Ever the gentleman, Dan walked his blind date to Holt’s front door, where she shivered as she rummaged through her purse for her keys. “Want to come in for a cup of coffee?”

Dan could easily hear the unspoken, “and more?” in her words, and he barely contained a scowl. Cherie had done nothing wrong and ordinarily he would have jumped at the opportunity. She was beautiful, had curves in all the right places, and had all but been dropped in his lap. Part of him thought he was crazy for just dropping her off at Holt’s front door.

“Thank you, but I should get home,” he told her, trying to let her down gently. “I had fun tonight.”

“Me, too. Maybe I’ll see you again before I go home? I’m here until next weekend.”

“I’m going to be pretty busy, but we’ll see. If not, enjoy the rest of your time up here. At least it should warm up soon.”

She nodded, unable to mask her disappointment. “Thanks again for everything.” She turned and went inside.

Ten minutes later, Hannah came to meet him as he walked through his front door, and he scooped her up, her purring doing a lot to ease the immediate anger at his fellow officer for forcing him into the blind date he had neither asked for nor wanted.

“What am I doing?” he asked her as he carried her into the kitchen. He set her down and put a few treats on top of the food in her bowl.

“I know everyone was surprised when I got so angry at Holt for setting me up. I mean, anyone else would have jumped at this, and it’s not like I’m dating anyone.”

“Meow!” Hannah looked up from her eating and glared at him.

He sighed. “It’s not that simple, kitty.”

She gave him a look that clearly said she thought he was being an idiot and wandered away to her litter box.

He snorted as he grabbed a can of coke from his refrigerator and a bag of chips from the counter, taking them into the living room where he plopped down on the couch. His hand reached for his phone, but he picked up the remote instead, clicking through channels until he found something to halfway take his mind off of wondering what she was doing tonight.

His mood was only slightly improved when he showed up at the station on Monday morning and everyone seemed to instinctively stay out of his way. Mid-morning, Dell called him into his office and pushed a cup of coffee in his hands. “Wanna talk about it?”

“No.” He took the coffee and sat down in the chair across the desk. “You know I don’t like being forced into things. Holt had no right to put me over a barrel like that.”

“No, but it’s more than that, isn’t it? I would have thought you’d have jumped at the chance.”

“Really? You know I hate being forced into things, especially at the last minute.”

“Yes, but usually you get over it and have fun. You’re not usually stewing two days later.”

“This was different,” he admitted reluctantly.

“Tell me something I don’t know. I don’t know why, but obviously there’s something else bothering you. Ordinarily, this would be none of my business and I’d stay out of it, but there are a couple of extenuating factors here. One. It’s affecting morale. Two. Trixie heard all about it Saturday night.”

Dan swore. “No offense, but do you have any idea how glad I am that you’re the one stuck with her?”

“Glad to hear it, because I’d hate to have to fight you over her,” Dell chuckled. “But I think you have two options. You can either talk to me and I can assure her all is well, or you can talk to her about it. I honestly don’t care which, but she’s not going to leave either of us alone until you do.”

“Can’t you just tell her to drop it?”

“Dan. Think back to when you were in high school. How many times did I tell her to keep her nose out of something? It didn’t work then, and it works even less now.” He sighed. “Chloe’s teething and extremely cranky, so she’s not sleeping more than a couple of hours at a time right now. I try to help, but Trixie’s beyond frazzled and frustrated. She’s not sleeping any more than Chloe is, and she’s also trying to find a balance between home and work that doesn’t make her feel like she’s failing at both. To top it all off, I royally messed up last week and the case I wanted to prevent her worrying about literally came to a head in our own back yard. So no, I’m not going to tell her to drop it!”

“You do realize that as brash and brave as she is, she’s struggled with insecurities as long as I’ve known her? She comes across as self-assured, but deep down, she isn’t. Please tell me you’re not making it worse.”

“Not intentionally! The agency is doing better than ever, and trust me, I have no complaints at home. I’m doing what I can, Dan. But it would really help if you would go talk to her.”

“Boss or not, we’re going to have words if she tells me it’s your fault,” Dan warned, even grouchier than when he had come into the office.

“Well, technically, I suppose you could say Chloe is…”

“You know what I mean.”

“How about this. You talk to Trixie and I’ll talk to Holt when he comes back from vacation. Best offer you’ll get. Nobody wants this to escalate to where the chief gets involved.”

“Deal, but I reserve the right to have a go at Holt myself if he ever does this to me again.”

“Agreed.”

Dan sent a Trixie a quick text when he got back to his desk, and two hours later, they were sitting in the conference room at the agency with takeout from Wimpy’s. The two ate in relative silence, until Dan wadded up his burger wrapper and expertly lobbed it into the garbage can near the door.

“So I heard you want to talk to me.”

Trixie put the rest of her burger on the table and idly toyed with her straw wrapper for a moment before sighing. “You know, I remember a conversation a few years ago when you asked me something along the lines of ‘What do you think you’re doing?’ I’ve been waiting for the day I’d get to throw that back at you, but instead, I’m just going to ask, ‘Do you know what you’re doing?”

“No, I don’t. And while I know you’re going to make me talk about it, why don’t you tell me what’s up with you, first?” He softened his tone. “Heard you’ve been struggling with Chloe’s new sleep patterns.”

“That’s not helping. Don’t get me wrong. I love my daughters. Both of them. Chloe’s teething will eventually end, and I’ll get to sleep through the night again.” She held up a hand. “Before you say it, yes, Dell’s helping. Lack of sleep is part of why he was so short with everyone last week.”

“Glad to hear that. I may have threatened him.”

She rolled her eyes, but then her shoulders slumped. “This is all me, Dan. I was doing great up until about a month ago. Thought I was getting into the swing of things and doing okay at balancing motherhood and the agency. Then we had a conference at Erica’s school. I had no idea she’s actually almost done with the fifth grade math book. I knew she finished the fourth grade book and started on it, but not that she basically flew through the whole thing in three months. How could I not have known that? So then we had to figure out what to do for next year. It’s not fair to her to make her repeat an entire year of math, but Mrs. Franklin only teaches through fifth grade. Jim suggested either letting her skip fifth grade entirely and move on up to the middle school or just let her take math and science with the sixth graders. Academically, she’d be fine if she skipped the year, but maturity wise…”

“She’s trying to grow up too fast,” Dan finished.

Trixie nodded. “We’re worried about her losing the rest of her childhood too soon. So we took some time to think about it, and Dell even asked my dad for advice. Ultimately, we decided to have her move up for those two classes, but stay in elementary for everything else. Mrs. Franklin will help her if she needs it, and she’s thrilled, because she’ll still get to see Becky and Blake for part of the school day.”

“Sounds like a good solution.”

“It is, and the irony of her being a math whiz isn’t lost on me. And of course, Jim just had to make a smart aleck comment about it. I know he was trying to be funny and didn’t mean it the way I took it, but he’s always had impeccable timing for making those comments at the exact wrong moment.”

“Did he even realize how it sounded?”

“Of course not. Has he ever?” She rolled her eyes, then took a deep breath. “That’s all water under the bridge. We all know math was never my strong suit and well, Jim is Jim. But what kind of mother am I if I never even noticed she was that far ahead?”

“A human one? Did the captain know?

She shook her head. “No. According to Mrs. Franklin, she just kinda took off on her own initiative, and pretty much aced the whole thing.”

“Trixie, how much did you do without your parents knowing about it? I suspect there are things that you still hope they never find out about.”

“That’s for sure,” she admitted. “And I did have a good long talk with her that weekend. But then the weekend after…., uh, never mind. I told you, now start talking.”

“Nope. Spill it. What happened the next weekend?”

“We dropped the girls off at Dave and Jean’s and went to Aaron Cohen’s birthday party at the country club.”

“What happened?”

“I actually had fun for most of it. Aunt Alicia and Mr. Lytell were there, because of course they were. At any rate, she and I went to the restroom together after dinner. Two women I don’t really know came in. They had no idea we were in there, because it was obvious they were talking about me and Dell, even without naming names. Mentioned that one day I’ll realize he’s too old for me and leave him. The other one said no, that once the ‘twinkie’,” Trixie put finger quotes around the word “twinkie”, “starts aging, he’ll dump me and move on to the next pretty young thing.”

“You’re not a twinkie! And you know that would never happen.”

“I know,” she reassured him. Her frown turned into a brief grin. “But here’s the best part. Aunt Alicia opened her stall door and walked out. She totally twisted it around as though they were talking about her and Mr. Lytell. Told them she’s not a twinkie, but that she’s a tiramisu. Then she told them that even being a twinkie is better than being an old dried-up prune danish.”

Dan choked on the Coke he’d just swallowed. “Okay, that story alone made coming here worth it.”

“It was definitely one of her best comebacks. It’s just frustrating that people still don’t take us seriously. Don’t take me seriously. I mean, you know why I’m a twinkie? Twinkies are light and fluffy, but have no real substance.”

“Like I said, you’re not a twinkie. But does it really matter what other people think? Dell loves you. Your daughters love you. You love them all. Does anyone else’s opinion really matter?” He heard the words coming out of his own mouth and sighed. “When I asked you what you thought you were doing when I found out you two were dating, you told me you were following your heart. Forget Jim’s comment. Forget those old biddies at the party.” His eyes narrowed. “Who were they anyway?”

“Doesn’t matter. Pretty sure they’re still recovering from the burn Aunt Alicia gave them. Besides, you just told me to forget them.”

“Trixie…”

“Dan….”

He huffed, then remembered where he had been going with his leading. “Pretend Chloe has a nice full set of baby teeth and you’ve slept for a week. Has it all been worth it? Would you do it again?”

She didn’t have to hesitate. “Yes. All of it.”

Dan was silent for a moment. “You heard about the blind date.”

“More about your temper tantrum, but yeah. Well, and Jake’s astonishment at it. He was kinda hoping you’d have him take her out since you didn’t want to.”

“I should have let him,” he sighed. “You know that stage of a relationship where you don’t have a commitment, don’t know if the other person wants one, and you don’t know if there even is a relationship? And the last thing you want to do is talk about it to other people? Present company not excepted.”

“Too bad. And yeah. It was different for me and Dell, but you just described most of my time dating Jim.”

“Then you know it sucks.”

“Big time. Who is she? I know you and Wilhelmina were pretty close when she was here, and I kinda wondered if something might be starting there. I mean, beyond you taking her to the range.”

“That’s how it started. That’s all it was supposed to be. Once we got her over her nerves, she’s a way better shot than I’d expected her to be. That first time, we lost track of time and were there longer than I’d planned, so we stopped at my house so I could feed Hannah before I took her back to the Manor House. Hannah adored her on sight, and it was mutual. Wilhelmina’s face just lit up. Have you ever seen her smile? I mean, a relaxed, truly delighted smile?”

She shook her head. “No. There’s always been a bit of something else with it. Sadness, maybe. I get the feeling she hasn’t had too much to actually smile about.”

“I think I’d do almost anything to get that smile from her. At any rate, there was no way I was going to interrupt Hannah purring in her arms, and we wound up ordering a pizza and talking for hours. A couple of days later, we went back to the range, then I introduced her to Chuck Norris movies. One thing led to another, and well, you know. Now she’s gone, and I have no idea what I’m doing. I mean, we connected on a level that I’ve never had with anyone before. We just clicked.”

“Does she feel the same?”

“I think so, but who knows? We’ve talked or at least texted most days since she left, and she seems happy when we do. She’s caught up on several cases she put off while she was here, and then she was spending this past weekend with her college roommate. I almost called her when I got home Saturday night, but for all I know, her friend set her up with someone.”

“You won’t know until you ask.”

“But then what? It’s not that easy. There are so many things to consider.”

“Like what? If it’s her age, she’s one of those unlucky people who went gray in her early twenties. She’s only forty-two. That’s what? Fourteen years difference? That’s less than me and Dell.”

“It’s not that. Well, maybe a little, but only because I wanted a kid someday. Granted, that’s not a given with anyone.”

“You do realize that unless she has health issues I don’t know about, she probably still has a few years left before that’s an issue? I mean, Moms hasn’t really even started menopause yet, and she’s going to be forty-nine in August. Whether or not Wilhelmina wants kids may be another question, but given how she interacted with Chloe, I’d be surprised if she didn’t at least think about it. I’m just saying if she’s willing, it’s probably not impossible. Just don’t put it off forever. Sooner would be better than later.”

He was silent a moment. “I just told you it doesn’t matter what people say, but I don’t want her hurt by gossip, either. This is Sleepyside, after all.”

“Where there’s always going to be gossip. But she’s been here often enough and stayed long enough last time that she’s less of a curiosity. Don’t make your decision based on trying to protect her, Dan. That would be the worst thing you could do.”

“Let’s say this is mutual and I go for it. Is now the right time? Is she ready for a relationship? David’s only been gone three months, but he’s been dead for ten years, and they’d broken up before that. A part of me wonders if things happened the way they did only because it had been so long since she’d physically been with anyone.”

“Can you honestly deny that wasn’t part of it for you? You haven’t gone out with anyone more than twice since Kelly.”

“Honestly? No, I can’t, and I’d be lying if I said there wasn’t wine involved, but things progressed from there. What’s that saying? In wine, there is truth? It helped me see possibilities that I might not have otherwise seen. If that first time had been all it was, I wouldn’t be sitting here right now.”

“You’d be at the station bragging to Jake about your conquest the other night.”

“Nah. I wouldn’t risk it getting back to Holt and giving him the satisfaction of knowing I enjoyed the date.”

“So she really was all that?”

“For a short-term fling and I wasn’t hung on on someone else? She could have been. Long-term? Probably not. She lives in Texas, and if I’m going to have a long distance relationship, it has to be worth it, you know? I can spend two hours on the phone with Wilhelmina and it feels like two minutes. I don’t see that with Cherie.”

“But Wilhelmina’s worth it?”

“Yeah. She is.”

“Then that’s your answer. Call her. When you asked me what I thought I was doing when Dell and I started dating, I seem to remember telling you I was following my heart. Isn’t it time you do the same?”

“I just don’t want it broken.”

“I know there are no guarantees, but if my hunches are still worth anything, I don’t think it will be.”

“I’ve risked more than a broken heart on those hunches before,” he reminded her. “I’ll try. We’ll see what happens. No matter what, at least I’ll know I tried.”

He spent a few more minutes chatting with Trixie, greeted Honey when she came back from her own lunch, then headed back to the station.

After he got home that night, he fed Hannah, threw a frozen dinner in the microwave, and sent a text. “Call me? I miss you.”

The simple “I miss you” was the most direct he’d been so far, and he sighed. “Alright, Hannah. I’m going to try. I have to find out one way or another.”

It was about an hour before his phone rang, and the calico came running. She jumped into his lap and began to purr as he grabbed for it. “Hello?”

“Dan?”

Her voice was shaky and hesitant in a way it hadn’t been since she had first told them the story of her experiences in Pergamos. Dan’s heart clenched as he realized something was desperately wrong.

“Wilhelmina? What’s wrong?”

“I… I need to see you. Would you be up for company if I came out? I can stay at the Inn…”

“Or you’re welcome to stay with me. Whatever you’re most comfortable with. Do you need me to come out there? Where are you? At home or still at Noel’s?”

“I’m still at Noel’s, and no, you don’t have to come out. When are you off next?”

“Friday and Saturday. But I’m sure I could get leave if you need me. I could be there tomorrow.”

“That’s not necessary. I’ll see if I can get a flight out Friday, if that’s okay? But if you already have plans…”

“My only plans are to pick you up at the airport. Send me your flight information once you know it. And seriously. I can come out, or you can come sooner. I’m worried about you.”

“Dan. I swear it’s nothing that urgent. It can wait a few days and it’s not like I’m alone. Noel wants me to stay here until I fly out. I’m going to take her up on that.”

“Good. That makes me feel a little better.”

It was so little relief, though, that even though they had talked about other things and she had seemed more herself when he finally hung up, he eventually went to bed more tied up in knots than the previous two nights. The next morning, he stalked into the captain’s office. “Give me a case or put me on traffic duty. I need something that’s going to keep my mind off everything else and get me out of this station.”

“What’s going on?”

“I took your wife’s advice and tried to talk to Wilhelmina last night. Something’s wrong, and she won’t tell me what, nor does she want me to come out there. All I know is she wants to talk to me in person and I’m not getting anything else out of her until Friday, assuming she’s able to get a plane ticket. So fair warning about my day off. I’m going to ignore any calls that aren’t from her.”

“Shut the door and sit down.”

Dan complied, then sat down on the edge of the chair across from the captain’s desk.

“When did this department start revolving around your love life, or lack thereof?”

After Dan didn’t answer, Dell sighed. “Never mind. I’m just glad it’s not another suburban princess. So she wants to talk in person?”

He nodded. “Yeah.”

“Well, relax. No matter how many frequent flyer miles she’s racked up, I highly doubt she’d fly out here just to give you a ‘Dear Dan’ speech, especially since it sounds like you don’t even know if there’s actually a relationship there.”

“But there’s something wrong.”

“Maybe. Maybe not. One thing I’ve learned over the years is that ‘we need to talk’ can mean absolutely anything at all. Heather once told me we needed to talk and I spent the day freaking out only to find out she shrank one of my sweaters in the dryer. I didn’t even like the sweater.”

“And Trixie?”

Dell snorted. “Bad example. That spectrum ranges anywhere from ‘I want to hire a medium’ to ‘I found a murderer’ to ‘I forgot to thaw dinner, so we’re getting takeout.’ Although it was apparently good for you she hired that medium.”

Dan grinned despite himself. “Yeah. It was. Even though she prefers ‘psychic investigator.’ Apparently there’s a difference.”

“My point stands. There’s no telling what your psychic investigator wants to talk about. If she won’t tell you, she’s either playing games or she has a reason, and she doesn’t seem like the type to play games.”

“She’s not. I’ve certainly dated enough of those to recognize it.”

“So she has a reason. I’m going to suggest that you do some hard thinking over the next couple of days. What are you prepared to do if it’s something life altering? Say a terminal illness? Right now, you have no real commitment, so if you’re not ready for that, you need to tell her so you don’t get in over your head. Or maybe she picked up a living stalker that could put you in danger. Maybe she just decided to join the Peace Corps and wants one last romp with you before heading off to the jungle.”

“You’re not exactly helping, but yeah. I get your point.”

“Go ride with Nelson today. Still not too much going on, and it never hurts to keep an eye on the rookies. This slow spell won’t last forever and we’ll need you to have your head back in the game. But Dan? If you need advice or just want to talk? My door’s always open and you have my private cell number.”

Dan recognized a genuine offer and he smiled. “Thanks. I may take you up on that.”

The ride along with Tim helped slightly, but once at home with Hannah, his mind went back to his conversation with the captain and the various dire scenarios he had mentioned. The week passed slowly, with only occasional texts to keep him updated on her plans, and Friday morning found him at LaGuardia two hours before her red-eye flight was scheduled to land.

He was at the baggage claim for her gate cursing the restrictions that kept him from going any further when he finally saw her among the throng of passengers headed his way. She was wearing a red v-neck tunic with black slacks, and while the outfit would normally have been very flattering on her, the bright color emphasized the ashen tone of her face. He rushed to take her carry-on from her, then pulled her into his arms.

She momentarily relaxed into his embrace, squeezing tightly before she pulled away.

“Did you eat on the plane? Do you want to stop for coffee or breakfast? Red-eye flights can be rough.” He realized he was babbling, and took a deep breath. “Sorry. I’ve missed you, and I’ve been so worried.”

“I’ve missed you, too,” she told him. “And I didn’t want to make you worry, but I didn’t know how else to handle this. I couldn’t talk about it over the phone, and then I thought it would be best to wait until we got to Sleepyside, but now that I’m here… can we go somewhere to talk? Before I lose my nerve?”

“I’m sure we can find somewhere, just as soon as we get your luggage.”

“You have it. After being stuck in Wyoming once while my luggage went to California, I turned packing several days of clothing in a carry-on bag into an art form.”

“What did you do?”

“Conducted a seance dressed like a cowgirl.”

“Seriously?” he grinned despite his nerves. “I’d have loved to have seen that.”

“I think I still have that outfit somewhere in the back of my closet. The far back. I keep it just to remind myself how silly that whole thing was.”

“I’m sure you were cute.”

She flushed, bringing a little color back into her cheeks. “I doubt that.”

“I don’t. And I suspect you’re more familiar with this airport than I am. Any suggestions? We could always go somewhere outside the airport, but depending on just where, it would probably be easier to take the subway then come back for my car.”

“I always forget how bad New York traffic is. I usually just take the train, then rent a car when I get wherever it is that I’m actually headed.” She thought for a moment. “What if we head towards the parking ramp and see what we find? Even if it’s just a somewhat empty waiting area. If not, it could wait until we get back to your house, but…”

“But what?”.

“Never mind.”

“Now I really need to know,” he told her. “Whatever’s wrong, if I can help, I will. I hope you know that.”

She pulled him off the walkway to a mercifully deserted bank of hard plastic chairs. “Dan, I owe you an apology. I never dreamed you would worry this much, and by the time I realized it, it was too late. I really couldn’t tell you over the phone, and I’ve spent all week trying to figure out just how to say this. To lead up to it and break it to you gently. I still don’t know how the best way to tell you.”

“Just tell me. Please.”

“Ever since I left here, I’ve been thinking about a make-over. You know, refresh my wardrobe. New hairstyle. Go back to my original color and look my actual age for the first time since never. I know we made no promises, no commitment, but I had hoped that maybe since we were still talking that maybe I might actually have a chance with you.”

“You have every chance with me.”

She took a deep breath. “Wait, please? Last weekend, Noel and I went shopping in St. Louis. I made an appointment with her stylist for Monday. Sunday morning, she had to make an emergency run to the drugstore for pads for her daughter and I realized I hadn’t needed any since the week before I went to Pergamos. I’m not exactly regular, and I knew it wasn’t likely, but I wanted to be sure before I had my hair dyed. Just in case.”

Dan’s gaze flew to her hair, which despite being cut into a more flattering style was the same color he had always known her to have. “I don’t understand.”

Her lips quirked in a small smile. “Dan, I’m pregnant. Confirmed by half a dozen drugstore tests on Sunday, a doctor’s test on Monday, bloodwork, and even an ultrasound to make sure it’s growing where it’s supposed to. It’s only a tiny little speck at this point that I had to squint to see, but the doctor assured me it was normal for this early. I swear I didn’t plan this, and I’m not trying to trap you or force you into doing anything. Say the word and I’ll get back on that plane and you never have to see me again. I make decent money and I have savings. I won’t ask for support. You can forget you ever met me. We’ll be okay. I just… I just have to know what you want.”

Relief and shock as she began to speak were quickly replaced by anger and hurt as her heard her offer to leave. A sharp reply sprang to spring to his lips, and he would forevermore be thankful he saw the fear in her eyes before he found his voice. He took a deep breath and fought to speak evenly. “Is that what you want?”

“No. It’s not. But it’s not about me. It’s about you. It’s about a baby I never thought I’d have a chance to have. I don’t even know if you want kids, and my wild hopes aside, I know I’m not the kind of woman you really want. I need you to know I’m not trying to ruin your life.”

“Do you know what would ruin my life? You getting back on that plane. I’ve been miserable since you left. You know the kind of woman I want? Someone who won’t complain constantly about my movies and music or about sharing me with work. Someone I can talk to and laugh with. Someone who gets me. Someone to be a true companion. I know we haven’t really known each other that long, and there’s still a lot to learn about each other, but every part of me is screaming that that’s you.”

“Even now?”

“Especially now. I didn’t expect it this soon, but yeah, I do want a family. And I’d even started to hope it would be with you.”

He reached for her hands. “Come home with me? Please? I know we still have a lot to talk about and figure out, but can we do it together?”

Before she could answer, they heard voices in the distance and realized that a group of travelers was rapidly approaching. She smiled and squeezed his hands. “Together sounds good.”

A few days later, Dan slipped down to the stables while Wilhelmina was at the Manor House visiting with Madeleine Wheeler. His uncle was busy cleaning tack after a long morning exercising the horses, and Dan grabbed a rag and picked up a bridle. “Got a few minutes? I’ll help.”

“Sure. Haven’t seen you in a while. Work keeping you busy?”

“Among other things. I’ve decided to finally settle down.”

“With your cat?” Regan teased, grinning mischievously at his nephew.

Dan gently reached over and punched his arm. “No. Although she’s not going anywhere.”

“Please tell me you’re not back with Kelly.”

“Definitely not Kelly.”

“So…”

“Wilhelmina James.”

Regan dropped his polishing cloth. “No. Seriously.”

“I am serious. When she was here a few weeks ago, she needed to learn how to shoot, so I took her out to the range. We kinda hit it off and kept in touch after she left. She came back late last week, and well, here we are.”

“Have to admit I did not see that one coming. Does she make you happy?”

“She does. And I think and hope I make her happy.”

“Isn’t this still kind of sudden? What do you mean by settling down? Getting married? Living together?”

“She’s going to move in with me for now. Well, she’s going to fly back home for a few days and tie up some loose ends, then I’m going to go out there and help her get everything moved. We’ll be getting a storage unit somewhere until we find a bigger place. The chief already approved my time off.”

“Cat-sitter lined up?”

“You volunteering?”

“If you need me to.”

Dan chuckled. Holt had offered to take care of the cat for him to make amends, and he had no doubt that Hannah would be well taken care of while he was gone. Billy the Kid was pushy and could be infuriating at times, but he was also someone Dan would – and regularly did – trust with his life. “Thanks, but it’s taken care of. Another officer owes me a favor, and she’ll be very spoiled while I’m gone.”

After a moment of silence, Regan grabbed a clean cloth and returned his attention to the saddle he had been working on. Dan put down his own cloth and perched on a convenient stool. “There’s something else. Wilhelmina’s pregnant. She knows I’m telling you, but she wants to wait until she’s past the first trimester to make it public knowledge.”

“And that explains the suddenness,” the older man grinned. “Just marry her before it’s born, or your mam will come back and haunt me.”

“I don’t think it works that way.”

“Allanah would find a way!”

“True. I like to think she would be happy, though.”

“She would have been. Family was everything to her, and I know she would have loved anyone who loves you. Woe to any who tried to take advantage of you, though. I’m assuming that’s not the case here, or we’d be having a very different conversation right now.”

“She actually offered me an out,” he said. “Would have moved closer to her parents and raised it on her own. It really hurt, even though I know she was doing it for my sake. Didn’t want to feel like she was trapping me into something she thought I didn’t want.”

Regan gave up on the saddle and tossed both rags into a corner before sitting down next to his nephew. “You would have done the right thing regardless, but I’m glad for your sake that it’s more than just a duty for you. You deserve more than that.”

“It is more than that. I know this is fast, but it’s what I would have wanted even without the baby. And you can save your lecture on how I was irresponsible. It might have been, but I can’t really feel like it was.”

“Had it been one of those spoiled daddy’s girls you’ve usually dated, I might have. As it is, you’re both mature adults and you have a good job, so I’m assuming you can afford to raise a family. It’s not up to me to tell you how to build it.” He snorted. “Frankly, I’m just glad one of us is managing a successful relationship.”

“Uh-oh. What happened to Fay? I thought you two were going to go the distance.”

“She did, too. Unfortunately, I may have panicked when she started hinting about wanting more of a commitment and broke it off before it could go any farther.”

“Been there, done that. I think when you find the right one, you’ll know. Something in me just kind of settled when I got to know Wilhelmina. My panic was focused more on worrying she didn’t feel the same.”

“Once she gets settled in here, let me know, and I’ll take you two out to dinner somewhere. In the meantime, tell me about her. I know she’s been in and out of Sleepyside over the last few years, but I haven’t really talked to her since the girls ambushed her out in Minnesota. I admit I don’t remember much about her other than she was there and helped find that blasted horse.”

“I get the impression she’s changed a lot since then,” Dan said. “I mean, I didn’t know her then, but she’s gone through a lot in the last few years. She’s amazing, though. Hannah absolutely adores her. That’s actually how it first became more than just a trip to the range…”

As he told his uncle about the beginnings of the relationship and what she was like, Regan’s words about building his own family came back to him. It may not look exactly like he had once envisioned, but he was building it in his own way. He had Regan’s bemused approval, Wilhelmina, Hannah, and a baby coming in the not-so-distant future. Home and family beyond Regan were no longer a sad abstract thought or dream that had so often felt out of his reach. He finally had his own green world.

Just beyond the troubled skyways
Young men dream of fire and starshine
I’ve been dreaming of my own green world
Far across the reach of space time