Page 27 of A Rancher's Heart

Then she said something so quietly he had to lean in. “Say that again?”

“What if she leaves?” she whispered.

Like a knife stab into his gut. He wrapped his arms around her, holding her close, and he wished again he’d been smarter, somewhere along the line, even though he had no idea what that would have looked like. Wished he’d have protected his little girls from the hurt they’d experienced.

“I can’t promise she’ll stay forever, pumpkin. But when someone takes on a job, they make a promise to do their best and work hard at it for a period of time. Tamara said she’d stay for six months for sure. That’s where we’re starting.”

“That’s not what I mean, Daddy.” Sasha was barely audible, his usually boisterous child’s voice tight with tears. “What if… What if we don’t want her to go, but she doesn’t like us, so she leaves anyway?”

My god. Most of the time he managed to keep from feeling anything at all about his ex-wife, but a moment like this he lost all charity possible and wished he could rip Wendy in two.

No way in hell did he want his children thinking Tamara would only stay if they were angels. He didn’t want them to think their behaviour could chase her away.

He willed himself calm before he spoke.

“We’re getting a little ahead of ourselves,” he said. “Let’s worry about settling into a routine so we all know who’s doing what. That’s the first thing. Then maybe we can have a few less tears during homework time.”

She looked suitably guilty before accepting his kiss and curling up under the covers. “Yes, Daddy.”

Tucking in Emma was easier, only because she didn’t say all the things that would break his heart, but the questions were there in her eyes.

He curled his arms around her, perched on the edge of her tiny bed.

Everyone from the teachers at school to the family psychiatrist they’d been forced to visit were worried about her speech habits, but she spoke just fine. Oh, maybe not a mess of words, but she talked. When she had something to say, she’d say it, that’s what he’d found.

Caleb tucked his fingers under Emma’s chin and lifted until she looked up at him. “I know you miss your aunties, but I think Tamara’s a good person. Auntie Dare recommended her, and you know she wouldn’t do that if she didn’t think Tamara was pretty special.”

Emma dipped her chin, suspicion and worry on her face, but her concerns lay in a whole different direction. “Sasha’s sad,” she whispered.

“Sasha likes to worry,” he pointed out. “But again, do you think your Auntie Dare would send someone here who can’t handle Sasha? I mean in a good way. Like who’d enjoy spending time with Sasha, and with you?”

Her head twisted from side to side.

“Did you finish the picture you were drawing earlier?” he asked.

Emma shook her head.

“Well, then, tomorrow you work on that. I’d love to see it when it’s done.”

“Daddy?” Sweet and soft.

“Yes, button?”

She clung to him like a limpet for a moment before putting her lips right beside his ear and barely breathing out the words. “I love you.”

His chest tightened. “I love you too. Very, very much.”

Emma slid under the covers, popping up once to straighten the book on her side table before lying back and closing her eyes. She looked like a porcelain doll, pristine and perfect, and as usual, he stared at her for a moment wondering why the way she slept made him feel so uncomfortable.

That uneasy sensation only continued as he wandered back to the living room to discover Dustin was still in the house, chatting with Tamara. She sat in the corner of the couch, laughing at something his brother had said. Dustin was perched on the edge of the coffee table across from her, his gaze fixed on her face, hands on his knees as he leaned in.

Screw this. Caleb walked between them en route to his chair, forcing Dustin to sit back.

His younger brother stood abruptly. “I guess I should be going. Thanks for the dinner invite. It was really good.”

“You’re welcome anytime,” Tamara told him, smiling before shifting position. She lifted her feet to the couch and leaned back, making herself at home.

Dustin waved at Caleb then headed to the door.