The Cowgirl's Forever Family. Helen Lacey

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СКАЧАТЬ passed away four months ago,” Tyler explained. “She had kidney failure brought upon by diabetes that she’d suffered with all her life. She was scheduled for a transplant but wouldn’t accept treatment or surgery once she knew she was pregnant.”

      He watched as she swallowed hard and he saw a shadow of sadness in her expression. “And so where do you fit into this little story?”

      “I’m her grandfather’s lawyer. And friend,” he added quietly. “I’ve known Ralph Jürgens for eighteen years. Ralph is Yelena’s grandfather and her only relative. Her parents were killed many years ago and Ralph raised her.”

      “That’s so sad. But...this baby...are you sure she’s my brother’s—”

      “Positive,” he said, cutting her off. He withdrew an envelope from the pocket inside his jacket and passed it to her.

      “What’s this?” she asked and opened the letter.

      “Cara’s birth certificate,” he explained. “As you can see, your brother is named as the child’s father.”

      “But that could just be—”

      “I met your brother several times when he was involved with Yelena,” he said, cutting through her protest. “And they certainly appeared to have had an intimate relationship.”

      She looked shocked. Disbelieving. Cynical. “If Matt knew about the baby he—”

      “But he didn’t,” Tyler interrupted. “As I explained, Yelena discovered she was pregnant after your brother left New York. It was only at the end of her illness that she instructed me to find him and tell him he was Cara’s father. Paternity can certainly be confirmed with DNA testing if needed.”

      Her gaze narrowed. “You said she died four months ago.”

      “Yes,” he replied. “When Cara was nearly eight months old.”

      “And it’s taken you that long to track Matt to here?”

      Tyler half shrugged. “Not exactly. When Yelena died her grandfather asked me to hold off contacting your brother. Ralph had hoped he would be able to take on the responsibility himself.”

      “But?”

      “He’s eighty-five and knows he hasn’t got too many years left,” Tyler said flatly, ignoring the way the words echoed deep down in his chest. “He’s too old and frail to care for Cara himself.”

      “And there are no other relatives?” she asked, now perched on the edge of the seat.

      “No. Just your brother,” he replied.

      She gasped a little, like she couldn’t get enough air in her lungs. He watched her, intrigued by the resolve she was showing. Brooke Laughton had gumption and backbone—that was clear. And strength. Something he knew Matt Laughton was severely lacking. But despite her grandfather’s protests, Yelena had insisted Matthew be told about the baby.

      “Can I...can I see her?” she asked with uncertainty.

      “Of course,” he said and stood.

      He got up, took a couple of steps and gently flipped back the blanket covering the baby. Cara stirred a little, but then relaxed and moved her tiny mouth in the way he’d become so accustomed to. Over the past few months Ralph had employed one nanny after the other and when that hadn’t worked, Tyler had taken over and hired the drill sergeant. But he made sure he saw Cara every day, just to ensure she was being cared for correctly.

      “She’s so beautiful,” Brooke Laughton said with a sigh.

      Yeah...women and babies...it never failed to be one of the wonders of the world.

      He knew she was thirty-two, never married and without children. She looked very much like an independent, spirited woman who could look after herself. And yet, there was a softness in her expression as she gazed upon her sleeping niece.

      “Yes, she is,” Tyler said quietly. “Like all babies, I imagine.”

      She glanced at him. “Do you have any?”

      “Kids?” He shook his head. “No.”

      “Me, either,” she said softly. “Is she okay... I mean, healthy?”

      “Perfectly,” he replied. “She eats well and is generally a happy baby.”

      Her brows rose. “You’ve spent a lot of time with her?”

      “Since Yelena died? Yes, I have. I had a nanny looking after her at the Jürgenses’ Manhattan apartment but I have tried to see her every day. Ralph is old and not in good health, as I said.”

      “Does he agree with your decision to bring her here?”

      “He does now,” Tyler replied. “Yelena wanted her daughter to be raised by family. And that family is now your brother.”

      * * *

      And me...

      Brooke’s heart was pounding so hard she was sure the man beside her could hear it.

      Cara’s peaceful expression tugged at her, deep down. Her niece. Her family. It seemed like someone had just handed her the moon.

      And that someone took the shape of the tall and handsome man now standing barely a foot away from her. He had green eyes, she noticed. And his hair was like the color of Beechwood honey. He had the kind of broad-shouldered, long-limbed build that had always attracted her. Still, he was a bit of a pretty boy. There was nothing weathered about his face. Nothing other than perfect symmetry and a strong jawline.

      She looked at the baby again and something uncurled inside Brooke, a kind of deep yearning that took root way down in her womb. “How old is she?”

      “Eleven months and three weeks,” he replied. “She’ll turn one at the end of next week. She was born on Christmas day.”

      What a wonderful gift, Brooke thought. “Is she walking?”

      “Wobbling,” he said, grinning fractionally, and a dimple appeared in his cheek.

      Damn...she’d always been a sucker for dimples. “She looks so peaceful,” she said, quickly ignoring him, his green eyes and his dimples.

      “Say that when she wakes you up at five in the morning.”

      She sat on the coffee table and took a deep breath. Cara’s hands rested against the edge of the blanket and Brooke reached out to stroke her thumb. The baby moved and then sighed and her fingers softly curled around Brooke’s. A feeling unlike any she’d known before uncurled in her chest. This child was her blood. And in that moment she knew she would do whatever she had to, to make sure Cara was raised on the ranch that had been in the Laughton family for five generations.

      Which meant she had to contact her brother. And fast.

      “Thank you for bringing her here, Mr. Madden. Cara will be well cared for, I assure you.”

      “It’s СКАЧАТЬ