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His throat choked up all over again.
Then Lizzie left him no choice. She leaned her head against his arm. He put his left arm around her shoulders and pulled her closer, then leaned down to kiss her forehead.
He didn’t care if people saw.
He didn’t care what some might think.
He thought of what she’d missed all her life, the love and care of parents who cherished her.
Could she be happy here?
She lifted watery eyes to his and the moment she did, he knew his answer.
Yes.
She could love him again. Would love him again. It was written in her heartfelt gaze, through the sheen of sorrow.
Zeke tugged on his sleeve. He looked down into a little face lined with worry. Zeke reached up and Heath scooped him into his arms.
He held him in one arm and Lizzie in the other, and for the first time in a long time, Heath was pretty sure everything was going to be all right.
* * *
Lizzie had just finished up in the stables when Heath came her way a few hours later. “Has everyone gone home?”
He nodded. “Even the few old timers that hung around, just wanting to chat. Wick drove the last couple home. And, Lizzie…” He moved closer, and his look…
Lizzie was pretty sure she could get lost in that look if they shared all three blessings. Faith, hope and love.
“I wanted to thank you.”
He laid strong hands on her shoulders in a gentle grip and held her gaze. “You saw what needed to be done and you did it. You reached out and people responded. Having this service today made a difference. It brought people together that I haven’t seen in years.”
“Let’s not get carried away,” she began, but he paused her with a finger to her mouth.
“Why not?”
Her heart began to beat harder. Faster.
He stepped closer. “Maybe just a little carried away.” He smiled down at her as his eyes went from her eyes to her lips…and back again. “Like this.” He leaned down and paused just shy of her mouth, waiting for her to close the distance.
Lizzie didn’t make him wait. She rose up on tiptoe to touch her mouth to his, and when he gathered her into his arms, a rush of sweet emotion grabbed hold.
She’d loved him once. Probably never stopped. And now…
“Liz.” He pressed kisses to her cheek, her ear, her hair. “You’ve made a difference, Lizzie. Not just to me, but to my son, to this ranch, and maybe to the town.” He stopped talking long enough to kiss her again. Then he paused and dropped his forehead to hers. “I can’t let you go again, Liz. Not now, not ever. I want you to stay here, with me. With Zeke. I want us to be a family, Liz. I want to court you like I should have done years ago.”
She started to speak but stopped when a long, drawn-out whine pierced the air.
They both paused, listening.
The whine came again, fainter this time.
“The dog.” Lizzie pulled back and raced for the door. Heath followed.
She didn’t burst through the back door. She opened it carefully, not wanting to scare the animal. She crept out, with Heath behind her, and searched the pasture with her eyes.
The yowl came again, long and slow as if begging for help.
And then the dog appeared at the edge of the shed. She started their way, then paused, panting.
They navigated over the split rail fence and ran toward the dog. Normally it would have ducked away into hiding.
Not this time. This time the roughed-up pooch stayed right there, waiting.
Lizzie moved right in. Heath caught her arm. “An animal in pain might bite. Let me get her.”
Lizzie pulled off the hoodie she’d had tied around her waist. “Wrap her in this. She’s shaking, Heath.”
He bent over the dog, wrapped her in the soft jacket and lifted her into his arms as if he carried something precious and beautiful. Not a sad, dirty, matted canine. “Let’s get her up to the house.”
“Not the barn?”
He shook his head quickly. “I think she’s going to need some warmth and TLC, Lizzie. She’s very pregnant and seems to be going into labor.”
“She’s having puppies?”
He nodded, grim. “Let’s see if we can get her cleaned up some. There might not be time for that, though.”
She moved up the steps ahead of him as his phone alarm went off. The dog jumped in his arms, frightened by the sudden noise. He held her close while Lizzie drew a bath in the laundry room sink.
His phone buzzed again. He frowned, hit Decline, and helped hold the weak dog as Lizzie sluiced warm water through the nasty fur. When the dog let out a yelp, Lizzie put the hand sprayer down. “Let’s let her rest now. We got the worst of it. Are there flea meds in the barn?”
“Yes. Good thought. Cookie would not approve of fleas in his work area. I’ll have one of the men bring them in.” He held up his phone in apology. “The meeting that Carrington scheduled is today. It’s in fifteen minutes. I don’t know how long I’ll be, but I know he’s got an early flight back to the East Coast.” He looked from her to the dog and back. “I don’t want to leave you with this, but I don’t want to miss this chance to talk with these guys, either.”
