Chapter Two

The next day, Bryce sat on the edge of the bed, cradling her daughter as Luke entered the room, accompanied by another man. She couldn't help but appreciate how handsome Luke looked in the morning light, his dark hair peeked out from under a black cowboy hat, perfectly complementing his rugged appearance. His dark brown eyes were gorgeous. And when he smiled at her, she felt her heart flutter.

"Hi," she said with a smile.

"Bryce, how are you feeling?" Luke asked.

"I'm wonderful. Thank you for helping me."

Luke's gaze shifted to the baby in her arms. "Hey, baby girl."

As the other man cleared his throat, Luke turned to him. "Bryce, this is my brother, Beau. Beau, this is Bryce Spencer and her daughter, Leah Grace."

Beau touched his hat in greeting. "Ma'am."

"Beau will be driving your vehicle for you. Can you leave yet?"

"Yes. They told me I could go whenever my ride arrived, but I have to let them know so they can take me out in a wheelchair," Bryce explained with a grimace.

Luke and Beau both chuckled. "It's probably for the best," Luke said.

"I'll go get someone," Beau said as he left the room.

With Luke now sitting on the bed next to her, Bryce couldn't help but admire him as he looked over at her daughter.

"She has a lot of hair," he remarked.

"Yes, the nurses commented on that too. I had a lot of hair when I was born too."

A few minutes later, a nurse appeared at the door with a wheelchair, with Beau behind her. "Are you ready to go?"

"Yes." Bryce got up slowly with Luke holding onto her hand.

"You should bring your vehicle up to the front doors so we can just transfer her straight into it. That way, she won't have to walk too much. Ms. Spencer, your instructions are in this envelope. Please don't climb any stairs," the nurse said.

"Uh..." Luke looked at Beau, unsure of what to do.

"She'll have to go up some steps, but we'll make sure she takes it slow," Beau reassured them.

"Okay. Let's get you out of here. I'll get the truck," Luke added as he left the room.

"Ms. Spencer, if you give me your keys, I'll follow behind you and Luke," Beau said politely.

"Oh, sure. And please, call me Bryce." She dug into her purse, retrieved her keys, and handed them to him with a grateful smile. "You'll have to adjust the seat though, I'm a lot shorter than you."

Beau grinned. "No problem. I have to do that when I drive my wife's vehicle."

Bryce chuckled. "I appreciate you and Luke helping me."

"Yes, ma'am," Beau replied respectfully.

"You'll have to push the button on the fob to find out where it is. I honestly have no idea. It's a red Chevy Blazer," Bryce added before they all headed out toward the exit.

"Alright, I'm sure I'll find it. See you in a bit." He nodded and exited the room.

"You're lucky. Those two are quite handsome," the nurse commented.

Bryce grinned and nodded. She held her daughter close and whispered sweet words to her. She couldn't believe how much she adored her little girl. As long as… he didn't find them, they would be safe.

As the nurse pushed her out through the automatic doors, Bryce saw Luke getting out of his truck and walking toward them.

"Oh, there's a car seat in my SUV," Bryce mentioned.

"I'll call Beau. I'm not sure where he went," Luke replied.

"Probably off searching for my vehicle," Bryce joked.

"I'm going to take you back inside then until you figure out what you're going to do," the nurse said as she pulled the wheelchair back inside.

Luke chuckled. "Hopefully I can catch him before he leaves." He called his brother. "Hey, come up to the entrance, we need the car seat in the back." Once he disconnected, he looked at Bryce. "He's on his way. He was just climbing into your SUV."

"Once he gets here, we'll focus on getting you and your daughter into the truck, and I can help with the car seat," the nurse said with a smile.

Once Beau arrived and parked behind Luke's truck, he got out, entered the hospital, and approached them.

"It might be easier if you drive Bryce's SUV, and I drive your truck. Though, I didn't see a car seat," Beau said.

"It's in the trunk, I remember seeing it when I got blankets out, but she's going to need it in her car anyway," Luke said.

"I'll get it, but I have no idea how to put it in." Beau shrugged.

"I can do it for you," the nurse said as she pushed Bryce back outside. Bryce gasped when she stood up and grabbed onto Luke's arm for support. She looked up at him with a grateful smile.

"Thank you again. It seems like that's all I ever say around you," she said.

"It's fine. I told you to reach out to me if you needed anything," Luke replied.

"I know, but you've gone above and beyond," she insisted.

"That's just what we do around here," Luke said with a reassuring smile. He gestured to Beau. "We'll meet you at the back of the diner."

"Sounds good." Beau climbed into Luke's truck and drove off.

Once the nurse secured Leah in the car seat, Bryce carefully got into the front passenger seat. Luke started the engine and drove them to town.

"You and your brother must be the same height," Bryce noted.

"Close. Beau is an inch taller, and he never lets me forget it," Luke replied.

"I have to have the seat almost all the way up. I'm only five foot four," Bryce said with a chuckle.

Luke glanced at her, then turned his attention back to the road. "I have a whole foot on you."

Bryce grinned. "So where are we headed?"

Luke explained about the apartment above the diner and how Connie had offered for her to stay there.

"But I can't afford rent. I don't have a job. I have money, but I don't know how much I'll need," Bryce protested.

"You don't need to worry about that right now. Connie will let you stay there as long as you need. You'll understand when you meet her. She's an amazing woman, and everyone in the community loves her," Luke reassured.

"But I can't stay there for free," Bryce insisted.

"She won't take money from you. She's incredibly generous," Luke said firmly.

"It just doesn't feel right." Bryce shook her head.

"Well, you don't really have a choice," Luke pointed out.

"True. But could you do me a favor and pick up some food for me? I can give you my debit card."

"Sure thing. And what about baby stuff?"

Bryce laughed. "Baby stuff? Don't worry, I have everything we need in the back. Two bags full of… baby stuff, from formula to bottles and diapers. I made sure to be prepared. I just never expected to get stranded and have a baby in my car in the middle of winter. It's freezing."

"Well, that's to be expected near the Glacier Mountains. This time of year, is always cold and snowy around here." He glanced at her. "Are you feeling okay?"

"I'll be fine. Just a little sore."

Luke nodded as he drove her SUV down Main Street and pulled up behind the diner. He stopped next to his truck and saw Beau step out.

"Stay here. I'll go unlock the door, so you won't have to wait outside in the cold with the baby."

"Thank you."

"Yes, ma'am." Luke grinned, got out of the vehicle, and walked toward Beau.

"That's a lot of stairs for her to climb," Beau said.

Luke looked at the stairs and nodded. "Yeah, it is. I'll carry her, and you get the baby."

"Why don't you get the baby, and I'll carry her?"

"Man, I have no idea how to handle babies," Luke muttered.

"You think I do?" Beau raised an eyebrow.

"Let's settle this with rock-paper-scissors."

"Fine, but you know I usually win, so why don't you just get the baby?"

"We're doing this fairly."

They turned their backs to Bryce in the SUV so she wouldn't see them, then played the game.

****

Bryce sat in the vehicle, her mind racing with curiosity as she watched Luke and Beau converse outside. She couldn't help but feel a twinge of dread at the thought of climbing the daunting steps that led to a stoop. Her eyes followed Luke as he shook his head and headed back toward the car.

As he opened the passenger side door, Bryce hesitated before speaking up. "What are you guys talking about?"

Luke turned to face her with a smile. "Since there are so many steps, Beau is going to carry you, and I'll carry the… baby."

Bryce furrowed her brow, unsure if she liked the idea. "I can walk up some of them though."

"We don't want to make you exert yourself," Luke replied kindly. "It's quite a trek."

"Alright." Bryce conceded with a shrug. "But just bring the car seat too. I'm sure I'll need it."

Luke grinned. "Sounds good."

As Beau made his way toward the SUV with a smirk on his face, Luke couldn't contain his laughter.

"What's so funny?" Beau asked, frowning.

"You get Bryce," Luke explained between chuckles. "I'll carry the baby in the car seat."

Beau narrowed his eyes. "Car seat?"

"Yeah," Luke clarified, trying not to burst into laughter at Beau's expression. "Bryce wants it, so she has something to put the baby in."

Beau's eyes narrowed. "So, all you have to do is carry the car seat? That's not right, Luke. You know I would've done that too. I just didn't want to carry the baby."

"She's a baby, not a stick of dynamite," Bryce interjected with a stern glare at both men.

Feeling slightly foolish, Beau and Luke quickly apologized. "We meant no disrespect, ma'am. We're just not used to handling babies," Beau explained.

Bryce let out a small sigh of frustration. "I understand. Can we please go inside now? It's freezing out here. I'll need the baby's things from the back of my vehicle."

"Of course, ma'am." Luke opened the back door, placed a blanket over the car seat, and carefully removed it with the sleeping baby. Beau motioned for Bryce to slide closer to the edge of her seat before lifting her up with ease and starting toward the stairs.

"I hope I'm not too heavy," she couldn't help but feel self-conscious about being carried.

"You weigh nothing," Beau reassured her with a chuckle, glancing back at Luke. "Come on, open the door. It's cold."

Luke followed close behind, carrying the car seat as he checked on the baby who was sound asleep and bundled up against the cold. He unlocked the door, they entered the apartment, and Beau gently placed Bryce on the sofa. She looked around, taking in her surroundings.

"This is so cute," she remarked with a smile.

The apartment was designed as an open space, with only a bar separating the kitchen from the living room and a hallway that likely led to the bedroom. The large front window flooded the space with natural light.

"How many bedrooms does this place have?" Bryce asked curiously.

"I think two," Luke replied thoughtfully. "Connie didn't say."

"Well, I need to use the bathroom, so I'll go take a look," Bryce said, slowly scooting to the edge of the sofa and using it for support as she stood up. She couldn't help but chuckle at how Luke and Beau hovered around her protectively.

"I'm fine, just sore," she reassured them with a small grin. "You can just set her down on the floor, Luke."

"Are you sure?" he asked hesitantly.

"Yes, she's not going to get up and walk off," Bryce teased with a playful smirk.

"Very funny," Luke muttered under his breath, looking embarrassed.

As she walked down the hallway, she noticed three doors. The middle one had a door on either side. She opened the door, and her face lit up when she saw the bathtub. She was able to take a sitz bath to help with healing and planned to do that. However, she could take a shower, and she wanted to do that soon. She was sure it was going to feel so good.

She peeked into the other rooms and saw that they were both bedrooms. Her heart skipped a beat when she saw the white bassinet in one of them.

"I wasn't sure where you wanted the bassinet, so if you let me know, I can move it for you."

"Put it in the room on the left. I want my baby close to me."

"Yes, ma'am." Luke entered the room, picked up the bassinet, and carried it into the other room. He turned back to her. "Is that okay?"

"Yes, thank you. It's nice and warm in here."

"I'm sure Connie was up here earlier making sure everything was perfect for you."

"I'd love to meet her and thank her."

"Knowing Connie, I'm sure she'll come up to say hello."

"If you want to make a list of what you want me to pick up for you, I can get it. Let's talk about it in the living room."

"Okay. I'll be right out." Bryce went into the bathroom and closed the door.

****

Luke walked to the living room to see Beau staring at the baby, and he grinned.

"Maybe you should get yourself one of those," Luke said.

"She's so tiny," Beau murmured.

"Yeah. Do you think we were ever that small?"

Beau chuckled. "I doubt it. I think she'd fit in the palm of my hand."

"I'm probably going to have to get her some food."

Beau nodded, then walked to the kitchen, opened the fridge door, and looked over his shoulder at him.

"I don't think you need to get anything. It looks like Connie stocked the fridge." Beau opened some of the cabinet doors. "The cupboards too. So, unless Bryce wants something else, it looks like everything she would need is here."

Both turned when Bryce entered the kitchen. "Are they all full?" she asked in wonder.

"Looks like it. That's Connie for you," Luke said. "Come look through here and see if there's anything else you want. If there is, I'll go get it."

"Okay. I need to find something to eat. I'm starving." Bryce opened doors and peered into the cupboards. "She thought of everything."

"So, you don't think you need anything else?"

Bryce opened the fridge and peered inside, shaking her head, tears filled her eyes.

"I can't believe she did this."

"You would if you knew her. How about I go down to the diner and get you something? That way, you don't have to cook tonight."

"What's good?"

Beau and Luke grinned at each other, then said, "Burgers." At the same time.

"Well, I do love a good burger. Could you get me one, please? Let me get my debit card for you."

"It's on me this time. What do you want on it? Any fries or onion rings?"

"Onion rings? They're my favorite." Bryce grinned then told Luke what she wanted on her burger, along with an order of onion rings.

"I'll be right back. Beau, just let me get her some food, then we can go. Bryce? I'll grab the things you need from your SUV on the way back. Beau, I'll be right back."

"I'm fine. I need to call Brenna though to let her know I'm running behind."

"Do you want anything?"

"No, thanks. We're going to the Hartland tonight."

"Okay. I'll be right back, Bryce." Luke walked out the door and trotted down the stairs then around to the diner.

He opened the door, stepped inside and nodded at people, then took a seat at the counter.

"Hey, Luke," Connie said with a grin.

"Hi, Connie. I need to place an order for your new tenant." Luke smiled.

"Is she up there now?"

"Yes, ma'am. She said she'd love to meet you to thank you."

"I'll go up tomorrow. She has to be tired. What would she like?"

Luke gave her the order, then spun around on the stool to wait. He placed his elbows on the counter behind him and glanced around. He saw Mr. Barton walking toward him with his check in his hand. He stopped beside the cash register to wait to pay his bill.

"Hi, Mr. Barton."

"Luke, how they hangin' son?"

Luke laughed. "Good for now. You?"

Mr. Barton shook his head. "Gravity has set in son. Enjoy it while you can."

Luke chuckled. He really enjoyed talking with Mr. Barton. The man was in his eighties but never seemed to slow down.

"Looks like you'll be getting that backhoe out soon," another man said as he stopped at the register.

Mr. Barton laughed. "Gives me something to do."

"How much are we supposed to get?" Luke asked.

"They're calling for up to two feet," the man said.

"Damn." Luke hoped that it didn't stick around. He knew Bryce was eager to get to Seattle. Damn, she was a beautiful woman. If she was sticking around, he'd love to get to know her, but she wasn't. Just his luck.

****

Bryce smiled at Beau and gestured to the overstuffed chair beside the sofa. "Please, Beau, have a seat."

"Yes, ma'am." Beau sat down with a grin.

"How long have you been married?"

"Less than a year," he replied.

"Congratulations!" Bryce exclaimed sincerely before continuing, "You and Luke seem very close."

"We are, even though he can be a pain in the ass." Beau chuckled.

Bryce laughed in understanding. "Siblings, huh?"

"Exactly." Beau nodded. "Do you have any siblings?"

"A sister in Seattle."

"Where are you originally from?"

"I was born and raised in Seattle."

"How did you end up in Minnesota?"

"How did you know I was from Minnesota?"

"The tags on your Blazer."

"Ah. I see. Well, I ended up there for a job, but I wanted to get out of Minnesota." She shook her head. "I wish I had waited a little longer," she murmured. "I didn't think about going into labor. I wasn't due for two weeks," Bryce said.

"You're lucky Luke came along, or you didn't stop on a deserted road." Beau smiled.

"That's so true. You, him, and Connie, have been wonderful and you don't even know me."

"It's just how people around here are."

"That's what Luke said." She tilted her head. "He told me he was a livestock agent. Are you?"

"Yes, ma'am. We're fifth generation of livestock agents."

"That's impressive. I'm sure you're both appreciated for what you do."

"Yes, ma'am."

Before they could continue their conversation, the door opened, and Luke entered carrying a white bag with the words "Clifton Diner" written on it in red, along with a couple bags from her SUV. He placed the lunch on the coffee table, and then set the bags containing the baby's things on the floor. Bryce's attention immediately turned to the delicious scent coming from the bag.

"Oh my God, that smells amazing!" Bryce exclaimed as she reached for the bag and opened it to take a whiff. "If it tastes half as good as it smells, it will be unbelievable."

"It definitely does," Luke confirmed with a grin. He then turned to Beau and said, "Ready to go?"

Beau stood up with a nod. "Yeah, I should probably head home to shower before taking my gorgeous wife out for dinner."

"She is indeed gorgeous. I just don't know what she sees in you," Luke said while shaking his head playfully at his brother.

Bryce chuckled. "I can tell you two are brothers."

"Well, we'll head out. If you need anything, Bryce, please don't hesitate to call or text me," Luke said.

"I will. Thank you for everything. Both of you."

Beau and Luke said their goodbyes and walked out, closing the door behind them.

Bryce couldn't help but feel grateful for the kind and helpful nature of the brothers. They didn't have to do anything for her and Leah, yet they went above and beyond to make sure they were taken care of. She was also excited to meet Connie, the woman who had generously let her and her daughter stay in this nice little apartment with no expectations in return. It was refreshing to see that people like Luke, Beau, and Connie still existed in this world.

She removed the foil-wrapped burger from the bag and placed it on the coffee table before opening it up and taking a deep appreciative breath of its aroma. The onion rings looked homemade, and she picked one up, took a bite, and immediately moaned at its deliciousness.

"Oh my God, this is so good!" she exclaimed. "Connie, I don't know you yet, but you are an amazing cook." She then picked up the burger, took a bite, and moaned once again. It was hands down the best burger she had ever tasted. "You better hope we don't stay here too long, or I'll end up gaining fifty pounds from all this amazing food."

After finishing her meal, Bryce tossed the trash into the kitchen bin before returning to the living room to check on her daughter who was fast asleep. She knew she would wake up soon for her feeding. Walking back to the kitchen, she unpacked the bags containing Leah's essentials and put them away. She still couldn't believe that Connie had stocked the kitchen with everything they could possibly need. What a wonderful person she must be.

Bryce was in a deep slumber when she heard the faint fussing of her daughter. Glancing at the clock, she saw that it was time for Leah's next feeding. She tossed back the covers and made her way to the bassinet, carefully lifting her precious bundle and settling her on the bed. After changing her diaper, Bryce cradled Leah in her arms and carried her to the kitchen, turning on the lights as they entered.

The sudden brightness caused Bryce to squint as she reached into the fridge for a bottle. She deftly unscrewed the top, removed the nipple cap, and placed it in the microwave before setting the timer. As Leah continued to cry, Bryce held her close, murmuring soft words to soothe her until the bottle was ready.

Once heated, Bryce assembled the bottle and guided it gently to Leah's mouth. The baby girl eagerly suckled away while Bryce chuckled in delight. "You must be quite hungry," she cooed.

After finishing the bottle, Leah drifted off to sleep once again. Bryce carefully carried her back to their bedroom and tucked her into the bassinet. As she gazed down at her sleeping daughter, a single tear escaped her eye as she prayed that Mick would never find them. She knew he would do anything to take his baby from her, but she was determined to protect Leah with every ounce of strength she had.

The following morning, Bryce stumbled into the kitchen to make herself a much-needed cup of coffee when there was a knock on the door. Panic gripped her momentarily before she remembered that Mick had no idea where they were. Still cautious, she approached the door and peered through the peephole, relieved to see an older woman with blonde hair and realized it must be Connie.

Bryce quickly unlocked and opened the door with a grateful smile.

"Hi, I'm Connie," the woman introduced herself, holding out a plate of delicious-smelling food covered with aluminum foil. "I hope you like western omelets."

Bryce invited her inside and gratefully accepted the plate, setting it on the kitchen bar before wrapping her arms around the kind stranger.

"I'm Bryce. Thank you so much for this and for letting us stay here."

Connie smiled warmly. "Oh, honey, what else could I do? Leave you and your baby out in the cold?"

Bryce's eyes welled up with emotion. "Please, take off your coat and stay for a while."

Connie smiled and shook her head. "I wish I could, but it's breakfast time at the diner. Those cowboys get restless if they can't get their morning meal and coffee."

Bryce laughed, picturing the tough cowboys impatiently waiting for their food. "I'm sure they do. Thank you again for everything."

"It's fine, the apartment was empty. Usually I have someone living here, I prefer it to be occupied. Not that there's much crime in Clifton, but you never know," Connie said.

"I really appreciate what you, Luke, and Beau did for me, it's not often strangers go out of their way like that."

"Luke and Beau are good boys; they were raised right." Connie chuckled. "I know they're not boys anymore, but you know what I mean. Anyway, I should get going, the snow is starting to pick up. We'll make sure to salt the stairs for you. Even though you won't be using them, we don't want any accidents."

"Thank you. I didn't even realize it was snowing until I woke up. Leah kept me up most of the night."

"Do you think I could see her?"

"Of course, follow me."

Bryce led Connie to the bedroom where she smiled down at Leah in her bassinet.

"She's beautiful," Connie said with a smile.

"Thank you. Do you have any children, Connie?"

"No, unfortunately I couldn't have kids. But I have three nieces who are like my own daughters." Connie grinned.

"Oh, do they live in Clifton as well?"

"Yes, they're originally from New Mexico but they moved here after getting their hearts broken. They found love here and are now married to cowboys. Their cousin, Sloane, even came here after a nasty divorce. She opened the bakery across the street." Connie grinned. "She also met a cowboy and married him."

"Oh wow, that's amazing," Bryce said with a laugh.

"It seems to be a trend around here," Connie replied with a chuckle. "Well, I should probably head back before everyone thinks I abandoned them. If it's okay with you, I'll come back and visit again sometime."

"I'd love that," Bryce replied. "I'm sure I'll get bored being stuck inside."

"We all get stuck indoors during this time of year. The snow can get pretty deep and shut the towns down," Connie explained.

"I saw photos of Clifton and two other towns when I searched about this town, but I forget the names of the other two."

"Spring City, and Hartland. We're all small communities but we're very close-knit," Connie said with a smile. "Well, I should get going. If you need anything just call or text me." She wrote her number down on a piece of paper and handed it to Bryce. "I mean it."

"I will, thank you for everything." Bryce walked Connie to the door and hugged her before she left. "Please be careful on those stairs."

"I will, I'll make sure to get them salted for you. Bye." Connie made her way down the stairs and disappeared through the door at the bottom.

Bryce closed the door and shivered as the cold air seeped into the apartment. She made her way to the front window, where she could barely see through the heavy snowfall, but she did see the bakery sign across the street. After living in Minnesota for two years, she had grown accustomed to the snow, but she was still apprehensive about driving in it. When she lived in Seattle, there was hardly any snow, so she loved seeing it. It could be quite picturesque at times, but she also knew how dangerous it could be. She was grateful that it wasn't snowing on the night she gave birth to Leah; they both could have lost their lives.

As she sipped on a cup of coffee, Bryce gazed out the window and watched the snow continue to pile up. When she finished her drink, she placed the cup in the sink and checked on her daughter before deciding to take a quick shower.