Читать книгу A Doctor For The Nanny - Leigh Bale - Страница 13

Chapter Four

That afternoon Eva pulled up at Grainger Ranch and killed the engine to her truck. She hadn’t planned on returning so soon. She’d been here early this morning, yet it seemed like days since she’d made her mad dash to take Cody to visit Tyler. And in that short amount of time, Cody’s rash was doing much better. But she’d received a call from Carson Thorn, telling her that the league’s Rustling Investigation Team was meeting over at Tyler’s place. Since she was now a member, she had to be there, too.

As she looked out the windshield, her heart gave a slight flutter at the thought of seeing Tyler again. For some odd reason, she hadn’t been able to get him off her mind and hated that someone had stolen his sister’s mare. But she didn’t want to think about Tyler, or any man, for that matter. Because the combination of caring for baby Cody and thinking about romance got her yearning for a family of her own. And that would only make her heart ache even worse.

She noticed a variety of cars and trucks parked in the wide driveway. The sheriff’s black-and-white squad car stood out from all the rest. And knowing the reason for it being here made Eva shiver. The thefts going on in their small community were downright creepy. It made her skin crawl to think of all the dishonesty it took to steal from other people, and she was eager to help solve the crimes.

She looked down at Cody, who lay nestled in his car seat, watching her with his big brown eyes. His cheeks weren’t quite as red as they’d been earlier, and she was grateful for that. Without any reason whatsoever, he flashed a wide smile and made several cooing sounds. It was as though he were telling her everything would be all right.

“Oh, you little sweetheart.” She leaned down and kissed his forehead, then unbuckled him.

His warm baby scent engulfed her. Holding him close against her chest, she opened the door and climbed out. Afternoon sunlight glinted off the eagle weather vane on top of Tyler’s barn. The afternoon breeze ruffled the sheets hanging on Veola Grainger’s clothesline. Brown stubble dotted the fields surrounding the house, a testament that the hay had been baled and brought in. The land was now at rest for the winter. Tyler had worked hard this year, running his medical practice and farming on the side. He’d been more than busy. And maybe that was why he didn’t have a girlfriend. He didn’t have time for extracurricular activities.

Worried that the wind might hurt the baby’s ears, Eva pulled a blue knit cap over his head. Wrapped snugly in a sweater and blanket, he looked about with interest, his eyes wide and bright. Eva reached back into the truck and retrieved a loaf of pumpkin bread she’d taken from the kitchen at Stillwater Ranch. She caught the sounds of voices coming from the open doors of the barn. A sorrel gelding stood outside, saddled and tied to the hitching post. She headed in that direction. Stepping inside the barn, she paused to let her eyes adjust to the dim interior. She caught the heavy scent of ammonia. Dust motes floated on the air.