Page 21 of The Cowboy and the Baby

His handsome features brightened.

“You will?”

“There’s a lot of work to do,” I said carefully. My mind had been tabulating a list all day. Tonight, I’d sit down and put it on paper so I could see it laid out. Somewhere in all these massive piles, Grandpa had to have a binder, or something, that I could shove it all in afterward.

“More than is obvious at the moment, I’m sure,” he said. Cade ran a hand through his hair as he chewed, then swallowed. “Of greatest interest is the furnace, and the water heater. They’re both limping by, but I think it’s only a matter of time before both may stop altogether. The furnace is too old to fix, so it will be close to $10,000 to replace. In the meantime, the wood-burning stove helps.”

I almost choked.

Ten grand?

Cade continued, as if he didn’t notice. “The water heater will add a couple thousand, as well. But I’m not going to replace them until we need to. With Lily here, that may be sooner than I expected.”

My heart softened. He’d prioritized Lily just right, and without a hint of resentment. Why did I watch so carefully for it? Because the other men in my life had been utter cads in comparison. At any moment, I expected rays of sunshine to burst from his hair and form a halo.

“Where would you like to start?” I asked.

He scraped the last of his rice off the plate, ate it, and leaned back. After contemplating, he said, “I think we need to make a list of necessities, top to bottom, and then prioritize. It’ll be easier to make a plan from there.”

Gratifying, that we thought so alike. This wouldn’t be a small, easy project. Cataloging the needs of this place would require time and detailed coordination, but if we could be on the same general page, I could handle it.

In details, projects, and plans, I found a sense of safety, indeed.

Besides, it would be nice to have something other than motherhood to focus on. A flexible project that allowed me to take care of Lily, while still contributing. The sight of him buying diapers and food was an all-too-real reminder that I had limited funds without an active job, and needed to figure that situation out as well. Marsha would front me if my savings ran out, but I hated relying on her, and it wouldn’t last forever.

Lily cooed, earning a doting smile from Cade, who didn’t take his eyes off of her. He softened every time he studied her face, and I tried not to notice.

“I like that plan,” I said. “When works best for you?”

“Hmm. Tomorrow, the boys and I are breaking ice and checking water lines, and it’ll take up most of my day. This house is not getting any younger, and I don’t want to be surprised with a baby around.”

“How about tonight? I checked out the place today. While you do the dishes, I’ll start putting my own lists on paper. We can merge the goals together afterward.”

He grinned.

“It’s a date.”

9

CADE

My list populated with greater intensity—and issues—than I expected. I held Lily in one arm and paced around the kitchen, mentally noting repairs.

Noelle worked at her own list using an app on her phone. Huh. Never thought about taking notes on my phone. I didn’t mind email or text, but notes? Handy. I could take the info everywhere.

Maybe I needed to bring myself—and the house—up to date.

“Let’s compare notes and review one room at a time, starting with the dining room.” Noelle’s lips puckered as she considered her own list. “There’s general maintenance around windows, carpet replacement, patching walls, painting. Those cosmetics are pretty easy.” She eyed the window, then the ceiling. “Though I’d like to suggest we replace the light fixtures.”

“Please,” I mumbled, glowering at an ancient fixture that attempted to look like a chandelier, but just appeared cheap.

“Hallway?”

She turned, eyeing each crevice, as she moseyed toward the bathroom, where I already knew we’d list a dozen major issues. Heating, for one. There was no furnace piping into the room, so the pipes often froze in the winter. Fixing that would require a major overhaul. Noelle tapped away on her phone, adding each problem that I mentioned.

While I waited for her to finish, a question slipped out.

“Did you want to be a mother?”