Page 47 of The Truth

“Honey, every Hiller man on the planet is. Something you and your sister definitely need to be aware of,” Ronnie said, wrapping Max up after burping him—and then passing him to Greer. Ayla handed Mira over to her mother. The baby was fussing and wanting her turn. Ronnie so had this love and family thing figured out. “Complicated Hiller brain doesn’t even begin to describe it.”

“We resemble that remark,” Giavonna said. “Gunn can be hard to figure out sometimes, though. The other brothers… pretty simple creatures, honestly. But Gunn… there’s a different layer to him. Not better than the other boys, just… different. He sees things in a different way than the rest of us. But… I know he’d never do anything to deliberately hurt anyone, Ayl. It’s just not in his makeup. He hurts… when those he loves hurts. Case in point.” She waved a hand toward the windows.

Ayla looked toward the patio door. She could see them out there. “Emerson is really hurting. And that hurts Gunn, too. I wish I could make it better, easier for him somehow. Both of them.”

Ayla’s eyes met Leina’s. She was just watching the two men, too. Then she stood. “If you’ll excuse me, I think… I think Emerson Riordan and I seriously need to have atalk.”

She walked outside, just like that. Ayla looked at Kyra. “What is that all about?”

“Emerson and Leina grew up together. And… we all have our ghosts from our pasts. They’ll work it out,” Kyra said. Then, right before Ayla’s eyes she paled, and stiffened.

Her hands went to her stomach, instantly. “Oh. Well. That’s… early. Far too early.”

“Kyra—” Celia started, standing. She passed her daughter over to Ayla. Ayla just cuddled the baby girl in her arms, as Aubrey sat up quickly. Guthrie and Chad were nowhere to be seen.

And neither was the woman’s husband or her brother.

“I think someone better go find Camden Lake. His son’s about to make his appearance now,” Celia said, helping her sister-in-law stand. Ayla saw the woman’s wet pants then. Well,okay.“And hurry.”

Aubrey was there, going into doctor mode immediately. “How many weeks are you?”

“Thirty-six weeks. I’ve had… complications. From… previous injuries,” Kyra said. Her face was bunched up. It was obvious she was in pain. Then she just… relaxed. “No false labor, though. Not this time.”

“Let’s get you to the ER,” Aubrey said, so calmly. “We’ll get you taken care of. Dr. Lewis is on tonight, I think. He’s a wonderful OB.”

“Dr. Lewis deliveredme,” Kyra said. “And Jake.”

“Full circle, then,” Aubrey stepped back, when people came running in. Her sister didn’t likecrowds,one bit.

Kyra’s husband was there, with Guthrie. Just like that, Cam scooped her up and held her close.

Ayla could actuallyseethe love between them.

Thatwas exactly what she wanted for herself someday. And to be honest, she didn’t care if it was far sooner than what she had planned.

And there was only one man she really could see having that with.

Cam Lake wasthe father of an eight-pound, fourteen-ounce, beautiful babygirlwithin six hours of Greer rushing out on the patio to tell him, Emerson, and Leina that Kyra Lake had gone into labor. Jake had called the ranch and given everyone an update, after the baby was born. It turned into an extended celebration. All of Cam’s family had headed toward the hospital, to wait, just minutes after Cam had driven off with his wife. Kyra’s father had taken their daughter to the hospital an hour before her sister had been born.

Everyone had been convinced from ultrasound photos that the baby was a boy. But… even with technology what it was, God had a way of makingsurprises.

Caia Faith Lake was one of God’s surprises, one of His miracles. Gunn knew what Kyra Lake had suffered at the hands of monsters. And now, she and her husband had two beautiful baby girls under the age of fifteen months. When… there had been no hope before, now… there was.

It made a manthink.

Gunn had been elected to drive Ronnie to the hospital, to sit with her family, after she had tucked the twins and her four older girls in for the night. She’d leftsupplieswith George, and told him she would be back to the ranch when she could. That, with his sisters around, he should be just fine with two babies. George’s arm was still in a sling—he’d probably need all the help he could get.

The Lakes were as close as the Hillers. He had long known that. Things were a bit strained with Ronnie’s parents and their children—the abduction of Ronnie’s sister Celia when she’d been twelve had changed their relationship with their remainingchildren forever, but they were still working through that. Building something now. It would just take time.

He had counseled Ronnie’s parents several times before. Tohelp.

He would stay at the hospital, until it was time to drive his sister-in-law back to the ranch. And in the meantime, there was a vending machine in the cafeteria.

Gunn had had just settled in with a package of slightly stale cookies and a bottle of milk, when Kyra and Cam’s friend sat down across from him.

Gunn just studied her for a moment.

This woman haunted Emerson. There really wasn’t any denying that.

---