“Even though Tom’s still as stubborn as ever,” she said, “I can see that after a month on the ranch, he’s developed strong paternal instincts. I suppose all my efforts weren’t in vain.”
Their voices were like background noise. I ignored them completely, slipped off my shoes and stepped into the barn.
“Baby, Daddy’s home,” I called out.
Ginny’s pupils contracted sharply. She rushed in after me, panic lacing her voice.
“Why the hell is our daughter in a barn with livestock? Let Mommy see you, sweetheart!”
Everyone looked on with confusion and disbelief as I gently cradled the calf in my arms, softly patting its back and humming a lullaby.
“Rock-a-bye, baby… on grandma’s bridge…”
Ginny’s expression twisted with rage and panic.
“Where is our daughter?! Tom, have you lost your mind? You’re rocking a damn calf!”
The calf shrank back in fear and I immediately held it tighter, shielding it from her with a fierce glare.
She froze under my gaze and turned to the ranch owner, face darkening.
“I sent my husband here to recuperate—how did he turn into a lunatic in just one month?!”
The ranch owner looked like he was on the verge of tears. “President Yelts, I have no idea what happened either. I personally arranged for him and your daughter to stay in the best suite on the ranch. But he insisted on moving into the barn instead.”
Ginny frowned deeply, clearly trying to piece things together.
Steve stepped forward, tears glistening in her eyes as she choked out her words.
“I understand now. Tom is still blaming me in his heart. I… I lost my wife. I didn’t know how to raise a child on my own. I shouldn’t have caused you trouble, Ginny.”
“You’ve done so much for me, Ginny. No matter what Tom does, I won’t hold it against him. If he hadn’t hurt the child, I never would have exposed what happened. I never wanted to be the reason he was sent to this ranch in the first place.”
Her few carefully chosen words were enough to ignite Ginny’s anger all over again.
“Tom Hardy,” she snapped. “I thought your soul might be cleansed after a month immersed in nature. I had hoped you would reflect and change.”
“But I see now… some people are just rotten to the core.”
“You’re using this pathetic act to try and win sympathy, to make Steve look bad in front of me?!”
Ginny lunged at me, determined to tear the calf from my arms by force.