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“I’m not a cowboy anymore. I’m gonna be a biker, like Uncle Vlad.”

My eyebrows shot up. A moment later, Vlad emerged, huge and broad and utterly terrifying if it wasn’t for the tiny bundle of Emma, fast asleep with her cheek resting in his palm.

“Uncle Vlad, huh?” I replied. “Those tattoos better be temporary.”

Vlad shrugged.

“You are the boss’s woman, yes? That makes little man part of the family.”

I took a breath to protest, but no words came. In technical terms, Neil and I were separated. But that was paperwork, and it clearly never meant anything to him. Our divorce was in name only, according to him. Besides, my body certainly still thought I was married to him.

“I’m sure my sister will not be thrilled to hear any of this,” I said with a sigh.

Gathering Wylie into my arms, I gave him a big squeeze. Now that I was entertaining the idea that Neil and I might be getting back together, I didn’t know how that would affect my relationship with my sister. Could I return to Brightwater and watch my niece and nephew grow up? Or would Connie keep me at arm’s length to protect her family?

“Are you sure you don’t want to be a cowboy anymore?” I asked, sweeping Wylie’s tangled curls back from his forehead.

He shook his head.

“Uncle Vlad said he’ll teach me how to ride a motorcycle and go super fast!”

“Jesus,” I muttered under my breath. “Another man in my life who gives me gray hair.”

Wylie went racing off into the living room, playing with his toy cars on the floor. I couldn’t help noticing that a toy motorcycle had magically and mysteriously appeared. Rising to my feet, I fixed Vlad with a stern look.

“I left my nephew in your care for only a few hours. You were supposed to babysit him, not convert him into a biker. And how did you convince my sister to surrender her newborn?”

Vlad shrugged again, rubbing Emma’s back with his massive palm. She looked like a doll in his hands.

“I told you. I am good with babies.”

That didn’t explain how he managed to pry Emma away from Connie. I glanced around the living room, then checked the kitchen. Empty.

“Where is my sister, anyway?”

“Backyard,” Vlad replied simply.

I moved to the back door and peered through the screen. Connie and Nathan were seated on a bench, tucked under the sprawling oak tree in a corner of their backyard. She had her feet in his lap, while he stroked his fingers in idle circles over her calves. Their heads were tipped close together, and when Nathan spoke, Connie’s eyes lit up with a smile.

Relief washed over me. I had expected to find my sister frazzled, exhausted, stressed. I had expected Nathan to be irritated that bikers were invading his peaceful home. This ordeal with the trial, and Neil, and the Blackjacks, had upended their lives.

It felt good to see her relaxed like this. In love. Enjoying a slice of regular life amid the chaos.

Now that I had given my testimony in court, I was free to return to Seattle. I could get back to my own normal life.

Why did that feel so lonely? Apart from my job, my cramped little apartment, and a handful of acquaintances, no one would miss me in Seattle. But I had family here in Montana—my sister, my brother-in-law, my niece and nephew. I had Neil. My heart never left Brightwater.

As I quietly retreated back into the house, Connie glanced my way.

“Hattie,” she called, waving me over. “How did the trial go?”

Reluctantly, I emerged from the house. I didn’t want to talk about the trial anymore. I was sick of it hanging over my head, shadowing the lives of my sister and her family who didn’t need this kind of trouble when they had two little kids to take care of.

“No verdict yet,” I replied. “But I testified, and that was the important part. Now that it’s out of the way, I can catch a flight to Washington. Officer Shepard will continue to patrol yourneighborhood himself until the trial is over, just to be on the safe side. You look…happy,” I added. “Really happy.”

Connie kissed Nathan’s cheek and rose from the bench to join me.

“Vlad has been a godsend. Emma fell asleep in his arms in five seconds. Five seconds! And Wylie is glued to him like a little shadow. He’s so gentle, it’s incredible. Nathan and I got the best nap we’ve had in years and—”