The Sheriff and the Baby by C.C. Coburn Read Free Book Online

she? My family tends to specialize in taking over. Particularly the women.” And Luke.
    “She was very sweet,” Beth told him, returning to her room. “She seems to have great affection for you.”
    Matt grinned. “We’re a very close family.” He used the opening to question her. “Do you have any family?”
    Her expression changed, but Matt pressed her. She was being far too mysterious. Maybe she was a battered woman claiming to be widowed to try and stop him from delving deeper. If so, he was determined to find out and protect her. “Are your parents still alive? Your husband’s folks?”
    Beth shook her head. “I’m an only child. That’s why I know almost nothing about looking after babies,” she said, neatly ducking his question. “My career was my life and I steered clear of getting too involved with children. Until I got pregnant, I didn’t think I could love and raise a child of my own.”
    “And now?”
    She smiled and her shoulders relaxed a little. “Now I know I’m capable of loving a child. Although I’m not sure I would’ve admitted that at around two this morning when she was screaming at the top of her lungs.” She stroked Sarah’s hair and looked up at him, the devotion she felt for her daughter evident in her eyes.
    Matt liked it when she was being frank with him. It made him feel trusted.
    “Can I ask why you’re here again?”
    Matt was caught off guard by her question and said the first thing that came into his head. “I meant to tell you yesterday that your car’s been towed to a garage and I’ve arranged to have some estimates done.”
    He saw her swallow before she said, “Thank you, but I intended to take care of all that when I get out of here.”
    “It’s no problem. In the meantime, it’s safe. I wanted you to know that.”
    Feeling awkward at the silence that filled the room, he addressed Sarah. “Have you inherited your mama’s lungs, sweetie?”
    “What do you mean?”
    Matt glanced up from the baby lying contentedly in his arms. “Ah, the other night, you were making enough noise to wake the dead.”
    Her face flushed with embarrassment. “I’m sorry. I was scared…and in so much pain.”
    Matt smiled. “No need to apologize. The experience affirmed my everlasting gratitude that men can’t give birth.” He shifted Sarah to his shoulder when she started to fuss again and rubbed her back.
    “You’re so good with her,” she said, her voice full of longing.
    “When my nieces were babies, I could calm them when everyone else was at the breaking point.” The admission had him wondering for the thousandth time what sort of father he would’ve made.
    Beth’s shoulders relaxed some more. “That’s nice. You’ll make a great father someday.”
    He wished she wouldn’t keep talking about fatherhood.
    “I’ll bet you’re the one the kids turn to when they need advice or want to keep a secret from their parents?”
    Matt forced the burning sensation aside and nodded. “You guessed it.”
    Sarah rewarded his back rubbing with an enormous burp. Then she threw up.
    Matt held his breath as he felt the warm liquid seep through his shirt. He handed Sarah back to her mother and left the room without a word.
     
    T OO AWARE OF HIS absence, Beth wondered if he’d come back. Although she’d planned to be long gone by the time Matt O’Malley showed up this morning, things hadn’t gone to plan. Sarah had kept her up most of the night alternately crying and feeding. Now here she was, feeling like death warmed over and still at the hospital. She was in no state to make her way home and try to manage Sarah while she was so exhausted. It wouldn’t hurt to stay another day, so long as Matt didn’t push her for any more answers to his questions.
    Beth looked down at her daughter and couldn’t believe her eyes. She’d fallen asleep. “Typical!” she muttered again. “Keep me up all night and now you want to sleep!”
    After cleaning Sarah’s face and hands,