Page 39 of The Cowboy and the Baby

Cade stood, set a hand on my shoulder. The touch was natural, not at all contrived.

“Just because you’re feeling better doesn’t mean you’re well. I’m happy to take the lead on Lily for the rest of the day and tomorrow if it helps.”

Tears welled up in my eyes, hot and stinging. He didn’t remove his hand right away, and I never wanted him to. Oh, this situation with Cade went deeper than I expected. Ties had started to form. Tiny ribbons that braided us together with every spectacular and selfless act. Cade did more than provide a place for me to land.

He cared for us.

And I would never forget that.

Although my energy had restored enough for me to putter around the kitchen that evening, Cade insisted I sit and snuggle Lily. He dumped canned soup into pots and reprimanded Cody and Wyatt when their arguments over ice fishing regulations grew too animated.

The soup was hot, the snow cozy, and the freezing air crisp as it flowed around outside. Fire crackled in the wood stove when I shuffled into the kitchen to feed Lily. We were met with two cowboys leaping to their feet to help us, and Cade sending a wary warning for me to sit down.

“I’ll get her bottle,” he said in a tone that brooked no opposition, so I joined the other two at the table.

Cody said as I approached, “Noelle, Lily is a real cute baby. I don’t know a lot of babies, but she’s got to be the most beautiful. I held her for a long time, and it wasn’t so bad.”

“You didn’t die?” I asked with a teasing smile.

He sobered.

“Thought I might, but we both survived.”

They continued to stand there. Feeling squeamish under their attentive stares, I hesitated before sitting down on the chair.

“Everything okay?”

“They can’t sit,” Cade called over his shoulder, “until you do.”

Wyatt sighed. “Cowboy Code.”

“I’m teaching them to be gentlemen,” Cade clarified, “not knuckleheads. That’s what the Cowboy Code is.”

Wyatt winked at me. Hiding my amusement, I sat down, and they followed suit. Lily fell into a trance watching a flickering candle on the table that emitted a candy-coated apple smell.

“We’re taking bets on how much money the house repairs will take.” Wyatt leaned back on the back legs of his chair. Cody put his foot on Wyatt’s chair handle and slammed it down. Wyatt glowered, but left all four on the ground.

“I’m guessing $200,000.”

Cody snorted. “No way!”

Wyatt shrugged. “Fine. $210,000.”

“You’re insane!”

“If you include our labor? It’ll be more than you think.”

“We’re not getting paid extra.”

“I’ll give you a Christmas present for your help,” Cade retorted, and Cody hooted.

“See! Told ya!”

Wyatt flipped Cade the bird, but he wasn’t discreet enough. Cade came up behind him and smacked the back of his head.

“We have a lady present,” he muttered. “Manners.”

Cade set a large pot on the table, and Cody and Wyatt scrambled out of their chairs to help. They assembled spoons and bowls while Cade reached for different cracker packages. The smell of soup had never hit me quite so powerfully. My stomach growled.