Page 63 of Stolen Hearts

“Why don’t we sit down and have a chat?” Rhae suggested. “Navy’s about ready for her bottle.”

As they all settled in the office for a talk, Denver cuddled Navy in his lap and smoothed his palm over her round head.

The look on his and Theo’s faces was so different from the expression on Justin’s face—that raw scorn—that Rhae’s mind kept returning to it.

It hadn’t just been Justin’s discomfort from being around a child.

It was total disdain.

Later, when she was alone, she would do some digging into the vet’s record. Something just wasn’t right.

And she wasn’t taking any chances.

* * * * *

Denver pushed open the door of the veterans’ building and held it for his brother. His kid brother, home after God knew how long.

The last Malone brother, returned to the fold.

The door closed behind them with a quietwhoosh, and they stood there for a long moment, side by side, looking out at the fields speckled with cattle and the occasional horseman checking the herd.

The scent of sawdust carried on the breeze, its source an old tree that had been struck by lightning and was taken down by some of the veterans who worked the ranch.

“Damn, I missed this view.” Theo tugged his cowboy hat lower to shade against the bright sun that danced off every surface, like diamonds so bright it pierced their eyes.

Denver nodded in agreement. But the peaceful scene didn’t totally wipe out the tension from that crease Rhae wore between her brows, put there by the newcomer to the program.

Theo tipped his head back and closed his eyes, breathing in the air. Denver let him have his moment. When he first returned to the ranch, he soaked up the atmosphere for days, but the newness never faded.

“I forgot how good it smells here.”

Denver grunted. “Beats sand and diesel fumes.”

Theo chuckled, then glanced over at him. “Why didn’t you tell me you had a kid?”

He stiffened, the weight of his words landing heavy in his chest. “I just found out too.”

“Wow.” Theo shook his head. “Wow.”

“I know.” Denver scrubbed a hand over his face. “I still can’t quite believe it.”

“She’s cute.”

“I know. Just like her momma.”

Theo gave him a side-eye that reminded him of so many times in their youth when they could say so much with a single look. “So you’re with Rhae?”

“We’re working things out.” His voice roughened. “I love her.”

“That’s all that matters.”

They crossed the gravel lot, their boots crunching in rhythm. The path leading to the main house curved around the barn, but Denver angled toward the side yard instead.

Theo lifted his jaw toward the single tire swing dangling from a rope tossed over a tree limb. One of the last testaments that any of them had ever been kids. Even in childhood, they all carried too much on their shoulders, each of them trying so hard to avoid their old man and protect the rest of the Malone pack too.

“You don’t want to head into the house yet? You avoiding Willow?” Theo’s voice rang with an edge of amusement.

“Thought you might help me with a chore.”

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