Page 118 of No Place for Single Cowboys

Chance’s heart went into free fall. It took everything he had to keep his face steady. “That’s a good idea. Maybe get the keys from her, too.”

She nodded. “Hopefully, Glenn will give me my job back. It sounds like Justin is in over his head.”

Chance wasn’t surprised. “If Glenn’s smart, he’ll bring you back.”

Glenn was sure to re-hire Cordy—he wasn’t that dumb. So she’d have a job and a house… and wouldn’t need Chance anymore.

“We’ll see,” she said. “Chelsea said she could watch Madeleine while I’m at work, so that’s taken care of.”

He bit back his protest. Madeleine was so little, way too little to spend hours and hours with a stranger. She needed people who loved her around her.

But it wasn’t his business, and of course, Cordy needed to work. If she stayed with Chance, he’d happily support her and Madeleine until she was ready to work again, no matter how long that was, but…

“Good.” He couldn’t look at her as he said it. “That’s a big relief.”

“Yeah.” Cordy bounced Madeleine up and down. “It’s great.”

It fucking sucked, not that Chance could do anything more. “Well, if you need anything, I’ll be in the south pasture. I’ll double-check her car seat before I go.”

“Thanks. We’ll probably get lunch in town, so you don’t have to worry about that.”

He would, anyway. After six weeks of being with them twenty-four seven, Chance had no idea how he would get through today.

Cordy sounded just fine with it, though.

He rubbed the back of his neck. “I’m going to get my shower.”

“Okay.” Cordy flashed him a quick, impersonal smile. “Have a good day.”

Chance knew he wouldn’t, but he only said, “You, too.”

Cordy ended up not going anywhere.

Chance telling her to pick up the keys to Reed’s house had been too depressing. He couldn’t have sent any clearer signal—it was time for her and Madeleine to go.

So Cordy gathered her courage and texted Glenn, asking if she could come back to work next week. She also called Janet and asked her to bring the keys. But Cordy didn’t leave the house, not when she would have to so soon.

Madeleine was quiet, too, catching Cordy’s mood. But the baby brightened when Janet came by.

“How’s my darling?” Janet cooed. “You look so happy today!”

Madeleine wasn’t at the smiling stage yet, but she did seem pleased to see Janet. It was all in the eyebrows.

Thankfully, the Saxons had turned out to be involved grandparents. Cordy wouldn’t lie; sometimes, it was still awkward, but they were trying. Madeleine seemed to have helped Janet with the worst of her grief. There were no more random bursts of tears, and when Janet talked about Reed, she brought up happy memories.

“I have to make this quick, unfortunately,” Janet said between kisses for Madeleine. “I’ve got a Friends of the Library meeting in half an hour. The keys are in the side pocket of my purse if you want to grab them.”

The keys were ordinary brass, threaded on a Disneyland keychain that had to be at least twenty years old. Cordy had taken up new keys so often she didn’t think twice about it.

But these… these keys felt too heavy in her hands. Probably because they were more than keys—they were her break withChance. Once these became hers, Chance’s home was no longerhome.

“Thank you,” Cordy said huskily. “I appreciate you bringing them by.”

Janet looked up from making faces at Madeleine. “Of course. I know we didn’t… Things were difficult at the beginning. And I’m sorry I wasn’t more welcoming. But…” Janet wiped one eye. “Thank you for this little girl. For saving part of my Reed.”

That was too much for Cordy’s bruised heart and tender postpartum emotions. Now it was her turn to tear up, her throat closing.

Janet put Madeleine on one shoulder and patted Cordy’s back. “You’ll feel better once you’re moved into Reed’s house. That’s where you should have been all along.”

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