And I would avenge him.
Jonathan was wrong about me.
I could take care of Daphne and avenge Murphy.
I could do both.
I could do it all, and I damned well would.
I had a lot to think about.
One thing I knew for sure. I needed to build a legacy for my wife and child, and to do that, I needed all information at my disposal.
Which meant one thing.
Daphne and I weren’t going back to college.
Chapter Thirty-Four
Daphne
Eight Months Later…
He was perfect.
My perfect little dove.
He was a boy, as I’d always known, and though I’d gone through the worst pain imaginable to bring him into this world, I’d do it all again in a heartbeat.
I’d chosen his name a few weeks earlier.
Jonah, which meant dove, because he’d always be my little dove. His middle name was Bradford after his father.
Jonah Bradford Steel.
My son.
My beautiful son.
Brad had let me name him, said I’d do a better job than he ever could.
“It’s a perfect name,” he told me. “For our perfect child.”
I held my newborn son and gazed down at his full head of dark hair. His eyes were dark blue, but there wasn’t a doubt in my mind that they’d turn dark brown like his father’s.
“Are you hungry, little dove?”
The nurses had shown me how to breastfeed him, and though we hadn’t had a lot of luck at first, he was finally getting the hang of it. My nipples were sore as all get-out, but they’d toughen up, everyone promised.
Didn’t matter. I didn’t care. All that mattered was Jonah. If I had to deal with sore nipples for him to get the nutrition to begin his growth into a strong man like his father, that was what I’d do.
I’d been home from the hospital a day now. My mother was visiting, and she and Mazie hovered over me and little Joe like flies milling around honey. I was happy to have them here.
My one regret?
George hadn’t lived to see the grandson he’d wanted so badly.
He’d succumbed to a heart attack a month before little Joe’s birth.
Now Brad—my sweet husband—owned the Steel ranch.
All of it.
George’s legacy was now Brad’s legacy.
The doorbell rang. I stood, ready to place little Joe in his bassinet, but Mazie was already sailing toward the door. “Sit down, dear. I’ll get that.”
Happy to keep my child in my arms a little longer, I sat.
A few minutes later, Mazie bustled back to the family room. “Visitors!”
I smiled. Patty and Ennis descended the small stairway into the family room. They were still together and happy.
“Daph!” Patty exclaimed. “Let me see that baby!”
“He’s right here,” I said. “Shouldn’t you guys be knee-deep in finals right now?”
“We both got done early,” Patty said, “and we couldn’t wait to come visit.”
“All my finals but one were papers,” Ennis added, “and Pat here said if I didn’t get them in early so we could come see you, she’d never forgive me.”
Patty swatted him. “I didn’t say that. You did.”
Ennis laughed. “Either way, we both wanted to see you and your new addition. He’s gorgeous, love.”
“I’m sure I’m biased,” I said, “but I think he’s the most beautiful baby ever born.”
Patty sighed and sat down next to me on the arm of my chair. “I’ve missed you so much. I was so bummed when you and Brad didn’t come back to school after the wedding.”
“I know. I was too.” I kissed little Joe’s forehead. “But Brad was needed here, and my place is with him.”
“Do you think you’ll go back to college someday?” she asked.
“I plan to. Eventually. Right now I could never leave Jonah.”
“A beautiful name,” she said.
“Thanks. I like it. It means dove. I called him little dove while I was carrying him.”
“It’s a shame Brad couldn’t finish his last year,” Ennis said.
“He did finish,” I told them. “He made arrangements to complete his senior year by mail.”
“You can do that?” Ennis asked.
“Apparently,” I said, “when you’re a Steel.”
“Why didn’t you finish that way?”
“I could have, but I declined. After the wedding, I had some…health issues.”
“Oh?” Patty said. “And you didn’t tell me?”
“I didn’t want to worry you guys,” I said. “I’m fine. The pregnancy was difficult, though. When the nausea finally ended, I had other issues and ended up on bed rest. I didn’t think I could do my best at school being so tired all the time.”
It was the truth but only a half truth. The real truth was that I’d lost some time during the pregnancy. I’d had every intention of keeping up with my studies, once Brad and George arranged for the mail option, but my mind went kind of berserk a few times. The episodes didn’t last long, and the doctor wasn’t overly concerned. He said hormones did funny things to your brain. He called it pregnancy brain.
I knew it was something more, though.