Page 134 of The Cattleman's Unforgettable Love

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."

Chapter Thirty