over top of his, wishing she could do more but hoping this was comfort enough. There had been plenty of nights after Evan was born when she would have settled for someone simply patting her on the shoulder or giving her hand a reassuring squeeze. It would have been more than enough to know she wasn’t alone in the world, with a new baby who was depending on her and no parenting experience.
You are not alone. Though she didn’t speak the words, she thought them so loud she hoped Colin felt them anyway.
They sat there like that, in silence, and, after a while, his body began to relax. She stole a glance at his profile and was relieved that his jaw was no longer clenched.
“I’m all right now,” he said gruffly. “Thank you.”
She nodded, almost adding “any time” before catching herself. With any luck, it wouldn’t happen again. And not just for his peace of mind, either, but for hers.
Sitting in the dark of Colin’s bedroom and holding his hand, she’d felt a crack inside her, felt herself opening to him in a way she hadn’t experienced for a very long time. In a way that—if she weren’t careful—would hurt like hell when he walked out of their lives in a few weeks.
Chapter Seven
When Hannah stumbled bleary-eyed from bed the next morning, Colin had already left the house. There was a note on the table about his checking the young cows and starting to work with them to get them halter trained. She had to admit, she was a little relieved not to face him yet. Even though there was a lot she didn’t know about Colin, for a moment, they’d shared an almost intense intimacy. She was hoping the false sense of connection would dissipate before she encountered him again.
She woke Evan, who was always at his quietest and snuggliest for the first hour of the day. Since moving to the ranch, she’d taken advantage of his not being a morning person, letting him sleep in while she tackled some chores first thing. But summer was just around the corner, then kindergarten would start before she knew it. For both their sakes, she should slowly help him adjust to the idea of rising on a schedule.
At least today she had a trip to town to help motivate him. Henry and Kitty were taking him into town for errands followed by lunch at Evan’s favorite pizza place. Hannah, always looking for ways to make Henry feel legitimately useful without overtaxing his strength, had asked him to pick up some supplies, including new salt and mineral blocks for the cows and alfalfa seed.
Before much longer, she’d need seeds to start planting beans and squash. In Colorado Springs, she’d grown some herbs and window box tomatoes in the summer. But she loved having a real garden now. She was learning all she could about what grew best during the different seasons, and when she was working in the soil, her mind often drifted to the menus she wanted to offer her guests. She’d also started trading the first of her fresh produce, like radishes, to Annette in exchange for eggs from the Reeds’ farm. Soon, she’d also have lettuce and carrots to show for her hard work.
Hannah had her list and envelope of money ready to go when the Whites arrived. She was glad to see Kitty was driving, because Henry seemed strangely jittery.
“Too much coffee,” Kitty said in a whisper. “He’s determined never to fall asleep on Evan duty again.”
Again? Hannah didn’t get a chance to ask because Evan was so excited about getting to help like a big boy—and, of course, the pizza—that he practically dragged the Whites out of the house. Hannah had plenty of peace and quiet to finish decorating her cakes and catch up on some laundry.
It was nearly noon when Patricia arrived. She was visibly surprised by the improved front porch. “Why, I almost didn’t recognize the place,” she commented, sliding her sunglasses atop her head. She had the same blond hair as her son, but hers was shot through with distinguished silver. “Gideon mentioned you
You are not alone. Though she didn’t speak the words, she thought them so loud she hoped Colin felt them anyway.
They sat there like that, in silence, and, after a while, his body began to relax. She stole a glance at his profile and was relieved that his jaw was no longer clenched.
“I’m all right now,” he said gruffly. “Thank you.”
She nodded, almost adding “any time” before catching herself. With any luck, it wouldn’t happen again. And not just for his peace of mind, either, but for hers.
Sitting in the dark of Colin’s bedroom and holding his hand, she’d felt a crack inside her, felt herself opening to him in a way she hadn’t experienced for a very long time. In a way that—if she weren’t careful—would hurt like hell when he walked out of their lives in a few weeks.
Chapter Seven
When Hannah stumbled bleary-eyed from bed the next morning, Colin had already left the house. There was a note on the table about his checking the young cows and starting to work with them to get them halter trained. She had to admit, she was a little relieved not to face him yet. Even though there was a lot she didn’t know about Colin, for a moment, they’d shared an almost intense intimacy. She was hoping the false sense of connection would dissipate before she encountered him again.
She woke Evan, who was always at his quietest and snuggliest for the first hour of the day. Since moving to the ranch, she’d taken advantage of his not being a morning person, letting him sleep in while she tackled some chores first thing. But summer was just around the corner, then kindergarten would start before she knew it. For both their sakes, she should slowly help him adjust to the idea of rising on a schedule.
At least today she had a trip to town to help motivate him. Henry and Kitty were taking him into town for errands followed by lunch at Evan’s favorite pizza place. Hannah, always looking for ways to make Henry feel legitimately useful without overtaxing his strength, had asked him to pick up some supplies, including new salt and mineral blocks for the cows and alfalfa seed.
Before much longer, she’d need seeds to start planting beans and squash. In Colorado Springs, she’d grown some herbs and window box tomatoes in the summer. But she loved having a real garden now. She was learning all she could about what grew best during the different seasons, and when she was working in the soil, her mind often drifted to the menus she wanted to offer her guests. She’d also started trading the first of her fresh produce, like radishes, to Annette in exchange for eggs from the Reeds’ farm. Soon, she’d also have lettuce and carrots to show for her hard work.
Hannah had her list and envelope of money ready to go when the Whites arrived. She was glad to see Kitty was driving, because Henry seemed strangely jittery.
“Too much coffee,” Kitty said in a whisper. “He’s determined never to fall asleep on Evan duty again.”
Again? Hannah didn’t get a chance to ask because Evan was so excited about getting to help like a big boy—and, of course, the pizza—that he practically dragged the Whites out of the house. Hannah had plenty of peace and quiet to finish decorating her cakes and catch up on some laundry.
It was nearly noon when Patricia arrived. She was visibly surprised by the improved front porch. “Why, I almost didn’t recognize the place,” she commented, sliding her sunglasses atop her head. She had the same blond hair as her son, but hers was shot through with distinguished silver. “Gideon mentioned you
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