Peril on the Ranch by Lynette Eason

Author:Lynette Eason
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2021-04-12T12:10:57+00:00

* * *

After the sheriff left, Ben followed him so he could get some rest, and Grant stayed to patrol the grounds with Mac, Cody Ray and the dogs. Darkness was falling and Mac wanted to be sure Drew Baldwin wasn’t on the property—or at least anywhere near the house.

Finally satisfied, Mac bade Cody Ray and Grant good-night and made his way back to his apartment.

“I don’t want to go to bed! I’m not going to go to bed, and you can’t make me go to bed!”

Mac blinked at the furious emotion beneath the words and detoured from his entrance to the main front door. He rapped on the wood as sobs reached him. The blinds parted, then Isabelle opened the door, a fussy baby in her arms and a weeping Katie clinging to her leg. “Sorry, are we bothering you?”

“Bothering me? Not at all. I came to see if you could use some help.”

“There’s no way I’m turning that down.” She passed him the baby, then swept Katie up into her arms. “If you can get that one to sleep, you’ll have an extra star in your crown.”

Katie’s sobs hiccupped into shuddering breaths. “What’s going on with you, Katie girl?” Mac asked.

“I don’t want to go to bed!”

“Why not?”

“Because I don’t want to go to bed!”

Lilly cried and squirmed in his arms and he shifted her to a more comfortable position. “What’s up with this one?”

“She’s overtired and is having a hard time relaxing. Especially with all the noise going on in here.”

He nodded. “You take care of Katie. Lilly and I’ll be just fine.” His words were much braver than he felt, but he was going to do his best.

“Bless you,” she said and carried Katie down the hallway to the little girl’s room.

Mac turned the baby so he could look into her red face. After snagging a tissue from the end table, he cleaned her up and studied her. “So, kid, it’s just you and me.”

She stopped crying, and for a brief moment, Mac felt a surge of satisfaction. Then her face crumpled and wails pierced the air once more. “Oh, boy.”

He began to pace from one end of the den to the other, talking softly, humming an old Bible school tune he remembered from his childhood, and avoided stepping in front of the windows. All the blinds were pulled, but he wasn’t taking any chances.

Five minutes turned into ten that turned into twenty. He finally realized the back of the house was quiet and the baby in his arms had given up her battle with sleep.

He let out a low breath and fatigue hit him hard. He walked over to the recliner and lowered into it, holding Lilly in the crook of his elbow. Her breathing came deep and even, while her muscles twitched every so often.

With a light touch, he traced her a finger over her eyelids, then her nose and puckered lips. Grief gathered in his chest and he closed his eyes. Lord, I don’t know how I’m supposed to heal from this—but I want to.

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