“I’m helping Hannah,” she murmured, her fingers tracing the tiny puppy ears as she cradled it to her chest. “My goodness, and I’m so glad I did. All my favorite people in one room.” She opened her eyes and beamed down at Libby, who waved excitedly. Then she glanced over at Hank, and her face creased into a tiny frown.

Right. He supposed he deserved that. He probably needed to get back to calving, too. Caleb and Jack were busy, and there were always calves that needed to be bottle-fed, as well. He kept standing in the doorway, though, watching the woman as she swayed, holding the tiny puppy up to her cheek as if she’d never been more in love.

For some reason, he couldn’t look away.

“Sorry if I’m intruding,” she said after a long moment. “I was making some coffee and cleaning up your kitchen because I thought you could use the help. Should I leave? Is this a bad time?”

“Not at all!” Uncle Ennis declared, beaming at her. “I’ve got my hands full with watching the little one and bottle-feeding these babies every two hours. I can use all the help I can get.”

“Well, I’d love to help out.” She pressed a gentle kiss on the puppy’s head, and Hank couldn’t stop staring at those pink, full lips. She said something, smiled, and then looked at him, expectant.

He’d missed it entirely, too focused on the movements of her soft mouth. “What?”

“I asked if you guys had dinner yet. I can whip something up.” She tilted her head, gazing at him for a long moment before turning to his daughter. “And I bet Miss Libby would be the best kitchen helper?”

“I would!” his daughter shrieked happily, waving the puppy in her hands around in the air like it was an airplane.

“Well then, why don’t we go cook some dinner for Doc and your daddy and your uncles.” Becca carefully extracted the puppy from Libby’s death grip and set it gently on the blanket. “Or do you need us in here, Doc?”

“Dinner would be mighty appreciated,” he said, still feeding the puppy in his arms. He glanced over at Hank. “You don’t mind, do you?”