Page 62 of The Cattleman’s Unforgettable Love: Ford and Amelia (MacFarland Ranch #11)

Cash smiled and came into the room. He set the folder down on the coffee table before taking a seat in the armchair across from them. "Don't look so worried. It's good news, not bad." He met Ford's gaze. "I just don't know how you want to handle it."

Ford wanted to ask, "Handle what?" but Nat beat him to it again. She eyed the folder warily, as if she thought it might jump up and bite her. "That's about us, isn't it?" she asked.

Cash cocked an eyebrow at Ford, and he nodded. Nat and Hunter had no say in their lives after their mom died. The system had taken over, and all their decisions had been made for them without even consulting them. Whatever news Cash had, they needed to hear it, too.

Cash turned his gaze on Amelia, and she said, "Whatever news is inside that folder, we'll face it together." She looked at the kids and added, "As a family."

Hunter snuggled closer against Ford, and Nat didn't even flinch when Amelia wrapped her arm around her.

"Whoa," said Cash. "Calm down. I told you it's good news." He smiled at the kids. "You guys can stay here. It's official."

"Just like that?" Nat asked. "I don't believe it's that easy. What's really going on?"

"That is what's really going on, honey. You've got it. Except it really wasn't that easy. At least it wouldn't have been, not for anyone else."

Ford narrowed his eyes at him. "What did you do?"

"I told them I wasn't looking to raise hell." His voice was casual but had that unmistakable edge that always meant he'd done something bold behind the scenes.

“Told who?” Ford asked, narrowing his eyes.

“The Florida people. CPS, foster system — all the right ears. Let them know it was a shame what happened. Shame they didn’t bother to check for living relatives.

Shame that Nat and Hunter ended up in care when they had family ready and willing if they’d only known.

Shame someone like me might find that real interesting if he wanted to dig into it. ”

“But don’t they have to approve it and have meetings and come and assess us here – see where we’re staying and who we’re staying with?

” Nat turned to Ford and Amelia. “They have all these protocols they have to follow and standards they have to meet. Even when you get someone nice, they can’t help because their hands are tied. That’s why it’s called the system.”

Ford had no clue how any of it worked, but he did know one thing for sure. “Yeah, but they’ve never had to face someone like Cash before.”

Nat turned to stare at Cash.

“You’re right about the way the system’s supposed to work, Nat, darlin’.

But it doesn’t always, and the system failed you two.

See, when your mom died, they had a legal obligation to track down your next of kin.

You should have been given the opportunity to live with family if there were any – and we all know there was – she just didn’t know about you.

"See, Amelia was never contacted or even made aware of your existence, and that represents a serious lapse in what they call duty of care.

The fact that Amelia's a stable, capable family member who would have stepped in earlier makes that failure potentially actionable. " He frowned. "Sorry, that means –"

"That's okay, we get it," said Nat.

When she turned to Hunter, he nodded and said, "They could be in legal trouble."

"That's right," said Cash. "So, I told them it didn't have to go that way – as long as they let the placement stand. Quietly. Permanently. Everyone walks away clean."

Amelia stared at him. "You didn't threaten them?"

Cash shrugged. "I offered them a choice. Same outcome either way. But they liked my way since it means there's no big scandal, no one loses their job, there's no political fallout."

Ford had to smile at his brother.

"Like I said, I told them we're not looking to file lawsuits or raise hell about this oversight.

.. but we could. And since they decided to cooperate quickly, everything stays clean and quiet.

This way the whole thing closes out with a feel-good story, you know – loving family steps up, kids are safe, system did the right thing – retroactively . "

Amelia exchanged a glance with Ford before asking, "What do you mean by political fallout? What kind of influence do you have down there?"

Cash chuckled. "Now, that'd be telling, wouldn't it?

" He turned back to the kids and said, "But all that really matters is that you guys get to relax now.

It's official that you're here and that you can stay here.

Don't know if you'll think it's a good thing, but you can register at school without a problem and for anything else you want or need to. "

Ford let out a breath. "Thanks, Cash."

"No need to thank me. It's my pleasure."

"So, can you guys adopt us now?" Hunter asked.

Ford leaned back – trying desperately to keep his expression neutral.

It was a question that he wanted the answer to.

He hadn't wanted to bring it up with Amelia while they were all still in limbo over whether they'd face a fight to even keep the kids with them.

As he understood it, since she was their next of kin, she would be appointed their legal guardian.

That made sense, but he didn't know where it left him.

Cash met his gaze and held it, but Amelia spoke first. "We'll have to figure out how all that works."

Ford guessed that she was trying to buy some time, but Nat took it exactly the way he'd feared she would.

She struggled away from Amelia and ran to the door where she paused and glared back at them. "It's okay, I get it. Adoption's a huge deal. You don't have to –"

"What's wrong, Nat?" The fear in Hunter's voice broke Ford's heart.

"Come on, let's go to bed," she told him.

Hunter slid down from the sofa, looking worried and trotted after her.

"I didn't mean we don't want to," Amelia called after her. She turned to Ford. "Shit, I didn't think she'd take it that way. I just... I don't know how it works, what it'll take – and I'll do whatever it takes."

Ford turned to Cash. "We need to go up after them and make her see. You can't blame her. Every time she's thought things might start going her way, she's had the rug pulled out from under her."

He got to his feet and Amelia joined him.

Cash tapped on the folder on the table as he got to his feet. "It's all there for you."

"Thanks, Cash. I owe you everything."

"You don't owe me a damn thing – it's what family does. And if you guys want to move things along and adopt them, I might be able to grease a few wheels to speed things up."

"What do you mean?" asked Ford. "What could you do – in fact, forget I asked. You wouldn't tell me, and I doubt I'd want to know anyway. But..."

He turned to Amelia, and she nodded as he said, "That's what we want and we'll do whatever it takes to make it happen."

There was an unmistakable gleam in Cash's eyes when he asked, "Anything?"

Ford checked with Amelia again and they both said, "Anything," at the same time.

"There is one detail I can think of that might make things easier all around."

"What's that?" Ford asked.

Cash grinned. "The courts are still kind of traditional. They're not supposed to anymore, but they still favor married couples."

Ford grinned, and Amelia spun around to face him.

"What do you say, Lil’ Bit – wanna marry me?"

She threw her arms around his neck, and he lifted her off her feet and spun her around as she said, "Yes! I do."

Cash chuckled as he backed away. "Damn, Ford, you might just win the prize for least romantic proposal ever – but I still love it. Happy for you both, but I'm out of here. You guys need to go talk to your kids."