Love Inspired: February 2022 Box Set, 2 of 2 by Carrie Lighte

Author:Carrie Lighte
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2021-12-15T00:00:00+00:00

* * *

Joella clutched Samuel’s arm, his distraught expression scaring her.

He returned the phone to his ear, his muted voice rough and full of rage. “Well, you can believe this, Broski. I’m not giving up Sophie without a fight, least of all to the likes of you.”

Abruptly, he disconnected the call and clenched his fist. “This can’t be happening. I won’t let him near her.”

“Who was that? What’s going on?” Joella tightened her grip on his arm.

He looked past her toward Lindsey and Spencer, then to the horse he’d ridden. “I—I need to get back. I need... Sophie...”

“I’ll go with you. Let’s just—”

Spencer strode over. “You okay, Slam?”

“Not now.” Already untying his horse, he waved his brother off and prepared to mount.

Lindsey captured Joella’s wrist. “Wasn’t Samuel just on his phone? Why is he so upset?”

“I—I’m not sure.” She gave Lindsey’s hand a squeeze. “Let me ride back with him and see if he’ll talk to me.”

Within seconds, she’d climbed into Ash’s saddle and set off at a fast trot. She caught up with Samuel at the first gate. Riding side by side, neither spoke a word until they’d reached the McClement barn. Samuel made quick work of untacking his horse. After releasing it into a stall, he helped Joella with hers and then started across the field.

Keeping pace with his long strides, she was glad for the stamina those early-morning runs were building in her. “Just tell me,” she said between breaths, “does Sophie’s mother want her back?”

“No,” he said, slowing as they reached the barbed-wire fence. Then, as if all the fight had gone out of him, he doubled over and planted his hands on his thighs. “Not Chelsea. But maybe...maybe Sophie’s real father.”

“But I thought—” She urged him to straighten and face her. “You mean you might not be?”

“I don’t know anymore.” His gaze darted as if it didn’t know where to land. Then it locked firmly with hers. “I can’t lose my daughter, Joella. I can’t.”

Her mind raced in search of some way to reassure him. “Your mom is watching Sophie, right? So go get her—calmly, so you don’t get your mother all worried. We’ll go up to your apartment and think this through.”

He nodded. “Okay. Thanks.” After helping her through the opening in the fence, he handed her his key ring. “Let yourself in. I’ll get Sophie and be right there.”

Watching for him from the living room window gave her a little more time to make sense of what he’d told her. Apparently, Chelsea hadn’t been exclusive with Samuel while they were dating. Then how could she have been so sure the baby was his? Sweet little Sophie certainly resembled him, but without a DNA test...

The apartment door swung open. Samuel bustled in with his baby, who was fast asleep and snuggled against his shoulder. “Let me put her in her crib.”

He started toward the bedroom but turned abruptly and brought Sophie to the recliner. He didn’t have to explain. His desperate expression as he held his baby said it all.

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