Page 8 of The Cowboy and the Baby

“I know you just met me,” Cade said quietly, “but if you want me to hold Lily while you get some rest, just let me know. I imagine there isn’t much sleep for any mother out there, particularly with a newborn.”

I hid a wince at the word mother.

Yes, I firmly scolded myself. You are Lily’s mother, Noelle, not her aunt. And that is how it will always stay. No matter who comes knocking.

With a smile and a suppressed yawn I said, “Thanks, Cade. I’m okay sleeping with her now, but I’ll let you know if I want to take you up on it.”

3

CADE

Lily really was the cutest baby I had ever seen.

She slept with her eyelashes swept closed, her cheeks pink, fingers curled into fists. I couldn’t imagine a human that small, bundled so close. My eyes wandered to her often, then away. I didn’t want to be a creepy guy staring at the baby, but I couldn’t help it. It had been a long time since I’d seen one so little.

The physical proof of dreams held so far away was drawing, fascinating.

I stuffed aside my soul-deep desire for children and stared straight ahead. My thoughts meandered far from the dim airplane and purring engines. Three hours remained, which gave me time to figure out this new problem.

Where would Lily and Noelle sleep?

Marsha, Morgan’s daughter-in-law, mentioned Noelle was staying at a hotel when we spoke weeks ago. The house wasn’t technically mine yet, so I hadn’t officially moved in. All but moved in, though.

Normally, I slept with Cody and Wyatt in an extension built off the barn. Their side was plenty secure and warm, but there was an issue with a cracked window in my room, making the room impossible to heat. We sealed it as best we could, and I’d been crashing inside the ranch house for the last week.

I pulled up my phone, connected to the free wi-fi, and shot off a text to Wyatt.

Cade: Get the master bedroom cleaned up and cleared out, please. Noelle brought her one-month-old baby and will be sleeping in Morgan’s old room.

Wyatt immediately replied.

Wyatt: You got it, hoss.

I snorted. His willing energy wouldn’t last forever, but I’d promised to keep him on as a ranch hand before I left for Florida, so he’d do anything I asked for another week or two. Well, Wyatt would do just about anything I asked, as long as it had some element of danger. Cody would do whatever I asked because he was Cody, and obedient and loyal as a hound.

Cade: We’ll arrive just after 10:00. How’s the broken window in my room in the barn?

Wyatt: Not good.

Cade: Still not fixed?

Wyatt: Nope.

The only room with any space for a woman and a baby was the master bedroom. But Morgan had a hint of hoarder in him. Decisions overwhelmed him, so he stuffed all his junk into the other rooms, and in the basement, instead of dealing with it.

Well, we’d figure it out. We always did. Fixing the window was the first in a long list of necessary improvements.

The weight of responsibility was a real thing.

A tightening.

A noose.

I tucked my phone in the pocket. With Lily being so young, we could make the situation work, but there was no crib. No support for an infant. How had a baby slipped Marsha’s mind? She hadn’t sent me a heads-up. She probably didn’t think it was necessary if Noelle planned to stay in a hotel.

Clearly, she didn’t plan that anymore. And that was fine. I didn’t like the idea of a newborn in a hotel. Bart called me a week ago, and he had been arrogantly certain that Morgan left him the ranch, but I knew better. I’d seen the paperwork.

At least, I thought I had. When it came to old man Morgan, one never quite knew.