Page 58 of Nanny for the Single Dad Cowboy
The two-day camping trip was a lot of fun, more fun than I thought I’d have, and it’s all thanks to the blonde, bubbly girl currently wiping off her sticky hands on my jeans. It was the break I didn’t know I needed.
But our return comes with the anxiety of what I told myself I’d do—talk to Jace about the future of our relationship after comingclean about what brought me to Iron Stallion in the first place. I’m nervous, thinking about what his reaction might be, but I also know the conversation has to happen if we are to move forward.
When we arrive at the school, Jace is supposed to pick us up, but instead, we find Duncan, the assistant foreman.
“Where’s Daddy?” Daisy asks him, speaking for both of us.
“Waiting for you back home,” he replies, loading up our bags.
“Why didn’t he come to pick us up?” she insists.
Duncan freezes before mumbling something about Jace being busy. He’s acting fishy, and my guard is immediately up. Nonetheless, Daisy and I get into the back of the truck, and he drives us back.
The drive to Iron Stallion is quieter, Daisy slowly running out of juice, the exhaustion catching up to her. She leans against me, drifting in and out of sleep. Every so often, I catch Duncan staring at me via the rearview mirror. I want to demand answers, but I know he won’t be forthcoming, so I hold it in. I’ll demand answers from the horse’s mouth directly.
By the time we pull into the Iron Stallion driveway, the sun has already begun to slide down the horizon, throwing the ranch into that soft, golden light I’ve come to love. It feels like home. Like something I shouldn’t get used to but already have.
I’m excited to be back, but something feels off. The ranch is quiet. Too quiet. There are no horses in the paddock. No cattle grazing or the familiar hum of the machinery. Not even the low murmur of voices from the porch and stables. The ranch is never this quiet, even on Sundays. Now, only the faint breeze stirs the dust. I brush off the chill that crawls up my spine, hoping it’s just exhaustion.
Or is it?
The front door opens before we reach it. Ella stands there, pale and jumpy, eyes darting behind us like she’s checking for something. “Hey! You’re back,” she says, voice thin and too bright. It’s obvious she’s faking it.
Daisy, fully awake now, jumps off the truck and runs to hug her, holding up a colorful rock. “I brought you this, Auntie Ella!”
Ella forces a smile, taking it. “Thank you, sweetheart. I love it.”
Then she looks at me, but the smile doesn’t reach her eyes. She opens the door to let us in as Duncan follows with our bags.
I want to ask her what’s wrong, but Daisy is filling her in on our trip, leaving no room for my query.
Inside, the air feels heavy. Beck and Zane are in the kitchen, talking low, their expressions grim. Jace is there too, in his wheelchair, arms crossed, hair a little mussed, like he’s run his hands through it too many times.
The moment he sees us, something flickers in his eyes. Relief, worry, and something else I can’t name.
What is going on?
“Hey, Bug,” he says softly, opening his arms for his daughter. She runs to him and crawls onto his lap. “Did you have fun?”
“The best!” She beams. “We made s’mores and sang songs and collected lots of colorful rocks. I got one for everybody.”
He chuckles, but his laugh doesn’t quite land. He glances at me over her head, that same searching look Ella gave me. Like I’ve missed a memo.
“What’s going on?” I finally ask.
The silence stretches, skyrocketing my unease. Jace straightens, tucking Daisy’s hair behind her ear. “Hey, Bug, why don’t you let Auntie Ella help you unpack your things?”
Daisy’s brow furrows, noticing the tense air. “Why? What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” he lies easily, pressing a kiss to her temple. “Grown-up stuff.”
Ella takes her hand and leads her upstairs. I wait until their footsteps fade before I speak again.
“Jace?”
He exhales, facing me fully. “There was a break-in last night.”
Upon hearing this, the world tilts a little. “What?!”
