“Well, then.” Satisfied, Mrs. Williamson went back to her cooking.

“A foal?” Suspicion still gleamed in Ann’s eyes. “You were down at the stables birthing a foal?”

“Yes, a filly. A beauty.” She sighed and was tempted to lay her head on the table and drift off. Every drop of adrenaline had drained, leaving only floaty exhaustion. “It’s a messy job, Annie. I suppose Michael and I both look like we’ve been in some sort of bar fight.”

“Oh.” Shaken, and mortified, Ann rose. “I’ll get you some coffee, then.”

“I’ve had about all the coffee my system can take for the next couple of years.” She sobered then, took Ann’s hands again. “Annie, I’m surprised at you. Michael wouldn’t hurt me.”

“I’ve told her the boy’s got gold in him,” Mrs. Williamson put in. “But will she listen?”

“I know a rogue when I see one.”

“This rogue,” Laura said quietly, “spent the night worrying over a horse. He’s taking his own time to teach my children to ride. He’s kind to them, and attentive. And from what I’ve seen of the stables and his stock, he works harder than two men.”

Ann remembered the way little Kayla had run to him, and his easy response. But she set her jaw. She knew what she knew. “A leopard doesn’t change his spots, I say.”

“Maybe not. But a man can remake himself. If he’s given the chance. However you feel about him, he is, for the moment, part of Templeton House.” Dragging herself to her feet, Laura rubbed her hands over her gritty eyes. “Now I need a shower and a little—” When she dropped her hands her gaze fell on the clock over the stove. “Oh, my God, seven-thirty? How can it be seven-thirty? I’ve got a nine o’clock meeting. The girls, are they up?”

“Don’t you worry about the girls,” Ann told her. “I’ll see that they’re dressed and taken to school this morning. You just cancel that meeting, Miss Laura, and go to bed.”

“Can’t. It’s important. I’ll make sure they’re getting dressed and grab a quick shower. I can drop them at school on my way to work. See that they have their breakfast, please, Annie.”

“And yours, Missy?”

But Laura was already at a dash. “Just coffee, thanks. I don’t have time.”

“Taken on too much,” Mrs. Williamson clucked as she whipped up batter for waffles. “Keeps this up, she’s going to drop flat on her face before much longer. You mark my words.”

And she wouldn’t mind it if a certain young rogue caught her when she did. She wouldn’t mind it one little bit.

“Shouldn’t have been up all night worrying over someone else’s business.”