Page 109 of The Cowboy and the Baby

I was proud of him. He had a goal, and he chased it down. If he came out of it alive, that dedication would serve him well.

Cody, on the other hand, had no interest outside of puttering around the ranch and dinking around with things. The renovations ignited a little spark in him, but not spark enough to invite change.

But he still helped Wyatt, because that was Cody. A heart bigger than Wyoming, and no idea what to do with it. I worried about them both like I worried about Lily, and Cora, and my mom.

That probably wouldn’t change soon.

But their lives were their lives, and I only had to shoulder so much of it. That was the thing about responsibility. The less I accepted what didn’t have to be mine, the more capacity I had for what was mine. It made sense, in a raw, undefined kind of way. I was still figuring it out.

“Marsha,” I asked, clearing my throat, “would you like to hold Lily?”

Her eyes popped wide open.

“Yes! May I?”

She stood directly between me and Noelle, her back to her niece. While there, Marsha sneakily produced a small box from her sleeve. I accepted the box in my hand while transferring Lily over. The exchange remained unnoticed by Noelle, even as I slid it into my back pocket.

“Baby girl!” Marsha cooed. “Aren’t you the yummiest little thing I have ever seen?”

Noelle’s fond smile grew wider at the sight of her aunt playing with Lily. It was a concerted effort not to stick my hand in my pocket and draw attention to the package, which I had asked Marsha to bring over a week ago.

“Oh, what a baby. Come, little one.” Marsha bustled out of the kitchen and into the living room. “Thomas is bringing all of your bags inside. I went shopping in Jackson City for you, and I spent too much money.” She laughed. “But don’t you worry! There’s plenty for you to get excited over in all these bags. There are at least twenty new outfits, and you won’t believe the toys. Good thing we have a big credit card limit!”

Noelle began to follow, but I trapped her by the wrist. “Can I have your attention for just a moment?”

She paused, blinking in surprise.

“Sure, Cade. What’s up?”

Smiling, I pulled her behind me.

“C’mere.”

Holding Lily when Marsha arrived, and then offering Lily to her, hadn’t been an accident. The whole setup had begun.

Because I had something very important to show Noelle.

The bundle of paperwork that waited on the picnic table outside wasn’t overtly romantic. Neither was the old pen laying on top, nor the roughshod plan in my head. When I analyzed my idea from the outside, it seemed ridiculous. No one would find this romantic, not even Noelle who had a kind of romance that lurked beneath her tough exterior.

Oh, she acted tough.

But she was gooey inside.

However, this idea was the best I could do with all we had pressing on us. Spring brought calving season, checking the far fences as the snow melted, and riding the irrigation lines. In less than a week, I’d fly out to Florida and meet up with Pastor Mike and try to see Mom, who made it through her scare. Cora was going with me this time. Just me and Cora, because Hawk was helping Noah out with something they hadn’t explained.

So.

Today was the day.

The biggest day of my life.

Noelle showed no anxiety around leaving Lily with her aunt. She trusted Marsha not to take Lily away. Noelle’s parents hadn’t once reached out since that horrible day four months ago. Channing’s strong defense had taken care of that. Since Ashley Morgan willingly confirmed that Sarah and Thomas Miller had been involved in the plot, he’d taken them down too, eliminating their chances of taking custody of Lily.

Thanks to him, neither set of parents would be much of a problem anymore.

Ever again.

Lily was all ours. Or, she was about to be.