“I loved you when I left you,” Laredo said, his voice hoarse with the intensity of his feelings. “I worry sometimes that you don’t know how difficult it was to walk away from you.”

“I did know, and that’s what made it so hard,” she confided. She would never fully comprehend it, but Laredo had believed that she deserved someone who could give her more than he could. It was one of life’s cruel ironies—without him, money, land and possessions meant very little. But with his love she was rich beyond measure. It was the most precious thing she’d ever had.

The kitchen door creaked open and Savannah’s older brother stepped onto the porch. She wasn’t too pleased with Grady’s poor timing, but decided to overlook it. Not for the first time, either. Look what he’d done just the other day, when he’d made those comments about Caroline at the worst possible moment.

Grady walked to the porch steps and stared into the night sky. “I decided to attend the birthday bash for Ruth,” he said without glancing in their direction.

Savannah heard the reluctance in his voice and realized the decision hadn’t been an easy one.

“With Caroline?” she asked, trying not to sound eager.

He hesitated before answering. “I thought about asking her, then decided against it.”

Savannah knew that if he let himself Grady would enjoy Caroline’s company. Unfortunately he bungled all her efforts at playing matchmaker. What she’d hoped was that he’d become comfortable enough with Caroline at the birthday party to invite her to the Cattlemen’s Association dance later in the month. The dance marked the beginning of summer and was the most anticipated event of the year.

“Why don’t you ask Caroline?” She was losing patience with him.

“Because I didn’t think she’d want to after the way... Hell, you should know the answer to that. I made a fool of myself.”

“Caroline was more amused than angry,” Savannah assured her brother.

“Yeah, well, that’s not how I saw it. I thought I’d invite someone else.”

“Like who?”

“I don’t know...”

“How about the new doctor?” Savannah suggested. Dr. Jane Dickinson had replaced Doc Cummings at the Health Clinic when he retired. She’d read in the local newspaper that Dr. Dickinson had agreed to stay on for three years as a means of repaying her medical-school loans. If Grady wasn’t going to ask Caroline, then this new doctor was a good choice.

“No, thanks.”

“What’s wrong with her?”

“Nothing...everything.” Grady didn’t elaborate.

The problem with her brother, Savannah realized, was a complete lack of confidence in himself when it came to women. Grady failed to recognize his own masculine appeal. His considerable appeal. She suspected that Richard’s presence made it worse. Richard was handsome and sociable, a smooth talker who had no difficulty attracting female companionship. Grady, on the other hand, was awkward around women and constantly seemed to say the wrong thing.

Savannah edged closer to her husband. “Um, Grady, I don’t think it’s a good idea to wait until the last minute.”

“You don’t?”

Both Savannah and Laredo shook their heads.

Grady rubbed the back of his neck. “The hell with it,” he muttered. “Nell didn’t say anything about bringing a date. If Cal shows up you can bet he’ll be without a woman. Nothing says I need one, either.”

Savannah resisted the urge to box his ears. “Do you intend to live the rest of your life alone, Grady?”

Her brother didn’t answer her for a moment. “I don’t know anymore. It just seems to be the way things are headed.” With that, he went back inside.

“I almost feel sorry for him,” Laredo said.

“It’s his own fault.” Savannah didn’t mean to sound unkind, but her brother was too stubborn for his own good. “If he’d open his eyes, he’d realize Caroline’s perfect for him.”

“You can’t push him into a relationship with your friend, love.”

Savannah realized that. “But...”

“It’ll happen for Grady when the time is right.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“It did with us.”

Sighing, Savannah dropped her head against his shoulder once again. This was her favorite time of day, sitting in the moonlight with Laredo, feeling his love enclose her.

They kissed then, and the sweetness of it was enough to bring tears to Savannah’s eyes. She savored the contentment of being in his arms, wishing everyone could experience this kind of love. Grady and the embittered Cal Patterson and Caroline and...

“Ellie Frasier needs someone, too,” she said wistfully.

“Are you the resident matchmaker now?” Laredo teased.

“Yes—even if it is self-appointed.” She nudged him with her elbow. “Now—a man for Ellie.”

“Not Richard.”

“Not Richard,” Savannah agreed. “Glen Patterson.”

Laredo laughed lightly. “You’re way off base with that one, Savannah. I can’t see it. They make much better friends than they ever would lovers.”

The evening was much too fine to argue. She didn’t need Laredo to agree with her to know she was right.

Three

Nell Bishop flipped the braid off her shoulder and surveyed the yard. Everything was ready for Ruth’s surprise party. The Moorhouse sisters, both retired schoolteachers, were keeping her mother-in-law occupied in town. Knowing Edwina and Lily, they’d take their assignment seriously. The last Nell heard, they’d planned a visit to the library, followed by a little birthday celebration at Dovie Boyd’s antique shop. Dovie had recently added the Victorian Tea Room, and each afternoon at three, she served tea and scones. Sometimes she added cucumber sandwiches and a small glass—or two—of the Moorhouse sisters’ special cordial, which she made from a recipe handed down by their maternal grandfather.

Nell gathered that the sandwiches tended to be dry but the cordial was well worth the price of admission. The Moorhouse sisters would bring her back at the start of the festivities. All three would probably be a little tipsy and in a fine party mood.

It was time the Bishop family did a bit of celebrating. Jake wouldn’t have wanted them to spend the rest of their lives grieving. Things had been difficult for Nell since her husband’s death, but with Ruth’s help she’d managed to hold on to the ranch.

“Mom, where do you want me to put the potato chips?” Jeremy called from the back porch steps. Her eleven-year-old son stood with a huge bowl in his hands, awaiting her instructions.

“Set it on the first picnic table,” she answered, pointing at the line of five covered tables that stretched across the freshly groomed yard. She’d spent half the day spiffing up the flower beds and mowing the grass and the other half cooking. Fried chicken, her special recipe for chili, a smorgasbord of salads, plus a huge homemade birthday cake.

Jeremy carried the bowl to the table, then promptly helped himself to a handful. Nell bit her tongue to keep from admonishing him not to spoil his dinner. This was a celebration and she wasn’t going to ruin it by scolding her children. Both Jeremy and nine-year-old Emma had been helpful and cooperative, as excited about the party as she was herself.

Jeremy’s hand stopped midway to his mouth and he cast a guilty look at his mother.

“All I ask is that you save some for the guests.”

He nodded, smiling hugely. “We got plenty.”

How like Jake her son was. She couldn’t look at him and not be reminded of the only man she’d ever loved. They’d grown up together, she and Jake, and Nell knew from the time she’d first started thinking about boys that one day she’d marry Jake Bishop. It had taken him several years to reach the same conclusion, but men were often slower when it came to figuring out these things.