Page 107 of The Enchanted Land

“Good morning,” she murmured.

Gordon’s face broke into a wide grin and he looked at Adam. “Good morning. You sure are a lucky man, Adam. I’d like to crawl in bed with your mama some morning.”

Morgan gaped at Gordon. Never had he said anything like that to her before.

As Gordon turned to leave, Adam in his arms, he smiled back at her. “You really should close your mouth, Morgan, beautiful though it is.”

By the time Morgan was dressed, Gordon had dressed Adam, packed some bread and cheese, and left the house. She ate breakfast alone, trying not to remember that Seth was somewhere on the ranch.

“Hey! Gordon’s bringing Adam today!” Seth heard the men yelling in the bunkhouse. Well, she certainly has picked a popular man this time, he thought. As the men all left through one door, Seth quietly made his way to the other door. He wanted to postpone meeting Morgan’s new lover as long as possible. His horse shied away from him when he angrily tossed the heavy saddle onto its back. Of course, she had every right to take on a new lover, after the way he’d treated her.

But she was his wife!

Whoever this Adam was, he was going to have to fight Seth for Morgan’s love and Seth meant to fight any way he could.

“Dave, are you in here?”

Seth didn’t want to talk to Gordon. Probably wants me to shake the bastard’s hand. If he’s a pretty little fop, I may put my fist through his face. Even if he’s twice as big as I am, I may try to do it anyway.

“Dave! There you are. There’s someone I want you to meet. This is therealboss of the Three Crowns. This man’s word is law.”

Now I know I’m going to hit him, Seth thought. Slowly he turned, jaw clenched. He saw only Gordon.

“Adam.” Gordon looked down and then behind him. He laughed, turned, and picked the boy up. “This is Adam Colter. Like I say, he’s the real boss of this ranch. Adam, this is Dave Blake.”

Gordon looked from one to the other. Neither spoke. Man and child stared at one another with an incredible intensity.

Gordon had never seen Adam be still so long, or be so solemn. Then Gordon saw the resemblance. No wonder Morgan thought this man looked like the boy’s father. They both had the same shade of blue eyes, the same wavy hair, though Adam’s was honey blond while Dave’s was darker. Adam would someday be as large a man as Dave Blake.

“Morgan’s right.”

Without moving his eyes from Adam’s piercing stare, Seth asked, “About what?”

“Well, Morgan said you resembled the boy’s father. You two could easily pass for father and son.”

Seth looked at Gordon and grinned, showing dimples like Adam’s. “Is that so? Well, I’ve taken a real liking to this boy. Do you mind?” He held out his arms to Adam.

“No, not at all, but he won’t usually leave me. We’re pretty good pals.”

Adam fell into his father’s arms with no hesitation. Seth held the boy, running his hands over his arms and legs, over the back of his head. He smiled at the boy and Adam returned a mirror-image smile.

“Yes, sir, I do like this boy.”

Gordon straightened his shoulders. “Well, we need to get to work.” His voice was cool. Don’t be silly, he told himself. Maybe Adam just feels a kinship with the man because they look alike. It doesn’t mean anything. He tried to calm himself. He turned to saddle his own horse, and another beast felt the brunt of someone’s anger.

Seth carried Adam into the morning sunlight. “Well, son, you are certainly a surprise. And you’re one more reason why I have to get your mother back. It’s not going to be an easy task.”

Adam smiled up at his father and put out a hand to touch his cheek. “Horse.”

Seth returned the smile and kissed the small hand, so like his own. “No, son, I’m not a horse. Less sense than one sometimes, but I’m what is known as a daddy. Can you say ‘Daddy’?”

“Da da.” Adam laughed delightedly, always happy saying new words.

“That’s close enough.”

Gordon came to stand by them. “Adam, are you ready to get on the horse?”

Adam smiled at his friend, content with Seth. He made no move to go to Gordon. “Da da.”

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