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My stomach grumbled as I sat in my room, journaling. I’d skipped breakfast because I hadn’t wanted to have to sit with Beau at the kitchen table. It had been a mistake going to his room this morning. I should have left well enough alone. We’d just had a little fun the night before, and this morning had made it more real. We could have laughed off last night as two people who got carried away, but this morning had been about more than that. This morning had been about lust and need. He’d wanted me and I’d wanted him, but somehow, it got awkward. I really wished that Lucy was back already. I needed to talk to her about what had happened. I needed another perspective before I totally lost my mind.
“Olivia.” Sadie rushed into my room, her eyes wide. “You need to come out here!” Her blonde hair was up in a messy bun, and her eyes were wide.
“Um, why?” I asked her curiously. “Is someone looking for me? Amelia? Ranger?” I didn’t dare say Beau’s name, though of course I was hoping it was him.
“No. Amelia and Ranger ran into town, remember?”
“Oh, yeah.” I had no clue, but I wasn’t going to say that.
“And the guys are all out at the ranch.” She frowned. “I was sitting in the kitchen hoping you’d come out, but now we have another problem.”
“Oh no, what’s going on?” I wondered what she’d been doing in the house if no one else was there, but this was like Sadie’s second home, so it really wasn’t for me to ask. I didn’t live there at all.
“Oh my gosh, I don’t even know where to start.” She made a face. “Will you come with me? Now?” There was urgency in her voice.
“Okay.” I jumped up off the chair and put my pen and journal down. “Where are we going?”
“There’s a girl at the front door. With a kid.” She raised her eyebrows. “A little kid.”
“Okay, and?”
“She’s . . .” She paused. “Just come with me, okay?”
“Fine.”
I followed her out of the room and down the hallway toward the main door. On the front doorstep stood a tall, beautiful woman with light brown hair and big green eyes. She looked nervous as she stood there holding a little girl’s hand. The little girl had blonde hair and blue eyes and was clutching a doll in her other hand.
“Who are they?” I whispered to Sadie. My heart was racing, but I didn’t know why.
“No idea.” She shook her head. She opened the front door and stepped out. “Hi, I’m Sadie.”
“I’m Arya.” The lady stepped forward, holding her hand out. Sadie shook it awkwardly, and then they just stared at each other for a few seconds.
“Hi! I’m Eloise,” the little girl said. “And this is my baby, Doll.”
“Not a very original name.” Arya laughed. “But she chose it.”
“Doll is my best friend,” Eloise said, grinning. I could see that she was missing a front tooth. She appeared to be about five or six, but I wasn’t really great with kids’ ages.
“I don’t suppose Beau Hamilton is here, is he?” Arya said, a nervous expression on her face. Her green eyes were quite piercing.
I shook my head. I could feel myself stiffening as I stared at her. Did she know Beau? “No, he’s not here right now. The guys are out on the ranch doing cattlemen stuff,” I said, trying to sound as official as possible, even though I had absolutely no idea what that actually meant. “They’re bailing hay and . . . stuff.”
“Oh.” Arya frowned. “I was hoping to talk to him. It’s important.”
“Um, we might be able to help,” Sadie said. “I’m a long-time friend of the family. In fact, Amelia and Ranger practically consider me their daughter.” She laughed. “Um, that’s Beau’s parents, if you didn’t know.”
“Of course I knew,” Arya said quickly. “But it’s vital that I speak to him as soon as possible.”
“Okay,” Sadie said. “Well, I could call him. Who should I say is here?”
“You should tell him that his daughter is here.”
“His daughter?” Sadie’s jaw dropped, and a chill swept over me. Sadie looked at me and then back at the lady in front of us. “You’re his daughter?”
“Sadie, really?” I huffed, shock making me impatient. “Think about it.”
“Ohh!” Sadie slapped her hand to her mouth. “I’m an idiot, sorry. You’re no way young enough to be his daughter. Not that you’re old, but . . .” She blushed. “Sorry, I’m messing this up. So, Eloise is his daughter? Oh boy, this is going to be drama.”
