Legacy (Steel Brothers Saga #14) - Helen Hardt Page 0,46

succumbed to a heart attack a month before little Joe’s birth.

Now Brad—my sweet husband—owned the Steel ranch.

All of it.

George’s legacy was now Brad’s legacy.

The doorbell rang. I stood, ready to place little Joe in his bassinet, but Mazie was already sailing toward the door. “Sit down, dear. I’ll get that.”

Happy to keep my child in my arms a little longer, I sat.

A few minutes later, Mazie bustled back to the family room. “Visitors!”

I smiled. Patty and Ennis descended the small stairway into the family room. They were still together and happy.

“Daph!” Patty exclaimed. “Let me see that baby!”

“He’s right here,” I said. “Shouldn’t you guys be knee-deep in finals right now?”

“We both got done early,” Patty said, “and we couldn’t wait to come visit.”

“All my finals but one were papers,” Ennis added, “and Pat here said if I didn’t get them in early so we could come see you, she’d never forgive me.”

Patty swatted him. “I didn’t say that. You did.”

Ennis laughed. “Either way, we both wanted to see you and your new addition. He’s gorgeous, love.”

“I’m sure I’m biased,” I said, “but I think he’s the most beautiful baby ever born.”

Patty sighed and sat down next to me on the arm of my chair. “I’ve missed you so much. I was so bummed when you and Brad didn’t come back to school after the wedding.”

“I know. I was too.” I kissed little Joe’s forehead. “But Brad was needed here, and my place is with him.”

“Do you think you’ll go back to college someday?” she asked.

“I plan to. Eventually. Right now I could never leave Jonah.”

“A beautiful name,” she said.

“Thanks. I like it. It means dove. I called him little dove while I was carrying him.”

“It’s a shame Brad couldn’t finish his last year,” Ennis said.

“He did finish,” I told them. “He made arrangements to complete his senior year by mail.”

“You can do that?” Ennis asked.

“Apparently,” I said, “when you’re a Steel.”

“Why didn’t you finish that way?”

“I could have, but I declined. After the wedding, I had some…health issues.”

“Oh?” Patty said. “And you didn’t tell me?”

“I didn’t want to worry you guys,” I said. “I’m fine. The pregnancy was difficult, though. When the nausea finally ended, I had other issues and ended up on bed rest. I didn’t think I could do my best at school being so tired all the time.”

It was the truth but only a half truth. The real truth was that I’d lost some time during the pregnancy. I’d had every intention of keeping up with my studies, once Brad and George arranged for the mail option, but my mind went kind of berserk a few times. The episodes didn’t last long, and the doctor wasn’t overly concerned. He said hormones did funny things to your brain. He called it pregnancy brain.

I knew it was something more, though.

This particular doctor didn’t know about my past, and I kept it that way.

“I’d do it again in a heartbeat,” I said truthfully, “but I can’t deny I’m glad it’s over. During the morning sickness phase, I wasn’t sure I’d ever get my appetite back, but it’s here with a vengeance now that I’m nursing.”

“Oh, I bet,” Patty said. “You should see how much we have to feed the pigs after they’ve had a litter.”

I burst into laughter.

God, it felt good to laugh. Yeah, Patty had just compared me to a sow nursing a litter, but damned if it wasn’t a riot.

A door opened and closed upstairs, and then cowboy boots clomped on the tile of the kitchen floor.

“Must be Brad,” I said. “We’re down here, honey!”

Brad descended the staircase, clad in a suit and tie.

Funny. Since George had passed, Brad wore a tie almost every day. He spent a lot of time in Grand Junction and also drove to Denver at least once a week on business. I was lucky he’d been in town when I went into labor with little Joe.

“Look who came to visit.” I gestured to Patty and Ennis.

“Nice job, Steel,” Ennis said. “He’s a beautiful boy.”

Brad smiled and shook Ennis’s hand. They were friends now, despite the punch to the jaw Brad had given Ennis the first week of college last fall.

Patty gave Brad a hug. “I couldn’t be happier for both of you.”

“Thanks. I’m sorry I can’t be a better host, but I’ve got a phone call”—he checked his watch—“in five minutes, and I need to go over some papers.”

“It’s okay,” Patty said. “We’re staying for a few days. We got a room