In moments, he was stroking the long neck of the gorgeous horse and kissing her nose.

“Aw, Jack.” His mother winced and picked up a towel.

Tess rolled her eyes and grabbed at the towel. “Mrs. Redmond, let him be. He has a way with animals, can’t you see that?”

She reluctantly looked at Jack and had to agree. The horse was perfectly content to receive the attention from Jack.

“He must get that from his daddy,” Tess teased.

“Miss Rawlins…” she started in a terse voice.

“Tess…”

She blinked and opened her mouth, then shut it and laughed at the innocent look. “Tess, I just don’t want him hurt,” she said evenly.

“I don’t, either. Do you honestly think I’d allow that, whatever your first name is?” she asked, grinning wildly. She took a healthy bite of an apple.

“Claire,” she said.

Tess cocked her head. “That’s a pretty name. I like it.” She announced her approval with another crisp bite.

Claire shot her a look. “Thank you. Do I get to keep it?”

Jack laughed behind them as he petted Stella. Tess tossed the remainder of the apple to Jack. She took the pocketknife and closed it. “Here, use this, Jack,” she suggested and tossed that, as well.

“Ahh!” Claire exclaimed in horror as she watched the knife fly through the air. Scaring the hell out of her son, Jack jumped back and the closed knife fell to the ground.

Tess rolled her eyes and picked it up. “Claire, holy cow. It’s closed,” she assured her. She opened it and cut the apple.

Claire turned red and fidgeted with the lunch baskets. “I-I’m sorry. I’m…”

“A city slicker,” Tess offered with a teasing grin.

Claire closed her eyes and counted to ten. Jack laughed into the horse’s neck.

“We’ll have to do something about that,” Tess said. “C’mon, we’re going into town. I have to go to Tom’s, then we’re going shopping.”

Tess mounted her horse with a stifled groan. “Jack, wanna ride back with me?”

Jack almost swallowed his tongue. He gave his mother a pleading look.

Claire hid her worried face. “Sure,” she said, mustering all the courage she could find.

Tess saw the petrified face. “We’ll ride slowly,” she assured her. She looked around and found Chuck and called to him, “Chuck, let Jack borrow your horse. You can ride back with Dad.”

They waited while Chuck rode over. Jack grinned as he mounted the black horse.

“Be careful,” Claire pleaded.

“Mom, I’ll be fine,” Jack insisted, his embarrassment evident.

“We’ll go slow,” Tess said again.

Jack gave Claire a look of pure gratitude and delight that it nearly broke her heart.

“Oh, God,” she mumbled to herself.

Jed put his arm around her shoulders. “Don’t worry, Tess is an excellent horsewoman. He’ll be fine. C’mon, I’ll race ya back!” he yelled to Tess.

Claire saw the gleam in Tess’s eye and nearly fainted. Tess laughed openly and slowly trotted across the grassland with Jack at her side. Claire whirled around at the older Rawlins.

“Sorry, Claire. Can I call you Claire, too?” Jed asked and backed up.

Chapter 6

Tess was tempted to take the old station wagon into town but opted for the more reliable Jeep. Claire sat in front and Jack in the back leaning in between them, filled with anticipation. She pulled in front of Tom’s store. He was sweeping up in the front and turned when he saw them.

“Tess, hey,” he said and shook her hand. Tess offered the introductions. “How’s the order coming?”

Tom grinned. “Just about done. We’ll deliver the last of the grain on Tuesday.”

Tess nodded. “How much am I saving, Tom?” she asked with a wicked grin. Tom laughed evilly and glanced around.

“If you’d have gone to the big stores in Missoula and Helena, it’d cost you over four thousand dollars. With me getting those distributor prices, it’s costing ya two thousand seven hundred fifty dollars.”

Tess laughed and slapped him on the back. Claire and Jack exchanged glances as the two laughed heartily. “Are you making enough?”

Tom rolled his eyes. “I make more money being a distributor than I ever made on my own. God, Tess, that was a brilliant idea of yours, you college grad you. I’m so glad you’re back,” he said and they both laughed again. “Warren is fit to be tied,” he said through their laughter.

“The old fu…” She stopped herself and cleared her throat as she glanced at her two companions. “The old geezer,” she amended with a deep blush. “Tom, Claire is our new cook. She’ll give you her order each week. She and I will come into town and pick it up, just like usual.”

“Usual? You never came into town for that,” Tom said seriously.