Little Cowgirl on His Doorstep (Mills & Boon Cherish) (Cadence Creek Cowboys - Book 3)

by Alward, Donna

  For the first time he’d referred to her as Nell and not “the baby.” That tiny detail went a long way to softening her to his plea.

  “I’ll make up whatever you’ll lose in wages,” he offered. “Just a little more time is all I’m asking.”

  She could take him up on his offer and that would solve her immediate money problem. Just her bad luck that she was scrupulously honest, then. “I’m already out wages anyway,” she confessed. “I talked to my boss this morning. We’re closed for a few weeks for repairs.”

  “So you could stay if you wanted to.”

  “Callum, I…” She wanted to say no. Wanted to go back to her apartment in Burlington and get back to a regular schedule. Surrounded by familiar things. But how could she deny him this little bit of time? How could she deny it to Nell? Oh, sure, she knew the baby wouldn’t remember a thing. But over the years—if Callum stood up and took responsibility—Avery would be the one facilitating their time together.

  Why not start it right now and set the tone for future dealings?

  She swallowed. This was the beginning, then. From here on out she would be a part of Callum’s life. Even if it was on the sidelines, they were inextricably connected.

  Connected through something so precious and important it didn’t really matter about her misgivings, did it? It had to be about what was best for Nell. Always.

  “Please,” he repeated again. “Just for a week or two. Then I promise I won’t stand in your way. I know you have your own life to live.”

  She closed her eyes for a second. She had to be crazy to agree to such a thing. And then the words came tumbling out anyway.

  “Okay. But first I really do need to take this car back. Will you follow me and then we can drive back to Cadence Creek with you?”

  “Of course.”

  His shoulders relaxed and Avery realized how tense he’d been, waiting for her answer. She couldn’t believe she was doing this.

  She went to go around the bumper of the car but Callum’s hand reached out, catching her forearm. It was strong and warm and a little rough, and the proprietary contact sent electricity shooting through her limbs. She looked up into his eyes and nearly lost herself in the complicated depths. How was she ever going to get through two weeks under the same roof with him, if a single touch caused such a reaction within her?

  “Thank you,” he said softly. “I know you’ve turned your life upside down for this. Hell, you’ve been doing that for months now. I do appreciate it. More than you can imagine.”

  “It’s what’s best for Nell,” she replied, her breath catching in her throat. “Follow me up to the rental car area, okay?”

  She got behind the wheel and let out a long, slow breath.

  She could do this for two weeks. It was for Nell. And yes, for Callum, too.

  And she’d just keep her unexpected personal feelings out of it. They’d only complicate an already complicated situation.

  The last thing she needed was to embarrass herself by developing a crush and make things awkward between them for the rest of her life.

  Avery looked at the house with new eyes as they drove into the farmyard. It was nothing special. It had potential but Callum had naturally been far too busy with farmwork to worry about the aesthetics of the property.

  And yet there was something calm about it, and settled. In some ways it reminded Avery of the house they’d lived in when she was in first grade…or was it second? Mom had had a job in St. Catharines and she’d rented them a little house on a side street. A plain bungalow with a weeping willow out front.

  She and Crystal had had skipping contests in the driveway, and had come in at night with red marks crisscrossing their legs from the jump ropes. It had been an easier time. Simpler, and unrushed. Funny how she should think about that now when she hadn’t in years.

  Callum parked the truck. “I’ll help you take your things in,” he said quietly. “I know you didn’t pack for an extended stay, so if you want to wash anything, feel free to use the washer and dryer.”

  “Thanks.” Truthfully Avery had wondered how she was going to get through two weeks with the few outfits she’d brought. Everything in her case was dirty and her nicer traveling clothes weren’t really suited for around here.

  “I’ve got to get started on chores soon. I know I said I wanted to spend time with her…”

  Avery turned in her seat. “Callum, I know you have a farm to run and you can’t drop everything and pretend it doesn’t exist. I even understand that milking happens at the same time each day. There’ll be time after that.”

  He looked relieved. “Okay, good.”

  “Let’s just get inside, okay?”

  “Right.”

  She stepped over the threshold and blinked. The place was transformed. There wasn’t a thing out of place and it looked like it had been freshly dusted and vacuumed. “You, uh…” She looked around and then back up into his eyes. “You really went at this place.”

  “I can’t take the credit. It needed attention and I hired someone to come out and make it presentable.”

  “I see.”

  Awkward silence surrounded them. So far the only conversations they’d had had been regarding Nell, short and to the point. It was far different entering his house as a guest. How were they going to get through the next several days if things were so uncomfortable between them?

  “Why don’t I show you to the spare room?” Callum suggested. “I’ve got to go out to do the chores soon, but there’s dinner in the Crock-Pot for later.”

  Dinner in the Crock-Pot? If she didn’t know better, she’d think she was in the wrong house. “That’d be great.”

  He stepped ahead, presumably to lead her down the hall to her room. She stepped at the same time and they nearly collided. Callum instinctively reached out and steadied her with his hands. His fingers were warm on her skin and her throat seemed suddenly tight as her gaze darted to his for just a moment. His chest was only a few inches away from hers and as she stared at him, a muscle ticked in his jaw.

  She looked away and he stepped back, dropping his hands, but the damage had been done. He’d touched her, and shockingly enough her body had responded in a wholly feminine way.

  He cleared his throat and made his way down the hall, stopping in front of a door. When he opened it, she was met with a plain but comfortable enough looking room. The mint-green walls were a little bright for the small space, and the beige carpet was rather dull. The bed was old but the bedding was clean—including the floral spread that probably dated back to the eighties.

  “It’s not exactly the Ritz,” he said quietly.

  “It’s fine,” she assured him. “It’s got a bed and room for me to set up Nell’s playpen.” She put the diaper bag on the bed and the carrier on the floor. Within a few seconds she had the baby unfastened and on her arm again. It seemed odd that she suddenly thought of Nell as protection. Callum looked so uneasy that she forced a bright smile. “It’s perfect, Callum, thank you.”

  His face eased and his gaze shifted to Nell. The frilly bonnet covered the fringe of dark hair and as he looked at them Nell popped her thumb into her mouth and curled into the curve of Avery’s neck, peeking out at him from beneath her lashes. For a second she thought she glimpsed tenderness on his features, which was suddenly replaced by pain. Her heart seized a little. Was he thinking about Crystal? Or something else?

  Then he schooled his face again and the moment was gone. “Right. Well. Do you need help bringing in your things?”

  “I’d appreciate that, Callum. I’m used to managing with one good arm and a baby on the other, but it’s nice to have an extra set of hands once in a while.”

  “I’ll be right back.”

  While he was gone she took a minute to change Nell’s diaper. As she usually did, she talked to the baby in a light, singsongy voice, loving how Nell gazed up at her and then gave a bubbly laugh as Avery made nonsensical sounds. Within seconds Avery rolled up the sides of the
soiled diaper and fastened it with the tape, slid a fresh one beneath Nell’s bottom, secured it snugly, replaced her frilly pants and had her on her arm.

  She turned around and caught him watching from the doorway, her suitcase and the playpen at his feet.

  “Oh, you’re back.” Her cheeks heated again. How long had he been standing there?

  He cleared his throat. “You want everything in here?”

  “That would be lovely, thanks. Could you point me in the direction of the bathroom? I’d like to wash my hands.”

  “Oh, of course.” He put the gear down quickly and led the way to the bathroom that was just across the hall from his room. “Just make yourself at home,” he said. “I’ve got to get out to the barns.”

  She turned on the taps and he watched for a moment, unsure of what to say. In the end he said nothing at all.

  Instead he went out to the barn to get started on the chores and the milking and Avery prepared a bottle and got ready to put Nell down for an afternoon nap.

  Avery wasn’t sure how long Callum would be in the barn, so she let supper simmer in the Crock-Pot and did a load of laundry while Nell slept. After the baby woke, she spread out Nell’s activity mat, determined that the baby should have some tummy time as the parenting books recommended. Besides, Nell was nearly rolling over now. Avery smiled and touched the downy-soft hair on Nell’s head. She was enjoying celebrating every milestone.

  When the baby was truly dissatisfied at being on her stomach, Avery put her on her back and grabbed a brightly colored stuffed animal, playing with her and making funny noises until Nell giggled, the big belly laughs making a smile spread across Avery’s face.

  That was how Callum found them when he came inside, smelling strongly of cows and a hint of straw.

  She hopped up right away. Things were so awkward that she wanted to break the ice somehow. “We thought we’d have some playtime before dinner.”

  “You waited?”

  He sounded surprised. It was well after seven.

  “When I’m working, it’s usually later than this by the time we get home and I get her fed and make something for myself. I thought…well, I thought maybe we could eat together.”

  And probably struggle for things to say. Clearly Callum wasn’t a talker. Which was strange, because she remembered him as being a lot more sociable at the wedding. They’d done a group trip on the Maid of the Mist to see the falls and he’d been joking around just fine, especially when the boat had turned around and the water from the roaring falls had drenched them all despite the thin blue ponchos provided.

  The rehearsal dinner had been at a winery about an hour from the falls, very intimate and he’d had no problem sliding his chair closer to Crystal’s as they’d chatted in low voices. He’d worn black trousers and a dress shirt open at the collar, she remembered.

  She blinked. Seriously, it was like looking at two totally different men.

  “Let me get cleaned up first,” he suggested. “I smell like the barn.”

  She got the feeling that smelling like the barn wasn’t as big an issue when he was here alone.

  “Nell’s nearly ready for bed. I’ll give her a bottle while you’re doing that. It’s always nice to be able to eat without dealing with a screaming baby.”

  She fed Nell on the sofa and when the bottle was half gone, Nell’s lashes started to droop. A minute more and her lips went slack, a dribble of the formula running out of the corner of her mouth. Avery wiped it gently and put the baby on her shoulder, rubbing her back. Half awake, the baby let out a burp and then within moments, relaxed in Avery’s arms.

  This was her favorite time of the day—when the pace slowed down and Nell fell asleep in her arms. That was when she knew everything was just as it was meant to be. That it would all be okay.

  She tucked Nell into the playpen, covered her with the blanket and tiptoed out of the room.

  She found Callum in the kitchen, mixing something in a pot on the stove. He was frowning and she stepped forward. “Anything I can help with?”

  “The lady who was here this morning left instructions on how to thicken this, but it’s all lumpy.”

  Avery smiled. “You have to whisk it in. Do you have a whisk?”

  “Probably not.”

  She grinned. “A strainer, then? I can stir out as many lumps as I can, but we’ll have to strain it.”

  He found one in the back of the cupboard and brought it out.

  While she tried to repair the damage he put the vegetables in a bowl and sliced the beef onto a platter. Once the table was set she strained the gravy into a bowl. “I take it you don’t cook much,” she observed.

  “Not really.”

  “Then what do you eat?” She flushed a little. “I don’t mean that the way it sounded.”

  He shrugged. “I can manage to fry a steak or pork chop and bake a potato.”

  It sounded terribly boring. They sat down together in the silence.

  “Are you as uncomfortable as I am?” she finally asked, putting her hands on her lap.

  His gaze snapped up and met hers. “Should I be?”

  She couldn’t help the smile on her face. At least it wasn’t just her. “Oh, you’re back to answering a question with a question. So you do find this awkward.”

  “It’s a heck of a situation,” he admitted.

  The scent of his soap mingled with the rich scent of beef and potatoes. His hair was wet from his shower and his T-shirt showed off a workingman’s physique. She hardly knew him and she was in his house. Sharing a meal. Sleeping in a bed.

  Heck of a situation indeed.

  He passed her the bowl of vegetables first. “Here, help yourself,” he suggested, and for a few minutes the sounds of forks and spoons scraping on plates was all that was heard.

  Avery took a bite of beef. It was delicious, but now she was ultra-aware of chewing and wondering if he could possibly hear it.

  She put down her fork. “I don’t know how to do this,” she admitted. “To act…normal. It feels like a first date sort of thing only without the, well, date. And I don’t go on many of those…”

  “Since Nell?”

  She toyed with a piece of carrot on her plate, pushing it around with her fork. “Even before Nell,” she admitted quietly. “I’m kind of shy, really.”

  And for a long time she’d been content to be in Crystal’s shadow. No one demanded anything of her there.

  “Oh,” he answered. Then he gave a sideways smile, just a hint but enough that it sent something strange swirling through her tummy. “I’m not much of a social butterfly, either.”

  “It wasn’t always that way, though, was it?” Maybe she’d only known him for a weekend, but he’d been very outgoing, laughed a lot. It just went to show how erroneous first impressions could be.

  He shrugged. “Things change. People change. They grow up.”

  Avery blinked. She wasn’t sure how to reply to that. They ate for a bit and then she couldn’t help it; she had to ask.

  She put down her fork. “Did something happen that made you grow up?”

  The air in the room grew very still, like a warning.

  “Never mind,” she said quickly, picking up her fork again. “I don’t mean to pry. I mean…we hardly know each other.”

  “No, you’re right. I’m very different from the guy you met a year ago. Truth is, that wedding weekend was mostly an act. I was trying to forget something and I used your sister to do it. So, yeah. Something happened.”

  Oh, the questions that made her want to ask! Forget what happened—she was more interested in who had happened to him and what damage they’d done. And what had gone so terribly wrong that he’d left the forces and settled on a dairy farm in the middle of nowhere?

  And then there was the sticking point—he’d used Crystal and openly admitted it.

  “My sister paid the price,” she replied quietly.

  “Your sister had her own reasons for what happened that weekend,” he a
nswered calmly. “Or did you not know that?”

  It burned that he presumed to know more about Crystal than she had. For years they’d only had each other, shared an apartment, shared secrets. He’d known Crystal all of three days.

  “Don’t tell me about her,” she answered, her voice shaking a little. “I think I know my own sister. Knew,” she amended immediately. It was so difficult to remember to talk about Crystal in the past tense.

  “Then you knew she had a thing for Pete and that being asked to be Elizabeth’s maid of honor was a slap in the face.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous. They were best friends.”

  But deep down Avery got the squirmy sensation that he might be right. Now that she thought about it, Crystal had always acted different when Pete and Elizabeth were around. Quieter, more subdued.

  “Avery?”

  His voice brought her back to the present. “Sorry,” she said automatically.

  “It’s fine. I just…we were both messed up, that’s all. But we knew it. Neither of us pretended it was something it wasn’t.”

  She didn’t want to hear the details. “Did you regret it? Afterward, I mean.” For some reason that was the one thing she wanted to know. Crystal had always maintained that it was mutual, but during the first days of the pregnancy she’d been so upset at the idea of being a mother. Angry at having her life change…

  He looked down at his plate. “That’s an impossible question for me to answer. It…is what it is. But I am sorry she’s gone, truly. She was a nice girl. How did it happen?”

  Maybe it was coming a little late, but at least he was asking. Thinking about it still caused Avery’s heart to hurt. “She had a rare heart condition that showed up after she delivered Nell. They call it peripartum cardiomyopathy. She was so tired, and her ankles swelled during her last few weeks of pregnancy. She was having a hard time breathing, but we all just chalked it up to being so close to delivery, you know? But it wasn’t. They said it was very treatable, but then…she was just gone. She was one of the small percentage that just…” She gulped around the lump in her throat. “The official term is ‘sudden cardiac death.’” She reached for her water glass, surprised to find her fingers trembling. It was still too fresh—the pain and shock of losing her beautiful and vibrant sister.