A Cowboy’s Honor Read Online Free Page B

perfectly blended Misty’s parental heritage, not quite green, not quite blue.
    “Mommy?” Misty murmured, her voice uncertain, hesitant.
    “Yes, honey. Dallas is your daddy.” Gracie’s voice seemed to come from far away.
    Dallas studied his daughter, wondered how Misty could know his name.
    “I talked about you,” Gracie murmured.
    “My mommy told me a lot about you. Only she thought you were in Heaven.” Misty stared past him, unblinking. “But you’re not in Heaven. You’re right here.”
    “Yes, I am.” In that second Dallas understood what Gracie hadn’t been able to say.
    Misty was blind.
    His heart cracked, but he refused to allow pain to edge its way into his voice. Not now. Not while she waited for his reaction.
    “It’s very nice to meet you, Misty.” Dallas touched her hand, allowed her delicate fingers to wrap around his own. “You’re a very pretty girl. You look like your mommy.”
    “My mommy’s beautiful.” Misty’s smile reappeared. “I want to be just like her.”
    “I’m sure you do.” Uncertain if she’d accept a hug, Dallas kept his arms by his sides, leaving the decision to Misty. She stepped back, reaching toward her mother.
    Gracie grasped her hand but did not try to draw Misty away from him. Dallas was grateful for that. He wanted to know more about his daughter, he just wasn’t sure where to start.
    “Are you sure you’re my daddy?”
    He nodded, realized Misty wouldn’t see that. It would take time to get used to the situation, but even though he’d only met her, he knew he’d go to any lengths to protect this beautiful child.
    My daughter.
    “Yes, Misty. I really am your father. I’m Dallas Henderson.” He glanced at Gracie, trying to silently communicate his appreciation for the way she was allowing them to find their own way.
    “Oh.” Misty frowned, bow lips pursed in a peevish frown. “Didn’t you want to have a girl like me? Is that why you didn’t come visit us sooner?”
    Like me. The cautious question sent a message. Misty was afraid he wouldn’t love her. Because she was blind.
    The knowledge hit low and deep. Dallas steeled himself, turned his pain into a prayer, as he had ever since he’d woken from his coma.
    Oh, Lord, if only I’d been here for her, been able to reassure her that I’ll love her no matter what. Help me now.
    “No, Misty. That’s not why I didn’t come.” He knelt in front of her, pushed a golden strand off her face. “I couldn’t come because I didn’t remember anything about your mommy and I didn’t know how to find her. That’s why I never met you until now. I’m sorry.”
    Five years of his daughter’s life had passed without him, and there was nothing Dallas could do about that. He had to focus on now, on what they could have—if he handled this right.
    “Are you all better now?” She bumped against his arm like an awkward colt.
    “Mostly all better. I would have come sooner if I could have, Misty. Don’t ever think I wasn’t with you because I didn’t want to be.”
    “Okay.” She stood silent for several moments. Waiting.
    Though Dallas searched her face, he could not discern her reaction to his words. She hid her emotions well, just like her mother.
    We need time together, Lord.
    A whisper-soft sound from the love seat drew Misty’s attention. Dallas realized suddenly that though she couldn’t see, his daughter’s heightened senses made her aware of everything in the room. Misty would miss very little.
    “I have trouble with my memory,” he explained. “It’s kind of…broken.”
    “Like my dollhouse,” she said knowingly. “Your voice is sad. You’re not smiling.”
    “In my heart I’m wearing a very big smile,” he told her softly. “A little while ago I didn’t know I had a daughter. Now I can hardly believe I didn’t know it a long time ago.” Dallas glanced at Gracie, saw the tears in her eyes and knew she had thought about this moment many times.
    Probably feared it,