Page 13 of Deacon (Men of Clifton, Montana #52)

The little girl startled him by reaching out. He lifted her from Ava’s arms, and she wrapped one pudgy arm around his neck, patting his cheek with the other. His vision blurred with emotion.

“Please, sit,” Ava said, stepping back. “I’ll get the food. You can give her the d-o-l-l.”

He settled onto the sofa; Ellie cradled in his lap. She watched him expectantly as he dug into the large bag.

“I brought you something,” he said, drawing out the doll. Ellie’s eyes went wide and she gasped.

He set her beside him and handed her the box with the doll. She squealed in delight.

“Mama, look!”

Ava smiled from the kitchen. “I see, sweetheart. What do you say?”

“Thank you.”

Deke swallowed hard, glancing at Ava. “I didn’t think it would be this hard, but when I look at her—”

“I know,” Ava said, leaning against the frame. “I felt the same the first time I held her. She’s such a bright little girl, started walking at ten months and never stopped. My sister-in-law keeps her a few days a week so she can play with her cousins. She loves it.”

Deke watched Ellie hand the box to her mother and Ava opened it, pulled the doll out and handed it to Ellie. She hugged the doll. He brushed a hand across his eyes to hide his emotions.

“How about we eat?” Ava suggested, her voice laced with anticipation.

“That sounds good. I’m hungry,” Deke replied, feeling the familiar pang of hunger.

“Hungry, Mama.” Ellie, her eyes sparkling with excitement, placed her doll gently on the floor and scampered over to her highchair, her feet padding softly against the kitchen tiles.

“Do you know what’s in this bag?” Ava asked Ellie a she held the bag up .

“Hambirder,” Ellie shouted.

Ava laughed. “Ham- burger ,” she stressed.

“Ham- birder ,” Ellie said then giggled.

Ava narrowed her eyes when Deke chuckled. “What?”

“She’s mocking you.”

Ava shook her head. “Yes, and she does it so well. Will you put her in the chair while I get this food out and prepare hers?” Ava’s hands already busy with the task at hand.

“Sure. Come here, Ellie. Let me put you in your chair.” Deke walked over to the highchair, pulling out the tray.

He lifted Ellie, who giggled as she settled into her seat, and then he adjusted the tray in front of her.

He chuckled when she pounded her tiny fists on it, eyes wide with excitement.

“I think someone wants her hambirder and fries.”

“Hambirder!” Ellie shouted.

“Do not encourage her,” Ava said with a laugh.

Deke took out his phone, capturing the moment with a few quick snaps. Ellie waved enthusiastically and beamed at the camera.

“She’s a camera ham,” Ava remarked with a laugh, her eyes warm with affection.

“I see that.” Deke smiled, pulling a chair out from the table for Ava before settling beside her.

“How’s the case going?” Ava asked, her curiosity piqued.

Deke shook his head slightly as he unwrapped his burger, the aroma wafting pleasantly through the air. “They know we’re on to them.”

“So, you were right about it being two haulers and trucks,” Ava stated, her tone admiring.

Deke looked at her, one eyebrow arching knowingly. “I do know how to do my job, Ava. ”

She laughed. “I know. Who is it?”

“All I can say is, we’re looking into the Winchester boys. We’re heading back to Clifton tomorrow to see what I can dig into, then I’ll be back in a few days to see if I can find them.”

“They took off?” Ava asked, her voice tinged with concern.

“Hiding is more like it, but I know it was them.” Deke shook his head with a chuckle, recalling the moment. “I thought Rawley was going to knock one of the kids on his ass.”

“Rawley? I like his name,” Ava mused, her eyes twinkling with amusement.

“Rawley and Killian came here to help me out.”

“Ooh, I like Killian too,” she teased playfully.

Deke chuckled. “I’ll tell them you said that, but Killian is married.”

“But Rawley’s not?” she teased further with a mischievous grin.

Deke narrowed his eyes playfully. “No, he’s not.”

Ava laughed, the sound bright and infectious. “You are so much fun to tease.”

“I loved it when you teased me,” he whispered, making her blush, then he chuckled.

“Now, who’s teasing?” She stared at him.

“I did that before too.”

“Stop,” she said as she shook her head but a smile lifted her lips.

After they finished eating, Ava gently wiped Ellie’s face and hands with a damp paper towel, then lifted her from her chair, setting the little girl on her tiny feet. Ava and Deke then began tidying up the remnants of their meal.

“I hate to eat and run,” Deke said, his voice carrying a note of regret as he wiped his hands on a dish towel, “but I have to get back to the hotel and pack. We’re leaving first thing in the morning.”

Ava looked up, curiosity and a hint of concern in her eyes. “Do you know when you’ll be back?”

“As I said, a few days,” Deke replied, a thoughtful frown creasing his forehead. “It depends on what I can find. I’d bet money this isn’t the first time they stole cattle. There has to be something on them. I’m also going to tell my family about Ellie. They deserve to know.”

“Yes, they do.”

“I’ll be back,” Deke assured her, his voice steady with promise. “I want to know my daughter. I also want her to meet her uncles and other grandfather.”

“I’d like that, and I’m sure she would too.”

Deke grinned. “I bet they spoil her. Especially my dad. He’s never had a daughter, so he’s going to go crazy with her.”

“My dad spoils her all the time.” Ava laughed, recalling fond memories. “Just like he did me.”

“I had a feeling you were a daddy’s girl,” Deke teased, a smile playing on his lips.

“I am and not one bit ashamed of it,” Ava replied, a playful glint in her eyes.

“Yeah, I can tell.” Deke chuckled as he walked over to where his hat hung on the wall. He took it down and held it in his hands. “I’d better go.”

“Alright,” Ava said softly. She picked up Ellie, her arms enveloping the child in a gentle embrace, and walked toward the door where Deke stood.

“Have you given any thought about moving to Clifton?”

“I’m thinking about it, but I do want to talk to my dad first. ”

“Alright. I want to get to know you too, Ava, not just my daughter. I’ll text you when I get a chance,” Deke said, reaching out to gently touch Ellie’s curls. They were soft under his hand, and he marveled at how much he loved her already. “Bye, baby girl,” he whispered to her.

“Bye-bye,” Ellie replied with a bright smile, her innocent voice tinged with a happiness that tugged at him.

Deke turned his gaze to Ava, feeling the weight of unsaid words. “Tell me something,” he said, his voice carrying a hint of unspoken desires.

“What?” Ava asked, her eyes holding a playful gleam as she met his.

“Do you ever think about that night?” he asked, the question hanging between them like a fragile thread binding them to the past.

A slow smile spread across her lips, a mix of sweetness and mischief. “All the time. You?”

“Constantly,” he confessed, giving her a look that lingered. “I’ll talk to you soon. We have to do what’s right for our daughter. Goodnight.”

He opened the door, settling his hat on his head before leaving. He closed the door behind him, then jogged down the steps and got into his truck. As he started it, he looked back at the house for a few seconds, then drove to the hotel.