Page 28 of The Cowboy and the Baby

Cody and Wyatt hooted as they crowded the table. Wyatt playfully shoved Cody, who spun to slug him in the shoulder, but stopped short. His eyes widened as he shoved Wyatt back, pointing to Lily and hissing, “Stop! There’s a baby in the kitchen.”

They stilled.

Lily cooed from her car seat, a wide, though fleeting, smile splitting her wet lips. She eyed a toy hanging above her.

Wyatt immediately went limp.

“Aw sh?—”

Cade cleared his throat. “That’s enough, boys.”

“This is Lily,” I said, folding my hands in front of me. Their stares continued with a touch of awe. Cody’s lips lifted in a smile. Wyatt stared in horror.

Drawling, I said, “I promise, she doesn’t bite.”

Wyatt didn’t look so sure.

“Sit down and shut up, and with gratitude,” Cade said. “I promised you cereal, not fresh-baked biscuits and gravy, but Noelle is kind enough to fix you something hot.” He looked at me. “Again, I apologize that I didn’t tell you to expect the knuckleheads for breakfast. If you haven’t made enough for them, they’d be happy with cereal and cold milk?—”

Wyatt issued a loud boo, interrupting his statement.

“Let them eat!” I cried, laughing. “I have plenty for everyone. Lily has already had her breakfast.”

“You don’t want to eat?”

“I sure do; it’ll be a busy day.”

Cade helped me carry four plates to the table, sending discreet glares to the boys that I didn’t miss. Judging by their rolling eyes and dramatically obedient postures, they didn’t miss his harrowing stares either. Their hands waited on either side of their plates, fingers twitching, eyes fixated on the steaming gravy, the picture of patient compliance. Whatever story these two had, I couldn’t wait to hear it.

I settled four forks on the table and gestured to the bowls.

“Well? Aren’t you hungry?”

Cade glared at Wyatt, whose fingers twitched toward a biscuit, but refrained.

“We have a rule,” Cade said. “We say Grace and then let ladies serve themselves first. The men don’t dish up until you’re settled. After dinner, we do the dishes. By we, I mean the knuckleheads.”

“Cowboy Code,” Wyatt supplied.

“Cowboy Code?”

Cade waved it off. “I’ll explain it later.”

I couldn’t handle my growing affection.

With my lips pursed to school a shocked smile, I lowered into the chair next to Cade. Cade held out his hand to me, said Grace. Anticipation built in the air as the boys waited for me to grab a biscuit, a dribble of gravy, and a piece of bacon. The moment I set my plate down, Wyatt and Cody bounced to life like rockets. At the same moment, Lily let out a noisy squawk. I pushed to my feet to replace her pacifier, but Cade beat me to it.

“Got it.”

He easily replaced her pacifier, watched her to make sure she settled, and returned his attention to the table. My heartstrings tugged in a most dramatic fashion. Nothing had ever unwound me like this cowboy and his ranch hands.

Using the side of my fork, I split a biscuit in two, flicked the sides apart, and reached for the butter. The delicious breakfast steamed beautifully and smelled just right. Grandma would be proud. Naomi might even be impressed.

Well done, Noelle, I thought with a thrill of triumph. You overcame yet another hurdle. Cooking for other people in a kitchen not your own.

“So, gentlemen,” I asked, “are you the ones destined to help us revamp the house? We’ll need extra workers with the list we came up with.”

If the question—or my gumption taking the project in hand—bothered Cade, he gave no sign. He stood up to rummage through the fridge for milk, which I was fast learning was his preferred drink. Next time, I’d set it out.