surprised.”
The familiar spasm returned to Jackson’s gut. “Meaning?”
“Mr. Wolfe,” McCann began, motioning Jackson to a seat, “I retired shortly after John died. He was a good man. I tried to stay on and make for an easier transition when Ethan took over, but …”
He sighed and hiked up the jeans that hung low on his bony hips before resuming his seat. “Well, Ethan wasn’t exactly my idea of a good replacement. I’m not telling you anything most people don’t already know, but when Ethan was growing up, poor John was getting him out of one scrape after another, paying his debts, smoothing things over with the law. He had a terrible problem with money and women, that boy did. Let’s just say that when poor John died, I took it as my way out. I didn’t want to work for the kid.”
“So, as far as you know, the account was active and accurate until you left.”
“Sure was,” McCann answered. “If I were you, I’d go straight to young Frost.”
Jackson thanked him and stood up. As he took the road to town, he had an uncomfortable feeling that his first meeting with the new banker was not going to go very well.
Chapter 4
4
L ibby heard Dawn’s laughter as she approached the parlor. Peeking inside, she found her daughter sitting cross-legged on the floor in front of their new boarder, whose long legs were stretched out on the ottoman.
Libby briefly closed her eyes and sighed. Jackson Wolfe had been her boarder for only a week, yet he’d completely mesmerized her daughter. As usual, Dawn’s expression was rapt as she gazed up at him. His dog was asleep in her lap.
“And they really keep their babies in a pouch on their stomachs, just like the pictures show?”
He nodded. “They most certainly do.” He glanced up, catching Libby’s perusal. His expression was guarded, as she knew her own would be.
Dawn turned. “Oh, Mama! Mr. Wolfe’s been all over the world. He’s even been to Australia and has seen a kangaroo up close, and they really do keep their babies in a pouch, just like Chloe Ann said they did.” Her eyes were bright with excitement.
Libby didn’t know how to feel. On one hand, she was grateful the man had taken a liking to her daughter, because the good Lord knew she needed the presence of a normal male in her life. Bert and Burl weren’t any kind of role models. She supposed she should consider Ethan Frost, since he’d been calling on her for nearly a year, but for some reason, Dawn and Ethan had never gotten on well together. Probably because his sons had been among those who constantly chased Dawn home. It angered her that Ethan didn’t have better control over his boys, but he seemed to think it was merely what boys did to girls. For as charming as Ethan could be, he could also be a prize boob. Oddly enough, this was the first time she’d given Ethan a thought since Jackson Wolfe rode onto her property.
On the other hand, she was leery about Jackson Wolfe’s motives, if, indeed, he had any. She had no basis for her reluctance and sensed it was a problem within her, and it would be unfair to take it out on him or Dawn.
Libby stepped into the room. “I’m sure he has many stories you’d love to hear, dear, but it’s time for bed.”
“All right, Mama, but did you know he can ride a horse so good that he can jump over a river? And his horse is so smart, it can swim.”
“Very impressive, Dawn, but—”
“Mama is afraid of horses, Mr. Wolfe.”
Libby flushed. “I’m not afraid of them, dear. I just refuse to ride them.” Which was a lie, considering that every time she thought of Sean, all she saw was his horse lying on top of him, crushing the life out of him.
Her boarder’s gaze appeared interested. “Afraid to ride them?”
Before Libby could explain, Dawn did. “When she was a little girl, she saw a horse trample one of her friends. Then, when she moved here, she saw it happen again to another man. She’s afraid of horses. She won’t ride
The familiar spasm returned to Jackson’s gut. “Meaning?”
“Mr. Wolfe,” McCann began, motioning Jackson to a seat, “I retired shortly after John died. He was a good man. I tried to stay on and make for an easier transition when Ethan took over, but …”
He sighed and hiked up the jeans that hung low on his bony hips before resuming his seat. “Well, Ethan wasn’t exactly my idea of a good replacement. I’m not telling you anything most people don’t already know, but when Ethan was growing up, poor John was getting him out of one scrape after another, paying his debts, smoothing things over with the law. He had a terrible problem with money and women, that boy did. Let’s just say that when poor John died, I took it as my way out. I didn’t want to work for the kid.”
“So, as far as you know, the account was active and accurate until you left.”
“Sure was,” McCann answered. “If I were you, I’d go straight to young Frost.”
Jackson thanked him and stood up. As he took the road to town, he had an uncomfortable feeling that his first meeting with the new banker was not going to go very well.
Chapter 4
4
L ibby heard Dawn’s laughter as she approached the parlor. Peeking inside, she found her daughter sitting cross-legged on the floor in front of their new boarder, whose long legs were stretched out on the ottoman.
Libby briefly closed her eyes and sighed. Jackson Wolfe had been her boarder for only a week, yet he’d completely mesmerized her daughter. As usual, Dawn’s expression was rapt as she gazed up at him. His dog was asleep in her lap.
“And they really keep their babies in a pouch on their stomachs, just like the pictures show?”
He nodded. “They most certainly do.” He glanced up, catching Libby’s perusal. His expression was guarded, as she knew her own would be.
Dawn turned. “Oh, Mama! Mr. Wolfe’s been all over the world. He’s even been to Australia and has seen a kangaroo up close, and they really do keep their babies in a pouch, just like Chloe Ann said they did.” Her eyes were bright with excitement.
Libby didn’t know how to feel. On one hand, she was grateful the man had taken a liking to her daughter, because the good Lord knew she needed the presence of a normal male in her life. Bert and Burl weren’t any kind of role models. She supposed she should consider Ethan Frost, since he’d been calling on her for nearly a year, but for some reason, Dawn and Ethan had never gotten on well together. Probably because his sons had been among those who constantly chased Dawn home. It angered her that Ethan didn’t have better control over his boys, but he seemed to think it was merely what boys did to girls. For as charming as Ethan could be, he could also be a prize boob. Oddly enough, this was the first time she’d given Ethan a thought since Jackson Wolfe rode onto her property.
On the other hand, she was leery about Jackson Wolfe’s motives, if, indeed, he had any. She had no basis for her reluctance and sensed it was a problem within her, and it would be unfair to take it out on him or Dawn.
Libby stepped into the room. “I’m sure he has many stories you’d love to hear, dear, but it’s time for bed.”
“All right, Mama, but did you know he can ride a horse so good that he can jump over a river? And his horse is so smart, it can swim.”
“Very impressive, Dawn, but—”
“Mama is afraid of horses, Mr. Wolfe.”
Libby flushed. “I’m not afraid of them, dear. I just refuse to ride them.” Which was a lie, considering that every time she thought of Sean, all she saw was his horse lying on top of him, crushing the life out of him.
Her boarder’s gaze appeared interested. “Afraid to ride them?”
Before Libby could explain, Dawn did. “When she was a little girl, she saw a horse trample one of her friends. Then, when she moved here, she saw it happen again to another man. She’s afraid of horses. She won’t ride
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