"She's beautiful, Olivia," he whispered, scared to wake her up.

"Yes, she is. What is it you want, Austin?" With the inner fear and anxiety she asked. 

"I want you and Grace in my life." He held his breath waiting for an answer. 

"I don't think's possible. You can see her when you are down here, but I'm not giving you more than that." Olivia remembered how she felt at the ball. She never wanted Grace to feel like that. To be rejected by his family or to be reminded she's not good enough for them.

"Why?"

"I'm protecting her." Olivia looked away not wanting to reveal her own pain. 

"From what?"

"She always has to know she belongs." She shifted her eyes back at him, but Austin's attention was on Grace. 

He understood what she meant. "She will always belong and so will you." 

Grace stirred in his arms. With a heavy heart, he handed her back to Olivia. He loved holding his daughter. His little angel.

He searched for something in his pocket and took out the hairpin. When his hand opened, it revealed its content to Olivia, "I believe this is yours."

Her eyes widened. She couldn't imagine where he'd gotten that. It was her mother's pin, and she lost it a long time ago. Olivia instinctively reached for it and in the process she touched the palm of his hand.

It had the same effect as the lightning struck him. 

He longed for more, craving her touch. That single moment was like a heaven. It stirred the longing in him, now he wanted her in his life more than anything. Austin decided then that one day she will be his. With that in his mind he found the courage. 

"Olivia, I want you to come back with me to Big J. My family would love to meet you and Grace." Not quite confident as he appeared, to hide it he pushed his hands deep in his pockets and looked at the now sleeping Grace and back at Olivia.

"I don't know Austin. Your mother didn't seem pleased with me. I'm not the mayor's daughter. I'm a cowboy's daughter." She averted her eyes to the hills and tried to find the right words, "I wasn't good enough for you either." She shifted Grace in her arms swinging her gently. Then she looked at him and continued, 

"I'm not ready to go anyplace, Austin. Wilma needs me and I need her. We are happy here. Here I don't have to worry if I'm socially beneath you or anyone else." 

He looked a little ashen and swallowed hard. The guilt surfacing. How could he have ever thought like that? There was nothing more important to him than Olivia and Grace. Austin also knew he'd have to go to Big J and make that clear to his family. 

As he was about to explain that to Olivia when horse's hoofs interrupted their conversation. Austin recognized their visitor. It was the same guy from the ball.

"Jack! Good to see you," Olivia welcomed their neighbour. 

Austin didn't like that. He already ran a check on the guy. As he was concern Jack lived too close to Olivia for his liking. He gave Jack a narrow glare. Jack ignored it and acknowledged Austin by nodding his head, "Good day, Mr. Jade."

"Good day!" Austin managed a curt reply. Jack, sensed hostility, not wanting to cause trouble continued to go inside. It was a good thing Wilma greeted him at the door.

***

At Big J ranch; Jade family sat at the dinner table. All of them present, except Austin. Roy reached for his tobacco pipe and looked at his wife. 

"Nelly! What did exactly happened at the ball?" He wanted to know. 

Usually confident, Nelly shifted in her chair and placed her hands on top of the table, a clear sign of discomfort. 

"Austin imagined himself being in love with Olivia, Albert's daughter. He mumbled something about his daughter."

"He knows what he wants. He always did. Why do you think he is imagining now?" 

"That can't be right. Victoria's been waiting for him to propose," Nelly found the courage to say what have bothered her. 

The four Jade males turned their heads her way with disbelief on their faces. All three brothers opened their mouths.

"Victoria!!" they said at the same time. They shivered just at the thought of Victoria being their sister-in-law. Victoria was all about pampering and they didn't do that. Not wanting to continue the conversation about anyone's marriage they politely got up from the table and excused themselves on pretence of some urgent business at Kenth. 

While they rode through Kenth, Wes felt the look of a girl he had seen only a few times. The girl would stare at him. She was pretty. Her shiny black hair looked good enough to spread on a pillow. She must be from a local vegetable farm. He saw her with the delivery wagon delivering vegetables to the general store. 

Whenever they came across from each other her dark eyes always followed him. Wes wasn't good at commitments. He won't be lured in like his brother, so he ignored her.

***

When the brothers got back to the ranch Wes was first to put the puzzle together, "Mother there is a little Jade somewhere out there!"

"What do you mean? What are you talking about?" 

"Do you realize you have a granddaughter!"

"Austin mention something like that, but I still don't believe it." 

"Maybe it is time you think about it. Austin would never have said anything like it if it wasn't the truth. Olivia gave birth to a baby girl, and that baby is Austin's daughter." 

"Oh, my! What have I done?" 

"What did you do? It's not like you to be unkind."

Nelly looked like she awakened from the state of ignorance. "Olivia will never forgive me! I wasn't very considerate. Austin is angry with me too. What if she won't let me see my grandchild?" She went on and on. 

Then Nelly being Nelly added to that, "We have a wedding to plan!"

The four Jade males looked at each other and shook their heads.

***

"I will abide by your wishes Olivia, but do not ask me to give up. I can't do that." He got back in control, his voice firm.

When he stood beside her Olivia couldn't help the attraction: he was tall, and handsome. Austin's clothes were of good quality and fit him to perfection. His Stetson alone cost more than monthly cowboy wages. Olivia got goosebumps all over just looking at him. She women far and wide wanted to become Mrs. Austin Jade. It wasn't just his looks they were after. He was extremely wealthy. 

Olivia knew he could buy their little ranch hundred times over. To her his wealth didn't mean much. Love was what she wanted above all else. 

She had already lost a lot in life. Her mother died when she was young, she barely remembered her. Her father was now gone, too. She knew the hardship of being alone in the world until Wilma found her. That itself was a small miracle, and so was Grace. She had their love, and she loved them both. His love not needed. Was it? If something happen to her or Wilma, what would happen to Grace? 

"We are coming to Kenth for a visit," she told him against her will. It was all for Grace. 

"I want to visit Mrs. Helms, and my father's grave. We have to do that before winter. September is still nice so we will take advantage of the nice weather and make a trip. You can see Grace when we are there." 

"All of you can stay at the ranch, Olivia. There is more than plenty of room there." He was fast to made plans that suited him. To get his girls where they belong. Where he wanted them. 

"I might not be welcome there, Austin. I have a little child to take care of. I don't want to leave Grace behind for too long." She was way too concerned about his family's behaviour to consider his offer. 

"You will be welcome! Big J is my home and my daughter will always be welcome and so will you." Austin was very reassuring. 

"I'll see. We'll get there and we'll see how the things will go. It will take us at least a week to get ready for the trip." 

The fresh breeze cooled Olivia's cheeks. It had gotten a little fresher with each day getting closer to winter. She tried to push her shawl more around her shoulders. It proved to be a difficult task with Grace bundled in her arms. 

Austin who stood beside her instinctively did it for her. His large hands covered her slender shoulders, and it was the touch Olivia felt down to her toes.

Austin was uneasy with their neighbour visiting.

"I hope Jack isn't a contender for your hand. You are mine. You and Grace." Austin staked his claim. 

"You don't have no right to say that." 

"you will be mine Olivia. I will not give up." 

"No need to discuss it now."

"No, no need. There are plans to be made for your trip up north." It was the most important thing to Austin, and he was concentrating on it. 

"We will wait for you. I'm sending a few cowboys to travel with you for safety. I know Wilma's got Tom and Leo, but that isn't enough. Actually! I'll come myself, the cargo is too precious."

He locked his eyes with hers still holding her shoulders. She felt safe and protected beside him, and Austin felt very protective over his two girls. He smiled at the thought, it sounded so good. His two girls. It was hard to let go of her shoulders, but when Grace stirred he had to let it go. 

"I'm afraid she's getting hungry. I've got to feed her." She stroked Grace's soft cheek. 

"I'll see you in a few days. Take care of yourself and our daughter." 

Olivia just had to add her fears, "I'm nervous about meeting your family. I'm not so sure I can."

"Yes, you can and you will." He gave her a surprise kiss, then he bends one more time and kissed Grace's forehead. 

He turned around while putting his hat on. Leaving them didn't sit well with him, but Austin mounted his horse and with a wave rode down the drive. He was around the bend and out of her view before Olivia turned around to go back in the house. Somehow, when he dispersed from the view, there was a feel of emptiness around her heart.

Then she remembered they had a visitor. Jack and Wilma probably already played cards. It was funny how addicted two of them were in the simple game of cards. Wilma learned while working on various ranches as a cook. Jack liked it. They didn't play for money, but they could get very serious about it. It has been fun to watch them. 

Jack liked Olivia, but he'd already guessed her heart was engaged somewhere else. 

A few days later Austin came as he promised with two of his cowboys. The roads these days in these parts were safer than before, but there was always a danger for women alone. The priority for their safety took over any work. 

He helped them settle in a coach and made for sure that they were comfortable. The weather held, and it was nice to travel. Wilma was comfortably seated across from Olivia and Grace and watched them with love. 

Austin insisted they stopped a few times to give them a break. He used those moments to hold Grace and helped Olivia any chance he got. The tall, arrogant cowboy was gentle with his daughter and doted on Olivia. Each time he would hand Grace back to her his action was so tender it touched her heart.

Wilma observed it all, but said nothing. She has seen many things in her years and was there for Olivia if she needed her, but she'd let them find their own way. Her granddaughter needed reassurance and that will take time.

Arriving at Kenth, they stayed at Mrs. Helms. Olivia hadn't wanted to stay at the Big J ranch, and Austin couldn't talk her into it. 

The next morning she gathered wildflowers, the ones she could still find. The selection wasn't big, but it was the same she would pick and bring home when she lived with her papa. The ones he loved so much. 

Olivia stood in the cemetery visiting his grave. She held Grace in her arms, 

"I wish you could see her, papa. She is so sweet," she wiped a few tears that slid down her cheeks. "I miss you papa." The feel of lose was still very fresh.

Absorbed in her grief she didn't notice the woman who stood at the corner of the church. Olivia placed the flowers on the dirt of her father's grave. 

"Bye, papa. I'll come again before we leave." 

At the exit of the cemetery the woman approached them. Olivia looked up and found herself face to face with Mrs. Jade