Free Hour of Need (Scarlet Falls) by Melinda Leigh

remembers you, Major.” The woman offered a hand. In her other, she held an infant car seat with a baby strapped inside. A tiny face peered out from under a thick pink blanket. “I’m Dee Willis from child services.”
    Balancing Carson in one arm, Grant shook her hand. Carson was clinging so tightly, Grant could have let go and the boy wouldn’t have fallen. But he would never do that.
    He took the car seat, the responsibility of two children loading him down far more than their combined weight.
    “Let me get the rest of their things.” The social worker returned to her car.
    Grant led the way inside, Carson still wrapped tightly around him. AnnaBelle spit out the backpack, then pranced and whined around Grant’s legs as he led the way back to the kitchen. He set the baby seat on the floor next to the kitchen table. AnnaBelle gave her a happy sniff and rose on her hind legs to paw at Carson. Crouching down, Grant let the dog give the kid a solid slurp. The boy’s grip loosened, and he reached out one hand to stroke the golden head.
    Mrs. Willis set a small suitcase on the floor and a tote bag on the kitchen table. She was frowning at the dog. “There’s enough formula and diapers in the bag for a few days, but she’s a bit colicky.”
    “Colicky?”
    “She cries at night.”
    “Oh.” Grant wrote all of the baby feeding information down on a notepad by the phone.
    She fixed Grant with a doubtful look. “I wouldn’t let the dog get too close to the baby. Have you ever cared for an infant, Major? Because the foster family informed me that this baby is a challenge, even for an experienced caregiver.”
    “Yes.” Technically, he’d only babysat Carson a few times each year during his annual visit, but she didn’t need to know that. He gave her a level stare.
    “Can you change a diaper?”
    “Yes.”
    Her brow wrinkled as if she didn’t share his confidence.
    “If it’s too much for you, the children can always go back into foster care,” she said, and he decided he didn’t like her very much.
    Carson’s grip tensed, the bony arm around Grant’s throat pressing against his windpipe and threatening to strangle him. This was not the time to have this discussion, not with a terrified kid within earshot. Carson needed the same confidence in Grant’s abilities as the troops he’d led into enemy territory.
    “Ma’am, I’ve cleared buildings in a-hundred-and-thirty-degree heat wearing seventy pounds of body armor. Faith is a baby, not an IED. I assure you. We will be fine.” He wasn’t worried about feeding the kids or changing diapers. Those were tasks. Tasks were learned, but the emotional and psychological aspects of caring for two orphans terrified him. How did he talk to Carson about his parents’ deaths? “My sister will be here tomorrow, and I’m expecting to hear from my brother any time.”
    “All right, then.” She placed a business card on the table. “Call me if you need anything. We’ll need to have a discussion about permanent arrangements for the children.”
    “Thank you.” He showed the insensitive bitch out, with Carson clinging to him as if they were neck-deep in floodwaters.
    Returning to the kitchen, he sat down. Carson’s legs were wrapped around his waist. They sat in the quiet kitchen for a few minutes. What should he say to the kid? Faith made a fussy sound, breaking the silence.
    “You hungry?” Grant asked Carson. “Sounds like Faith might be.”
    Carson shook his head.
    “I guess it’s time I figured out how to feed your sister.”
    Carson gave him a squeeze, then climbed off his lap. God, he was small, all bony arms and legs. His sad blue eyes peered out from under a shock of straight blond hair and freckles.
    “ Can you feed her?” Carson’s look was more hopeful than doubtful.
    “I’ll get the hang of it,” Grant bluffed. How hard could it be?
    With a serious nod, the boy went to the tote bag and pulled out a bottle. “You put the powder in here.