by Day Leclaire
A lot of value, he almost retorted, before deciding discretion might be a wiser course of action at the moment. “Thanks. I appreciate it.”
Wrapping his arms around Cassidy and Hutch, he ushered them from the building. The minute they hit the parking lot, she pulled free. “Please take us to the nearest motel, if you’d be so kind.”
Judging by her expression, he was in it up to his boot tops. “No, I won’t be so kind. You’ve got to listen to me, Cassidy—”
“I most certainly do not. You lied to me.”
“I never lied. I didn’t tell you what Hutch was up to, but that’s because I really didn’t know what Hutch was up to.” He nudged the boy. “Tell her, kid.”
“I never told Ty I was working on a science experiment. Honest. He figured out I wanted a dad, but he thought all the pranks were from me being smart.”
“Scary smart,” Ty added. Cassidy kept walking and he began to feel a hint of desperation. “Granted, I should have cold you about the apartment. And the car. And the skunk. I admit that. But I knew the kid didn’t mean any harm and it gave me the perfect opportunity to court you.”
That slowed her down. “Court me?”
“It’s an old-fashioned word, I agree. But it sure fits what [ was hoping to do.”
“That doesn’t change the fact that you were trying to protect your business interests by dating me.”
“Damn it, woman. That tears it. There’s only one way to win an argument with you.” He ripped open his shirt, buttons pinging in every direction. He tore it off his shouliers, balled it up and flung it onto the concrete parking lot. “I did not, I repeat, did not date you for my grandmother’s sake or for the sake of the agency.”
Cassidy rounded on him, wide-eyed. “Ty! What are you doing? Stop that!”
“The hell I will. I’m not stopping until you quit arguing and say you love me. Now where was I? Oh, yeah. I am not marrying you to save Willie’s business.” He did the unthinkable next, something a cowboy would never do. He yanked off his Stetson and threw it on the ground. “And I’m sure as hell not marrying you because of any magazine article.”
She held up her hands. If she’d been any closer, she’d have coldcocked him silly. “All right, all right. I believe you!”
“Sorry, honey. I didn’t catch what you said.” He hopped up and down on one foot, grabbed the heel of his size fifteens and started yanking. “Don’t just stand there. Help me, boy.”
Hutch stared at him as though he’d lost his mind. “You want me to pull off your boot?”
“If it wouldn’t be too much trouble.” Still hopping; he said, “I’m in love with you, you fool woman. I want to marry you because I’m crazy about you, not because of any scientific experiments or because of bad publicity.” He planted a sock-covered foot on the ground and held out hi other foot to Hutch. “Don’t dawdle. Toss that one aside and start on this’un. And then go get in the truck. It might get downright embarrassing from here.”
Hutch didn’t wait to hear more. The minute he’d yanke Ty’s boot free, he scurried across the parking lot and dis appeared from sight.
“Okay, woman. We’re getting down to the serious stuf now.” This better work or he’d light up all of San Antonio with his blush. “Do you believe me or do I bare my asset to the world?”
“Stop it!” Cassidy begged. “I give up. I believe you.’
“Well, that’s something.” He stood in his stocking feel fists planted on his hips, and faced her down. “But it’s still not good enough.”
“What else do you want me to say?”
“Not much.” He dropped his hand to his belt buckle “How about, I believe you. I know you wouldn’t do any thing as unscrupulous as those people said. How about, love you, Ty. I’ve always loved you. And I’d trust you with my life. That might make a good start.” She flew into hi arms and he staggered under the impact. His poor ripple were going to be one mass of bruises by morning. But i would be worth it.
“I love you, Ty. I’ve always loved you. And I do trust you, not just with my life, but with my son’s, too.”
“And when are you going to marry me?”
“Right away. As soon as we can get a license.”
“And where are you going to live?”
“Wherever you want.” She peeked up at him. “But I’m hoping it’s on the prettiest ranch in all of Texas.”
He lowered his head and branded her with a kiss. He’d have done more, but he had enough sanity left to remember where they were. “Okay, then. Now that you’ve made me look like a total idiot in front of all Hutch’s schoolmates, you can help me pick up my clothes.”
She bent down and retrieved his hat, dusting off the brim. “I would have given in sooner, you know.”
He scowled. “You would have?”
“Yeah.” She grinned. “But I wanted to see how far you’d go.”
He slapped his Stetson on top of his head and gave her a wink. “Honey, for you I’d have gone all the way.”
It was during the brief drive back to the ranch that Cassidy finally realized the truth. She was going home. A home where she belonged. Where people were waiting for her and would welcome her with open arms.
When they arrived, Willie stood in the yard. Beside her hovered a nervous looking couple. Cassidy inhaled sharply. “Aunt Esther!”
“And your uncle Ben.” Ty parked the truck and turned off the engine. He shot her an apologetic shrug. “I guess this is one more thing I should’ve come clean about. I invited them for a surprise visit. Where it goes from here is up to the three of you. But that cabin’s all theirs if you want.”
She threw her arms around Ty’s neck—only nicking his nose a little bit—and kissed him. Oh, how she loved him. How could she ever have doubted it? She glanced across the yard at the couple who’d raised her, more apprehensive than she cared to admit.
“Go on,” Ty encouraged her. “They’re as scared spitless as you.”
Slowly, Cassidy left the haven of the truck and approached her aunt and uncle. There was a momentary hesitation and then the three were hugging and crying and talking all at once. They were also tripping over each other and knocking elbows a bunch, which explained a lot about Cassidy. Apparently, false body images ran in the family. At long last, she pulled free. Turning, she gestured to Hutch.
He held back, pointing at the bushes on either side of the porch steps. “Mom, look! Your roses are covered in buds.”
She stared in disbelief. They were covered and covered some more. She’d never seen so many blossoms. But then why should she be surprised? “Seems like they’ve found the perfect home to put down roots, just like us.” She ushered her son forward. “Come and meet your relatives sweetpea. And then I want you to introduce them to your new dad.” Her gaze met Ty’s. “I know they’re going to love him as much as we do.”
EPILOGUE
“OKAY, ladies, stick out your glasses and I’ll pour the champagne. No, no, Wanda. Sit and relax,” Willie insisted, waiting until the seventy-six-year-old woman had stopped duttering long enough to find a chair. That’s what she got for hiring an escaped fairy godmother from a Disney flick. The woman couldn’t move without fluttering. If she wasn’t so good at her job... “And, Maria, if you answer the phone again, I’ll have one of your relatives tie you to that chair.”
She waited until Maria had finished rapping out instructions in Spanish to one of said relatives and was sipping champagne before whipping out the magazine article. “Wait until you hear this update....” She took a quick swallow from her glass and settled into her chair. Plucking a yellow rose from a nearby vase, she waved it at them for emphasis as she began.
“‘Ten-year-old boy uses Yellow Rose Matchmakers and science to snag himself a dad,’” she read. “That’s the headline. Then it says, ‘Yellow Rose Matchmakers made Hutch Lonigan quite a deal. For just nine dollars and change they gave him the best date ever...a date with destiny. After filling out an application for his mother, Cassidy Lonigan,
Yellow Rose’s computer spat out the perfect father for young Hutch—the grandson of owner, Willie Eden. But it took a few scientific experiments to convince his mother that Ty Merrick was the perfect husband for her. “I got an A+ on the project at school,” Hutch said proudly. “But best of all, I got a dad.” It looks like the Yellow Rose’s computer matches are back on track!’”
Willie tossed the magazine aside with a sigh and lifted her glass. “Cheers, ladies. I suspect business is going to be booming. Oh! And before I forget, you were right, Wanda I reran Cassidy’s application one last time with her correct age and darned if it didn’t come up a one hundred percent fer-sure fire perfect fit, just like you said!”
AUTHOR’S NOTE
MORE than fifty million adults throughout the U.S. and Canada lack a high school diploma, a number that’s growing every day as more and more students drop out of school because of family responsibilities or the need to hold down a full-time job. For these individuals, the doors to further education and job advancement are often barred—drasti cally reducing their earning potential and severely limiting their chances to prosper throughout life.
If you’re one of the millions who don’t have a high school diploma, don’t put it off any longer. By taking the General Equivalency Development (GED) test, North America’s principal high school equivalency exam, you can open doors to new possibilities—including college, greatest financial security and a better life for you and those around you.
Call your nearest school board office and tell them you’re interested in getting your diploma. Look for the number in the government listings in your telephone book. If you don’t find it, call the hotline at 1-800-626-9433, if you’re in the U.S., to order an official practice test or find the location of the testing center nearest you. If you live outside North America, call 410-843-6016. Call today—discover who you are and what you really can do.
Many thanks to Stephen Sattler, Center for Adul Learning and Cathy Erwin, General Education Development for the information they provided on adult education and obtaining a GED certificate. I’d also like to thank “Bayou” Bob Popplewell for his fantastic snake info Denise Stallcup for her insights on the San Antonio Fiesta, Diana Estill for sharing her personal experiences and finally, author Eileen Wilks for being a genuine Texan. They all gave freely and generously of their time and expertise. Many, many thanks.
ISBN : 978-1-4592-5257-8
THE NINE-DOLLAR DADDY
First North American Publication 1999.
Copyright © 1999 by Day Totton Smith.
All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher, Harlequin Enterprises Limited, 225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills. Ontario, Canada M3B 3K9.
All characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all Incidents are pure invention.
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