Chapter Ten: Henry

She's worried about Mabel's news, Henry's bear said as Samantha's fingers tapped rhythmically against the edge of her coffee mug while she waited for the children to come back downstairs.

She sure is , Henry agreed, wishing he could say something, do something to help his mate.

"Are you okay?" he asked, trying to keep his voice casual.

Samantha half-smiled, though it didn't reach her eyes. "I am. I'm just wondering what Mabel has to say that she didn't want to share over the phone."

"Because you don't want to leave the ranch?" Henry asked as he ran his fingers along the edge of the countertop. How he'd love to be running his fingers along her forearm, making her shiver with longing.

But he needed to focus on what was troubling his mate. Not on what he'd like to do with her, to her…

Samantha chuckled, a sound that seemed more out of habit than genuine amusement. "You can see the battle I'd have if that were the case."

"Well," Henry began forcing himself to stop thinking about touching, teasing, his mate, "you can stay here as long as you want, even if Mabel has found you somewhere else to live."

"No," Samantha said. "That wouldn't be fair."

"It would," Henry replied. "You've just gotten settled. I don't want to see the children uprooted again."

We want them here where they belong, his bear said.

"Neither do I," Samantha replied, her gaze dropping to her mug. "This was supposed to be a new beginning for us. But it's not gone to plan."

"Life rarely does." Henry leaned against the counter, wishing he could offer more than words.

"And that is what I'm worried about," she admitted. "It's not that Mabel has found us somewhere else to live. It's that the house is damaged worse than we thought. Or that the insurance is not going to pay out."

"You're worried you might have to leave town because there is no house?" His brow furrowed in concern.

We will find a way to make her stay, his bear said firmly.

"I'm afraid that it is bad news because if it were good news she would have said so over the phone rather than meeting me at short notice at the house," Samantha confessed, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Do you want me to come with you?" Henry offered, his heart aching at the sight of her distress. He wanted to do something. Needed to do something to help his mate. Even if that something was simply standing by her side when she met with Mabel.

"That's not necessary," she replied quickly, but Henry wasn't convinced she meant it.

Try harder, his bear ground out in exasperation.

I am trying, he told his bear.

Then he said, "It's no trouble. And why don't we leave the children here with my mom? That should take some of the pressure off if it's bad news. It'll give you time to deal with it without worrying about them."

Samantha hugged herself, her shoulders tense. Henry wished he could hold her, and offer her comfort and reassurance, but he didn't want to push their relationship too far too fast.

"Are you sure your mom won't mind?" Samantha asked at last.

"Are you kidding?" Henry said, trying to lighten the mood. "My mom will be ecstatic, believe me. She would trade me in for a younger model in a heartbeat, she loves kids that much."

"Then yes, thank you. I'd appreciate your mom looking after the kids. But you don't have to come with me. I can handle it alone."

"I know you can. But that doesn't mean you don't need someone there with you." He tilted his head to one side. "I'm good at moral support."

"I have learned that already." Samantha brushed the back of her hand across her eyes. "Sorry for getting all emotional."

"There's nothing to be sorry for," Henry said and stepped closer to her. "You have been through a lot. And it's obvious your first priority is your kids, and you want to do what is best for them."

"I do," she whispered and then sniffed. "I'd like you there by my side."

"In that case, I will go and call my mom to warn her that she is on child-minding duty this morning." He winked at Samantha and then headed out onto the porch, his phone in his hand.

Samantha is right to be worried, his bear said. Mabel has a busy schedule. She would not make room in her day to speak to Samantha directly if whatever she had to say could be said over the phone.

Let's just hope this doesn't affect Samantha's new job. We can work around her not having somewhere to live. But not having a job…

There would be nothing to keep her here in Bear Creek, his bear finished for him.

Not unless we work a miracle and convince her to stay for love. Our love, Henry said, but the chances of that happening soon enough to stop Samantha from leaving were nearly zero.

Maybe we could ask Dad to find her a job on the ranch, his bear said.

Samantha has a successful career in fundraising for charitable causes. I don't think she would jack that in to work on a ranch, Henry told his bear.

I bet she would if she thought it was the best thing for her children, his bear replied.

Henry took out his phone and tapped the screen. There was no point speculating over what Mabel wanted to talk about. So, the sooner they got themselves into town, the better. "Hey, Mom. I have a big favor to ask."

"You do?" Mary asked.

"Samantha needs to go to meet Mabel at the house in town and I offered to go with her," Henry began.

"That's good of you, son," Mary said.

"We're not sure what news Mabel has that she wouldn't say over the phone…"

"Not good news, if I know Mabel," Mary replied.

"Exactly, which is why I wondered if you would watch the children for a couple of hours or so," Henry said.

"And this is the favor you wanted to ask?" Mary said with a chuckle. "That's you doing me a favor, not me doing you one."

She does have a funny way of looking at these things, Henry's bear said.

"So, that's a yes?" Henry asked, as if he needed to.

"Yes, of course. What time?" Mary asked.

Henry turned back toward the cabin as the sound of Lewis thundering down the stairs reached him. "Now."

Mary's laughter echoed down the phone. "Then bring them over, Henry. I was planning on baking this morning. I have a new recipe Rosie asked me to try. They can help me. And we can bake some cookies, too."

"Thanks, Mom." Henry ended the call and headed back inside. "My mom is more than happy to watch Lewis and Tilly while we head into town."

"Thank you, Henry," Samantha said as Lewis entered the kitchen.

Henry waved off her gratitude. "No need to thank me. My mom thinks we are doing her a favor."

"I like your mom already," Samantha told him.

And she will love you, and Tilly and Lewis, his bear said.

"Okay, we have had a change of plan," Samantha told her son.

Lewis sat down on the kitchen floor and tugged on his sneakers. "Are we staying on the ranch instead of going to town?" he asked hopefully.

"You and Tilly are going to spend the morning with Henry's mom while I meet Mabel in town," Samantha explained, then looked up as Tilly came downstairs dressed in a pair of jeans and a T-shirt, her hair neatly braided. "I need you both to be on your best behavior."

"For what?" Tilly asked.

"I'm going into town with your mom, and I have arranged for you to go over to the ranch house and visit with my mom, who is making cookies," Henry said.

"Cookies, why didn't you say?" Lewis said and jumped to his feet.

"What do you think, Tilly? Want to help Mary bake some cookies?"

Tilly looked a little unsure and then said, "Cookies? Sure, I'm in." She headed for the door. "Coming, slowpoke?"

Lewis ran to catch up with her. "I'm no slowpoke."

"Prove it!" With that, Tilly dashed out of the kitchen with Lewis racing behind.

Henry chuckled as the two children bolted out the door. "They so remind me of me and my brothers."

"Did you ever stop bickering?" Samantha asked as she grabbed her keys and her purse.

"Mostly. Although we still have our moments," Henry confessed.

"Are you sure your mom is okay with this?" Samantha asked. "It's so last minute."

"Absolutely," Henry assured her. "They're going to have a great time. My mom will keep them entertained."

"We'd better hurry." Samantha glanced at the time on her phone as she picked it up from the counter and slid it into her purse. "I wanted to meet your mom properly and thank her for everything, but it might have to wait until we get back, or we're going to be late."

"She'll be fine if we just drop the kids off and then head into town," he assured her.

Samantha groaned. "The problem is, by the time we come back, the children will have told your mom all the worst stories about me."

Henry chuckled. "They can't be that bad." He couldn't believe his mate had any truly embarrassing stories to tell. She seemed too put-together, too composed.

Samantha raised an eyebrow at him. "You'd be surprised. There was an incident with a garden hose last summer that I'm still living down."

Henry's curiosity was piqued. "Tell me more."

"I don't think so," Samantha said as they went down the porch steps and headed for the car.

"Well, I'm sure my mom will love hearing all about it," he said with a grin. "And then pass it on to me."

"I'm going to make them swear not to tell anything embarrassing," Samantha said as she unlocked the car. "Hey, kids." Tilly and Lewis had been running around pretending to be butterflies, but they came when she called them.

"Did you say you want us to tell Henry's mom all your most embarrassing stories?" Tilly asked.

"You have a new sassy streak since we arrived in Bear Creek," Samantha told her daughter, but Samantha's words held no real reproach. In fact, she seemed pleased to see Tilly coming out of her shell a bit more.

"It's the mountain air," Henry said with a wink. "Does wonders for the spirit."

"Does it?" Samantha asked with a wry smile as she ushered the kids into the car. "I'll have to keep that in mind."

"I'm sure you aren't immune to its effects either," Henry said as he got into the passenger seat for the short drive to the main ranch house.

"Is that right?" Samantha checked the children were safely buckled in their seats before she started the engine and put the car in drive.

"Does that mean Mommy will be sassy, too?" Lewis asked as they drove away from the cabin toward the ranch house.

"Your mom's already plenty sassy," Henry chuckled, glancing back at Lewis with a grin. "The mountain air just brings it out more."

Samantha rolled her eyes, but a small smile played at the corners of her mouth. "Don't encourage them, Henry. I have enough trouble keeping these two in line as it is."

"I'm sure you do a great job," Henry said sincerely.

"I try," Samantha replied. "I'm just not always sure I succeed."

They pulled up to the ranch house, and Henry's mother Mary was already waiting on the porch, a warm smile on her face. As soon as the car stopped, Lewis tumbled out, racing over to greet her.

"Well, hello there!" Mary exclaimed, bending down to hug him. "I'm so glad you could come help me with my baking today!"

"We're going to make cookies, right?" Lewis asked eagerly as Tilly got out of the car and sauntered over to join them.

"That's right," Mary confirmed. "And maybe a pie or two if we have time. What do you think, Tilly?"

Tilly's eyes lit up. "Can we make apple pie? It's my favorite."

"Apple pie it is," Mary looked over at Samantha and Henry, who were getting out of the car. "Don't you two worry about a thing. We'll have a wonderful time."

"Thank you so much for doing this, Mrs. Thornberg," Samantha said, approaching the porch. "I really appreciate it."

"Oh, please call me Mary," Henry's mother insisted with a warm smile. "And it's my pleasure. These two look like marvelous helpers."

"They are, although I am biased," Samantha said and held out her arms to them. "Can I have a hug?"

"See you later, Mom," Tilly said and hugged Samantha.

"Love you, Mom. We'll have yummy cookies for you when you get back," Lewis added.

"I can't wait," Samantha said and hugged them close.

"It'll be all right, Mom," Tilly whispered in her ear.

"I know, baby," Samantha said, and her face crumpled for a moment before she hugged them tight and said, "Now, do as Mary says. She is in charge."

"We will," Lewis promised.

"Why don't you go inside, I'll be there in a second," Mary told them.

"Bye," they chorused as they ran into the house.

"You have every right to be proud, Samantha. They are a delight," Mary said and reached out and touched Samantha lightly on the shoulder.

"Thank you," she managed, her voice slightly strained. "They really are the best kids."

Mary gave her a gentle squeeze on the arm. "Don't you worry about a thing. They'll be just fine here with me. I'm sure they are a walk in the park compared to my six boys. You go take care of what you need to in town."

Samantha nodded, blinking back tears. "Thank you again, Mary. I really appreciate this."

"Anytime," Mary said.

"Thanks, Mom." Henry stepped forward and kissed his mom on the cheek. "Now, we should get going or we will be late."

"You go, go," Mary waved them away. "And Samantha, welcome to Bear Creek. I know you are going to fit right in here."

Henry tilted his head slightly at his mom. But all he got in return was a small smile before she turned around and went into the house.

She's right, Samantha and the kids are going to fit right in here, his bear said. But his bear wasn't talking about the town, he was talking about them, their lives, and their family.

And Samantha would fit right in. As long as she had a reason to stay and give it a chance.