“There’s no point,” Jack said. Aaron didn’t listen to anybody-he sure as hell wouldn’t take advice from a Darby. As far as Aaron was concerned, Darbys were dirt.

“Katie does the best she can,” Hattie told him. “But I think she’s been fighting her father since Shane was little. The boy’s father ran out before he was born, and Aaron wanted her to move back to the ranch. Katie insisted on finishing college then setting up a life for herself in Dallas. I don’t think Aaron can forgive that.”

“Sounds like him,” he said, wondering how much Katie had confided that his mother wasn’t telling him. “Does Shane’s father have visitation rights?”

“No.” Hattie’s dark gaze settled on his face. “It seems the man was never interested in the boy at all. It must be hard for a child growing up, knowing his father never wanted him.”

Jack kept his expression impassive, but his mother’s comment hit its target dead center. Jack knew exactly what it felt like to be rejected by a father. He and his siblings had lived that over and over when Russell had walked out on his family. And like Shane, he’d had a mother who had made it clear she adored him.

“Shane’s a good kid,” Jack said. “It’s his father’s loss.”

“I believe it generally is.” Hattie made a great show of putting jam on her toast. “I’m sure Shane appreciates all the extra time you take with him. Between dealing with moving to a new place and having to live with Aaron, the child has to feel pressured.” His mother looked at him. “You continually make me proud of you, Jack. This is just one more example.”

Jack squirmed in his seat. “I’m not taking time with Shane for any reason other than I like spending time with him.”

“I know. That’s what makes me proud.”

He grunted and took another sip of coffee.

“Katie has grown into a beautiful young woman, don’t you think?” Hattie asked.

He set down his mug and rose to his feet. “That’s not subtle, even for you. I’m willing to take time with the boy and be a good neighbor, but that’s it. I’m not interested in finding another woman to leave me, and I have no desire to tangle with a Fitzgerald.”

His mother didn’t look the least bit impressed. “Don’t try to convince me that you care one whit about the feud. And not all women leave.”

“Whatever,” he said, carrying his cup to the sink and rinsing it. “I’ll see you later,” he said and left the kitchen.

When Jack stepped out on the back porch, he tried to dismiss his mother’s comments, but he found they weren’t easily dislodged. Both Katie and her son had captured his attention. Shane because he was a bright, funny little boy who deserved to be surrounded by people who cared about him and made him feel safe. And Katie because…

He swore under his breath. He didn’t know why he was thinking about Katie. He wanted to tell himself it was just because of the kiss and the fact that he hadn’t been with a woman in a long time. That it wasn’t anything about their shared past or the fact that he’d once been in love with her.

As he walked to the barn, he found himself remembering long conversations he’d had with Katie about what they both wanted to do with their lives. Having a baby had changed her plans. She’d had to adjust her goals, just as he had.

Jack paused and looked around the ranch. For years he’d felt trapped here, but with time he’d made peace with his destiny. This was where he belonged. He was able to look at the dreams of his youth and know that they would never come true. He wondered if Katie still struggled with what was, instead of what should have been. And was he any part of her regrets?

“I was talking to Jack yesterday,” Shane said as he and Katie drove across the bridge leading to the Darby ranch.

Katie smiled at her son. “Gee, and I thought you talked to Jack every day.”

“Mom,” her son said impatiently. “That’s not what I meant.”

“Oh, my mistake. Because that’s what you said. That you’d talked to Jack yesterday.”

Shane sighed. “Would you listen?”

“Absolutely. I’m listening. You’re looking at me, and I’m sitting here driving and listening. Driving and listening, uh-huh. That’s what I’m doing.”

She bit back a grin. From the corner of her eye she saw Shane’s lips twitch as he tried to do the same.

He’d been chattering about school and his special Web site project from the moment she’d picked him up. Her heart ached. Shane was intelligent and charming and outgoing just about everywhere but at her father’s house. Aaron was not a positive influence for her son. If anything, her father was destroying the boy’s confidence.

“I was talking to Jack yesterday,” Shane said again, “and I asked him to teach me to ride. He said he would. We’re gonna start today.”

Katie kept her eyes on the road. She told herself to act as if this wasn’t a big deal, because in the scheme of things that was anyone’s life, riding or not riding a horse didn’t much matter. Except this was Texas and ranch country and his grandfather had been on his case about learning to ride from the moment they’d moved to Lone Star Canyon.

“I think that’s great,” Katie said quietly. “When I was a little bit older than you, Jack taught me to ride a bike. He’s very patient and easy to learn from. I’m sure you’ll be riding like a cowboy in no time.”

“You think?”

“Absolutely.” She gave him a quick smile. “Jack’s the best.”

“Yeah, he is.”

Too late Katie realized she’d just added to Shane’s case of hero worship. She drew in a deep breath and released it slowly. There was no stopping it now, she told herself. Somehow she and Shane were going to have to work through their feelings about Jack Darby. The problem for Katie was that her feelings confused her. Plus she didn’t want her son hurt.

She stopped the Explorer in front of the house. Misty came running and jumped against the passenger door. Shane laughed as he hopped onto the ground and was immediately, lovingly attacked by the dog. They tumbled together in a blur of colors, clothes and fur. Shane scrambled to his feet and took off running, the Lab-shepherd mix racing at his heels.

Katie watched them go. She liked her son being happy and healthy. For a while she’d been concerned that he was too involved in computers and indoor activities, but that was changing. Despite Aaron, maybe she hadn’t made the wrong decision in moving back to Lone Star Canyon.

When Shane and Misty were out of sight she collected her gear. But instead of walking to the main house, she turned toward the barn and the office recently added at the back of the building. She told herself she just wanted to say thank-you. She told herself she was being polite and neighborly and that wanting to see Jack had nothing to do with the kiss that still kept her up nights.

As she’d suspected, he was working in his office. A single desk lamp illuminated the papers in front of him. His dark hair hung over his forehead and hid his face. He’d rolled up his long sleeves, and she could see his forearms and strong wrists. She told herself he wasn’t any different from the hundreds of ranchers across the state…but she knew she was lying. He was Jack Darby, and she had once been in love with him.

She set her bag on the floor and tapped on the half-open door. “Do you have a minute?”

Jack looked up. He didn’t smile when he saw her, but he didn’t tell her to go away, either. “Sure. Come on in.”

She stepped into the bright office, so different from her father’s paneled sanctuary, but didn’t take a seat. “Shane told me you were going to teach him to ride. I wanted to thank you for that. I know you’ll be giving up a lot of extra time you don’t have. Spring is always busy.”

Jack leaned back in his chair. “The work hasn’t picked up that much,” he said slowly. “You don’t have to thank me. I’m not doing anything I don’t want to do.”

His gaze was steady. Katie felt all shivery inside. She also felt confused. Why did this man have the ability to get to her? Why couldn’t she put him firmly in the past where he belonged? She found herself wanting to move next to him, to have him hold her tight so she could confess all that was wrong in her life. She didn’t need him to fix anything, but it sure would be nice to have someone to listen. And maybe offer a suggestion or two.

“He’s a good kid,” Jack said when she didn’t speak. “Don’t worry so much about him.”

She wanted to ask how he knew what she’d been thinking about Shane but figured it was probably obvious. “As you know, his grandfather doesn’t share your good opinion.”

“Aaron doesn’t like anyone.”

She smiled. “That’s what I tell Shane, which I have to admit is a pretty sorry statement about my father.”

“Aaron isn’t going to change. I’m sure he could if he wanted to but he doesn’t see the need. His ways have gotten him through all his life.”

Giving in to the need to stay awhile, Katie walked to the leather wing chair in front of Jack’s desk and settled on the seat. “He makes everything so difficult,” she admitted. “I’ve tried talking to him about Shane, but he won’t listen. All he sees is that my son is different. Aaron hates anything he can’t understand. You should hear the fights he and Robin have when she’s home on leave.”

Jack frowned. “She’s one of Suzanne’s daughters, right?”

“Yes. The Navy helicopter pilot. Robin has always loved the ranch and she thinks Aaron should consider using a helicopter at roundup. He won’t listen. He tells her that the day he takes advice from a woman, let alone one who wasn’t born on a ranch, is the day they can bury him in his hat.” Katie sighed. “Of course that hurts Robin’s feelings. Of all of us, I swear she’s the one who loves the ranch the most. But Aaron can’t see that, or the value of her suggestions. All he knows is that she’s not a Fitzgerald by birth and that she wants to change the way things are being done. He loves her but he won’t listen to her very valid advice.”