Flynn(4)

He pulled out some more paperwork. “In fact, I’ve done a background search on Mr. Malone. He runs a ranch just outside of Timber Creek, Montana with a Rory Malone, who I assume is a father or brother. And his daughter’s name is Emily Ann.”

Emily Ann. She liked both those names. Yes, they were something she would have picked for her baby.

Her baby, a girl named Emily. She felt happier knowing just those simple facts.

“Anything else you can tell me?”

“Not much. He’s never been in any sort of trouble. He’s registered to vote, has a driver’s license, not been picked up for even speeding, and owns two guns—which I wouldn’t think is atypical for a rancher. Besides that, there’s not much I can tell you.”

“I want to thank you for what you have found. This is a great start for me.”

“You were paying me and I was just doing my job. Only wish I had something more to tell you.”

“It’s enough. I mean I know where to go to meet my daughter now.”

He leaned back on the chair. “I know this is none of my business but I’ve done this more times than I can remember; found a child someone gave up for adoption and well, 99 percent of the time, it never ends happily. One of the people involved ends up getting hurt and things are never the same not just for that one person, but everyone involved, including the child. So can I suggest you sit and have a good think about what you’re about to do before you rush off to Montana?”

Natalie nodded. She knew that, but she’d made a promise. They were meant to be kept and now she knew Emily Ann was out there and where she was, she was going to say hello to her daughter.





Chapter Three



Flynn checked his watch for the third time in less than a minute, hoping the delivery of the new calf would soon be over. Normally, he or Rory played midwife, but this baby was refusing to come into the world without some expert help, and they’d had to call in the vet.

If the calf, or at least the vet, didn’t hurry things along, he’d be late collecting Emily from his mom’s café. He’d promised her they’d then go shopping for groceries so she could make cupcakes for Shane’s upcoming fundraising event.

“Here it comes,” the vet finally announced.

Flynn watched the calf exit its mother’s body and fall onto the straw underneath her hind legs.

“It’s a girl,” said Dr. Moore.

Emily would be pleased because Flynn had told her she’d be in charge of this one. She’d already named it Sharon, assuring her father she knew the cow was having a daughter. He guessed she’d been right.

“She okay?” asked Flynn.

“Looks fine to me, guess she thought she’d stay somewhere safe and warm just a little longer, and hence didn’t want to leave her mother.”

Flynn couldn’t blame her. This morning had been a cold one, and even he’d been reluctant to get out of bed.

“I have to go and collect Emily, and I’m already running late. Can I leave you to finish up here and then send us the bill?”

“Sure thing, and tell her hello.”

“I will.”

Flynn changed into his clean boots and walked toward his truck. He turned on the ignition and cranked up the heat. He backed out of the driveway and headed down the road onto the main country road that would take him into the town of Timber Creek. He glanced up at the sky. It had been brilliant sunshine until about an hour ago, but now it was dark and dreary. If he was any judge, it was going to snow soon. He glanced at the clock in the truck, realizing that his watch had been slow. Damn thing probably needed a new battery. Now he was really was late collecting Emily. He put his foot down on the gas pedal hoping Shane or his deputies weren’t around to give him a ticket.

Flynn turned onto Main Street wondering if Emily had gotten herself into a panic thinking something had happened to him. He hoped not because she could work herself into quite a state, and it usually took hours to calm her down. Right now he was tired, and after a quick trip to the grocery store, he just wanted to head home, eat, and then sit in front of the fire and relax. He turned the corner and then made his way into the café’s parking lot. He rushed inside and to his delight Emily was simply helping her grandmother bag some cookies for a customer.

“Hi daddy.” She smiled at him. Luckily his mother had kept her occupied so she hadn’t noticed his tardiness.

“Hi honey. The new calf finally arrived.”

“Sharon’s here?” said Emily.

“Sure is, and you were right about her being a girl.”

“Well, that’s a lucky thing for her or he’d be stuck with a girl’s name,” said his mother. “Okay Emily, you grab your coat and run along with your dad.”