Read the book: «Reunited In The Rockies»

Chapter One

Twenty-four hours ago, Jude Stephens had his life figured out.

Then his father started talking about retirement, and he clearly viewed Jude as the heir apparent to the business he’d spent decades building.

Hands clutched around the steering wheel of his police SUV, Jude made another pass down Ouray, Colorado’s Main Street, looking for anything out of place among the rows of quaint Victorian-era buildings. He was honored that his father thought so highly of him that he was willing to entrust him with the business he’d started with nothing more than a dream and a small patch of land. Problem was, Jude did not want to be a cattle rancher.

Clouds obscured the sun, spoiling what should have been a beautiful October day. Helping his father out was one thing; he’d done it all his life. But the man had four other sons. Why not turn the business over to one of them?

Jude drummed his fingers on the dash. Because he was the one Dad counted on while his brothers were out chasing their dreams.

He shook his head. Just because he was the only brother who had never left Ouray didn’t mean he didn’t have dreams, too. If only his father would recognize his woodworking for the viable business it was instead of just a hobby. Jude was passionate about the work he was doing, and his custom and reproduction millwork was already providing him with more income than his job as a police officer. He’d even talked with the chief about his desire to resign. He was simply waiting until they hired another officer. Then he’d be free to focus on his business and take it to the next level.

But first he’d have to find a way to tell Clint Stephens he wanted no part of his cattle operation. And with the man getting older, that wasn’t going to be easy. That bout of pneumonia he’d had last year had everyone concerned.

Passing the hot springs pool, he roughed a hand over his face. Couldn’t his father just sell off the cows and leave Jude to follow his own path? Dad knew all about dreams, after all. He’d chased his own all those years ago when he and Mama first started Abundant Blessings Ranch. Now, Jude’s oldest brother, Noah, had built a successful rodeo school on the land, and Jude longed to do the same with his business. All he needed was a bigger shop. Something he was more than capable of paying for.

So when are you planning to tell the man?

Good question. He should have said something about his plans to resign after talking to the chief. But he hadn’t. Now he was faced with the very real threat of disappointing his dad. And just the thought of that nearly killed him. The last thing he wanted was to destroy the good relationship they had.

He straightened in his seat. Lately he’d been doing a fair amount of work for a builder in Telluride. Maybe that would help his father understand. Unfortunately, the majority of his sales were done online, and that was something his father couldn’t comprehend, no matter how many times a week that big brown shipping truck came rolling up the drive.

He wound past the sparsely populated RV park that had been bursting at the seams only a couple of months ago. Perhaps Noah would have some advice. Despite their eleven-year age difference, he and his eldest brother were quite close. Close enough that Noah had asked him to be his best man.

Jamming his fingers through his hair, Jude released a frustrated sigh. He was going to drive himself crazy if he kept dwelling on his father. He needed to think about something else. Like the meeting with his soon-to-be sister-in-law, Lily. He didn’t have a clue as to why she’d asked him to meet her at the old Congress Hotel after work. The historic building had been closed for years and fallen into disrepair. Was Lily thinking about buying it? Restoring it, perhaps? If anyone could afford to do that, it was her. And in the right hands, the once grand structure definitely had the potential to be magnificent yet again.

He eased into Rotary Park to make his usual turnaround, noting a blue pickup truck near the ice rink. Not out of the ordinary. However, the woman standing beside the vehicle, staring at a flat tire, was a call to action.

Her back was to him as he pulled up beside her. Silky dark brown hair fell to her waist, reminding him of someone he once knew. Someone he’d never forget.

Killing the engine, he continued to watch her. Even her stance was familiar. The way she stood with her hands perched on the backside of her hips.

His heart raced. What if it was her?

You wish.

He reached for the door handle. His mind was all kinds of messed up today. As if Kayla would suddenly show up in Ouray after seven years.

The woman glanced over her shoulder as he stepped onto the gravel, though not long enough to give him a good look.

“I see you’re having a problem.” He rounded the front end of his vehicle, glimpsing her pancaked back tire. “May I assist you?”

Slowly she turned, and his world shifted as though he’d been transported back in time to the best summer of his life. The summer he fell in love for the first and only time.

“Hello, Jude.” The sweetness of her voice washed over him, along with more memories and regrets than he cared to count.

“Kayla?” He visually traced the face that still lived in his mind. All these years, he’d wondered what had happened. He only knew that one day they were talking about seeing each other again, and then the next there was nothing. She had never even returned his calls or texts. “What are you doing here?”

She hesitated a moment, seemingly transfixed on the tire. “My friend is getting married.” Her chestnut eyes finally met his. Gorgeous eyes he’d lost himself in thousands of times. “I’m Lily’s matron of honor.”

“Lily?” Wait, Noah’s Lily? Shifting his weight from one booted foot to the other, he scratched his head. “Lily Davis?”

A breeze hissed through the towering conifers.

“Yes.” Kayla casually tucked her hair behind her ear, the reappearing sun highlighting the gold band on her left hand.

His gut tightened as unwanted disappointment stole through him. After all these years, he shouldn’t care that Kayla was married. Not when she was the one who’d decided to end their relationship without even bothering to let him know. No, he shouldn’t care.

Unfortunately, he did. A fact that annoyed him more than he cared to admit.

Her hand fell to her stomach. Only then did he notice the bump beneath her fitted T-shirt.

Great. The woman who still haunted his dreams was not only married but pregnant. And she was his future sister-in-law’s best friend. The one he’d be forced to spend who knows how much time with in the coming days before walking her down the aisle a week from tomorrow.

He should have stayed in bed this morning. “You and Lily are friends?”

“Yes. We met back in Denver a few years ago.”

“You live in Denver?” When he’d known her, she’d been enjoying a nomadic lifestyle with her parents. Always roaming about the country, never staying put for more than six months. They were headed to Denver the last time he and Kayla spoke. Had she been there all this time?

“After my father died, I decided it was time to settle down.”

She couldn’t have done that in Ouray? “I’m sorry for your loss.”

Nodding, she took a step back. “Look, I’m sorry for creating such an awkward situation. I knew Noah was your brother, yet I never said anything to Lily about you and me. If I had, she could have at least prepared you.”

True. And he could have relegated his best man duties to one of his brothers while he hightailed it out of town. “No big deal.” He shrugged. “I’m just kind of surprised you’re here so early. I mean, the wedding isn’t for another week.”

“I wanted to be here to help Lily with some of the preparations.” Her hands went to her hips again as her gaze traveled from the redstone cliffs that hugged the back of the park to Mount Hayden’s peak at the opposite end of town. “That and I needed a change of scenery.”

“Well, we’ve got plenty of that around here.” Though he had no business doing it, he found himself staring again. She was even more beautiful than he remembered. Yet while the hair and eyes were the same, something was different about Kayla. She seemed...troubled. Maybe it was just the awkwardness of the moment.

Shaking off the notion, he added, “But then, you already know that.”

She peered up at him through long lashes, sending his heart slamming into his ribs. “I wasn’t sure if you were still in Ouray.”

Wasn’t sure? Kayla knew better than anyone that this was where he belonged. “It’s my home. Where my roots are.” And while that was the exact reason he could never leave, it was also what had prevented him from asking her to stay. Kayla needed to roam, meaning their relationship would have been doomed from the start and he would have ended up brokenhearted anyway.

Looking for an escape, he turned his attention to her tire. “I’ll get this taken care of so you can be on your way.”

“You always were the chivalrous one.” Her smile did strange things to him. Had him feeling things he had no business feeling for a married woman. Things that were going to make this next week excruciatingly long.

* * *

Kayla Bradshaw had known that agreeing to be in Lily’s wedding could mean coming face-to-face with the first man she ever loved. Something that seemed relatively benign, until now.

Jude still had that slightly dangerous look about him. Those piercing dark eyes that seemed to see right through her. To read her thoughts and know her heart. His dark hair had a military cut with close-cropped sides and the longer top brushed to one side. But, oh, that smile...

Pulling out of the park with a fresh tire, she gave herself a stern shake. It wasn’t like her to be so affected. Then again, a lot of things were different with her lately. Chalk it up to pregnancy. Or stress. After all, when her husband died five months ago in a single-car rollover, she hadn’t even known she was pregnant.

She continued into the old mining town, eyeing the mountains that enveloped Ouray. She hoped God forgave her for the relief she felt following Shane’s death.

If only she’d known he was an alcoholic before they married. He was a different man when he drank.

After his death, she’d wanted nothing more than a do-over. A fresh start for her and her baby. And while she had yet to find that perfect place to begin anew, Lily had done her best to fill in the gap.

When Kayla decided to sell the house she’d shared with Shane, Lily had encouraged her to move into her place and house-sit while she and her kids spent the summer in Ouray. Four months later, she was still there.

Kayla puffed out a laugh. She never would have imagined that her friend would decide to stay in Ouray, let alone fall in love with the brother of the man who’d captured Kayla’s heart seven years ago and given her a glimpse of how good life could really be.

She was surprised, if not a little disappointed, to see that Jude was a police officer, though. With his woodworking talents and love for historic buildings, she’d thought for sure he’d follow his passion.

Slowing her speed as she entered town, she tried to ignore the question that had been plaguing her brain. But like a nasty mosquito bite, it refused to be ignored. Was Jude married?

Not that it mattered. Their time together was water under the bridge. He’d made that clear during their last phone conversation. He’d said he was done. Then he’d hung up. And she never had the opportunity to talk to him again.

She had no doubt Jude assumed she was married, though. The way his gaze moved from her left hand to her baby bump.

Taking in Ouray’s Main Street, she was happy to see not all that much had changed. Sure, the names on some of the businesses were different, the paint colors may have been altered, but the essence of the town remained the same. Warm, inviting... The kind of place she’d longed for her entire life. A place she could not only call home, but where she felt at home.

Looking back, she wished she’d had the guts to tell her parents to leave Ouray without her. But she’d been too immature.

In Denver, though, she’d finally put her foot down, thinking that staying there would satisfy her desire. No more traveling around the country in an RV. Then she’d married and Shane owned a house. Something she’d never had. Yet her longing was far from fulfilled, and her dream turned into a nightmare.

If only she’d made better choices. If only—

“Would you stop thinking about Jude already?” Pounding her fist against the steering wheel, she made a left turn onto one of the side streets. “You’re here for Lily, not to relive seven-year-old might-have-beens.” She wasn’t that carefree young woman Jude had once known. Her two years with Shane had changed her. Made her more cautious and unable to trust her own judgment.

A right turn one block later had her searching for the bed-and-breakfast where she would be staying. According to Lily, Granger House Inn was a historic home owned by another of Jude’s four brothers and his wife. Fortunately, she’d never met this brother, so there’d be no need for explanations. Yet.

She eased her truck to a stop in front of an impressive sea-foam-green Victorian home with loads of intricate millwork and a gracious front porch. Since Lily’s SUV was parked in the drive, this had to be the place.

Kayla turned off the ignition, stepped out of her vehicle and stretched as she drew in a deep breath of mountain air. The clouds had disappeared, leaving a beautiful autumn day in their wake.

She moved up the walk, onto the porch and rang the bell.

A few moments later, Lily swung the antique-oak-and-leaded-glass door wide. Her long reddish-blond hair was pulled back in a ponytail and her smile was wide. “Kayla!” She hugged her. “I’m so glad you’re here.”

“Me, too.” It did her heart good to see her friend so happy. In recent years, Lily had endured some tough times. Yet, through it all, she’d clung to her faith. And now she’d found a man who shared that faith and recognized Lily for the special woman she was.

Kayla could only hope to be so fortunate.

Lily released her. “Where’s your stuff?”

“In the truck.”

“Well, let’s get you unpacked because I have something I can’t wait to show you.”

“Such as?” Kayla watched her friend as they started off the porch.

“You’ll have to wait and see.”

When they returned with her things, another woman stood just inside the door, holding a tiny baby.

“Look who’s finally awake.” Lily grinned at the child, setting Kayla’s suitcase on the wooden floor. “Kayla, this is Carly, my soon-to-be sister-in-law.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Kayla.” The woman had blond curls and smiled warmly, her countenance one of contentment.

“And this little guy here—” Lily reached for the babe’s fisted hand “—is Lucas.”

Moving closer, Kayla couldn’t stop staring. From his downy dark hair to his barely there nose and slow-motion movements... “He’s so little. How old is he?”

“Five weeks tomorrow,” said Carly.

Kayla could hardly believe that in only four short months, she’d be holding her own baby.

“When are you due?” Carly noted her belly.

“February.”

“Do you know what you’re having?”

“No, she does not.” Lily frowned. “And the suspense is killing me.”

Clearing her throat, Kayla regarded her friend. “As a very wise person recently said to me, you’ll just have to wait and see.”

“Fine.” Lily rolled her green eyes and reached for the suitcase. “Come on, I’ll show you your room.” She started for the stairs that swept up one side of the parlor.

“Kayla, I put you in the Hayden Room,” Carly called after them from the parlor below. “Not only does it have a great view, it’s the farthest away from our room down here, so you shouldn’t hear the baby.”

“I’m sure it’ll be perfect. Although, I guess I should get used to hearing a baby’s cry.” She’d be alone, after all. A truth she sometimes found rather terrifying.

“Ah, don’t rush it.” The blonde looked lovingly at her child, then back to Kayla. “Enjoy the uninterrupted sleep while you can.”

Entering the room at the end of the hall, Lily set the suitcase on the plush gray carpet. “What do you think?”

Kayla moved behind her. “This is gorgeous.” From the magnificent view through antique glass to the four-poster queen bed with luxurious bedding...

“Check out the claw-foot tub in the bathroom.” Lily nodded in the general direction.

Dropping her hanging clothes and overnight case onto the antique settee, Kayla hurried into the adjoining bathroom with its black-and-white mosaic floor, white beadboard wainscoting and, yes, a claw-foot tub.

“Lily, I may never want to leave this place.”

Her friend appeared in the doorway. “Are you referring to your room or Ouray?”

“My room. Though Ouray is pretty inviting, too.”

“I’m glad to hear you say that.” Turning, a grinning Lily moved back into the bedroom.

As if Kayla wouldn’t follow. “Why?”

Lily crossed to the clothes Kayla had left on the settee and picked them up. “Because I have a proposition for you.” She opened the door of the small closet and hung them on the rod.

“What kind of proposition?” Kayla eased onto the side of the bed, her fingers digging into the softness.

“Are you familiar with the old Congress Hotel?”

“White wooden structure on the other side of town?”

“That’s the one.”

“I think I went inside it once. As I recall, it had some pretty cool features.”

“Yes, it does.” Lily met her gaze. “Which is only part of the reason I bought it.”

Kayla’s eyes went wide. “You bought it? What kind of shape is it in? I mean, it wasn’t that great seven years ago.”

“And it’s been closed up for at least the last five, so I’m sure it’s even worse than you remember.”

“Yet you bought it?”

“Kayla, I have fallen in love with Ouray. It’s my home. And that hotel is a part of this town’s history. A history that needs to be preserved for future generations. I want to restore it to its former glory.”

“You’re going to restore it?” While Kayla had no doubt that Lily could afford such a venture, she couldn’t quite picture her wealthy friend wielding a hammer, let alone refinishing floors.

“Not me personally. I’m going to hire someone to do the work.”

“Okay, so what does that have to do with me? You want me to help you find a general contractor?”

“Sort of.” Looking rather sheepish, Lily sat down next to her. “I’d like you to be that contractor.”

“Lily, a restoration like that could take months. Maybe years.”

“I’m aware of that. And I know the baby is coming and everything, but you know historical renovations better than anyone. I mean, you’ve been doing them for years.”

“Lily, I’ve never been a general contractor before.”

“You didn’t have the title, but you certainly had all the duties. That’s why you always talked about starting your own business.” Lily lifted a shoulder. “Even contemplated doing it somewhere other than Denver.”

Lily was the only person in this world Kayla would have shared that with.

“This could give you that fresh start you’ve been looking for. An opportunity to view life from a different angle. I mean, just look at how Ouray has changed my life.”

It all sounded wonderful. Too good to be true. But after seeing Jude...

Kayla eyed her friend. “You’ve put a lot of thought into this, haven’t you?”

The corners of Lily’s mouth lifted. “Been running this conversation through my head for weeks.”

“Seriously? You have a wedding to plan and you’re dwelling on a conversation with me?”

“I wouldn’t call it dwelling. More like carefully calculating so I’m sure to play up all the right points.”

Where would she be if God hadn’t brought this woman into her life? She nudged Lily with her elbow. “Have I ever told you how much I love you?”

“Sweetie, you’re the sister I never had.”

“If that’s the case, then you’re the annoying sister.”

“A distinction I will wear proudly.” Lily paused, her expression turning serious. “So, what do you say?”

“Let me see the place first. After I put my feet up for a few and grab a snack.”

“You do look a little tired.” Bottom lip pooched out, Lily reached for her hand. “And here I am, pushing you to do all sorts of stuff. I’m sorry.”

Kayla set her free hand atop Lily’s. “You’re just excited, that’s all.”

“Still, that doesn’t give me the right to be rude.” Her friend stood. “You take all the time you need. Though I should tell you that Carly just made an apple crisp that is to die for.”

“Ah, that’s what I smelled downstairs. Made my stomach growl.”

“That happens when you’re eating for two.” Lily moved toward the door. “I’ll see you in a bit.” She reached for the knob and started to pull it closed.

“Lily?” Kayla rested her back against the plethora of pillows and stretched her legs out on the bed.

“Yes?”

She grabbed a throw pillow, hugging it against her chest. “Don’t expect me to give you an answer right away. I’ll have to think on this one awhile.”

Lily grinned. “I know you will. And I’ll be praying that God will lead us both to the right decision.”