Harlequin Historical May 2021--Box Set 2 of 2

by Elizabeth Rolls

  Emily grabbed hold of Connor’s hand, but rather than shaking it, she pulled him toward the driveway. “Come on, Mr. McCormick, we gotta move or we’ll get dusty. Even in our mouths.”

  “Oh, we don’t want that,” he said and jogged beside her as she ran to the driveway.

  “Bye!” Mr. Whipple shouted out his window. “Oh, and thanks for getting that railroad track fixed, Mr. McCormick! We’d been working on that for months!”

  Jenny, walking behind Connor and Emily, turned to watch Mr. Whipple drive away, wondering why he’d thank Connor for the railroad crossing. Until it dawned on her. He must have used his influence to get the county to haul gravel out and fill in the crossing.

  “Hurry, Mommy! You’ll get dusty!” Emily shouted over her shoulder, still holding on to Connor’s hand.

  Her daughter’s friendliness wasn’t surprising. Having so many pregnant girls live with them over the years, Emily wasn’t shy, and immediately made everyone feel welcomed. Jenny had taught her to be that way, and couldn’t be upset that she was just as welcoming to Connor.

  Jenny arrived at the edge of the driveway, out of the way of the plume of dust churned up by the bus tires in time to hear Emily questioning Connor about a telephone.

  “Do you have a telephone with you? One I could touch? And listen to it ring? And talk in it?”

  He once again knelt down so Emily could look at him without craning her neck. “No, I’m sorry—I don’t, but I do have something for you.”

  “You do?” Emily clasped her hands together and held them under her chin as if praying. “What?”

  Connor looked at her, and Jenny felt a tug on her heart. He was asking for her permission. He should have done that before telling Emily because now, if she said no, she was the one Emily would be upset with. So would Connor, the pleading was as strong in his eyes as in Emily’s. Huffing out a sigh, Jenny nodded.

  With a grin, he set the bag on the ground and dug in it. “I hope you like storybooks.”

  “I do!” Emily said, bouncing again. “I do.”

  He pulled a book out of the bag.

  Emily squealed, covering up whatever he’d said.

  “Mommy! It’s the teddy bear book!”

  Recognizing the popular book, Jenny nodded. “I see that.”

  Connor handed Emily the book and she hugged it close. “Mrs. Whipple read this book to us! It’s so good!”

  “Well.” Connor stuck his hand in the bag again. “Does Mrs. Whipple have the teddy bear that is in the book?”

  Emily shook her head.

  He pulled out a mohair stuffed bear. “You do!”

  Emily squealed louder than before. “It’s Pooh!”

  Jenny had no idea how Connor had done it, but he could never have picked out a more perfect gift for Emily.

  “Mommy, look!”

  “I see, honey.” Jenny had to swallow against the welling in her throat. “What do you say to Mr. McCormick?”

  “Thank you, Mr. McCormick,” Emily said.

  “You are very welcome, Emily,” he replied. “I’m glad that you like them.”

  “I do. I really do.”

  He held the bag open by the twine handles. “Would you like to put them in the bag so they are easier to carry?”

  Emily hugged the bear and the book, then nodded and carefully lowered them into the bag. Then, much to Jenny’s surprise, rather than pick up the bag, Emily leaped forward and wrapped her arms around Connor’s neck.

  “I’ll love them forever, Mr. McCormick,” she said reverently.

  The sight of him, so big and strong, hugging Emily so tenderly, was enough to make Jenny’s eyes sting.

  “I know that bear will love you forever, too, Emily,” he said softly. When they separated, he handed Emily the bag. “I’m wondering if you could do me a favor?”

  Emily nodded.

  “I have a stuffed toy for William, too, and Annie, and the other babies that will be born soon,” he said. “Would you be able to pass them out for me?”

  “Yes, I can do that. I pass out papers at school all the time.”

  He stood and took Emily’s hand. “I thought you might, and that you would be the perfect person to do this for me. They are in my car. It’s parked around the corner.”

  Carrying her bag of treasures, Emily looked up at him as they walked, “Mr. McCormick, the babies aren’t born yet, so I can’t give them anything.”

  He nodded. “That’s right. I was hoping you could keep the stuffed toys and pass them out when the babies are born.”

  “Oh, I can do that! Can’t I, Mommy?”

  Walking on Emily’s other side, Jenny nodded when her daughter looked up at her. “Yes, you can.”

  At his car, Connor collected another paper bag out of the car and told Emily she could decide which stuffed toy to give to whom.

  “Can I go give William his now, Mommy?” Emily asked.

  “Yes, you may.”

  With a bag in each hand, Emily took off for the house at a full run.

  Jenny took a step to follow, but Connor laid a hand on her arm. “May I speak with you for a moment, in private? It’s important.”

  The seriousness on his face made a chill ripple over her skin, leaving goose bumps on her arms.

  CHAPTER TEN

  Jenny was wearing a red-and-white-plaid dress, with a red scarf tied at the nape of her neck, leaving her long hair to hang down her back, and a dirt smudge on her left cheek, and Connor swore there had never been another woman who looked more beautiful than she did at this moment. He’d missed her. Despite how hard he’d told himself not to, he had.

  He’d finally given in and justified that it was impossible not to miss her because everything he’d been doing had been because of her. It wasn’t over yet, either. Neither was the desire to kiss her. That had made itself more adamant since pulling in the driveway. It had grown even more when she’d looked at him with her eyes all soft and glistening after he’d given Emily the gifts.

  He hadn’t bought the book or teddy bear to gain Jenny’s affection, or Emily’s. They’d simply caught his eye in a store window in Massachusetts after he’d left the home for unwed mothers and had made him think of all the children here. All the young mothers Jenny had helped.

  She was extraordinarily remarkable, and dedicated, and beautiful.

  He’d parked his car near the curve, and guided her to the car, where he’d left the envelope he had for her. He truly wanted to help her, wanted to ease her burdens, because despite the years, he still cared for her.

  Deeply.

  Brushing a clump of hair off her forehead, he said, “I’ve missed you, Jenny.”

  She diverted her gaze. “Is that what you wanted to discuss? Because—”

  That hadn’t been the reason. He was simply being honest. “No, but I do want you to know that, because I have.” He cupped her cheek. “I’ve missed you for years, but the last few days I missed you even more.”

  She closed her eyes and pinched her lips together, as if she was stopping herself from speaking.

  The desire was too great to ignore any longer. “I want to kiss you, Jenny.”

  Her eyes snapped open and he saw desire blazing in them.

  He gave her a moment to stop him, and when she didn’t, he leaned forward and pressed his lips to hers. Briefly at first, savoring the warmth of her lips, the pressure of them against his. He understood this wasn’t the Jenny he’d kissed so easily in the past. That Jenny no longer existed. Life had turned her wary and he didn’t want to do anything to cause her to distrust him again.

  Slowly, he pulled back to end the kiss.

  She gasped slightly, and then her arms came up, around his neck and she stretched on her toes, keeping their lips touching.

  Keeping her vulnerabilities in mind, and his own, he wrapped his
arms around her and gently caressed her lips with his, over and over again. A powerful need filled him, making his blood pound in his veins, echo in his ears. Yet, he held back. Not expecting, or forcing her to respond with more than she was ready, and willing, to freely give.

  Their lips parted slowly, with a few, small tender pecks before they both sighed, and he pulled her in closer for a hug.

  He’d forgotten just how thrilling kissing her had been, and how right holding her had always felt. Rubbing her back, he quietly said, “I believe I’ve found a way to help all the girls at the Albany Moral Hospitality Institute.”

  She stiffened in his arms. “What?”

  “A way for you to help all the girls,” he said. “Not just those who run away.”

  Her arms slipped off his shoulders as she stepped back, out of his hold. “What are you talking about?”

  He leaned back against his car, and for a moment, wondered what the hell he was doing. Kissing her had not been a good idea. It simply made him want more. This was about her, and the help she needed, not him and what he wanted.

  Rubbing his chin to make that thought settle, he said, “It’s going to take some work, some serious work. Nothing is ever easy when it involves the state government.” He knew that well from years of working on regulations and permits to lay telephone lines, and wanted her to be warned.

  “State government?”

  He rubbed the tension making his neck muscles tighten. This wasn’t like getting permits; it was changing the way people think, and changing laws. He was an excellent salesman. People have said he could sell anything to anyone. But it was going to take more than that for all of this to work.

  In spite of knowing all that, there was an excitement inside him that he hadn’t felt in a long time. Maybe ever. He’d been driven, years ago, to show his father that he wasn’t second best, but the drive inside him now was different. It wasn’t self-focused. It came from knowing that he could help these girls, help Jenny.

  “Connor, what are you talking about?” She eyed him skeptically. “What did you do? Where have you been?”

  “Massachusetts, and then New York City.” He crossed his arms to keep from reaching out, from touching her again. “I visited a home for unwed mothers in Massachusetts, one that cares about each and every girl that enters their doors. The people there care deeply about what they are doing. They know that pregnant women need adequate medical care, support and a safe haven, and the right to keep and raise their babies, when that is what they choose.” He had been impressed by the home, and the administrator who answered every one of his questions, gave him tours of different wings and also gave him suggestions on the only way changes would ever be made to certain establishments in New York State.

  “You what?” She threw her arms in the air. “Why would you do that?”

  “Because I don’t want you to end up in the hoosegow some night.” He glanced at the house. “And I don’t want other young girls to be chased down by dogs like they were criminals. That’s not right and it doesn’t have to be that way.”

  “It’s not right, but we can’t make the Albany Moral Hospitality Institute change. It’s impossible.”

  “It’s not impossible. After leaving Massachusetts, I went to New York and met with a state senator I know personally, and he’s willing to introduce a bill that would mandate all homes for unwed mothers be subject to certain regulations.” He reached inside his car, for the envelope. “I have this list from the administrator of the home in Massachusetts. I gave a copy of it to the senator. He served on the New York City Board of Health before becoming a senator and is very interested in helping you, but he needs more information.”

  She took the envelope, but didn’t open it. “Information?”

  This was the part he’d been worried about. She’d been through so much, all of the girls had been, he wasn’t sure any of them would be willing to talk to the senator. “True stories, from people who have experienced things at the home.”

  She shook her head.

  “I know it’ll be hard, very hard, for any one of the girls, but it’s the only way that lasting changes will be made.” Watching her continue to shake her head, he said, “It doesn’t have to be you, Jenny. I told him all I could, but from me, it’s hearsay. He needs specifics from actual patients. Nothing the institute is doing is against the law, therefore, we have to change the law.”

  Still shaking her head, she closed her eyes. There was moisture on her lashes when she opened them again, looked at him.

  “He’s a good man, Jenny, who wants to help. I’ve worked with him before on telephone regulations.” He held his breath for a moment. “There’s one more thing. The session will soon be over, he needs to hear from people soon, within a week or so, in order to get a bill written, otherwise it won’t happen until next year.” Aware that she may be feeling rushed into making a decision, he gently held her upper arms. “I know it’s all happening fast, but think about the girls, scared, just trying to get away, being hunted down by dogs for the entire next year.” He didn’t like that idea at all, nor did he like the idea of Jenny trying to help those girls and getting hurt, caught. “Think about your daughter. What would happen to her if you ended up being arrested?”

  “Stop, Connor. Just stop.” Taking a step back, she twisted her arms out of his hold. “Why are you doing this?”

  The past four days had been a whirlwind of people, places and conversations that he’d never thought he’d be a part of, and driving. Many hours had passed with him behind the wheel. Just him and his thoughts. At times, he’d been able to convince himself he was doing this because there were young, unwed mothers who deserved better treatment than what they were receiving. Other times, he’d told himself it was because of Jenny, of all she went through and because she was so stubborn, she damn well could end up in jail.

  Then there were those times when the ache in his chest was so overpowering, he couldn’t stop the anger from rising up. At himself, for not telling Jenny the truth years ago, and at others. For making Jenny going through all that she had alone. He wanted to make this all right for her. Had to make it all right for her.

  Therein lay the reason he was doing this. She’d asked for his help, and he was going to give it to her, until there was nothing left that could be done.

  “I’m doing this because you asked for my help,” he said.

  “I asked you to give me a ride to Albany.” She planted her hands on her hips. “A ride, Connor! Not for you to start poking your nose in places it doesn’t belong or to throw the McCormick name around like it can save the world! It can’t! It never could and it never will!” She stepped closer and shoved a finger against his chest. “This isn’t some railroad crossing that needs gravel! It’s people’s lives! My life! And I don’t need you to tell me to think about my daughter!”

  She used the same finger to point at her own chest. “She’s my daughter! Mine! And is the only thing I’ve been thinking about for seven years. I’ve made a good life for her and don’t need you or anyone else to be thinking about her, and I sure as hell don’t need you to be buying her presents! Now get in your fancy car, drive out of here and don’t ever come back. Ever!”

  Connor held in a few choice words about her stubbornness as she spun around to walk away. “I can’t do that, Jenny.”

  Arms swinging at her sides, she marched toward the house. “Yes, you can. I don’t need your help. We don’t need your help.”

  “You’re wrong. Senator—”

  “No, you’re wrong.” She spun around. “Do you think we haven’t thought of that? That we haven’t contacted lawmakers? That we haven’t written letters and filed complaints? We have! Dozens of them and nobody cares because it doesn’t involve them. Just like it doesn’t involve you. It never has and it never will.” She shook her head and looked at him with loathing. “So stop pretending. Just stop.”

&n
bsp; Connor’s stomach clenched and for a moment, he couldn’t decipher who he was more angry with, her or himself. Because she was right. He had been pretending.

  Pretending that if he helped her, they could go back to where they’d once been.

  There was no going back, and he was done pretending that could happen.

  Without a word, he climbed in his car, started it, turned around and drove out of the driveway. Her driveway. One he’d never see again and that was perfectly fine with him. It had been foolish to have anything to do with her again.

  He was done being foolish. Done being hurt. Done caring about her.

  * * *

  Jenny stared at Gretchen, filled with disbelief. “What?”

  “You heard me.” Gretchen lifted an empty crate out of the truck. “We need Connor’s help.”

  It had been a week since he’d driven away and Jenny was just getting to the point where tears didn’t form every time she thought of him. Almost. Her eyes were stinging again now. She grabbed an empty crate and followed Gretchen into the greenhouse. “No, we don’t.”

  Gretchen set down her crate and then grabbed the one out of Jenny’s hands before she flipped her long braid over one shoulder and took both of Jenny’s shoulders. “I love you like the daughter I never had, would do anything to protect you, but I also have to think of the other girls, and they need his help.”

  Jenny’s heart was crumbling inside her chest, because despite what she’d told herself over and over, she knew what Gretchen said was true. She just couldn’t face him again. It hurt too much. She was tired of the never-ending parade of pain that lived inside her. She’d made so many mistakes and refused to make another one where he was concerned.

  “We’ve already tried what he suggested.”

  “I know we have, but we didn’t have his backing then,” Gretchen said. “It’s an ugly world we live in at times. Women may have been given the right to vote, but our voices still aren’t being heard. We can scream, shout and rally together, but the very ones we need to hear us aren’t listening, and they won’t until one of their own steps forward. Connor is one of their kind. A man of influence. I hate to admit that, I want to believe that women, that everyone, will be treated as equals, but it’s not going to happen today. We need Connor in order to make the changes happen.”