“I couldn’t sleep. The sun isn’t up yet. Humor me.”
He faced her, studying the lines of strain on her face. “This means a lot to you, doesn’t it?”
She nodded. “Two eggs or three?”
“Three. But there might not be anything up there.”
She shrugged. “If there isn’t, there isn’t. But I have to look. I won’t prowl through your family’s belongings any more than I must to find my grandmother’s things.”
Boone frowned. “I don’t care about that.” But he did care about her almost certain heartache. Sam might not have kept any of it, and anyway, Boone had no idea what had been in the trunk he thought he’d seen so long ago.
“Do you want me to wait for Dev?” she asked.
“Do you think you need a chaperone?”
A quick smile curved her lips. “I imagine I can behave.”
His own lips did the same. “I doubt that, but go ahead.”
Maddie’s head lifted, her gaze searching his. Boone realized that it was the first time she’d really looked at him since the other night.
“Are you teasing me, Boone? You?”
Abruptly, he sobered. “Maddie, I don’t want you getting your hopes up. There might be nothing there.”
“There will be. I can feel it. I know I’ll find something.”
Boone almost sighed. He’d forgotten the flaky gypsy. “It’s really important to you, isn’t it?”
Her chin tilted upward. “I’m just curious, that’s all.”
She was lying. Everything about her spoke of nerves this morning. “Do you want me to go up there with you?”
“Why?”
So I can protect you from what you might find. Or not find. He shrugged. “The boxes might be heavy.”
For a long span she studied him, the silver eyes softening to gray velvet. “I’ll be all right. I’ll come get you if there’s something too heavy.” With practiced ease, she dished up his eggs and pulled the biscuits from the oven, piling four on his plate.
His hand reached for the plate. She held on, their gazes meeting. “Thank you,” she said softly.
Boone couldn’t take his eyes off her.
Finally Maddie let go. Boone reminded himself of what was real. What was possible. With a nod, he headed for the table.
Maddie climbed the attic stairs, grateful that Dev had called to say it would be this afternoon before he could return, that he’d deal with Sam’s desk then and see if he even needed to search the attic. She really wanted to do this alone, to seek her grandmother’s spirit in a way she could never do if accompanied by a stranger.
Her heart thumped heavily in her breast with every step.
Then she reached the top and just stared.
Across the large attic motes floated in the air, turned golden by the rays of the morning sun. The narrow path between boxes was floored with broad wooden planks, undisturbed under a blanket of years of dust. She smelled the slightly mildewed scent of old fabrics and cardboard. With delight, Maddie filled her lungs—
Immediately she was seized by a fit of coughing.
Such a romantic. But she couldn’t help smiling, eagerly anticipating treasures in this place.
And treasures there were—but none of them her grandmother’s. She found a box labeled in loopy feminine handwriting, “Boone Baby Clothes.” Her fingers itched to open its flaps. I don’t care about that. She remembered Boone’s words. Carefully, she pried open just one flap.
On top lay a pair of tiny brown cowboy boots stitched in yellow and red, so small the soles barely covered her hand. Beneath she could see little garments, but Maddie ventured no further. It wasn’t her right, no matter how longing squeezed her heart. These things belonged to Boone and his future wife. And to his children.
With careful fingers, Maddie closed the box, trying not to think of a little boy with Boone’s golden hair and blue eyes, and moved on.
Bless Jenny Gallagher for her careful labeling. Box after box marked “Keepsakes 1976” or “Mitch Toys.” Maddie wondered if Boone had any idea what a treasure trove lay up here.
A few boxes lay on top, unmarked and jumbled in piles. Maddie opened them carefully but could quickly tell they held papers related to the ranch. Sam must have stuck them up here—instead of the careful folding and packing, these seemed almost thrown into boxes, not a one labeled.
Maddie scoured the attic, lifting box after box, some of them heavy enough that she should have called Boone to help, but she wanted to find Rose’s things in private. She reached the single window at the far end and looked behind her, realizing that she’d almost covered the entire attic.
And found nothing.