Hidden Gifts (A Castle Mountain Lodge Romance) (15 page)

Something dug into her leg as she sat and Morgan reached deep into the pocket of her jeans to pull out the small red stone that Astrid had given her.
 

“What’s that?”
 

Morgan blushed as she slipped the rock through her fingers. “It’s just a silly stone that Astrid gave me. She said it would offer me protection.”

Bo gently took the rock from her hand. “Sunstone,” he said. “She’s right. But did she tell you what else sunstone is for?”

Morgan lifted an eyebrow in question. “Please, enlighten me.”

“It’s been said that sunstone is supposed to promote attraction and sexual energy.” He spun the stone in his fingers and winked at her before she snatched the gemstone away.
 

“Stop it,” she said. “You’re full of it.”

“Am I?” Bo’s eyes twinkled with mischief and he reached out for her, easily pulling her close. When he slipped his arm around her, it felt like the most natural thing in the world and Morgan let herself go with the feeling. And when their lips met in a deep kiss, she silently thanked Astrid for giving her the sunstone, no matter what its actual purpose was for.
 

When they pulled apart, he took her hand and pulled her to her feet. “Before we go,” Morgan said, “will you tell me why they call them Forgotten Falls?”

Bo didn’t answer right away but turned her around so her back was once again pressed up against his chest. His hands moved slowly up and down her arms, keeping her warm against the blasting cold water only feet away. “Well, some say it’s because the glacier up above is so beautiful that these falls are often forgotten, but I’ve heard a different story.”

“Will you tell me?”

“It was a love story,” he said. “Are you sure you want to hear it?”

She turned around in his arms so she could see his face. “Why do I get the feeling that it’s not a happy-ever-after love story?”
 

He offered her a small smile by way of an answer.

“As you guessed, it’s not a happy story. But legend has it that there was a young Native girl who was madly in love with a warrior. But before they could be together, the warrior had to go off on a hunt with the other men. He would be gone for months, and the girl was afraid he would forget about her and fall in love with another. The warrior promised his love that he could never forget her heart, and he would come to her at the falls on the third night of his return.”

“Did he come back?”

“He did,” Bo said. “As planned, the hunting party returned and the girl watched from afar during the festivities and feasts. Then, on the third night, she snuck away and waited here for him to come to her. She waited through the night and into the next day, not giving up hope on her warrior. Finally, after two days, she was worried that something might have happened to him so she made the journey down to the village.”

Morgan lifted her head and faced Bo. “And was he okay?”

He nodded. “She found him at the center of a wedding feast, with his new bride.”

A chill ran through Morgan, and she reflexively snuggled closer to Bo.
 

“It turns out that the girl was right,” Bo said. “Her warrior—“

“Forgot her heart,” Morgan finished. “Forgotten Falls.”

She turned to look at the falls again, this time picturing the young girl waiting for her love to come to her, all the while not knowing he was marrying another. Bo was right—it was a sad story. She felt Bo’s arm around her, his thumb stroking circles on her shoulder.
 

“It’s a good story,” Bo said, “and the tourists like it. But I don’t like to think of it being true.”
 

Morgan turned so she could see him. “Me neither,” she said. “I’d prefer to think that her warrior came home to her and they lived happily ever after.”
 

Bo laughed. “Do you think it’s that easy? Living happily ever after, I mean?”
 

His question stopped her because even if it wasn’t possible, at that moment with his body warming hers and the sunstone smooth in her fingers, for the first time in a long time, Morgan wasn’t thinking of the future. She was only thinking of the way it felt to be in Bo’s arms with the water crashing against the rocks. And that was all she needed.

Chapter Seventeen

Being with Morgan was easy. Bo’d never been so comfortable around a woman before but the last few days had been great, never mind the night before when he finally threw out all his stupid excuses and kissed her. Once he’d started, he hadn’t wanted to stop and sleeping in the bunk room with her so close, yet totally unreachable had been like some form of torture. But he was smart enough to know that trying to sneak into her bed would have been pushing things way too far, way too fast. Let alone what Ella would have thought about it.
 

Ella. Just thinking about her brought a smile to his face.
 

“You look happy,” Morgan said. She sat up from where she’d been lounging on the rock next to him. “What are you thinking about?” The stray piece of hair that never seemed to stay put slipped over her forehead and Bo reached up to tuck it away.
 

“I am happy,” he said. “But I was just thinking of Ella. She really seems to like the mountains. I think being here is helping her.””

“I don’t think it’s just the mountains that are helping.” Morgan slid forward so she was sitting directly in front of him. “Ella’s healing and there are a lot of factors involved. This is a very sensitive time in her development.”

Bo tilted his head and raised an eyebrow. “Wow,” he said. “You seem to know a lot about it and don’t get me wrong,” he held out his hands to ward off any objection, “I know you work with kids all day, but
…
”

“It’s what I did in a past life.”

“Worked with kids?”
 

“Yes, well, sort of.” She ran her hands through her hair, smoothing her ponytail before looking at him again. “I used to work with troubled children, using play therapy methods to help them through traumatic situations.”

Bo straightened his spine and looked at her with amazement before remembering the first day at the Cub’s Club. “Wait a minute. You were going to leave,” he said. “I know most the kids up here aren’t going through any kind of trauma in their lives, but why would you take this job just to leave right away?”

Morgan looked down at her boots before answering. “I didn’t actually want to work in my field. I was supposed to have a job planning events.”

“What? Why?” He searched her face for a clue to what she was talking about. Morgan was without a doubt one of the most intriguing, if not confusing, women he’d ever met.

“I don’t like to talk about it.”
 

She looked so sad at that moment that Bo wanted to pull her into his arms and tell her that it didn’t matter what her reasons were. But she also looked like a woman that, despite her protests,
did
need to talk about it.

“You can tell me,” he said, “I mean, if you want to.”

“It’s just
…
” she drifted off but he waited. Soon she continued, “Have you ever had things all planned out the way you think they’re going to go and then something happens to change everything?”

He raised an eyebrow in response. “Um
…
yeah, I do kinda know what that feels like.”

She burst out laughing as she realized what she’d said. “Oh, Bo, I’m sorry. I totally forgot. Of course you know.”

“It’s okay,” he said, trying not to laugh. “I’m still trying to get used to it myself.”
 

Her outburst lightened the mood and she was much more relaxed when she started talking again. “I wanted to work with kids. Like I said, it’s all I ever wanted to do. But I also wanted children of my own,” she said. “I mean, ever since I was a kid myself. I used to dream about being a mother.”

“Used to?”

Her eyes filled with tears and Bo’s instinct was to lean over and kiss them away.
 

“That’s the thing.” She looked away and swiped at her eyes before looking back. “I don’t know why I’m telling you this but not too long ago I found out that I won’t be able to have children. Ever. That’s why I came here. I wanted to get away from kids and start fresh. Somewhere where I didn’t have to think about it all the time.”

“And then you got pushed into working at the Cub’s Club and with Ella,” Bo said. He wiped a tear from her cheek and took her hand in his. “Thank you for that. I really mean it.”

Morgan squeezed her hand and managed a small smile. “I’m glad I stayed.”

“You are?”

“I am, and as far as Ella goes,” she said. “It’s not just the mountains that are helping her heal. It’s you.”

“What do you mean—me?”

Morgan reached out and took his other hand. Her fingers were a little cold from being near the water, but her touch sent a heat through him to his core. “She’s bonding with you,” Morgan said. “I think she’s finally starting to feel safe with you, like you’ll protect her and care for her.”

“Of course I will.”
 

“But she didn’t know that when she first came,” Morgan said quickly. “Think about it, Bo. Ella lost the only parent she ever knew. The one she thought would take care of her. And then she was just given to you without any warning. Children who’ve been through something like that have to learn all over again how to trust. They need an opportunity to bond with their new caregiver.”

He let her words sink in.
 

“You think she likes me?”

Morgan laughed. “Yes. She likes you. Is that so hard to believe?” She dropped his hands and pushed off the ground. “I’m going to fill my water bottle with some of this amazing glacier water you’ve been raving about.”

Bo thought about her question, trying to wrap his head around it. Morgan may have always wanted to be a mother, but he’d never given any thought to being a father. Not until it all changed. He watched as Morgan knelt at the edge of the water. Just about a month ago, he’d still been a single man ready for a fun summer of leading treks in the woods and no-strings-attached sex. He never would have imagined that he’d be sitting here with a woman that made his heart beat fast and his blood run hot, thinking about a future that could very possibly include her. And his daughter.
 

~ ~

By the time they got back to the cabin, everyone had finished exploring around the glacier and they were ready to hit the trail. After getting everyone organized on their horses, Bo hoisted Ella on the saddle and they headed down the trail with Jeff bringing up the rear.
 

Bo was enjoying the peace, and the opportunity to think about what had happened at the falls. He was lost in thought when Jeff rode up alongside of him on the trail. “Hey, buddy,” he said, when he got close. One look at his friend’s face and there was no secret what Jeff was going to want to talk about.
 

“It was a good trip,” Bo said. “And for the first one of the season, I—“

“What’s going on with Morgan?”
 

Bo looked again at his friend, whose grin told him that Jeff knew exactly what was going on. He glanced behind him to see Morgan, riding next to Georgia, deep in conversation about something. She smiled when she caught him looking at her and a warmth flooded him.

“It’s like that, is it?” Jeff laughed when Bo turned around again. Bo knew his feelings for Morgan were written all over his face so instead of answering his friend, he shrugged and smiled at the memory of Morgan’s kiss.

“I never thought I’d see the day when someone would tame you,” Jeff said. “But it’s about time.”

Bo shot him a look. “Nobody said anything about being tamed.” Even as he said the words, Bo knew Jeff wasn’t going to believe it. Heck, he didn’t believe it himself.

“Whatever you say, man.” Jeff rolled his eyes. “But whatever you do, don’t screw it up,” he added, and pointed to Ella who had resumed her position half holding on, half hugging Horace. “Because I think someone else really likes Morgan, too.”

“Of course she does,” Bo said. “And of course I’m not going to screw it up.”

“Look, all I’m saying is that it’s not just you that you need to worry about anymore,” Jeff said. “It can’t be about just having a good time. Because if you sleep with her and then get ready to move on to the next one—“

“Hey. I told you, it’s not like that.”

“Whatever you say, man.” Jeff held up one hand in mock defense. “But I have to tell you, before I went in to foster care, my mom
…
well, let’s just say that she didn’t have the best track record with men.” Bo watched Jeff’s face cloud over with the memories. “It was hard, man. Just when I started getting attached to a guy and thought maybe he’d be my dad, he was gone and there was someone new. It messes with a kid, ya know?”

“I didn’t know,” Bo said. “I’m sorry that happened to you, buddy.”
 

Jeff waved his hand in the air. “Don’t worry about it. It was a long time ago. I’m just thinking about this little one here.” He pointed down to Ella, who was still entranced by the horse. “It looks like you guys are starting to find your groove and I don’t want to see you do anything that will screw it up.”

Bo glanced back again and said, “Really, it’s not like that with Morgan.”

“Well, whatever it is like, I hope you know what you’re doing. Because it’s not just about you.”
 

Before he could respond, Jeff rode off to lead the group and Bo stared after him. His friend’s words replayed in his mind and he looked down at Ella’s blond head. As much as he hated to admit it, Jeff had a point. It wasn’t just about him anymore. Whatever decisions he made would directly affect Ella. That was huge. If things didn’t work out with Morgan, it wasn’t just him that would be affected.
 

“Dammit.”
 

Ella turned around, her eyes wide at Bo’s curse, but she didn’t say anything.

“Sorry,” Bo muttered.
 

 
Bo managed an apologetic smile that Ella seemed to accept. She turned around and resumed stroking Horace’s mane, murmuring words in his ear. Bo scrubbed a hand over his face and exhaled a long breath. Only a few hours ago, everything had made perfect sense and he’d allowed himself to think about the possibility of a future with both Ella and Morgan. But Jeff was right; he knew Bo better than anyone and he knew that Bo didn’t do relationships. There was a reason for that. He didn’t know how.