Page 86 of The Cowboy and the Baby

My statement shattered the tense air.

Cade locked a long, hard stare on my dad. Dad held an arm above his head and tilted to the side, leaning into a stretch that made it seem like he had been driving for a significant amount of time. Cade appeared only mildly curious, and I would have believed it if his jaw hadn’t ticked.

“I don’t know what they’re doing here,” I added, but suddenly Marsha’s call made sense. If Marsha was calling to warn me, then whatever followed wouldn’t be good. Mentally backtracking, I counted the number of days since I left Chicago.

Twenty-eight.

Yeah, that tracked.

Combined with the four weeks before coming to Iron Creek ranch, when I was figuring out life with Lily and burying my sister and just trying to wake up every day, it totaled almost two months.

Long enough for Dad to really feel my absence as Clinical Trials Coordinator at his company, since my leaving was harried and unexpected. Two months was almost long enough for Dad to feel the loss of my compliance reports, tracking site deviations, and preparations for the looming FDA audit.

He would be angry.

Very angry.

I hadn’t mentioned to Cade that leaving my job had not only won me a fast-track out of my Dad’s good graces, if he had good graces, but firmly out of my career. And by my choice. Dad would have done almost anything to keep me working, but stuffing Lily into a daycare and continuing life as if Naomi hadn’t died wasn’t an option.

I couldn’t do it; grief made me too wobbly for that kind of finely detailed work where errors could have serious consequences. Dad’s cool green eyes latched onto mine as we pulled into the driveway, silently promising that he hadn’t come to check in on Lily.

Cade stopped the truck, pushed it into park, and set his hands in his lap. The other body stirred and moved out of Dad’s car. Mom. She wore a long coat that was broad through the shoulders, something more fitting for a corporate office than a Wyoming ranch house. I almost laughed; they were corporate comical out here.

While I reached for the door handle, I asked Cade, “Can you take Lily inside?”

“Sure.”

A blast of chilly air slammed into me when I pushed the door open, letting it swing wide. Dad shuffled, snow crunching beneath his shoes. Vaguely aware of Cade moving in the background, I shut my door, pushed my hands into my pockets.

“Hey, Dad. I didn’t expect to see you here.”

He squinted. “Thought we’d stop by, see what you’ve done with the place. Marsha said something about renovating.” There was nothing but cold, hard business in his tone.

I cleared my throat.

“Yeah, there is some updating that needs to be done.”

A million questions lurked in those eyes. How long had it been since he last set foot on this land? A dozen or so years? The split between him and his parents occurred sometime in my tweens. I still didn’t understand why Dad cut Grandma and Grandpa out of our lives, but it had been swift and total.

He cleared his throat as Mom walked around the back of the car and approached with open arms. She was stiff, her smile kind, but not full. We hadn’t parted well; I couldn’t believe she showed up. Even after losing her daughter, Mom only went where Dad led.

She quietly asked, “How are you, Noelle?”

I returned her kiss on the cheek, unsurprised when she retreated to Dad’s side with little else to say. She’d long been a helpless waif by nature. Naomi had been a lot like her. Unfortunately, I resembled my father. More bulldog than butterfly.

“I’m good.” I cleared my throat nervously again. “Thank you.”

Cade gave a nod to Mom and Dad as he carried Lily’s car seat toward the house, murmuring a quick, “Hello,” as he strode up the stairs. Dad didn’t take his eyes off of me, but Mom’s gaze trailed the car seat.

Dad let out a breath, hands folded in front of him. I should invite them inside. Should ask if they wanted something to drink, or where they were staying, but my throat didn’t work. I could only stand there, taking in a sight I never expected to see again.

My parents.

Without Cade available to overhear, Dad shifted to business.

“Well, Noelle. How has it been?”

“Wonderful.”