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with the man later, but right now, he wanted to talk to Melanie.
    â€œWhat did you want?” she asked.
    Shelley peered around his back and Scott pulled his daughter forward. “I never really got to say thank you last night, so Shelley and I made cookies for you.”
    Melanie crinkled her brow in confusion. Shelley heldout the plate, a shy look on her face. Melanie flashed such a bright smile that Scott sucked back a startled breath and stared. Melanie bent slightly at the waist so she could look Shelley in the eye. “You made these cookies?”
    â€œYeah, Dad and me.” Shelley tossed a sheepish smile at her father as Melanie took the plate. He hoped that this was a step in the right direction. If Shelley saw how their offering pleased Melanie, perhaps she might learn something about service to others. Normally Scott would have settled for store-bought cookies, but he was trying to be both a mother and father to his daughter. Though Melanie seemed to hold animosity toward him, Scott felt relieved that she treated his daughter with kindness.
    He noticed Pete casting speculative glances his way. In return, Melanie shifted her weight to block Pete’s view.
    Scott could take a hint. Neither Melanie nor Pete wanted him here, but Scott had been selected for this job for a good reason. It’d take time, but he was determined to work with these ranchers and clean up the problems his predecessor had left in his wake.
    â€œThank you. I’m sure Anne will gobble them down. I’d better hide them until after dinner,” Melanie said.
    â€œWho’s Anne?” Shelley asked.
    â€œMy daughter. She’s out in the sheds feeding the lambs. She’s just about your age.”
    â€œI’m almost eleven.”
    â€œYour dad told me. Anne just turned eleven last week.” Melanie pointed at the door. “You can go see the lambs if you like. They’re awfully sweet.”
    Shelley’s face lit up with eagerness. “Can I, Dad?”
    Thank goodness. He’d begun to wonder if she’d ever find anything pleasant about Snyderville.
    â€œSure, honey. Just be careful.”
    Shelley trotted off, excited to play with the lambs. It’d be great if she made a new friend and took some interest in their new life here. Scott watched her go with mixed feelings. He hadn’t seen her this animated since they’d moved to Snyderville three weeks earlier. He’d never expected her to find such pleasure at the McAllister ranch. Considering how she could have reacted, Melanie had been surprisingly civil to his daughter and Scott appreciated it more than he could say.
    â€œSo did you need anything else?” Melanie asked, urging him toward the barn door.
    Scott would have left, but he also had a job to do. He wasn’t about to let this woman rancher with a kind heart chase him off. Not until he won her over and found a way to help her with her grazing permits.
    â€œActually, I wanted to ask you something.”
    They stepped outside and he enjoyed a breeze that cooled the sweat on his brow and neck. He felt incredibly lucky to be alive. Because of Melanie, he had a second chance at happiness. His experience with the grizzly had changed him somehow, renewing his appreciation for life. He didn’t want to take anything for granted, especially Shelley.
    â€œWhat’s up?” Melanie asked, resting her hands on her slim hips. Sunlight glinted off her hair, showing deep highlights of brown, red and gold. Like fire on the mountain. He almost reached out to touch it.
    â€œI’d like to make a personal business arrangement with you.”
    Her eyes narrowed with suspicion. “What kind of business arrangement?”
    He indicated the picket fence with his chin. “I can see you need some help around this place and I need summerchild care. How would you feel about watching Shelley for me during the weekdays and in return I’ll work for you on the weekends