The Unclaimed Baby

“What kind of job?”

“Actually he has an interview at White Pines today.”

“Oh, boy,” Lizzy said, chuckling. “And you think I’m subjecting you to an inquisition. Just wait till Daddy gets wind of the fact that you and Cord rescued a baby from a blizzard.”

That was precisely what Sharon Lynn was most afraid of. Her grandfather was notorious for his matchmaking schemes. She gave Lizzy a pointed look. “Then hopefully he won’t find out about it.”

“You have to be dreaming. Daddy has a sixth sense for this sort of thing. Not to mention the fact that Justin and I already know about it. I had to tell Hank I was coming here on my way to work at the hospital. Who knows how many people Justin has spoken to? And Cord is at this very moment out at White Pines meeting with whom?”

“Daddy, more than likely.”

Lizzy grinned. “Oh, yes, indeed, Uncle Cody is definitely known for his discretion. Add it up, sweetie, and you’re in big trouble.”

“Cord is being interviewed by my father,” Sharon Lynn reiterated. “Not Grandpa Harlan.”

Lizzy chuckled. “And you think that’s an improvement?”

Sharon Lynn sighed. “Okay, maybe not much of one. Maybe Cord won’t mention having met me.”

“Did you swear him to secrecy?”

“No.”

“If you were hoping to get hired on by the biggest rancher in the state, wouldn’t you use the fact that you happen to know his daughter?”

“Okay, maybe, but it’s not like we’re old friends or anything. We just met.”

“And rescued a baby together. It’s a bond, sweetie, the kind that will set off all sorts of wild speculation around White Pines. There’s no getting around it.”

It was a bond, Sharon Lynn thought with a sigh. Cord’s tenderness with the baby had touched her heart. His outrage and indignation had been every bit a match for her own. Beyond that? She refused to look beyond that. She wasn’t remotely interested in allowing a new man into her life, especially not a charming stranger who might be all too capable of slipping past her defenses. She’d lived amidst charming rogues and scoundrels all her life. She wasn’t interested in dating one. That’s why Kyle, the polar opposite of the men in her family, had held such strong appeal for her. Judging from Lizzy’s expression, she hadn’t yet made herself clear enough. She tried again.

“Lizzy, for a woman with a practical, scientific mind, you’re talking like the ultimate romantic. Get a grip. Cord Branson is a total stranger.”

“He might have been when he walked into Dolan’s last night, but something tells me he isn’t now.”

“You’re imagining things.”

“We’ll see,” Lizzy predicted. “If there’s one thing I’ve learned the last couple of years, it’s that fate has a sneaky way of turning life upside down when you least expect it. Jamey is proof enough of that.”

Sharon Lynn could certainly testify to that, too, but her experience with fate wasn’t something she had any intention of repeating. She was in total control of her life these days and she intended to stay that way. She said as much to Lizzy.

“And this time yesterday were you cuddling a baby in your arms and trying to figure out how you were going to juggle your schedule at Dolan’s and care for her?”

“No, but—”

Lizzy grinned. “I rest my case.” She slipped on her coat, then leaned down to brush a kiss across Sharon Lynn’s cheek. “See you, sweetie. Call if you need any help. If I’m not around, talk to Hank. He’s the baby expert, anyway. He’ll probably insist you bring this little princess out to the ranch to play with Jamey.”

Sharon Lynn grinned. “I think this one might be a little young for play-dates, don’t you?”

“I do, but Hank won’t. Promise you’ll call if you need anything.”

“Thanks. I’m sure we’ll be fine.”

Lizzy’s expression sobered then. She picked up Sharon Lynn’s hand and pressed it against her cheek.

“Don’t get too attached, okay? It would be easy to do. Nobody could blame you, but—”

“I know,” Sharon Lynn responded bleakly. “It can only end in heartbreak. I’ve been there, done that. One more time won’t matter.”

“It would matter,” Lizzy said fiercely. “You’re strong, Sharon Lynn. We all know that. But even you have a breaking point.”

Sharon Lynn forced a smile. “Then I can’t let myself get too attached, can I?”

When Lizzy was gone, she glanced down at the now-sleeping baby in her arms and sighed. She had a terrible feeling it was already too late.

The interview had gone well enough. Cody Adams had asked tough questions, questions that might have put Cord on the defensive, but he’d asked them in a way that had encouraged Cord to give straight answers about his past, as well as his ambitions.

“In other words, we can’t count on you sticking around here as a hand until your dying breath,” Cody summarized after the questions were done and they’d spent some time touring the ranch. “You scrape up enough money, find some land you want and you’ll leave?”

“To be perfectly honest, yes,” Cord admitted.

“But until I do, I’ll work longer and harder than any other man you’ve got.”

“Why White Pines?”

“Because everybody says you’re the best.”

“Who is everybody?”

Cord mentioned all the places he’d stopped and asked questions. “The Adams name kept coming up.”

Cody nodded, his expression thoughtful. “I like a man who does his homework. I also like a man who doesn’t make promises he doesn’t intend to keep. Depending on how good you are at tucking away your pay and not squandering it on poker games and such, I suppose I can count on you being with us for a while, long enough for it to be worth my while to break you in.”

Cord thought of another reason for staying right here, not just in the short term, but forever. She had the most incredible blue eyes he’d ever seen. He doubted Cody would want to know about his intentions in that regard just yet. Instead he said only, “Yes, sir, I think you can count on me being here that long.”

“Then the job’s yours. When can you start?”

Cord barely managed to contain a whoop of triumph. “When do you need me?”

“Today would be good. I’ll settle for tomorrow. I’m short one man and I’ve got two more down with the flu. I’m running in circles trying to keep up. My brother-in-law’s been pitching in, but he’s got his own spread to worry about, plus a kid who’s just learning to walk and is running both him and his housekeeper ragged.”

“Just tell me what needs doing and I’ll get started,” Cord told him, pushing aside his regret that there wouldn’t be time to head back into town to see Sharon Lynn and the baby until later that night or early the next week.

Before Cody could reply, the phone in his office rang. he grabbed it up, listened intently, then glanced at Cord with renewed curiosity.

“Sure thing, Daddy. I’ll send him over to the house. Don’t be taking up too much of his time, though. I’ve got chores for him to do.” He grinned.

“Yes, I recall that it is still your ranch and you do have some say about what goes on around here. Even if I should forget, you take great pleasure in reminding me every chance you get.”