Page 3 of Rancher to the Rescue

“Take Luna to the barn. Make sure she’s well cared for,” Adam said. After that run, she would be lathered up. He turned to Prudence. “Lean toward me.”

She did and he caught her. More of that electricity coursed through her. She mentally shook it off.

“I’ll take care of Luna myself,” Brax said, taking the reins. It was obvious the brothers were close. It also seemed to be understood Brax would be filled in later.

Adam seemed to thank his brother by way of a bear hug.

“Any chance we have baby’s milk inside the house?” Adam asked. “Pantry?”

Brax shot a clueless look. “You got me.”

“Thanks anyway, man,” Adam said.

Brax nodded before heading toward the red barn. He shouted back, “Nice to meet you.”

“Same.” Prudence had passed him in town half a dozen times. This didn’t seem like the time to bring it up. Plus, she had a way of blending into the woodwork when she wanted to. Crowds of people had never been her thing.

“This way.” Adam held the door open for her. The man was sheer perfection with black as a night sky hair that was just long enough to curl. By contrast, his eyes were the palest blue and he had the thickest, longest lashes she’d ever seen. Make-up companies would kill to photograph them. Not to mention the man was six-feet-three-inches of solid muscle. He had the kind of cheekbones that looked good on a billboard with someone in their underwear and had the smokin’ hot bod to pull it off, with just enough scruff on his face to be sexy and a set of the most piercing eyes.

Her throat dried up as she walked by him and onto the screened-in back porch, complete with flat-screen TV, a fireplace, and a sitting area larger than her entire house. If this was any indication of what she was about to walk into, she needed to take in a deep breath. And probably a few more for good measure.

Adam’s cell buzzed. He fished it out of his pocket as he held the backdoor open for her. She walked into the kitchen that would be a professional chef’s dream as he answered the call.

“Luna okay?” were the first words out of his mouth. His concern for his horse struck her in a deep place. He said a few uh-huhs into the phone before glancing at Prudence. “How old do you think the baby is?”

“No idea. She can’t be too old. She doesn’t have any teeth,” Prudence supplied.

Again, Adam shot her a concerned look as he relayed the message. Shortly after, he ended the call.

“Brax gathered the ranch hands. Casey’s wife just had a baby. He’s bringing formula and supplies to the main house right now,” Adam said. “In the meantime, do you want to tell me why it is you have a baby in your arms you seem to know nothing about?”

It was then Prudence remembered the piece of paper. She dug it out of her pocket, grateful the baby had momentarily gone to sleep sucking on her fist.

“I found this tucked inside her blanket.” She held the wadded-up note on the flat of her palm.

When he took the offering, his fingers grazed her hand. Contact sent a sensual current skittering across her skin.

Adam flattened out the piece of paper on the granite center island. His pale blue eyes widened as he read the name: Adam Firebrand.

2

“Is this some kind of joke?” Adam stared at the paper with the same intensity as someone who was looking at a bomb about to detonate. His blank, frustrated glower gave the impression he had no idea why his name would be brought up.

“I don’t know,” Prudence said. Her defenses kicked into high gear. “I have no idea where the note came from.”

“Then who does this baby belong to?” he asked. “She’s clearly not yours and I’ve never seen her before.”

Before she could answer, the screen door squeaked and then the back door flung open. Two men came charging in. Adam immediately introduced her to Casey and Bronc.

Casey, the younger of the two men, had a diaper bag slung over his shoulder. He sized the baby up. “She isn’t more than a few weeks old. I’m guessing you don’t know the formula she usually takes?” He glanced at Prudence.

She shook her head, wishing she could say something helpful.

“My son’s will be better than nothing. She might get an upset stomach because the doc recommends sticking with the same kind, but we can deal with that when the time comes. Maybe we’ll get lucky and this will be what she’s used to.” He went to work, laying out supplies before fixing and heating a bottle.

“His wife and son live with her mother in Henson Falls, which is a town over. He lives here at the bunkhouse during the week and goes home every other weekend,” Adam whispered, his body strung tight.

In no time at all Casey produced a bottle. He tested the milk on the inside of his wrist. “This is the way my wife taught me to make sure it isn’t too hot.”