The Veteran Rancher's Return by Nancy J. Farrier

Author:Nancy J. Farrier [Farrier, Nancy J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2025-04-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirteen

“Dad, I…” Silvia pressed her fingertips to her eyes. She wanted this day to end. Or start over with a different middle and ending. She’d tumbled off a cliff somewhere and was in a free fall, and didn’t know where she’d land.

Nowhere good.

What to say to her dad? How did she make him understand her reluctance to talk about her little girl who died? The daughter she and Keith never had a chance to meet. The sister Steven didn’t get to play with or tease.

The baby her arms still ached to hold.

Her whole body hurt. Not just her chest and throat from unshed tears. But everything about her. As if she’d landed from that free fall and crushed every bone in her body.

Was it possible to die from sorrow? Hadn’t she asked herself that question over and over this past year? With no answer?

Oh, God, please. She had no more words. Didn’t even know what to ask from Him. Something deep within her craved the peace He offered. Craved Him.

Calloused hands wrapped around her wrists and tugged. She kept her eyes closed but lowered her hands to the table, and her father wrapped them in a touch so gentle she felt it all the way to her soul.

“Talk to me, Silvia. Tell me what happened.” His tone didn’t carry condemnation, just the love she always received from him. He might be disappointed in some of her choices. Might be hurt that she’d cut him and her mother out of her life. But he’d always loved her. There’d been no doubt.

So she told him. About the accident. About the fall. The baby she lost. By the time she finished, their soup was cold and her dad had tears trailing unchecked down his leathery cheeks.

“I’m so sorry, Silvia.” He squeezed her hands before releasing her. “Why don’t you go clean up and get comfortable? We can reheat the soup and talk while we eat. The hot water will help you the most right now.”

He was always right. She nodded and rose from the chair. She wanted to say something but couldn’t find any more words.

Later, her hair still damp and wearing her favorite yoga pants and an old T-shirt covered in dancing cats, she padded down the hall to the kitchen. She could hear the microwave running. Please, don’t let Dad have spilled soup all over getting the bowls to the microwave. It might be selfish, but she didn’t want a mess to clean up right now. Cleaning up the mess inside her had been hard enough for one day.

Pierce stood at the microwave, a spoon in his hand, while her dad sat at the table. She stared, open-mouthed.

The microwave dinged, and he pulled a bowl from inside and turned around. He smiled when he saw her. “Here’s your supper all warmed up for you. Your dad just finished. Come eat.”

Come eat. Such a simple directive that sent warmth through her. No one had done much nice just for her in so long.

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