Page 109 of No Place for Single Cowboys

And yet, it would be cruel to say any of that. To him and her. To tell him after everything, “You can get out of here and leave me all alone.”

She couldn’t do it.

Another wave of sleep caught her. The last thing she heard was Chance saying, “We’ll both be right here when you wake up.”

twenty-five

“Areyou sure you’re up for this?”

Cordy held in her sigh at Chance’s question. “The doctor said whatever activity I felt up to is fine.”

Dr. Shenoy told Cordy that yesterday at her six-week checkup, “You’re cleared for whatever you want to do,” the doctor said as she washed her hands. “Including in the bedroom.”

Cordy hadn’t quite known what to say to that. She and Chance were sleeping in the same bed each night, but everything was so different now with Madeleine. Neither of them had slept more than three hours at a stretch. Sex sounded good, but Cordy was so exhausted she wasn’t sure she remembered how to do it.

At least she didn’t have to worry about food, cleaning, or laundry. Ruby hadn’t been kidding about the meal train—both of Chance’s freezers were overflowing, and they had given Holden and Rye whatever wouldn’t fit. People dropped by two or three times a day to do chores or hold the baby so Cordy and Chance could get a break. It was overwhelming how many people pitched in without even being asked. If Cordy had any more doubts about being a part of Star Crossed Springs, the past few weeks would have put them to rest.

The Saxons came by every day without fail. Mrs. Saxon hadn’t mentioned Reed’s house again, and Cordy was too overwhelmed to think about moving. Keeping Madeleine alive was more than a full-time job, even with all the help Cordy was getting.

Cordy used to move at the drop of a hat. She could have her entire life packed up and ready to go in an hour. But now, the very thought of packing made her weepy. Not that she had much time to think.

She didn’t want to pack, but shewasgetting restless. Being inside for so long, confined to the couch or the bed, was messing with Cordy’s head. As soon as Dr. Shenoy said Cordy could do whatever she wanted, she knew exactly where she wanted to go.

“It’s a pretty serious hike,” Chance said from the living room. “I don’t know if the doctor was thinking of something like that.”

“He worries too much about us,” Cordy whispered to Madeleine, who was snuggled under Cordy’s chin in her infant carrier. “I like it, but I need to go on this hike.”

Madeleine stared fascinated at Cordy. Cordy stared right back.

People had told her the baby would become her entire world, but they never mentioned that Cordy would beMadeleine’swhole world. It was amazing, having the little being you loved most utterly infatuated with you. Madeleine could stare at Cordy for hours, and Cordy could stare right back, both completely lost in love.

“What did you say?” Chance asked.

“Nothing.” Cordy kissed Madeleine’s head. “You said it was an easy hike, and we’d take the side-by-side for most of it.”

Silence from Chance.

“I think I out-argued him,” she whispered to the baby. “I’m enjoying this. You should be taking notes for when you’re older.”

Cordy bit her lip. Damn, she kept doing that—assuming that she and Madeleine would be here with Chance forever. She could blame the exhaustion, but really, it was her heart—Cordy loved him and wanted to stay with him. So she kept slipping up.

If only she was still like the old Cordy and could take off without a second thought, no looking back. That would make this break easy.

But she wasn’t. Chance and Madeleine had changed her, and now Cordy would have to break her own heart to leave.

But not yet.

“All right,” Chance grumbled. “I guess we’re going. You ready? Got some water? The doctor said a liter every hour.”

Cordy shook her head, thankful Chance couldn’t see her. He’d gotten that number stuck in his head—“one liter of water per hour”—and hadn’t let go of it. Yes, Cordy was nursing and needed more than usual, but she’d never leave the bathroom if she drank that much. Her poor bladder was already abused enough from the delivery. Every time she sneezed these days, it was like playing Russian roulette—would this be the time her bladder fired off?

“I’ve got water,” she called back to him.

The hike to Lovers’ Cavern wasn’t that far. Cordy did not want to stop to pee every five minutes, so there was no way she was drinking a freaking liter of water. It wasn’t even that hot today.

“Did you get Madeleine's hat?” she asked as she left the kitchen.

“I’ve got her hat, the shade for the baby carrier, and an extra blanket to drape over her if that’s not enough shade.” Chance held up two massively overstuffed bags. “Along with the diaper bag, Iggy’s water bowl, and leash. Oh, and an extra hat for you.”

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