Free Baby's First Homecoming by Cathy McDavid Page B

caretaker, and Clay being her boss, it would be a perfect job for her. Flexible hours, lots of customer contact and a variety of duties, some easy, some challenging.
    “Then there’s the mustang sanctuary,” he said. “We’re moving it from your family’s ranch to here. I’m donating the pasture space, water and any feed and medical care above and beyond donations. Your brothers will still supervise the training. I’d like to organize a wild-horse auction to raise awareness and, hopefully, money. We’re running low. I’d also like to investigate any potential government grants. You could be in charge of that.”
    “What about Sage?”
    Sierra’s future sister-in-law had founded the sanctuary shortly after Prince’s capture in order to place formerly unadoptable feral horses in good homes. It was her hobby and her passion.
    “Between the wedding, her full-time job and the baby due this summer, she’s had to step down. You’d make an excellent replacement.”
    Clay couldn’t be holding a more tempting carrot in front of Sierra. Part of her former job had been planning client-appreciation luncheons, annual charity campaigns and employee retreats. She’d not only enjoyed the work, she’d shown a real knack for it.
    “Babies are time-consuming,” she agreed, thinking of those four-plus hours a day she’d be away from Jamie.
    She didn’t trust anyone to watch him, with the exception of her family, and they were far too busy with their own lives and livelihoods for her to ask such a huge favor.
    Better she decline Clay’s offer and find a job she could do from home. Then, once she’d saved enough money, she could locate her own place—and be miserably alone on the days Clay had Jamie.
    Unless she moved into the casita.
    Resentment, a frequent companion recently, built inside her. Clay had done nothing. Nothing more, anyway, than offer her a charming place to live and a great job. Yet she felt pressured again.
    “Is there a sink where I can wash this?” She rose from the chair, Jamie in one arm, the empty oatmeal bowl in her free hand.
    “I’ll take care of it.”
    “You sure?”
    “I can wash dishes.” He flashed that disarming smile again. “In fact, I do it pretty regularly.”
    One good quality didn’t cancel out all the bad ones.
    “Clay…about the job. I appreciate the offer, but I have to say no.”
    “Why?”
    She shifted Jamie to her other hip. “I need something I can do from home. So Jamie doesn’t have to be left with a sitter or in day care. He’s had so many disruptions these last few weeks, one more is just too much.”
    “Day care?” Clay stood up as well and came out from behind the desk. “I thought you understood.”
    “Understood what?”
    “You can bring Jamie with you to work.” He gestured to the corner. “Put a playpen over there. One of those bouncy-chair things. I don’t care. This isn’t exactly a professional office.”
    She stared blankly at him. “I can bring Jamie to work with me?”
    “I told you that, didn’t I?”
    If he had, she hadn’t heard him.
    Clay moved closer, and Jamie reached for him. “I’d like it if you brought him. That way, I get to see him even more.”
    Another attempt to control her, or was he just being thoughtful and considerate?
    Sierra wished she knew. Maybe then making a decision wouldn’t be so hard.

Chapter Six
    “He’s forcing you,” Gavin insisted, “and he has no right!”
    Sierra loved that her brother was sticking up for her. She’d half expected him to support Clay, considering how traditional Gavin could be in his thinking and his past experience with Cassie’s mother. Because of his ex, Gavin had missed out on most of Cassie’s childhood and wouldn’t wish the same on any father.
    But he was also Sierra’s big brother and for him blood was thicker than water.
    “I don’t know if he’s forcing her as much as sweetening the pot.” Ethan sat back, taking a sip of his coffee. While he was also concerned