Rancher's Perfect Baby Rescue

“Put the dogs in the pen, Mac. I don’t want one of them jumping up to see what I’ve got.”

“Okay. Right away.” Mac turned and started off toward the dogs’ pen.

“And make that call!”

Nathan turned around and headed back toward the mother. He didn’t want to venture too much farther while carrying this small child. Poor little baby. When he’d first seen the two of them huddled in the hay, they’d looked like two lost angels—both gorgeous and wide-eyed.

The mother was one of the most striking women he’d ever seen, with her long, dark hair and porcelain skin. Stunning, even though her eyes had been filled with fright, she looked like a strong wind could blow her over.

Now that he’d had a chance to look closer at the child, however, he noticed a wide reddish mark on the side of her head and neck. She was still a beauty. Almost a spitting image of her mother.

“Don’t worry, little one,” he whispered. “I’ve got you now. I won’t let anything happen to you or your mom.”

The baby never stirred as he carried her back to where her mother waited. When he ducked around the half wall, the woman tried to stand again. She wobbled and went down on her backside

“Don’t try to move.” He knelt on the hay beside her. “Wait till help arrives. One of the women will be out shortly. Your baby is right here. See? Safe.”

She reached out and touched the baby’s head. “Melody.” Closing her eyes, the woman whispered through a sigh, “I can’t help her right now. Please don’t hurt her. She’s so little.”

Nathan sat back on his heels, wondering why this odd woman kept demanding that he not hurt them. What kind of monster would hurt a new mother and her child?

“Her name is Melody?” he asked, trying to make small talk and sound calm. “Pretty. How old is she?” He wanted to keep the woman talking so he could be sure she hadn’t passed out.

“Two weeks yesterday.”

“What’s your name?”

The woman groaned and pursed her lips. Apparently that was one question she didn’t want to answer. What the hell did he have on his hands? Who was she, and where had she come from? That she was running away from something seemed fairly obvious.

“You needed help, Nathan?” Maria, his family’s housekeeper, peered around the half wall. “Oh, my goodness. What on earth?” She made short shrift of the few feet between them.

“You bring the water with you?” He glanced over at Maria and saw the bottle in her hands. “Give this young woman a drink and then take the baby, please.”

Maria crouched to help the stranger take a sip of water. “Where’d you come from, Mrs.?”

The woman drank a few sips and then widened her eyes to stare at Maria. “Help my baby.” She grabbed hold of her arm in a deathlike grip. “Melody needs water, too, but I don’t know how to make her drink.”

Maria pulled her arm free and stood, then took the child from his hands. “Ah, a tiny one. You leave her to me, ma’am. I’ll have her taking water in no time.” Maria glanced up at him. “This child needs warmth and the comfort of the main house.”

He nodded at his housekeeper. “Thanks. I think I can carry the mother if you’ve got a handle on the baby.”

“Yes, sir.” Maria reached over and picked up the woman’s backpack with her free hand. “Looks like the pack is probably being used for baby’s things. I can carry it, too.” She walked away, still making cooing noises at the child.

Bending to scoop the stranger off the floor, Nathan thought he might have trouble hefting her. She jolted, and he could see her holding her breath. But actually her body came up in his arms almost too easily.

“You hardly weigh a thing,” he said while he marched toward the barnyard.

“I can walk. You don’t have to carry me.”

“Last time I saw you trying to stand you weren’t too steady. I think this is the safest way for now.”

“We’re going to your house? How far is it?”

“Not far. We’ll be there in a few minutes.”

“Do you own this farm?”

Tightening his grip on her, he exhaled and answered the slightly annoying question. “It’s a ranch. And my family owns it. For a trespasser, you’re just full of questions, aren’t you?”

She shut her mouth and narrowed it in a tight line.

“I’m Nathan Pierce, and I’ve answered all your questions. How about answering another of mine? What’s your name?”

Suddenly she looked terrified again. “Susannah. Susannah Paul.”

Her big eyes were pleading with him for some kind of mercy. And he didn’t have a clue what it was all about.

“That’s better. Nice name. And Melody is your baby. Where’s her father?”

“I really don’t know. He’s not around. We weren’t married, and he didn’t much want a baby.”

Her answer had come quick. Apparently the fact that she was on her own wasn’t the biggest problem. Something else must be frightening her.

He decided to give her a little time to rest before he questioned her further. Badgering new mothers for answers was not his style—especially ones as beautiful and fragile as this one.

He barged into the kitchen with her in his arms and found a small crowd around the table. The baby was the center of attention.

Maria looked over as they came near. “She’s taking a little water, ma’am. Is she on formula? I couldn’t find any in her bag.”

“I’m breast-feeding.” Susannah glared up at him. “If you’ll kindly put me down now, I need to take care of my daughter.”

“Here? In the kitchen?”

Maria answered for her. “Don’t be absurd, Nathan. Carry the mama into your bedroom. It’s the closest. And make her comfy. I’ll bring the baby along in a moment.”

His room? That was the last place he wanted to take this woman. But what did he know about tiny babies? Shutting his mouth, he dutifully did as requested.

How was it that he’d volunteered for this again?

He kicked open the door to his room, and a sudden flash of memory came back to kick him in the gut. Once before he’d carried a woman across the threshold of this room. That time things had not worked out well at all.

But this was different. This woman was not planning on staying.

At least he thought not. On the other hand, his body seemed suddenly to want an entirely different and completely inappropriate plan.

The windows were open, and fresh air filled the room with smells of spring—and maybe a little hint of cattle. It was not unpleasant to him; in fact, it was so ingrained in his life he hardly noticed anymore. But he didn’t have any idea what she would think of any of it—smells, cattle, ranch, him.

“The chair or the bed?” He really wanted her to opt for the chair but thought he’d better give her the choice.