Tears stung her eyes. She needed sleep or else she’d turn into a sappy mess. Ruby had been fussy until about midnight, then finally settled. But too many restless nights in a row had taken their toll. Grace would need more than a few unbroken hours of sleep to ever feel rested again.
Sampson lifted his gaze then, taking her in. "You're exhausted. Sit. Eat. I've got her."
Heat slipped up her neck at being caught staring, and she sat on the bed against the headboard, tucking her feet up under her nightdress. She needed to dress for the day, but she couldn’t do that with Sampson here. Maybe she should be more concerned about him seeing her in sleeping attire, but she was too exhausted to waste energy on what she couldn’t help.
Besides, he was her husband.
That thought brought a fresh wave of heat, and she reached for the plate and mug. The scent of fried eggs and ham made her stomach rumble, but she needed coffee first. She took a sip, and the warm liquid eased through her. Her eyes drifted closed as she relished the feeling. Was anything ever so wonderful as hot coffee on a cold morning?
When she opened her eyes again, Sampson was watching her, an unreadable expression on his face. He glanced down quickly, returning his focus to Ruby. The babe had already almost finished the bottle, her little mouth working more slowly now as sleep tugged at her.
Grace set the mug aside and picked up a piece of bread, tearing off a small bit to pop into her mouth. The fresh yeasty flavor burst on her tongue, and her stomach growled again, reminding her how ravenous she truly was.
As she ate, her gaze kept drifting to Sampson and Ruby. He'd relaxed into the task, his easy confidence fully returned. Grace's chest squeezed, a painful hope swelling beneath her ribs. If Sampson fell in love with Ruby, maybe he’d want to stay with them.
Stop it, she chided herself. Wishing for impossible things would only lead to heartache. Sampson had married her out of obligation, to keep her safe. Not for love.
She shook the thoughts away and focused on her food, working through the eggs and ham.
Soon, Ruby sucked the last of the milk. Sampson eased the bottle out of her mouth and set it aside, then shifted the baby up to rest against his shoulder. He threw Grace a hesitant glance. "Is this right? She needs to be burped?"
"Yes, just pat her back gently." He’d been watching. Paying attention. "You're doing wonderfully with her."
Color tinged his cheeks, and he ducked his head, focusing on Ruby as he patted her back with so much tenderness. After a moment, a tiny burp escaped the baby, and Sampson's face split into a grin, his eyes crinkling at the corners.
"There's a good girl." He changed his motion to rub circles on Ruby's back.
The babe gave a contented sigh, her eyes drifting closed as she snuggled against his broad shoulder.
You’re a lucky girl, Ruby.Grace swallowed past the lump in her throat. She needed to shore up her defenses against this man’s tenderness. "Did you find another place to sleep last night? I didn't hear you come in."
Sampson looked up, his brows lowered in confusion. "No, I slept here. On the floor." He nodded toward his bedroll, still tucked against the wall. "I got in late from your father's errand and didn't want to disturb you. Then I woke early to milk the goat." He gestured to the floor beside Ruby’s basket.
For the first time, Grace noticed the jars of fresh milk lined up beside the wicker. Her heart squeezed, gratitude and something warmer, more tender, welling up inside her. She blinked back another rush of tears. "Thank you, Sampson. Truly.”
It had been so long since she'd had anyone to rely on. Anyone who cared enough to lighten her burdens. And now Sampson, this man she barely knew, stepped in without hesitation.
He looked away, color deepening in his cheeks. "It's nothing. I'm happy to help how ever I can."
Ruby slept soundly against his chest, her petite lips parted and dark lashes fanning her round cheeks.
Sampson cleared his throat, drawing Grace’s attention back to his face. He sobered, his brow furrowing as he met her gaze. "I guess we should talk about what you want to do next. Have you given any thought to where you'd like to settle?"
Her chest tightened, and she looked down at her hands where she clenched the plate. In truth, she'd been so focused on finding her father and keeping Ruby safe and cared for that she hadn't let herself make decisions about where to go once she had the funds to. "I guess I need to find a house somewhere."
He was quiet a moment. "You know, my family has a ranch. About a day’s ride from here, nestled up on a mountain. It's a beautiful place. Really peaceful. And there's plenty of room. I have five brothers, and a few of them are married." He paused, as if gauging her reaction.
He’d mentioned the ranch before, but surely he didn’t want her to go there and burden them.
His eyes softened. "You and Ruby, you'd be welcome there. They’d love to have you."
Her heart stuttered. His expression was earnest, sincere. A tiny flicker of hope sparked to life in her chest.
A real home. A place to belong. She tried to picture it—a sprawling ranch, the mountains rising in the distance, wildflowers dotting the meadows.
But she was a stranger to them. A woman who was imposing on their brother. Why would they want her to barge in? Especially with a baby. "Your family…they wouldn't mind? Having a strange woman and baby they don't know living with them?"
Sampson's eyes crinkled at the corners, a hint of a smile playing about his mouth. "Mind? They’d be over the moon. My sisters-in-law would dote on Ruby something fierce. Dinah, my oldest brother’s wife, is a doctor, so she could help with anything the baby needs. And her sister has two little ones herself.” He nodded toward Ruby. “Mary Ellen is only a couple years old, so these two could have fun together in time.”
