Jared's Texas Homecoming. Patricia Thayer

guess we’re both plagued with the same problem. Walking sometimes helps clear my head.” He stared out into the moonlit night. “It’s pretty quiet here.”

      “Not like Las Vegas.”

      He shook his head. “Hard to tell day from night in that town.” He was quiet for a while, then said, “I guess I better head back to the bunkhouse. The day starts pretty early around here.”

      A familiar loneliness erupted inside Dana as she watched Jared start to walk off. There had been so many nights when she’d lie awake, aching to share a conversation or a touch with another person.

      “Jared?” She called out his name.

      He turned around and looked up at her. When her throat suddenly felt sand dry, she swallowed. “You…got a minute?”

      “Sure.”

      He took the three steps in one climb and swiftly he was standing in front of her, so big and intimidating. For a second she thought he was going to sit next to her; instead, he perched on the railing across from her. Still he was close, so close she could tell he’d taken a shower. She could smell a combination of soap and shaving cream.

      “I wanted to apologize for earlier today,” she finally said.

      “It’s forgotten.”

      “I had no right to snap at you like I did. I’m not used to people helping me.”

      “I was only working for my pay,” he said. “I can understand about Evan. I shouldn’t have let him get near tools without checking with you first. You barely know me….”

      “I’m sure you were careful,” she conceded. “It’s just that…I know things are run-down…. Since my father took sick, it’s been hard to keep up with everything.” Darn, she didn’t want to make excuses.

      “So, you’re going through a rough time. All of us have been there. I’m happy to help. If I have a little extra time, I hope you don’t mind if I work on a few things around here. It’s not a big deal.”

      “It’s a big deal to my son.” She had to make him understand. Jared Trager was the kind of man you didn’t forget easily. “Evan is getting attached to you.”

      “I think he’s a great kid, too.”

      She smiled. “Thank you,” she said, trying to get the words out. “Soon you’ll be moving on, and…I just don’t want him hurt.”

      Jared studied her a while, then spoke. “Do you think that’s wise, Dana?”

      This was the first time he had spoken her name, at least, in that deep husky tone.

      “You can’t protect the boy from life,” he went on.

      She gritted her teeth. “I’m sure going to try. He’s only four.”

      “He’s nearly five,” he offered. “And people have to say goodbye all the time. If I’m honest with Evan, he’ll understand that I have to leave when my truck is fixed. Haven’t there been other ranch hands that have left?”

      Dana sighed. “Yeah, I guess you’re right. It’s just that since his grandfather died, there haven’t been many men around….”

      Jared knew he should get up right now and leave but something prevented him. Maybe it was seeing her with the moonlight dancing off her hair, or hearing the loneliness in her voice. Dressed in an old-fashioned white cotton gown and robe, her auburn hair hanging loose and wild, Dana Shayne resembled nothing like the bossy woman who’d hired him. Tonight she just looked vulnerable…and too damn tempting.

      “What about you, Dana? Is there someone in your life?” He told himself that he wanted to know for Evan’s sake.

      She looked away. “No, not for a long time.”

      “Evan’s father?”

      She shook her head.

      “He hurt you, so you’re not going to allow another man in your life?”

      Dana looked startled at his words. “As you can see, men aren’t exactly pounding on my door.”

      That made them both smile. “Then the men in this town are crazy.”

      “No, they’re smart. Not many guys want to raise another man’s child, and take on a stubborn woman with a failing ranch.”