Levi whistled, and the yellow dog bounded around the corner of the barn and came to a skidding halt next to Mason’s stroller.

“Where you been, boy? Chasing rabbits? We got work to do.”

The dog’s tail thumped like mad. He smiled his doggie grin, eyes dancing with delight in his master. In the days and weeks since he’d strayed onto the Donley Ranch, Butter had filled out, and his dull yellow coat had turned to gold. He was a handsome cuss.

Even Nate thought so. He’d said as much when he’d stopped by, at his sister’s request, to check the dog over and vaccinate him. Even though Nate wasn’t a vet, he was the closest thing Calypso had, and he was mighty good at it. Emily wanted to be sure Butter was healthy, since he’d taken such an interest in Mason. Fine with Levi. He wanted that too.

“Be useful now. Lay down there by the stroller and keep an eye on our boy. I got hooves to clean and file.”

The barn lot held half a dozen horses he and Freckles had rounded up at daylight. All six needed some foot work.

With the baby in clear sight but out of reach of the horses, Levi slipped through the gate and got busy.

The sun was hot on his back, a harbinger of a warm summer on the way. But the flats of Texas would be hotter. Might as well get acclimated.

He’d talked to Jack Parnell on the phone this morning and reiterated his plan to be on The Long Spur by the end of the month. Less than two weeks.

With Freckles’s foot trapped between his knees, he picked away at the debris under the frog, the foot’s v-shaped cushion.

Funny how he’d been so excited about the Texas job, but now he dreaded it.

He paused to tip his hat back and take a closer look at the hoof.

Emily was the problem. She loved him. He’d suspected it for a while, but he’d tried to pretend not to. It was easier to make decisions that way. He’d rather take a nosedive off a bucking horse that see her hurt, but she didn’t understand. He was trying to do what was best for her as well as himself. She didn’t need the likes of him messing up her life.

The question was, why would Emily love him? Why would she even be willing to look at him?

Because she has a big, forgiving heart.

Yeah. That was his Em. Loving and good. Saint Emily.

He wondered if she’d ever consider moving away from Calypso.

Nah, she was happy here. Her family was here, and their relationships were close and binding. Not like his. She had roots. Her life, her church, her job, her friends were here. He couldn’t ask her to move to Texas with him.

You could stay.

Levi ignored the voice and reached for a file to smooth a jagged edge on Freckles’s hoof. Two fingers to the pastern told him the pulse was strong.

He glanced up to check on Mason. Whatever had caused the twenty-four-hour crying jag was mercifully over. The baby was eating and happy today.

Was it because of Emily? Had her presence and her sweet singing soothed something inside an infant who might be missing his mother?

The thought haunted him—that Mason would grieve and ache for a woman’s touch.

He’d hire a female caregiver in Texas.

But she wouldn’t be Emily.

He completed cleaning Freckle’s hooves and turned him out to pasture. As he led Goldie, the palomino, into the lot for her turn, a car turned down the driveway. Dust stirred up behind in small puffs instead of billowing clouds, a testament to the good spring rains they’d had.

Spring rains that had killed his brother.

Sometimes he’d go for hours, even a whole day, without remembering, and then the heartache would sweep over him in a massive wave. A tsunami. Like now. He wanted to ignore the car, sit down on the ground, stick his face in his hat, and wail as loud as Mason had. That’s how bad his chest ached.

The car stopped at the end of the drive. Levi left Goldie in the lot and went to greet the visitor, pushing the stroller in front of him. Mason made happy noises and waved his arms at the toys dangling from the handle. Butter trailed alongside.

Levi squinted into the sun. He didn’t recognize the vehicle, but with the ranch up for sale, he figured he’d start seeing some traffic soon. Anyway, he hoped he did. He had two weeks to sell or do this thing long distance.

A slim, fortyish woman in black slacks and a pink top exited the driver’s side, lifted a hand to shade her eyes, and watched his approach. A man stayed in the passenger’s seat but had turned to gaze around the property.

“Is this the Donley Ranch?” she asked as Levi approached.

His hopes lifted. Definitely a house hunter. “Yes, ma’am. I’m Levi Donley.”

The woman stepped close to the stroller and peered inside. She softened the way he’d seen dozens of women do when they looked at the baby. In church, at the store, it didn’t matter. Mason had admirers. Every single time, Levi puffed up with pride. The little man was something special.

“This must be the orphaned Donley baby,” she said. “What’s his name?”

“Mason.”

She reached inside the stroller. “Mind if I hold him?”

Levi frowned. This was more than casual interest, and he didn’t like the idea of a stranger handling his boy. He put a hand on Mason’s chest, stopping her.

“I’d rather you didn’t. Are you here to look at the house? The realtor didn’t mention an appointment, but I could have missed her call.”

The woman drew back, eyebrows drawn together in question. “The house? No, we’re here for the baby. We drove all the way from Nebraska to get him.”

Hair rose on the back of Levi’s neck. “What are you talking about?”

Seemingly determined to have her hands on Mason, she chucked the baby under the chin. “When we got the call from Child Services, I was shocked. We had no idea Marilyn had two sons in Oklahoma. And now a grandchild.”

Levi’s ears began to ring. Marilyn? His mother?

“Ma’am, I don’t know you, and I don’t know what you’re talking about. My mother hasn’t been in my life since I was a toddler.”

“I’m Rosanna Tompkins.” She said the name as if he should recognize it. He didn’t.

When he didn’t respond, she tried again. “My husband was related to your mother, and when we learned about the orphaned baby, we felt it was our duty to step up and take him in.”

“Take him in? You mean, take custody of him?” Was that what she was trying to say? She wanted his boy?

Levi began to shake his head and slowly pull the stroller away from the woman. This wasn’t happening. “I don’t know where you got your information, but Mason is not available.”

“We spoke to a social worker. She was searching for relatives. At first, we didn’t understand any of this either. We barely knew Marilyn and never knew you boys. But after considerable thought, we decided taking him as our own was the right thing to do.”

Levi’s stomach sank all the way to the green grass.

Emily. Had Emily sent this woman?

He swallowed the bile that rose in this throat as bitter as his mood. “I don’t care who you spoke to. You’re not taking Mason anywhere.”

Mrs. Tompkins’s face tightened. She made another move toward Mason.

Levi stepped around the stroller and blocked her view. Butter scooted in at the side as if he, too, was feeling the negative vibes.

A sense of protectiveness more fierce than anything he’d ever experienced rushed over Levi. He’d fight for this boy. He’d stop anyone who tried to take him. Even Emily. No matter what he had to do.

Through tight teeth, he ground, “Don’t touch him. He’s my son.”

The word ballooned in his mind. Son. Mason was his child.

“That was not my understanding.”

“Then your understanding was wrong.” Now, go, leave, and don’t come back.

“We’ve already spoken to an attorney. We’re filing for custody.”

Levi’s stomach lurched into his throat. He thought he might choke. Or throw up. “Not going to happen.”

He’d run if he had to, but no one was taking this baby.

The woman pulled herself up straight and tall. With a huff, she said, “We’ll see about that. I didn’t drive all this way to go home empty-handed.”

Then she spun away, marched to her car, and slammed the door hard enough to rattle the countryside.

As the vehicle sped down the drive, stirring far more dust this time, Levi watched in dismay, his disappointment bitter.

Emily had done this to him. Emily. The woman who claimed to love him. The woman he loved.

She had never wanted him to raise Mason. She’d been against him from the start.

But she’d changed her mind. Hadn’t she?

Wrong again, cowboy. Sweet Emily sabotaged you.

She must have gone right on searching for another relative to adopt Mason even after she’d learned of Levi’s decision. Why would she do that? And why would she say she loved him and then stab him in the back?

He tilted his head and stared up at the marshmallow clouds, finding no answers except betrayal.

---

Emily hummed as she hoed around the edge of her front flowerbed. Last night with Levi had been wonderful, even if she’d left early so he could get some much-needed sleep. The two hours they’d been together had been like old times. Better than old times. They were adults now, mature and sensible. One ugly, embarrassing incident would no longer come between them, and someday soon, Levi would release his long-held animosity towards his father and find the peace he needed.

She believed that with all her heart. Just as she knew she loved him enough to leave Calypso if he asked.

The decision hadn’t been easy, but she wanted him and Mason to be her future, wherever that took them. He’d hinted a few times last night, discussing the Texas job, the manager’s house that was big enough for a family, and his desire to settle down with a wife and kids pretty soon. He already had the kid, he’d joked. Now, he needed the wife.

That was Levi’s way. Dance around the subject until he could get the words out. If he broached the topic again tonight, Emily was ready with her answer.

From a flat of started flowers, she removed a little pink pansy plant and stuck it in the prepared hole. An entire bed of these would add cheerful color until late fall.

A car door slammed behind her, not unusual with her brothers and Connie and the ranch hands of the Triple C swirling all over the big ranch all day long. Her house was an easy stop for iced tea or a bathroom break. She pivoted on her toes with a greeting on her lips.

Levi stormed across the lawn, looking angrier than a thundercloud.

Her heart dropped. “Is Mason sick again?”

“No.” The word was terse and sharp.

The baby was okay. He must be in the truck. But something was most definitely amiss.

Emily stood and dusted her gloved hands together. “What’s wrong?”

“You. How could you do this to me? To us?”

She blinked, confused. So much for running to him with arms open. “What are you talking about?”

“I had a rather unpleasant visit from some woman and man who claim to be long lost relatives of mine. And Mason’s.” He slammed his hands onto his hips. “I have no idea who they are, but guess what they want?”

She lifted her shoulders, wary. Wasn’t finding lost family a good thing? From Levi’s mood, she didn’t think so. At least not to him. “To get to know you? To invite you to a family reunion?”

His eyes narrowed. His nostrils flared. “They want Mason.”

Oh, no. Not now. Emily licked suddenly dry lips. “Who are they?”

“You know who they are. You sent them. The Tompkinses.” He jabbed a finger at her. “You never wanted me to adopt Mason. From the start, you wanted someone else—anyone else—and set up some kind of search for other relatives.”

Fighting the temptation to slap away that pointing finger, Emily took a deep breath. Calm and reasonable. The way she talked to angry clients. “Yes, that’s part of my job, but—”

“Did you talk to them today? Did you send them to my ranch?”

“No! Levi, listen to me.” So much for calm and reasonable. “I don’t even know who these people are. No one contacted me.”

“Then how did they find me? I’ll tell you how. You. You sent them, expecting me to hand over my nephew after you led me to believe I was doing okay as his dad.” His voice was wounded, desperate. “Was it because I had one rough day when I didn’t know why he was crying? Is that it? You declared me unfit because Mason cried, and I called you for help?”

“No, no. Levi, no.” She put a hand on his arm.

He shook her off.

“I had nothing to do with this. At least not today. Get Mason out of the truck and come in the house. Let’s sit down and discuss this like adults.”

“What’s to discuss? The Tompkins woman said they’d already filed for custody. They’re taking me to court to fight for Mason.”

“They won’t win. You’re his uncle, a closer relative. And I promise you, I do not know who these people are. I didn’t send them.”

“Then how did they find my house? How did they know Mason is—was—an orphan?”

“I don’t know. You have to believe me.”

“But you searched for other relatives. Somebody besides me. You thought I was the wrong choice. Didn’t you?”

“That was two months ago before I knew you again. Before I saw how good you are with Mason.” Back when I was afraid of loving you.

A strange expression crossed his face. A realization.

A slow hiss slid through his teeth. “Finding that couple wasn’t about Mason at all, was it?”

“Levi, you’re not making any sense.”

“This was about me.” He jabbed a finger against his chest. “About my old man. It took fourteen years, but keeping Mason away from me is payback.”

A cold chill ran down Emily’s spine. She stiffened. “Payback? You actually think I’d do something like that?”

“What else am I to think? The moment I let down my guard and admit I’m still crazy about you, this happens. Feels like revenge to me.”

“That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard!” Hurt turned to anger. The man had lost his mind.

“I should have run with Mason the moment I got him.”

“Run, then, Levi. That’s what you do best.” Emily started to shake. She was so mad, her eyeballs were on fire. “When life gets hard, you run. The problem is, you’ll never be happy until you stop running and let go of what your father did. I love you, you idiotic cowboy, but that’s never been enough. Not then. Not now. So go away, and don’t come back.”

Furiously, she threw her gloves at him. He caught them, stared at her for two beats, and then spun on his boot heels and left the same way he’d arrived. Furious.

---

He was done. Finished. Through. And if a breaking heart made noise, his would be a sonic boom.

Levi lifted Mason from the car seat and held him close. “No worries, champ. Me and you, we’re a team. Nobody’s going to separate us.”

He didn’t want to accept the truth, but the evidence had driven right up to his door. Emily had found someone else to adopt Mason, another relative, someone with a legal means to fight his claim. Levi Donley hadn’t been good enough.

Hadn’t he known that all along? Hadn’t he tried to tell her from the start? And yet Scott had chosen him, and he hadn’t been able to abandon his brother’s son or deny his brother’s last wish. He loved Mason, and he was trying his best to be a good dad. Didn’t that count for anything?

Apparently not to Emily.

Then why did she say she loved you?

“Good question.” Levi shook his head. He was in no mood to deal with the voice.

He placed the baby on the couch for a diaper change. “Love you, buddy.”

There. He’d said the words out loud. And he planned to say them a lot over the next hundred years. A kid needed that. He’d needed that and never gotten it.

He had a feeling Scott and Jessica had said the words a million times. Maybe that’s why his childhood home felt different now. Love had chased the meanness away.

Diaper tabs sealed without so much as sticking them to his thumbs, Levi cleaned his hands and lifted Mason up to look at the photos on the wall.

“That’s your daddy and mama. They love you too. Only they have to love you from heaven. Someday, I’ll tell you all about them.”

Except he couldn’t tell Mason about Jessica. He hadn’t known her.

Emily was her best friend.

Emily wouldn’t be around. He and Mason were headed for Texas. Two days, tops. As soon as he could pack and tie up loose ends. The realtor could handle the ranch sale.

This time, he wouldn’t be back. He’d never see this place again. He’d never see Emily again either.

That was the kicker. Even after what she’d done, he didn’t want to leave her. He still loved her. But then, he’d always loved Emily Caldwell.

Now that his temper had cooled, he wanted to talk to her. He shouldn’t have attacked without listening. He didn’t know what had come over him.

Yes, he did. Betrayal. Fear that she didn’t really love him, that she couldn’t, that no one ever would. So, he’d driven her away.

If he loved her, let her go. Wasn’t that the old adage?

Some things just weren’t meant to be. A relationship between him and Emily was one of them.