Page 69 of A Heart Falls Cowboy Christmas

By the time she’d made an uncomfortable pit stop, Rose was more than ready to get off her feet.

She’d finally noticed an amazing aroma hung in the air—garlic and rosemary and the sweet scent of roasting carrots. Before she could puzzle out the source, she spotted the paper propped up on the island.

Dinner is in the oven. I have the salad fixings in the fridge, and Cody and I will be over in time to prep everything for Chance’s birthday dinner. Your job is to relax and admire sweet Lily.

You’re welcome.

XOX

Fern

PS: Be ready for Cody. He’s uber-excited for you both, and I’m not even trying to rein him in.

Warmth wrapped around Rose like a hug as she made her way to the couch. That was the right spot, she decided. While their individual easy chairs where she and Chance relaxed most mornings were side by side, the couch would make passing Lily back and forth between them easier.

Sure enough, when Chance paced cautiously into the room, he settled beside Rose and immediately rearranged Lily so they could both touch her.

A miracle. Or had Rose already thought that?

No less than a million times already, and that was fine. She traced the teeny curve of Lily’s ear. “I still can’t believe she’s here.”

Chance stared with open fascination. “I can’t believe the hospital let us leave with her.”

As funny as the comment was, Rose got it. “They didn’t even give us a quiz.”

“Thank God. Driving was bad enough.”

Rose laughed, softly this time, careful not to overdo it. “How are you feeling, love?”

He considered, gaze locked on Lily. “Nervous. Excited. More than a little scared.”

“Me too,” Rose admitted, shifting uncomfortably. “All of those plus sore.”

“I don’t doubt that for one second.” His lips curved into a sympathetic smile before his expression softened. “Mostly I feel…fulfilled.”

Rose’s throat tightened at the intensity in his tone.

He brushed a finger down Lily’s cheek, and even in sleep, her mouth puckered as if searching for sustenance and connection.

“I make art,” Chance said quietly. “I spend hours applying colour and light and shape and emotion to a canvas. Sometimes it takes a lot of work to get the image in my head out for others to see, but I strive on because my goal is to make something that tells a story, or inspires, or leaves a person in awe.”

Her eyes already filling, Rose caught Chance’s free fingers in her own.

His voice was rough when he finished. “I will never in my life make anything this beautiful with my two hands.”

They stared at each other for a moment before Rose leaned her head into his shoulder, the baby in her lap the center of all their love and attention.

They stayed that way until Lily stirred, tiny grunts turning into an indignant cry in a shockingly short time.

“Which cry is this?” Chance asked, near panic in his tone.

“I think hungry.”

He nodded rapidly. “Okay, that’s fine then. I’ll nab you a blankie and then a drink.”

Rose was rearranging Lily to nurse her when the back door opened and Fern popped in, followed closely by Cody.

“We come bearing gifts.” Fern announced. She held a small package in the air and shook it.