched to the breaking point?

  Thrusting a hand through his hair, he tried to tamp down his frustration. “Me? Why me? She thinks you’re wonderful. You’re a mother figure to her—she’ll listen to you.”

  Maureen shook her head. “You’re the one who first found her and took care of her. You’re the one she trusted enough to allow you to bring her out here to the ranch. You’re the one she feels connected to.”

  Maybe his mother could see all of that, but Chandler sure couldn’t. Hardly thirty minutes had passed since Roslyn had announced at the dinner table that she’d be leaving tomorrow. That didn’t sound like the woman felt a connection to him or the ranch.

  But maybe she was leaving because no one had asked her to stay. The thought rambled through his head as he began to move aimlessly around the room.

  “I didn’t realize this was going to put such a strain on you, son,” she said cunningly. “Perhaps it would be better if I get Holt to speak with her. He knows exactly what to say to a woman.”

  He paused to stare at her. “Like hell! Holt doesn’t know how to talk to a woman like Roslyn!”

  “What do you mean, like Roslyn?” she asked sagely. “She’s young and pretty. Holt knows all about those kind of women. And every other kind, I might add.”

  Chandler wondered how it was that his mother always knew exactly which buttons to push to make her children comply with her wishes.

  “Is it really that important to you that Roslyn stay? I mean, you have more than you can deal with as it is.”

  Shrugging, she said, “Well, with Camille living down at Red Bluff and Vivian and Hannah gone to the reservation, I’m feeling a little lost for my daughters and granddaughter. It would be nice to have Roslyn and the baby around. And maybe, in turn, we can help her get things righted in her heart.”

  There was no way he could argue that point. Especially when the whole family had been concerned about the gradual change taking place with their mother. A change that had nothing to do with her daughters and granddaughter moving out. No, they all believed it had something to do with Joel’s death and uncovering the truth.

  If Roslyn and the coming baby would be a pleasant distraction for his mother, even if only for a few weeks, then he was all for it. And perhaps in the long run, a stay here would help Roslyn, too.

  “All right, Mom. I’ll talk with her. But I’m sure not going to make any promises. I think she has going west on her mind.”

  “Then you need to convince her that Arizona is west enough,” Maureen said brightly, then straightened to her feet. “Come on. I’ve already had Jazelle light a fire out on the back patio. You can take Roslyn out there to have your private talk.”

  “Mom, I’ve already warned you about matchmaking. I don’t need a fire to get the point across to Roslyn.”

  Taking Chandler by the arm once again, Maureen urged him out of the office. “Good grief, son, you have matchmaking on the brain. This has nothing to do with that. I just want Roslyn to feel warm and relaxed when you bring up the question about her staying.”

  His mother was maneuvering him. That much was obvious. And normally Chandler would’ve already dug in his heels. But this wasn’t Maureen’s usual behavior. She never stuck her nose in any of her children’s personal business, unless they asked for her help or guidance. And in the end, what would it hurt to comply with her wishes? After all, he was a grown man. His mother could just do so much leading.

  Chapter Five

  The flames in the fire pit sent flickering fingers of orange and yellow light across the patio and lit Chandler’s features with a golden hue. Roslyn had no idea why he’d invited her out here. Especially when she figured he had to be weary from the long workday he’d put in. No doubt the comfortable furniture in the den would be more relaxing to him. Whatever his reason for this outdoor excursion, she was glad he’d made the suggestion.

  The fire warmed the cool desert air and when she gazed beyond the patio toward the ranch yard, she could see the clear night sky was stamped with thousands of stars. It was a beautiful night and her last night here. She wanted to savor every moment of it before she said goodbye to the ranch and the friends she’d made here.

  “Are you warm enough?” he asked. “I can stoke the fire if you’re feeling chilled.”

  “I’m perfect,” she assured him. “The fire feels great.”

  He was sitting next to her on the wide rock ledge that surrounded the fire pit—close enough for her to reach over and touch him. If she was inclined to do such a thing. And, oh, yes, she was feeling very inclined. All through dinner, she’d thought about touching him in ways that had caught her completely off guard.

  After learning of Erich’s unfaithfulness, she’d felt so angry and betrayed that she’d been certain it would take years before she’d ever feel any sort of desire for a man. She’d believed it would take an emotional earthquake before she’d be able to trust any man. Yet, from the moment she’d met Chandler, she’d felt an instant connection. A belief that she could put her trust in him. It was crazy.

  “I have a confession to make, Roslyn. I brought you out here to the patio for a reason.”

  His remark cut into her tumultuous thoughts and she looked at him with blank surprise. “A reason? Oh. You must have wanted to get me out of the den so that Maureen could have a private word with the rest of the family.”

  He shook his head. “No. She and I already had private words in her office. And...well, to be frank, we were discussing you.”

  Jolted, she turned her knees so that she was facing him head-on. “What about me? Did she—?” Her mouth was suddenly so dry she couldn’t swallow. “Has she contacted my father?”

  He frowned. “Mom wouldn’t do anything like that. None of us would. Not unless you asked us to.”

  Relief pushed a long breath from her lungs. “I’m sorry. It’s just that... I can’t deal with him. Not now. Maybe never.”

  “You sound very bitter, Roslyn.”

  “I’m sorry,” she said again. “I’m sure you and your family think I’m an ungrateful brat. But believe me, Chandler, I didn’t leave Fort Worth on an impulsive whim. Ever since Mother died, I’ve wanted to leave. There was nothing there left for me. Not emotionally, or in any other way.”

  “That was five years ago,” he stated. “Something must have kept you there.”

  She shrugged. “Hope, I suppose. I kept hoping that with Mother gone, Dad might actually need me around to fill the void. That didn’t happen. He has his work. But then Erich started showing interest in me and we started dating. After that, things got much better.”

  “Your father approved of the union?”

  Her laugh was short and dry. “Erich was from an old, respectable family, who’d been friends with my parents for many years. When we eventually got engaged Dad was thrilled. In his eyes we were the perfect match. And for the first time I could ever remember, he actually acted as though he was proud of me.”

  “What happened when your engagement ended?” he asked.

  She sighed. “Dad went from being proud to blaming me for the whole breakup. According to him, if I’d made myself more desirable, Erich would’ve never turned to other women.”

  His blue eyes made a slow survey of her face and Roslyn wondered what he was thinking. That she was a real mess? That her father had probably been right about her inability to hold on to her fiancé? Oh, Lord, it was all so embarrassing.

  “That was a terrible thing to say to you, Roslyn. You needed his support, not recriminations.”

  “Well, I didn’t expect anything more from him. But that’s enough about my problems. You brought me out here to talk and I’m rambling.” She gave him the cheeriest smile she could muster. “So what did you need to speak with me about?”

  He didn’t immediately answer and she got the impression he was uncomfortable. The idea bothered her greatly. Last night, when he’d walked up to her car window, she’d found a friend. She didn’t want that to change.

  “Your plans for leaving tomorrow,” he said finally. “Mom wants you to stay put. Here on the ranch—with us.”

  This was the last thing she’d expected to come out of his mouth and she stared at him in disbelief.

  A half grin cocked up one corner of his lips. “Does that surprise you?”

  “No. It stuns me.” Without a shred of warning, tears filled her eyes and when she spoke again, her voice was a choked whisper. “Maureen is too kind for her own good.”

  “Mom’s always had a big heart. But she’s not a pushover. She doesn’t offer an invitation like this unless she really means it.”

  Rising to her feet, she walked aimlessly to the edge of the patio and stared out at the night sky. Only minutes ago, she’d been thinking how Three Rivers was so beautiful and peaceful. She felt protected and wanted here, something she’d not felt since her mother died. To spend more time with this family would be a dream come true. On the other hand, she wasn’t at all sure it would be wise. Especially when she looked at Chandler. He made her feel things she shouldn’t be feeling. And think about things that had nothing to do with the plans she’d made for her and her baby’s future.

  Glancing over her shoulder, she saw that he was watching her and waiting patiently for a response. She drew in a deep breath and let it out. “I honestly don’t know what to say, Chandler. This is all so sudden and unexpected.”

  He left the fire pit and came to stand next to her. Roslyn tried not to notice the alluring male scent emanating from his clothes and the way his muscular body towered over hers. Everything about the man reminded her that she was a woman. One with an empty hole in her heart.

  “I’m sure you weren’t thinking about staying on here,” he said. “But—”

  “It’s not a good idea, Chandler,” she interrupted, while purposely keeping her gaze on the sky. “Your mother is a very busy woman. As are the rest of you. I’d only be a nuisance.”

  “You’re hardly a child that needs to be watched over,” he countered. “Aren’t you really worried that you’ll be bored out of your mind staying out here?”

  His question took her by surprise and she swung her gaze to his skeptical face. “Bored? Are you joking? Compared to the DuBose home this place is as busy as the Dallas-Fort Worth airport terminal. Something always seems to be going on.”

  “Yes, but it’s not like the city, where you can go shopping or find all kinds of entertainment to keep you occupied.”

  “That sort of thing gets old quick. Is that what you think my life consisted of back in Fort Worth? Shopping and entertainment?”

  His smile was sheepish. “The thought might’ve crossed my mind. What did you do with your time back in Texas?”

  “Well, like I told Katherine, Dad would never allow me or Mother to work. But I still managed to make myself useful by helping plan charity events for children’s causes, doing volunteer work at the girls club and tutoring a few high-school students with their math. That sort of thing.”

  “All of those are commendable tasks,” he said. “But you’re at the age where...well, you could’ve been building a career for yourself. Or maybe you never wanted one.”

  She grimaced. “I never thought too much about it, Chandler. To go against Dad would’ve made my mother very unhappy. And with her being so ill, the issue of my future didn’t seem very important. After she died, I finished getting my college degree in business. But it was mostly just to have a piece of paper to show I wasn’t a complete dunce.”

  “I don’t believe anyone would want to label you a dunce,” he said wryly. “And congratulations on the degree. I hope one day you’ll decide to use it.”

  She looked away from him and swallowed hard. “Yes, from now on my life is going to be different. I might have lost my father, but I’ve gained my freedom. You can’t imagine what that feels like.”

  His hand was suddenly lying upon her shoulder and the warmth from it spread all the way down her arm and into the tips of her fingers. “You know, staying here for a while, until the baby comes, will give you time to adjust to all these changes you’re going through. And we’ll all be around to help—if you need us.”

  Us? Did that mean him, too? The mere idea that he cared about her well-being made her feel more special than she’d ever felt in her life. Even more than the moment when Erich had slipped a diamond engagement ring on her finger. How could that be?

  “Do you—? Would you mind if I stay?” she asked haltingly.

  A wry smile twisted his lips. “Why would I? Both of my sisters are living away now and Mom needs a stand-in daughter to nurture. Whatever makes her happy makes the rest of the family happy.”

  So he wanted her around for his mother’s sake, she thought. Well, that was certainly better than not wanting her around at all.

  “Put that way, I can hardly refuse,” she said. “But I’ll tell you true, Chandler, it’s hard for me to believe that you and your family want to take on a burden like me. I’m overwhelmed by your generosity. Really, I am.”

  The hand on her shoulder lifted and he grazed the knuckles gently against her cheek. “I don’t want to hear you say you’re a burden. Ever again. Hear me?”

  “If you say so.”

  “I do. Say so.” He curled his arm around her shoulder and urged her toward the French doors leading into the den. “Come on, let’s go back in and tell Mom you’re going to stay. She’ll be very happy.”

  Walking along beside him with his arm curled protectively around her, she almost felt as if she belonged here. “You know what, Chandler? It makes me very happy, too.”

  * * *

  During the next week Roslyn drove her car from the clinic to the ranch and moved all her things into the upstairs bedroom she’d been using since the first night she’d arrived on the ranch. Maureen had offered her a larger room with a sitting area, but Roslyn had assured the woman she didn’t want to change. The coziness of the smaller room appealed to her. She particularly loved the rustic pine furniture and the padded window seat, where she could sit and watch the busy comings and goings of the cowboys down at the ranch yard.

  In the meantime, Katherine had managed to get Roslyn an appointment with the OB, who’d delivered her and Blake’s twins nine months ago. Yesterday she’d kindly accompanied Roslyn into Wickenburg to meet with the doctor, and after a thorough exam, he’d pronounced both her and the baby healthy. According to him, she should plan on going into labor in another four weeks. Give or take a few days.

  Which meant Roslyn had a month, maybe more, to live on the ranch before she’d need to pack up and head on to California. And during that time, she intended to enjoy every second spent with the Hollister family.

  Now, as she sat on the front porch of the ranch house, she was on her cell phone, trying to convey to her best friend back in Fort Worth exactly why she was somewhere in Arizona, soaking up the spring sunshine and doing her best to put her father and Erich Parker far behind her.

  “You can’t imagine how good it is to hear your voice, Roslyn. It’s been a week and a half or more since you left and I haven’t heard a peep from you until this very moment. I’ll be honest, I almost contacted your father, just to see if he knew where you were.”

  Roslyn groaned with frustration. “Oh, Nikki! I specifically asked you not to say a word to him and you promised!”

  “I said almost. I didn’t. But look, Ros, I had a right to be worried. We’ve been friends since...well, our kindergarten days together. And I’m not one bit happy about you leaving. If you’d wanted to get out of your father’s house that badly, you could’ve moved in with me. Or gotten an apartment somewhere in the city. Or even moved to Dallas. God knows your father would never go over there looking for you. He sees that city as the devil’s playground.”

  Roslyn pinched the bridge of her nose. She’d been dreading making this call to her old friend, because she knew beforehand that the other woman was going to put up an argument. Still, Nikki had been her closest friend since they were small girls. Roslyn couldn’t just dismiss her from her life.

  “Well, you needn’t worry any longer,” Roslyn told her. “I’m in a beautiful place with a very nice family. And I intend to stay here until a couple of weeks or so after the baby is born.”

  “Exactly where are you? And who are these people? Can you trust them?”

  “I’m in Arizona—in the desert. And as to the people I’m living with, they’re a well-known and respected family. I wouldn’t be here if I couldn’t trust them,” she answered evasively.

  “That’s not telling me much,” Nikki grumbled. “And I’ve been trying to call you for days! Don’t you have cell service there?”

  Roslyn grimaced. “As soon as I left Fort Worth I turned off my old phone and didn’t make any calls or texts. I didn’t want my father to be able to track my route.”

  Yesterday, when she and Katherine had been in Wickenburg, she’d purchased a new phone with a different number, so she wouldn’t have to worry about her father tracing her through connecting tower pings. Nor was she ready to tell Nikki her exact location. Her friend was well-meaning and would never intentionally go against Roslyn’s wishes, but she often spoke without thinking. If she let Roslyn’s whereabouts slip to mutual friends, the information would eventually make it to her father.

 

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