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she knew that wasn’t a good idea, that what she was imagining was probably not happening and that charging in, in her overprotective-mother mode, would only make Meggie think there was something to be afraid of from Jackson. Ally had to hope that wasn’t the case. Certainly if what she’d seen of his treatment of her daughter the night before was any indication, there was nothing to worry about.
    So why was she worrying?
    â€œHow about you?” Beth asked, interrupting her thoughts. “Do you want more kids?”
    Standing at the window wasn’t doing her any good, so Ally decided a better course of action would be to finish packing the lunch so she’d have an excuse to get outside to Meggie.
    Somewhat belatedly she answered Beth’s question as she went back to the butcher block. “I’d like to have more kids, yes.” But mostly she’d just like to save the one she had now. She no longer carefully set food in among the cold packs, but stuffed everything in in a hurry.
    â€œI know that in this mood Jackson seems pretty daunting, but he really isn’t as fierce as you may think,” Beth said again as if she could tell what was going through Ally’s mind. “You have to understand what this ranch means to him.”
    â€œHe made the analogy that it was like his child.”
    â€œIt’s true. Just the way Meggie is your child. And think how you’d feel if someone showed up one day to claim part of her. But he’ll get used to the idea if you just give him a little time. And then you’ll see that underneath that stern, tough exterior is a pretty tender heart.”
    Ally thought that she’d have to see it to believe it. But the lunch was all stowed in the saddlebags by then and she didn’t want to waste time debating the subject.
    Instead she hoisted the satchel to her shoulder, surprised by the weight and leaning low on that side because of it. “I’d better let him know I’m ready to go,” she said by way of an exit line.
    Beth followed her out. “I came over to tell you that I’ll be around all day—along with Hans and Marta—to look after Meggie, so you don’t need to be concerned about her. Not that you’d need to be even if it was just Hans and Marta. They’ve been friends of the family for years and years. Hans used to run the lumber mill, then he retired, but the two of them were getting on each other’s nerves, so Jackson offered them light work here. It helps him out and them, too.”
    Ally didn’t think it prudent to tell Beth that it wasn’t Hans and Marta she was worried about.
    Beth went on as they headed for the barnyard. “Hans and Marta just got back from an extended vacation to Sweden to visit relatives they haven’t seen since they came to this country as newlyweds. The trip was Jackson’s gift to them for their fiftieth wedding anniversary this past May. They’ve been gone almost all summer.”
    Ally assumed this sudden wealth of information was meant to illustrate just what a good guy Jackson really was. But at the moment it didn’t help ease her mind.
    And then the two of them turned a corner of the paddock fence and came upon Jackson and Meggie not too far in the distance.
    Ally’s steps slowed as she drew near and finally stopped just short of reaching them, shocked to the core by what she was seeing and hearing.
    Jackson was teaching her daughter to paint a doghouse. He was actually smiling and so was Meggie as the deep sound of his voice carried to Ally.
    There were certainly no harsh criticisms or rebukes coming from him, though he also wasn’t fawning over the child or talking down to her, either, the way some people who didn’t have any experience with kids did. Instead he was treating her with the same respect he would have an adult. And something about the way he took for granted that Meggie could do the job once he’d