Page 39 of Moonlight Over Montana

“You’ll have a couple of names by the morning. I need to make a few preliminary calls just to pave the way.”

“Thanks, Cora, and I appreciate your help.” She rubbed a hand over her eyes. “Are you sure this is real?”

“In my entire banking career, I’ve never heard of anyone doing this, but I’m sure. Take in the kindness of strangers and for the record, you’ve been a good friend to many people over the years and now it’s come back to you.”

After Maggie hung up the phone, she sat looking at the wall, unsure what she should do next. A man’s cough drew her attention, pulling her out of her thoughts. She looked over at Quinn.

He asked, “Everything okay over there?”

Shaking her head, she stood up. The pies weren’t about to bake themselves and no matter how much money she had in her checking account, she needed to fulfill her customers’ orders. “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.”

“Does it have anything to do with Susie?”

Slowly, Maggie turned and tipped her head. “No. Why?”

“Nothing, I just heard her talking on her cell yesterday when she thought no one was around. It sounded like she was making plans for a weekend someplace.”

She could feel her face scrunch up and quickly relaxed it to smooth away the telltale signs of concern. “I’m sure she was talking to one of her school friends. She’s been having a hard time being on the ranch and away from town.”

He gave her a rare smile. “You’re probably right. Just do me a favor and don’t mention that I said anything. I don’t want her to think everyone around here is poking our noses into her private business.”

“I’ll talk to her, but I won’t say where I heard it. Thanks for the heads-up.” She turned back to the bowl of berries on the worktable and proceeded to add the other ingredients she needed to get the pies in the oven before dinner. As she moved on autopilot, she couldn’t help but wonder why Susie hadn’t mentioned she wanted to hang out with her friends. They’d talk tonight and it was a good idea she had some fun with her friends before they bought her horse since initially Susie would need to devote all her spare time to building a bond with her horse.

Her cell rang again and this time the number wasn’t familiar to her at all. She had too much work to do to talk with a telemarketer so she let it go to voicemail. Most of the time they didn’t bother to leave a message anyway.

The rest of the afternoon was spent baking pies and sweet breads for her clients. As she was cleaning up, she called to Quinn who must have been in the dining room. “Chef, are you interested in anything for the ranch hands for supper?”

The swinging door between the two rooms opened and he stepped partway into the kitchen. “Are you talking to me?”

She gave him a saucy wink. “Just trying to live up to my end of our bargain. Take your pick of anything on the cooling racks.”

He came closer to the table and leaned over, inhaling deeply the sweet smells of baked goods. “How about I take one of the pumpkin spice cakes, a couple of pies, and four breads. Mix it up for the hands. That will go good with the stew and chili I have planned for tonight.”

Maggie picked up the items and carried them out to the buffet and then sliced everything to make it easy for anyone who might want a piece or two. Looking around the spacious room, she closed her eyes and counted her blessings. Life couldn’t get much better than what it was at that very moment. When she opened them, Jed walked through the door, and she smiled. “Hey, cowboy.”

20

The moment Jed walked into the dining hall and laid eyes on Maggie holding two pies in her hands, his heart melted. This ranch suited her perfectly and the fact she won Quinn over was a miracle in itself. So far, the only people that man seemed to like were Polly and Annie Grace.

“Hey, yourself.” He strode forward, his steps making short work of the distance between them. “Can I help?”

She bobbed her head in the direction of the kitchen. “Ask Quinn what else needs to come out and I can get it all arranged before heading back to my place.”

Maggie didn’t have to ask him twice for help. He’d walk from here to the mountain range and back again, without boots, if she asked him. And this cowboy never walked the ranch without wearing his broken-in Justins. He paused at the swinging door and swallowing hard, he said, “Um, Maggie, can I talk to you for a minute?”

Flashing him a wide smile, the one that always made his heart flip, dissolved in an instant. “Watch out.” The door opened and smacked him on the back, knocking his hat to the floor. The moment was dashed as she rushed to pick it up and hand it to him. “Are you okay?”

Quinn said, “Sorry, Jed. I didn’t know you were holdin’ up the doorway.” He chuckled as he went back into the kitchen.

“Thanks.” He adjusted his hat, hoping his face wasn’t red with embarrassment. “I’ll be right back.”

“You wanted to talk to me?” The space between her eyebrows wrinkled as she waited for him to say something. Anything.

Instead, he pushed the door open and said, “It can wait.” The door swung shut and he walked straight to the table overflowing with baked goods.

“You alright?” Quinn asked.

“Never better.” His words sounded more like a growl, he had the chance to ask Maggie on a date and he blew it like he was back in high school.

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