The Sheriff's Mail-Order Bride (The Watson Brothers #2)(21)

“Fuck off.”

Callie waltzed into the kitchen with Fisher in her arms and grinned. “Gee, someone didn’t sleep very well looking at that sulky face, and I’ll thank you not to cuss in front of the baby.”

“Where’s Gina?” He held his arms out for the boy and Fisher reached for him, snuggling down against his shoulder as if they were old friends. That feeling of contentment rolled over his shoulders, biting at his cheek. He brushed it off.

“Sleeping like the dead. Figured she needed it. Poor thing has had a hard time of it so when I heard this little munchkin gurgling I snuck in and grabbed him.”

“Thanks. Wonder what I should give him to eat?”

“Maybe a drink first then some cereal. Gina left the sippy cup on the counter, can’t be that hard to heat up a bit of milk can it? Heck, I can make formula for calves, this should be a breeze in.”

“What?” Chance stared at her and she explained.

“Breeze in, means easy to do.” Callie went and grabbed a mug of coffee, took a sip, and plonked it on the table before she took the bottle of milk from the fridge. “Simple.” It took her no time to warm Fisher’s first drink for the day. When it was deemed to be the perfect temperature, she handed it over to Rory and let him feed the hungry baby.

He sat down on a chair and snuggled the baby in his arms. His little pudgy hands wrapped around the sippy cup and he looked up into Rory’s eyes as he sucked the milk down. “Hungry little man, aren’t you?”

Fisher reached up one hand and played with Rory’s chin, digging his fingers into his lip. One day and he was hopelessly besotted with this baby. Who would have thought it would be this easy?

A cough snapped him from the love-infused daze he was in. Rory looked up and saw both Callie and Chance gazing at him with a soppy expression on their faces. “What?”

“That suits you. You’ll make a great father, Rory.” Callie grinned. “You’re a very lucky man.”

“I haven’t agreed yet.”

“You’re only kidding yourself and you know it. Put the poor girl out of her misery and propose properly.” Chance stood up and dumped his coffee mug in the sink. “I’d better get to work. I want to get those steers in and checked over. We have to brand them before we let them out to graze in the forest next week.”

“Let me make you some toast and then we can go down together.” Callie waltzed over and took a loaf of bread from the pantry, then popped two slices in the toaster before taking the peanut butter and jelly from the fridge.

An anguished cry from upstairs had Rory jumping to his feet, Fisher clutched to his chest. Gina hurried downstairs and into the kitchen, clutching her nightgown in front of her breasts. The panic on her face tore at his heart and he knew what she’d been thinking. She’d woken up from a deep sleep, forgotten where she was, and couldn’t find her baby.

He hurried over to her and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. “Shh, it’s okay. You were fast asleep and he was awake so Callie brought him down.” He rubbed her back, trying to settle the sickening gasps coming from her lips. After a few minutes, she managed to breathe normally and he released her.

“Oh, Gina, I’m so sorry. I never thought you would mind if we looked after him.” Callie stepped over and wrapped her arms around her new friend and squeezed tight. “We made a drink and he’s been a little angel. I thought you could have a bit of a sleep in. You were shattered yesterday.”

“I’m the one who should be sorry. I just woke up and panicked, forgetting where I was for a moment. Sorry to make such a fuss.” She wiped her bed hair from her face and gave them an apologetic glance.

“Don’t worry about it. How about you go up, have a hot shower, and get dressed while I make a pot of fresh coffee?” Callie pushed her out of the kitchen with gentle force and watched as she climbed up the stairs. When Gina was out of sight, she turned back to her husband and brother-in-law. “That poor girl has some major issues happening. Might pay us to tread gently for a day or two, let her get used to us before we start taking over her life.”

“She came from a really rough area. Almost had to give up Fisher because she couldn’t afford to keep going any longer.” Rory kissed the baby’s head. “I’ll look after them, don’t you worry about that.”

“Knew you’d see reason sooner or later.” Chance stood up and walked over to take the almost-charred toast from his wife. He glanced at it and frowned, his lips turning down at the corners.

“What? Stop being so critical. Didn’t you know charcoal is good for your teeth? Makes them super white. Eat it and stop complaining.” Callie grabbed a yogurt from the fridge and stood at the counter eating it.

“If it’s so good then why aren’t you eating it?”

She pointed her spoon at him and glared. “Watch it, pal, or you’ll be out doing your own branding.”

A slightly more composed Gina came back down the stairs ten minutes later. She wound her hair up and tied it in a knot with a band. Fisher spat the empty cup from his mouth and reached for his mother.

“How’s Mama’s little baby boy?” She took hold of him and Rory felt the cold replace the small warm body as she lifted him up. “Did you let me sleep in? Such a good little man.”