Page 35 of Rancher to the Rescue

“There are plenty of places. In fact, there’s a motel up next to the highway. Nothing wrong with going there for a few days until this whole mess gets sorted out.” She looked to the sheriff. “Unless you need me to come to your office for questioning or something?”

The last part of her sentence was her asking if she was going to be under arrest.

“I don’t see a reason for you to be uncomfortable at my office,” he said. “If I need to get ahold of you, I have your cell now.”

“What if the perp put some kind of tracking app on the cell?” Adam asked.

“It’s possible,” the sheriff stated. “Not likely since he tossed it in the yard. If he’d left it inside where she could easily see it, I might think otherwise.”

Prudence stared at her phone with the same fear she would if she was staring at a bomb about to detonate. Icy fingers gripped her spine at the possibility someone could have planted an app on her phone and then ditched it in hopes she’d find it.

“You both said it was common knowledge that cell phones could be tracked,” she said. “Leaving it on my table would be an even bigger giveaway.”

Lawler nodded.

“If that’s the case, I’d be more comfortable if it led them straight to you.” She handed over the phone to the sheriff. “It occurs to me that without ID or a wallet, renting a room for a couple of nights will be impossible. So, if I can’t say here, I might as well come back to the ranch.”

The thought of being in the truck with Adam for a solid hour with no one else to talk to suddenly felt like a prison sentence.

“I better get to work patching up your back door,” Adam said.

“I’ll leave you to it,” Lawler said. “I better get the tests turned into evidence.”

Adam nodded, his expression unreadable as he handed over the baby to Prudence. “Do you have any supplies?”

“Hmm, good question. I don’t have a garage to store anything in but I do have a hammer and nails,” she said, not quite ready to warm up to him again. Once they got to the main house, rules could be set. It would take both of them to care for Angel. They could set a schedule. Take opposite feeding times while the other one slept. They barely had to be in the same room, except to make a handoff.

Besides, Prudence couldn’t imagine walking away from Angel while the little girl’s future was up in the air. She would do anything for that baby, even put up with Adam.

“I probably have something in the back of the truck to work with,” he mumbled before heading toward his vehicle.

Apparently, he did. He returned with a board and a handful of supplies.

“This won’t take but a minute,” he said, going right to work.

The sheriff was long gone by that point. Adam would find out if he was a father in a matter of days when most folks had nine months to adjust to this kind of life-changing news to get ready for baby. He had a way with Angel. Prudence didn’t want to use the word natural, but it was the closest that came to mind to describe seeing him feed and hold the baby. Angel had been swabbed too. She was too little to realize the implications if she came back a match to Adam’s ex.

Again, her heart went out to the family. No matter what else happened, a woman had died.

Prudence made a mental note of everything she wanted to take with her. Definitely, her laptop. She didn’t exactly need it, but she didn’t want the perp returning and stealing it or busting it up. She walked through the bedroom, bouncing Angel and humming. Prudence couldn’t remember the words to any lullabies but she knew the melodies.

A memory of her own mother singing to her at night before turning off the light struck. The sound was so sweet, it nearly brought Prudence to tears when she thought about it. Not sad tears, but tears of remembering. She’d forgotten so much about her parents and this was one of many buried memories.

Holding this sweetie in her arms reminded her what it was like to have a mother. Warmth washed over Prudence.

The stairs creaked but she didn’t stop humming. Angel was awake, listening intently, like she was hearing a familiar sound. Did your mother sing to you too?

“I can take her whenever you’re ready.” Adam’s masculine voice washed over Prudence. Not a good idea to have him inside her bedroom while she was still mad at him. The few sizzling-hot kisses they’d shared came to mind, causing a slow burn. Lucky for her, holding a baby quashed all thoughts of anything romantic happening between them.

“Okay,” was all she managed to say through the crick in her throat. Her voice cracked on the one word.

She turned to face him and noted how his heft filled the doorframe as he leaned against the doorjamb. The man was sex on a stick gorgeous. Too bad he didn’t trust her.

Actually, it was probably for the best when she thought about it as she walked over to him and then handed Angel over. She immediately turned her back and stepped away. Being close to that man was like standing in the sun. She pulled a travel suitcase out from underneath her bed and started packing.

“Did you decide on your next step?” Adam asked, his voice husky.

Prudence took a moment to consider her options. Going to the main house on the ranch really was the best option.