Chapter 4
The look on Adam’s face caused a fireball to swirl in the pit of Prudence’s stomach. He thanked Bronc for information before ending the call and turning to face her. He didn’t have to open his mouth for her to realize bad news was coming.
She took a drink of water, trying to douse the hot bile rising in the back of her throat as she waited for news that something bad had happened to the Fritz couple.
“First of all, Henry is fine,” he said to her. “But your job ended with the Fritzes three days ago.”
“What?” She shook her head, her body stiffened, and the baby stirred. Not wanting to disturb the angel’s sleep, Prudence forced calm she didn’t feel. “How can that be? I was there earlier today. I’m supposed to…”
Realization struck out of nowhere like lightning on a cloudless sky. Prudence balanced the baby against her body with one arm, holding her close, while bringing the other one up to check for bumps on her own head.
“What’s your full name?” Lawler asked. Leaning forward.
“Prudence Abigail Owens,” she supplied, figuring cooperation would bring closure to this nightmare sooner rather than later.
“Date of birth?” he asked.
She rattled it off. “I don’t have any ID on me. If you want proof, you’ll have to give me a ride to my house.”
She hoped her purse was there. How could she have lost three days?
“What day of the week is it?” Lawler continued.
“Sunday,” she blew out a sigh. “That can’t be right. It has to be Wednesday because the Fritzes got back from vacation over the weekend.”
At least Henry was fine, and she hadn’t neglected him. She shouldn’t have another sitting job for a week and a half, so she was good there. The thought of letting any of her customers down when they needed her struck like a physical blow. She hadn’t, she reminded herself. So far, so good.
Adam stared at the tile flooring. She wished he’d say something or look at her. It was strange how much she wanted to see his reaction.
“Do you know what month it is?” Lawler didn’t miss a beat.
She took a second to calculate. “That would make it June.”
Lawler nodded and gave a reassuring look. “You’re doing fine.”
She didn’t feel it. This didn’t seem like a good time to point out the fact.
The doorbell rang and she froze.
“Excuse me. I’ll be right back,” Adam said to them both. His eyes still seemed unable to meet hers.
True to his word, Adam returned a few moments later with a woman in her late thirties to early forties trailing behind him. Her blonde hair was tied back in a ponytail. Her face fresh, her heels high, she had on a dark suit.
All Prudence could think was that this stranger was not walking out the door with the baby.
The dark suit walked straight over to Sheriff Lawler.
The two shook hands and Lawler asked her if she’d like to take a seat.
She declined, instead keeping a distance and leaning a hip against the large granite island anchoring the room.
Adam reclaimed the spot where he’d been standing, and Prudence’s neck hairs bristled at how close the two of them stood.
Not that where Adam Firebrand stood was any of her business.
Except a little voice in the back of her mind argued he was somehow connected to the child in her arms—a child she had no plans to abandon.
“Is it possible the birth mother got into trouble? Changed her mind about being fit to take care of a baby? Left her on a doorstep with the note?” Prudence asked after being introduced to Dark Suit, whose actual name was Jenn Pratt.
“It’s too early to rule anything out,” Lawler said.
She appreciated him for not stating the obvious, that she could be the one who took the baby from someone. Again, she went back to the fact there would be someone out there searching for the sweet little girl.
“I apologize for asking the question, but have you had any alcoholic beverages today?” Lawler asked.
Adam blew out a sharp breath and pinched the bridge of his nose.
“No. At least, I don’t think so,” she admitted. There was no way to be certain if she couldn’t remember how or when she’d come up with a baby.
“Do you have a habit of taking illegal substances?” Lawler continued.
Adam muttered a curse before dropping his hand. “Come on.”
“I have to ask tough questions, Adam. I wouldn’t be doing my job otherwise.” His explanation didn’t calm Adam down. Although, he did nod his understanding.
“No. I don’t take drugs, illegal or otherwise. I’d be happy to show you my medicine cabinet at home where you’ll find vitamins and medication prescribed specifically to me,” she defended.
The room sat quiet for too long. The silence made Prudence uncomfortable.
Then, Lawler leaned forward, placing his elbows on his knees. “Jenn is here to take the baby and I need your full cooperation for a smooth transition.”
“Does she have to? Can’t she interview me? I’ll volunteer to care for the baby until you find her next of kin or what about…” Hope died on Prudence’s lips as she spoke. She didn’t finish her sentence before the sheriff was shaking his head.
“I’m sorry,” was all he said.
“Hear me out,” she continued. “She knows me, and we have formula for her. Casey brought up diapers and wipes. There’s plenty to get through the night. Plus, she’s already asleep and—”
“That’s impossible,” Lawler cut her off.
He didn’t seem like he was trying to be rude.
In fact, he seemed more like he was trying to stop a roaring train before it slammed into a wall.
He waved his hands in the air. “Jenn here is trained in how to handle these delicate situations. She’ll find an appropriate temporary home—”
“She deserves to stay where she’s comfortable,” Prudence whispered. “And that seems to be here with me.”
“Like I said, ma’am, I apologize for being unable to grant your request. You’re welcome to fill out an application to become a foster parent—”
“That could take weeks or months to set up. It would be too late,” Adam intervened. He’d been standing off to the side, watching quietly as the whole scene unfolded. When he finally looked up, he had fire in his eyes.
A trill of excitement that he would take up for her rocketed through her, fueling her. “What if I hand over access to my accounts? Let you come check my medicine cabinet to make sure I’m not taking anything that could hamper my ability to care for her?”
Again, Lawler shook his head.
“What are we talking about here?” Adam added. “An overnight stay?”
“Yes. Overnight to start,” Lawler said. “We don’t know the circumstances yet, though. This could end up dragging on for days, possibly weeks.”
“I’m willing to go the distance until she’s safe in her own bed again,” Prudence volunteered. She understood the pickle he was in. How could he give a baby to someone who couldn’t remember how she came across her in the first place?
“There’s no need to do that,” Adam said with the kind of finality that would put him in the head seat in any board room. “How about this. She stays here with me. I take care of her.”
“You sure you want to do that with everything you have going on?” Lawler asked.
“My name was tucked inside the blanket, Timothy. I’ve never been more certain of anything in my life.” Adam turned to Jenn. “Thank you for stopping by. It doesn’t look like we’ll be needing your services after all.”
Adam’s mind was made up. Someone had written his name on a slip of paper. Prudence was on his family’s property and she’d been one hundred percent honest about everything she remembered. He could see it in her eyes. Plus, there was no reason for her to lie.
“Sheriff?” Jenn’s gaze bounced from him to Lawler and back.
Lawler gave a nod.
“Mind if I check her out before I leave? For my report,” Jenn said.
“Be my guest,” Adam said, figuring Jenn would have to examine Baby X while in Prudence’s arms. There was something about the look of determination in her eyes that had forced him to do the right thing. Plus, he was more than a little curious as to why his name had come up.
It was late and, based on the fact Prudence had yawned no less than three times in the past five minutes, he figured she could use a good night of sleep.
Everything would look better in the morning and they could figure out a plan from there.
By then, the parents of this sleeping angel might have come forward and the reunion would be sweet.
Wishful thinking?
He needed something positive to happen in his life considering he was still reeling from the Marshall’s death and the aftermath that was as certain as a tornado in April.
Prudence opened the blanket enough for Jenn to count ten fingers and ten toes. She noted a birthmark behind the baby’s right ear.
“How old would you guess she is?” Prudence whispered.
“A couple of weeks, five at the most,” Jenn said.
“Someone must be frantic, or they will be when they realize she’s missing.” Prudence’s sympathy and protective stance was the main reason he’d volunteered to keep the baby overnight.
Maybe it was losing the Marshall that had Adam’s heart feeling tender. He didn’t normally do knee-jerk reactions. All he could do was stand by the fact it seemed like the right thing to do.
Besides, he was more than mildly confused as to why his name came up in connection with this case. His curiosity about Prudence was growing. If she truly didn’t have family around, he figured no one had her back.
“I’ll file a report and make sure the information about her being located is on the database as soon as possible,” Lawler said. He grabbed his phone and asked if he could snap a picture for the file.
Prudence nodded.
“She looks perfect to me,” Jenn said with a cautious smile. She didn’t seem thrilled about the arrangement but didn’t look ready to go up against the sheriff either.
“I promise to take good care of her until her family is located,” Prudence reassured.
“I have no doubt you will.” Jenn’s words were appreciated. She turned to the sheriff. “If that’s all, I’d like to get back to my own family.”
“Thank you for coming out on short notice,” Lawler said. He stood up and walked her out of the room, no doubt to convince her that he was doing the right thing for the baby. He would want her endorsement on an important matter like this one.
As the pair disappeared down the hallway, Prudence wasted no time thanking him.
“I do understand why I’m not exactly a good candidate to take care of her by myself. This wouldn’t be happening without your help,” she said to Adam.
He wasn’t ready to make a big deal out of it, but his chest filled with pride that he’d made her happy.
“What do we need to do to get the two of you to bed?” He immediately heard the way that sounded and backtracked. “That didn’t—”
“I think I know what you meant,” she said, and her cheeks turned a couple shades of pink. The coloring contrasted against her creamy skin and brought out those intensely beautiful eyes.
“Shower? Clothes? More food? Something to drink? Name it and it’s yours,” he said, redirecting his thoughts.
“Part of me doesn’t want to risk waking her. She looks so peaceful. Finally,” she added on a sigh.
“We know her lungs are in full working order,” he joked, needing to lighten the mood.
Prudence had an incredible smile when she relaxed. Thick, full lips that curled at the corners that he suddenly wanted to kiss.
Since that would be about as productive as milking a flower, he steered his thoughts in a different direction.
“We can stay here overnight or head over to my place,” he said.
“You don’t live here?” she asked, glancing around.
“This house belongs…belonged…to my grandfather,” he stated.
“I’m sorry, Adam. I heard the sheriff reference your family but I didn’t realize anything serious had happened.” Her voice was like silk, trailing over him, soothing places he kept hidden.
“Yesterday,” he said by way of explanation.
“Makes sense I don’t know, considering I have no memories of the past three days,” she said low and under her breath. “I wonder what else I’ve been missing.”
“Not much. You were right about it being June. Even if you did take a blow to the head, you’re speaking clearly. You seem to have your wits about you now,” he said.
“What about the ER?” she asked.
“Do you feel queasy?” He’d grown up with eight brothers and nine cousins. He knew a thing or two about concussions.
“No,” she said.
“Is your sight blurry?” he continued.
“Only when I take off my glasses.” She did, and he was struck by her high cheekbones and silky skin. Her eyes stood out even more, if that was possible, framed by thick lashes. And those lips rounded an oval-shaped face that caused his heart to skip a few beats when he stared at it too long.
How had he walked right past her and never noticed?
Crazy how much he’d missed by keeping his head down and never looking around.
To be fair, he knew just about everyone in town and usually kept his eyes forward rather than risk long conversations with people.
Adam almost laughed out loud at the thought.
If he didn’t know any better, he’d call himself an introvert.
Give him a clear day, an endless sky, decent weather, and not another human for miles. That sounded like perfection until now. He’d never thought of his life as lonely before. Not even in the past ten months when he’d been licking his wounds. What was the sudden difference?
Losing the Marshall was playing with Adam’s head. Or was it something else? Because suddenly, looking at Prudence holding that baby in her arms, it seemed like there was more to life that he’d been missing by keeping his eyes on the ground.
The sound of Lawler’s boots shuffling across the tile in the hallway interrupted the moment.
“Jenn is all set,” Lawler said.
“How about you?” Adam walked over and placed his hand on Lawler’s shoulder. “Are you good with this arrangement?”
“I better be. I just sent my only social worker home.” Lawler laughed at his own joke. “Seriously, Baby X is lucky to stay here on the ranch. I couldn’t find a better overnight situation for her if I tried. I have complete faith the two of you will take excellent care of her.”
Prudence’s face lit up at the compliment, and it warmed Adam’s heart. He’d just volunteered to keep a newborn overnight along with letting a stranger with no memory of the past three days stay in the Marshall’s home. Maybe Adam was the one who’d lost his mind.