by Carrie Carr
"Hey, Hubert? Do you have a minute?" Larry Buchanan was pushing eighty, and time had bent his frail body. He caught up to his future son-in-law and peered over his bifocals at the taller man. "Have you heard from Ramona?"
"She called me last night, and said she hoped to be back in a few days. Would you like me to have her call you if I hear from her tonight?"
Larry shook his head. "Nah. She doesn't get a chance to see her mother that often. I'd hate to bring the wrath of the old biddy down on me, if she heard I'd asked." His ex-wife lived in Tulsa, and even the distance hadn't softened their tempestuous relationship. "I just wanted to make sure Ramona was okay."
Hubert loosened his tie and lightly patted the old man's shoulder. "She's great, but can't wait to come home."
"That sounds like my Ramona." Larry waved him off. "You'd better get on home, yourself. I'm betting that apartment you two share needs some cleaning, since she's been gone for a week."
Laughing, Hubert nodded. "You know me too well, Larry. It's going to take me a couple of days to get rid of the pizza boxes."
"Then I'll see you back here, day after tomorrow. I don't want my daughter to come home to a messy place."
"You're a lifesaver, Larry." Hubert saluted the old man as he stepped out the rear door.
He stopped at his truck to leave his vest and tie. The old Chevrolet had seen better days, but he was proud of paying cash for it. At first glance, a person would be hard-pressed to identify the original paint color. Whatever wasn't rusted, was either coated in gray primer or a different color altogether.
Unable to put off the inevitable, Hubert strolled across the parking lot to the sandwich shop. He opened the door and saw the blonde sitting in a booth at the back.
She stood and met him halfway. "I wasn't sure you'd come."
"Me, either," Hubert admitted. He stuffed his hands into his khaki slacks and tried to fight off his discomfort. "So, what did you want to talk about?"
"You really don't remember me, do you?"
He shook his head. "You look a little familiar, but no, I'm sorry. I don't."
The blonde took his arm and pulled him toward the back booth.
"Let me try to refresh your memory. My name's Dina." At his blank look, she added, "Dina Hoglund." He continued to shake his head. "Think back, about a year ago."
"A year?" He blinked in confusion when they arrived at the booth. "Wait. Uh, isn't that--"
Dina hefted an oversized bag and handed it to him. "Your son," she finished for him, gesturing to the sleeping baby in the infant seat.
"Mine? B--b--but how?" he stammered, holding the bag to his chest.
"You're a big boy. I'm sure you're familiar with the birds and bees." When he frowned she continued, "Sugar Babies? I was a dancer?"
Hubert's eyes widened as clues fit into place. After Ramona had turned down his second proposal, he had driven to the nearest place that served alcohol and proceeded to try and drink himself into oblivion. He vaguely remembered a frantic groping session in the parking lot of the club, with a faceless blonde woman who had been more than eager to accept his drunken attentions. It escalated into a weekend of booze, sex and the worst hangover he'd ever had. "But, really? Mine? Are you sure?"
"Honey, I may have been a stripper, but I wasn't easy. There was just something about you that I couldn't resist. You're the only man I was with in the past three years. He's yours, all right. I've been looking for you ever since I found out I was pregnant. It cost me a chunk of my savings, but the private detective I hired finally caught up to you." Dina picked up her purse and dug through it, before handing Hubert an envelope. "There's his birth certificate, and a notarized paper giving you all legal rights to your son. I named him Edward Lee, and you're listed as his father."
"But, I can't--"
She kissed his cheek. "Sure you can. I've got a job waiting for me a long way away from this shitty town, and a kid isn't part of my plans. Have a good life, daddy."
Hubert watched as Dina walked out the door. A quiet squeak from the baby carrier in the booth caught his attention. "Shit."
ONCE HUBERT GOT the child to his apartment, he placed the carrier in the middle of the bed he shared with Ramona. "What the hell am I gonna do with you?" he asked the baby. Blue eyes, lighter than his own, tracked to his face as the infant looked at him. "Ramona won't understand. Hell, I don't understand." He brushed his hand through his hair, which had turned completely gray while he was in prison.
The baby cooed and kicked. It waved a tiny hand in the air.
"It's nothing personal. But I'm the last person who should be raising a kid, you know?" Hubert held out a finger, which the baby immediately grasped. "Hell." He paused. "I mean, heck. I was thrilled to hook up with a woman who didn't want kids any more than I did. We're old enough to be your grandparents."
With his free hand, Hubert picked up the birth certificate and looked at it. "Edward Lee Walters. What a kick in the pants, huh?" When the baby started chewing on his finger, Hubert couldn't help but grin. "Guess that means you're hungry. Hope your mom left instructions in that bag of hers." He awkwardly lifted Edward and carried him into the living room, where he'd dropped the diaper bag.
One bottle and a nauseating diaper later, Hubert put his son back into the carrier. He glanced at the digital alarm clock on the nightstand and sighed. "It's getting late, and keeping you here isn't doing me any good. Guess I'll drop you off at the nearest fire station. I've heard that's the best thing to do."
Hubert hooked the bag's strap over one shoulder and lifted the carrier in his other hand. He picked up the plastic grocery bag that he had put the dirty diaper in, and locked the apartment door behind him. At the end of the hall, he dropped the smelly bag into a trash can. "Son, that was the nastiest thing I've ever smelled in my life," he told the baby as they headed down the stairs. "And I grew up on a ranch."
Half an hour later, Hubert cruised by the fire station--for the third time. He looked across the seat at his son, who was quietly chewing on a little fist. "I can't do it, Eddie. I can't just drop you off like that." He pulled into a vacant parking lot and turned off the truck, to contemplate his next move. "You're family, son. Even I'm not that big of an assho-, I mean, jerk. There's no way I can just dump you with strangers." He drummed his fingers on the steering wheel as he stared off into the night.
LEX SAT ON the edge of the bed and gingerly pulled on her boots. It had been a week since Thanksgiving, but she was still sore from the hit she took to her back. She tried to ignore the irritated look she got from her wife, who stood by the French doors with her arms crossed. At the sound of a heavy sigh, she fought back one of her own. "Go ahead and say it."
"What?" Amanda snapped. She turned away and looked out the doors into the hazy morning.
Slowly standing, Lex brushed her hands down her jeans to settle them over her boots. She moved to stand behind Amanda. "I wouldn't be going if it wasn't important."
Amanda felt Lex's hands on her hips and relaxed in spite of her anger. She leaned back into Lex's body, causing Lex's hands to slip around her waist and rest on her stomach. "I know. But do you understand how I feel? I've spent the last week watching you try to move around. The thought of you doing more damage to your back scares the hell out of me."
"I won't," Lex vowed. She kissed Amanda's head and closed her
eyes. "Roy hired a few extra guys for the day. I'm only going to supervise. Since this is the first shipment of cattle to Houston, I really want to be there to make sure things go right."
"God, I hate when you're reasonable." Amanda turned and linked her hands behind Lex's neck. "How am I supposed to stay mad at you?"
Lex grinned. "You're not." She lowered her face and kissed Amanda, who tightened her grip. Once they separated, she kissed the tip of Amanda's nose. "The guys and truck will go directly to the loading pens off the south road. We should be finished before lunch, as long as the weather holds." The local news had predicted a winter storm for the day, but so far
, the skies were only overcast.
"That's fine, love. Just remember your promise." Amanda straightened the collar on Lex's denim shirt.
"I don't think you have anything to worry about. I'll be good. Walk me downstairs?"
Amanda put her arm around Lex's waist. "Of course. Someone has to make sure you remember your coat."
As they walked slowly down the stairs, Amanda tightened her grip. "You sure you're up to this?"
"Yep. I'm mainly stiff. Once I move around a little, I'll be fine." Lex headed for the back door. She stood patiently as Amanda helped her with her coat, and placed her black cowboy hat on her head. She stopped the helpful hands from buttoning her duster. "It's okay, sweetheart."
"Sorry." Amanda looked into Lex's eyes. "Too much?"
"Never." Lex kissed her. "I've got to go."
Amanda sighed. "Be careful."
"I promise." Lex opened the back door and started down the steps. She straightened her back and walked with purpose, to prove she was feeling all right.
"Smartass," Amanda mumbled. She waited until Lex drove away before she closed the back door. With the girls in school, the house was eerily quiet. "Guess this would be a great time to get caught up on the laundry and housework." Amanda paused at the foot of the stairs. "Or my blog." She grinned and jogged upstairs to get her laptop.
THE GROCERY STORE was practically empty at such an early hour, for which Hubert was thankful. He searched the aisles, pushing a cart with one hand, while trying to comfort his crying son in the other. "Sssh. Come on, now, Eddie. Give your old man a break. I'm doing the best I can." He arrived at the baby aisle, stopped, and stared at the huge selection of products. "How in the hell am I supposed to know what to get?"
"You sound like my husband," a female voice said behind him.
Hubert turned and saw a petite woman, wearing a shirt with the store's name across one breast. "Um, yeah. Most of us guys are pretty clueless when it comes to stuff like this," he said, with a wry smile. "My, uh, girlfriend went to visit her mother, and this is the first time Eddie and I were left alone."
The younger woman nodded. "Let me guess. You lost the instructions she left for you." She stepped closer and held out her hands. "Here, let me try."
"Sure. Thanks." Hubert handed the screaming baby to the woman, and was completely amazed when the infant silenced. "How the hell did you do that?"
"It's the Mom gene. How long has your girlfriend been gone?"
"Since around four yesterday afternoon. Why?"
She patted Eddie lightly on the rear. "I'm betting this little guy is missing his mommy."
"Probably so." Hubert scratched at his beard. "Um, you wouldn't happen to know what kind of baby milk and diapers I should use with him, would you?"
The woman smiled at him. "Ran out, huh?"
"Completely." With his hands stuffed in the front pockets of his khaki slacks, Hubert tried his best to charm the woman. "I'd really appreciate any help I could get."
"No problem." She wrinkled her nose when a putrid odor assailed her senses. "Just in time, I think."
Hubert laughed. "If you'll help me figure out what diapers to buy, I'll get him changed." He watched as the woman opened the one-piece cotton jumper and looked at the front of the diaper. She pointed to a brand on the shelf, which Hubert grabbed and tossed in his cart. "What about the milk?"
"I used that one with my kids and it seemed to work well," she said, gesturing to a large display. "Follow the directions on the back, and you shouldn't have any problems."
"Thanks." He picked up several cans. "Anything else?"
She shrugged her shoulders. "Do you have enough baby wipes, diaper cream, powder?"
"Um--"
"Do you at least have a diaper bag?"
He nodded. "It's in my truck. Should I go get it?"
"I just got off work a few minutes ago. Once you get checked out, I'll follow you outside, okay?"
"Thanks. You're a lifesaver." He held out a hand. "I'm Hubert."
She propped Eddie onto her shoulder and shook his hand. "Tonya." Eddie started to fuss. "I think he's tired of wearing a smelly diaper."
"Oh. Right." Hubert took Eddie from her and headed for the front of the store.
LEX ARRIVED AT the holding pens in time to see her foreman giving last-minute instructions to a group of men. She parked her truck on the opposite side of the pens. The cold, damp wind caused Lex to shove her hat down tighter on her head and walk as quickly as she could to where the men were standing.
Roy noticed her arrival and nodded. "Hey, boss."
"Roy," Lex acknowledged. She dipped her head toward the rest of the men. "Thanks for coming out this morning, guys."
Several voices answered at once, all seemingly glad to be there. Roy tugged his western hat lower over his eyes in an attempt to block the wind. "We're missing one guy, but since he's coming from town, I figure he'll get here soon."
The rumbling of a large truck and trailer halted their conversation. Roy looked to Lex, who nodded. "Chet, you want to guide the truck to the loading chute? The rest of y'all, you know what to do."
More sounds of agreement, as each man moved to his position. Roy waited until he and Lex were alone, before speaking. "I wasn't sure you would be here this morning, Lex."
"Me either," she said quietly. "I knew you could handle things, but you know how I am."
He laughed. "Yeah. Did your boss give you much trouble?"
"Yep. But you know all about that sort of thing now, don't you?" Lex chuckled at the chagrined look on Roy's face. "Your wife is almost as bad as mine."
Roy lightly clapped Lex on one shoulder. "Uh-huh. I'm going to make sure Chet doesn't let that truck knock over the fence. Take it easy, Lex."
She flipped the collar of her duster up to block the cold air. "Damned nanny goat," she grumbled, good-naturedly. But she decided to stay right where she was, unless she was needed.
AMANDA WAS COMFORTABLY ensconced in one corner of the leather sofa, her feet stretched out across the cushions. She passionately typed on her laptop, the words flowing easily. The ringing of the doorbell caused her to look up in irritation. "Damn." She looked at the clock on the fireplace mantel and frowned. Lex had only been gone an hour.
When the doorbell rang again, she placed her laptop on the coffee table and stood. "I'm coming," she called out. Figuring it was one of the new hires, she grumbled, "I don't know why men can't follow simple instructions." She opened the front door and saw a gray-haired man with a matching beard, holding something in his arms. "I'm sorry. You need to go farther west on the highway, to the holding pens."
The man lifted his head and gave her a cautious smile. "Um, Amanda?"
Amanda blinked and tried to make sense of what she saw. The slender, quiet man was a world apart from her memories. "Hubert?"
"Uh, yeah." He held the bundle tighter to his chest. "I wouldn't blame you for saying no, but can I come in? It's colder than a welldigger's ass out here."
His gentle request caught her off guard. "Sure." She stepped back and allowed him to come inside. "Go into the den. I have a fire going." Belatedly, she noticed a denim bag slung across one of Hubert's shoulders.
"Thanks."
Amanda stared at his back as he walked into the den. "Lex, I hope you get home soon," she murmured. When she saw Hubert open the blanket he'd been holding, Amanda almost stumbled. "Is that--"
"Yeah." Hubert removed the diaper bag from his shoulder and dropped it onto a chair. "This is my son. He was a pretty big surprise to me, too." When Amanda moved closer, he held out the sleeping infant. "Do you mind if I use your bathroom? It's been a long drive."
Amanda took the baby. "Um, sure." She couldn't help but smile at the feel of the child in her arms. With one finger, she lightly brushed the small amount of dark hair. "You sure are a precious one." She carefully rocked him in her arms for several minutes, before a tiny squeak was emitted.
The baby frowned, then slowly opened his eyes. The light-blue orbs
tracked to Amanda's face. He kicked his legs and smiled.
"Oh, you're definitely going to be a heartbreaker," she whispered.
Hubert returned and watched as Amanda was charmed by his son. "He's something, isn't he?"
"Yes, he is." When she made a move to hand the baby to Hubert, he shook his head.
"I think he's happy, right where he is."
Amanda didn't argue, but moved to sit on the sofa. "If you're looking for Lex, she's not here right now."
"That's okay." Hubert sat in the chair to the right of the sofa and leaned forward. "I'm sorry I just showed up unannounced, but I was afraid of the reception I'd get."
"Considering everything that's happened, could you blame us?"
He shook his head. "No, not at all. As a matter of fact, if it hadn't been for Eddie there, I'd have probably stayed out of your lives forever." Hubert looked at the floor and weighed his words carefully. "I got out of prison a couple of years ago. Then I was placed in a work program as a condition of my parole." He raised his head and met Amanda's gaze, before reaching into his back pocket and removing his wallet. "I met this woman, Ramona." He dug out a photo, stretched across and handed the picture to Amanda.
Amanda studied the photo. In it, Hubert stood with his arm around a sturdily built, older woman. "You both look very happy," she said, returning the picture.
"Yeah. She's done a lot for me." He tucked it safely away and returned the wallet to his pocket. "About a year ago, I asked her to marry me--for the second time. She told me no, and I kinda lost my mind. I went on a drinking binge for the weekend." Hubert nodded toward the baby. "He's the result of that."
"Oh." Amanda grimaced. "And Ramona?"
"She doesn't know." Hubert stood and put his hands in his front pockets. "Hell, I didn't know until yesterday afternoon."
"What about Eddie's mother?"
Hubert shook his head. "She took off."
"What?" Amanda glanced down at the baby. "How could anyone desert their child?" She struggled to keep from crying at the injustice of the situation.
