by Barb Han
Adam started to open his mouth to speak but then seemed to think better of it. “Do you live in town?”
“Yes,” she answered.
“Alone?” He glanced at her wedding ring finger.
“Yes.” She held it up to make it easier for him to see there was no diamond, no band, and no tan line. Part of her wondered where her new bravado was coming from. The old Prudence would have withered under Adam’s attention. This Prudence sat with her back a little straighter and held her chin up a little higher.
“Boyfriend? Roommate?” he continued.
“Neither. And, no, this angel doesn’t belong to me.” She had to admit the baby felt better in her arms than she expected. Natural? That might be pushing it.
“You said you own a pet-sitting business. Right?” he asked.
“Yes. Some folks don’t want to bother their neighbors, or they need full-time care for their animals. I mostly work with dogs, but I do have a few cat clients. Henry is an old-timer and he enjoys having company around. We leave the TV on for him set to Animal Planet, not that he’s spoiled or anything. But I do cook him fresh meat at night since he has a sensitive stomach.” And that was the most words she’d said to any one person outside of necessity or work in longer than she could remember. Had she gotten too comfortable in her own company?
“Do your folks live in town?” he asked.
She shook her head but decided not to elaborate.
“Siblings?” he continued, unfazed by the fact she’d gone quiet.
“When will the sheriff be here?” She checked the clock as her stomach reminded her dinner time was long past. It was dark outside and getting late.
“Soon, I imagine. Although, I don’t have to tell you getting in and out of Firebrand Ranch is never a quick endeavor,” he said.
“This is my first time to be here, so…” Prudence decided to stop right there before she came across as pitying herself. Not being involved in extracurriculars had been her choice back in school. Reading had always been her favorite thing to do and she’d spent plenty of summers with her nose firmly planted in a book. So much so, the high school English teacher took note and tagged Prudence as an office aid, which worked perfectly for someone who didn’t like to sit in boring study hall anyway.
While Prudence jotted down random thoughts from time to time, she never seriously considered trying to write a book despite the occasional pull. Her journal was another story. Whereas some folks had a cell phone glued to their hands, Prudence had her leather-bound notebook as a constant companion.
Speaking of which, it wasn’t like her to leave the house without it. She made a mental note to find her purse first thing once the baby’s parents were located. And on that note, she asked, “I wonder why the sheriff said no children were reported missing.”
“Doesn’t mean she wasn’t brought across state lines or not reported for some reason or another,” he said, catching onto the implication.
“What if her family is out there, somewhere in a ditch or worse?” She couldn’t help but wonder. Her mind had a habit of snapping to the worse possible scenario.
“A baby her age wouldn’t exactly be able to unstrap herself from a car seat and walk through the woods on her own,” he reasoned. “There is probably a logical explanation.”
“I just wish I could remember how I found her,” she said, drawing a blank on the entire day. “I don’t even remember going to check on Henry, but that has to be the reason I’m here.”
“About that…does your head hurt when you move it?” A look of concern darkened his otherwise perfect features. He had the kind of sturdy chin and chiseled jawline that ladies drooled over in magazines.
“No.” Prudence glanced at his ring finger, confirming what she already knew. He was single.
She redirected her gaze to the baby. More than a smidge of satisfaction filled her that the bundle in her arms was soundly, sweetly sleeping. Content. When was the last time Prudence had felt the same way?
Too long, a little voice in the back of her mind pointed out.
Adam’s phone buzzed. He grabbed it and checked the screen. Her stomach picked that moment to growl louder than a hungry bear’s. She picked up the glass of water and downed its contents as embarrassment heated her cheeks.
“Sheriff Lawler is out front.” He made eye contact like he was looking for approval.
She nodded and smiled before he disappeared down the hallway.
When he returned, a man nearly as tall as Adam, who she recognized as the sheriff, entered the expansive kitchen. Height was where the similarities ended. Lawler was about as fair-skinned as they came, with ginger hair in a military cut. He had a hawk-like nose and compassionate honey-brown eyes along with a smattering of freckles across his face. He wore jeans, boots, and a tan shirt with the word Sheriff embroidered on the right front pocket.
“Ms. Owens,” Lawler said.
“Please, call me Prudence,” she said with that new boldness she felt.
“Okay, Prudence. How are you feeling?” He gave her a once-over like he was checking for blood stains or injuries.
“I’m not hurting anywhere,” she confessed.
“Can you tell me everything that happened in your own words?” Lawler asked as Adam motioned toward a chair on the opposite side of the table.
“While you two go over her story, I’m going to heat up dinner,” Adam said.
Prudence’s stomach groaned and she gave an awkward smile before turning to the sheriff, who’d taken a seat. “I’m afraid it won’t take long to tell you my side of the story.”
“Oh?” Lawler said.
“Like Adam said on the phone, I don’t remember much of what happened today. All I know is that I have this sweet baby and no idea where she came from or why I have her,” she admitted. “I have a dog-sitting job for the Fritzes while they’re on vacation. You know Henry, right?”
“He’s a sweetheart,” he agreed with a quick nod and a concerned look.
“I don’t remember anything but that I’m supposed to be looking after him,” Prudence said, her shoulders deflating. She couldn’t get over the fact it didn’t seem like anyone had reported the baby missing. “I was hoping you could tell us who this girl belongs to.”
“Tell him about the note,” Adam said from across the room. Whatever he was heating up smelled amazing. Or, maybe she was just that hungry. Either way, the minute she handed over the kiddo to her parents, Prudence was going to find something to eat. At this point, she’d take just about anything for how starved she was.
“I found a piece of paper with a name on it,” she glanced over at the island where they’d left the slip. “Adam Firebrand.”
Lawler cocked an eyebrow at the revelation.
“Do you have any idea why that would happen?” Lawler asked Adam.
He shook his head. “I haven’t been in a relationship in a long time and the last one ended with me on one knee and a door in my face.”
He’d pretty much sworn off relationships at that point. He was thirty-eight years old and single. And the woman he wanted to spend the rest of his life with had walked out easier than buttering toast. There was about as much fanfare, as well. No returned calls. Yes, he’d gone there. He’d gone down the path of needing a better explanation than the one she gave. I just don’t feel the same way anymore.
He’d left more texts than he cared to admit while nursing a broken heart. She’d made it clear. She was done. He should accept the fact. Did he, though? No.
He’d wallowed in his misery for months until he woke one morning clear as a bell. No more relationships, only great sex. Again, that annoying voice reminded him that he needed to get started on that. Truth be known, it had held little appeal. He could no longer find the motivation to have sex for the sake of it. He needed something more than physical chemistry, which he strangely felt more of with the woman in his kitchen than he cared to admit.
She had beautiful cobalt blue eyes behind those glasses. They were t
he kind of blue that was like looking into the depths of the lake, his favorite place.
“Sorry to dredge up the past,” Lawler started as Adam pulled out a plate of the best-tasting sour cream chicken enchiladas from the microwave.
Adam grabbed a fork and a paper towel before walking over to the table and placing the meal in front of Prudence. “Do you like enchiladas?”
“I love them and these smell amazing.” The way she said the word, love, stirred something deep in his chest. He convinced himself it was nothing but a bad memory despite how good it felt.
“Be my guest.” He set the fork on the paper towel.
“Thank you,” she said. The small smile that lifted up the corners of full lips caused a chain reaction inside him, spreading warmth through him.
Ignoring it, he heated up a plate for himself after checking with Lawler to make sure he’d eaten. Most folks had. It was getting late. Work started on the ranch at five a.m. Adam was up at four to eat and have time to kick his brain into gear with a few pushups and a large cup of black coffee.
“Don’t worry about it,” Adam said, picking up on Lawler’s conversation thread. “I’m over it all now. It was almost a year ago.”
“Excuse the question, but have you had ‘relations’ with anyone since?” Lawler asked.
Adam wanted to be able to say yes, if only to prove he was over his ex. He shook his head. “Libby was the last…and you already know how that ended.”
“So, there’s no possibility the child could be yours,” Lawler confirmed. “But what about one of your brothers or cousins?”
“None that I’ve heard of, but we haven’t been in the same room and in some cases the same state for months.” Adam needed to reach out to everyone to check on the possibility, though.
Lawler turned toward Prudence. “I put out a call to see if any neighboring communities have reported a missing child.”
“It’s strange, isn’t it?” Prudence’s forehead scrunched up. She’d already made quick work of the enchiladas. “That no one has come forward to say their baby is missing.”
“I would agree,” Lawler confirmed. “There has to be extenuating circumstances.”
“Like what?” she pressed.
“The parents might not realize she’s missing. They could be away or working. Something might have happened while she was in the care of a sitter,” he said.
“Wouldn’t someone notice a baby? She’s too little to take care of herself.” The answer seemed to dawn on Prudence when she sucked in a burst of air. “She might have been kidnapped.”
Lawler nodded.
“Then, doesn’t that make me the number one suspect?” she asked.
“Normally, I’d say yes. Except you’re here with Adam, calling the law to find out what happened. I’m concerned you were struck and that’s why your memory is being blocked,” he said. “Trauma can cause temporary memory loss.”
“I’m willing to cooperate in any way that I can. But I have to take care of Henry in the meantime,” she said.
Adam caught the look Lawler gave hearing her response.
“My family is well known in the area,” Adam said, redirecting the conversation, figuring he needed to ask Lawler what that was about in private. “It might be the reason for the note. Maybe someone decided she would be safer in the protection of a Firebrand.”
“I’d say that’s a good theory. One I plan to investigate.” Lawler was holding back. Did he suspect Prudence was playing some kind of twisted game?
For reasons Adam couldn’t explain, he didn’t like suspicion being cast on her. Along those same lines, his protective instincts flared, and he wanted to protect her despite the fact she’d proven fully capable of helping herself. He surprised himself in the fact he wanted to know more about her. She’d closed up when he asked about her parents. Why? She changed the subject when he’d asked about siblings. Again, why?
“I have someone coming to take care of Baby X while we get to the bottom of what happened and return her to her family.” Lawler spoke with compassion.
Prudence frowned and Adam could’ve sworn she tightened her arms around the baby. She had a look on her face he imagined a mother bear might have if someone tried to mess with one of her cubs.
“Like who?” Adam asked, not liking the idea of ‘Baby X’ being carted off by a stranger.
“A representative from child services,” Lawler said. He wasn’t giving away much. Didn’t he trust Prudence?
“What will happen to the baby during the investigation?” Adam continued.
“She’ll be placed in foster care,” Lawler supplied in a sympathetic voice.
“Someone wanted her brought to me.” Adam didn’t like the idea of the little girl being bounced around.
His cell buzzed. He checked the screen. There was a call coming in from Bronc.
Adam walked over to the sink and answered.
“How’s Henry?” he immediately asked his foreman.
“Fine, boss. The Fritzes got back three days ago,” Bronc said, not able to hide the shock in his voice.
Adam bit back a curse. Was that the reason Lawler kept looking at her strangely when she brought up her client?
4
The look on Adam’s face caused a fireball to swirl in the pit of Prudence’s stomach. He thanked Bronc for information before ending the call and turning to face her. He didn’t have to open his mouth for her to realize bad news was coming.
She took a drink of water, trying to douse the hot bile rising in the back of her throat as she waited for news that something bad had happened to the Fritz couple.
“First of all, Henry is fine,” he said to her. “But your job ended with the Fritzes three days ago.”
“What?” She shook her head, her body stiffened, and the baby stirred. Not wanting to disturb the angel’s sleep, Prudence forced calm she didn’t feel. “How can that be? I was there earlier today. I’m supposed to…”
Realization struck out of nowhere like lightning on a cloudless sky. Prudence balanced the baby against her body with one arm, holding her close, while bringing the other one up to check for bumps on her own head.
“What’s your full name?” Lawler asked. Leaning forward.
“Prudence Abigail Owens,” she supplied, figuring cooperation would bring closure to this nightmare sooner rather than later.
“Date of birth?” he asked.
She rattled it off. “I don’t have any ID on me. If you want proof, you’ll have to give me a ride to my house.”
She hoped her purse was there. How could she have lost three days?
“What day of the week is it?” Lawler continued.
“Sunday,” she blew out a sigh. “That can’t be right. It has to be Wednesday because the Fritzes got back from vacation over the weekend.”
At least Henry was fine, and she hadn’t neglected him. She shouldn’t have another sitting job for a week and a half, so she was good there. The thought of letting any of her customers down when they needed her struck like a physical blow. She hadn’t, she reminded herself. So far, so good.
Adam stared at the tile flooring. She wished he’d say something or look at her. It was strange how much she wanted to see his reaction.
“Do you know what month it is?” Lawler didn’t miss a beat.
She took a second to calculate. “That would make it June.”
Lawler nodded and gave a reassuring look. “You’re doing fine.”
She didn’t feel it. This didn’t seem like a good time to point out the fact.
The doorbell rang and she froze.
“Excuse me. I’ll be right back,” Adam said to them both. His eyes still seemed unable to meet hers.
True to his word, Adam returned a few moments later with a woman in her late thirties to early forties trailing behind him. Her blonde hair was tied back in a ponytail. Her face fresh, her heels high, she had on a dark suit.
All Prudence could think was that this stranger was not walking out the do
or with the baby.
The dark suit walked straight over to Sheriff Lawler. The two shook hands and Lawler asked her if she’d like to take a seat. She declined, instead keeping a distance and leaning a hip against the large granite island anchoring the room. Adam reclaimed the spot where he’d been standing, and Prudence’s neck hairs bristled at how close the two of them stood. Not that where Adam Firebrand stood was any of her business.
Except a little voice in the back of her mind argued he was somehow connected to the child in her arms—a child she had no plans to abandon.
“Is it possible the birth mother got into trouble? Changed her mind about being fit to take care of a baby? Left her on a doorstep with the note?” Prudence asked after being introduced to Dark Suit, whose actual name was Jenn Pratt.
“It’s too early to rule anything out,” Lawler said.
She appreciated him for not stating the obvious, that she could be the one who took the baby from someone. Again, she went back to the fact there would be someone out there searching for the sweet little girl.
“I apologize for asking the question, but have you had any alcoholic beverages today?” Lawler asked.
Adam blew out a sharp breath and pinched the bridge of his nose.
“No. At least, I don’t think so,” she admitted. There was no way to be certain if she couldn’t remember how or when she’d come up with a baby.
“Do you have a habit of taking illegal substances?” Lawler continued.
Adam muttered a curse before dropping his hand. “Come on.”
“I have to ask tough questions, Adam. I wouldn’t be doing my job otherwise.” His explanation didn’t calm Adam down. Although, he did nod his understanding.
“No. I don’t take drugs, illegal or otherwise. I’d be happy to show you my medicine cabinet at home where you’ll find vitamins and medication prescribed specifically to me,” she defended.
The room sat quiet for too long. The silence made Prudence uncomfortable.
Then, Lawler leaned forward, placing his elbows on his knees. “Jenn is here to take the baby and I need your full cooperation for a smooth transition.”