She shook her head. “You took them in, gave them a home. They received stability because of you.”
“I guess that means we make a good team.”
The throaty quality in his voice surprised him. Tenderness flashed over Ella’s face. She put her free hand over their joined ones. “We do.”
He started to respond, but a knock sounded at the door.
Ella gave his hand a squeeze. “That’ll be Travis.” She reached for his plate.
He handed it to her with a smile. “Thanks.” Heading for the door, he opened it to greet his friend. “Thanks for comin’, Trav.”
Travis nodded. “Not a problem. I don’t like the implications of a tampered garden.”
“Me neither. First the snakes, now this. Someone’s targeting our family. And we both know who.”
“Not to mention the cattle fence being down.” Travis snorted. “I’d put money on Mountbatten. He threatened you and Ella more than once. This is exactly the kind of power struggle he thrives on. He won’t dirty his own hands, but he’ll hire others to do it.”
Cody’s fists clenched at his sides.
Travis put a hand on his shoulder. “We’ll figure out what’s going on.”
Not trusting himself to speak, Cody nodded.
He turned to see Ella in the space between the foyer and parlor. He wanted to rush to her and wrap her in his arms, protecting her from whatever scheme her father had in place. A smile stretched over her lips as she motioned to them. “You have to see this.”
The men joined her. Ella put a finger to her lips, then pointed into the room. Cody peered over her shoulder.
Isaiah sat on the floor, his back against the sofa. Addie lay cradled in his lap, Jonah snuggled up to his side. The boy sang softly as he rocked his sister. She looked up at him with sleepy eyes and a contented smile. Cody recognized the tune “All Through the Night.”
Ella turned. She touched his cheek with her fingers. “You see, Cody? This is what you giving them a home did.” Rising on her toes, she pressed a kiss to his cheek. “Now, you and Travis figure out the garden. I want a full report when you’re done.” Her fingers trailed down his cheek before she went to join the children.
Cody stood for a few moments, taking in the picture his family made. His heart swelled and his protective instincts rose once more.
He’d do whatever it took to keep them safe.
CHAPTER 21
Ella chewed her bottom lip, watching her husband and Travis from the kitchen window. Morning light bathed them in a golden glow. Last night had yielded limited information, which prompted Travis’s return today.
Cody pointed to a tree near the garden. Travis walked to it and pulled something from the trunk. The two men huddled over it. Even from this distance, Ella saw her husband’s body go rigid. His face whipped toward the house before turning back to Travis. Whatever their topic of conversation, it looked animated.
“Mama, I hungwy.” A tug at her skirt accompanied the little voice.
She dragged her gaze from her husband and looked down at Jonah. “Good morning, sweetie. You want your breakfast?”
“Pancakes? Pwease?” Eagerness shone in his dark eyes.
Ella picked him up. “We can have pancakes.” And it would provide her with a distraction.
Jonah laid his head on her shoulder as she walked to the kitchen. He yawned, then stuck his thumb in his mouth. Ella set him in a chair, poured him a glass of fresh milk, then began preparing breakfast. Isaiah wandered into the room when she ladled the first bits of batter into the pan. “Good morning.”
“Mornin’, Mama.”
Ella’s heart leapt. She tried not to overreact, watching as her son rubbed his eyes. Perhaps dropping her name frommamahad been a sleepy mistake.
“Are you hungry? We’re having pancakes for breakfast.”
“Yeah. Can we have eggs too?”
