Free The Secret Truth at Dare Ranch by Cheryl Gorman Page B

bit. She put her thumb and index finger together
then moved her hand in an upward motion to illustrate how they were
administered.
    He
scowled at her. "I know what to do with a--with one of those things."
    Lexie
arched a brow. "Really. Did you know that children Dani’s age can’t do it
by themselves? They need help."
    He
cleared his throat and straightened his shoulders. "Sure. I knew that. I
could"--he gestured toward Dani--"help if I had to."
    Lexie
started laughing and shook her head. "Please. You’d probably faint."
    "Don’t
bet on it. I’ve never fainted in--"
    Lexie
heard the doorbell ring then the sound of her ranch foreman’s voice. "Lexie!"
he called from downstairs.
    She
looked at Mitch. "Stay with her for a minute.” She looked down at Dani. "I’ll
be right back, sweetheart. Okay?"
    Dani
nodded. "Promise?"
    "I
promise."
    It
didn’t take long for her to find out the bad news. Some of her cows had broken
through the fence again and wandered onto the side of the road. Her foreman
needed help getting them back in and temporarily repairing the fence line. Of
course, he didn't really want her help. He'd asked for Mitch
specifically.
    Lexie
stepped into Dani’s bedroom and found her crying with Mitch attempting to calm
her. "The cows have gotten out again. Would you mind helping Skinny round
them up?"
    He
looked at her with relief covering his face that she had returned. Then he gazed
at his daughter and his eyes filled with concern. He brushed Dani’s hair back
from her face. "It’s okay, baby, daddy’s here.” Mitch threw Lexie an
inquiring look. "You go. Let me stay with Dani."
    Lexie
flicked her gaze to Dani then back at Mitch. He was out of his mind. "I
can’t do that. I’ve never left her when she’s sick. Besides, you have no idea
what to do."
    "I’ll
figure it out," he said with assurance. "Please, Lexie."
    "Mommy,
I want my mommy," Dani cried.
    Lexie
leaned over Dani and touched her cheek. "I’m here, honey, I’m here."
    Mitch
laid his warm palm on Lexie's shoulder until she looked up at him. "Please.
Give me this chance. I can take care of our daughter. It won’t take you that
long and it’ll give me some time with Dani. I need her and you to trust
me."
    How
could she do this? How could she leave Dani and allow Mitch to care for her? She
had always taken care of everything and everyone by herself. Now, Mitch was
asking her to trust him. How could she? She gazed down at Dani.
    Dani
shook her head. "No, Mommy, you stay."
    Her
voice sounded small and weak. Mitch held Dani’s face gently between his hands
and turned her head so that she looked directly at him. "Dani, I know how
to do a lot of things except take care of a little girl," he said softly. "I’ve
never done it before and I need you to teach me how. You see, I need to prove
to your mommy that I can."
    He
raised his eyes briefly and gave Lexie a give-me-a-chance-just-this-once look before
returning his gaze to Dani.
    Dani
blinked and stared at him in surprise. "You do?"
    Mitch
nodded. "Yes, will you show me what to do until your mommy comes back? Please."
    Dani
turned her head and looked at Lexie. She raised her small hand and wiped away
her tears. Her lower lip trembled when she said, "It’s okay, Mommy. Daddy
needs me to help him."
    Lexie
fought back tears. Oh God, her little girl was growing up only why did it have
to be tonight? She swallowed and exhaled a deep breath. "Are you sure?"
    Dani
nodded.
    Lexie
looked at Mitch. She hoped she was doing the right thing. She leaned over and
gave Dani a light kiss on the forehead. "I’ll be back as soon as I can."
    # # #
Mitch heard the front door close
followed by the sound of footsteps. Lexie came to a halt in the door of Dani’s
room. She slipped off her boots and padded to the side of the bed. "How is
she?"
         "Fine," he said quietly. He lay on
the bed beside Dani and held her close in his arms. She’d snuggled her head
beneath his chin and her soft breath wafted against his