Page 24 of Mystery at Rescue Ridge

Helpless didn’t begin to describe how he felt, standing there.Should he flip the light on?Would that freak the kid out even more?

“I’m here to help you,” he said over the screams.

“It’s okay, Olivia.I’m here.”Evie’s voice probably shouldn’t wash over him the way it did.Soft, soothing, it was better than birds in the springtime.

He held his hands up, palms out, in surrender as he slowly backed away from the crib.“I was just trying to help.”

In the next second, Evie was beside him, smelling better than anyone had a right to at this hour of the morning.

The tension from last night’s kiss thickly sat between them.He added it to the list of things he wanted to talk to her about once this ordeal was over and they could sit down.This situation called for more than a passing comment.And he hoped she could tell him what he’d done wrong years ago so he wouldn’t repeat the mistake.If he was settling in at the ranch and she was going to be living this close, he’d like to rekindle their friendship.First, though, they needed to figure out why the hiker seemed fixated on her and how far he would go.

“It’s much appreciated,” she said as she picked up Olivia, who hiccup-cried into her aunt’s shoulder where she’d buried her face.“If it makes you feel any better, Luca doesn’t respond to me in the same way he does to you.”

“He’s a good kid.”

“More so when you’re in the room.”Evie flashed a smile.Her cheeks flushed, making her even more beautiful.Why hadn’t he noticed how stunning she’d been in high school?Maybe he’d been afraid to let himself go there.

Evie moved Olivia to a diaper changing station and got to work.

“It’s easy to entertain him,” he said, shrugging.“All I have to do is sit on the floor and play trucks.”

“I didn’t think of it,” she said.“The first couple of days after his mother…well…you know what happened.Anyway, he was stoic.Wouldn’t speak a word.He didn’t cry at first.Olivia, on the other hand, is made of tears.She drips water almost constantly.”

Luca appeared at the doorway.“Are you coming back?”

“Yes.”Owen didn’t mind hanging out with Luca.In fact, he much preferred being with the older boy to young Olivia.Kids in diapers weren’t his strong suit.He glanced over at Evie and tried not to let the maternal image of her hit him too hard.“As soon as she gets old enough to rough-house, she’ll change her mind about me.”

Evie’s laugh broke through some of the tension.It was as close to the old days as they’d gotten so far.

“I’ll let Travis know the house is up and running,” he said.

The smile on Evie’s face faded as reality struck.The hiker had followed her home.He wouldn’t likely disappear.The man might be waiting for Owen to leave.“And I’ll order a few security supplies, like cameras and recording equipment.”

“Where will you get those?”

“Come on, Evie.This is Saddle Junction.Granted, it’s not Dallas.We can’t have delivery in two hours.We’ll drive into town and pick them up instead.We can take the kids in for some ice cream if that’s allowed.”

“Yes!”The enthusiasm in Luca’s voice said there was only one right answer to the question.

Evie laughed.“If I can give them Popsicles before dinner, a little ice cream won’t hurt.Just FYI, Ms.Bart stops by every day around noon.She brings dinner for the kids.Apparently, my cooking isn’t good enough.”

“Do you want her to stop?”Because he could make it stop.

“Not yet.”She finished wrapping up Olivia’s bottom before snapping a few snaps and then picking her up.The kiddo had a pacifier in her mouth and had stopped bawling.“In her own way, she’s dealing with the loss of my sister and trying to be a constant for the kids.I can’t fault her for that.”

He didn’t like the way Ms.Bart treated Evie, and he had half a mind to tell the old biddy to back off.Would it help or make matters worse?

Evie knewshe shouldn’t turn in time to watch Owen leave the room, but she did anyway.He’d always had a nice backside.She was only appreciating the work of a master sculptor.The tension between them was a physical presence, no doubt amplified by the kiss they’d shared last night, and didn’t talk about this morning.With the kids underfoot, she had no idea when she could tackle the topic.She wanted to tell Owen that what had happened wasn’t a big deal.At least, she wanted that to be the truth.

She remembered reading about the seven-year rule of friendships from one of those online teen magazines a few days before the split.The article had stated that having a friendship lasting seven years gave it an almost guaranteed chance of lasting a lifetime.She’d read about friendships like theirs being called a rare gem.The knowledge had freaked her out more than it comforted her.Could she be friends with Owen for the rest of her life?Or would she forever want nothing more than to be buddies?

The joke was on her because being close to him, sharing secrets, without being in a relationship or, worse yet, watching him find the love of his life would have been the worst kind of torture.

The reality that she would live alone for the rest of her life had struck hard.Had she been dramatic about it?Yes.Teenagers weren’t exactly known for being chill.

She held Olivia to her chest with a self-satisfied smile.At least Liv, as she liked to call her, despite the fact Simone had playfully banned it, was warming up to Evie.Of course, the only other human option in the house was Owen.Much to Evie’s surprise and pleasure, Liv had chosen her aunt.

“I’ll get breakfast going,” she said after walking into the kitchen and making Liv a bottle.

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