house that smelled like fresh-baked sugar cookies. Such a pleasant way to start the day. “Mama Beth?”
“I’m out here.” Her aunt’s voice sounded from beyond the screen door.
Dani moved to join Aunt Beth on the front porch. “Sorry, I didn’t intend to sleep so late.”
“Don’t apologize. You obviously needed the rest.” A kind smile and look of concern rested on the older woman’s face.
“Yes, but I didn’t come to sleep. I came to spend time with you.”
“Want some breakfast?”
“No, thanks. Too close to lunch.” She soaked in her surroundings—the porch swing, rose arbors, and picket fence. “I feel like I’ve gone back in time.”
Her aunt’s eyes danced. “Would you like the grand tour?”
Dani glanced down at her robe and slippers. “Yes, but should I dress first?”
“Nah.” She swished a hand through the air. “Not like anyone will see you on my little country road.”
“The neighbors—”
“The Thackers have already left for the morning. Trust me, you’re fine.”
They ambled down the wooden steps to the cobblestone pathway, and Dani sized up the house. Two-stories, with a tin roof and lacy gingerbread trim. Typical country farmhouse, German influence, most likely built in the late 1800’s. Her father would be proud. His training stuck with her, even after all these years. The butter-colored paint with white and black accents made the house an easy sell in a good market. Tall windows stared back, wide-eyed and honest. And the porch issued an invitation to sit and linger, which was exactly what she longed to do. Linger. For the rest of her life.
Sparrows chattered from nearby trees as she followed Mama Beth to the flower beds beside the fence. Colorful blooms stood out in contrast against the white pickets, and a spring breeze started a dance among the flowers, wafting a sweet scent into the morning air. Dani closed her eyes and breathed it in, the familiar ache for home gripping her heart. “Your garden is lovely.”
“Thanks. Steve built the fence.”
Her curiosity spiked. “Do his parents still live here?”
“Yes, the Miller family operates the area’s biggest ranch.”
A sudden realization slammed into her. “Miller’s Creek is named...”
“...after an ancestor who founded the town,” finished her aunt.
A queasy feeling plunked inside. The look on Steve’s face when she offered him the money… She moved a hand to her abdomen and forced herself back to the conversation. “But he sees you like a mother?”
Mama Beth chuckled and smiled. “Honey, the whole town sees me that way.”
No surprise. Her aunt defined motherhood. Dani sidled up next to her and engulfed her in a hug. “You’d make a wonderful mom. I’m surprised you never married and had a family of your own.”
The smile on her aunt’s face disappeared behind a curtain of darkness, and she bent low to tug at a weed. “Good gracious, these flower beds need work.”
Dani administered a cognitive kick to her backside. When would she learn to keep her mouth shut? Her gaze meandered beyond the fence and across the road, where rolling pasture beckoned and promised peace. She drank it in like a thirsty child. What was happening to her? Was it possible to be seduced by a place?
“Aren’t the wild flowers pretty?” Aunt Beth stood at her side. “Now it’s the bluebonnets and Indian paintbrush. The buttercups and evening primrose will be next, followed by the wild foxglove and field daisies.”
She could only nod, afraid of breaking the spell that had woven itself around her.
“So, you want to see Miller’s Creek today?” Mama Beth’s voice sounded hopeful.
“I’d love to.” She stooped to sniff the fragrant flowers at her feet. “Quite honestly, I didn’t know places like this still existed.”
“Places like what?”
Like home. “You know, the quaint little country village, like something from a fairy tale.”
Her aunt snickered and moved toward the porch. “It’s
“I’m out here.” Her aunt’s voice sounded from beyond the screen door.
Dani moved to join Aunt Beth on the front porch. “Sorry, I didn’t intend to sleep so late.”
“Don’t apologize. You obviously needed the rest.” A kind smile and look of concern rested on the older woman’s face.
“Yes, but I didn’t come to sleep. I came to spend time with you.”
“Want some breakfast?”
“No, thanks. Too close to lunch.” She soaked in her surroundings—the porch swing, rose arbors, and picket fence. “I feel like I’ve gone back in time.”
Her aunt’s eyes danced. “Would you like the grand tour?”
Dani glanced down at her robe and slippers. “Yes, but should I dress first?”
“Nah.” She swished a hand through the air. “Not like anyone will see you on my little country road.”
“The neighbors—”
“The Thackers have already left for the morning. Trust me, you’re fine.”
They ambled down the wooden steps to the cobblestone pathway, and Dani sized up the house. Two-stories, with a tin roof and lacy gingerbread trim. Typical country farmhouse, German influence, most likely built in the late 1800’s. Her father would be proud. His training stuck with her, even after all these years. The butter-colored paint with white and black accents made the house an easy sell in a good market. Tall windows stared back, wide-eyed and honest. And the porch issued an invitation to sit and linger, which was exactly what she longed to do. Linger. For the rest of her life.
Sparrows chattered from nearby trees as she followed Mama Beth to the flower beds beside the fence. Colorful blooms stood out in contrast against the white pickets, and a spring breeze started a dance among the flowers, wafting a sweet scent into the morning air. Dani closed her eyes and breathed it in, the familiar ache for home gripping her heart. “Your garden is lovely.”
“Thanks. Steve built the fence.”
Her curiosity spiked. “Do his parents still live here?”
“Yes, the Miller family operates the area’s biggest ranch.”
A sudden realization slammed into her. “Miller’s Creek is named...”
“...after an ancestor who founded the town,” finished her aunt.
A queasy feeling plunked inside. The look on Steve’s face when she offered him the money… She moved a hand to her abdomen and forced herself back to the conversation. “But he sees you like a mother?”
Mama Beth chuckled and smiled. “Honey, the whole town sees me that way.”
No surprise. Her aunt defined motherhood. Dani sidled up next to her and engulfed her in a hug. “You’d make a wonderful mom. I’m surprised you never married and had a family of your own.”
The smile on her aunt’s face disappeared behind a curtain of darkness, and she bent low to tug at a weed. “Good gracious, these flower beds need work.”
Dani administered a cognitive kick to her backside. When would she learn to keep her mouth shut? Her gaze meandered beyond the fence and across the road, where rolling pasture beckoned and promised peace. She drank it in like a thirsty child. What was happening to her? Was it possible to be seduced by a place?
“Aren’t the wild flowers pretty?” Aunt Beth stood at her side. “Now it’s the bluebonnets and Indian paintbrush. The buttercups and evening primrose will be next, followed by the wild foxglove and field daisies.”
She could only nod, afraid of breaking the spell that had woven itself around her.
“So, you want to see Miller’s Creek today?” Mama Beth’s voice sounded hopeful.
“I’d love to.” She stooped to sniff the fragrant flowers at her feet. “Quite honestly, I didn’t know places like this still existed.”
“Places like what?”
Like home. “You know, the quaint little country village, like something from a fairy tale.”
Her aunt snickered and moved toward the porch. “It’s
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