“Don’t try to move.”

He knelt on the hay beside her. “Wait till help arrives. Your baby is right here. See? Safe.”

She reached out and touched the baby’s head. “Melody,” the woman whispered. “I can’t help her right now. Please don’t hurt her. She’s so little.”

Nathan sat back on his heels wondering why this odd woman kept demanding that he not hurt them. What kind of monster would hurt a new mother and her child?

“Her name is Melody?” he asked, trying to make small talk and sound calm. “How old is she?”

“Two weeks yesterday.”

“What’s your name?”

The woman groaned and pursed her lips. Apparently that was one question she didn’t want to answer.

What the hell did he have on his hands? Who was she and where had she come from? That she was running away from something seemed fairly obvious.

Dear Reader,

I must’ve been sitting under my lucky star when I was chosen to write one of the books in the PERFECT, WYOMING continuity. Sometimes you just luck out, you know?

What a series this is! Perfect, Wyoming is a nickname for Cold Plains, a town that has been taken over by a cult. The town is now populated with glassy-eyed, beautiful people who are devoted to a charismatic leader. But an evil presence pervades the small town. Children are missing and beautiful women are dying.

Chilling.

The best part for me of writing one of the books in the series is the terrific group of authors who wrote the rest of the books. How could we miss with wonderful authors Marie Ferrarella, Kimberly Van Meter, Jennifer Morey, Loreth Anne White and Carla Cassidy in the line-up?

My book, Rancher’s Perfect Baby Rescue, is book no.2 in the six-book series. It tells the story of a rancher with demons and his call to rescue a single mother on the run. Come along on Nathan and Susannah’s thrilling adventure.

Happy reading!

Linda Conrad

About the Author

When asked about her favourite things, LINDA CONRAD lists a longtime love affair with her husband, her sweetheart of a dog named KiKi and a sunny afternoon with nothing to do but read a good book. Inspired by generations of storytellers in her family and pleased to have many happy readers’ comments, Linda continues creating her own sensuous and suspenseful stories about compelling characters finding love.

A bestselling author of more than twenty-five books, Linda has received numerous industry awards, among them the National Reader’s Choice Award, the Maggie, the Write Touch Readers’ Award and the RT Book Reviews Reviewers’ Choice Award. To contact Linda, to read more about her books or to sign up for her newsletter and/or contests, go to her website, www.lindaconrad.com.

Rancher’s

Perfect Baby

Rescue

Linda Conrad

www.millsandboon.co.uk

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Chapter 1

“Shush, baby. Please. They mustn’t hear us.”

Susannah Paul ducked through the cold darkness, dodging tree limbs and praying that her two-week-old little girl would not cry out. Howling winds rustled through the black-as-night woods, sending her scurrying.

Away. If she could fly, high above the rocky, tangled terrain, the two of them would be hundreds of miles away from the town of Cold Plains and its potential dangers. It seemed as if she and the baby had been on the run for hours. Day had become night, and it was harder than ever trying to make her way through the dense forest.

She had no idea how long it had been since she’d bid goodbye to her friend May Frommer and dashed into the woods in broad daylight, but she couldn’t stop now—not until she was sure they would not be found.

The baby in the carrier at her breast whimpered low, her cries so pitiful and weak that Susannah’s heart winced. We’ll stop soon, my darling Melody. Mommy will find safety, I promise. I know you’re hungry.

Frustrated to the point of blindness by not being able to slow her steps long enough to feed her child, Susannah barged into a gully and practically tripped over fallen tree limbs in her way. Breathing heavily, she scolded herself for not paying closer attention. It would never do for her to fall. She couldn’t while carrying her baby and with the heavy pack of their meager belongings on her back.

At the far side of the gully, the moon broke through heavy foliage and lit her surroundings just enough for her to get her bearings. It was infinitely harder to find her way in the pitch darkness than earlier that morning when she’d gotten directions.

She needed to stop for a moment. They both required water, a little breather.

Leaning against the thick trunk of a tall pine, she pulled a baby bottle from her coat pocket and placed it against her child’s lips. “Please drink, sweetheart,” she whispered.

Baby Melody seemed drugged and had little interest in the bottle she hadn’t learned to use even in the best of surroundings. “I know. You want Mama’s milk. But we can’t stop that long right now.”

Susannah placed a couple of drops of the liquid against the child’s mouth, hoping some would spill inside, then she pulled off the nipple and drank a couple of swallows herself. Stale. She didn’t blame her child for not being interested in water that tasted old, but her baby needed liquid. It had been several hours since she’d halted their escape long enough to breast-feed.

Did she dare try it now? While they were stopped for the moment, Susannah quieted her breathing and listened for any sign that their pursuers were closing in. She heard leaves rustling in the wind but nothing that sounded like men crashing through the forest after them.

How had she gotten into this position in the first place? Everything that had once been so clean and good had suddenly turned so rotten and dangerous. It didn’t seem fair.

But most of her life hadn’t been fair, either, she realized. She’d been hoping that the new circumstances and pleasant people she’d found in Cold Plains would do the trick and change her life around—for Melody’s sake, if not for hers.

The baby didn’t deserve to start out her life this way. She hadn’t done anything wrong. Susannah refused to allow this kind of prejudice against her child. Melody was not going to suffer the fate she had.

A single tear rolled from the edge of her eye, but Susannah couldn’t cry. She couldn’t afford to waste the bodily fluids. Biting her cheek to make the tears stop, she tried thinking back to how happy she’d been on the day Melody was born.

That morning she’d walked twelve blocks to the other edge of town, already in labor but determined to reach her new friend’s cottage before the birth. May Frommer was one of the kindest people Susannah had ever met—well, next to Samuel Grayson, that was. And May had been waiting with open arms.

Lately Samuel had been too busy selling his health-giving waters and with his duties as leader of the Devotees to spend much time with her. On the other hand, May was the town’s midwife, not one of the Devotees but someone who’d lived in Cold Plains all her life.

May had been secretly helping with her pregnancy for months. To be sure, Susannah had also gone to the special parenting classes given by the Devotees. Their classes were extremely helpful for a woman who knew absolutely nothing about being a mother. Her own mother had not been much of an example.

But when it came right down to it, Susannah felt a bit nervous about using the Devotees’ tiny urgent-care facility for regular maternity checkups. She wasn’t too sure why she felt that way. After all, she’d been ready to turn over the rest of her life to the Devotees. Their facility and most of the town for that matter was brand-new and sparkling clean, and everyone was so pleasant. But she just wasn’t comfortable at their urgent care. And though she’d heard a new doctor had also recently come to town and opened his own office, May had already volunteered weeks ago, and Susannah was happy it turned out so well.

The two of them developed a great relationship in the couple of months they’d known each other. They were like sisters almost. May even invited her to have the baby at her cottage instead of Susannah’s tiny room at the boardinghouse in town.

For two weeks after Melody’s birth, she and the baby had stayed at May’s while she learned how to breast-feed and care for a tiny infant. Everything seemed nearly perfect … until May began putting thoughts into her head.

And then this morning …

Clouds suddenly covered the moon, and Susannah heard an odd noise. Turning her head to the sound, she jolted at the sight of gleaming yellow eyes staring at her from out of the bushes. Night creatures. Were they dangerous? Visions of wolves came to mind, sending chills down her spine.

It was time to leave.

But which way? She knew she couldn’t travel much longer without resting, and the baby desperately needed feeding. But she was becoming turned around in the darkness. How far had they come?

Taking a deep breath, Susannah made a best guess at the right direction and started out through the forest again. Within seconds, the moonlight broke through clouds and canopy, leading her way. She found what looked like a path. Well, maybe it was not a real path but at least a wide place where the brush was not so heavy and the ground seemed level. She rejoiced and followed along. Positive she was at least not headed back toward town, she picked up her pace and hoped to quickly find the highway she’d been seeking all day.

Another ten minutes went by until she came upon a fence. It wasn’t much of a fence, just a few wires strung together, but it gave her hope. There was hope for civilization ahead.

She bowed her head to go under one high wire while stepping over the lowest one. Before long, she came to the realization that a fence could be very bad news. What if she’d gotten turned around worse than she’d thought and the fence belonged to the Devotees? They did own property, like the creek and a few isolated houses, which backed up to these same woods. This fence could be at the edge of their property.

She couldn’t guess how many miles she might have traveled today. It was difficult going, fighting her way through the woods with an infant. But she was determined to keep moving ahead. There could be no going back.

As she kept walking and left the fence behind, the woods became less and less dense. Through the trees, she began catching glimpses of structures in the moonlight up ahead—buildings … civilization … people.

She hesitated again, unsure about this. Maybe it was a bad idea to barge in on a stranger, one who could likely be another Devotee.

Gritting her teeth, she walked on in fear. In moments, she came to a clear area surrounding what looked like farm buildings: big barns and sheds. Bright floodlights blazed from every corner of each building, but it seemed no one was around. She hadn’t heard of the Devotees owning any ranch or farm.

Listening closely, she couldn’t hear a sound except the same crickets and night noises she had been hearing since sunset. Maybe everyone had gone to bed.

She started trembling. The air felt chilly in the woods at night, and spring in Wyoming was known for its cold nights and warm days. But she felt sure her trembling must be coming more from fear than from the weather.

Still, she and Melody needed to get in out of the elements and rest—right now.

She held her breath and prayed again that the baby would sleep quietly through the next few minutes; she gingerly tiptoed over the short grasses and bare dirt. Fortunately, the nearest building wasn’t too far from the fence.

She noticed a small door at the back of the huge barnlike structure. Mentally crossing her fingers, she tried the latch. It was open. With another deep breath and with a tiny protest of the hinges, she and Melody were safely inside.

Susannah had to wait a few minutes for her eyes to adjust to the lower lighting, but once they did, she moved farther into the barn. As she carefully looked around, she decided this place must be used for storage. Near the back door, saddles and tools were strewn across worktables, and all kinds of ropes and equipment hung on the walls.

Walking silently along a wide aisle, she checked right and left. Nothing; there was no sign of human life. As she took a deep breath, she smelled the scent of hay. She knew it must be hay because it smelled a little bit like new-mown grass, only stronger.

Susannah turned onto the center aisle and moved past a wooden half wall to find a large room full of bales of hay. One of the bales nearby was broken open and had spilled out in a blanket of hay on the barn floor.

Just at that point, her knees gave out and she sank into the soft hay. This was as far as she could go for now. Surely it wouldn’t hurt anything to stay here for a few hours—just long enough to feed the baby, have the last protein bar and maybe catch a little sleep.

She pulled the pack off her back and leaned against it for support as the baby began to stir. “You’ve been so good, my love. It’s time for us to eat now. You first.”

Peeling the carrier cover back, she found Melody making sucking motions with her eyes closed. Trying to wake her enough to eat, she tapped lightly on her cheek. “Come on, baby, don’t give up. It’s finally your time.”

After inching her child out of the carrier and into her lap, Susannah checked on her diaper. It was dry, and that could not be a good thing. Melody must not be getting enough fluids.

Peering through the low lighting at her beautiful child, she repeated in her mind what she knew for certain—Melody was perfect. The baby had all her toes and fingers. Susannah had certainly counted them enough times since her birth. And a soft cap of baby fuzz covered her perfectly shaped little head. Big blue eyes, which may or may not change later, stared at the world full of curiosity and followed things as they moved in front of her face. She was perfect.

So, no, the large raspberry-colored birthmark covering her ear and halfway down her neck did not detract from the baby’s perfection in any way. It did not!

As she settled Melody at her breast, Susannah tried to relax the way May had shown her. She chewed the protein bar and thought back to a few days after the baby was born. She’d been so enthralled with the miracle of her child’s birth that she hadn’t noticed the birthmark—not at all.

Then, as May was showing her how to give a real squirming baby a bath, she’d mentioned it for the first time. “The color and the mark itself will probably fade over time. I wouldn’t worry about it affecting her life in the future. It’s just now that concerns me.”

That remark had thrown Susannah a curveball. “How can a birthmark hurt her? I don’t understand. Can it make her sick?”

May tested the bathwater and nodded that it was the right temperature. “The mark has nothing to do with her health. But …”

“But what?” Susannah held her daughter in the cradle of her forearm and dunked her body into the water.

“I’m afraid it qualifies her as imperfect in some people’s eyes. And that scares me.”

Susannah began fighting panic. “Why? What are you talking about?”

“Think about it,” May said as she gently wiped a soft, wet cloth across the baby’s chest. “When have you ever seen a child, or anyone for that matter, in Cold Plains who wasn’t perfect?”

She thought about it for a moment. “Everyone in Cold Plains is beautiful—and perfect. I can’t think of one person I’ve seen in a wheelchair or using a cane. Even the elderly are robust and take power walks in the park. I’ve noticed all the beautiful people but never considered that significant. What do you believe it means?”

May tenderly rubbed the baby’s toes and fingers. “I’ve been midwife in this area for years—long before Samuel Grayson and the Devotees came to town and disrupted everything. Take my word for it, not all babies born in this town are absolutely perfect. You see every kind of birth defect here that you see anywhere else.”

Susannah’s hands began to shake. “What happens to those babies? Where do they go?”

“Here, let me help you.” May slid her hand under Susannah’s and pulled the baby from the water.

Next, she laid the child down on a soft towel and showed Susannah how to pat her dry. “There’re lots of wild rumors about what happens to the babies. One I heard suggests the imperfect little ones are taken out of town and given to new parents who can handle the defect.”

When Susannah gasped her horror, May pursed her lips and handed over a dry and happy Melody. “Another rumor is even worse. I heard there’s a secret room located under the community-center complex where everyone who’s not perfect is, well, maybe not in prison but out of sight.”

Susannah cradled her baby. “You’re kidding, right? The Devotees aren’t like that. They’re kind and generous, and they really care about people. It’s impossible.”

Shrugging a shoulder, May asked, “What’s the one thing you like best about the Devotees?”

“That’s easy. The ‘Being the Best You’ seminars Samuel gives every evening. They’re wonderful. He actually makes me think I can do the things I never thought I could.”

“In other words, those seminars make you believe you can be perfect. You’re already beautiful on the outside, but you think becoming a Devotee will make you beautiful on the inside, too?”

“Well …” Not when May put it that way. “I guess not.”

“But being perfect is important to Samuel and his Devotees. Would you agree?”

“I suppose.”

May give her a wry smile. “It’s time for another breast-feeding lesson. Why don’t you just think over what we’ve talked about? You have a few days yet before you need to take the baby to town and go back to the Devotees.”

Susannah had thought about it. The idea grew in her mind until she could think of nothing else. Finally, she told May that she didn’t want to take any chances with her baby but didn’t know what else to do. She loved the Devotees and loved the town of Cold Plains.

Torn, Susannah went through the next few days in a haze until one morning when one of Samuel’s friends, a nice man by the name of Jonathan Miller, called May looking for Susannah.

He told May that he’d heard a rumor that Susannah had already given birth, and the Devotees were eager to welcome the new mom and baby back into their midst. They stood ready to offer her anything she might need.

May hung up, shaking her head. “This is trouble. I told him you weren’t here, but I bet he comes here to look for you later today. It’s time for a decision.”

Suddenly terrified, Susannah gulped down her panic. “We have to leave. Now. This morning. Help me, May. I don’t know where to go or what to do. But they can’t find Melody here. We can’t let that happen.”

May took a breath and nodded her agreement. “Okay. Let’s get cracking. I can lend you a carrier and a backpack—and the money for a bus from the highway to Laramie. You’ll find help in Laramie. I’ll give you a few numbers to call.”

After they had packed up the bag, Susannah remembered the one missing piece of their plan. “How will the baby and I get to the highway bus stop?”

“I can drive—” May stopped talking when the sound of a car turning into her long driveway came through the trees. “Oh, Lord. They’re here. You’ll have to walk. Out the back way through the woods. Quick. Here’s a map and general directions. Don’t let them spot you.”

Susannah put the baby in the carrier and hurried to slide the backpack over her shoulders. She tore out the back door of May’s house at a dead run and never turned around.

Tired and exasperated with his family, Nathan Pierce rolled his tight muscles as he strolled across the barnyard toward the foreman’s quarters. It was almost dawn, and he’d had maybe two hours of sleep last night. And now he was out here looking for the ranch foreman to issue orders for the day before he could even start breakfast.

Reminding himself for the fiftieth time in the past two days that he loved his family’s ranch enough to stick around when things got rough, Nathan sighed and whistled for the dogs. While he was out this far, he might as well make sure they were fed and groomed.

With one whistle, old Joey came running, barking and bouncing in the morning’s gray light. The shepherd was a longtime favorite. But where were the rest of the hounds?

The care of these dogs was the only thing he expected his brother to handle. Was even that too much to ask of the man who actually owned the whole place?

Sighing with frustration, Nathan thought back to how he’d gotten in this position. His mother’s father, the one who’d built this ranch from a humble few acres into a grand showplace, died eight years ago. He had loved his granddaddy dearly, but every day since he’d passed away, Nathan had cussed out the old man for leaving the ranch to his oldest grandchild.

What the hell had Isaac been thinking? Nathan might’ve understood if his grandfather had bequeathed the place to his son-in-law, Nathan’s father, Evan. But Evan and Isaac had never agreed on anything—least of all on the management of the land. So Nathan’s older brother, Derek, ended up with everything.

Not that Derek cared one way or the other. Right after the reading of the will, his brother had turned over management of the place to their father—against all his grandfather’s wishes.

Where were those dogs? Nathan whistled again and then listened. He heard Buck the coonhound baying from somewhere nearby. Buck never bayed like that unless he had a critter cornered.

Hell. It was just another chore that would have to be attended to before he could start his day.

Nathan strode forcefully toward the dogs’ commotion, wondering if he would need a rifle to dispatch whatever kind of critter could have wandered into one of the barns. He hated the thought of killing a hapless wild animal and decided to try shooing whatever it was back out into the woods without deadly force. He just hoped the damned thing wasn’t a skunk.

By the time he reached the dogs, his ranch foreman was coming from around the other side of the barn with a rifle already in hand.

“Hold it, Mac. Take charge of the dogs, and let me see what we’ve got cornered before we go tearing in, guns blazing.”

“Okay, boss. It’s your skin.” With a grin, Mac grabbed the three dogs by their collars and held tight.

Nathan shook his head and entered the largest hay barn. Was he being foolish to come unprotected? Stopping right inside the door to pick up a pitchfork, he cautiously walked down the long center aisle while being careful to check both right and left among the huge stored hay bales.

Toward the end of the aisle, right before the entrance to the tool storage area, Nathan heard a strange noise. He stopped and listened intently. What was that sound? It wasn’t like any animal he’d ever encountered. Then after a few seconds he took that sentiment back.

The noise sounded for all the world like the mewling cries of a newborn kitten. Jeez. The dogs were going nuts over a new litter of kittens?

Just in case he was wrong, Nathan hefted the pitchfork in both hands and crept quietly around the half wall on his way to the main storage room and the cries.

What he saw on the other side of the wall stopped him cold—not kittens. There, hunkered down in the hay, was a gorgeous woman cradling a fussy newborn infant in her arms.

After finding his voice, he cleared his throat and tried to calm her. “Uh, excuse me. Miss. Um. Mrs …”

The woman blinked her eyes and then jolted straight up, pointing at the pitchfork. “Oh, don’t hurt us. Who are you? I …” Her eyes rolled back in her head, and she collapsed into the hay.

Worried about the infant’s safety, Nathan dropped the fork and swooped up the child before it fell out of its mother’s arms.

What the devil had he gotten himself into now?

Chapter 2

Susannah blinked open her eyes and found the tall, slightly scary man bending over her with Melody in his arms.

Frightened but ready to fight like a tiger for her child, she came up swinging. “Give her to me!”

“Whoa,” he said as he backed away. “Hold on there. I’m not trying to hurt you or your baby. You fainted. I was worried about you both. Are you all right?”

“I …” Light-headedness made her unsure of herself. “Um. I guess I’m okay. It’s been a while since I’ve eaten. Maybe that’s the problem.

“Please give me the baby.” She tried to stand, and the whole world tilted.

Reaching out, she found a post that she could hang on to while she waited for the room to quit spinning. Her stomach churned as she felt the blood drain from her face.

“Look, you don’t seem too steady. Maybe I should keep your child until you get your feet under you.”

She plopped back down on the hay. “I guess you’re right. Just give me a minute.”

“Stay right where you are. I’ll call for help.” He turned and disappeared beyond the half wall.

Oh, no. He was either calling the cops to come arrest her for trespassing or he was calling the Devotees to pick up their runaways.

As usual, she’d made a hash out of May’s very good plan. How could she get out of this sticky situation? Oh, yeah, if all else failed, she could lie.

Nathan was halfway to the front of the barn before he realized he still had the baby in his arms. He hesitated and looked down at her.

Tiny, the little babe couldn’t possibly be more than a few days old. And the baby was quiet. Since he’d been holding her, she hadn’t cried once.

In fact, this child seemed too quiet.

Looking her over, he couldn’t find anything obviously wrong—no cuts or bruises. Her color was a little off. She seemed drugged.

His niece had never been so quiet when she was this age. Of course his niece—well, Sara had always been different than most. Logically, he knew that. And though she was seven now, he figured he’d end up comparing her to every baby he met from now on.

“What’d you find, boss?” Mac stood at the front of the barn, peering toward the bundle he carried in his hands as if trying to decide what kind of dangerous critter they’d discovered.

Walking toward his foreman, Nathan shook his head. “Not a critter. But we need help. Put the dogs up and call the house. See if Maria or Kathryn can get down here right away. Tell whoever to bring a bottle of water.”

Mac wrinkled up his forehead. “What the hell?”

“Put the dogs in the pen, Mac. I don’t want one of them jumping up to see what I’ve got.”

“Okay. Right away.” Mac turned and started off toward the dogs’ pen.

“And make that call!”

Nathan turned around and headed back toward the mother. He didn’t want to venture too much farther while carrying this small child. Poor little baby. When he’d first seen the two of them huddled in the hay, they’d looked like two lost angels—both gorgeous and wide-eyed.

The mother was one of the most striking women he’d ever seen, with her long, dark hair and porcelain skin. Stunning, even though her eyes had been filled with fright, she looked like a strong wind could blow her over.

Now that he’d had a chance to look closer at the child, however, he noticed a wide reddish mark on the side of her head and neck. She was still a beauty. Almost a spitting image of her mother.

“Don’t worry, little one,” he whispered. “I’ve got you now. I won’t let anything happen to you or your mom.”

The baby never stirred as he carried her back to where her mother waited. When he ducked around the half wall, the woman tried to stand again. She wobbled and went down on her backside

“Don’t try to move.” He knelt on the hay beside her. “Wait till help arrives. One of the women will be out shortly. Your baby is right here. See? Safe.”

She reached out and touched the baby’s head. “Melody.” Closing her eyes, the woman whispered through a sigh, “I can’t help her right now. Please don’t hurt her. She’s so little.”

Nathan sat back on his heels, wondering why this odd woman kept demanding that he not hurt them. What kind of monster would hurt a new mother and her child?

“Her name is Melody?” he asked, trying to make small talk and sound calm. “Pretty. How old is she?” He wanted to keep the woman talking so he could be sure she hadn’t passed out.

“Two weeks yesterday.”

“What’s your name?”

The woman groaned and pursed her lips. Apparently that was one question she didn’t want to answer. What the hell did he have on his hands? Who was she, and where had she come from? That she was running away from something seemed fairly obvious.

“You needed help, Nathan?” Maria, his family’s housekeeper, peered around the half wall. “Oh, my goodness. What on earth?” She made short shrift of the few feet between them.

“You bring the water with you?” He glanced over at Maria and saw the bottle in her hands. “Give this young woman a drink and then take the baby, please.”

Maria crouched to help the stranger take a sip of water. “Where’d you come from, Mrs.?”

The woman drank a few sips and then widened her eyes to stare at Maria. “Help my baby.” She grabbed hold of her arm in a deathlike grip. “Melody needs water, too, but I don’t know how to make her drink.”

Maria pulled her arm free and stood, then took the child from his hands. “Ah, a tiny one. You leave her to me, ma’am. I’ll have her taking water in no time.” Maria glanced up at him. “This child needs warmth and the comfort of the main house.”

He nodded at his housekeeper. “Thanks. I think I can carry the mother if you’ve got a handle on the baby.”

“Yes, sir.” Maria reached over and picked up the woman’s backpack with her free hand. “Looks like the pack is probably being used for baby’s things. I can carry it, too.” She walked away, still making cooing noises at the child.

Bending to scoop the stranger off the floor, Nathan thought he might have trouble hefting her. She jolted, and he could see her holding her breath. But actually her body came up in his arms almost too easily.

“You hardly weigh a thing,” he said while he marched toward the barnyard.

“I can walk. You don’t have to carry me.”

“Last time I saw you trying to stand you weren’t too steady. I think this is the safest way for now.”

“We’re going to your house? How far is it?”

“Not far. We’ll be there in a few minutes.”

“Do you own this farm?”

Tightening his grip on her, he exhaled and answered the slightly annoying question. “It’s a ranch. And my family owns it. For a trespasser, you’re just full of questions, aren’t you?”

She shut her mouth and narrowed it in a tight line.

“I’m Nathan Pierce, and I’ve answered all your questions. How about answering another of mine? What’s your name?”

Suddenly she looked terrified again. “Susannah. Susannah Paul.”

Her big eyes were pleading with him for some kind of mercy. And he didn’t have a clue what it was all about.

“That’s better. Nice name. And Melody is your baby. Where’s her father?”

“I really don’t know. He’s not around. We weren’t married, and he didn’t much want a baby.”

Her answer had come quick. Apparently the fact that she was on her own wasn’t the biggest problem. Something else must be frightening her.

He decided to give her a little time to rest before he questioned her further. Badgering new mothers for answers was not his style—especially ones as beautiful and fragile as this one.

He barged into the kitchen with her in his arms and found a small crowd around the table. The baby was the center of attention.

Maria looked over as they came near. “She’s taking a little water, ma’am. Is she on formula? I couldn’t find any in her bag.”

“I’m breast-feeding.” Susannah glared up at him. “If you’ll kindly put me down now, I need to take care of my daughter.”

“Here? In the kitchen?”

Maria answered for her. “Don’t be absurd, Nathan. Carry the mama into your bedroom. It’s the closest. And make her comfy. I’ll bring the baby along in a moment.”

His room? That was the last place he wanted to take this woman. But what did he know about tiny babies? Shutting his mouth, he dutifully did as requested.

How was it that he’d volunteered for this again?

He kicked open the door to his room, and a sudden flash of memory came back to kick him in the gut. Once before he’d carried a woman across the threshold of this room. That time things had not worked out well at all.

But this was different. This woman was not planning on staying.

At least he thought not. On the other hand, his body seemed suddenly to want an entirely different and completely inappropriate plan.

The windows were open, and fresh air filled the room with smells of spring—and maybe a little hint of cattle. It was not unpleasant to him; in fact, it was so ingrained in his life he hardly noticed anymore. But he didn’t have any idea what she would think of any of it—smells, cattle, ranch, him.

“The chair or the bed?” He really wanted her to opt for the chair but thought he’d better give her the choice.

“I’m afraid if I lie down I’ll fall sound asleep and Melody will never get fed. The chair, please.”

He eased her into his reading chair and fluffed the pillow at her back. “This going to be okay?”

“Fine, thanks. It’s really nice of you to offer your own room.”

The offer had been more of a shanghai. “Later … when you’ve rested some, we need to talk. My hospitality for your answers. Seems only fair.” He stood aside, wondering how fast he could disappear when the baby arrived.

“Fair? Yes, all right. Later.”

Maria arrived carrying the baby, and he backed out of his room at a world-record-setting pace. His mind was reeling not only with questions about these two lost souls, like where they came from and why they were running. But another question was why for the first time in nearly four years his libido was reacting to the mere sight and touch of a very attractive but totally unavailable woman.

Susannah opened her lids, pulling herself from a sound sleep, and for the second time today, she stared up into Nathan’s sky-blue eyes. “I must’ve fallen asleep.”

He nodded and sat opposite her on the edge of the bed. “Maria tells me after the baby was fed you had a bite to eat, too, and a little nap. She’s looking for something to use as a cradle so she can offer you the chance to clean up and take a shower.”

Leaning on his knees, he folded his hands between them and gazed over at her with questions in those terribly sexy eyes. “Feeling well enough for our talk now?”

“I guess.” Not really. She would much rather ask questions of her own, like whether or not anyone on the ranch was a Devotee and how far it was from here to the highway bus stop.

“I need to know who you’re running from.” He raised his eyebrows as if encouraging her to tell him everything.

When she didn’t answer, he volunteered a couple of possibilities of his own. “I guess you might be running from some kind of lawman. Did you bug out on the hospital maternity bill? Or maybe you’re running from the baby’s father? Maria tells me you’ve got a few cuts and scratches she’d like to tend. You get those from some bastard?”

She hesitated, trying to decide what to say.

“If it’s the law that’s chasing you, I have to know.” He looked so sincere and serious; she wanted to blurt out the whole story. “I’ll want to call the Cold Plains police chief. I’m sorry, but I can’t harbor any criminals on the ranch. This is a law-abiding place.”

She couldn’t let him call the Cold Plains police. That was the last thing she needed.

Deciding to go with a half-truth, she said, “The baby’s father got angry. He pushed me onto a bus heading east and said he never wanted to see us again. Then when the money almost ran out, the bus dropped us off. Melody and I got turned around, and we’ve been wandering in the woods looking for someone to help.”

Nathan bit his lip as if trying to decide about her story. “So you’re saying you walked into the forest on your own? No one chased you in?”

Well, it was half-true. “Yes. That’s right. And I kept getting scratched up by all the branches and dead tree limbs. But the baby is safe.”

“Uh-huh.” He didn’t look too convinced. “Okay, then. Where are you from? You have any other family we can contact for help?”

“We’re not from anywhere. We—the baby’s father and I—were just moving around the country. He … he’s a traveling salesman kind of guy.” This was pretty much all true.

“And there’s no one else?”

“No one.” If you took his question literally, she’d just lied. But in her mind and heart there was no one else—at least no one who would care to hear from her under any circumstances, especially not if she needed help.

Nathan stared down at the carpet, and she couldn’t tell what he was thinking. All she really wanted was a chance to rest the baby for a few hours and then get directions to the bus.

A knock sounded against the open door. “Nathan?” Maria stuck her head in the room. “Can I come in?”

Maria had told her she was the Pierce family housekeeper. But Susannah had been surprised by that and asked why Maria spoke to Nathan in a manner more like a mother or older sister than an employee. It seemed Maria had been with the family since Nathan’s mother died when he was only twelve. She thought of him and his brother as her family now.

“What’s up?” Nathan stood when Maria entered.

“I’ve rigged up a basket for the baby. I can bring the basket in here so Susannah can watch her and still take a nap and grab a shower while the baby naps, if that’s all right with you.”

“I need to go back to work this afternoon anyhow. Bring it on in.”

Maria nodded, then stopped to add something else. “Before you head out, will you make a stop at the front porch? A couple of men who say they’re from Cold Plains are waiting to talk to you.”

Susannah’s veins froze, and the hairs on the back of her neck stood on end. Oh, no. After all she’d been through, they were going to capture her and Melody now?

“Did they say what they wanted?” Nathan didn’t look particularly pleased.

Susannah had heard rumors amongst the Devotees that some of the locals hadn’t cared for them coming to their town and taking over. Maybe this was proof it was true.

Maria also wrinkled her face as if she’d tasted something sour. “You know I don’t talk to none of them Devotees unless I have to. They give me the creeps.” She turned and left the room.

Nathan followed Maria’s footsteps, also heading for the bedroom door. “You two have a nice rest this afternoon,” he said over his shoulder. “We’ll talk again.”

“Wait.” She had to say something to save Melody.

He swung back and stood waiting for her to speak.

“Don’t turn us in to the Devotees. Please, Nathan. I beg you for Melody’s sake.” The tears welled up, and the lump in her throat nearly choked the life right out of her.

Standing there staring at her, his jaw turned hard and his eyes went cold. “So there’s a different story you want to give me now?”

“Yes. Yes. Anything. Just please don’t tell them we’re here.”

Nathan stormed out of the room, madder than spit. He should’ve known—just another beautiful woman who lied. What the hell was the matter with him? Didn’t he ever learn?

He’d known her story sounded wrong, but those big hazel eyes had taken him in.

Susannah would have to wait. He had a lot to say to her. But in the meantime, he wanted those frigging Devotee devils the hell off his property.

He hit the front porch ready to go off on them like a rocket. “What do you want?”

The two men turned to his voice. Son of a bitch! One of these dudes was Jonathan Miller, who was absolutely the last man on earth he ever wanted to see again.

“Hello, Nathan.” Jonathan’s smile was greasy, which went perfectly with his hair. “Sorry to bother you. We were waiting to see your father. Is he in?”

Just the sound of his voice set Nathan’s nerves on edge. “No. He’s gone to Cheyenne to a breeders’ auction. I asked you what you want.”

If the Devotees thought they could get around him every time by going to his father, they were in for a big surprise.

“No sense being hostile.” Jonathan’s voice was smooth—too smooth. “The problems between us were over years ago. Things have changed. I’m the vice-mayor of Cold Plains now. We’re neighbors, Nathan. We want to be good neighbors and friends.”

He gritted his teeth and glared at the man. “What part of ‘what do you want?’ don’t you understand? I’m busy, Miller. Say whatever it is and get off our land.”

Miller threw a quick glance at the other man, and a chill went up Nathan’s spine. The guy had perfect hair, perfect clothes, a perfectly nonthreatening stance and glassy but eerily perfect crystal-blue eyes.

Damned Devotees. Maria was right. They gave him the creeps.

“We’re just here asking for a small favor.” Jonathan sounded earnest. “Nothing that should upset you. One of our members has disappeared, and we were hoping you would let us look around. We’re worried about her.”

“What’s this person look like?”

“She’s in her late twenties with long brown hair. Nine months pregnant, she’s within days of having a child. In fact, the birth may have already taken place, and that means there’re two of our people who could need help. We’re planning on forming a formal search party in the morning.”

“Don’t bother searching the ranch.” Nathan practically spat at the fool. “We’ll keep an eye out. If anyone here runs across something odd, I’ll be sure to give you a call.” The Devotees could rot in hell before he ever lifted one finger to help them.

“But …” Jonathan acted like he seldom was refused anything.

Too bad. “I got your message. Now leave.”

“You’re not being very neighborly, Nathan. We only wanted …”

“Listen, Miller. If I see any of your people on our property, I’ll shoot first and ask questions later.” He folded his arms over his chest and took a threatening step forward. “Get out. And don’t come back.”

The two men turned and walked toward their car without another word. But Nathan had a feeling they weren’t about to give up.

He’d call Mac in another minute to escort these two bums off the property. He didn’t trust them. In fact, he seldom trusted anyone anymore. It was a hard-learned lesson, one he thought he’d learned well.

So why had one pretty woman who looked lost and alone been able to get under his skin so quickly? Ah, hell.

Regardless, he wanted that Devotee and her child off his ranch and out of his life today.

Chapter 3

Dressed in a borrowed robe while Maria washed her clothes and tried to mend the tears, Susannah awoke from a two-hour nap when a loud knock rapped on the bedroom door. Without waiting for an answer, Nathan banged the door open and came right inside.

“Shush,” she told him. “The baby’s still sleeping.”

He threw a guarded glance toward the basket sitting on his wide dresser top. “I see,” he said in a stage whisper. “But we’re going to have that talk now.”

His face was a mask of stern consternation—big trouble. However, she wouldn’t let him run over her. She’d done enough of that in her life. This time, her child was what mattered most.

Pulling the robe tighter around her, she carefully sat in the easy chair. “Talk, then. But quietly please.”

“I’m not talking. You are. Why’d you lie? And if you’re in with those damned Devotees, why didn’t you want them to find you?”

She could see the veins sticking out on his temple as his jaw tightened. He was furious. Her hands started shaking. She didn’t deal well with anger … never had.

Taking a deep breath, she tried to find a way to explain without making him madder. “Please calm down, Nathan. I’ll tell you the truth, why we left Cold Plains, and then Melody and I will leave the ranch. I promise I wasn’t trying to take anything from you. We just needed to rest. We were lost. Really.”

He drew a breath, too, sat at the edge of the bed like he had earlier and let his mouth relax. “Go on.”

“The part about my boyfriend kicking me to the curb when he learned about the baby is true. He did put me on the bus. But that was six months ago. When I ran out of money in the middle of nowhere, I thought I would end up as a street person.”

“While expecting a baby?”

“Yeah, that’s not such a great picture, is it? The thought scared me to death. But I got lucky for once when Samuel Grayson found me and brought me back to Cold Plains. He made a place for me. He gave me a job and somewhere to live. I’d never been treated so well in my entire life.”

Nathan’s expression turned hard again. “I can understand that he became like your safety net. I guess you had no choice. But why’d you stay?”

“Seriously? Have you seen the place recently? Everything is wonderful and clean. I’d never lived anywhere as colorful or where the people are so kind to perfect strangers. My life had been full of lots of gray and mostly rude people up to then. I loved it there.”

“Did you … did you become one of them?”

“Well, if you mean, did I take their seminars and try my best to be like them? You bet I did. Samuel Grayson is the most amazing person I’ve ever met. He can make you feel, well, like you’re somebody.”

A tick appeared at the side of Nathan’s mouth when she’d mentioned Samuel. “If you love him and his kind so much, why’d you leave?”

All of a sudden it occurred to her what she’d been feeling during this whole conversation—trust … for Nathan. She barely knew the man but felt sure he would not hurt her or turn her over to the Devotees if she told the whole truth. It was weird to trust someone this quickly, but she went with it.

“Melody. She’s the reason we left.” Her eyes started to fill again, but she fought the waterworks. “My friend, the midwife named May Frommer, told me all about the rumors and made me see the light. She helped us get away.”

“I know May. She’s a local. What rumors?”

“About how babies who aren’t perfect don’t last long in Cold Plains. Look at Melody. She’s wonderful and I love her beyond measure, but she isn’t perfect.”

Sniffling again, she tried to steady her voice. “Have you heard the rumor that Devotees may be stealing children who aren’t perfect and selling them? May says so. May also mentioned a basement place where anybody who isn’t totally perfect is kept hidden. Do you think that’s true?”

“I’d believe anything about those creeps. But are you telling me that because your daughter has a simple birthmark you think she’s less than perfect?”

“Not me. I think she’s terrific. But, well, I couldn’t take a chance that the rumors are true. Could I?”

“Suppose not. So you’ve given up on Samuel Grayson and his philosophy, then?”

“Oh, no. I’m sure Samuel can’t know about any of this. It must be a few bad people in the Devotees who are using the group as a cover for doing terrible things. And, besides, what’s wrong with believing you can become the best you?”

Nathan stood and started pacing the room. “How soon can you get the baby ready to leave? I want you out of here by nightfall.”

The bedroom door opened wider at that moment, and Maria stepped into the room. “I heard that, Nathan. What’s wrong with you? These two can’t leave the ranch yet. Where’re your manners? The child is still not healthy. Something’s wrong with her, and she needs a doctor. And also there’s at least one cut on Susannah that requires stitching.”

Nathan ran his hands through his hair. “Hell. Why can’t you sew her up? You take care of the rest of us and our little cuts and bumps on the ranch just fine.”

“Nothing I’ve tried has helped the baby. She needs a doctor.”

“Who’re we gonna call?” He sounded frustrated, and his voice was growing louder. “Old Doc Jones quit making rounds through Cold Plains a year ago. And don’t say you’ll call one of those Devotee people to come out. Not on this ranch.”

Susannah’s whole body grew tense. “No, please. No doctors.”

Maria came over and bent to smooth a hand over her hair. “There’s a new man, sugar. Just came to town a while back. Don’t know it for a fact, but local people claim he doesn’t belong to the group. He’s supposed to be a good doctor without ties to them. Or at least he don’t spout that crud like the rest. I think we need to try. For Melody’s sake.”

She wasn’t thrilled to hear Maria bad-mouthing the Devotees’ philosophy. What was so wrong with becoming a great new person? But the idea that her daughter needed medical attention was the central most important thing to her right now.

Looking to Nathan, Susannah pleaded, “Please help my baby. I know you won’t let any of the Devotees take her from me. But Melody needs a doctor. We have to call this new man now.”

“I’ll call. But afterward, you remember what I said.”

“Of course. We’ll leave as soon as Melody can travel.”

“The child shouldn’t travel for at least ten days.”

“What?” Nathan barked at the doctor. “Why not?”

Before he’d called the man, Nathan had dialed up May Frommer for a recommendation on the doc and also for a brief discussion of his current uninvited guests. May had said it was still up in the air as to whether Dr. Rafe Black was secretly a Devotee or not, but her best guess was he was not. And then she went on and on about how Nathan should be gentle with Susannah and the child—as if he was ever too rough on any woman. He simply wanted her gone.

“The baby seems lethargic because she’s dehydrated,” Dr. Black answered and brought him back to the moment. “I’ve given her electrolytes, but this kind of thing takes a toll on infants. Babies take cues from their mothers. In this case, the mother is anxious and exhausted, so the baby is, too. Stress can kill a child that small.”

Hell, he was no ogre. He couldn’t throw them out now.

“Have you treated the mother yet?” He wondered what Susannah would have to say about the doctor’s orders. “Have you talked to her?”

“Not yet.” The doctor picked up the second case he’d brought into the house and looked ready to go back into the bedroom.

But he turned first and asked a question of his own. “Is this woman a Devotee? She looks familiar, like I’ve seen her in town. But Devotees don’t often come to me.”

“She was a Devotee for a few months. Having the baby seems to have changed all that.” Nathan hoped to hell that what he just claimed would turn out to be the truth.

He had no intention of having a practicing Devotee on his ranch, in his house, in his damned bed.

“But she lived in Cold Plains during the past six months?”

It was an odd way of putting the question, but Nathan nodded his head.

“Very well. I’ll go back to treat her now. Your housekeeper tells me her name is Susannah and that she has a few cuts that qualify for suturing. I’ll check them out.”

Nathan let him go and then headed off to find Maria.

He didn’t have to search long. He found her where she was most of the time: in the kitchen.

“Looks like you’re going to have houseguests for the next couple of weeks,” he told her. “Hope you’re ready.”

“The doctor says they have to stay? Good. We’ll handle it. I’ll fix you up a spot in one of the guest rooms.”

Damn. “Why can’t they move to a guest room?”

“Rooms are too small and there isn’t one that’s connected to a bath. This won’t be forever. Don’t whine about it.”

Gritting his teeth, Nathan got his temper back under control. “What did you think of Rafe Black? The way he talked to me about the Devotees, I got the distinct impression that he wasn’t one of them.”

“Naw. He’s no Devotee. He don’t stink like they do.”

That made Nathan chuckle. All right, so he was stuck with Susannah and the kid for a couple of weeks. He’d make the best of it. For quite a while now, he’d been wondering if it was possible to deprogram a Devotee. Actually, he guessed what he would be doing in this case was called exit counseling since Susannah left of her own free will. Once, before circumstances made him give up the idea, he’d been sure he could accomplish the steps necessary.

This might be a good time to find out for sure.

“There’s only one wound I see that might need a couple of sutures. But it’s probably been too long to keep it from scarring.” The doctor spoke softly to Susannah even though Maria had taken the baby into the kitchen.

“Which wound? Where is it?”

“On the back of your arm. It won’t show unless you wear sleeveless blouses or bathing suits.” He opened his bag and took out the necessary equipment. “I’ll make a couple of quick sutures to be sure it heals without any trouble.”

“Thank you.” She bit the inside of her cheek and waited for him to numb the area.

While he worked, Dr. Black said, “Haven’t I seen you around Cold Plains? Have you lived there long?”

Was he asking her because he was a Devotee or because he wanted a new patient?

“I lived there for a while. But I’m leaving town tonight. Why?” She held her breath, waiting for his answer.

“Afraid you can’t leave the ranch just yet. As I told Mr. Pierce, the baby needs at least ten days’ rest and regular feedings before you two can travel.”

“You told him that? What did he have to say?”

The doctor’s eyebrows went up. “He didn’t seem pleased, but he agreed.”

Well, that was a relief. However, if the two of them were staying on the ranch, she would have to find some way of getting around Nathan. They couldn’t conduct World War III between them for the next couple of weeks. It wouldn’t be good for Melody.

“I’ll give you instructions before I leave.” Dr. Black finished working on her, and whatever he’d done hardly hurt at all.

But as he put his things away, he seemed to have more to add. Was there something very wrong with the baby that he hadn’t told her?

“Could I ask a favor?” he asked softly.

“I guess so. What is it?” This was an odd way for a doctor to start a conversation, but she waited to hear the favor.

“While you were living in Cold Plains, did you happen to meet a woman named Abby Michaels? She was a new teacher’s aide at the day care center. She disappeared from town a while back, and I’m trying to find out if she had a baby with her.”

“The name kind of rings a bell.” Susannah had been told by the Devotees that she was to become the new teacher’s aide at the day care center after Melody’s birth. Guess they would need to find someone else now. “But sorry. I didn’t know her. And I never heard anything about a baby.”

A sad look crossed the doctor’s face for a second. “Well, thanks anyway for trying. You can put on your shirt while I jot out a couple of prescriptions.”

Out of the blue it occurred to her that this man was definitely not one of the Devotees. But wasn’t it strange that any doctor would come to Cold Plains without intending to join the group?

Still … “Um, can I ask a favor now?”

“Yes.” He looked over warily.

“I don’t want the Devotees to know I’m here. I would prefer that they think the baby and I have already left town. Is there any other way besides writing prescriptions with our names on them?”

He gave her another wary look, and then his features relaxed. “I have samples of the necessary medications in my office in town. If the ranch can send someone for them, I’d be happy to offer what you need.”

Breathing a sigh of relief, she nodded. Then she filed the info about him being so helpful away in her mind—just in case Melody might need more of his help.

“Would you like to go for a walk?” Nathan had waited until the baby was napping and Maria had time to sit with the little girl. “It’s been a couple of days since you came to the ranch, and I thought you’d like to look around. Maria can keep an eye on Melody for a while.”

Since the doctor had issued his orders yesterday afternoon and finished up with his patients, Nathan hadn’t seen much of Susannah. She’d slept for almost twenty-four hours straight, and Maria delivered her meals on a tray.

But Nathan had stayed busy, studying his books and manuals on how to best manage exit counseling for ex-cult members. He just wished she had other family members whom she already trusted. The process of exit counseling depended entirely on establishing a reasonable and respectful level of communication with the ex-cult member.

The two of them had hardly gotten off to a reasonable and respectful start. But he would try. He thought she was worth the effort, and the baby deserved a whole mother who could think clearly.

“I’d enjoy a little walk. I’ve always wondered what a working ranch would be like.”

“Get your coat.” He waited at the bedroom door as she pulled on her tattered jacket.

He stared at the patched coat. Obviously, she needed a few decent things to wear. But she’d been ordered not to leave the ranch to go shopping. Nathan supposed they could order clothes off the internet, but that would still leave a few days for shipping. He came to the conclusion his original idea for gaining her trust might prove to be the perfect trick for solving both problems.

“Most of the work on the ranch happens well before dawn,” he told her as they moved through the house toward the kitchen door. “Not too much going on late in the afternoon. But you’ll probably get a glimpse of the stock as they settle for the night.”

She nodded as he opened the door and escorted her out into the sunshine.

“There’s also a couple of important people you haven’t had a chance to meet yet, and I thought now might be a good time.”

“Oh? Who are they?”

He slid her arm through his as they strolled out into the yard. “That’s a long story. Mind if I talk while we walk?”

“Not at all. But we’ll have to take it slow, I’m afraid. I didn’t realize how weak I’d be.”

Turning to her, he tried to keep his voice calm and reassuring. “Are you sure you feel well enough to walk?”

Her facial expression suddenly drew down in a frown. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to ruin your walk. I can try harder. Or you can take me back so you can go alone. I’m really sorry.”

There, that was the first sure sign of cult programming. He’d just finished reading about the typical signs: anxiety, paranoia and constant fear of not pleasing the person in charge.

But why was this particular former cult member affecting him differently? Why was the idea of giving her counseling and trying to help her overcome her issues becoming so important to him? All he knew for sure was that seeing her weak and trembling, and knowing she had no one to trust, gave him an ache deep in his chest the likes of which he had never felt before.

Certainly he had a few trust issues of his own, but he felt positive he could get past them long enough to help her open up. He might not trust her completely, and he’d found himself fighting his base impulses where she was concerned. Impulses such as the way his heart thundered whenever her eyes welled up—or the way his gut clenched each time they touched. But his every instinct told him she would be worth all the effort.

He unwound their arms and then placed his arm around her shoulders to hold her upright. “You’re the reason for the walk. When you get too tired, just let me know. All we’ll do today is stroll to the fence to see the cattle and then back to the house for a short visit. Okay?”

“I’m sure I can make that. And I want to hear your story. What’s it about?”

“Um … me, I guess. Or rather, about the ranch and my family.”

“Oh, good. Go on.”

“See, it was my granddaddy who first came to this land as a young man. He built the ranch from a few acres into the place it is now. But when his daughter, my mama, died young, he tried his best to give the rest of us a deep love of the land and the animals.”

Susannah looked thoughtful, and he knew she was hearing between the words. Good. At least she was still capable of analyzing situations. Maybe her cult training hadn’t had time to completely overpower her mind.

“Granddaddy’s lesson took with me. I love everything about the land and the place and wouldn’t want to ever live anywhere else. But I can’t say as much for my siblings or my father.”

“Is that who we’re going to meet? The rest of your family?”

“Sort of. My father is still out of town on a buying trip, and my brother may or may not turn up for supper tonight. He has his own interests. And my little sister …”

Nathan tried to find a way to phrase this properly. “Well, Tara never did care much for the ranch. She was always a little wild. And she became lots worse after Mama died. When she was nineteen, she had a baby and didn’t know who out of her many lovers should be named the father.”

“Oh.” Susannah’s expression seemed to say she might be sympathizing with the woman she’d never meet.

“I don’t think Tara tried all that hard to figure it out, frankly. She was happy letting Maria and her older brothers take charge of her baby’s welfare.”

“Lucky she had family to count on.”

Interesting comment. Didn’t she ever have family to count on?

“Yeah, I’ll say,” he agreed. “You see, her little girl was diagnosed with autism when she was only two years old. Not three weeks went by after that before Tara hooked up with a new fellow. They left on the back of his motorcycle in the middle of the night. A few months later, we were notified she’d been killed in a motorcycle accident.”

“Goodness. What happened to the baby?”

“That’s who we’ll be meeting. My niece, Sara. I’m her legal guardian. She’s a wonderful little girl but needs a lot of help. I give her as much time as I can, and we’ve hired a woman who works with her and lives in her quarters.”

A dark cloud crossed over Susannah’s eyes, and she got a glassy look. “I’m not … I don’t know if …”

Ah, hell. He hadn’t given any consideration to the idea that meeting a child with special needs might make her worry about her own daughter’s future. But he felt sure that was the fear he was seeing in her eyes.

What an idiot he was. He’d hoped to add to her trust by showing her how well loved and taken care of Sara was.

But how could he have hoped she would trust him about this when she obviously didn’t trust him enough to tell him the whole truth about her background? Trust took time. He got that. But saving her was too important to give up.

“Trust me, Susannah. It’ll be fine. You’ll see.”

“I want to trust you. Really, I do.” Her face was a mask of indecision. Then she said, “I’m glad you told me about your sister. I have something to tell you, too. I wasn’t completely honest when I said my ex-boyfriend, Melody’s biological father, was a traveling salesman.”

He felt his jaw tighten but he couldn’t help it.

“Uh, well, he did travel.” Susannah’s eyes grew large as she watched his reactions carefully. “And he was selling stuff. But the stuff he sold was drugs. He told me he was a wholesale dealer.”

Nathan took half a step back. He should’ve known there was more to her story. He’d been right not to trust her completely.

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you the whole story before,” she added quickly. “I just didn’t think we’d be staying on the ranch long enough for it to matter. And I never got involved in his business. Really. I never saw him take the drugs, either. He could’ve been selling anything for all the difference it made in our lives.”

It was easy to see how sorry she was about lying. And the longer he stayed silent, the more her eyes welled up again. Ah, hell.

“It’s okay,” he finally managed, and was surprised to find he meant it. “I believe you weren’t involved in his business. And that maybe your relationship had just been a bad choice. Let’s put it behind us and go on from here. I still want to help you, and I still want you to meet my niece. Okay?”

She nodded and blinked her eyes a couple of times. She looked so vulnerable and afraid that his gut turned over again. Apparently, she still hadn’t told him the whole truth. But whatever this new little untruth was would have to wait.

Jeez. Why he was so determined to help her was still a mystery. But, by heaven, he vowed she would be free of her cult programming before she and her child had to leave the ranch for good.

Maybe helping her would make a good start to easing his guilt over the death of his ex-wife. And a start, but by no means the end, of what he intended to do in the memory of all the women who’d been taken in by that slippery con man Samuel Grayson.

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