Page 24 of The Cowboy's Miracle Baby

The fact that he felt like he’d known her for much longer than a few days already, was a little disorienting. But it wouldn’t go any further than that. It couldn’t. He wouldn’t be here long enough.

An excuse that Luke might rightly claim was less a reason and more a deliberate plan.

Chapter Six

Cami had spentthe rest of Saturday gathering up all the things she’d need to take care of this baby, at least for the time being—diapers, bassinette, onesies and warm outerwear. Her favorite was the baby wrap that she tied around her that held the baby close, which seemed to stop Lolly’s fussing whenever she was upset.

She’d spent the last twenty-four hours secretly admiring new mothers everywhere who carried on with little or no sleep with a baby this small. But still, in the middle of the night, as Lolly stared up at her with her big, blue eyes, connecting with her in a way no other human being ever had before—as if sayingI trust you, she knew letting this child go would be hard. She did not belong to Cami. Somewhere, Lolly’s mother was probably thinking about her right now. Wishing she was in her arms instead of Cami’s. At least, that was what Cami hoped.

Honestly, anything was possible, but the note she’d left behind had colored any judgment Cami had about what Lolly’s mother had done. Not that it was right. But having been a teacher for years now, she could say unequivocally, that life was not fair, and things happened in people’s lives that didn’t make sense. She’d had students who had lost parents, who’d gotten cancer, and other worse things. So, whatever had happened to Lolly’s mother, Cami was withholding judgment until she knew for sure what her reasons were for doing what she did. Maybe she’d never know. And if that happened, at the very least, she’d make sure that Lolly had the best life possible. With her or without her.

While she was in town with Lolly strapped to her chest, she walked into several stores that she knew did engraving. There was an outside chance she’d be able to find the engraver for Lolly’s bracelet, but she had to try. She came up empty in the first two stores and headed to the last one, feeling less than hopeful.

A bell jangled above the door of the gift shop as she walked in. They sold all kinds of touristy gifts and trinkets, a whole shelf of Marietta, Montana, baseball caps in a rainbow of colors, mugs and a separate section for finer gifts like crystal paperweights and jewelry. It always smelled amazing in this shop with all the candles and soaps they sold. But today, it smelled like Christmas and the shop was full of holiday trimmings.

Cami knew the young raven-haired woman behind the counter, who smiled at her as she walked in.

“Ms. Hardesty! How are you?” Avery Blakely was a student she’d tutored one summer in college essay writing, something Cami did as a side-gig when school was out.

“Avery! So glad to see you! I thought you were away at college.”

“Oh, I am. I’m up at UM, but it’s winter break, so I’m helping in my mom’s store.” Her eyes widened as she took in the baby strapped to Cami’s chest. “Oh, wow! I didn’t realize you had a baby.”

Cami blushed. “She’s… she’s not mine. I’m… taking care of her for a friend who had to go out of town. Emergency.”

Avery peeked at Lolly, who was fast asleep. “What a little doll! How old is she?”

“Uh… two weeks. She’s pretty new.”

Lizzy looked impressed. “She’s so little to be without her mom.”

“It was… unavoidable.” Cami cradled Lolly against her. “Listen, Avery, I was wondering if you could help me. I found this bracelet the other day with a name engraved on it. Obviously, someone lost it and I’d like to get it back to them. I thought, maybe there’s an off chance it was engraved here in Marietta? Maybe here in your store? And that you might remember or have a record of it?” She handed Lolly’s silver bracelet to Avery, who turned it over in her hands.

“It could have been done here. We do have this particular font on our engraving machine, but I’d have to ask my mom. If it was done here, she would have done it. I just got back a couple of nights ago from school.”

“Is she here? Can I speak with her?”

“She’s in the back. Let me get her.” She disappeared into the back room and Cami browsed the store, looking at the jewelry in particular. There was no ID bracelet that looked like Lolly’s and her optimism faded.

Avery’s mom, Hannah Blakely, was smiling as she appeared from the back room. “Cami! How lovely to see you. Avery said you wanted to speak with—” Surprise flattened her smile. “Oh! And who’s this sweet thing? I had no idea…”

“No, no. It’s not what you think.” And Cami explained it all again, along with her quest about the bracelet. Hannah turned the silver thing over in her hands.

“You know, I do remember this bracelet. It wasn’t ours. But the young woman who brought it in just last week said it was an heirloom she wanted engraved and asked if we could do that.” She turned it over and held it out to show Cami. “See? I remember this small, engraved heart on the back. It was already there.”

Cami’s pulse thrummed in her ears. “So, how old was this young woman, would you say?”

“Oh, under twenty, I’d think. At any rate, she had a baby, too, and she looked too young to have a baby. I suppose that’s judgmental of me to say but—”

Tightening her arms protectively around the baby strapped to her chest, Cami silently agreed.

Avery leaned in. “Anything under twenty-five is definitely too young if you ask me. Though, granted, no one was asking… but I have a couple of friends whose lives got derailed by pregnancy in high school.”

Hannah patted her daughter’s hand. “I’m speaking as a mother, of course. I don’t know. There was just something about this girl. Something… lonely, I guess?”

Lonely. Yes. She must have been so, so lonely.Cami hadn’t really expected to get any answers so quickly in her search. “I don’t suppose you have a record of who she was? This girl who brought this bracelet in? On the off chance I can figure out who she is… I’m just trying to track down the owner so I can return this to her. I’m sure she must be missing it.”

“I… believe she paid in cash. She told me it was a rush and wanted to wait for it. And she did. So, no, I wouldn’t have her name. That’s probably not going to help you find her then. But I might have the receipt here.”

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