Page 3 of Moonlight Over Montana

Without hesitating, Jed said, “As soon as we get cleared from the ER doc, I’ll take you out to Grace Star Ranch. We’ve got an empty cabin you can stay in until you figure out your next steps.”

Maggie glanced at him before looking back to the Filler Up. “You can’t just offer up Annie’s ranch to us without asking her.”

For the first time since this ordeal began, Jed let a small smile tweak the corners of his mouth. “Are you kidding? If I didn’t, Annie would have me mucking stalls for the rest of my life as my only responsibility on the ranch. I’d never touch a horse again.”

A flicker of life reached her eyes. “Please ask her first. I won’t just show up.”

“Mags, you and Annie have been friends for years; you know she’d fling open the doors for you or anyone for that matter.”

“I mean it. Call and put her on speakerphone, okay?”

He could see the unmistakable pride in her eyes and with the tilt of her chin. Pulling out his phone, he dialed the house line. Either Annie or Linc would pick up and this would be resolved in less than a minute.

2

Maggie kept one arm around her precious daughter. She inwardly shuddered to think what might have happened if Jed hadn’t been in town and banged on her door. Would they have died from smoke inhalation or worse? The diner had become an inferno. Would there be anything salvageable at sunrise?

Jed removed his oxygen mask and was now talking. “That’s right. I got ’em out, but the diner’s still burning. I figured we could put Maggie and Susie up in bunkhouse six. It’s got two bedrooms.” He nodded and scuffed the ground with the toe of his boot. “Let me put her on.” He pushed a button and held it horizontal. “We’re on speaker.”

“Maggie, it’s Annie. Are you and Susie hurt badly?”

Her voice was muffled as she said, “Nothing serious”—she pulled her oxygen mask down—“but we’ll get checked out at the emergency room. I’m not ready to leave the diner yet.” She didn’t want to say she needed to know if she’d have a business to come back to, but the sad truth was, it wasn’t looking good.

“As soon as you’re done there, let Jed drive you out to the ranch and you can stay at the main house; we have plenty of room, or I’ll run down to number six and make sure it’s ready for you tonight. Whatever you’d like.”

The last thing she wanted was to be an imposition to anyone, but one look at Susie with streaks of soot on her pale, drawn face and she didn’t hesitate. “If you’re sure it’s not a problem, we could stay in the cabin for a couple of nights. Just until we can move back home.”

“There won’t be any rush, so don’t worry about that. And I’ll have Linc come to town. I’m sure Quinn will bring him in, and they’ll get your SUV so it will be here when you need it.”

Jed shook his head at her before speaking up. “It was parked too close to the building; it might not be in any shape to be driven.”

She blinked hot tears from her eyes. There was no way she was going to stay on the sidewalk and blubber for the whole town to witness. Annie was talking so she had to refocus.

“Not a problem there either. We’ve got plenty of vehicles around for you to borrow until we know yours is safe to drive.”

Nina said, “Maggie, we should get you three to the doc.”

Jed shook his head. “I’ll drive over. I need my truck.”

She frowned. “Not the best idea, Jed with your potential shoulder injury, but I won’t argue with you as long as you let me check your vitals one more time.”

Linc’s voice came over the line. “Jed, don’t be takin’ any chances. If Nina says you need to go by ambulance, do it.”

Maggie said, “Don’t worry, I’ll keep an eye on him.”

“Good, then you come along when you can and we’ll be waiting for you.” Annie’s voice was firm and had that ‘don’t question her either’ tone.

“Thanks, Annie, Linc.” She swallowed the lump that was rising in her throat. “Susie and I appreciate your kindness.”

“We’ll see you in a bit and remember, it’s what friends do,” Annie said. “Jed, take me off speakerphone.”

“See you later,” Maggie said. Nina was helping Susie into the back of the ambulance as she watched Jed.

“Hold on a second, Linc.” He brushed his lips over Maggie’s cheek. “I’ll be right behind you. And the most important thing for you to focus on is making sure you and your daughter are okay.”

Joe held out his hand to help Maggie inside. Before she could turn, Jed was striding down the street in the direction of The Lucky Bucket. It was the first time she noticed he wasn’t wearing his cowboy hat. It must have gotten knocked off in all that had happened tonight. It was something she’d replace for him when she had a free minute. She took one final look at her diner and home as a groan ripped through the night air and what must have been the ceiling crashed down, sending flames, smoke, and debris out of what used to be large windows but now just jagged glass.

Maggie had finished signing a stack of discharge papers while Susie sat on a vinyl-covered chair in the small waiting room. She was hugging her backpack to her chest with Maggie’s duffel at her feet. Their only possessions. Jed was still in an examination area, and she wondered if he got admitted, maybe she could take his keys and drive out to the ranch. A few hours of shut-eye would be good for Susie before they had to face the harsh reality that all they had ever known was ash.

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