Chapter Twenty-One
The call came when they were twenty minutes away from the hospital.
A nurse had agreed to help get Rue strapped into her car seat safely for the ride home since she held certification as a car seat safety tech.
The amount of relief in Raiden’s voice when Blaize said they would arrive home at close to the same time was almost comical.
“Did you hear that?” he asked Carys.
She laughed, and he’d be damned if it wasn’t the most musical sound. Now that he was determined to keep Rue, would Carys bolt at the first opportunity?
His problems were mounting. The last thing he needed to think about was Carys leaving. Or the kisses they’d shared, which had been the highlight of his year, possibly his life.
How was that for being dramatic?
Blaize chuckled. Too much stress had him on the edge, imagining that his heart would shatter when she walked out.
Didn’t everyone leave?
Whoa! Did he really believe that? Or was it just his mind searching for reasons to counter what his heart so plainly saw…that Carys was special.
“How could I miss it? Your poor brother is in way over his head and knows it. At least Rue was quiet this time. I felt even worse for him when she was crying.” Carys stilled in the back seat. She’d stayed put the whole ride.
Did he have the same feelings for him or was he latching onto something that wasn’t there? His mind was clear. He knew what he wanted. And then the universe laughed and threw every possible obstacle in his way.
When he thought about it on a practical level, how was he supposed to save a ranch, take care of Kit, and bring up a baby? Adding a relationship on top seemed impossible.
He was getting ahead of himself. First, he had to convince his brothers that saving the ranch was a good idea. If they refused to move back and pitch in, he would have to figure out a way to do it all himself.
Easy-peasy.
Blaize almost laughed out loud. Was he losing his mind?
Probably.
He parked at the house. Carys exited the car before he did.
“I need to make a work call,” she said, walking away. “Do you mind?”
“Stick close enough to see me, just in case.”
She gave a quick nod and walked out of earshot. Was she calling her boss? He didn’t like the idea of her getting into trouble because of him. If he’d lied about being Rue’s father from the get-go, they wouldn’t be in this mess.
Not true. The person would have attacked her car. She might still be in trouble.
He kept one eye on her as he stood up and stretched his legs. Working out had been a lifesaver while Lynn was sick. Ranch work would give him plenty of physical labor.
It dawned on him that a screwworm had been reported to be infecting cows across the border.
In response, supplies were being cut off so as not to infect cattle here.
And that was a longwinded way of saying he could sell at a better price if he took cattle to market now.
He’d never seen prices so high. Could a sale buy him some time to straighten out finances on the ranch?
Allow him to hire help for Kit, if needed? It was worth a shot.
Carys ended the call, tucked the phone inside her handbag, and frowned as she walked toward him. “That didn’t go well.”
“What happened?”
“My boss knows about Rue. Called me out for saying I was sick. Told me to take the time away to make sure my priorities are straight.” She exhaled and pinched the bridge of her nose.
“So, basically, I’m on leave now until I refocus and I have to take Rue to the orphanage tonight.
My boss said she would be checking to make sure Rue is at Sister’s Love before bed check. ”
“When is that?” He needed a minute to process and come up with a plan.
“A couple of hours,” she said.
Damn.
“I just had a thought,” he said. “What if Rue is safer at the orphanage than with us for the time being?”
“It’s been hard enough leaving her for the day.
How am I supposed to drop her off and walk away?
” The hurt and disappointment in her eyes stabbed him.
She was right. Being away from Rue had been more difficult than he’d anticipated.
The only reason he could fathom leaving her at Sister’s Love for the night was due to it being safer than the ranch. Would he worry? Hell yes.
“I know what you mean,” he said.
“Plus, if the people who are after us figure us out, they might be tracking our movements,” she continued.
“Sure,” he said. Every which way they turned, there was risk involved. Their next step would have to be about taking the least-dangerous path. “So far, they haven’t tried to shoot at us, which I take to mean they don’t want to risk hurting the baby.”
“If these bastards are trying to collect a reward or get in good with the head honcho, they can’t bring in damaged goods.” She quickly added, “I don’t see her that way, but she’s nothing but a means to an end for them.”
“They don’t want to get caught,” he reasoned. “Isn’t there security cameras or some form of failsafe at the orphanage?”
“It’s a small place that’s out of the way of the mainstream. I doubt they’d do much more than lock the doors and expect to be safe.”
“We can go there to investigate. If it doesn’t feel right, we’ll turn around and bring her back here.”
Carys bit down on her lower lip. “I can live with that.”
“I’ll see if Raiden can stay the night since we can’t leave Kit alone.”
The crunch of gravel underneath tires and the hum of an engine didn’t normally cause his blood pressure to rise. Until he saw it was just his brother’s vehicle coming up the path, his stress levels doubled.
Raiden pulled up next to Blaize and parked. Carys immediately went to Rue. She opened the door to the back on the passenger side and unbuckled the carrier.
“Where’s your Jeep?” Raiden asked.
“Long story,” Blaize said. They had a little time before they needed to get Rue to the orphanage. “I’ll tell you over a cup of coffee and a bite of food.”
“I’m starving,” Carys said, holding on to the baby carrier for dear life. The determined and protective expression on her face said she’d fight anybody who tried to take Rue away.
Rue was lucky to have someone like Carys in her corner.
He focused on helping Kit out of the car. “You gave us another scare. Is there something you’re not telling me about a medical condition?”
“Hogwash,” Kit said. “I’m peachy.”
“Two falls in two days say otherwise.” He lowered his voice to a gentler tone.
“All the more reason to sell this place, so you can put me in a home.” There was no conviction in those words.
“Are you trying to leave me all alone?”
Raiden opened the back door and let them inside.
“You’ll be better off,” Kit said. “I’m a burden at this point.”
“Like hell you are.” He wouldn’t let her get away with making it seem like she’d be doing him a favor. “You happen to be one of my favorite people in the world. How could you be anything but amazing?”
Fears she was hiding a serious—terminal?—medical condition intensified. How the hell would he do any of this without Kit?
CARYS CHANGED RUE’S diaper and fed her as Blaize and Raiden prepared a meal. Kit sat at the kitchen table, nursing a glass of water. She’d done a number on her forehead, come home with wound-care instructions that Blaize had her go over with all three of them in the room.
Her heart went out to the baby. With no other relatives and a dry well of foster families, Rue was most likely going to have to spend the night at the orphanage.
Since beating herself up wasn’t productive, she started thinking up ways to keep a close eye on Rue.
Could she volunteer at the orphanage? She had connections.
She knew the director. There was no way she could ask her boss to give them a call and make the recommendation.
Still, as a CPS agent, her background had already been picked apart and processed.
No job was too small. She would be willing to do janitorial work if it meant being close to Rue until Carys could come up with a plan.
It was too late to redact her statement about Blaize denying paternity. Was it even possible for him to gain custody of Rue without actually taking a paternity test, a test he would surely fail?
After he shared the state of his finances, hiring a hotshot lawyer would be out of the question. She would contribute funds if she had anything left over. Paying living expenses and student loans took a good chunk of her income every month.
It’s fine. It’ll be fine. Everything is fine. How many times had she repeated the mantra growing up? It had gotten her through difficult years. She could only hope it still held some of its magic.
“Dinner smells good,” Kit said, interrupting Carys’s thoughts. “What are you boys cooking up?”
Raiden brought over a tray and set it on the table. “Cowboy Chili on Fritos.”
Blaize brought over bowls and spoons.
“I thought chili had to slow-cook all day,” Carys said.
Raiden laughed. “We have a cheat code to speed it up. Basically, we just doctor already-made chili from the can.” He dipped a spoon inside the large bowl and scooped up a Frito before handing it over. “Taste it for yourself.”
Rue was asleep in Carys’s arms. She tried to finagle taking the spoon.
“Here, let me help.” Blaize took over and fed her a bite.
“Mmm. That’s amazing.”
His self-satisfied smile shouldn’t have been as sexy as it was. What could she say? She would never get tired of seeing that man smile or the effect it had on her.
“Do you want me to hold her while you eat?” Blaize asked.
“I’m just scared that if I set her down, I’ll never get to hold her again. Is that weird?”
Heads shook around the table as each person offered a look of understanding.
“I’ll just put her in her carrier.” It was on the floor sitting right next to her. She could eat and keep one eye on the baby. Blaize took a seat on the other side of the carrier, with Rue in between them.
Carys glanced around at the faces at the table as tears welled in her eyes.
She blinked them back as she realized this was the first real family meal she’d experienced.
An ache formed in her chest as a picture of these people eating dinner with her every evening took form.
It caught her off guard how natural it felt and how easily conversation flowed.
Blaize got his brother up to speed over the meal. They traded playful barbs, which thankfully lightened the mood. Kit piped in every once in a while with a quip of her own, making everyone laugh. It was easy to see why Blaize loved his grandmother so much.
The meal ended too soon. It was time to take Rue to the orphanage.
“I should probably give her a bath before we leave.” Was she stalling for time? Hell yes.
“That’s a good idea,” Kit offered.
The prospect of figuring out how to bathe a baby must’ve contorted her face based on the way everyone looked at her.
“I can help,” Kit said. “I used to be quite the hand at taking care of these little ones.”
“Is it a good idea for you to get up?” Carys asked, concerned.
“Those doctors can’t tell me what to do,” the woman quipped. She pushed up to standing. “See, I’m as fit as a fiddle and sharp as a tack.”
The way she’d mentioned the word doctors raised alarm bells for Carys. Given everything Blaize had been through, his mind must’ve been running wild with possibilities. The stress cracks on his forehead said everything she needed to know. He was worried. She didn’t blame him.
Kit refocused on Carys. “Are you ready to give that little sweetheart a bath?”
“Yes, I am.”
Carys was grateful for the help. She didn’t have the first clue of how to take care of a baby. Did you run bath water? That didn’t seem right. Did you put them in the sink? No, probably not. Having someone with experience around would keep Carys from panicking.
“Let’s take her into the bedroom so we can put her on a soft surface,” Kit said.
Carys took note of the way Kit held on to her arm, half guiding, half using it to steady herself. They walked into the guest bedroom where Kit had been sleeping. Carys put the carrier down on the floor.
“We’ll need a towel and a washcloth from the bathroom,” Kit said.
“Got it.”
She returned with both in a matter of seconds.
“Let’s put the towel on top of the comforter and spread it out.”
Carys did.
“I’ll let you pick Rue up since I’m not so steady on my feet these days.” Kit sounded more than a little frustrated.
“What did the ER doctor say is happening?” Carys asked as she unbuckled Rue and then put her on top of the towel.
“Inner-ear infection,” Kit said. “He wants me to take antibiotics, but I refuse.”
“Why is that?”
“They make me too sick,” she said. “I’m sure it’ll clear up on its own.”
“Blaize is worried about you falling again,” Carys said. “What if I call your doctor and get a different prescription?”
“There is one that’ll help, but it’s not covered under insurance,” Kit explained. “Blaize has enough on his mind without trying to come up with two hundred dollars on the spot.”
“Where is the prescription being held?”
“Pharmacy in town. Why?”
“Just curious.” Carys would pay for it out of her own pocket. She also wondered if this was the reason Kit kept pushing to sell. “This land is amazing.”
“House needs fixin’ up.” Based on Kit’s tone, Carys struck a chord.
“Nothing a few boards, nails, and paint can’t handle.”
“Blaize has already sacrificed too much,” Kit said. “I wouldn’t ask him to do more. He’s suffered enough.”
“He might suffer more if you don’t let him take care of this place. And you.”
“My grandson looks like he’s aged ten years in the past two. Now I know why.”
“He’s been through more than his fair share,” Carys said. “But he’s strong.”
Kit’s chin came up, proud. “He sure is.”
“And you believe in him, don’t you?”
“I sure do.”
“Then maybe let him fix this place up and get it running again,” Carys said. “It’ll do him good to see the results.”
Kit studied Carys like she was looking through her to the core of who she was.
“He’s different with you,” she said. “It’s the first time I’ve seen him happy.”
What was Carys supposed to do with that?