Page 96 of The Cattleman's Unforgettable Love

Once she and Cash were back at work tomorrow, she was going to thank him for telling Ford that he could come here. From the way they'd both acted, and just from the atmosphere with the family when she and Ford left, she knew that this was an even bigger deal than she understood.

She wanted to ask them both about it, but she figured they'd tell her as much as they wanted her to know. In the meantime, she was focused on the conversation ahead of her.

She jumped nervously when Ford rested his hand on her shoulder.

"Sorry, Lil’ Bit. Are you okay?"

She smiled up at him. "I am. And I'm sorry. I didn't mean to jump like that."

"I know you're nervous. It's okay. I just wanted to ask if you want to talk about it while you wait. It might make the time go by faster. Or do you want me to stay quiet and stay out of the way? Let you think."

She covered his hand with her own. "I'd like to talk about it, but I don't know what to say. I don't know who he is. I don't know what he wants." She frowned and clicked around the various windows of programs she had waiting to run. She was determined to get a full read this time. If Hunter really was a kid using a computer at home, then by the time they'd finished talking, she intended to know not just his home address but which room of the house he was in.

Ford pulled up a chair beside her. "What do you think he might want?"

She shrugged. "I have no idea." She closed her eyes briefly. "I've been thinking some crazy thoughts."

Ford leaned back in his chair. "What kind of crazy?"

She shook her head. "I've been pushing them away. I've been trying not to think about it all week, as I think you're aware. But what if he's...?" She shook her head. There was no way.

"What if he's what?" Ford asked gently.

"I told you, it's a crazy thought."

"So why don't you run it by me?"

"Okay. Maybe you can help me clear my head a bit before he comes online." She glanced at the screen again. "If he even does. I've been thinking... but no." She shook her head. "It isn't possible. He couldn't be."

"Couldn't be what?" Ford asked.

She blew out a sigh. "I hadn't seen Danny for almost five years when he died. He and Crystal had been together for a little while. I met her. She seemed sweet enough. But they were both addicts. I couldn't save him when it was just him. There was no way I could save them both."

Ford rested his hand on her leg. "You can't blame yourself."

She gave him a sad smile. "I can, and I do, even though I know it wasn't my responsibility."

"So go on," he encouraged. "What's this crazy thought?"

"He could be Danny's son," she blurted out. "I know it must sound crazy. It feels crazy to even think it. I mean, Danny didn't hate me. He would have told me if he'd had a kid – wouldn't he?"

To her surprise, Ford didn't look shocked. If anything, he looked kind of … understanding.

"Maybe – maybe not. If he and Crystal were still using, maybe he didn't want to tell you until he got clean. Maybe he thought..."

She shook her head adamantly. "I would never have tried to take his kid away from him. And he knew that." She stopped short. "At least, I hope he would have known." She covered her face with her hands. "What am I even doing to myself? I shouldn't be going down this road. I should be preparing myself for this to be something else. It's more likely that this is someone who has a grudge against me and who's dug into my past and wants to use my dead brother against me somehow."

Ford met her gaze. "And you think they'd impersonate a kid to do that?"

"I don't know. I have no idea." He took her hand and gave it a squeeze. "What do you think?" she asked.

"Do you really want to know?"

"I wouldn't have asked if I didn't."

He gave her a small smile. "Yeah, sorry." He gripped her hand a little tighter. "Honestly? I think you're right. I didn't want to bring it up in case I'm wrong, and I didn't think the idea had even occurred to you, but to me, it makes sense. I think he could be Danny's child."

Amelia closed her eyes again. "If he is, I just lost a week. I didn't want to let my mind go near this until I could talk to him again. But..." She sat up straighter and her hands flew to the keyboard when a beep announced that she had a new message on the TangentOps forum.

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