Free Tracie Peterson - [Heirs of Montana 04] by The Hope Within Page A

mother commanded his attention early in the day and then he went to spend time with his father. By the time he was alone with Dianne the following evening, it was late and the heat had made them both irritable.
    “I’ve hardly seen you since we’ve arrived,” Dianne commented as she ran a damp cloth over her neck and face.
    “It’s been difficult.” Cole sat on the edge of the bed and wondered how to best explain his father’s desires. “I’ve wanted to talk to you, however. My father has been asking me to do something for him.”
    She stopped washing. “What does he want?”
    He drew a deep breath. “He wants me to take over the farm. To inherit it upon his death and care for my mother.”
    She held his gaze. “And what did you tell him?”
    “I reminded him that I had established myself in Montana—that we were happy there.”
    She sighed. “Well, I’m grateful for that.”
    He shook his head. “He needs me, Dianne. My mother needs me too. I’m not sure what’s to be done.”
    “You can’t be seriously considering his request.”
    “I must. This is my family.”
    “The children and I are your family.”
    “Yes, but I can hardly leave my mother without help. I can’t turn away from them now in their hour of need.”
    Dianne walked slowly to the opposite side of the bed, forcing Cole to turn if he wanted to continue the conversation face to face. She pushed aside the covers and sat down with her back against the pillows. “I knew you’d find another reason to keep me from the ranch.”
    He stiffened. “This isn’t about that. It’s not about you or the ranch.”
    She nodded, tears streaming down her cheeks. “That much is evident.”
    Cole immediately felt bad for his words. “Dianne, you know that I love you. You know that I want to make you happy. I’m sorry we haven’t moved back to the ranch, but I wanted and needed things to be in order before we returned. I didn’t want you and the children living like you did when you first came to the territory.”
    “Don’t you understand?” Dianne questioned, looking to him with such an expression of sorrow that Cole longed to take her into his arms. “I’d rather live in a tent in the middle of the Diamond V than live in a palace here in Kansas. I’d rather have nothing more than a ranch shack in which to raise my children than to endure this place with its heat and humidity and hate. Can’t you see how hard it is for Lia? She’s not well. She can scarcely breathe properly. She coughs all the time now, and it’s only been a couple days.”
    “She’s probably just caught a cold,” he replied. “If it worsens we’ll take her to the doctor. Look, I’m sorry this is difficult. It’s hardly easy on me.”
    She wiped her tears with the back of her hand and turned to him. “I know, and I’m sorry. I’ve lost my father and mother—I understand what loss is and how it devastates and clouds one’s judgment.”
    “And you think my judgment is clouded?”
    “I think you’ve lost sight of what our dreams were.”
    “Maybe I’ve just lost sight of what your dreams were. Maybe I’m only now finding out what mine are.” He hadn’t intended to take on the harsh tone, but he’d had more than he wanted of this conversation. “Look, it’s hot and I’m tired. I want to go to sleep. We can talk more about this tomorrow.”
    Dianne rolled over on her side. “Just so long as you realize one thing. I cannot live here. I won’t stay here.”
    Cole lay awake for a long time after that. He wasn’t sure if it was her words or the heat that caused his stomach to sour, but he felt sick for most of the night. Dianne wouldn’t stay here, and his mother wouldn’t leave. How was he supposed to meet the needs of both women without hurting one or the other?
    Lord, this won’t be easily solved, he prayed. Please give me wisdom .

    The days went by so slowly that Dianne thought she could actually count time in the number of labored breaths she