Rancher's Perfect Baby Rescue. Linda Conrad

Pierce, the baby needs at least ten days’ rest and regular feedings before you two can travel.”

      “You told him that? What did he have to say?”

      The doctor’s eyebrows went up. “He didn’t seem pleased, but he agreed.”

      Well, that was a relief. However, if the two of them were staying on the ranch, she would have to find some way of getting around Nathan. They couldn’t conduct World War III between them for the next couple of weeks. It wouldn’t be good for Melody.

      “I’ll give you instructions before I leave.” Dr. Black finished working on her, and whatever he’d done hardly hurt at all.

      But as he put his things away, he seemed to have more to add. Was there something very wrong with the baby that he hadn’t told her?

      “Could I ask a favor?” he asked softly.

      “I guess so. What is it?” This was an odd way for a doctor to start a conversation, but she waited to hear the favor.

      “While you were living in Cold Plains, did you happen to meet a woman named Abby Michaels? She was a new teacher’s aide at the day care center. She disappeared from town a while back, and I’m trying to find out if she had a baby with her.”

      “The name kind of rings a bell.” Susannah had been told by the Devotees that she was to become the new teacher’s aide at the day care center after Melody’s birth. Guess they would need to find someone else now. “But sorry. I didn’t know her. And I never heard anything about a baby.”

      A sad look crossed the doctor’s face for a second. “Well, thanks anyway for trying. You can put on your shirt while I jot out a couple of prescriptions.”

      Out of the blue it occurred to her that this man was definitely not one of the Devotees. But wasn’t it strange that any doctor would come to Cold Plains without intending to join the group?

      Still … “Um, can I ask a favor now?”

      “Yes.” He looked over warily.

      “I don’t want the Devotees to know I’m here. I would prefer that they think the baby and I have already left town. Is there any other way besides writing prescriptions with our names on them?”

      He gave her another wary look, and then his features relaxed. “I have samples of the necessary medications in my office in town. If the ranch can send someone for them, I’d be happy to offer what you need.”

      Breathing a sigh of relief, she nodded. Then she filed the info about him being so helpful away in her mind—just in case Melody might need more of his help.

      “Would you like to go for a walk?” Nathan had waited until the baby was napping and Maria had time to sit with the little girl. “It’s been a couple of days since you came to the ranch, and I thought you’d like to look around. Maria can keep an eye on Melody for a while.”

      Since the doctor had issued his orders yesterday afternoon and finished up with his patients, Nathan hadn’t seen much of Susannah. She’d slept for almost twenty-four hours straight, and Maria delivered her meals on a tray.

      But Nathan had stayed busy, studying his books and manuals on how to best manage exit counseling for ex-cult members. He just wished she had other family members whom she already trusted. The process of exit counseling depended entirely on establishing a reasonable and respectful level of communication with the ex-cult member.

      The two of them had hardly gotten off to a reasonable and respectful start. But he would try. He thought she was worth the effort, and the baby deserved a whole mother who could think clearly.

      “I’d enjoy a little walk. I’ve always wondered what a working ranch would be like.”

      “Get your coat.” He waited at the bedroom door as she pulled on her tattered jacket.

      He stared at the patched coat. Obviously, she needed a few decent things to wear. But she’d been ordered not to leave the ranch to go shopping. Nathan supposed they could order clothes off the internet, but that would still leave a few days for shipping. He came to the conclusion his original idea for gaining her trust might prove to be the perfect trick for solving both problems.

      “Most of the work on the ranch happens well before dawn,” he told her as they moved through the house toward the kitchen door. “Not too much going on late in the afternoon. But you’ll probably get a glimpse of the stock as they settle for the night.”

      She nodded as he opened the door and escorted her out into the sunshine.

      “There’s also a couple of important people you haven’t had a chance to meet yet, and I thought now might be a good time.”

      “Oh? Who are they?”

      He slid her arm through his as they strolled out into the yard. “That’s a long story. Mind if I talk while we walk?”

      “Not at all. But we’ll have to take it slow, I’m afraid. I didn’t realize how weak I’d be.”

      Turning to her, he tried to keep his voice calm and reassuring. “Are you sure you feel well enough to walk?”

      Her facial expression suddenly drew down in a frown. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to ruin your walk. I can try harder. Or you can take me back so you can go alone. I’m really sorry.”

      There, that was the first sure sign of cult programming. He’d just finished reading about the typical signs: anxiety, paranoia and constant fear of not pleasing the person in charge.

      But why was this particular former cult member affecting him differently? Why was the idea of giving her counseling and trying to help her overcome her issues becoming so important to him? All he knew for sure was that seeing her weak and trembling, and knowing she had no one to trust, gave him an ache deep in his chest the likes of which he had never felt before.

      Certainly he had a few trust issues of his own, but he felt positive he could get past them long enough to help her open up. He might not trust her completely, and he’d found himself fighting his base impulses where she was concerned. Impulses such as the way his heart thundered whenever her eyes welled up—or the way his gut clenched each time they touched. But his every instinct told him she would be worth all the effort.

      He unwound their arms and then placed his arm around her shoulders to hold her upright. “You’re the reason for the walk. When you get too tired, just let me know. All we’ll do today is stroll to the fence to see the cattle and then back to the house for a short visit. Okay?”

      “I’m sure I can make that. And I want to hear your story. What’s it about?”

      “Um … me, I guess. Or rather, about the ranch and my family.”

      “Oh, good. Go on.”

      “See, it was my granddaddy who first came to this land as a young man. He built the ranch from a few acres into the place it is now. But when his daughter, my mama, died young, he tried his best to give the rest of us a deep love of the land and the animals.”

      Susannah looked thoughtful, and he knew she was hearing between the words. Good. At least she was still capable of analyzing situations. Maybe her cult training hadn’t had time to completely overpower her mind.

      “Granddaddy’s lesson took with me. I love everything about the land and the place and wouldn’t want to ever live anywhere else. But I can’t say as much for my siblings or my father.”

      “Is that who we’re going to meet? The rest of your family?”

      “Sort of. My father is still out of town on a buying trip, and my brother may or may not turn up for supper tonight. He has his own interests. And my little sister …”

      Nathan tried to find a way to phrase this properly. “Well, Tara never did care much for the ranch. She was always a little wild. And she became lots worse after Mama died. When she was nineteen, she had a baby and didn’t know who out of her many