Fender smiled. “Ma’am, I’d be more than happy to stay. This is a good ranch.”

“Thanks,” she told him. “And if you ever need help and you can’t find me, you call Bart.”

“I’ll do that. Anything I can help with?”

“I’ll need to give you a list of things that I’ll have to have shipped to Latigo,” she told him. “But for right now, I’m just packing personal stuff.”

“Just let me know. I’ll be around,” he promised.

“WHAT ABOUT YOUR FATHER?” Cort asked when she’d finished getting her things together and making a list of furniture she wanted sent to Texas.

She turned. “What do you mean?”

“Your cousin said your father wanted to talk to you.”

She hesitated. She drew in a long breath. “I’m not ready yet,” she said after a minute. “One day, but not yet.”

He touched her soft cheek. “Whatever you want, honey.”

She smiled up at him. “Maybe when the baby comes.”

He smiled back. “That sounds like a good time.”

THEIR LITTLE BOY was born just at Christmas, a month early, and he was named Jeremiah Riddle Grier, for his maternal grandfather and his father, whose middle name was Riddle. There was a crowd on hand for the birth, including all three of Cort’s brothers and their families, along with the commandos and Bart.

Mina had never been so happy. She and Cort were over the moon.

TWO MONTHS LATER, there was a christening, followed by a catered barbecue feast for the attending guests. The whole Grier family came back for it. Even Cousin Rogan and Jake McGuire showed up.

Cort was so pleased with his heir that he didn’t protest the guest list. One unexpected addition to the group was Jerry Fender, who flew from Catelow down to Latigo for the event—minus his dog Sagebrush, who was staying at the ranch with Bill McAllister.

Mina was surprised to see him. She’d actually had Cousin Rogan invite her father to the event, so delighted with her new life that she was no longer holding the vicious grudge that had occupied her most of her old life.

Cousin Rogan smiled as she joined him while Cort held the baby and showed him off to Cash and Garon and Parker, his brothers.

“What is it?” her cousin asked.

“Fender’s here,” she replied. “I thought he was going to stay in Catelow to look after the ranch with Bill McAllister. And where’s my father? I said you could invite him, but he didn’t show up.”

Cousin Rogan looked guilty. “Well, actually, Mina, your father’s here.”

She blinked. She looked around at the crowd, but she didn’t see a single person that she didn’t know. “Where?”

He took her by the shoulders and turned her slowly toward Fender, who was standing behind her, looking worried and apprehensive.

“There, Mina,” Rogan replied.

Mina stared at Fender and images flashed in her mind. He was always watching out for her, checking to make sure she got home safely at night, taking an interest in who she dated. He had a big dog that he loved. Her father had loved dogs.