Lawson’s heart jolted so hard, he lost his breath. The words echoed around him, obscene, defiling the pristine wilderness.

Not that. Anything but that.

Lawson remained still, controlling his emotions, letting Dallas’s tears dampened his shirt. She’d been through too much. This wonderful woman. As instinctively as he knew how to ride a horse, Lawson knew that Dallas would suffer blame and self-doubt.

“It wasn’t your fault.”

He felt her nod against his chest. “That’s what I keep telling myself, but, Lawson, what if I hadn’t taken the call? What if I’d done something differently? Could I have saved his life? He wasn’t a horrible person. I never wished him dead.”

“Of course you didn’t. You wouldn’t. You’re not like that. But he made the choice, not you.”

“I know. I know.” She straightened, sitting back. Tears glimmered in her beautiful, anguished eyes. “But did my behavior, my rejection, drive him to suicide?”

“No,” he said emphatically. “Get that out of your head. You bear no blame. None.”

She sniffed, sighed. “I wish the media agreed with you.”

Lawson touched the tears on her cheeks. “Things get twisted sometimes, especially on social media mania.”

“Someone even uploaded the call to Facebook. It was quickly taken down, of course, but not before too many people heard it and started wondering what I had done.”

“And you let their comments and suspicions get to you.”

“How could I not? It was big news everywhere in Bayville.” Her bottom lip trembled, tearing at him.

What she’d been through was too hard, too terrible. “I’m sorry. So sorry you went through that.” Again he said, “But it was not your fault.”

Reaching into the picnic basket, he took out a napkin and blotted her cheeks. She took it from him and finished the job.

“So,” she said, “that’s why I lost my job.”

“They fired you because some unbalanced man was stalking you?” he asked, incredulous.

“Bad for business, my boss said. Advertisers ran scared, and a radio station can’t function without its advertisers.”

“That’s lousy.” Made him mad all over. His blood boiled at the injustice.

“I thought so too.” She offered a brave, if watery smile. “But here I am.”

He wasn’t sorry about that part. If not for being fired, he’d never have met her.

Lawson realized then, as he sat next to her on a blanket in the wilderness with the creek trickling peacefully past, that he’d done the unthinkable. He’d fallen in love. With a woman on her way to somewhere else.

The next Tuesday evening, Lawson heard laughter as soon as he arrived home from work. His two girls were here. Where he wanted them both to stay. He still couldn’t fathom how he’d come to care so much for both of them in such a short time, but he had. Maybe because he saw Madison through Dallas’s eyes, and he saw Dallas through the eyes of a man in love.

Love. Something he’d never considered as important or necessary. But today, it was as necessary as his next breath.

Without stopping at the house to change out of his uniform, he headed to the corrals. The two females were with the horses almost every evening if the weather was nice like today.

Madison was on Sadie, circling the pen, while Dallas, in blue jeans and a pink hoodie, her hair in a ponytail that made her look as young as his niece, offered instruction and advice. She was an excellent rider and making a good rider out of Madison. His niece was finally comfortable on horseback. By spring, the three of them could trail ride together.

The thought caught him up short. By spring, Dallas would be gone. Maybe Madison would be too. He’d be alone again, something he’d never minded before. Something he’d actually preferred.

Alone didn’t sound so good today.

Dallas waved from the spot where she leaned against the metal fence.

Eagerly, Lawson joined her. “She’s looking good out there.”

“She is, isn’t she?” Pleasure brightened Dallas’s cheeks. “I’m proud of her. She’s come a long way.”

“Both in riding and attitude.”

“Is she better with you, too?”

“Yep. Last night, she’d done the dishes and had started the laundry by the time I got home. You wouldn’t have anything to do with her sudden helpfulness, would you?” He stared down into her face, happy for the excuse to look at her.

“I might have hinted.”

“You’re a good influence.”

“So are you.”

“Even though I’m a cop?” he teased, remembering what she’d told him at the Sanctuary.

He also remembered her heartache, and had prayed for her to believe that she’d done nothing to cause Aaron’s suicide. After the telling, she’d seemed to feel better as if she was relieved to talk to someone about it. He was glad he’d been the one.

Dallas smiled, and his sun came out. “Even though.”

Madison came around the circle and waved. “Hi, Uncle Sheriff.”

“Hey, squirt. Looking good up there.”

“Dallas is an awesome teacher.” She patted the side of the horse’s neck. “So is Sadie. I love her so much.”

Horse and rider circled on past as Lawson and Dallas exchanged looks.

“Enthusiasm,” he said. “I like it.”

“And a smile,” Dallas said. “She’s making huge strides.”

“Thanks to you.”

“Not just me. She needs you, Lawson. Cares about you too, and she’s starting not to be so afraid of showing it.”

“Underneath the gruff exterior, she’s a good kid. She’s been reading the devotional the Sunday school teacher gave her. She asked me some questions about it.”

“Me too,” Dallas said.

“More progress. Speaking of which, have you thought any more about our local radio station?” His pulse thrummed while he awaited her answer.

“They offered me a position, a morning show playing music and making small talk with the commuters.”

“What did you say?” He wanted so badly for her to say yes.

She shrugged a shoulder. “It’s a job, and I need one.”

Not exactly the level of enthusiasm he’d hoped for.

“Will you be happy there? Is it what you want?” He prayed it was, but he wouldn’t push. She had to want this for herself.

A tiny frown marred her forehead. “I don’t know. Maybe it would work for now until the Aaron episode blows over.”

And then she’d head back to Texas. Lawson’s chest ached with the knowledge that her feelings for him didn’t run as deep as his for her.

“Calypso would be lucky to have you, but you need to do what’s best for you. Whatever that might be.” Even if it killed him to keep his mouth shut and his love inside.

She turned to squeeze his arm. “Thank you. Your encouragement means a lot.”

Madison circled again, stopping this time next to the fence. “Are you guys going to ride?”

Dallas nodded. “Sure, if your uncle wants to. I won’t get to do this in Bayville.”

Right. Bayville. Where she lived. Where she wanted to be.

To cover his emotions, he climbed over the railings and walked up to Madison and the horse. “You really like this mare, don’t you?”

“Love her. She’s so sweet.”

“Even if she’s losing her sight?”

Madison’s face clouded up. “Even more then. I’d take care of her forever if you’d let me.”

“Would you like to have her? As your own.”

“For real?” She frowned, suspicious, a fact that pierced his heart.

Lawson stroked the dependable old muzzle. “For real. She’s yours as long as you’re willing to take care of her.”

Madison tossed her ponytail, but her gleam of joy was unmistakable. “That’s, like, forever and always.”

He felt Dallas come up beside him and glanced her way. She was looking at him as if he were her hero.

“Did you hear that, Dallas?” Madison asked. “Sadie’s mine now forever.”

“I heard. A horse is a big responsibility, but I think you’re up for it.”

“I am. I promise.” She clicked her tongue, and the mare plodded slowly forward. “Oh, Sadie, aren’t you happy? You’re mine. You and me. Forever and ever.”

Dallas hooked her arm in Lawson’s elbow as they watched the girl and her horse. “That was a wonderful thing to do.”

“Sadie needs a keeper. Madison needs a horse.”

“Sadie’s not the only one who’s happy.”

“Good to see Madison this way.” He worried about her most of the time, questioned himself the rest. Was he doing the right things? Was this what a good father would do? Not that Madison had ever experienced a doting dad. “Do you think she’s settling in?”

“I do. Progress is slow but faster than I expected. You’re a good uncle.”

“I’m starting to like the way that feels.”

“And that surprises you?”

“It does. Me, a too-busy bachelor with a cranky teenage niece? It feels strange, but I actually look forward to coming home to her every night.” Hand covering hers, he walked them back to the fence. “You might have something to do with that too.”

“Oh, yeah?” She tilted her head, flirting.

Every male blood cell reacted. “Yeah.”

He leaned in to kiss her just as his cell phone vibrated against his shirt pocket.

With a sigh and a wry shake of his head, Lawson said, “Hold that thought.”

Her chuckle was throaty and warm. “My pleasure.”

“Sheriff Hawk,” he said into the receiver. And then, “What do you want now?”

As he listened, his mood plummeted.

“No,” he said when he could get a word in edgeways. “Not a good plan.” Or good timing. Before the caller could say more, Lawson hung up.

He stared across the corral toward his niece and her beloved Sadie, still moving round and round the lot, Madison’s smile big enough to break his heart. He had some serious thinking to do. And fast.

A soft hand touched him. “Is everything okay?”

“No. It’s not.” His terse tone brought her around in front of him.

“Anything I can do?”

“I don’t know.” He perched a hand on each hip, watching Madison approach, wondering about the right thing to do. “That was Bryce.”

“Madison’s dad?”

“The one and only.” The words tasted bitter. “He wants me to ship her to Nashville. Like some package of junk he left behind.”

“Oh, Lawson. What are you going to do?” Dallas followed his gaze to the young rider.

“He’s her father. I’m not.” Even if he was starting to want to be.

“But she’s stable and thriving here. From our conversations, I know she wasn’t either one with her father. Not even close.”

He’d gathered the same sad understanding. Bryce had dragged her all over the country in pursuit of one pipedream after another, leaving her alone as often as he was with her. “Yeah, the situation stinks, but I don’t really have a choice.”

“Does he have a good place for them to live? Will she be alone all the time the way she was before?”

“I don’t know.” Lawson’s tight jaw flexed. “First time he’s called since she arrived. And you know what? He didn’t even ask about her or ask to speak to her. Just told me to ship her. His words.”

Dallas remembered what Madison had angrily told her. Kids don’t have a choice. “She’s hinted to me that she wants to stay with you. Shouldn’t her opinion count?”

“It counts with me.” He raked a hand over his hair. “I don’t know, Dallas. Bryce is so irresponsible, he may change his mind tomorrow. Or send her back here a month from now. That’s been his entire life, and Madison’s too.”

“The reasons she’s confused and distrustful.”

His gaze flashed to the oncoming rider. “I have to tell her.”

“Now? When she’s still basking in the glow of Sadie?”

“You think she’ll be upset?”

“I do. Even though she misses her dad and would love for him to call her once in a while, she’s smart. She knows life with him is inconsistent and lonely. Did you know she’s attended fourteen schools already?”

Lawson groaned and shook his head. “Maybe I should talk to Bryce again first. See what’s going on with him before I tell her.”

“That’s a good idea.”

He extracted the phone from his pocket. “Keep her occupied, would you, please?”

And he walked inside the barn.

Five minutes later, he walked back out, phone in hand.

“Madison,” he called. “Your dad wants to talk to you.”

“My dad? Really?” The girl gently turned the reins and rode to her uncle. After sliding from the saddle, she took the outstretched cell, her eyes wide and questioning. Wary, too. “Dad?”

Dallas clasped Lawson’s hand and backed away to give Madison some privacy.

They’d barely moved when Madison yelled. “No way! I’m not doing that anymore, and you can’t make me. I’ll run away again.”

Dallas exchanged a look with Lawson.

“Again?” he mouthed.

The exchange continued for another few minutes before Madison returned the phone to Lawson.

“He wants to talk to you.” Face red, expression furious, she said, “If you don’t want me here, fine. But I’m not going to Nashville to be his maid.”

She whirled and stormed toward the house.

Dallas sprang into action. “Madison, wait.”

The teen stopped but didn’t turn. Was she crying?

Approaching with caution and a prayer to say the right thing, Dallas stepped in front of Madison.

Quietly, she asked, “Didn’t you forget something?”

“What?” Madison bit out the words, the tears she refused to shed trembling on her eyelashes.

Dallas slid a long look at the mare. Sadie stood quietly waiting beside the fence, still saddled.

“Oh.” Madison softened, then crossed her arms and glanced away. “I won’t be here to take care of her anyway.”

Her voice throbbed with grief.

Aching for the girl, Dallas tenderly smoothed the fine, stray hairs away from Madison’s face. “No matter how this turns out, Sadie’s depending on you now. She trusts you.”

A single tear sprang loose. “Uncle Sheriff said I could have her. Now, I can’t. He’ll make me go to Nashville. And who could blame him?”

“You think Lawson wants you to leave?”

“He never wanted me in the first place. He was just too Dudley Do-Right to dump me the way my dad does.”

The pain of rejection was so strong, Dallas felt it in her own heart. “I think you’re wrong about that.”

“Trust me. I know what a prize I am. He’ll send me, and he won’t even regret the ticket money.” She hissed out a derisive sound. “Who cares? I never wanted to come to this stupid town in the first place.”

Dallas saw through the bravado. Madison denied she cared to cover up exactly how much she did.

“Do you, or do you not, want to remain here on the ranch with your uncle and Sadie?”

Madison’s shoulder’s jerked. “Don’t know, don’t care, doesn’t matter.”

“Yes, it does. It matters to you, to me, to Lawson. To Sadie, too. Be honest. If you could choose, would you stay?”

“Maybe.” Madison sniffed and tossed her pony tail. “If he wants me to. I mean, I could be a lot of help to him. But if Dad wants me in Nashville…”

The child was clearly torn between the life she longed for and her responsibility to her father.

“Let’s you and I take care of Sadie. She’s your responsibility now. We’ll worry about the rest later.” Dallas offered a turned-up hand. “Okay?”

Madison gently slapped the palm with hers. “Okay.”

They headed toward the corral and led the mare inside the barn. Lawson, Dallas noted, was still talking on the phone. When he saw them coming, he turned and walked toward the pasture. Dallas got the message. Madison didn’t need to hear what was said between the half-brothers.

Before they’d finished grooming the mare, Lawson joined them in the barn. The phone was in his shirt pocket.

Busy brushing the horse, Madison stopped when she saw her uncle.

Lawson had on his professional face. “Your dad says you can stay.”

Resuming Sadie’s grooming, Madison pretended not to care, but before she lowered her eyes, Dallas saw a flare of hope. “You don’t have to keep me if you don’t want to. I got places to go.”

“What if I want to?”

Madison huffed. “Then you’d be crazier than my dad.”

“Always have been.”

The brush stalled. Madison’s head jerked up. “So I’m staying?”

“You’re staying.”

“Okay. Cool.” Madison pushed her face into the mare’s mane, but not before Dallas saw the smile.