“Mary?” Darcy asked he heart pounding. “Where are we?” The old windmill near a large barn looked familiar as did the layout of the farm below.
“This is where I grew up,” Mary said brightly. “This is home, the Broken J Ranch.”
Darcy was sure that her heart had stopped, frozen in her breast by the shock of the words. She should have asked more questions, she should have paid attention to the children’s chatter, and the words Mary had spoken.
“Your home?”
“Yes,” Mary chimed as they started down the hill past a sturdy log cabin. “Home. I told you you’d be glad you came.”
Darcy didn’t have the heart, or will to argue. She was sure that Mary thought bringing her here was for the best, but Darcy wasn’t sure she could bear to see Blake again. By now he had probably found a woman he could love. Someone he could start a home and family with. A woman unsullied by a world of pleasure and crime.
“Darcy are you all right?” Mary’s voice grew worried. “You don’t look well. I thought it would be a fun surprise.”
“I’m, I’m fine,” Darcy forced a smile. “I’m just a little shocked. I didn’t realize that you’re, you’re Mary Bridgette, Will and Katie’s daughter.” For a second a flash of irritation shot through Darcy at the small deception. Surely Mary must have known who she was. Had she written home telling everyone that Darcy now worked for them at the mission? Were the people Darcy had met only that spring expecting some great revelation from her?
Bar pulled the car to a stop, turning to look over the seat at her. “We didn’t think you’d come along if we told you everything,” the man stated honestly. “We care about you Darcy, like one of the family. We thought,” he stopped shooting a look at his wife. “We thought you should have the chance to see everyone one last time.”
Darcy felt the tension leave her shoulders at Bar’s words. Perhaps they were right and she needed to be here to say one true and final good-bye. “You did what you thought was right,” she managed. “I’m glad I’m here.” To her utter surprise Darcy found the last words to be completely true.
Chapter 29
Morning broke over the ranch crisp, cold and sparkling. The snow from the night before lay like a blanket across the earth, and only the tracks of tiny birds, and rabbits had marred the pristine white.
Darcy rose from the bed in the upstairs room of the big ranch house walking to the far wall to push the heavy curtains aside. Quietly she peered out the window gazing across the field to the small, squat house in the pasture. Was Blake waking up to a new day? Was he laughing and joking with his parents as they prepared for the celebrations ahead?
A soft knock fell on her door and pulling her wrap tight Darcy hurried to open it.
“Breakfast is almost ready,” A sleepy eyed Grace said. “You’d better get dressed and come down while there’s still plenty.”
Darcy laughed, even as her stomach turned over with nerves. Would she see Blake at breakfast? How many would be at the big house this morning? Would one of the family race off to tell the man who meant so much to her that she was there?
Dressing quickly, Darcy brushed out her hair and hurried down the stairs, following her nose into a big bright kitchen bustling with activity.
“Hello Darcy,” Fiona Ballard grinned placing a towering plate of flap jacks on the table. “It’s nice to see you again.”
“Hello,” Darcy replied, twisting her hands as she gazed around the room.
“You’d best not just stand there if you want to eat,” Hank, the big man with the booming voice chided. “We don’t leave much behind at breakfast,” he added with a chuckle.
“Pa, stop your teasing,” A young woman spoke up as she poured coffee, silky chestnut hair spilling down her back. “I’m Lilly,” she said, pausing in her work to smile at Darcy. “I’m home for the holidays.”
“You’re a teacher,” Darcy blurted stupidly, only to receive a kind smile as reply.
“Have a seat,” Mary said, leading her two children to the table. “Bar will be here in a minute. He ran to fetch my parents. We got in too late to bother them last night.”
Darcy could see the excitement in Mary’s eyes at the thought of seeing her mother and father again and she quickly remembered who else might show up at any time.
The sound of the front door opening and boots on the hall made Darcy shiver with expectation. What would she do if Blake walked through that door?
“Mary!” a clear, familiar voice echoed across the kitchen, followed by two more greetings. Darcy closed her eyes as her heart rose in her throat at the sound of Blake’s cheerful voice. “It’s about time you got here,” the cowboy said.
“Blake, Meg, Clay,” Mary’s voice shook with nervous energy. “I’d like to introduce you to our guest.” Mary lifted a hand gesturing toward Darcy who could feel all three sets of eyes boring into her back.
Lifting her chin, Darcy pushed her chair back and stood turning to gaze at the handsome man who stood staring at her in shock. “I believe we’ve met,” she said a bright, teasing smile spreading across her lips.
“Darcy?” Blake’s shocked whisper floated toward her over a suddenly silent room. “It can’t be.”
“In the flesh Turnip,” Darcy shot, feeling all of the emotions filling her heart as she met his amber gaze.
Blake covered the space between them in two steps his arms snaking around her and pulling her close. “I can’t believe it?” he sighed finally setting her at arm’s length. “How? When? Why?”
“It’s nice to see you too, Turnip,” Darcy teased “Oh, and by the way you need to have a chat with your cousin about letting people know exactly who she is and where she comes from.”
Blake shot a questioning glace at
