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“But it’s supposed to get below freezing tonight. And you didn’t take camping gear.”
There was a heartbeat of hesitation on the other end of the phone before her papa softly drawled, “I believe I still remember how to keep my wife warm.”
Despite his humor, Winter heard the strain in her papa’s voice, and her frown deepened. “I’m sure you do. I’m just surprised, is all. Is everything okay?” she asked. “Can I talk to Mama?”
There was another, longer hesitation. “Nay,” her papa said softly. “She’s having a nap.”
“But—”
“I’m just calling to let ye know we’re staying the night,” he said, cutting her off. “So ye won’t worry. We’ll be back tomorrow. Ye lock up tight tonight, and if ye girls need anything, call Robbie.”
“But—”
“We’ll see ye tomorrow, baby girl,” he said gently, cutting her off again.
Winter could only stare at the tiny phone in her hand when the co
“Was that Papa?” Megan asked. “What did he want?”
“They’re staying up on the mountain tonight,” Winter told her, still frowning. “He claims it was Mama’s idea, yet he wouldn’t let me talk to her because he said she was napping. But I was sure I could hear her in the background, and it sounded like she was…sobbing or something.”
“Sobbing?” Megan repeated, stepping closer. “Are you sure it wasn’t an animal you heard? A squirrel, maybe? Or the wind?”
Winter blinked at her sister, then shrugged. “It could have been, I suppose. But they hadn’t pla
“It’s a little late in the season to be camping out, isn’t it?” Matt asked.
“Not really,” Megan said, turning to him. “Not for our family. We’re used to camping out in all kinds of weather.”
Matt nodded, though he still seemed concerned by Winter’s and Megan’s obvious worry. He suddenly smiled. “Then I guess you ladies are at loose ends tonight. Why don’t I take you both to di
Megan immediately shook her head. “Thank you,” she said, “but I’m babysitting tonight.” She looked past Matt and broke into a wide smile. “And here’s my ride now.”
Winter turned just in time to be swept up in a firm hug. “Hello, baby girl. Been out painting pretty pictures today?”
Winter could only mumble into the chest against her face. Her attacker laughed, kissed her on the forehead, then let her go and turned to Matt. “Robbie MacBain,” he said, extending his hand. “Have these two outlaws been giving ye a private tour of TarStone Mountain?”
Winter stilled in the act of brushing a strand of loose hair off her cheek, alarmed by the expression on Matt’s face as he stared at Robbie. What the heck was going on? Matt Gregor looked angry enough to chew nails.
Still keeping his hand extended, Robbie reached out with his other hand and pulled Winter up against him in another possessive embrace. “Did I hear ye asking my girls out to di
Winter reached under Robbie’s jacket and pinched him quite hard in his side, just above his belt. He didn’t even flinch, but he did squeeze most of the air from her lungs.
“I should warn ye, this one isn’t a cheap date,” Robbie continued, still holding out his hand, still waiting for Matt to shake it. “She might be tiny, but my cousin has the appetite of a moose.”
Matt Gregor’s shoulders suddenly relaxed and his eyes went back to their warm harvest gold as he finally reached out and firmly shook Robbie’s hand. “Matt Gregor,” he said. “And I think I can afford to feed her.”
Winter wiggled free and stepped away, trying to decide if what had just happened was a good thing or not. Had Matt really been jealous? And had Robbie really been goading him?
Curses, men were confounding.
“Megan and Winter have been giving me a tour of my land,” Matt continued. “I own Bear Mountain, and I’ve commissioned Winter to help me choose a building site.”
Robbie folded his arms over his chest and studied Matt. “Did ye meet Talking Tom?” he asked softly.
Matt studied him back. “Tom’s taking me up Bear Mountain tomorrow afternoon, to watch the sunset from the meadow.”
The door to Winter’s gallery opened and Robbie’s step-grandmother, Kate, came out onto the sidewalk, drawing everyone’s attention. The elderly woman leaned down to fit the key in the lock, and Winter rushed over to her. “Here, let me get that, Gram Katie,” she said. “How were sales today?”
Kate straightened and handed Winter the key. “Booming,” she said. “I sold the painting of the mother deer and her fawns you had hanging in the window. They’re waiting until tomorrow to pick it up though, because they want to meet the artist. And one of Tom’s carvings sold. It was the wolf standing on the bluff, howling at the moon.” She leaned closer and lowered her voice. “I think it was underpriced, Winter. You could have gotten twice what you asked. It’s a very intricate piece.”
“Tom sets the prices,” Winter explained, checking the doorknob to make sure it had locked as she smiled at Kate.
Kate shook her head. “Then you need to have a talk with Tom. He’s practically giving his stuff away.”
Winter linked her arm in Kate’s and led her over to Robbie and Megan and Matt. “Gram Katie, I’d like you to meet Matt Gregor. He bought Moon Watchers and By a Hare’s Breadth.”
Matt reached out to the feeble hand Kate extended and gently clasped it. “Miss Katie,” he said with a crooked smile and gallant nod.
Kate’s cheeks reddened as her eyes sparkled with amusement. “Call me Gram Katie. I seem to be everyone’s grandmother around here,” she said. “It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Gregor. You know beauty when you see it. Moon Watchers is one of my favorites.”
“I do appreciate beautiful things,” Matt said, his eyes briefly locking on Winter’s before looking back to Kate. “And please, call me Matt. I want to thank you for covering for Megan this afternoon, so she could accompany us to Bear Mountain.”
Kate’s blush deepened as she waved away his thanks. “It was my pleasure. At my age, a woman looks forward to being useful.”
“Mum’s waiting supper for ye, Gram,” Robbie said, stepping up and lacing Kate’s arm through his. He looked at Megan and asked, “Ye ready to practice being a mama, Meg? Baby Angus will likely sleep most of the evening, but Hamish is potty training and he still fights going to bed. And Nathan and Nora have a movie and they’re expecting popcorn.”
Winter couldn’t help but smile at her eagerly gri
“I think I can handle your crew,” Megan said. “It can’t be any harder than babysitting a bunch of undergraduates counting Canada goose nests on the tundra.”
Robbie nodded with an answering smile. “Gunter and Emily might stop in for a visit. Gunter said he has a snake skin he wants to show Nora, so she can identify it for him.”
Gunter was one of Robbie’s previous foster boys, who was now married and working in Robbie’s logging business. Gunter and Emily were expecting their first child next spring.
“Robbie, have you spoken to Papa today?” Winter asked. “Or Father Daar?”
“No, why?”
Winter shrugged. “No reason. It’s just that since Papa came back from visiting Daar this morning, he’s been in a strange mood. He took Mama up the mountain for a picnic today, and he just called and said they’re spending the night.” She shrugged again, trying to dismiss her concern even as she voiced it. “He sounded…upset, I’m thinking. Maybe even angry. I just wondered if Daar said something to upset him.”