Faint laughter emerged ahead, ringing out from the lodge’s deck, echoing across the empty grounds of the ranch. The sun had fully risen while they’d walked, and vibrant, golden rays splashed across the green field to highlight the staircase leading to the lodge’s deck.
Hannah went first, taking the steps two at a time, and Travis ascended behind her, his heart kicking hard against his ribs.
Margaret sat at the table beside Red. They leaned close together, their elbows propped on the table and hands entwined as Red whispered in Margaret’s ear. She blushed, another laugh escaping her, and kissed him.
A board creaked under Travis’s weight as he stepped onto the deck, and they both looked up, sleepy smiles—full of joy—on both their faces.
“Well, look who’s up and about already.” Margaret patted Red’s arm and stood, her eyes bright as she glanced at Travis and Hannah. “Red and I weren’t sure when you two would venture out this morning after last night’s fun, so we haven’t put breakfast on the stove.” Smiling wider, she gestured toward a carafe, full of coffee, which sat on the table beside two mugs. “But there’s plenty of hot coffee and cream, and it wouldn’t take me but a minute to crack a few eggs over a skillet if you . . .”
Margaret grew silent, her gaze settling on Hannah, who stood on the other side of the deck. “Hannah? What’s wrong?”
Hannah stared back at Margaret, tears rolling down her flushed cheeks. She opened her mouth to speak, then shook her head and turned away, looking blindly out at the field. Her slim back shook slightly.
Eyes burning, Travis ducked his head.
A chair scraped across the floor of the deck as Red stood. “Travis?” The relaxed, teasing tone had left his voice. “What’s going on here?”
Travis drew in a deep breath, raised his head, and met Red’s solemn gaze. “It’s my fault. All of it.” On shaking legs he walked to the table and placed the bundle of letters in front of Margaret. “Over two months ago, when I arrived in Paradise Peak, it wasn’t by accident. I came here to find you. To give you these.”
Frowning, Margaret picked up the bundle, untied the string, and sifted through the letters. “They’re addressed to me, but there’s no return information.” She shook her head. “Who are they from?”
Breath stalling in his lungs, Travis said softly, “Neil Alden.”
The warm blush in her cheeks faded. Her face took on an ashen pallor as she dropped the sealed envelopes to the table and spread her hands, shaking, above them. “But I don’t understand. Do you . . . You know him?”
Travis swallowed hard past the tight knot in his throat. “I’m Neil Alden.”
Margaret stood still, her gaze moving over his face, recognition leaving her eyes, and pain and distrust taking its place. “But you said your name was Travis Miller.”
“I lied to you.” He ducked his head. “My full name is Neil Travis Alden.”
A sound of dismay left Red’s lips. “Why? Why didn’t you just tell us who you were to begin with?” His cheeks reddened, anger flashing in the blue depths of his eyes. “Or at least me? When we first met, only the two of us stood on top of that mountain, miles away from here. Why didn’t you tell me the truth then?”
Travis’s face heated, his throat aching as he answered. “We were strangers then. I didn’t know how you’d react, or if you’d trust my intentions.” He held up a hand. “That’s no excuse. I should’ve told you from the start, but the way you looked at me, the way you welcomed me . . . I wanted to be the man you thought you saw—a good guy just down on his luck, in need of a hand up.”
Wincing, Travis turned his head and studied the sunrise. The golden light spilling over the rugged mountains was just as bright and awe-inducing as it had been the day he’d arrived. “And this place . . .” He blinked hard, holding back the tears burning his eyes and the sob rising in his throat. “There’s so much peace here—so much beauty. It was like nothing I’d ever seen. I hated who I’d been, and I thought, maybe, there was forgiveness to be found here. That I could try to do right by Niki’s memory and help Margaret in whatever way she’d allow me to. That I could start over and become someone different. Someone better.”
“Start over?” Margaret asked, a hard note in her voice. “You wanted to start over, when Niki never will.”
Guilt stole through him, cutting deep into his soul. “I’m sorry, Margaret. Sorrier than I could ever say for what I stole from Niki. For how much I hurt you and Phillip. I wish I could take it back. I wish I could—”
“But you can’t, can you?” A ragged sob burst from Margaret’s lips. “You can’t replace all the years of living Niki has lost. You can’t give her back a chance at the happy future she was working so hard to build.” She lifted her hands and pressed her empty palms to the base of her throat. “You can’t give her back to me. You can’t replace all the years’ worth of memories I’ve lost with my daughter—” Her voice broke, and her shoulders slumped as Red wrapped his arm around her, pulling her close. “Niki will never grow older. She’ll never marry, never hold her own children, never have a family of her own. And you come here and expect to start over? To pursue things Niki will never have?”
“Not at first.” Travis looked at Hannah, her rigid back to him, standing only feet away, but unreachable. “But I fell in love with Hannah,” he whispered. “With all of you. I never really knew what home or family was until I came to Paradise Peak and met the three of you. I wanted to do right by you, but I also wanted a future with Hannah. And I knew if I told the truth, I’d lose her.”
Margaret straightened in Red’s hold, glaring. “You don’t deserve Hannah, or an opportunity to start over.”
“No.” Travis flinched at the hate in Margaret’s eyes. “I don’t. But for whatever reason, I’m still alive. Still breathing. And the only thing I can do from here on out is be a better man than I was. To choose—every day—to do what’s right, and good, to make up for the harm I’ve caused.”
Margaret pulled away from Red and wiped her face, her shoulders stiffening. “You won’t do it here. I want you to leave.”
Travis took a step toward her. “Margaret, please—”
“You’re to leave.” She held up her hand, palm facing him, then turned away. “Now.”
Margaret walked across the deck and entered the lodge. Red stayed behind, his mouth opening and closing silently as he stared at Travis. Then he looked at Hannah, watched her head bow and shoulders jerk, and followed Margaret inside.
Travis stood still, praying silently for Hannah to speak. To turn and look at him or show some sign that she still recognized him for the man he’d become. But she didn’t.