Prologue

Joseph Anderson sat back in his comfortable chair, enjoying the taste of his hundred year old scotch and the warmth from the softly crackling fire. He was full of great food and thinking back over the wonderful Thanksgiving he just finished with his family.

He loved when they all gathered together. He was happy to have so many new grandkids running around the house. His youngest granddaughter Emily had just turned a year old a week ago. There was so much to celebrate.

He just wished his youngest son Mark would find the right woman. Joseph’s breath rushed out in frustration. He’d found a few suitable matches for his boy but Mark was a sneaky one and had avoided both.

Joseph guessed Mark had figured him out. He wasn’t one to brag but he had been successful in finding love matches for both Lucas and Alex. Their wives were amazing women and even better, they’d brought him grandchildren to fill the old, empty hallways of his home that had seemed so barren for such a long time.

Well Mark underestimated him because he would surely find a bride who could lasso his son. He knew his kid was stubborn but Joseph himself was even more stubborn. He couldn’t rest until Mark was happily settled down.

Joseph suddenly heard a stampede coming down the hall. He smiled, knowing the sound of those shoes.

“Grandpa hurry up, grandma says it’s time for desert,” Jasmine, his oldest grandchild said, a little breathlessly. She must’ve run the whole way. There was nothing like dessert to motivate a child.

Joseph put his drink down and held his arms out for his beautiful granddaughter to jump into. “Well, I certainly wouldn’t want to keep you waiting to have some pie,” he said as he carried her from the room.

“I know,” Jasmine said, as if the matter was of the upmost importance.

“Let’s go find everyone and eat some pumpkin pie,” he said to Jasmine before tickling her tummy.

“Uncle Mark said you were probably up to no good,” Jasmine said in a whisper, acting like she was divulging a huge secret.

“Your Uncle Mark was right. I’m planning on him giving you some more cousins but let’s keep that between you and me.”

“I promise,” Jasmine said. She then held her hand up to pinky swear on the matter.

Joseph hugged her tightly before heading off towards the rest of his family. He was truly a blessed man.

Chapter One

Emily sat nervously in the small diner. She was trying really hard not to fidget with anything but her nerves were stretched beyond the breaking point. She was waiting for Joseph Anderson to meet her for an interview.

She’d spotted the Help Wanted ad in the paper a week ago and called right away. There must have been a lot of applications because she’d paced by the phone, praying he would call her and had already given up by the time it finally did.

He asked her to meet him at the small café in the tiny town not far from Seattle. She preferred the country life so much better than a big city, in which you could get lost in. She was down to her last few dollars and had to be out of her motel in two more days. She couldn’t blow the job interview.

It was for a live in housekeeper and cook. Room and board were included. If she got the position, maybe she could finally give her son some stability. She cringed as she thought about the past year and all her son had gone through.

Her husband had died in a horrific automobile accident. She’d already been planning on leaving him since he couldn’t remain faithful to her but the accident had really shaken her up. His parents had far too much money and they’d decided they would be more suited to raise her son than she was.

She’d figured they were just grieving the loss of their only son and would back off, until she’d been served with custody papers. When she’d read the name of the judge on the papers, she’d decided it was time to go on a long vacation.

Her ex father-in-law was golfing buddies with the judge and she knew if she stepped into the courtroom she would walk out without her son. She’d taken all her savings and been on the run ever since. She simply didn’t have the kind of money it took to fight her son’s grandparents.

Her deceased husband had left her nothing, which she was okay with as she didn’t want anything from him. He’d been wrapped around his parent’s fingers and they took everything from her when he passed, even her car. She’d had to buy a beater upper and it was on its last legs.

She knew her son would’ve been provided for far greater than anything she could ever give him but that meant nothing if he wasn’t given love. She’d ended up in the little town of Fall City in Washington when her car had finally refused to go any further and she’d been staying at the small motel in town ever since.

She’d been trying desperately to find any kind of work when she'd spotted the ad in the paper for a cook and housekeeper. It was perfect. She could work full-time and still be with her son. She hadn’t exactly told her potential boss she had a son but if he hired her he certainly couldn’t fire her because of her son. That would be discrimination.

Emily glanced nervously over at the booth across from her where her son was sitting down. She’d bribed him with a huge ice-cream and promises of a movie at the drive in later if he sat quietly while she had the interview.

Luckily for her, the waitress had given him a coloring book and crayons so Emily could count on him being busy for hours. She loved how her son was so artistic. He had a real gift of drawing, amazing her often.

The chime of the door opening drew her attention away from her son. There was a very tall, older man walking through the entrance, with twinkling blue eyes and what seemed like a permanent smile on his face.

“Good afternoon Joseph,” the waitress said to the gentleman.

Emily’s stomach tightened with nervousness. This was the man she was supposed to meet with. She glanced at her son, making sure he was occupied, then stood and walked over to Joseph.

He spotted her and smiled. “You must be Emily,” he said in the most booming voice she’d ever heard. She nodded at him and then took the hand he was offering.

“Did you already order something to eat?” he asked.

“No.”

“Well let’s order some breakfast. We can chat while we’re waiting for our food. Molly makes the best omelets in the entire state,” he said as the waitress approached.

“Can I have some eggs mom?”

Emily was paralyzed for a moment. She hadn’t wanted her prospective employer to know about her son until she had the job but she figured it was inevitable.

“I didn’t know you had a son,” Joseph said with the same twinkle in his eyes.

“I was going to tell you today,” she said guiltily.

“Of course you can have some eggs. I see your coloring stuff over there. Why don’t you grab your stuff and then come sit here with us,” Joseph said. Emily could tell he was a man used to being in control. She sighed inwardly and went with the flow.

Joseph ended up ordering for all of them. Emily began totaling the bill in her head, hoping the job came through because breakfast was going to eat up most of her cash.

“What is your name boy?” Joseph asked kindly.

“My name is Trevor. I’m five years old,” he stated proudly.

“Five is a great age,” Joseph said. Trevor beamed at him and Emily could see a little bit of hero worship forming.

Joseph turned his attention back to Emily. “We only spoke briefly on the phone, so let me tell you a bit about the position.”

“That would be great,” Emily said. She really didn’t care what the position entailed. She would scrub out toilets or muck out stalls, if it gave her son some stability.

“The position is for a housekeeper and cook, though more of a cook. There’s a cleaning service that comes in regularly. The place is quite large and frankly too much for one person to handle. Can you cook well?” He asked.

“Yes, Mr. Anderson. I don’t like to brag but I have a passion for cooking and love to try new recipes. I can make about anything and can easily cook for one, or for a hundred,” she said enthusiastically. She really loved the art of cooking a complicated meal. It had been far too long since she had cooked a meal in a nice kitchen. Being on the run wasn’t pleasant for Trevor or her.

“The position provides room and board, as well as a weekly paycheck. Are you willing to relocate?” he asked and then glanced at her son.

“We love this area so much and have been hoping to find a job so we can stay here. Trevor’s a really great kid and you won’t be able to tell he’s around,” she promised him.

Joseph laughed aloud. “I have three boys of my own and a ranch would be a great place for a kid. If no one knows he’s around then that’s the time to worry about what he’s up to,” he said.

Emily didn’t know how to respond to his statement. She wasn’t sure if he was saying her son would be welcomed or not. She remained quiet and hoped the man liked children.

“Trevor, do you like animals?” Joseph asked.

Trevor tilted his head, as he did when he was thinking deeply about something. “I really want a puppy,” he finally said.

“Well of course you do, all boys should have a lot of puppies,” Joseph said. He spoke as if it was a matter of life and death.

Emily was sure there would be some dogs running around the ranch. Her son would be in heaven. They continued to chat as they ate the breakfast. Emily was surprised how good the food was. She was a bit of a food critic and the omelet was light and fluffy and the vegetables were cooked to perfection. She would have to thank the cook before leaving.

Breakfast lasted for about an hour. Emily was starting to worry a bit. This was unlike any other job interview she’d ever had before. He wasn’t asking her any of the usual questions prospective employers ask. He was far more concerned about her personal life.

She was surprised when she found herself telling Joseph about her late husband and the automobile accident. She had to stop herself before she brought up the whole custody situation. The man seemed to inspire a person to tell him their life story.

“Emily, I think you’re a perfect fit for the position. When can you start work?” Joseph asked her.

“I could start right away,” she replied with real joy.

“Well, there’s no time like the present. Let me take care of this bill and you can follow me out to the ranch,” he said as he stood up.

“I can pay for mine,” she said. She wasn’t used to taking handouts, even when she had nothing.

“Nonsense my dear, this was my interview. Why don’t you gather up your son and meet me out front,” he said. She could tell there would be no arguing, so did as he asked.

“Where are you parked?” he asked her when he stepped out front.

“I’m staying at the motel down the street but my car isn’t working right now. I need to get it in the shop.” She was really embarrassed to admit the obvious.

“Well then, hop in my car and we’ll swing by your motel so you can gather your belongings and get checked out. I’m happy to give you a ride to the ranch. Is your car at the shop here in town?”