Earth and Sky

in a blanket, Hunter lifted Matthew into his arms and walked back to the kitchen.

    “Grant, can you drive us to Miranda’s mother’s house?”

    Grant looked up with a questioning look, and Hunter didn’t miss Hugh and Izzie’s stunned reaction either, but Grant didn’t ask any questions. He picked the keys to the truck off the kitchen counter and led the way.

    “So what is this all about?” Grant asked en route to town.

    “Apparently my mother told Miranda not to come to the house.”

    “Miranda wanted to see Mattie?” Grant asked, looking at Hunter.

    “Watch the road,” Hunter said sternly. He sighed. “I’m not Miranda’s biggest fan, especially not after she left Mattie alone in the hospital, and I’m not doing this for her. I’m doing it for him. He might want to know who his mother is one day, and I don’t have the heart to tell him she lives just down the road, but we didn’t want him to know. If she’s willing to acknowledge him, I’ll find a way to explain to him why he’s being raised by two men and not his mother.”

    Grant stopped the truck on the soft shoulder and cut the engine. He put his hand on Hunter’s thigh. “What if she wants to start raising him, Cowboy?”

    Hunter let his head fall back against the seat of the truck. He could feel Mattie’s shallow breathing and fast heartbeat through his shirt, and remembering all the sleepless nights trying to get him to settle down made his eyes well up. When he looked at his son, a tear fell on the baby’s soft hair, and he wiped it away.

    “She gave him to me, Grant. If it hadn’t been for her, I wouldn’t have had a son. I’m his legal guardian, and I have every intention of raising him. She hasn’t worked for over a year and lives with her mother. She doesn’t have the financial means to support him.”

    Grant cocked his head. “I’m afraid the courts don’t always take that into account. Around here, if she petitions for custody, they might very well give it to her simply because she’s his mother.”

    “And I’m his father. I have just as much right. I’m the one who brought him home from the hospital. If it had been up to her, he would still be there.”

    Grant nodded, started the truck again, and pulled out onto the road.

    Hunter knew Grant was right. In his heart, he felt he needed to give Matthew the chance to get to know his mother, but the risk was a real one. If Miranda understood that Mattie was a happy child, despite his disabilities, and that taking care of him was not the hardship she’d imagined, she might get it into her head that she wanted more than the occasional visit. Hunter couldn’t bear the thought that he’d lose his son.

    The truck stopped, and Hunter looked at his lover when Grant placed a hand on his knee.

    “You sure about this?”

    Hunter nodded. “Just stay with me, okay? I want her to see both of us with Mattie.”

    Grant agreed reluctantly.

    Hunter knew the visit was totally unannounced, so he braced himself for rejection. To his surprise, it was Miranda herself who opened the door. She looked even smaller than Hunter remembered, although she wore a bright summer dress and looked healthier than the last time they’d visited, just before he met his son for the first time.

    “Hi, Mir,” Hunter said softly.

    She smiled shyly and nodded at the men. “Hunter, Grant. Why don’t you come inside? So what brings you here?” Her eyes traveled to the bundled-up infant in Hunter’s arms and stayed there, even after Grant and Hunter walked into the living room and settled on the couch together.

    “I thought it was time you got to know Matthew,” Hunter said calmly.

    Her eyes still stayed on Matthew. “You don’t want him anymore?”

    “For heaven’s sake, he’s not a puppy,” Grant intervened, earning him a stern look from Hunter.

    “No, Miranda,” Hunter agreed. “To the contrary. I’ll always be there to raise him, and so will Grant.” Hunter looked at Grant again, who still sported a concerned look. “But I feel Mattie should have the chance to get to know his mother as well, especially if she lives in the same area. So I thought I’d introduce the two of you and offer an invitation to come see him at the ranch any time you like.”

    “Your mother doesn’t want me there,” Miranda said, barely audible.

    “She can say who’s allowed in her house, but I run the ranch, and I say who’s allowed on the property. Besides, both Grant and I