Rocky Mountain Brides: Raising the Rancher's Family

Reed nodded. “They’re being investigated, so the boy has a reprieve…for now. But he’ll have to go to a shelter for a few nights.”

“No,” Leah said, her gaze darted back and forth between the two men. “I promised Corey that I wouldn’t let you take him back.”

“Leah, there isn’t much else I can do,” Reed said. “His mother is deceased and his father’s in jail on a robbery charge. There’s no one. And foster homes are overcrowded.”

“He’ll just run away again,” Leah said.

The sheriff was about to argue when his radio went off. “Excuse me, I need to take this.” Reed stepped onto the porch.

Holt watched as Leah paced nervously. He knew from the beginning how involved she’d gotten in the boy. He told himself that he’d done his duty by finding the kid. That there was a nice foster home that would care for him. But seeing the frightened look on the boy’s face, he knew that wasn’t true.

They both turned to the sheriff when he came back in the door. “Sorry, that was Social Services…they were letting me know that there are no foster homes available. So that means I have to take him to Durango to a group home.”

“No, you can’t,” Leah cried. “Maybe my parents will let Corey stay—”

“He can stay here …” Holt interrupted her. “We’ll give it a try anyway.”

Leah’s gaze darted to Holt. “Here?”

“No offence, Mr. Rawlins,” the sheriff began, “but I don’t know you. And if I were to recommend you for temporary foster care say for the next few days, I’d need more—”

“I know him,” Leah jumped in. “We’ve spent the last three days together searching for Corey. And…Zach’s here, too. He’ll be around.”

Holt watched as Reed contemplated the suggestion. “And Leah will be staying here, too,” he added.

“You sure about this?” Reed Larkin asked.

Leah tried to hide her surprise at Holt’s suggestion. She would do anything to keep the boy safe…even live under the same roof with this man. “It’s time Corey started believing in someone,” she said. “Besides, until we find a suitable home for the child, this is the best solution.”

Reed looked at Holt. “I’ll get in touch with Social Services and they’ll be contacting you.” The sheriff paused. “Are you sure this is what you want?”

Leah held her breath waiting for the answer.

“I’m sure,” Holt said.

“They’ll probably send someone out to your house.”

“That’s fine. I have nothing to hide.”

Just then Corey came into the kitchen. He was scrubbed clean. His hair was two shades lighter, and he was wearing an oversize white T-shirt that hung past his knees with a pair of socks on his feet. The boy’s smile disappeared when he saw the man in uniform.

Leah went to him. “It’s okay, Corey. This is Sheriff Reed. He’s going to let you stay here with Holt for a few days. Is that okay with you?”

Corey looked at her. “Will you be here, too?”

“Sure, for as long as you and Holt need me.”

CHAPTER FOUR

LEAH rolled over in bed and opened her eyes to sunshine coming through the window. She wasn’t in her bedroom at the inn. Sitting up, she glanced around the space and slowly began to remember.

She was in the guest room at the Silver R Ranch. In an old iron-framed bed covered in a wedding ring quilt, and wearing one of Holt’s white T-shirts. The panicked look on Corey’s face had prevented her from leaving last night, not even for the short time it would have taken to get some clean clothes. At least she’d called her family and told them about the situation.

Leah pushed back the covers and got up. She retrieved her jeans from the chair in the corner, pulled them on, along with her blouse and stepped into her boots.

After brushing her hair Leah walked down the hall of the big, old ranch house. Obviously the place had been neglected for years, but there was beauty hidden under the faded wallpaper and worn carpet. The hallway led into four bedrooms, and a bathroom and the master suite at the far end.

At the top of the curved staircase, she held on to the oak banister and started down the wide steps covered in a dark brown runner. At the landing, halfway down she faced the entry at the front of the house and the solid oak door that had weathered over the years. She descended the remaining steps, thinking this place would make a wonderful home.

She headed for the kitchen in search of the new owner. In the doorway she stopped to see Holt Rawlins standing at the old stove, a towel tucked in the waist of his faded jeans. He wore a chambray shirt and scuffed boots.

She smiled. If only she had her camera.

A sullen Corey was busy setting the table and neither one were talking. Disappointed, she’d hoped that some sort of bonding would take place between the two. Obviously that was going to take a little more time. So as not to disturb them she was about to return to the bedroom when Corey looked in her direction.

“Leah,” the boy called. “You’re awake.”

Upbeat, she walked into the kitchen. “I sure am. I smelled breakfast and couldn’t wait to eat.” She looked at Holt. “What do you need me to do?”

“Nothing,” Holt said. “I have everything under control. There’s coffee in the pot.”

Even in his own home, he was a man of few words, she conceded. She went to the coffeemaker. Once she doctored her brew, she took a long sip. “It’s good.”

Holt continued cracking eggs into the skillet. “How can you tell? You add so much cream and sugar.”

“Not so much. It’s just most men make it so strong.”

He gave her a sideways glance. “I’m not most men.”

True, she’d never met anyone like him. Someone who was so stubborn, brooding…handsome.

“How did you sleep?” he asked.

“Not too bad.”

Their gazes locked, and Leah’s heart began to race. She doubted it had anything to do with the caffeine. “So, how long have you been up?” she asked.

“Since five-thirty.”

“You should have got me up. I could have helped with the chores.”

“We finished them fast,” Holt assured her.

“You and Zach?”

“And Corey.”

The boy walked to the cupboard and took down plates. “Holt woke me up to help feed the horses.”