Page 6 of Moonlight Over Montana

Annie crossed the room and placed a hand on her arm. “I don’t need to do anything, but you’re one of my oldest friends and anything I can do to help you and Susie, I’m going to do. No arguing.”

Linc chuckled. “Despite the situation, just roll with all of this. Annie was the mastermind, but she used all her resources to make this happen on short notice.” He pulled his wife to his side and kissed her on the temple.

“Thank you. And I promise we’ll get out of your hair as soon as we’re cleared to go back home.”

If she noticed the shake of Jed’s head, she didn’t acknowledge it. For now, it was better she kept that bit of hope alive, at least until they went into town and she saw for herself there wasn’t much left.

“Nonsense. You’ll stay as long as you need a home.” She took Linc’s hand. “We’re going to head up to the house, and if you want breakfast in the morning, Mary style, we’ll eat around eight. But don’t set an alarm to get up. You know Mary; there is always plenty of hot food any time of the day and night.”

A look of confusion flashed across Maggie’s face. “I thought you said we had food?”

Annie held out her hands, palm side up as if they were two sides of a scale, as she lifted one hand higher and said, “Home cooking from Mary’s hot frying pan or microwaved leftovers.”

Jed chuckled. “And if neither of those choices appeal to you, there is always something hearty from Quinn’s kitchen.”

Fresh tears welled up in her eyes and she blinked them away, but Jed could see something was eating at her. “Hey, what’s the matter?” He could have kicked himself. She had just lost her business and home in a matter of hours and now the sky was beginning to lighten with the promise of a new day. And she wasn’t in her diner getting ready to open to serve customers breakfast. “I’m sorry, Mags, that was insensitive.” He gave her a one-armed hug. “Guys, we should take off and let these two ladies get some rest.”

She flashed him a forced but grateful smile. “Thanks for understanding, and Annie, I appreciate your generous offer, depending on how long we sleep, that will dictate if we’ll be up for breakfast.”

Linc said, “Fair enough and the mess hall is always open for business, and Quinn would be happy to make you anything.”

Annie gave Susie a quick hug. “I’m sorry for all that’s happened to you tonight.”

“Thank you, Annie.” She hurried down the hall and into the bedroom on the left. The door closed firmly behind her with a soft thud.

Jed crossed to the counter and scrawled his cell number on the notepad. “My number’s here if you need anything.” He gave her a brisk nod and headed for the door. Her hand shot out and touched his arm.

“Jed, I know I said thank you for coming to our aid tonight. You’ve done more than you had to, and I’ll never forget your kindness.”

He wasn’t the kind of man to blush, but he could feel his neck get warm as it crept toward his hairline. “Anyone would have helped. I was just in the right place at the right time.”

She slipped her arms around his waist and held him close. The smell of smoke from the fire clung to her. With a quick peck on the cheek, she released him. “But you risked yourself to save us, and I will never forget that.”

“Jed is one in a million, Maggie,” Annie said. “It was fate that he was in town tonight.”

He dropped his chin and cleared his throat. “I’ll see you after you get some rest.” He waited for Linc and Annie to walk out ahead of him and pulled the door closed.

Linc laid a hand on his shoulder and guided Jed down the front steps. They made the short walk to his porch, and Jed sank down on the top step. Suddenly, his legs felt like wet noodles. Rubbing a hand over his head, he winced.

Annie said, “What’s wrong? Are you hurt?”

“I lost a good hat, and it seems I might have a burn on the top of my head.”

She withdrew her phone from her back pocket and tapped on the flashlight option. “Let me take a look.”

Linc stood by as if standing guard. While Annie looked at the top of his head, Linc said, “So it was bad?”

Jed nodded. “I’ve never seen anything like it and hope to never witness that again. I heard what sounded like the second floor crash into the first. I can’t see how there will be much left come daylight.” He clenched his fists. “Gasperini was poking his nose around today and Maggie turned down his offer to buy the diner. Do you think it’s possible he’s responsible for the fire?”

Annie gasped. “I thought he was long gone. He didn’t strike me as the type to get what he wanted by any methods possible. But we obviously didn’t see eye to eye on his buying the ranch.”

Linc said, “And Hank and Renee Shepard didn’t sell him their orchard and he kind of faded away there too.”

“Do you have any plans for the cabin for the foreseeable future?” Jed asked.

She shook her head. “As far as I’m concerned, it’s Maggie and Susie’s home for as long as they want and need it.”

He gave a short nod. “Good. With her parents in Arizona, they don’t have any family around and from what I know, Susie’s father is a deadbeat. I for one plan on helping them in any way I can.”

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