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Brody met Blake and thought he would do well on the farm. He was picking up on the way things flowed around the farm and he seemed to fit in. Maggie liked him and was comfortable with him, and he seemed to know the job and his way around the animals.
The week flew by and before he knew it, Sarah was pulling in with Bella. Brody wanted them to come to the farm first, then they’d go get a room at the hotel in town for the weekend.
Brody had just walked out of the barn and heard Bella yelling, “Brody!” She ran toward him, and he smiled watching her. She looked happy to be here and he smiled when he met Sarah’s eyes, just before he caught Bella and spun her around.
“Little fire! I missed you!”
“I missed you too, Brody! Can I ride Nix?”
Brody laughed, “No! Not right now. I need to wait for you to calm down a bit first, and Nix needs you to brush him and love on him a little first.”
Bella smiled, “I can do that.”
“Okay, go meet Blake in the barn and tell him you want to brush Nix, he’ll set you up.”
Bella went strolling off into the barn, while Brody watched Sarah approach him.
When she got in front of him, he smirked and said, “What, you didn’t want to run and jump into my arms?”
She smiled back at him and said, “No, I didn’t want to stroke your ego One woman throwing herself at you a day is enough.”
She moved in and kissed his lips, and when they broke apart, he leaned into whisper in her ear, “I hope you’ll stroke more than my ego.”
She leaned her head back and laughed, “You can count on it, cowboy.”
They were laughing and catching up, when Becca pulled up and came over to them, smiling.
“I’m so glad you guys made up. This makes me almost believe in love.” Becca smiled at them as they both hugged her, and Ryleigh squealed.
“Bewa!” Becca laughed and said, “That’s all she’s been asking for.
Brody smiled and said, “Bella is in the barn. Come on.”
Brody took Ryleigh and carried her to the barn, while Becca and Sarah talked for a few minutes, then headed to the barn themselves. Sarah had linked arms with her and when they entered the barn, she felt Becca go stiff.
“Becca? Are you okay?”
Becca didn’t answer, she just watched with horror on her face, as she saw Ryleigh standing in front of a man that shouldn’t be there.
“And what’s your name, princess?” She heard the words come from his mouth and stood in horror knowing what was coming.
“I is Rywee Bwake Waker!” Ryleigh spouted off proudly. We had been practicing her name. But when the man heard her name, he stood up and looked at Becca.
“How old are you, Ryleigh?”
“I free.” She grinned up at the man standing in front of her, and he fell back to his knees in front of her again.
“That’s the best age ever. Can I hold you?” the man asked, and before Becca could react, Ryleigh threw herself into his arms.
Blake stood up holding the little girl in his arms, holding her like his life depended on not letting go.
Becca seemed to come to her senses and said, “Bella, can you take Ryleigh up to the house for me, please. I need to talk to Blake.”
Brody froze, watching everything, and then Sarah moved close to him, taking his arm to calm the fire she saw brewing.
Becca moved toward Blake once Bella and Ryleigh left the barn, and she said, “Blake, what are you doing here?”
“No! You don’t get to ask the questions, Becca. I do. Why did you leave me? Is she mine? She has my name, what the hell is going on?”
Brody growled, “Becca?”
“Brody, stand down, soldier. It’s fine. Blake won’t hurt me. He’s a good man. I’m fine, but I need to talk to Blake. Can you leave us?”
Brody moved to Blake, “She’s my baby sister. You hurt her I’ll kill you.” Then he moved to Becca, and said, “Are you sure, Bec?”
She nodded at him, and Sarah and Brody left the barn. If she knew her brother, he wouldn’t go far.
Becca looked at the man in front of her and said, “Blake,”
Then he moved to her and pulled her into his arms. “Becca, I need to hold you. I’m angry, confused, but most of all I need to hold you in my arms.”
She fell into his arms and held him until everything started flashing back in her head, then she pushed herself out of his arms and faced the man she hoped she’d never see again.
“I left you because I needed to come home. Our time was over, and you had your own life. I didn’t find out I was pregnant until I got back home. I didn’t contact you because I knew what we were, so yes, I gave Ryleigh your name, because she deserved to have a piece of her father, even if he wasn’t a part of her life.”
