Jake (40 page)

“And then I have to make a stop at the courthouse to see Kirby Bolton.”

Cory looked up. “Could I go back with Big Jim, or do I have to stay with you?” Seeing Meg’s surprise, he added, “I can’t wait to see Shadow.”

She nodded in understanding. “I don’t mind picking you up later.” She glanced at their driver. “As long as it’s all right with you, Big Jim.”

“It’s fine with me. And I know two women who can’t wait to feed you, boy.”

Cory beamed as they drove through town and stopped at the car rental agency.

Minutes later they waved good-bye to Meg and headed toward the highway.

Meg’s meeting with Kirby Bolton went even better than she’d expected. If only, she thought as she drove the rental car along the highway, her meeting with Jake and his family could go as smoothly.

Of course, it wasn’t his family she was worried about. They were all such warm, loving people. They had welcomed her when she’d been a stranger, and they would do the same now.

Jake was another matter. She hoped that she could find a way to make him understand why she’d had to leave.

Their parting had been strained. She’d recognized the pain, the anger, inside him. And though she understood it, there was no way to undo what she’d done.

“Oh, Dad,” she whispered. “I’ve made such a mess of things.”

She could almost hear Porter’s voice.
One step at a time, girl. Rome wasn’t built in a day.

But it wasn’t Rome she wanted to build. It was the relationship with Jake that she’d so callously shattered.

As she turned off the highway and followed the curving road to the Conway ranch, she squared her shoulders and took in several quick breaths. Parking behind a row of ranch trucks, she walked up the steps and knocked.

It was Cole who opened the door and hugged her fiercely. “Welcome back, Meg. Come on in.”

She saw Cory at the table, with Ela and Phoebe seated on either side of him. Around the table sat the rest of the family, watching while he devoured a thick slice of corn bread and drank a foaming glass of milk.

Meg’s heart dropped to her toes. Jake wasn’t with them.

The others were on their feet, rushing over to hug her and kiss her cheeks. She found herself answering a dozen questions at once.

“Cory says you’re here on ranch business.” This from Quinn. “Does that mean you’re turning over the control of your ranch to Kirby Bolton?”

“Don’t be silly.” Cheyenne shot him a look. “Do you think a smart woman like Meg needs someone else to manage her business?”

“It’s hard to manage a ranch in Wyoming when you’re living in Washington, D.C.” This from Josh.

“Are you thinking of coming home, sweetheart?” At Big Jim’s question, the others watched with intensity. Even Cory stopped eating to hear her answer.

“A few days ago I would have answered that with a question of my own. Where is home? Wyoming? D.C.?” She crossed the room and lay a hand on Cory’s shoulder. “But now, after a lot of soul-searching, I think I know. Though I have a lot to learn, and a lot of years to make up for, Wyoming is the place I intend to call home.”

While the others murmured words of approval, Cory stood and gave a little fist pump before wrapping his arms around her waist and giving her a fierce hug.

For a moment she was so startled, she could only stare down at him. Then, wrapping her arms around him, she returned the hug.

He pushed free of her arms. “Are we really home to stay?”

She managed a laugh. “I wish you’d show a little enthusiasm.”

That had everyone laughing with her.

“Can I go tell Jake?”

Meg’s smile faded. “He’s here?” She’d assumed, by his absence, that he was on a neighboring ranch.

“He’s out in the barn with a sick calf.”

She struggled to hide the cloud that had suddenly darkened her day. Jake was just steps away, and he hadn’t even bothered to welcome her. “I guess, if you’ve finished your snack…”

The little boy glanced at Ela and Phoebe, who both nodded.

“But just for a minute. We’ll need to head back to our place soon.”

Before Meg finished speaking, he was out the door in a flash.

“Well.” Cole was eyeing Meg carefully while the others fell silent. “I guess I’d better get back to my chores. Will we see you later on?”

Meg shrugged. “I’m sure you’ll see me so often you’ll be sick and tired of me.”

“That will never happen.” Cole smiled and turned away.

“We’ll join you, Pa.” Quinn caught Cheyenne’s hand and the two hugged Meg before starting out behind Cole.

“Come on, Sierra.” Josh winked. “Playtime’s over.”

He and his wife gave Meg quick hugs before leaving.

“I’ll go with you, boyo.” Big Jim squeezed her shoulder before trailing after them.

Phoebe waited until the others had gone before turning to Meg. “Do you have time for some tea?”

Meg gave a shake of her head. She needed, desperately, to be alone with her misery. “I think it’s time I get Cory and head home.”

Phoebe glanced at Ela, and the two women shared a knowing look before Phoebe said, “I understand. You’ve been through a lot, Meg. And you’ve had to make some life-altering decisions in a very short amount of time, without any family to lend a hand.”

Meg sighed. “Oh, Phoebe. You have no idea how confusing it’s been. I’m still not certain I’m making the right decisions. It’s hard enough trying to decide what’s best for me. But holding Cory’s future in my hands is…terrifying. I want so badly to do the right thing for him.”

Phoebe squeezed her hand. “Trust your instincts, Meg.”

Ela nodded and lay a hand on Meg’s shoulder. “More than anything, trust your heart.”

Meg wanted to fall into their arms and weep. But pride wouldn’t allow it. Instead, she straightened and stepped back.

“Thank you both. Now I’d better fetch Cory.”

She walked out the back door and stood by her truck, cupping her hands to her mouth as she called Cory’s name.

After a few minutes she sighed. He wasn’t going to make this easy for her. Like it or not, she would have to go into the barn. And that meant facing Jake, who had made his feelings for her abundantly clear.

“Cory.” She pulled open the barn door and stepped inside, waiting for her eyes to adjust to the gloom.

Hearing no reply she walked from stall to stall. As she rounded an open stall door a dark head came up and she found herself face-to-face with Jake, who was holding a syringe to a calf.

Her heart took a series of sharp, quick bounces at the sight of him. She’d been so afraid that she’d magnified him in her mind. That she’d turned him into a larger-than-life hero. But here he was, the same sexy cowboy who was perfectly at home in dusty boots, faded denims, and a sweat-stained shirt, sleeves rolled above the elbows to reveal arms corded with muscles.

He set aside the syringe. “Cory said you’ve come back to stay.”

Unable to trust her voice, she simply nodded.

His eyes, she noted, were fierce. Fixed on her as though he couldn’t quite believe what he was seeing.

“Well, you’ve made him one happy little kid.”

“His happiness is important to me.”

Jake nodded. “That’s what happens in a family.” He paused before asking, “What about your job?”

“I was offered a dream title. Partner. At one time, it would have meant the world to me. I told Cyrus that I was grateful, but I needed to leave the city and go back to my roots. The ride home on the corporate jet was his way of thanking me for all I’d contributed to the firm.”

“And Noah?” Jake’s voice was tight. Strained.

She shook her head. “He’s already moved on to one of the new hires. She’s young and bright and easily impressed by his success.”

“So, you’ve severed all your ties?”

She nodded.

“I met with Kirby Bolton. He’s asked me to take on some of his clients. Between the law and the ranch, I’ll have my hands full.” She managed a dry laugh. “Now, if I can just make it all pay the bills.”

“You’re a smart woman, Meg. You’ll manage just fine.” He turned away and wiped his hands on a towel before latching the stall door.

She was being dismissed. Coldly. Completely. And didn’t she deserve it, after the way she’d left?

She felt the sting of tears as she looked at the rigid line of his back.

“I believe you came looking for Cory. He’s out in the corral with my family.”

He was giving her an excuse to escape. Her first inclination was to take it and run. She turned away.

In the blink of an eye it occurred to her that she’d been doing that for a lifetime. No more. No more running.

She was better than that.

The words that had played through her mind, first as a frightened child and later as an overwhelmed adult, taunted her.

I am strong, smart, and capable.

She squared her shoulders and turned back to face Jake.

“I need to say something.”

She saw the flicker of surprise in his eyes before the wary look returned.

“You were right, Jake. I was running away. When I saw you shot, I thought I’d lost you. Something inside snapped. I figured I’d leave you before you left me. I wasn’t ready to trust the feelings I had for you. Maybe it was too much too soon. I’d buried my father, acquired a little brother, and found myself head over heels in love with a guy that I figured was all wrong for me. Whatever the reason, I was running—”

He caught her roughly by the shoulders, his eyes hot and fierce. “Say that again.”

She stiffened and sucked in a breath. “I said you were right. I was running away.”

“Not that. The part about being head over heels in love.”

“Oh.” She managed to breathe. But just barely.

“Say it, Meg.” His gaze challenged her. “Tell me again.”

“I’m crazy in love with a cowboy, Jake.” She gave a little laugh. “Can you imagine? The sophisticated, big-city lawyer lost her heart to a—”

Her words were abruptly cut off as his mouth covered hers in a kiss so hot, so hungry, it stole all her breath.

When they came up for air she stared at him with a dazed expression. “You’re not mad?”

“Yes. I’m mad. More than mad. I’ve been over-the-edge crazy since you left. Meg, the minute you walked out of my life, left, all the things I once loved weren’t fun anymore. It was like a switch had been thrown and all the sunlight went out. I realized that I didn’t want to live another day without you.” He shook his head. “I know that legal mind of yours would like to figure all the angles before you commit, but if you’re serious about loving me, I’m asking you to just throw caution to the wind and agree to the biggest, craziest contract of your life.” At her puzzled look he said softly, “I’m asking you to be my wife.”

“Jake, I…” She sniffed and wiped at the tears that were rolling down her cheeks like a river. “I thought I’d hurt you too badly, and that you’d never…we’d never…”

“No speeches, counselor.” When she swiped at her tears he said softly, “A simple yes or no will do.”

Too choked up to speak, she simply nodded her head.

He dragged her into his arms and kissed her with a sharp hunger that caught them both by surprise.

She felt the world do a slow dip, and she wrapped her arms around his waist to anchor herself. Oh, it felt so good to be held in these strong arms once again. “I missed this, Jake. I missed you so much.”

“Not half as much as I missed you.”

“Oh boy!” Cory’s shout of joy from the doorway of the barn had Meg and Jake looking back to see the entire family gathered around, hanging on their every word.

“It’s about time the two of you figured out what’s really important,” Big Jim called.

“We were afraid you’d let that stubborn pride get in the way,” Cole added.

Laughing, crying, Meg threw herself into their outstretched arms.

Cole winked at his son. “That boy of mine’s been moping around ever since you left, Meg.”

Meg turned to him. “Oh, Jake.” She was laughing through her tears. “What am I going to do with you?”

“Marry me as soon as possible,” he said, dragging her close for another kiss while his family cheered, “and make me the happiest cowboy in Wyoming.”

“How could I refuse such a romantic proposal?”

Phoebe, Ela, Cheyenne, and Sierra gathered around, hugging Meg, hugging Jake, hugging Cory, and wiping tears of joy from their faces.

“Just think.” Phoebe turned to the women. “We get to plan another wedding.”

Quinn and Josh caught Jake’s arm and pulled him aside.

“You know what this means, bro.” Quinn made a throat-slitting gesture. “We get treated to weeks of questions on where you’ll live, and what you’ll wear, and what kind of ceremony to plan.”

“We can live at Meg’s ranch, at least until Meg decides what she wants to do with the place. I’m sure, if you and Cheyenne could manage two ranches, we can, too.”

Quinn rolled his eyes. “Is this the brother who thought love was too mushy, and insisted he was never going to cave in? How the mighty have fallen, little bro.”

Jake dragged Meg into his arms for yet another kiss. “Don’t listen to a word they say. I have no idea who they’re talking about.”

Meg wrapped her arms around his waist and looked into his eyes, the love shining so brightly it almost blinded her. Then she turned to look at his big, wonderful family. And then at the gloriously happy face of her little brother.

At the moment her heart was so full, she was afraid it might burst like a bubble.

Life, she thought, just didn’t get any better than this.

While the others headed toward the house to celebrate the news, Cole caught Phoebe’s hand and drew her aside.

“There are some things I need to say, Phoebe.” Cole’s voice, low and deep, had a catch to it as he spoke her name. “And it’s taken me a long time to say them.”

She glanced at their joined hands, and then up into his eyes.

“When you first came here, I was drowning in despair.”

“Cole—”

He put a finger to her lips. “Let me finish. I need to say this. When you first walked into my life, I truly believed that I would never feel anything again except pain and anger and bitterness. I walked around in a cloud of self-pity. I neglected my boys, my father, my health. I couldn’t see beyond my own pain. But through it all, there you were. Calm. Quiet. Efficient. Loving. Able to love all of us, and especially me when I was so undeserving of love. There were so many times when I thought my bad temper would drive you to leave us. But you stayed. And I’m so glad you did. I never believed I had the right to tell you what I was feeling. But now…” He framed her face with his big, work-worn hands and gazed into eyes that were filled with trust and something more.