She heaved a shuddering breath and nodded, though she wasn’t certain she would ever recover. “Yes, I’m all right… But I can’t remain here.” Her voice was hoarse.

“Do you have a place to go?”

“Caitlin will take me in, I’m certain.”

“Jake’s still here. He’ll drive you home. Why don’t you pack your things?”

Heather hesitated. “I can’t leave Janna here. Not when Sloan is in that condition. But it wouldn’t be wise to take her…” If Janna was still asleep, she didn’t want to wake her and drag her out into the night. Nor did she dare steal the child away. Sloan wouldn’t mind being rid of her, Heather thought bitterly, but he wouldn’t want her confiscating his daughter.

Wolf didn’t seem to need an explanation. “I’ll look after Janna … and Sloan as well. You don’t need to worry.”

“Thank you,” Heather murmured gratefully. She had no doubt he would do as he said, although it was strange how quickly she’d come to trust him. “Would you ask Jake to wait until I can pack a bag?”

“Sure.” It was Wolf’s turn to hesitate. “If I don’t see you again before I leave for Denver, ma’am, it was a pleasure meeting you.”

Heather tried to smile. “I wish it could have been under different circumstances.”

“So do I.” His expression was grave. “I’ll stop by on my way back from Denver in a few weeks to check in on you.”

She nodded, unable to say more.

“Here, you’ll want this.” He held out the lamp to her.

Accepting it, Heather went across the hall to the master bedchamber. Janna was still sleeping in her cradle, but she’d thrown off the covers entirely.

Tears stinging her eyes, Heather gently drew up the sheet. When she smoothed a lock of raven hair from Janna’s sweet face, a fierce feeling of love and despair overwhelmed her.

The young child stirred then and whimpered in her sleep—almost as if she knew Heather meant to leave. Or perhaps it was simply wishful thinking.

Fresh tears clogged Heather’s throat. Swallowing hard, she turned away, wondering when she would see Janna again, wondering if she could bear it if she didn’t.

Chapter 16

PRYING ONE EYE open, Sloan squinted against the sunshine streaming in through the curtained windows. Heather’s room. He groaned at the bright light. His head was pounding like a bull was loose inside his brain.

Gingerly he rolled over and buried his face in the pillow, but he couldn’t escape his tormenting thoughts. The numbing whiskey had worn off, leaving behind a fierce sense of shame and a sharper remorse.

His memory flayed him more harshly than his hangover. He remembered what he’d done last night, even if the details were a bit blurred.

He’d been a drunken bastard.