Chapter Three

      When Jolie reached the main classroom a few seconds after Morgan, she saw Joseph holding the front door open for Morgan’s grandmother, Ruby Ann “Nana” McDermott. Nana was the backbone of the ranch, a former barrel racer who ran the chow hall like a well-greased wagon wheel. Her vision had been essential in making Lydia McDermott’s dream come true, and her heart had been essential in making the place what it was today.

      Jolie knew that since Lydia’s death, Nana had been just as much a mother to Morgan as she had been to the countless young ranchers who’d needed her love. Jolie had loved and adored Nana and the feeling had been mutual. In her sixties, Nana had deep blue, wide-set eyes, high cheekbones and a square jaw, and there was no denying that her son Randolph and her three grandsons, Morgan, Rowdy and Tucker, were from her gene pool. Before her thick ponytail had turned the color of pale steel, it had been jet-black like Morgan’s and Randolph’s—a long-ago gift of the Cherokee blood of Nana’s ancestors.

      Yesterday Jolie had been welcomed by Nana with open arms—there was never any lack of hugs where Nana was concerned. Today Nana hustled into the room like a woman on a mission, her ponytail swinging as she brought cookies to her boys—and checked up on Morgan and “her girl,” as she always called Jolie.

      She set the large tray down on a worktable beside the computer as the tantalizing scent of chocolate and cinnamon filled the room. Nana’s smile was just as warm and sweet as the cookies nestled on the tray.

      “Y’all have sure been workin’ hard today, so I whipped up some of your favorite cookies.” The instant she stepped back, it was like a free-for-all—the boys dived for the chocolate chip cookies, attacking them as if they hadn’t eaten all morning.

      “Glad you came on out today, Jolie,” she said as Jolie gave her a hug.

      “I thought it would be best to come and, you know—” she faltered as she looked at Morgan, who frowned at her “—get acquainted, with the boys, I mean, and get prepared.”

      Morgan looked as if he’d just witnessed her robbing a bank or something, his eyes narrowing in distrust. Jolie gulped and looked back at Nana.

      “Thank you for the snacks. These boys deserve it—as you said, they’ve been working hard.”

      Nana waved off the comment. “These bottomless pits always need cookies.” She planted her fists on her hips, giving Jolie and Morgan the once-over. “When I was coming out of the chow hall I saw you two heading around the back of the building.”

      Nana looked at Morgan, and Jolie thought she saw worry in her eyes.

      “Um, we had things to discuss,” Jolie explained. What else could she say?

      “Morgan, how’s your day going?” Nana asked when it was obvious the boys were too engrossed in cookie devouring to eavesdrop on their conversation.

      Exasperation flashed in Morgan’s eyes. “How do you think, Nana? Started out with a real bang in Dad’s office this morning.”

      Nana blushed—surprising Jolie, since she wasn’t the blushing kind—and she leaned in close to Morgan. “If it makes you feel any better, I told Randolph he needed to warn you.”

      “And what about you?” he asked.

      “I— Well,” she said, patting his arm. “We’ll talk about this later.”

      Jolie wasn’t sure what was going on, but it sounded as if Morgan hadn’t known she was coming. Was that possible? The thought practically made her gasp. If that was the case, then no wonder he was so hostile. His dad had not only made the decision to hire her on his own, but had also kept it a secret—until today.

      “You didn’t know?” she whispered.

      His lips pressed into a tight line and his left eyebrow lifted ever so slightly.

      Jolie gasped, looking from Morgan to Nana. It was true—Randolph hadn’t told him!

      Nana turned to where the boys were scarfing down the cookies as if there was no tomorrow. “Did you fellas know Jolie is a world-class champion kayaker? She gets paid by sponsors to travel all over the world and compete using their gear. Isn’t that right, Jolie?”

      “Get outta here. For real?” Wes said, stepping away from the cookie fray.

      Jolie nodded and her stomach dropped to her feet as a sick feeling washed over her in a wave. Please don’t go there. I can’t handle that right now on top of everything else.

      She’d known it was ridiculous to hope no one would mention her kayaking, yet she’d hoped exactly that. She gave a weak smile. “I’ve won a few competitions.”

      “Ha!” Nana hooted. “She’s top ten in the country.”

      Morgan crossed his arms, his expression stormy.

      “Top in the country!” Wes gushed, suddenly looking a lot younger than seventeen.

      “Really?” Tony joined in, his eyes lit with expectations.

      Alarms clanged inside of Jolie.

      “What’s kayaking?” Caleb asked as he and the other smaller fellas looked up from their cookies.

      “It’s like a plastic canoe that holds one person, and they compete on riding the rapids and stuff.” Joseph had come closer, as intent as Wes and Tony. “We have some rapids on the river at this place. Do you know that?”

      She knew what was coming next. She knew it and she wasn’t even sure she could speak. But she nodded and fought for words as acid churned in her stomach.

      “I—I started on those rapids when I was a kid. Morgan showed them to me.”

      That was all the encouragement the boys needed. They instantly erupted in excitement.

      “Cool! Can you teach us?” Joseph said over the others’ exclamations. Jolie silently prayed for God to help her.

      “I’ve always wanted to learn,” Wes gushed again, grinning like he’d just won the lottery. “Can you teach us?” he echoed as the others chimed in.

      Jolie’s vision blurred—where had all the air gone? She suddenly felt unbearably hot as every eye in the room stared at her. Her pulse pounded in her head like the roar of the white river rapids she now feared. Black spots began to spatter her vision like paint drops. She swayed, woozy, and her gaze swung to Morgan—for what? To ask for help?

      I can’t teach these boys to kayak!

      Breathe, she commanded herself, even as her knees turned to jelly....

      “Jolie!”

      Morgan’s voice rumbled down a long tunnel as Jolie sank like a rock.

      One minute she was standing and the next she was swooped up into strong arms. His strong arms. Morgan McDermott’s arms.

      The arms she’d longed for since she’d walked away from Sunrise Ranch...six long years ago....

      Voices floated to Jolie through a dark fog.