CHAPTER 27
Naomi’s heartcontinued to hammer against her ribs, long after Dale’s truck disappeared.
Something about the way that man had looked at the property made her skin crawl. And the way he’d said Sarah’s name, casual and familiar, as if he had any right to speak it at all . . . it made her want to throat punch him.
Her arms tightened across her chest.
Micah crossed the distance between them in two strides and gently grasped her elbow. “You okay?”
She nodded, though she wasn’t sure it was true. “Yes, I just?—”
“I know.” His voice was low as if meant only for her. “Let’s get back to the kennel.”
The three of them walked together, Good Boy padding along at Naomi’s side. No one spoke for the first several steps, the tension still thick in the air.
Micah’s hand stayed on her elbow, his presence steady beside her.
“He was fishing,” Micah finally said. “Seeing how you’d both react. He was testing boundaries.”
“And making sure we know he’s watching.” Caleb’s voice sounded tight.
Naomi’s chest constricted. “But do we even have a right to keep the baby from Richard’s family? I mean, legally?”
Micah’s jaw tightened. “They have to have that paternity test first. Then, if it comes back that Richard is the family, then yes—as biological family, they have rights. They can petition for visitation. Maybe even custody, depending on the situation.”
The words settled over her like ice.
“But what about what Sissy said?” Naomi stopped walking and turned to face them both. “She was so adamant. She said they’re not good people. That they can’t be near Grace. What does she know about them that we don’t?”
Micah exchanged a glance with Caleb, then looked back at her. “I don’t know, but I’m going to find out. I’ll do some digging—pull records, see if anything’s been flagged. I’ll run background checks on Dale and his mom. Whatever I can find.”
Relief flickered through her. “Thank you.”
They reached the kennel, and Micah paused, turning to Caleb. “Listen, I’d like to check out the back of the property again. After we found that snare earlier, I want another look.”
Caleb frowned. “Don’t you need to get back to work?”
“It’s my day off.”
Caleb nodded. “All right then. Let me grab my jacket. I’ll go with you.”
Naomi looked at Micah, something warm and grateful rising in her chest despite the fear still sitting heavy in her gut.
He didn’t have to do any of this. Didn’t have to spend his day off walking fence lines and digging into Richard’s family.
But he was doing it anyway.
And that spoke volumes.
Micah and Caleb headed toward the back of the property, boots crunching over rocks as they moved past the kennels.
Hamilton fell into step beside them, ears perked and alert. The dog had good instincts and always seemed to know when something was off.
They were halfway across the yard when the sound of an engine made them both turn.
Another truck pulled up to the gate. Micah recognized it immediately.
Wyatt King.
