Earth and Sky

will gladly welcome you into our house.” Hunter looked at Grant in the hope that Grant would acknowledge his statement, but Grant stayed quiet, his lips tightly pinched. Hunter knew Grant wouldn’t contradict him, but he’d hoped for a bit more support.

    “I heard you’d built your own house,” Miranda said.

    At that moment Matthew stirred, and Hunter pulled the blanket away from him a little. “You hot, little fellow?” Grant helped Hunter pull the blanket entirely off, and Hunter lifted him away. Matthew smiled at him, and then at Grant when Grant caressed Matthew’s cheek, and the look on Grant’s face made Hunter’s heart swell. There wasn’t a doubt in Hunter’s mind that they’d do a good job raising the child. That wasn’t what they were here for, though, so he got up and sat down next to Miranda.

    “Miranda, meet Matthew. Mattie, meet your mom. You want to hold him?”

    Miranda shook her head curtly.

    “He’s not shy around strangers,” Hunter said, trying to encourage her. “At our house he gets passed around between enough people. He’s used to it. Everyone adores him.”

    Matthew smiled broadly when Hunter lifted him up and handed him to Miranda. His smile disappeared when Miranda took him, though. Hunter didn’t think he’d start to cry, but his lower lip was quivering, so he stroked Mattie’s hair. “See, he’s okay.”

    Miranda nodded, but Hunter could tell she was terrified. It wasn’t until she relaxed that Matthew did as well.

    “Any time now he’s going to smile at you, and I promise you, you’ll be sold.” As soon as Hunter said the words, he felt Grant’s stare and looked at him. Grant closed his eyes in exasperation. Hunter could almost hear Grant ask him whether he actually wanted to hand his son to Miranda.

    To Hunter’s surprise, Miranda pushed Matthew back into Hunter’s hands. “I can’t do this, Hunter. Not then and not now.”

    Hunter instinctively grabbed his son and cradled him in his arms. Matthew was none the wiser, and he’d never remember today, but at least if the question ever came up, Hunter would be able to say he’d tried.

    “We better leave, Hunter,” Grant said, handing Hunter Mattie’s blanket.

    Hunter looked at Miranda, who had also gotten up off the couch. “My offer stands. You’re always welcome to visit Matthew at the ranch. And if you’d prefer not to come there, just give us a call and we’ll bring him here.”

    Miranda led them out, but near the door, she held Hunter back. “Why, Hunter?”

    “Why what? Mir, I never wanted to be a dad. Never had the feeling I was missing anything, but now I can’t imagine not being his dad. And Mattie deserves a mom too.”

    “He’s got Grant,” Miranda said flatly.

    “ I ’ve got Grant,” Hunter corrected her. “And yes, Grant is Mattie’s other dad, but one day he’s going to ask me who his mom is, and I don’t want to have to tell him I didn’t want him to meet her.”

    When Hunter got into the truck with Matthew, he saw Miranda was crying. He knew it would be no use to walk back to her to comfort her. She wouldn’t let him. The tension in the truck was thick too. Grant pulled into traffic as if he was chasing another car, and by the time they’d reached the quieter country roads, Hunter had had enough.

    “Stop the truck.”

    “We’re practically home,” Grant said sternly.

    “Stop anyway,” Hunter said, trying not to raise his voice.

    Grant pulled over roughly at the opposite side of the road from where they’d stopped earlier.

    “I know you don’t agree with me, but I needed to do this, Grant.”

    “You sounded like you were ready to leave him there if she’d asked.”

    Hunter shook his head and sighed dejectedly. “He’s my son and I want what’s best for him. If that means including his mother in his upbringing, then so be it. I thought you of all people would understand that.”

    “I thought it was clear that I did. He’s my boy too, Hunter, or did you forget what you told me right at the beginning, when we brought him home? I missed out on raising my kids. I don’t want to miss out on Mattie. I’d be gutted if she took him away from us, Cowboy.”

    Hunter scooted closer to Grant on the single seat of the truck and nuzzled Grant’s ear.

    “I’m sorry. I knew you didn’t want me to do this, and I was afraid you’d try to stop me.” Hunter kissed Grant’s cheek, hoping to seduce his lover into giving in. Grant was