Texas Heroes_ Volume 1(92)

“I know where things are. Mitch lets me help.”

“You’ve always been a good helper.”

Wrapping his arms around her waist, he hugged her tight. “I love you, Mom.”

Tears pricked at her eyes. “I love you, too, sweetheart.”

“You’ll like Mitch, if you’ll just give him a chance. And he’ll take care of us. We don’t need Grandpa Cy. We can just stay here with Mitch. Okay, Mom?”

No, it’s not okay. But she didn’t say it. “Everything will work out, sweetheart. I promise.” Silently she prayed for answer to make that happen.

Perrie straightened and ruffled his hair. “Okay, young man. Let’s get to cooking.”



Mitch neared the cabin, flakes already beginning to fall. It looked like they were in for an early first storm—and a bad one, at that. He hoped he was wrong.

He’d slung one canvas bag over each shoulder and carried a suitcase in each hand. He hoped he’d correctly interpreted the toys Davey had requested because making it down to the car again wouldn’t be easy by tomorrow.

Stamping off his boots on the porch, Mitch set down the suitcases and opened the door.

And damn near stopped breathing.

If someone had slammed a fist between his eyes, it wouldn’t have hit him any harder than the sight before him. He stepped inside and closed the door quietly.

She looked like a princess, even swathed in too-large gray fleece. Lying on the sofa, her arm curled around Davey, Perrie’s back was turned to Mitch, her hair, for the first time, unbound and no longer wet.

Pure spun gold, it draped to the floor in a mass of waves that made him want to slide his fingers through. It would be like holding silk in his hands.

His fingers itched to do just that…to caress the sweet curve of her hip…to stroke all the way from delicate shoulders to the small feet encased in his thick wool socks.

His clothes. Covering her curves.

Slipping the straps from his shoulders, he registered the rest of the changes. The cabin felt…cozy. Something cooking smelled great. The fire crackled welcome from the hearth, the room was warm. The woman would be warm.

Then Davey’s eyes opened, wide and blue and smiling. Mitch tried to signal him to stay quiet and still so she could sleep, but the warning came too late. Davey sat up.

With one hand above her head, Perrie arched like a cat, the sweatshirt sliding up to reveal more of her hips, more of the sweet curve of that bottom.

“Mitch!” Davey called out.

And the moment vanished. Perrie stiffened and sat up, turning to face him, her eyes wary. Davey scrambled to the floor and raced over to throw his arms around Mitch’s waist.

Mitch couldn’t help caressing the soft hair. Over the child’s head, he and Perrie exchanged looks.

Hers was pure mother tigress. Don’t you hurt my child.

His was more rebellious than it should have been. He had no business caring about someone else’s boy. But he couldn’t seem to quit.

Davey crowed. “Look, Mom, it’s my bag. Yours, too.” Then he registered the snow dusting Mitch’s boots. “Is it snowing?”

“It’s starting.”

“Oh, boy! Wanna go make snow angels? We could have a snowball fight, too.” One set of blue eyes danced with glee. The other set barked out warning.

“Maybe later, sport. Right now, let’s get your stuff inside.”

“You carried more?”

Mitch opened the door and pulled the other two bags inside.

“My toys! Wow, Mitch, you’re really strong—isn’t he, Mom? Look at all he carried up here! Thanks, Mitch—wanna play with these?”

“Maybe in a little while.” The walls closed in. He almost turned and went back outside. This felt too good. Too much like—

Home.

Don’t be ridiculous. This is all an illusion. They’ll be gone soon.

Very soon, if he had anything to say about it.

Davey immersed himself in greeting his toys like old friends he hadn’t seen in years. Mitch resisted the urge to go back outside, busying himself removing his boots and coat, padding over to the fire in his sock feet, ducking past the line of laundry.

Perrie approached but stayed on the other side of the line, speaking softly. “Thank you. It’s very kind of you to do this. I didn’t mean for you to carry so much.”

He shrugged. “It wasn’t hard.”

“Is it getting bad outside?”

“Not yet, but it will be.”

“I haven’t spent much time up here except in the summers. Will it last long?”

“I haven’t spent much time up here, either. I’m usually off guiding right now. But the first snow is unpredictable. Could come and go quick.”