CHAPTER ONE
Owen McCaw leaned against the kitchen doorframe of his parents’ home and swept back his four-month-old daughter’s wispy hair. Evie was motherless because of him. He pressed his eyes closed, trying to block out the heart-wrenching phone call that had brought news of the car accident. Had he not worked overtime, Willow might still be alive. His stomach clenched that his thoughtlessness had forced his wife to drive herself to the baby shower. If he’d put work aside and gone home to pick her up, she might be alive today.
He took a deep breath of baby smell mixed with the formula Evie had just finished guzzling down and attempted to push the upsetting memories away. He ran a thumb along her jawline. His daughter ate like a linebacker and slept deeply, except for the times she was wide-awake in the middle of the night for hours at a time. He stared in awe at his precious child, then roughed a hand over his scruffy jaw. He still couldn’t believe he was a single father now.
“Did she keep you up again last night?” his mother, Cora McCaw, asked, interrupting his musings as she hobbled on crutches and pulled out a skillet to make bacon. She’d fallen last week and broke her leg in two places, but had figured out those crutches real fast. Wait. Was his mother avoiding eye contact with him? Considering their past, he couldn’t blame her. Regardless, being back at the Triple C Ranch in Serenity, Texas, made him feel like his feet were on solid ground for the first time since the fateful phone call. Four months had passed since the car accident had taken Willow and brought life to this little one.
“Maybe two hours. Other than that, she slept well.” As the sizzling sound of bacon hit the air, he gazed at Evie. She startled, tensed and then relaxed again, the start of a smile on her heart-shaped lips. Delight swelled in his chest at how she’d so quickly wrapped him around her little pinkie.
“Can I help?” he asked as he set the spent bottle on the table. “Why don’t you hold Evie and let me handle whatever you’re doing?” His lengthy absence from the family hit him, sobering him. But a crisis usually brought clarity. And his wife’s sudden death had done just that, making him wish he hadn’t created such an uncomfortable chasm between him and his parents, especially his mother. He had so much to make up for.
She side-eyed him. “Owen, I can cook circles around you, even with crutches.” She turned away quickly, but not before he saw her pained expression. “I wish…” she said, her voice barely audible “…well, I wish you had been more open to talking with us more over the years.” Yep, lots to make up for.
“Mom, I’m so sorry,” he muttered. But he knew words couldn’t fix things between them. His mother’s head bobbed as he sank into a kitchen chair. When he had called his parents to inform them of the accident, they had dropped everything and rushed to the hospital to be by Owen’s side. He had greatly appreciated their presence, because in high school, he hadn’t felt like his parents respected his decision to enter the military and then become a police officer, so he’d pushed them away. Hadn’t accepted phone calls, and had ignored text messages, and when he did talk with them, it was mostly with grunts. Somehow, he’d gotten caught up in that childish behavior and had been unable to stop the cycle. So when they’d graciously invited him to come to the ranch to heal, he was pleasantly surprised and had accepted their offer readily.
“I appreciate you letting me move back in,” he said. Their hospitality would allow him to take time to figure out what to do with his life, but it also seemed like the perfect time to rebuild his relationship with his parents.
His mother turned to him. “Owen. You are welcome here anytime, for as long as you want. Always have been.” But he could see the sorrow in her eyes as regret lodged in his gut. The truth was, he’d hurt her.
“Thanks.” He scuffed a hand over his face at his poor behavior over the years. He had to work his way back into their good graces. And he
intended to do just that. The bacon’s smoky scent lifted into the air, making his stomach growl.
“Do you have any ideas for your next step?” his mother asked as she moved the bacon to a paper towel.
“Is that a backhanded way of asking me about a time frame for when I’ll get my own place?” He cringed at the ingratitude in his voice, especially when his mother’s eyebrows rose. “I’m sorry,” he said quickly to cover the words carelessly spoken. But the disappointment now spreading across his mother’s face told him that a quick apology would not do. “I’m just frustrated the garage apartment isn’t available.” He kneaded the back of his neck where tension had gathered. That space would be perfect for him and Evie, as he was much too old to be living at home again.
His mother pushed the pile of luscious-smelling bacon toward him, then hobbled over and propped her crutches against the wall. She then settled in the chair next to him and placed a hand on his shoulder, her eyes glistening with emotion.
“I’m glad to have you home, Owen. Let’s put the past where it belongs—in the past—shall we?” He gave her an appreciative nod, knowing it wouldn’t be that easy, but he was willing to try. His mother turned her attention to Evie and gazed adoringly at her newest grandchild. At least his mother had someone worthy of her attention for the moment.
Two days ago, when his father had driven them under the familiar Triple C emblem, that feeling of being home had enveloped him. Now today, he appreciated that his mother was willing to overlook his failures. He selected three pieces of bacon and gobbled them down, his arm sweaty where Evie lay.
His mother leaned back and dug her fingers into the front of her cast and scratched. Or at least tried to. Her leg was so swollen there wasn’t much space in there.
“I feel bad about your leg.” She’d be on crutches for a minimum of six weeks so the tibia and fibula bones could properly heal.
She looked down at her cast, pulled out her fingers and chuckled. “I can’t believe I broke my leg a week before camp starts.” She scowled. Oh, yes, with everything that had happened with Willow and Evie’s birth, he’d forgotten all about her summer camp. It was the first week of June, so camp was probably set to start on Monday. “I’m not sure what to do because I can’t hobble around on crutches and
be effective running camp.”
Summer camp had been her baby for as long as he could remember. It had started as a one-week morning camp for younger kids who lived in Serenity, but over the years had grown to six weeks and included children in the surrounding areas. A morning session for the younger kids and the afternoon session for older ones. The children were taught how to plant vegetables and tend to them, about many different animals and how to care after them, as well as horseback riding and four wheeling. But the main reason his mother had started the camp was to share the gospel.
“If I could help, you know I would.” His shrug had Evie’s eyes briefly fluttering open. Oh, she wouldn’t wake up. Not with the noise around her. She’d sleep most of the day and be up half the night as usual. He hugged her a little closer. Her unusual sleeping habits were fine because at night, when it was quiet, he had her all to himself. She would look at him with her big blue eyes like he was her hero. Well, she’d look at him differently when she learned the role he’d had in her mother’s death. But for now, he enjoyed their middle-of-the-night adventures together. He might not be the best dad, but he loved spending time with his daughter.
His mother reached out and rubbed Evie’s head. “Oh, that soft, downy hair. So precious,” she whispered. He grinned at the two because it had only taken one afternoon with her newest grandchild—just long enough for Owen to take a ride around the ranch with his brother—to bond with Evie.
“What would you think about allowing me to watch the baby while you take my place at summer camp?”
Shock hit him like a ton of bricks. That she’d ask anyone to take her place was a surprise. But him? He smiled as his heart leaped with joy that she’d trust him with her summer camp. He had helped at the camp a lot as a kid, how hard could running it for six weeks be? As thorough as his mother was, it probably ran itself. Except, watching Evie wasn’t a piece of cake. He glanced at his mother’s crutches.
“I’m happy to help, but I thought you were supposed to have your leg elevated most of the day. And how are you going to get a bottle ready or carry Evie anywhere on crutches?”
His mother recommended he, or someone else, could come in every few hours and make up a bottle. And if his mother had
everything she needed right around the couch and coffee table, then she wouldn’t have to move Evie while standing.
“So the couch would be command central?” he joked.
“Exactly.” His mother’s eyes sparkled as though she were excited at the thought of watching her newest grandchild, then her expression grew concerned. “So I can count on you?” she said with a wary glance. A wave of regret washed over him for causing her to lose faith in him by behaving childishly over the years.
“Of course, Mom. I told you I’m back for good.” He waited through the pregnant pause before his mother spoke again.
“Then it’s settled.” After they talked over a few more details, they agreed on the plan. His mother seemed almost relieved that he was willing to help. The fact that she’d trust him with her camp spoke volumes, right? Except simply running the camp for her would not restore their relationship. But it was a start. And he’d take it.
“Cora, you home?” a female voice called out.
“In here,” his mother responded.
His breath caught in his lungs as his high school girlfriend—the last person he expected to see—walked in. She had broken his heart a decade ago before leaving town without a word.
A smile lit up Brenna Park’s pretty face as she roughed up the fur of the dog beside her. Apparently, she hadn’t noticed Owen.
He cocked his head and squinted at her in confusion. What was Brenna doing here? He shook his head in disbelief. He hadn’t seen her in ten years and she just showed up at his parents’ place? He was more confused by the moment.
Her blond waves spilled around her shoulders, just like when they were teens. Back when he’d thought they’d share their life together. But then, after high school graduation, she’d crushed him by ending communication between the two of them without ever discussing her reasons why. He had never even received a Dear John letter. To this day, he had questions. Evie squirmed and started fussing. He stood and crossed the room to create space between him and Brenna.
When she looked up, she met his mother’s gaze and Brenna’s shining eyes danced with joy. Boy, she was even more gorgeous than when
they were in high school. Her baggy clothes hid her petite frame and were odd for her. His mother stood to hug his ex-girlfriend and Brenna’s features lit with happiness.
Then her gaze landed on him and she stepped back in surprise. Her smile wavered and finally fell away as she focused on the ground. Her dog, some type of doodle with striking coloring, circled Brenna once and then sat beside her, leaning his snout on his owner’s leg as though he was an emotional support dog. If so, why would she need one?
“Owen, this is my new co-leader for camp. You two are going to work so well together.”
* * *
Cora’s statement seemed to ring in the air around them. You two are going to work so well together. Brenna shot Owen a quick glance. He seemed as shocked as her.
The baby in his arms started squirming and making little noises of distress.
Why Owen? Though she knew he had returned to Serenity after the death of his wife, she hadn’t expected to have to interact with him again.
“Cora,” Brenna began, not sure where to start her questions. “What in the world do you mean? I thought you and I were going to run camp together.” She crouched low to hug her dog, hating how shaky her voice sounded. She allowed Lulu to lean into her for comfort as she practiced the cleansing breaths her counselor had taught her. Maybe this wasn’t panic she felt but shock at seeing him here. She wished she could return to the confident existence she’d enjoyed a year ago—a celebrated teacher enjoying life—not the fragile woman left in terror’s wake.
The older lady nodded. “Let’s move to the living room and get comfortable, shall we?” Brenna rose as Cora clumsily used her crutches to get to the next room.
Before Brenna could follow, Owen tugged at her arm and Lulu shifted between them, resting her snout on Brenna’s thigh. Her gaze flickered to Cora hobbling away and then her devoted mini Bernedoodle.
“Last I heard,” he started, “you had snagged a teaching position in a prestigious neighborhood near Dallas. What are you doing back here?” His nostrils flared as he waited for her answer. Well, she wasn’t happy about
their predicament either. She still couldn’t quite believe she and her ex-boyfriend were in the same room together. When they’d parted ways after their high school graduation, she’d not expected to see him again. Especially because he now lived in North Carolina.
She lifted her chin and took a step away. Her counselor had taught her to always do what she could to be in control of difficult conversations. Well, if any conversation could be categorized as difficult, this was it.
“I moved back when your mother offered the garage apartment during Christmas break, ...
We hope you are enjoying the book so far. To continue reading...
Copyright © 2026 All Rights Reserved
Please log in to recommend or discuss...
