Becca.â
âRebecca?â
She nodded. âAnd a pink toothbrush.â
Elizabeth brushed the blond hair out of her daughterâs eyes. âSounds like you had a full evening. Did you sleep all right?â
Mandy nodded. âI had one bad dream, but I hugged Mr. Bear and told him what had happened, and he said heâd take care of me until you were all better. Are you all better, Mommy?â
Elizabeth swallowed hard. Sheâd never loved anyone as much as she loved this little girl. She squeezed her. âAlmost, honey. The doctor is going to let me go home tomorrow morning.â
âAre we going to our house? The one with the bunnies?â
When she had accepted the job, Elizabeth had rented a house. While sheâd stood in the kitchen and looked out at the backyard, sheâd seen three rabbits scampering across the yard. Sheâd told Mandy about them and her daughter was very anxious to make their acquaintance. âNo. We canât move in there until October first. Thatâs about three more weeks.â
âSo where are we going tomorrow?â
Elizabeth could feel Travisâs gaze on her. Heâd asked the same question. She still didnât have a decent answer. âWeâll be fine.â
âOkay.â Mandy picked up her bear and slid off the bed. âTravis said we could go to the movies tonight, Mommy. He said we could have popcorn and hot dogs and candy.â Her body quivered with excitement. âAnd if Iâm really good, I can stay up past my bedtime.â
Travis cleared his throat. âShe wasnât supposed to tell you that last part.â
âI appreciate you doing this for me,â Elizabeth said, wondering how it had all gotten out of hand. âSheâs my responsibility and Iââ
Travis pushed to his feet and held out one hand to stop her. âYouâre not in L.A. anymore. Glenwood is a small town, Elizabeth Abbott, and we take care of our own. As of Thursday night, youâre one of us. Iâm on duty today, so Iâm going to take Mandy with me to the station. Weâre right across from the park. Iâll see that she gets exercise and decent food and is in bed by nine. My housekeeper promised to come by and make sure Iâm doing it all correctly.â
âWhy are you doing this?â
âBecause I donât have any plans for the weekend and Iâve always been a sucker for a pair of beautiful blue eyes.â
Elizabeth felt a rush of disappointment that her own eyes were brown. She wanted to believe him, believe that it was just about people helping each other. The way he said it, she was almost willing to buy into the myth of small towns. But sheâd believed before, had trusted before, and that trust had been betrayed.
âI hate to impose,â she said.
âYou donât have a choice,â he answered. âWhat else are you going to do with her?â
She glanced down at the IV needle taped to her hand. She didnât have an answer to that one, either. âThank you. Again.â
She looked up at him. Humor danced in his eyes, humor and a little bit of compassion. As long as it didnât change to pity, she could survive. And somehow, she would pay him back.
He retrieved his hat and settled it on his head; then heheld out his hand to Mandy. The little girl collected her giraffe and tucked it next to her bear. She grinned at her mother and slipped her hand in his. âBy, Mommy.â
âBy, honey.â
Elizabeth watched her daughter act so trustingly with this stranger. Maybe Mandy hadnât been scarred by the experience as badly as sheâd feared. Maybe Mandy was going to be fine.
Travis paused by the door and looked at her. The Stetson hid his eyes from view, but she saw the quick smile flash under his black mustache. Her heart fluttered foolishly. The man was handsome as sin.
âIâll call before the movie,â he said. âSo