Greta started to reprimand her, but again, Wyatt’s fingers pressed hers. When she glanced up at him, his eyes implored her to let him do the talking. She hesitated. She’d never had anyone to help her with Astrid before. She was used to shouldering the discipline and parenting all on her own. What if she let Wyatt share the burden, only for him to discover he didn’t like carrying the load?

On the other hand, Judd had told her that a team could carry more together than apart. Did she need to trust Wyatt to bear the care of this child with her rather than pulling away and trying to do it all on her own?

His warm brown eyes waited for her permission to continue. Her heart quivered, but she gave his hand a squeeze back. He nodded, then repositioned his hand, lacing his fingers through hers. The connection told her more than words could, that he wasn’t afraid to stand beside her and hold her up during this trial.

“It ain’t just been me and Greta looking.” His tone turned serious. “It’s been Judd and half the town of Fairplay. We’ve all been worried near to death about you. Thought something bad must’ve happened.”

Astrid had the grace to drop her eyes, her expression turning remorseful.

“’Cause you know this mountain land ain’t an easy place to survive.” He released Chase, who meandered along the edge of the hot spring, rooting among the weeds, no doubt hungry. “Especially for someone trying to make it on their own. We’ve got to stick together. We’re better together.”

When he shifted his gaze to Greta’s, she sensed he wasn’t just talking about Astrid but was also referring to himself and his desire for them to remain a family.

“I wanna stay together.” Astrid’s eyes flashed with defiance. “Greta’s the one who wants to leave. Not me.”

“I just want to save your life. You know that’s all I’ve ever wanted to do.”

“My life is saved.” The little girl skimmed her hands across the steaming water. “The waters have made me all better. And now we can stay with Wyatt and Judd on the ranch. We don’t have to leave and go to a hospital.”

Greta’s heart dropped. Of course Astrid, in her simplistic view of life, would think she was miraculously cured and that their problems would so easily go away.

Before Greta could figure out how to respond, Wyatt shrugged. “If you have to go to the hospital, I’m aiming to be right alongside you and Greta. And then when you’re better, I’ll bring you back.”

“Greta’s mad at you, and she won’t want to come back.” Again, Astrid glared at her, as if she blamed Greta for all their problems.