Teresa Bodwell by Loving Miranda

Doc don’t really know much about it.” Pa’s voice rose in a rare burst of anger. “When that bull knocked me senseless, something happened inside my head. Sometimes I get dizzy, sometimes I forget things. Don’t know when it’s gonna happen. Don’t know when I’m gonna die either. No point in coddling me.”
    Thad grinned. “You’re too stubborn to go before your grandchild is born. I’m certain of that.”
    “There’s nothing wrong with a little good, honest. . . persistence.” Pa threw a challenging look at Thad.
    “Not so long as it is laced with a bit of good sense,” Miranda spoke up. “Thad’s right, Pa. You need to be more careful.”
    “Land’s sakes, child.” Pa stopped halfway across the yard and cast a tense look at his younger daughter. “I was only trying to build a cradle, not as if I was chasin’ down a bull.”
    Mercy walked up to them, wearing a worried look. “Pa”—she glanced at Thad—“we were scared half to death.”
    “How’s my grandson?”
    “He cut his finger.”
    “You mean I did.”
    Miranda noticed Mercy hesitated before responding. “Jonathan said the plane slipped when you fell.”
    Pa sighed. “I’d best not work with the boy—”
    “Nonsense,” Mercy interrupted. “It was an accident that could have happened to anyone.”
    “You’re the one speaking nonsense, Mrs. Buchanan,” Ben nearly shouted. “The old man is right. He’s a danger to the boy.”
    Miranda stepped between Ben and the others. “My pa is no danger to Jonathan. He loves the boy. He wouldn’t hurt him—”
    “If he could help it.” Ben glared at her. “But it’s obvious that—”
    Miranda stepped up to him, laying a hand on his chest and tilting her head up to look him in the eye. “This is family business. You don’t have any right—”
    “He’s my blood, not yours.”
    “And where the hell were you and the rest of the Lansings for the past year, when Jonathan needed you?” Miranda shouted. “You and your whole damn family were—”
    “I can’t speak for them.” Ben’s voice came from deep in his throat. “ I came here as soon as I heard.”
    “We’re not going to solve anything standing in the yard shouting.” At the sound of Thad’s quiet drawl, Miranda jerked her hand away from Ben’s chest. “Let’s get Pa inside so he can rest,” Thad continued, “then we’ll talk .”
    Ben backed away to let the others pass. Miranda’s face flamed as she watched her sister and brother-in-law take Pa into the house. She rubbed her palm against her skirt, trying to smother the memory of her hand pressing against Ben’s solid chest. Aw, hell. If this was her reaction to a self-important meddler like Benjamin Lansing, heaven help her if she actually liked the man. She had to get better sense. Somehow, she would.
    As her family stepped onto the porch, Miranda turned to Ben. “I’m sorry if I was sharp with you.”
    His eyebrows rose. “ If you were sharp?” He grinned, the first genuine smile she’d seen him wear. “I don’t think there’s any question about it.”
    His smile brought a light to his eyes that threatened to melt her resolve. She refused to allow her lips to curve upward. “You have to understand, I’ll do what I must to protect my family.”
    “I do understand.” Ben schooled his features to match Miranda’s serious expression. “I feel the same way about mine. Jonathan is my responsibility far more than he is yours.”
    The words spilled out of their own accord, but Ben couldn’t regret them. Up until that moment he had assumed that he’d lost the only family he’d ever be willing to fight for on the day his mother died. Now, he felt a surprising urge to protect an innocent little boy, even if it meant delaying his planned exile.
    He might even consider taking the boy with him. Lord help him, he was even willing to suffer the temptation of fiery blue eyes that invited exploring, a freckled nose that demanded to be kissed, and a proud,