LITMIR.BIZ

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Grayson could pull to locate their dad. But he was working undercover in some narcotics investigation for Fort Worth Police and Carter was deployed. She was about to burst with the newfound knowledge about her fractured family and had no one to share it with. Or to find out more about what had caused the siblings to split.

      She led Darcy to the room the family used as an office and suggested they search online for ideas of fun art projects they could do together. Although her mind was still reeling with concern about her family, she set her worries aside and focused instead on giving Darcy her undivided attention.

      It was the least that Ty’s daughter deserved after all she’d been through.

      * * *

      Ty walked straight into the kitchen late that afternoon. He stopped when he saw the table set, Maddie by the counter, rolling pin in hand. Darcy at her side. The aroma of dinner had his mouth watering instantly. He was hot, sweaty and tired.

      “Dinner will be ready in about twenty minutes,” Maddie said, “I need to finish these biscuits and pop them into the oven. Does that give you enough time to clean up?”

      “Sure.” Clean up? He normally washed his hands and ate. Obviously that wasn’t going to work now. Was he supposed to dress for dinner? He walked through the kitchen and into his bedroom and bath. A hot shower sounded as good as the hot meal. He’d take one fast, to get back to the kitchen as soon as he could. He’d found the Colby cattle on the neighbor’s land and driven them back through the broken fence, then repaired it. After taking a quick tally to make sure he’d recovered all, he’d ridden the perimeter for most of the afternoon. The day had been hot, and he knew he smelled of horse, cattle, dirt and sweat.

      When they sat down to dinner a short time later, Ty studied his nanny. She’d lasted the day and didn’t seem to have a hair out of place. Her clothes weren’t suitable to ranching, but they still looked as fresh as they had that morning. How did she do it?

      Once seated, Maddie held out her hand to him and reached across the table to take Darcy’s. He looked at them.

      “Will you bless the food?” Maddie asked.

      His mind went blank for a moment. Then he glanced at Darcy who was watching him. Nodding, he took her hand and Darcy’s and bowed his head. He was not given to praying aloud, yet how would they know when he was finished if he didn’t? Clearing his throat, he began, “Lord, thank You for the food that’s been prepared for us, for providing it and sending Maddie to cook it. Thank You for bringing Darcy home. Amen.”

      “This isn’t my home,” Darcy said.

      “Darcy, we discussed this,” Maddie explained gently, serving the child’s plate. “You live here with your dad now.”

      Ty swallowed a knot in his throat. “What did you two do today?” he asked gruffly.

      “We did art projects and made cookies at Violet’s house,” Darcy piped up. “Chocolate chip. I got to help.”

      Ty nodded, relieved to see his little girl smiling again. It broke his heart that she felt so displaced. He waited until they’d both filled their plates, then heaped the stew onto his own.

      “What did you do?” Maddie asked after a moment of silence. This man could take the strong silent type to the highest degree.

      “Checked on some fencing, got caught up on other things around.”

      “I need to talk to you later,” Maddie said.

      His eyes narrowed. “About?”

      “The job,” she said pointedly.

      “Didn’t we already talk about that?” he asked.

      “If you count keeping her safe and occupying her time, yes, we did. I had in mind a bit more.” She hoped he’d agree to discuss it further. The more she was around Ty, the more she liked him. He was honest and straightforward. No artifice around him. It had an appeal that surprised her. She wanted to learn as much about him as she could.

      “After Darcy’s in bed?” he suggested.

      “Fine with me.” She had a mental list, maybe she should jot everything down so she didn’t forget something. She wasn’t sure she wanted two meetings back-to-back with him. One would be challenging enough.

      Once dinner was finished, Maddie and Darcy made short work of cleaning the kitchen. Then Ty suggested they walk to the barn with him. Darcy looked at Maddie first, then nodded.

      When they reached the corrals where some of the horses were, Darcy climbed the rail fence and, hugging the top rail, gazed at the horses.

      “She needs to learn to ride,” Maddie said when Ty stood behind Darcy, watching her watch the horses.

      “If you ride, too,” Darcy said quickly.

      “I don’t know about that.” Though Violet urged her to ride every day, she wasn’t comfortable on the back of a horse—unlike her sister, who seemed to move as one with the large animals. The few times she’d gone riding, she’d clutched the saddle horn for dear life.

      “If he would teach me, I want to ride that one,” Darcy said, pointing to a smaller horse dozing near the far fence. “It’s not so big.”

      “Rambo,” Ty said in his deep voice.

      “Rambo? Not a child’s horse, then,” she said, looking at the animal. Not so big? It looked huge to her.

      “Misnomer. He’s a gentle ride. He’d be good to learn on—for both of you.”

      She inhaled sharply. “Me?”

      “You want to learn and not be so afraid, don’t you?”

      So he’d seen her riding. She felt her face flush with embarrassment. “Yes, I’d like to learn.” She’d never be as at home on a horse as her sister, but if she was going to be here for a few more weeks, she might as well get some practice in.

      To Maddie’s surprise, they spent a pleasant time walking around in the cooling evening. Ty didn’t talk much, but answered every question Darcy asked. Maddie was pleased the child didn’t seem at all intimidated by her father. She still looked at him like she was trying to make up her mind about him. But by the end of their walk, she held his hand heading back to the house.

      When Maddie suggested a bath before bed, Darcy jumped at the chance.

      “We’ll call you when she’s ready for bed,” Maddie said as they went to the part of the house that held two bedrooms and a bath.

      In bed before eight-thirty, Darcy looked up at her with her big brown eyes, so like her father’s. Did Ty see that resemblance?

      Maddie asked if she wanted to hear a story. “Since you don’t have any books, I’ll make one up if you like.”

      “Oh, yes,” Darcy said with a surprised smile.

      Maddie sat on the mattress and began one of the stories she remembered from when she’d been a child. Rachel had often read to her, but she also made up the most fascinating stories of a magical princess. Trying to remember all the ins and outs of the long-running story from her childhood, Maddie began. When Darcy’s eyes drooped, she kissed her cheek. “I’ll tell you more tomorrow night,” she whispered.

      She went to find Ty before Darcy fell asleep so he could kiss her good-night and tuck her in.

      He wasn’t in the house. Hesitant to leave Darcy unattended, Maddie went out the back door and walked around to the front. He sat on a chair on the small porch, working saddle soap into reins.

      “She asleep?” he asked.

      “No, waiting for you to tuck her in.”

      He stared at her for a long moment, then looked away.

      “It’s easy. Go in and kiss her good-night and smooth the covers around her,” she said a moment later when he made no move to rise.

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