First Last Chance, page 2
She pointed off to the high, snow-capped mountains. “There. It’s enough to take your breath, isn’t it?”
“That’s what got you out and running wild?” He kept the thought to himself as a smile played his lips. Love at first sight, her expression said it all, and damn his soul, he’d lost out to a mountain range, of all things. He buried a soft laugh, especially when her hand found his.
“We have nothing like this,” she said quietly. “The peaks…they’re old…so old, yet you never feel really alone with them watching over you.”
He tried to concentrate on the peaks, not breast peaks, only mountain. Only the touch on his arm did so many…things to his body.
Focus. He loved this land, but it’d been quite a while since someone he knew had this type of reaction to it. Her unbridled need to get out and explore seeped through her touch as her gaze swept the landscape.
He’d hoped his ex-wife would’ve held the same passion for the land, but after six years of marriage, she’d asked for a divorce, took their son, Lucas, and left. The stress of politics and Gabe traveling without her for weeks took its toll, and she’d let him know what she thought about his deficits. She loved having friends and neighbors nearby and missed Boston. It had gutted him. He’d thought if she’d taken a little time to settle, or maybe if he hadn’t gotten so lost in work, they would’ve had a chance. He didn’t fight her taking Lucas. He knew he didn’t have the time or focus to raise a child alone, and she was a good mother. But he missed his son something fierce, and lamented how empty the house and his heart felt without him. His business trips and career weren’t ever meant to come at the price of his wife, and certainly not his kid.
Eight years later, he figured he’d never find a woman who could appreciate the beauty of the green valleys, the rushing waters of the rivers, and the mountains standing guard over them.
As Ashley shifted next to him, lost in the scenery, maybe she was going to change his perspective. Hell, maybe she already had. Seeing his land through her eyes gave him a new appreciation for it.
Her rosy lips stayed slightly parted, as her cheeks glowed, and her emerald eyes reflected the bright sun. But his gaze kept sliding back to those lips. He’d never seen a mouth more inviting.
One thing was for sure: her ex-husband had been a damn fool for letting her go.
CHAPTER 2
Ashley breathed a quiet wow at the sheer size and luxury of the ranch house. It looked more like resorts she’d seen in magazines rather than a working ranch. Gabe’s home was tall with two wings and a second-floor balcony. Resting on a slope, the beautiful house had a stunning view of the mountains to the west. “This looks more like a vacation lodge than a home.”
Gabe parked the SUV in front of a five-car garage. “Our granddad remodeled the old house to resemble the lodge where he and our grandma spent their honeymoon. She loved it here.”
“I can see why. It’s stunning.”
“Yeah, it is. The contractor did a good job.”
They entered the house and were in a wide foyer. A chandelier hung from a high ceiling showing off the superior woodwork that extended to the stepdown living area where the far wall was all glass showing off the view of the valley below.
“I could eat,” Gabe said as she stood gawking. “You?”
He placed her luggage by the door and helped her remove her coat. His large hands brushing her shoulders and back. His touch took her breath away. Catching his eye, she sent him a smile over her shoulder, and made it last before he hung up her coat next to his jacket. “Breakfast was hours ago.” She laid her hand over her stomach. “I’m hungry.”
He winked as he said, “Let’s see what Ruth’s got in the fridge, then.”
Trying not to look at his bitable ass, she followed him into an elegant, modern kitchen with dark wood cabinets, a few glass-fronted, and dark granite counters with gold veins running through them. As he made his way to the wide fridge, he turned and asked, “I should show you to your room first, right?”
She moved to him and buried her smile. She guessed, after being governor, he wasn’t used to doing for himself, and she doubted had to show too many people around his home. “Food first. I’m starved.”
He didn’t step aside, and rested his arm over the fridge door almost inviting her to step close. He pulled out a casserole, and she moved away as he dished their servings onto two plates, then stuck them in the microwave.
She eyed the food as she pulled out a chair surrounding the wide dark wood kitchen table. A noise from down the corridor made her look up. Jason walked in with Cody close on his heels.
“Hey, Ash.” Jason came over and gave her a hug and kissed her cheek. “Sorry I wasn’t able to meet you.”
“That’s okay.” She placed her hand on the side of his neck, keeping him close. Jason’s gaze had lost its sparkle and humor, and the lines in his forehead had deepened. He appeared smaller, and his hug felt sad. “I’m so glad I came,” she said softly. He was still a handsome man, but he didn’t embody the energy and passion he used to have. Not surprising after he’d lost so much. Ashley knew she was a reminder of that and was why she’d waited so long to come out and visit them.
After Jason headed for the fridge, she turned and gave Cody a hug. He’d changed too. He’d grown taller and his legs were long like his dad’s. But his smile was all Susan’s, and it seemed as if he was trying to hiding his grief. “You’re going to be taller than your dad soon.”
Cody puffed out his chest. “You think?” He grinned. “I need to avoid the gray hair though.”
Jason laughed. “Sit down, son. I’ll get us some lemonade.”
“Yeah, steer clear of the gray.” Ashley picked up her fork. “How was soccer this year?”
“Fun. We came in third in the regionals.” He took his drink from Jason.
She took a bite of the casserole. “Mmm. This is so good.” She smiled, glancing at Gabe, who seemed transfixed on how her fork hovered close to her lips. She didn’t think this was the right time to dwell on the “moment,” and shifted the conversation to Cody. “What position do you play?”
The kid scooted his chair closer to the table. “Left midfielder. Dad came to every game.”
Ashley turned and gave Jason a gentle smile then rubbed his back.
“How are things with Abby and Nathan?” Jason put his drink down and leaned in close to hear about her daughter and her brother.
“They’re good. Abby loves her classes, and Nathan’s working hard as usual.” She sat back. “He and Kathryn will be celebrating their twentieth anniversary soon. I need to look around here and get them something for it before I go.”
“Nathan’s older than you, right?” Gabe took a forkful of casserole.
“Yeah. Nathan’s older by five years.”
Gabe nodded and seemed to communicate something to Jason before he said, “I’m sure you two need to catch up.” Gabe got up and then took his empty plate to the sink. “You want to take Ashley’s luggage to a guest room? I need to get back to ranch work,” he said to Jason.
“Sure, not a problem.” Jason started to eat. “Before you go, what did Senator Stanton have to say?”
Gabe scowled and stuck his hands in his pockets. “He didn’t bring the Land-Use Bill to the floor. I need to see what I can find out. It looks like the Ranchers’ Association has called a meeting for tomorrow morning.” He glanced at Ashley then back to Jason. “Want to come along?”
“Well, I promised Ash I’d show her around tomorrow.” Jason paused and looked down at his plate. “But I can take her around the ranch later. If that’s okay with you, Ash?”
“No problem at all.” She waved him off. “You two do what you need to do.”
Gabe said softly, “It’s good to have you here.” He started for the door, then stopped as if he’d forgotten something. “Where’s Ruth? I have a meeting in a few days and I need to sort things for traveling.”
Jason swallowed a mouthful of food. “Lisa called earlier. She’s driving Ruth to visit a sick friend.”
“Lisa’s driving her around?”
“Now that she has her license, she volunteers to drive Ruth all over the county.”
Gabe winced as Cody pushed to his feet.
“I’m out too.” He followed Gabe from the kitchen as Ashley focused on Jason.
“What’s this bill you’re hoping to pass?”
Jason pulled Cody’s plate on top of his, then took care of Ashley’s before offering a smile her way. “C’mon. I’ll show you to your room and explain on the way.”
***
As Ashley unpacked, her mind wandered to Gabe. His soft looks and touches made her feel alive in a way she hadn’t anticipated. It’d been a long time since she’d let someone get close. She was wary of getting involved, especially with a man who made her heat up like the sun. The signs were subtle, but clearly there.
He was different from what she’d expected. From what Susan had told her. She’d pictured an arrogant, smooth-talking ladies’ man, not a friendly, passionate-about-family, personable guy. He seemed such a far cry from his reputation as a tough governor who had been featured on the covers of major national magazines. But then everyone wore public masks to keep their private lives to themselves.
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, then carried on putting her sweaters in the antique dresser drawers and hanging her shirts in the cedar lined closet.
As she turned from the closet, a soft knock came at her door. “Come in.”
The door eased open, and Lisa walked to her and pulled Ashley into a hug. “You’re here. I’ve been waiting for you.” She sat on the bed. Her auburn hair and dark eyes were Susan all over, and her smile lit up her face like her father’s when he used to smile. She had her dad’s height. At seventeen, she was over five eight. Even though she seemed to be a typical senior, Ashley knew she was trying hard to keep that shine in her eyes. “How are you, sweetheart?”
Lisa shrugged. “There’s a lot to do this last quarter of school.” She sighed and leaned back on her elbows. “But I’m dating. His name’s Michael.”
Ashley sat on the bed and listened with a grin as Lisa took her through dating the most popular boy on the basketball team. Then she switched topics to the upcoming spring dance and the car Michael’s father was letting them use for the big night.
“Will you go shopping with us Saturday?”
“Hmm?” Ashley teased. “Sure. Where are we going?”
“Dad promised to take me to Cheyenne. I want to get my dress for the summer dance next week while you’re here to help.”
Choosing a dress, that was a mother and daughter thing, and Lisa’s quiet call for that type of support hurt Ashley’s heart. “Sounds so good.” She wrapped her arm around her best friend’s daughter. “We’ll look for the perfect one.”
Lisa held on a little too tight, then looked up. “Abby loves her classes. She called me Monday.”
Ashley smiled. “She’s having a good year.” She kissed Lisa’s head, keeping her close.
Lisa tried a grin. “Next year I’ll be in California. The change might be good.”
Maybe. It could be she wanted to run from her grief, but she was right. A change could lift her spirits. “Gabe said you’ve already chosen your college.”
Lisa’s phone rang, and she shifted to glance at the screen. Her face brightened, and she got to her feet. The goofy boyfriend expression.
“Yep.” Lisa didn’t look up from her phone. “He helped me decide. But I still want to talk with you about it later,” she replied before she headed out the door.
She left Ashley missing Susan in yet another way she’ll never have her friend. They’d never talk about Lisa growing up and Ashley’s experiences with her daughter, who was only a few years older than Lisa.
Ashley sighed and got to her feet to remove the last clothes from her luggage. She was glad to be here for Lisa’s big high school dance to lend some sort of mom support.
Once everything was put away, Ashley stepped around the glass table close to the French doors and walked out onto the balcony overlooking a landscaped courtyard. Few flowers grew this early in the spring, but she recognized some early purple hyacinths. She inhaled deeply and a strong aroma of mint teased her senses. Maybe Ruth had an herb garden among the flowerbeds.
After taking it all in, she got out her phone and left a brief message on Abby’s voicemail to let her know she’d arrived in one piece before calling her brother.
“Hi. How’s Wyoming?” Nathan sounded busy.
“Hey, there. It’s beautiful. I saw a great view of the Bighorns. The peaks are snow-covered and rugged. I wish you could see them.”
“The wilderness… Not really my thing.” Nathan laughed softly. “But explain your decision to spend time in Wyoming working, hiking, and being in the wilderness instead of somewhere exciting like New York. I’m worried about you.” She grunted.
Her friends told her she was going through empty-nest syndrome, and maybe that was part of it. With Abby away most of the past year, Ashley missed her. But there was something more. She felt lost in the fog of everyday life and was looking for a way forward. During the last four years working toward a doctorate and dealing with a teenager, she’d had little time to explore what she wanted, allowing the fog to become thicker. She wasn’t even going to dredge up the darker trails of her breakup with her ex-husband.
Since she’d had this conversation with her brother already, he took the grunt clue and switched topics. “How’s Jason and the kids?”
“They’re good as can be expected.” Ashley rested against the balcony banister. Then decided to give him the deeper explanation so he’d understand where her head was at. “I wanted to get away from Cincinnati before Gloria started calling.” Gloria was department dean at Xavier and knew she could rely on certain faculty members for last minute assignments, either to pick up a class or help with administrative matters. Ashley didn’t want to compromise her leave.
She walked back to the sliding door. “I guess I needed a place where I could hear my own thoughts.”
“Well then, you’re in the right place. Take care and try to enjoy your stay.”
“I will. See you soon.” After hanging up, she stood on the deck, breathing in the fresh cool air while watching white fluffy clouds slide across the sky.
***
As Ashley padded into the kitchen, Ruth met her with a hug.
“It’s so good to see you again.” Ruth grabbed two cups from the cupboard. “I wanted to thank you for keeping in touch with me and the kids.” She added water to the tea kettle and placed it on the stove. “Drop in here and have tea with me over your stay, okay? The kids are keeping so busy lately, it gets too quiet.” They both knew why the kids kept themselves busy and avoided the quiet around here.
“I’d like that.” Ashley rested against a unit. “Thanks for keeping me up on how they’ve been doing.”
Ruth wiped her hand across her face. “Susan was special, that’s for sure.”
“She was.” Susan had been lucky to have such a loving family. Ruth and her husband, Pete, had been with the Coulters for most of their marriage. Pete started working at the ranch for Jason’s grandparents shortly after their wedding. He’d brought along his young bride, and a few years later when the Coulters needed a housekeeper and cook, Ruth had taken the job. They’d become part of the Coulter family, though Pete had passed away ten years back.
Now Ruth ran the kitchen while Pauline, whose husband worked as a ranch hand, handled the housework.
“I hope you’re staying for a while.” Ruth took folded napkins from a drawer as the kettle boiled.
“Jason invited me to use the High Peak cabin anytime I want. I’m hoping to drive up and do a little hiking. I want to try out the new camera my brother gave me for my birthday.”
“I gave up celebrating birthdays a few years ago.” Ruth gave her a smile. “Not the same when you’re on your own.” She pointed behind her. “The water’s hot. I know you and Gabe finished off the casserole, but what do you say to a cup of tea?” Ruth placed the cups on a tray and filled a small pot with tea and hot water. “And what about a slice of banana bread I made earlier today?”
“Yes to the tea, please, but no thanks to the bread.” Ashley looked around. “Gabe hasn’t found you yet?”
“He was looking for me?”
Ashley nodded. “No doubt he’ll catch up soon.” But she felt a little disappointed he wasn’t here. “Anything I can help you with?”
“No, I’ve got this.” She piled everything on to a tray. “Follow me. We’ll take this to the sunroom and enjoy the view.”
Decorated with a flowered sofa and two overstuffed taupe chairs, the sunroom was warm and cozy. A green rug lay atop the honey-colored oak floor, and a wall of windows offered a striking view of the wide valley and imposing mountains beyond.
Seeming happy to have a house full of Coulters again, Ruth took a seat and affection stayed heavy in her eyes. “Gabe… I think most people are disappointed he didn’t run for a second term, but Jason wasn’t ready to take over the ranch after Bert passed away, so that left Gabe.” She shook her head. “He’s always been the responsible one and certainly knows what he’s doing.” She leaned over and poured the tea. “He’s good with the kids too, and they love him.”
Ashley took the one Ruth offered over then took a sip. Strange how talk had come around to Gabe, and Ashley winced. Had she been that obvious with her look around for him, Ruth was into matchmaking now? “How are Lisa and Cody really coping?”
“Lisa’s too much like her mother when it comes to will: she’s the strongest, but she hides under her smile a little too much. She’s a pleasure to have around. Cody is a little withdrawn. I’m hoping the Boy Scout troop he joined will help pull him out of his shell.”
“And Jason?”
