before, but that didn’t mean she wouldn’t do the right thing.
He perked up. “I’m not asking you to stay and care for me—I got no right.” The beeps grew closer together.
Faith glanced at the machine. “Dad, families look out for one another.” She pushed off the bed and started to pace. “What if we attempted to be a normal family for once?”
“There’s no such thing as normal families,” Dad groused.
Faith threw her arms in the air. “Oh, you’ll let the Nichollases feed you but you won’t ask me for help?” A low growl escaped her lips. He was so stubborn.
“If you’re so in love with the Nichollases, then why don’t you join their family and I’ll do whatever I darn well please?” He folded his arms and huffed.
Faith marched over to the bed and barely refrained from poking the old man. “I didn’t ask to be your daughter, but God gave me to you.” Her hands balled into fists. “Remind me to thank Him for that one, because you’ve been a real peach to work with.”
Dad’s arms slowly lowered to his sides. He took a deep, shuddering breath. “I’ve been a horrible father. Part of me wants to run away from all that forever and pretend that I didn’t fail.” He dropped his chin. “I don’t think that’s an option. God knows, and He doesn’t forget. I wish I was different—for you and for Him.”
Faith slowly sank to the bed. “A part of me might always be angry at you for what you missed. But another part doesn’t want you to miss anything else.”
He lifted his eyes to meet hers. “We’re a mess, baby girl. And it’s my fault.”
“Then be the one to fix it.”
He brushed her hand. “I can try, but I’m not good at this stuff.”
“That’s okay. I’m good at telling people what to do. You just have to listen. I’ll stay through Christmas and help with the clinic—your patients shouldn’t go without care.”
He hummed in agreement. “I hope you don’t regret this.”
Her heart squeezed. Letting her dad back in after all these years wasn’t going to be easy. “Me too.”
She patted his hand and smiled. Committing to stay for a month. It also meant that she’d see Caleb and his family more. She wasn’t sure how she felt about that—or about any of this, really. If someone had asked her two weeks ago if she wanted her life to change, she would have said no way. She had it good right where she was. Maybe that was why God decided to shake things up. It seemed like He never wanted her to be too comfortable.
Maybe that was the whole point of introducing her to Caleb. He certainly took her out of her comfort zone so fast it made her stomach swoop and her heart flutter.
She liked that he’d stuck up for her to her dad. What had he said—“you underestimate her Christmas spirit”? Something like that. A strange thing to value, but in the reindeer business, Christmas was a big deal.
She wanted to ask Dad about the strange happenings at the ranch, but his eyes were half-shut and his breathing steady; give him another couple minutes and he’d be fast asleep.
She’d have to wait for another time. Hopefully, she’d get everything sorted before Christmas and have her life on track before January 1st. Then she could leave the reindeer and the handsome wrangler behind.
Chapter 8
Caleb
Caleb hopped off the back of the flatbed truck where he’d stood to count heads and watch for sick animals to join Pax in the cab. He put his hands in front of the heater vents and allowed the warm air to thaw out his fingers. The afternoon herd check had gone well, thank goodness. With Dunder sick, an air of desperation to make sure the other animals were safe made him anxious.
Pax didn’t have to come out with him since it wasn’t his turn, but he was the workaholic of the bunch, never going to sleep until every drop of daylight was used up and every task crossed off his list. He thrived on getting a job done and making sure this place ran like a machine.
His phone rang. “Hey, Princess.” He used Stella’s least-preferred nickname as he answered the phone.
“Your crazy reindeer just flew off into the wilds of Yellowstone National Park.” She threw the information at him with as much of an accusation as a plea for help.
He ripped off his hat and threw it on the dash, startling Pax.