A Season for Healing

As Little Horn, Texas, prepares for Thanksgiving, Dr. Tyler Grainger tries to count his blessings. Returning to his family’s ranch brings bittersweet memories of the sister he lost. But one thing he can be grateful for is Eva Brooks, who’s just become the nanny for her cousin’s baby. Tyler is glad to offer advice, but when his late sister’s horse is stolen, Eva’s the one who helps him cope. Tyler’s past heartache urges him to ride off into the sunset—alone. Yet the holiday season offers hope that the good doctor may have finally found a woman to heal his heart.

“Oh, what a cutie pie. He has his mommy’s chin,” the woman exclaimed.

“And his daddy’s nose,” the other woman said. “You must be very proud.”

Tyler blinked in confusion. They obviously thought he and Eva were the baby’s parents.

Eva inhaled a sharp breath. Even in the darkness, Tyler could see her face flush beet red with mortification.

“Oh, but we’re not… I mean, we aren’t…” Eva stammered.

“What’s his name?” the first woman asked.

“Cody,” Tyler supplied.

“What a perfect name for a perfect baby.”

The women smiled with admiration. When they moved on down the sidewalk, he finally exhaled. They were completely oblivious that their words had caused anyone any discomfort.

He turned to Eva. For a flashing moment, he saw intense misery in her eyes.

“Eva, are you okay?” he asked.

“Yes, I was just thinking about…” She hesitated and gave a sad little laugh. “Oh, it’s nothing, really. Just ignore me.”

But he knew. All the things she wasn’t saying, and he still knew it had something to do with her broken engagement and being left at the altar with no groom.

* * *

Lone Star Cowboy League:

Bighearted ranchers in small-town Texas

A Reunion for the Rancher by Brenda Minton, October 2015

A Doctor for the Nanny by Leigh Bale, November 2015

A Ranger for the Holidays by Allie Pleiter, December 2015

A Family for the Soldier by Carolyne Aarsen, January 2016

A Daddy for Her Triplets by Deb Kastner, February 2016

A Baby for the Rancher by Margaret Daley, March 2016

LEIGH BALE is a Publishers Weekly bestselling author. She is the winner of the prestigious Golden Heart Award and is a finalist for the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence and the Booksellers’ Best Award. The daughter of a retired US forest ranger, she holds a BA in history. Married in 1981 to the love of her life, Leigh and her professor husband have two children and two grandkids. You can reach her at leighbale.com.

A Doctor

for the Nanny

Leigh Bale

www.millsandboon.co.uk

MILLS & BOON

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And therefore will the Lord wait, that He may be gracious unto you, and therefore will He be exalted, that He may have mercy upon you: for the Lord is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for Him.

—Isaiah 30:18

Many thanks to Gary and Judy MacKay for their ranching expertise. You two are amazing!

Special thanks and acknowledgment to Leigh Bale for her contribution to the Lone Star Cowboy League miniseries.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Introduction

About the Author

Title Page

Bible Verse

Dedication

Acknowledgment

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Dear Reader

Extract

Copyright

Chapter One

Eva Brooks opened the oven door and peered inside. A blast of heat struck her in the face and she pulled back quick. The biscuits looked as flat as pancakes, yet they’d been in there for thirty minutes already. Maybe they needed more time. Maybe the oven wasn’t hot enough. But weren’t Martha Rose’s biscuits usually golden brown by now? These biscuits still looked anemic white, like pieces of chalk.

Eva closed the oven door, feeling dismayed. “They’re not done yet.”

Martha Rose, the head cook at Stillwater Ranch, showed a doubtful frown. “Let me see them.”

Eva stepped aside. Martha Rose jerked open the door, released an impatient huff, then snatched up an oven mitt and pulled out the pan of biscuits. She set them on the counter with a clatter.

“Darlin’, you can bake these biscuits until the Second Coming, and they’re never gonna get any fluffier than that. You obviously forgot to put in the baking powder.”

Eva’s face heated up like a flamethrower. She clenched her eyes closed. A feeling of mortification rushed over her. There was no doubt about it. She was no cook. Never had been, never would be. And it was time she faced up to it.

“Oh, no, Eva! You’re supposed to be caramelizing those onions, not incinerating them.”

Eva whirled around and gaped in horror at the stove top. Martha Rose pointed a plump finger to where the gas flame flickered beneath the bottom of a blackened skillet. The pungent odor of burning onions filled the air. Eva’s nose twitched. She shook her head and groaned. The beautiful onions she’d carefully chopped up had shriveled into little black spikes that popped around in the hot pan.

She clasped the handle of the skillet to remove it from the heat...and promptly let go. “Ow!”

She shook her hand. Tears of pain and embarrassment burned her eyes. Before she could decide what to do, she found her wrist clasped in a strong grip and was propelled toward the sink. A masculine hand reached out and cranked on the faucet all the way. A gush of cold water rinsed her burned fingers. She felt immediate relief and looked up. Tyler Grainger stood close beside her, holding her hand beneath the spray of water. His hazel-green eyes locked with hers. She stared, dumbfounded, and wondered vaguely what he was doing here. Tyler was a doctor. A pediatrician. He must have been making a house call. But she didn’t move. Not with his tall frame pressed against her side. As she gazed into his eyes, a giddy sensation swirled around in her head. She felt locked there. Suspended in time.

“Feel better?” His deep voice filled her ears.

All she could do was nod.

He flashed a crooked smile. A smile she recognized as well as her own. After all, she’d known this man her entire life. And with no siblings of her own, she’d idolized him. Oh, yes. With good reason. He’d been one of the star athletes in high school, the valedictorian, school president and winner of every science fair. Not to mention his tanned good looks. She’d always admired him. Depended on him, even. Having him witness her failure in the kitchen made her humiliation all the more complete.

“Put some ice on the burns and I’m sure you’ll be fine.” His voice sounded low, like rumbling thunder.

Though she was still bent over the sink, Eva’s gaze swept him. A thatch of blond hair fell over his high forehead. His eyes sparkled as he released her wrist and stepped back to dry his hands on a clean dish towel. His gray Western shirt stretched taut across his muscular arms and torso. He wore faded blue jeans that hugged his long legs like a second skin. With his scuffed cowboy boots he was dressed like an ordinary ranch hand. Except he wasn’t, not with a medical degree.

But even though he was one of the most eligible bachelors in Little Horn, Texas, he apparently wasn’t interested in the young ladies of the community. He’d returned to the area almost a year earlier, running a small medical office out at his family ranch nearby. But he never dated. Never escorted any woman down Main Street. In a town this size everyone knew everyone else’s business. And rumor had it that Tyler would be leaving for Austin right after the Thanksgiving holiday.

In four short weeks.

“What are you doing here?” she blurted.

“Paying a house call. Miss Mamie’s worried about the baby. I heard the commotion here in the kitchen and thought I might be able to help,” he said.

The baby. Three-month-old Cody, who had been left on their doorstep recently with nothing more than a cryptic note that read “Your baby, your turn.”

Obviously one of Eva’s two cousins had dallied where they shouldn’t have and Cody had been the result. But with Ben and Grady both out of reach for now, no one had any idea who the mother was. Thankfully the soft blanket left with the baby had his name embroidered on it, or they wouldn’t even have known what to call the poor little tyke.

“Thanks for your help,” Eva murmured.

“My pleasure.” Heading for the door to the living room, Tyler reached out and snatched a grape out of a bowl sitting on the counter. He popped the fruit into his mouth and grinned. With a pleasant nod, he exited the room.

Watching him go, Eva felt a melting warmth flood her veins. Tingles of excitement coursed up her arm from where he’d held her hand. She shook her head, trying to focus on the present. What on earth was the matter with her? At the age of twenty-five she wasn’t a young girl anymore, and she certainly didn’t find the man that attractive.

Okay, maybe she did. But that didn’t make a difference. He was a friend, nothing more. Besides, after her fiancé had dumped her at the altar six months earlier, she’d promised never to trust another man.

“Humph. I’m glad someone in this house has a lick of sense,” Martha Rose said as she switched off the stove burner.

The matronly woman thrust open the window by the sink and waved her arms at the cloud of smoke, letting the fresh air clear the stinky room. With an oven mitt, she clasped the skillet and set it out on the back porch to cool. Then she jerked open the freezer, poured some ice into a clean dishcloth and thrust it at Eva.

“Here. Put this on your hand.” With several quick twists of her wrist, Martha Rose shut off the water faucet.

Eva dried her fingers, feeling awful. She’d tried so hard to learn how to cook, but it was a catastrophe every time.

“I’m sorry, Martha Rose,” she said.

Martha Rose planted her hands on her thick waist and studied Eva for several moments with a critical eye. “Look, darlin’, you know I love you. But you’re just no good in the kitchen.”

Oh, no. Eva knew what was coming next, and a sinking dread settled in her chest. “Maybe I can stick to washing fruits and vegetables. And I can set the table. I’m good at those chores.”

The matronly woman inclined her head, conceding that point. “But you can’t peel potatoes and carrots. You nearly took off your finger the last time, and you peeled off more than the potato skins. We hardly had enough potato to put in the pot to boil. It was a good thing I’d made extra rolls.”

Eva blinked, knowing Martha Rose was right. But she had to do something to help out here at Stillwater Ranch. After all, her cousin Ben had been so generous in offering to let her stay. If only she hadn’t given up her apartment in town. She doubted she could get her old job back as a waitress at Maggie’s Coffee Shop. Eva had seen the pleased look in Maggie’s eyes when she’d given notice just before her wedding date. No doubt Maggie had been glad to see her go. Heaven only knew how many dishes Eva had dropped and bagels she’d burned while she’d worked there. And she’d ruined enough pots of coffee to last a lifetime. But she’d been tops at customer service. Even so, she should be married now and settled into her former fiancé’s home, not mooching off her cousin’s generosity. If Ben hadn’t offered her a job and a place to stay, she’d have nowhere to go. She had to make this work. Had to find something she could do right.

“I don’t think this is a good fit, darlin’,” Martha Rose said again.

“I’ll do better. I promise. I never make the same mistake twice,” Eva said.

But that wasn’t the problem. Eva always learned her lessons. But her mistakes were doozies. Such as driving the tractor, taking the turn too wide and tying up the side rake in the barbed-wire fence. Another time she’d mistakenly grabbed a bucket of rolled corn instead of oats to feed the horses. Thankfully, one of the ranch hands had caught her before she’d made the horses sick. She’d then found herself sequestered in the kitchen, but that hadn’t proved to be much better. But the biggest mistake of all, the one she’d never repeat again, was falling in love. Never would she trust another man with her deepest, darkest secret. Never would she hope that he would love her for herself and not the children she could never give him.

As if on cue, a baby’s cry permeated her muddled brain. Her heart wrenched with the sound. She instinctively wanted to run to Cody’s nursery and pick him up, but she forced herself to stay put. No sense in torturing herself.

“Please give me one more chance, Martha Rose,” Eva pleaded.

The woman placed a gentle hand on her shoulder and met her eyes. “Darlin’, you and I both know it isn’t gonna work. We might as well not pretend. With all this trouble in the town, cattle rustlings and stealing, those burnt onions and flat biscuits are the least of our worries. It’s not the end of the world. But it’s time for you to go and do something else.”

True, but it went deeper than that for Eva. Her heart still stung from being rejected by her fiancé. In this small community, most of the ranchers valued family and children above everything else. Except their land and cattle, which they wanted to pass on to their kids one day. If she couldn’t have children, what good was she? No man in the area would ever want her. And she wasn’t about to leave town. She loved Little Horn. She’d been born and raised here. The thought of leaving to try to find a husband left her feeling cold and empty inside. She had to develop a career and learn to make it on her own. There must be something she was good at.

“Why don’t you go and help Miss Mamie with the baby? She’s got her hands full with that little one, and she could sure use the help,” Martha Rose said.

Eva shook her head. “No, anything but that. Not the baby. Please, Martha Rose.”

A spear of panic pierced Eva’s chest. Lots of people in town knew that she’d been gored by a bull when she was only sixteen years old. But they didn’t know that the horrifying incident had left her barren. Unable to have children. And no one knew how badly it hurt her to be around kids...the one thing in life she wanted most and could never have. Not without adoption or taking in foster kids. She had loved and admired her father and couldn’t imagine raising her own child without a daddy. She’d have to be married first, which brought her back to the problem of finding a man in this small community who was willing to marry a woman who couldn’t give him biological children. And she couldn’t take in foster kids when she didn’t even have a home of her own.

“Land’s sake, it’s just a small baby. And babies are easy to love,” Martha Rose insisted.

That was just the problem. Eva didn’t want to love Cody. Or any child, for that matter. But Martha Rose seemed oblivious to Eva’s anguish. Turning back to the stove, the woman bustled about as she stirred a pot of gravy and checked the roast beef. Eva seemed to have been forgotten. And she figured maybe it was for the best.

As she faced the door, Cody’s piercing screams continued, filling the entire house. No wonder Miss Mamie had called in the doctor. Every evening it was the same. The baby cried and cried.

Clamping an iron will on her fears, Eva pulled off her apron, set it on the sideboard, lifted her head in determination and walked into the other room. Down the hall leading to the back bedrooms, she followed the baby’s plaintive cries. And when she reached the doorway to his nursery, she stood there feeling lost and all alone in the world.

Wearing only his diaper, Cody lay on the changing table with Tyler leaning over to inspect him. The doctor moved a stethoscope over the baby’s perfectly formed miniature chest and abdomen. Cody kicked his tiny legs, closed his eyes, scrunched up his face and howled in outrage. Yet Tyler seemed completely unruffled by all the fuss.

“There now, little guy. It’s okay. We’ll wrap you up in your blanket in just a moment.” Tyler smiled and spoke in a soothing voice.

Mamie Stillwater stood beside the doctor, her dark, flashing eyes filled with concern. At the age of seventy-eight, Mamie was the matriarch of the Stillwater family. A woman with an iron will and a delicate bone structure who had withstood the test of time. Her cottony white hair couldn’t diminish the regal beauty she’d carried throughout her life. But just now she was clasping her wrinkled hands in frustration.

“He sure is mad, Dr. Grainger. No matter what I do, I can’t get him to stop crying,” Mamie said.

Tyler cooed and spoke gently, trying to calm the angry baby. “I think he’s just colicky. See how he pulls his legs up toward his stomach? Crying at this time of the evening is normal for a baby of his age. It’ll pass soon enough. Just be patient.”

Eva listened intently, feeling lulled by the deep bass of Tyler’s voice. Since he was a pediatrician, he must know lots about kids that Eva had never even contemplated. But since Little Horn was such a small town, Eva had heard that he also treated an adult patient on occasion.

“Oh, I’d forgotten about colic,” Mamie said. “No wonder he’s upset. It’s been so long since I had a small baby to care for. I don’t know what I’ll do if I don’t soon find a nanny to help take care of him.”

Eva’s heart pinched hard. Watching the red, squalling baby wave his thin arms in the air brought out her compassion. She wanted to do something to help him. To soothe him. But fear kept her frozen in place. Babies were her one taboo.

“Any news yet on who the baby’s mama is?” Tyler asked as he used a lit instrument to peer into Cody’s nose and ears.

Mamie barely spared Eva a glance. “No, nothing since Ben found him on our doorstep with nothing more than a blanket to tell us his name. If only Ben hadn’t had that horrible accident right afterward. And now he’s lying in the hospital in a coma.”

Mamie spoke above the wailing of the baby. The elderly woman sounded so miserable that Eva stepped over and wrapped her arms around Mamie’s slender shoulders in a quick hug. “Don’t worry, Aunt Mamie. I’m sure Ben will come out of it soon.”

“Oh, Eva, I hope so,” Mamie said, patting her hand. “I’m so glad you’re here. You’re such a comfort to me.”

Tyler motioned toward a clean terry-cloth onesie sitting on the dresser. Eva quickly handed it to him and he smiled his thanks. She felt charmed.

“Eva, would you mind dressing Cody while I talk to the doctor for a few minutes?” Mamie asked her.

The woman didn’t wait for Eva’s consent before turning her back and continuing her dialogue. Tyler flashed another smile as he handed Eva the sleeper, then stepped over to the doorway with Mamie. The baby continued to cry.

“You think Cody will be okay, then?” Mamie asked the doctor.

“I do. Nothing to worry about. He’s a healthy little boy.”

Mamie released a deep sigh. “If only I could find a nanny for him. I’m not used to these late-night feedings. And the constant crying has gotten on my nerves. I feel plumb tuckered out with it all.”

Trying not to listen in, Eva slipped the baby’s legs and arms into the body suit and snapped it up in front. The poor little dear had cried so much that his voice sounded hoarse. Keeping her hand on Cody’s chest so he wouldn’t roll off the table, Eva reached for a receiving blanket. No doubt he wanted to be cuddled.

“Last night I didn’t even hear Cody wake up until he was screaming his head off,” Mamie said. “The child might starve to death with no one but me to take care of him. I’m just an old woman now. Not much use to anyone, especially a young baby.”

Tyler chuckled and squeezed Mamie’s arm. “That’s not true. Your family loves you. And I’m sure Cody will be just fine. Did you get the results from the paternity test back yet?”

Mamie nodded. “Yes, he’s definitely a Stillwater. My great-grandson. I’m delighted, but I sure wish Grady was here and Ben was out of the hospital. Until both men are home safe, we won’t be able to figure out which one of them is Cody’s daddy.”

Ben and Grady were identical twins. Grady was currently serving in Afghanistan on some hush-hush special-ops mission. No one seemed to know where he was or how they could get in touch with him to let him know about the baby and his brother being in a coma.

“I’m sure Grady will check in with you soon,” Tyler said.

The crying stopped abruptly, and both Tyler and Mamie turned to look at Eva. She felt their gazes resting on her like a ten-ton sledge. The sudden quiet was unnerving to all of them. Especially Eva. Because she’d done something unthinkable. The one thing she’d vowed never to do. She’d wrapped the baby up in his blanket, clasped him close against her heart and sang him a soft lullaby.

* * *

Tyler stared as Eva rocked the baby gently. The child stared up at her with wide eyes, seeming enraptured by her. She was singing softly, her voice high and sweet. A song Tyler remembered hearing his own mother sing on more than one occasion.

He couldn’t take his eyes off Eva. Long strands of her red hair swept past her shoulder and she tucked them back behind her ear. Afternoon sunlight streamed through the window, glinting off her auburn highlights. With her pristine skin and soft brown eyes, her profile looked delicate and petite. In fact, he couldn’t remember ever seeing a more beautiful woman.

“Why, Eva, I had no idea you knew how to calm an angry baby,” Miss Mamie said.

Eva looked up, her eyes filled with wary amazement. “I didn’t know it, either. I haven’t held a baby since I was a teenager.”

Mamie pursed her lips and gave a nod of satisfaction. “Well, that’s settled, then. We need a nanny, and you fit the bill. You’re hired.”

Eva’s mouth dropped open in stunned surprise. “What? But I...I can’t.”

“Of course you can,” Mamie said.

The baby began to fuss, and Eva started rocking again, back and forth. Cody immediately quieted. And something about her standing there snuggling the baby close against her chest pulled at Tyler’s heartstrings. Her delicate white hands looked so small and fragile against the blue blanket, yet so gentle and loving.

“You’re just what Cody needs. I can’t think of a better fit.” Mamie touched Tyler’s arm. “Come on, Dr. Grainger. I’ll walk you out.”

Before Eva could argue, Mamie turned and led Tyler toward the door. He reached for his hat and medical bag, carrying them in his left hand. Miss Mamie took his right arm, talking nonstop about Ben and Grady and how thrilled she was to have a new great-grandchild.

Tyler vaguely listened, his thoughts on Eva. She hadn’t said much, but he’d read volumes in her silence. Looking back over his shoulder, he saw her face flush pink. Her eyes looked wide and wary beneath her thick dark lashes. Her slender body vibrated with nervous energy. If he hadn’t known better, he would have said she was absolutely terrified by the thought of caring for the baby. Surely that was his imagination running wild. She was obviously a natural. And aside from crying in the evenings, Cody was an adorable little baby. But Tyler got the impression that Eva didn’t want to be anywhere near the child. He could see it in her tensed shoulders, in the way her gaze followed him to the door in an uncertain look of desperation. He had an overpowering urge to comfort her. To tell her she was doing fine and everything would be okay.

Ah, what was he thinking? Other than serving as the baby’s pediatrician, he didn’t want to get involved. He’d graduated high school with Ben and Grady Stillwater. They’d all been good friends, playing sports together, competing on the rodeo circuit. But Eva was a different matter entirely.

She was several years younger than he was. The twins’ tag-along cousin. In the past, Tyler had thought of her as nothing more than a baby sister. A nuisance he’d helped watch out for. After all, she’d been gangly and freckled and too silly for him to take seriously. Now for the first time, he saw her with different eyes. The years had matured her into a lovely woman he couldn’t ignore, no matter how much his heart still ached over his own recent loss.

Carrying the baby, Eva followed them outside and stood on the wide wraparound porch. Tyler had heard about her fiancé leaving her at the altar six months earlier. The whole town had been abuzz about it, but no one seemed to know why it’d happened. Eva apparently hadn’t said a word about it to anyone. They all assumed her fiancé had got cold feet. Or they’d had a fight. Or they’d realized they weren’t really in love. Lots of possible reasons, but Tyler wasn’t one to judge. After all, he’d been dumped himself, right before he’d moved to Little Horn a year earlier. His fiancée hadn’t wanted him to come here. She’d refused to understand that he had obligations and promises to keep. The local Lone Star Cowboy League had given him a hefty scholarship to go to medical school. In return he’d pledged to open a medical practice here for at least one year. It was a matter of honor for Tyler. Right or wrong, he’d given them his word and he couldn’t break it. Even if it meant losing the woman he’d planned to marry.

“Well, thanks for coming out,” Mamie said finally.

He inclined his head. “Anytime. I’m on call night or day.”

Mamie nodded and went back inside. Eva stood there holding the baby. Cody released a soft sigh of contentment, then made little sucking sounds with his rosebud lips.

Tyler met Eva’s eyes. A look of loss covered her face. A look of reluctant acceptance. As if she realized, whether she liked it or not, that Cody had chosen her. And she couldn’t turn her back on him no matter what.

“You gonna be okay?” Tyler asked her.

“Just dandy,” she said in a crisp tone.

Tyler almost smiled. He liked her spunk. She’d always been determined to do whatever he and her cousins did, sometimes with disastrous results. With no mother or siblings of her own, she’d clung to Ben and Grady like a little sister. And they’d let her. Because she was family. Because they loved her like their own.

Placing his hat on his head, Tyler stepped off the porch. “I’ll check back with you in a day or two to make sure Cody’s doing all right.”

She took a hesitant step toward him, as though she didn’t want him to leave. “Yes, please do.”

He caught a note of anxiety in her voice. She looked so sad and vulnerable, as though she wanted to be anywhere but here. But surely he imagined it. Most mature women loved holding a tiny baby. But not Eva. Not right now.

“Good night, then.” Tipping the brim of his hat, he crossed the yard and climbed into his truck, turned the key and put the vehicle into gear. As he pulled out of the gravel driveway, he knew one thing for sure. Eva did not want to be Cody’s nanny. And Tyler couldn’t help wondering why.

Chapter Two

Eva didn’t sleep much that night. Aunt Mamie helped her move her things into the bedroom adjoining the nursery, but she tossed and turned, fretting that she wouldn’t hear the baby if he woke up. But she did, her eyes popping open wide the moment he began to fuss. Snatching up her bathrobe, she skedaddled for his room.

Peering at him in the darkness, she took a deep breath and tried to settle her nerves. Okay. What should she do first? His diaper. He might be wet and need changing. She hadn’t done it before, but no big deal. With only a small lamp to see what she was doing, she retrieved a disposable diaper, then copied what she’d watched her aunt Mamie do on numerous occasions. Everything went fine until the plastic tabs got stuck on her fingers. She fought with them for a moment, finally getting the diaper sealed in the right place. Hmm. Not bad.

Until she picked up the baby and the diaper fell off. Eva groaned and tried again. Cody just cooed at her and waved his arms, as though cheering her on. Finally she got the thing attached so it would stay put.

Once Cody was re-dressed she carried him to the kitchen. They’d installed little green night-lights in the hallways so they didn’t have to turn on every light in the house and wake up everyone. Martha Rose said the baby would go back to sleep easier if he didn’t have lots of stimuli.

Padding barefoot across the cool tiled floor, Eva opened the refrigerator and squinted at the bright light. She snatched out a bottle and quickly shut the door. Thankfully, Martha Rose had made up several bottles before bed. All Eva had to do was warm up one. A simple task for anyone but her. What if she got it too hot or too cold? She’d never done this before and felt mighty uncertain. Concentrating, she tried to remember what Martha Rose had told her to do.

“A pan of hot water,” she said to Cody, moving about the dark room with ease.

Balancing the baby with one arm, she worked fast, setting the bottle in the pan of hot water and waiting several minutes while she rocked Cody and sang to him. Aunt Mamie had showed her how to test some drops of milk on her wrist to make sure the temperature was just right. But Eva’s hands shook as she picked up the bottle and offered it to little Cody. He latched on to it ferociously and she jerked in surprise. Then she chuckled.

“You sure are hungry, aren’t you, little man?” she said softly.

She walked back to his room and sat in the comfy gliding chair. He sucked greedily as she rocked him in the dim light. She hummed a lullaby, trying not to stare at his adorable chubby cheeks. But she couldn’t resist. He was the cutest, sweetest thing she’d ever seen.

Toward the end of the bottle he fell asleep and she placed him in his crib. As she stared down at his cherubic face, she couldn’t help feeling proud of her accomplishment. Nor could she fight off a feeling of absolute love as it pulsed over her in shocking waves. She’d do anything to protect this innocent baby. Anything to keep him safe. She’d promised herself never to love another man. If she didn’t love, she couldn’t be hurt. But she’d already broken that vow. And there was no sense in trying to fight it. Because she loved little Cody Stillwater like her own.

After walking back to her room, she curled beneath the warm covers, feeling happy and satisfied. Maybe if she couldn’t have kids of her own she could love other people’s children. Maybe she could do this job after all.

Early the next morning she wasn’t so sure. She was awakened by Cody’s cries. Within moments she’d pulled on her fluffy bathrobe and was standing beside his crib. Seeing her, he waved his little arms and smiled, effectively melting her heart.

“Good morning, sweetheart. Did you sleep well...?”

The question died on Eva’s lips. She stared. And swallowed hard. Reaching down, she flipped Cody’s downy blanket aside. He panted happily, completely oblivious that anything was wrong. But a horrified gasp erupted from Eva’s throat.

A rash, bright red and hot to the touch, covered the baby’s face. A quick inspection of his tiny body told her it went no further. Just his cheeks. What a relief. But she must have done something wrong. Something bad.

A gush of panic rose in her throat, bringing with it a deluge of memories. Costly mistakes she’d made recently that had taken hours of work and lots of money to repair. But Cody wasn’t a broken piece of equipment or a ruined batch of bread dough. He was a human being. A little innocent person who was depending on her to take care of him. Making an error with him could be catastrophic.

She held out her hands as if to offer reassurance. “Okay, sweetheart. Don’t worry. We can fix this. I’ll take you to the doctor. Give me just a minute to get dressed.”

She scrambled for the doorway, hurrying to pull on her clothes. She splashed water on her face, ran a toothbrush around in her mouth, then jerked a brush through her long, tangled hair.

Back in Cody’s room, she saw that he lay completely at ease, his sparkling brown eyes wide and curious. As though he had absolutely no idea that he had a problem. No doubt he’d get hungry before long. Eva raced to the kitchen and warmed up another bottle for him. Through the window she saw that the sun was barely peeking over the eastern hills. A bit early to go calling on the doctor, but she couldn’t wait. Cody was too important to her.

No one else in the house was up yet. Eva scrawled a hasty note for Aunt Mamie, then secured Cody in his car seat and scurried with him out the front door to her truck. Correction. Ben’s truck. The one he’d said she could use while she lived at Stillwater Ranch.

It took her five minutes to get the car seat buckled in tight. She couldn’t figure out the contraption and wished she had a user’s guide handy. Finally it clicked into place.

The truck engine roared as she started it. The tires spit gravel as she peeled out of the wide driveway. She tapped the brake, trying to control her speed. An accident wouldn’t help anyone.

She barely noticed the beautiful autumn morning. Russet-brown leaves were scattered across the dirt road. The sun painted the eastern horizon with streams of pink and gold haze and glimmered against the short field grass. Herds of Black Angus cattle grazed lazily on the stubby pasture lands. The crisp morning air smelled of hay and horses. Nothing seemed amiss in the world. Yet Eva’s hands were shaking like aspen leaves in the wind.

Think. What might have caused Cody’s rash? What if she’d done something wrong when she’d put him down for the night? What if she’d used too much lotion after his bath? Or fed him too much milk? It could be anything. She had no idea. Only that she had to get the baby over to Tyler. And fast.

It took fifteen minutes to drive to Tyler’s place. Thankfully the Grainger ranch was close by. Only now did Eva realize she should have called first, to ensure he wasn’t in town making early rounds at the hospital. She was happy to see his blue truck parked out front.

She glanced at the yellow frame house with white trim and an overhanging porch. A modest red barn stood off to the side. Rows of boxwoods edged one corner of the house. A pretty fall wreath hung on the front door, ornately decorated with grape twigs and leaves of burnt orange, red and yellow. Tidy flower beds trailed the serpentine walk path. Everything neat and in its place. Not surprising considering how fastidious Tyler was with everything he did. But Eva figured the wreath was his mother’s doing.

After hopping out of the truck, Eva hurried around to the passenger side, unclicked the seat belt from Cody’s car seat and lifted him out. She folded the blanket over his head, instinctively knowing the cool morning air was too much for his little lungs.

When she turned to go inside, she froze. Tyler stood beside the house. Their gazes met across the expanse of the yard. He was dressed in his work clothes and holding the handle of a bucket. As though he’d just been heading out to do his morning chores before working in his medical office.

She scurried over to him. “Oh, Tyler. I’m so glad you’re here.”

“Eva. What’s wrong?” He set down the bucket and reached out a hand to clasp her arm. His eyes creased with concern as he met her gaze.

“It’s the baby. Something’s wrong with him. I don’t know what I’ve done, but it’s bad. Please help him.”

Tyler indicated the house. “Come inside and I’ll take a look.”

Clutching the baby close against her chest, she hurried along as he led the way. Just hearing his calm, steady voice brought Eva a modicum of comfort. Knowing he was near made her think all would be well. He’d know what to do. He’d take care of Cody. Tyler could do anything. And after what she’d been through with her fiancé, she was surprised at how much she trusted this man she’d known all her life.

As he led her inside she thought how foolish she’d been to accept this new assignment as a nanny. She should have said no. Last night when Tyler had asked if she was okay, she should have told him the truth.

No. I can’t have children, and I don’t want to take care of an adorable baby because he’s a constant reminder of what I can never have.

Instead, she’d shut her mouth, the words stuck in the back of her throat. She didn’t want to confide anything to Tyler Grainger. Or any man, for that matter. The emotional cost was too high. Better to keep her deficiencies to herself. But now she had a real problem on her hands. Cody was sick. What if he had a fever? She had no idea even how to check for that. And she realized just how unprepared she was to be taking care of a young child. A combination of guilt and fear heated her face. She was in way over her head.

Tyler led her into the living area. It was a comfortable room with tall potted plants, two recliners, a sofa, throw pillows and pictures of his family. One photo in particular caught her eye. It showed Tyler and his sister, Jenny, on horseback. The picture was taken from the side. Tyler sat in front holding the reins. Jenny sat behind her older brother, her arms wrapped around his waist, her cheek pressed against his back, her face smiling with absolute adoration. Eva knew the entire family had been heartbroken when Jenny had died years earlier at the age of ten. A real tragedy.

“Come in here,” Tyler said.

Eva stepped into an examination room, complete with chairs and a wide, padded table.

Tyler washed his hands in a small sink. Then without asking permission, he scooped Cody from her arms and set him down on the table. His big, strong hands seemed infinitely gentle as he folded the blankets back to take a look. Cody latched on to one of Tyler’s large fingers and tried to pull it to his mouth. Tyler gently pulled free of Cody’s grasp. The baby sucked his own tiny fist, babbling and kicking his legs. He seemed completely oblivious that anything was wrong.

Eva’s heart pounded in her ears. Sweat broke out on her palms. Tyler reached for a stethoscope, then listened to the baby’s heart and lungs. Next he took Cody’s temperature.

“His temp is slightly elevated, but nothing that alarms me,” Tyler said without looking up.

Eva stood beside him, her gaze pinned on Cody as she gripped the edge of the table. “But what about the rash? What caused it?”

“We’ll see.” Tyler continued his examination. He lifted the baby’s arms, then checked his ears and mouth.

“Aha! Has Cody been drooling more than usual and chewing on things?” Tyler asked.

Eva shook her head. “I have no idea. I was just put in charge of him last night.”

She’d heard of babies drooling, but figured it was done all the time. And they chewed on everything, didn’t they?

“Well, I think I’ve found the problem,” Tyler said with a laugh.

Eva leaned closer, nearly beside herself with worry. “What is it?”

“Cody is teething.”

“What?”

He gently opened the baby’s mouth and pointed at his bottom gum line. “See there how the gum is red and inflamed?”

“Yes.” She stared with rapt attention, wondering how that could cause a rash on the baby’s cheeks.

“And see that little ridge of white?”

She stooped forward, catching Tyler’s scent. A mixture of spice and soap. Pleasant and masculine. “What is it?”

“A central incisor,” he said.

She stared at the erupting tooth as if it were something from outer space. “But isn’t he too young to be getting teeth already?”

Tyler shrugged. “Yes, he is. Normally, babies get their bottom central incisors at six months, but some babies start teething earlier. It appears that Cody is in that situation.”

There was so much she had yet to learn. So much she didn’t know. “Will it harm him?”

“Not at all. But once the tooth comes in, you’ll want to start brushing it with a soft bristled toothbrush on a regular basis.”

Oh, goodness. She’d had no idea.

Tyler stepped away, letting her dress Cody while he washed his hands again. She could barely snap up the baby’s sleeper, her hands were shaking so badly. She’d been scared out of her wits. Fearful that she’d done something to cause the rash. And once more she wondered if she was insane to agree to work as Cody’s nanny.

* * *

Tyler dried his hands on a paper towel. “I think Cody is just fine.”

“But what about the rash on his face? What’s causing that?” Eva asked.

“No one really knows what causes it. It could be that the baby is rubbing at his mouth an extra amount and spreading saliva across his cheeks. That would definitely cause a rash. But it’s harmless enough.”

He turned just as Eva looked up, her face pale and creased with relief.

“Well, that’s good, isn’t it?” She blinked, sending a large teardrop scurrying down her cheek. She turned away, wiping at her eyes.

Tyler’s heart gave a powerful squeeze. He stepped close and touched her arm. She glanced at him, looking embarrassed and worried at the same time.

“Eva, don’t cry. The baby’s fine.” He placed a finger beneath her chin and lifted gently, forcing her to meet his eyes. “Were you really that worried about Cody?”

Her lips trembled and she nodded. “I thought...I thought I’d done something wrong. I don’t know anything about babies. What if something bad happens and I don’t know what to do?”

Her voice cracked and so did his heart. She’d always been tenderhearted, even when they were little kids. She’d yell at the boys when they’d try to chase a cat. Or make them get down from a tree so they wouldn’t disturb a nest of sparrows. Her gentle kindness was one reason Tyler had always liked her so much. Maybe Eva couldn’t cook, but she was awfully sweet.

“No, Eva. You’ll be okay. You’ve done nothing wrong. Babies get rashes all the time. But you did the right thing by bringing him to me. I can rule out a lot of problems.” He withdrew his hand, still feeling the warmth of her skin against his fingertip.

“Like what kinds of problems?” she asked.

“Oh, roseola and scarlet fever. Those are more serious problems that can cause a rash, which I don’t believe Cody has. I think he’s just teething early.”

She bowed her head over the baby and wrapped him in his blanket. “How can I know if he’s got something seriously wrong?”

Tyler leaned his hip against the table and folded his arms. “Fever is a good warning sign. If Cody feels hotter than normal, if he’s extra fussy. Things like that are good indicators that something’s wrong.”

“Well, now that you mention it, he does spit up an awful lot. I worry that he’s not getting enough formula. I don’t know why they made me his nanny. I don’t know the first thing about taking care of him.”

He laughed, trying to ease her mind. Trying to soothe her nerves. “Yeah, babies are hard to read sometimes. But I guarantee this little guy is getting plenty to eat. He’s strong and healthy. You’re doing fine with him.”

Obviously he’d been right in thinking Eva didn’t want to take care of the baby. Now he realized it was probably due to her lack of knowledge about caring for a young child. So maybe he could help ease her mind. It was what he loved doing, after all. Helping children. But it was even more than that for him. It was his life mission to help save kids’ lives. The whole reason he’d become a pediatrician in the first place. Because he’d lost his baby sister when she was only ten years old.

“But why is he spitting up so much?” Eva asked.

He shrugged. “Babies spit up. It takes their little bodies time to adjust to the acid reflux. They burp and it comes up their esophagus. They aren’t good at controlling it yet. By about nine months, Cody will stop spitting up all the time.”

She released a deep exhalation. “Oh, good. I had no idea.” She pointed at Cody’s nose and chin. “But what about these tiny white bumps? Is that a different kind of rash?”

He barely had to glance at the baby’s face to know what she was talking about. “That’s called milia, and it’s normal, too. It’ll disappear within a few weeks. In the meantime, just wash Cody’s face with mild soap and water, and the rash should clear up soon.”

Another exhalation of relief rushed past Eva’s lips. She seemed much more relaxed now that she was no longer worried about the baby.

“Be aware that he may get diaper rash, too,” Tyler said.

Eva looked horrified. “I’ve heard about that. What can I do?”

Tyler quickly explained and discussed what she should do. He even gave her a tube of ointment with zinc oxide to use in case she needed it. And seeing her fearful eyes, he discussed bath time, immunizations and feeding schedules. Everything he could think of that might help ease her mind. And when they finished their in-depth discussion, she looked a little less worried.

“How’s Miss Mamie doing?” he finally asked.

Eva smiled. “Fine, I think. She loves this little guy.”

“She’s not getting too tired out, is she?”

A new baby could be exciting, but Mamie wasn’t a young woman anymore. And Tyler knew she also was worried about Ben being in a coma and Grady stationed in a war zone in Afghanistan. As a doctor, Tyler was concerned that the elderly lady might be overdoing things.

Eva flashed a half smile, which made her brown eyes gleam. Wow, she sure was pretty. A natural, earthy beauty that didn’t require the enhancement of makeup.

“I think she feels better now that I’m Cody’s nanny. She should have gotten a good night’s sleep at least,” Eva said.

“Good. I’m glad to hear that.”

“I understand you’re returning to Austin right after Thanksgiving,” she said.

He nodded. “Yeah, that’s right.”

“Are you going to be practicing medicine there?”

Another nod. “I’ve kept my condominium there and plan to practice with a co-op of other pediatricians. I’ll be a junior partner for a few years, but I hope to move up eventually.”

She shuddered. “I don’t know how you can stand to live in such a large city. I’d be lost there.”

Yeah, he could see how a sweet, gentle woman such as Eva would feel lost without the wide-open country around her. And he liked that about her, too.

“Living in the city has its perks,” he said.

“Like what?”

He shrugged. “There’s a lot to do there. I enjoy the action of city life. You can’t get any of that here in Little Horn.”

“True. But we’ve got the most beautiful sunsets you ever saw.” Her voice sounded impassioned.

He hadn’t thought about that. In fact, maybe he’d taken the beauty of the rolling hills and open fields for granted. But when he’d left for college he’d fallen in love with the arts, culture and the many conveniences city life provided. He was eager to return.

“I’ve also got my work,” he said. “My partners and I have been approved for a grant from the Food and Drug Administration. We’ll be doing research on children’s immunizations. I’m excited to be a part of that.”

“Well, we’ll miss you,” she said. “People need a pediatric doctor in this town, and we’ll be sad to see you go.”

“I won’t be gone forever. I’ll still be coming home now and then for holidays and such,” he said.

He smiled, but inside he felt a bit sad. He’d been practicing medicine in Little Horn for almost a year now. Once he left, the townsfolk would be forced to travel to a larger city for a pediatrician. But he couldn’t let that stop his plans.

“Won’t you miss your mom?” Eva asked.

“Yeah, but we’ll still see each other now and then.”

He hoped. He’d asked his mother to move to Austin with him, but she’d refused, saying this was her home and she’d never leave. He hoped his practice wouldn’t become so busy that he’d have difficulty getting time off work to come and visit her. But he had to go. It was his childhood dream to practice medicine in the city. It was all he’d thought about for the past year. Returning to his old life in Austin. Picking up his practice where he’d left off. And if he didn’t return, it could jeopardize the grant he and his partners had received from the FDA. But he doubted he’d ever find another woman to love. He couldn’t trust himself to that kind of heartache again.

“If my parents were still alive, nothing could drag me away from Little Horn,” Eva said, her eyes a bit wistful.

“Yeah, you were way too young to lose your folks,” he said.

He thought about Eva living out at Stillwater Ranch and was happy she had some family to rely on. He still had his mom, but Eva had no one except for her cousins and Aunt Mamie. Eva had known a lot of loss, just like he had. Both of them had been dumped by their fiancés. Both of them had suffered broken hearts. In a way, they had a lot in common.

“What do I owe you?” she asked, reaching for her purse.

He raised his hand. “It’s on the house. I didn’t do anything, really. And Miss Mamie paid me plenty yesterday.”

She lifted the baby, holding him close against her shoulder before she kissed his downy head. “Well, thank you. I can’t tell you how relieved I feel. I so appreciate your help.”

He smiled, drawn to her easy, honest manners. She seemed so genuine. So real and down-to-earth. Nothing contrived at all. Not like Kayla, his former fiancée.

“Come on. I’ll walk you out,” he said.

Carrying the baby, Eva preceded him through the house and out to the front porch. Tyler followed, breathing deeply the fragrance of her fresh, coconut-scented hair. As she walked, her hair swayed against her back like a long, red waterfall. He felt the urge to reach out and run his fingers through the silken length of it, but resisted.

Shaking his head, he tried to clear his mind of such nonsense. The last thing he needed right now was a romantic entanglement.

As he stepped out on the front porch, he slid his hands into his pockets.

“Tyler! Oh, Tyler!”

He glanced over at the barn. Veola Grainger stood in front of the wide double doors. His mother. An early riser, she’d dressed in her blue jeans and boots to help him with some chores before he drove into town to make his rounds at the regional medical hospital. Just now she was waving frantically to get his attention.

“Excuse me one moment, will you?” With a nod to Eva, he stepped off the porch and hurried toward his mom. Eva stood easily within hearing distance.

“Applejack is gone,” Veola said, her voice shrill with urgency.

He tilted his head. “What do you mean, she’s gone?”

“She’s gone, and so is your sister’s saddle.” Mom’s voice rose to a plaintive cry.

A blaze of dread scorched Tyler’s skin. Without another word, he ran into the barn and looked around. Morning sunlight streamed through the open doorway. He caught the musty smell of straw and ammonia. Bullet, their sorrel gelding, stood in his stall swishing his tail. But sure enough, Applejack was gone; the mare’s stall stood wide-open and vacant. At first Tyler thought maybe he’d left the gate open last night and the mare had wandered off. But no. He distinctly remembered closing the barn door securely, because he’d pinched his thumb in the process. Someone had entered the barn and opened Applejack’s stall.

His heart plummeted. Was it possible they’d become the victims of a crime? He’d heard about the cattle rustlings and equipment thefts going on in their community. But he’d never dreamed the thieves might steal his little sister’s mare.

He walked back out into the sunshine, feeling heartsick and furious by this turn of events. Eva stood beside her truck with his mother. Mom was cooing and admiring the baby, but glanced his way, awaiting his verdict.

“She’s gone, all right,” he said.

“You think someone stole her?” Mom asked.

He looked out at the wide-open fields surrounding them, his gaze searching the area for some sign of the mare. “Unless she got loose and wandered off.”

Mom shook her head. “No, when I went out to the barn this morning, the doors were closed. She couldn’t have gotten out by herself.”

“And I guarantee she didn’t take the saddle with her,” he said.

“But why would anyone steal our mare? That horse is almost twenty-one years old.”

Tyler shrugged, trying not to show his anger in front of Eva. “I have no idea. But what surprises me more is that the thieves left Bullet behind. I don’t understand why they’d take an old horse like Applejack, but leave the younger gelding.”

He spoke calmly. After his father’s death he’d learned to be the man of the house, and that had taught him patience and self-control over his emotions. He had to be strong for his mother’s sake. Though Mom hadn’t said so, he knew she was dreading his return to Austin in four weeks. And Eva was worried enough about baby Cody. With their own problems to cope with, neither woman needed to see him act out right now.

“What would they want with Applejack?” Mom asked.

“I have no idea. She’s too old to make a good saddle horse anymore. The thieves couldn’t get much for her unless they sold her for slaughter,” he said.

Eva gave a small cry of anguish. “They still do that?”

Tyler nodded. “While they don’t use the horse meat here in the United States, they can definitely sell it to foreign countries.”

Veola cringed in horror and clasped a hand to her mouth. “Oh, Tyler. That sweet little mare. Jenny loved that horse so much. I promised her that Applejack would live out her days here on the ranch. You don’t think the thieves would sell your sister’s horse to a soap factory, do you?”

A sick feeling settled in his gut. He glanced at Eva. Her mouth dropped open and her eyes mirrored the outrage he was feeling inside. He thought about the horse thieves and wondered if they knew just how much they had hurt the people they’d stolen from. Applejack wasn’t just a saddle horse to Tyler and his mother. She was a beloved member of their family. A sweet reminder of a happier time when his sister had been alive and joyfully riding around this ranch.

“I sure hope not. I’ll go call the sheriff right now,” he said.

“I won’t keep you, then. I’m sorry about this. I hope you find your horse,” Eva said, her eyes filled with compassion and sincerity.

Again Tyler got the impression she was the real deal. Genuine and caring. The kind of woman a man could depend upon to the very end.

“Thanks, Eva.” He nodded, then turned to run inside the house.

He was determined to find Applejack before it was too late. Before the thieves sold her to someone who might do her harm. But as Tyler dialed the sheriff’s office he couldn’t stop thinking about Eva Brooks and her wide, gentle eyes.

Chapter Three

Seven hours later, Eva pulled into the parking lot at the regional medical hospital in town. She killed the engine of Aunt Mamie’s car and withdrew the key.

“Thanks for bringing me here to see Ben,” Mamie said.

“You’re welcome.” Eva smiled and tossed a quick glance over her shoulder at the baby. He lay in his car seat in the back, sleeping soundly. His sweet little face warmed her heart.

“I can’t believe the difference in him. He’s so calm and happy lately. You’re good for Cody,” Mamie said as she opened her door.

Eva still wasn’t convinced. Everything she did for Cody was still so new. She wondered if she’d ever get the hang of it. And it gave her insight into what it felt like to be a new mother. But she felt betrayed by the flush of pleasure her great-aunt’s words caused her. She didn’t want to be a nanny, but for the first time in her life she thought she might actually be able to do this job. And she had Tyler to thank for that.

She climbed out and retrieved the baby carrier. As she closed the car door, she tried not to jar Cody too much and wake him up. She slipped the diaper bag over her shoulder. With the baby in tow, she took Aunt Mamie’s arm and led the woman up the sidewalk to the white brick building.

Little Horn was fortunate to have this nice, new facility. No doubt Tyler had some of his patients admitted here. While she understood his reasons for wanting to return to Austin, she also wished he would stay. This community needed a talented doctor. But Tyler was a bright, glittering star. He deserved the opportunity to shine. And he could do that in Austin with the new research grant he and his partners had received from the FDA.

The automatic double doors whooshed open and they stepped inside. They didn’t pause at the reception desk, but headed back to the intensive care unit. The wide, pristine hallway smelled of antiseptic, bacon and eggs. Not a nice combination. A cart stood off to one side, and an orderly was shuttling breakfast trays into the rooms of the patients.

“Good morning.” Grace Bingham greeted them at the nurses’ station. Wearing a green smock and white pants, she tucked a curl of wavy brown hair behind her ear.

“Hello, Grace. How is my grandson today?” Mamie asked.

The nurse released a short sigh. “The same, I’m afraid.”

“Has the doctor been in to see him this morning?” Eva asked.

“Yes, a couple of hours ago. He said there was no change,” Grace reiterated.

With her mouth pressed in a stoic smile, Mamie headed into Ben’s room. Eva stood by the nurses’ station and set the baby carrier on the floor at her feet. From the open doorway, she could see that her cousin Ben lay on the bed, his tall body still as stone. A white bandage had been wrapped around his head. When he’d been bucked off his horse, he’d struck his head on a rock. Now he was hooked up to a variety of tubes and IV drips, to monitor his heartbeat and oxygen level and keep him hydrated. In the dimly lit room, his handsome face looked as pale as the white blankets tucked beneath his arms. His eyes were closed as if he were in a very deep sleep. Mamie sat in a chair beside him and reached up to clasp his hand.

“Hi there, sweetheart. How are you doing today?” the woman said.

She received no response.

“It’s so sad,” Grace whispered. “He’s so blessed to have his family around him.”

Eva glanced at the nurse. They were old school friends, so Eva wasn’t surprised by the nurse’s blunt comment. “Yes, I hope he’ll wake up soon.”

Ben had always been so talkative and vibrant. Too wild for Eva to keep up with. Grady and Tyler had never approved of Ben’s partying. Ben had always been a hard worker, but he played hard, too. And now, seeing her cousin so quiet and unresponsive tore at Eva’s heart. She said a silent prayer, asking the Lord to help her cousin recover soon. And to keep Grady safe. She had to trust God to see them through. This situation was hard on Mamie. It was hard on all of them.

If only Grady were here. He’d know what to do. He was the stoic one. Dutiful and stalwart. They all depended on his wisdom and strength. He’d be able to reassure Aunt Mamie and help them feel better. He’d solve the mystery about baby Cody’s parentage, too. Surely he’d know if he’d fathered a child or if it was Ben’s baby. But Grady wasn’t here, and Eva felt the leaden weight of responsibility resting on her shoulders. She had to take care of Aunt Mamie and Cody with courage and compassion. No matter what her own fears might be, she mustn’t let them down.

“Hi, Eva.”

She looked up. Tyler stood beside the front desk. And in a fraction of an instant her senses went on high alert.

He’d changed his clothes from when she’d seen him out at his ranch earlier that morning. His blond hair had been slicked back, his face freshly shaved. He wore a white doctor’s coat over his blue Western shirt. A stethoscope dangled from around his neck. He must have been making his morning rounds at the hospital. And for some crazy reason she found his presence strangely comforting. He looked good today. Too good.

The sound of boot heels clicking against the tiled floor filled her ears. She looked up. Carson Thorn joined Tyler. Carson was the president of the Lone Star Cowboy League. Eva had no doubt both men had come here to check on Ben’s condition.

A buzzer went off down the hall and Grace headed in that direction. “Excuse me, please.”

“Hi there.” Picking up the baby’s car seat and moving him with her, Eva stepped over to greet the two men.

Carson thrust out a hand and smiled as he spoke in a subdued voice. “I came to check on Ben. How is he holding up?”

She shook the man’s hand, highly conscious of Tyler standing beside her. Even without looking, she could feel his gaze resting on her. A fissure of awareness swept down her spine. She was suddenly self-conscious about her appearance. Was her hair in place? Did her makeup look nice? She hoped Tyler wouldn’t notice the white stain on her coat from where Cody had spit up on her.

“He’s doing as well as can be expected, but no improvement,” she said.

Carson shook his head. “I’d hoped he would be coming out of it by now. That day he had the accident, he was so upset when he called to tell me he’d found the baby on your doorstep. I should have told him to stay home and I’d drive over to him.”

“What happened?” Tyler asked.

Carson shrugged and slung his thumbs through his belt loops. “Ben missed the monthly League meeting. That wasn’t like him at all. Especially since he knew we’d be discussing all the cattle rustling and other thefts we’ve had going on lately. After the meeting ended, he called and told me that he’d found a baby on his doorstep. He was pretty shaken up by it all and wanted to talk. He said he’d ride over to my place, but he never arrived. When I called later on, I found out that he’d gotten bucked off his horse and was lying unconscious here in the hospital.”

Tyler shifted his booted feet. “Well, he’s getting the best of care. I can guarantee that.”

His comforting words brought warmth to Eva’s chest.

“Did his doctor say when he should come out of the coma?” Carson asked.

“No, but the longer he’s out, the worse his prognosis becomes.” Eva spoke softly, not wanting Aunt Mamie to overhear their conversation. It was upsetting enough without scaring the woman any more. The last thing Eva wanted was to make Mamie sick with worry.

“It’s in God’s hands now,” Carson said.

Eva nodded and tried to smile. But under the circumstances she found the situation a bit hopeless and sad.

“Yes, we need to have faith. God will carry us through,” she said, determined to believe her own words.

Tyler made a low, derogatory sound in the back of his throat. He looked away and she got the impression he didn’t agree. That wasn’t so strange when she considered that she hadn’t seen him in church since he was a teenager. As a kid he’d always attended with his parents, but not anymore. And she couldn’t help wondering what might have changed him.

“Any news about your missing horse?” Eva asked Tyler.

He shook his head. “No, but the sheriff’s working on it.”

“I think the league’s Rustling Investigation Team should pay a visit to your place, just to have a look around. They might be able to figure out who stole your horse and saddle,” Carson said.

A hard glint filled Tyler’s eyes. “I’ll take any help I can get. In fact, I’d like to become a member of the team and help with the investigation, too.”

Carson blinked in surprise. “But aren’t you leaving town soon?”

“Yes, but does that matter?” Tyler asked.

“I guess not, but I didn’t think you’d be interested,” Carson replied.

“Well, I am. I’d like to help out until it’s time for me to leave, if that’s okay. I want to catch the thief as bad as anyone else. And I want my mare back, too.”

Eva caught a hint of anger in his voice. She knew Tyler was upset about losing his horse, but she didn’t think he had time to join the league in its investigations. No doubt having his mare stolen had incentivized Tyler to get involved. The situation had become personal to him. Yet she detected something deeper within his motives. She just had no idea what that might be.

* * *

“Okay, I think we can arrange for you to become a member of the investigation team,” Carson said.

“Good. I’d appreciate it.” Tyler forced himself to speak in a calm voice.

Recovering his sister’s stolen horse meant a lot to him and his mother. The theft was a deep invasion into their private lives. Knowing that someone had sneaked into their barn late at night while they were sleeping made both him and Mom feel violated. It also made him furious. As though he’d let his baby sister down again. He hadn’t been able to save her life back when she’d got sick, but he sure as shootin’ wanted to get her horse back. He’d promised her that he’d look after Applejack. That the mare would live out her days in comfort. Not become fodder for the slaughterhouses. He had to keep his word. He had to recover the mare. And he didn’t want to share his personal reasons with anyone else.

“I’d like to help with the investigation, too,” Eva said.

Both men stared at her in astonishment.

“But why?” Carson asked.

She inclined her head toward Ben. “I’ve got one cousin in a coma and the other one is in Afghanistan fighting a war. With a new baby to take care of, Aunt Mamie has a lot on her mind right now. She doesn’t need to worry about thieves, too. She needs my help to look after the ranch. I’m trying to take some burdens off her. I’m all she’s got right now. It’s the least I can do for my family. So, I want to help.”

The baby made a little squealing sound. They all looked down as Cody squirmed, stretched and yawned. His little eyelids fluttered open and he looked up at the adults standing around him. Eva swung the car seat back and forth in a gentle rocking motion to quiet him. Tyler watched her, thinking her jaunty movements were adorable. In spite of her misgivings, she really was quite good at caring for a child.

“His rash looks a little bit better already,” Tyler observed.

She nodded with satisfaction. “Yes, thanks to you.”

He flashed a wide smile, unable to help himself. Her words brought a joyful fullness to his chest. For some reason this woman’s opinion mattered a great deal to him. When he’d come here to check on Ben, he hadn’t expected to see Eva, too. But being near her caused his heartbeat to speed up.

“You sure you want to join the investigation team, Eva? They’ll be traveling around to visit various theft sites, and you’ve got this little guy to look after.” Carson gestured toward the baby.

“Yes, I’m sure. I’m not trained in investigation work, but I can sure be vigilant and ask a lot of questions. And Cody won’t be any trouble. He’s a good traveler and he sleeps most of the time anyway,” she insisted.

Carson nodded. “All right, then. I’ll make the necessary arrangements.”

She gave a decisive nod. “Thank you.”

Carson bent down to smile and touch the baby’s hand. Cody promptly latched on to the man’s finger and Carson laughed.

“He’s got a strong grip, but my hands aren’t very clean,” he said.

Eva beamed with pleasure and Tyler could hardly take his eyes off her.

“When are you returning to Austin?” Carson asked.

It took Tyler a moment to realize the man was speaking to him. He jerked his gaze away from Eva, feeling embarrassed to be caught staring at her. “Um, I’m scheduled to leave the day after Thanksgiving.”

But now Tyler wasn’t so sure. He didn’t want to leave his mother until he’d recovered his sister’s horse. That might take some time. Mom already was upset that he was going away, because she’d be all alone. Until this year she’d let most of their land lie fallow and hadn’t been running any livestock. This summer, Tyler had worked hard to get the ranch back in shape...just in time to leave again. And Mom wasn’t thrilled by the proposition. She didn’t say a lot, but he could tell by the sad, faraway look in her eyes that she didn’t want him to go. But he had to. Had to get out of this dinky little town and back to his old life. He just didn’t belong here anymore.

Or did he?

“Well, I better get back to work. If there’s anything I can do, you just say the word,” Carson told Eva.

She smiled. “Thank you. I appreciate that.”

Carson left, and Tyler figured he should do the same. There was no reason to stay here any longer. Yet he liked being near Eva. She had a soothing way about her that made him feel at ease.

“You’ll be missed when you leave town,” Eva said.

Her words brought a hard lump to his throat. Other than his patients, he figured only his mom would miss him. It was nice to know someone else cared. “Thanks. I appreciate that.”

“I can see how you’d rather live in the city,” she said.

He caught a bit of hesitancy in her voice.

“But you don’t agree?” he said.

She inhaled deeply and let it out, then shook her head. “Don’t get me wrong. I love living at Stillwater Ranch. And I love the twins and Aunt Mamie. But it’s not my home. Not really. But Little Horn is. It’s the town where I grew up. Where my people are from. It’s a part of me. It’ll always be my home, no matter where I go.”

Tyler swallowed hard. “Yeah, I get that.”

And he really did. He was surprised by the difference one event could make in changing his mind-set. Losing his sister’s horse had hit him harder than he thought. It had reminded him that this was his home, too. That his mom was counting on him. That he’d been raised in Little Horn. Whether he liked it or not, this community was in his blood.

Eva arched one of her eyebrows. “But you don’t agree?”

He released a pent-up breath. “I didn’t use to, but maybe now I do.”

She inclined her head, her long ponytail bouncing. “What do you mean?”

He looked at the baby, wondering what he should say. “At one time I thought Little Horn was nothing more than a tiny speck on a very large map. A go-nowhere town with a big dead end in front of me. All my life I dreamed of becoming a respected doctor. Living in a city far away from cows and a small-town environment. I wanted the lights and action of a big city. I wanted to do medical research and live anywhere but here.”

Oh, maybe he shouldn’t have told her all that. But for some reason, Eva was so easy to talk to. He felt as though he could confide his deepest secrets in her. An odd notion, surely.

She took a step closer. “And now?”

He gave a scoffing laugh. “And now I’m not so sure. Losing Applejack has hurt Mom and me a lot.”

What an understatement. Losing that horse was agony. Tyler felt torn up inside. As though he’d lost his best friend. And suddenly he felt as if he was a part of this community he’d tried so hard to shun. He had to protect his ranch. But more than that, he had to protect his family. His father had fought so hard to keep their home. Laboring with blood, sweat and tears to build it into a prosperous place to raise his children. Tyler’s sister had died way too young, but that didn’t change his feelings for the place. He couldn’t walk away from his mom and childhood home without making things right. Not without recovering Jenny’s horse first.

He realized Eva was partly to blame for making him recognize all of these feelings he’d kept bottled up inside. He needed to get away from her. Fast. Before he made a huge mistake and asked her out.

“I better get going, too. Like Carson said, if there’s anything you need, all you have to do is call and I’ll be there,” Tyler said.

And he meant every word. He wanted to protect Mom and their home. But he felt protective of Eva, too. Maybe it was an offshoot emotion from when he’d been young, riding around Stillwater Ranch with Ben and Grady. He’d always helped them look after their little cousin Eva. But somehow Tyler’s feelings had changed toward her recently. Something he couldn’t quite put his finger on. He only knew he was worried about her. He cared about her and Miss Mamie. And the baby, too. He wanted to help them out. Yet it was something more. Something he’d never felt before. Something he didn’t understand. And that scared him. A lot. Because caring brought with it a lot of heartache. And because he’d vowed never to care for another woman as long as he lived.