Page 121 of The Cattleman's Unforgettable Love

He flung himself at her, wrapping his arms tightly around her waist. She closed her arms around him, rocking him gently and stroking his head.

"It's okay, sweetie. It's all okay. It was just a bad dream."

He nodded, his hot little cheek pressed against her chest, his bony little body shaking in her arms.

"It's okay," she kept soothing. "It's all right. It was just a dream. I'm here."

He clung to her more tightly. "It was just a dream," he repeated. "Just a dream."

When he looked up at her, his big eyes and tear-stained cheeks tugged at her heart. She'd told him when she first met him that she loved him, but looking down into those big eyes, she had to admit that she'd only loved the idea of him then. Now, holding him like this, she could honestly say that she loved him with all her heart.

She clung to him tighter when the door flew open and the light came on.

"Hunter!" Nat stopped in her tracks when she saw Amelia.

Ford appeared in the doorway just behind her. "Is everything okay?" he asked.

Amelia nodded and looked down at Hunter. "I think so," she said.

"It was just a bad dream," said Hunter.

Nat came to sit on the bed beside them. "Are you okay?" she asked him.

He nodded. "I am. Auntie Amelia came."

Amelia braced when Nat turned to her. She could understand that Nat was used to being the one who was there for her brother, and she might resent Amelia for...

"Thanks."

She stared at Nat for a long moment, and Nat stared back defiantly as she nodded. "Seriously. Thank you." She reached out to ruffle her brother's hair. "He's always had nightmares, and I've never been able to..." She sucked in a deep breath, and Amelia could see that she was on the verge of tears.

Ford came into the room and sat down on the bed beside Nat, wrapping his arm around her shoulders. "Are we all okay?" he asked, as if he didn't know what was going on.

Nat nodded rapidly. Hunter gave him a weak smile and said, "I had a nightmare."

And Amelia met his gaze, hoping that her eyes could convey to him just how grateful she was to him and for him.

She was surprised when Nat reached out and touched her arm. "I meant it when I said thank you."

Amelia had to swallow the emotion that clogged her throat as she held her niece’s hand. "You don't need to thank me, sweetie. I..."

She was surprised when Ford spoke over her. She didn't think he'd ever done that before, but she understood it when he said, "I think we all get the idea, right? How about a big hug?"

As he leaned forward, Nat pressed up against Amelia and wrapped her arm around her waist, hugging her tight. Ford somehow got his arms around all of them, and Amelia had to close her eyes to keep in the tears as she held on to them all in what she hoped would become just their first family hug.

~ ~ ~

On Sunday morning, Ford grinned at Amelia over the tops of the kids' heads. They were all in the kitchen having breakfast. Hunter was again eating half his body weight in eggs, bacon, and pancakes. The amount the kid could put away was amazing, and Ford was hoping that he’d soon fill out. Even if he was only of a slight build, he still needed more meat on his bones. And if he was going to go to school up in town with all the big, strong ranch kids from the valley...

Amelia came to his side. "What's wrong?" she asked. "You were all happy a minute ago, but you just thought something that has you looking like you're about to start tearing things apart."

He gave her a rueful smile. "It's okay. It's nothing." He glanced over at the kids, but neither of them were listening, so he continued when Amelia still looked worried. "I was just thinking about kids picking on Hunter and how that might go for them."

Amelia chuckled. "I don't imagine any of them would ever do it more than once. But from what I've gathered of the way things work around here it might not be an issue. I'd guess that just knowing he's a MacFarland would mean..." She pressed her lips together and her eyes grew wide. "I didn't mean that how it sounded. I..."

He curled his arm around her waist and drew her to him so that he could press a quick kiss to her lips. "Don't look so worried. I love the way it sounds."

She looked up into his eyes. "You do? But I didn't mean it that way. I only meant that people are going to know that he's staying here on the ranch with you, and..."