Page 73 of A Jilted Bride for the Cowboy

Nadine glanced at her phone, tucked it in her pocket, then said something to the kitchen helpers. She came out from behind the counter and crossed the space to Grandfather.

He looked up at her, and she patted him on the shoulder before they both focused on the lodge doors.

Graham followed their gaze as the doors opened and Jude entered holding the arm of a little old lady.

Eleanor.

Who else could she be?

She was tall and thin, wearing a navy and white tunic over navy slacks and sensible shoes. Her white hair was short and styled, and chunky navy earrings dangled from her ears. She stopped. Stared.

Grandfather rose to his feet and brushed his hand through his full head of hair as though expecting to find a bowler to doff. His gaze riveted to hers, and he stood glued to the spot, just as she did. They stared, no doubt sizing each other up.

Graham was vaguely aware that the buzz of the dining hall droned on unabated, even as he set his own sandwich down to watch the drama unfold.

“Who’s that?” Maxwell asked, frowning.

“Eleanor. It can’t be anyone else.”

“Takes a lot of courage for her to come into the Sullivan den,” Bryce observed.

“I think Nadine talked her into it. And maybe she feels safer here in a semi-public place where she can easily escape if she’s uncomfortable.”

“Escape?”

“Look at Jude. He’s ready to scoop her up and make a run for it if Grandfather makes a wrong move.”

Bryce laughed. “I can totally see that.” He parked his own sandwich and crossed his arms. “Think we’ll get an intro?”

“Probably? If the first few minutes go well, anyway.” And it didn’t escape Graham’s notice that Dad and Uncle James weren’t present for this momentous occasion. No doubt they’d present a layer Eleanor wasn’t quite ready for. Would she want to meet Grandfather’s other grandsons if not her half-brothers?

Maxwell’s elbow jabbed Graham’s ribs. “Weston doesn’t look too happy.”

Bryce rolled his eyes. “Dude hasn’t smiled in his entire life.”

Nadine took Grandfather by the arm and walked beside him to Jude and the woman. From this angle, Graham couldn’t see Grandfather’s face, but he could see Eleanor’s as her eyes searched his. It took a moment for any sort of smile to cross her face, and then only as the old man bowed over the hand he’d taken in his.

Graham dared take a breath as Grandfather straightened, still holding her hand.

“Do we want them to revive their relationship?” Maxwell asked quietly. “What if he falls in love with her all over again?”

Graham’s brain hadn’t stretched quite that far. Was there any reason an eighty-year-old couldn’t remarry? None he could think of. Not that he wanted to let his mind linger there for even a fraction of a second. Grandmother had passed away a decade ago, and Grandfather had made no effort to find his long-lost flame since then. He’d never dated that Graham had heard of, just poured himself into the company.

“Cool by me.” Bryce shrugged. “Maybe he’d be less of a taskmaster if he had something else to distract him.”

“He’s mellowed out a lot since we came to Montana,” Max countered.

Which was also true, but they had Tate to thank for that. It was Tate who’d shortened their office hours, eliminated evening crew meetings, and put Grandfather on a tether. Still, the old man had gone along with it all.

Grandfather turned slightly and surveyed the dining room. When his gaze landed on his grandsons, he beckoned.

“Showtime, boys,” Bryce said. “Let’s go meet her.”

“Maybe we can scare her off,” Max muttered. “I’m not sure this is a good idea.”

Graham rose along with his cousins, and the trio wended between the tables to where the foursome stood near the entrance. Weston came from over by the windows, as Tate, Stephanie, and Jamie entered the lodge doors in time to converge with the rest.

“I’d like you to meet my family, Eleanor. Boys, this is Nadine’s mother, Eleanor.” Grandfather’s Adam’s apple bobbed when he swallowed. “The woman I wronged so many years ago.”

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