Mistletoe & Marriage: Snowbound Cowboy

He shook his head. “No, black’s fine, ma’am.” The large brown dog lumbered into the room.

“Oh, Izzy. I forgot all about you.” She glanced at Boone. “Thanks for bringing her to the house. She’s pretty close to her delivery time.”

Amelia went over and petted the dog. The animal basked in the attention, then wandered over to the warm kitchen hearth and lay down on the rug.

“Have a seat,” she offered, and sat down across from him. “That was my sister, Kelley, on the phone. She wanted to make sure you got here.” Amelia took a sip of coffee. “She was checking up on me, too. To see if I was staying out of trouble.”

“She’s probably worried.”

Amelia nodded. Kelley had watched over her since they were little; since their dad died and their mother left them here for Grandma Ruby to raise. “She’d have a fit if she knew I’d gone out in the storm.” She met his dark gaze. “I can’t thank you enough for showing up when you did.”

Boone knew he should tell her his real reason for being on the road today. But then he saw Amelia’s nervousness. “You already have. Besides, you and Jesse are safe now.” He set down his mug. “I checked the supply of wood on the porch. There seems to be plenty for a few days. I’ll go out before dark and move more from the side of the house.”

“That’s a good idea since the radio says it’s only getting worse. The roads are impassible. Not uncommon for this part of the country.”

“Did they say how long the weather system will last?”

“Through Thursday, at least.”

Great. He couldn’t leave for three days. He took a long drink of coffee. This was a bad idea all around. “I should get settled in.” He stood and carried his cup to the sink when Jesse rushed into the kitchen.

The boy smiled. “Oh, Boone, you’re back.”

“Not for long.”

The child frowned. “You can’t leave now. Mom’s going to fix lunch.” The boy turned to his mother. “Mom, will you make egg salad?”

“I can.”

“It’s the best,” the boy bragged. “Everybody says so. I even like it, but not as much as peanut butter and jelly. That’s because Mom makes the bread and her special jelly. It’s peach. That’s my favorite. What’s your favorite, Boone?” The kid finally took a breath.

“I’d say peach is probably at the top of my list, too.”

The boy grinned. “I bet Mom would fix you peanut butter and jelly if you want.”

“Jesse,” his mother called, “slow down. We can have both for lunch.” Amelia glanced up at the clock over the sink. “Why don’t you go and wash your hands?”

Jesse started to argue, but at a look from his mother turned and hurried down the hall.

“I apologize for my son. Outside of seasonal ranch hands, he’s doesn’t have many men around.”

Boone had learned as much from the friendly waitress in town at the diner. The Hughes women were well respected and admired around here. “From what I can see, you’ve done a fine job with him and this place.”

She glanced away. “Thank you. My family helps a lot.”

He nodded in agreement. “Family is a good thing.”

“Do you have family? A wife…children?”

“No,” he said, trying not to react. He’d lost any part of that dream two years ago.

She sighed and refilled their coffee mugs. “Since you’ll be around for a few days, there’s something you should know.” She paused. “When Jesse started kindergarten this year, he realized his classmates have dads. Everyone except him. So he came up with this crazy idea that all he had to do was ask for one. So on the top of his Christmas list he has the word Dad.”

Boone nodded. Great. And here he’d arrived with news that would make it impossible for the boy to get that wish. “And his father?”

She shook her head. “His father has never been involved in Jesse’s life, nor at this stage do I want him to be.”

Boone couldn’t blame her for that. “I guess every boy wants a dad.”

“But he can’t go around picking one out, either. I’ll have a talk with him.”

This was getting complicated. “Maybe I should leave now.” He stood. “I mean, go to the barn.”

“No, you’re not going to stay out in a cold barn all day. I’ll handle Jesse. I just wanted you to know the situation.”

Amelia got up, walked to the refrigerator and took out the ingredients for the salad. When she bent over he caught the appealing shape of her bottom and long legs. His attention was drawn upward as she went to the counter, took a loaf of bread out from under a towel and began slicing it.

“Is there anything I can do?” he asked, knowing he couldn’t just sit there and ogle this woman.

“You can get the plates down from the cupboard.” She nodded overhead.

Boone walked up behind her. Reaching over her head, he caught a whiff of her shampoo. Something lemony. Something that normally wouldn’t be sexy to him. It was now. He gripped the plates and carried them to the table before he got himself into trouble.

Jesse came in. “I’ll help you, Boone.”

The boy pulled flatware from the drawer and placed it beside the plates.

“Good job,” Boone said.

“Gram Ruby says I’m her best helper,” Jesse said proudly. “I help Kelley with the horses, too.” Those big brown eyes widened. “I can help you, too.”

“Jesse Thomas,” his mother called. “Don’t even think about leaving the house in this storm.”

“Ah, Mom. If I get lost, Izzy can find me.”

At the mention of her name the dog looked up. “Izzy isn’t in any shape to go traipsing around in this weather,” Amelia said.

“What if Boone gets lost? Who will find him?”

Amelia swung around to look at Boone. She was asking for help.

“I strung a rope from the barn to here. And believe me, once I get back there I’m staying put.”

The wind howled outside, and suddenly the lights flickered, then finally died.

“Oh, no,” Amelia said. Although it was afternoon, the room was dim, only illuminated by the fire from the hearth.

“Do you have a generator?” Boone asked.