Slowly, he opened Dory’s stall and stepped inside.
The doe eyed him suspiciously. She’d filled out with all the food she was getting here and would be in good shape for winter. She pawed the ground, keeping her distance from Roan.
He moved incredibly slowly, nothing sudden or startling. Just easing her bit by bit toward the stall’s entrance.
Dory looked from him to the open door and back. She sniffed the air, took a step, then another one. Her head poked out of the stall, and Cady squeezed my hand hard.
Dory halted, unsure if she wanted to leave her sanctuary. At least with where she was, she knew what to expect. She had no idea what was outside.
Roan simply waited, giving the deer time to get accustomed to the idea.
Her head lifted again, revealing the little patch of white on her neck. Her ears twitched, and she stepped out into the aisle. Then she froze, staring at Cady and me.
I sent her every loving kindness I could think of. Silent messages that everything would be okay. That she was healed now. Safe. That she could be free.
I swore something passed over the doe’s eyes. Then she turned and trotted down the aisle and into the early morning sunshine.
We followed after her, watching as she bounded down my drive and into a field across the street. Tears gathered in my eyes as Cady wandered down the driveway for a better view.
Roan stopped beside me, glancing down and taking in my falling tears. He lifted his hand and used his thumb to wipe away the moisture. “What are these about?”
“I just want her to be okay,” I whispered.
Roan’s hand tracked down, squeezing the back of my neck. “My Tender Heart.”
My breath hitched. At the nickname. At the claiming of sorts.
He lowered his head and pressed his lips to my forehead. “She has a fighting chance because of you.”
“Mama!” Cady yelled. “She found her friends!”
Roan released me, moving toward Cady. But it took me a beat to get my legs to work. As if the brush of those lips had short-circuited my brain. Finally, I forced myself forward.
Cady pressed into Roan’s side. “Do you see them?”
“I do,” he said gruffly.
In the field across the road, a band of six deer gathered. One nosed Dory in greeting, and a fresh wash of tears found me.
“Mama, why are you crying?”
“I’m happy, Katydid. We got Dory back to her family.”
“We did, huh?” she mumbled.
“Not bad for a pre-school activity,” I said.
Cady groaned. “Do I have to go to school?”
My brows rose at that. “You love school. And Charlie will be so sad if you’re not there.”
“I know, but it won’t be nearly as cool as this.”
Roan chuckled. “Who knows, maybe you’ll find a new animal friend at recess.”
Hope lit in Cady’s eyes. “We did find a frog once.”
“See, more adventures to be had. Now, we need to get going or we’ll be late,” I said.
Roan helped me get Cady into my station wagon with her backpack in tow. As I closed her in, I looked up at him. “Thanks. For all your help and—”
“You don’t have to keep thanking me,” he grumbled.
My lips twitched. “Maybe I like thanking you.”
Roan only grunted. “Text me. Let me know how the drop-off goes.”
I read the subtext beneath his words. He wanted to know if Katelyn gave me any trouble. “I will. See you tonight?”
He jerked his head in a nod. “Drive safe.”
I climbed behind the wheel and headed down the drive. There was a war waging in my chest cavity, hope and fear dueling it out in epic proportions. My fingers gripped the wheel tighter as I turned toward town.
I wanted to let myself sink into the warmth that was having Roan in my life. Not to question what this was or what would happen. But that was impossible when I’d lived through what I had. When the person I loved most had been ripped away. It made me doubt that the good things had the power to stay.
Turning into the parking lot, I realized Cady had been talking the entire drive. I winced. Mother of the year over here.
As I pulled to a stop, I caught sight of Charlie waiting by one of the teachers. “Looks like you’ve got company.”
Cady grinned, unhooking her booster seat straps. She was already out and headed for Charlie by the time I rounded the car. He waved at me and grabbed her hand, leading her toward school. Leaving me in the dust.
The teacher smiled. “Those two are a love story in the making.”