by Heidi Hormel
Chapter Six
Light seeped through the partially open curtains. A lot of light. Olympia burst from the sheets and immediately flopped back onto the bed as sickness crept up the back of her throat. What time was it? She reached out for the phone on her nightstand—9:00 a.m. Spence had left hours ago for work. She had to get up now and take care of the animals. Muffin would be knocking down his stall for his morning feed. There were the others to take care of, plus she had a potential client coming to check out the barn for her animal.
She stared at the ceiling as she considered what had happened last night. She could blame the constant sickness, saying it’d eaten away at the thinking part of her brain, but she wasn’t a liar. She’d wanted him last night. This morning? Pretty much the same, except the nausea was back. Maybe sex was what she needed to combat the sickness?
She slid out of bed, standing carefully and not moving until she felt settled. Her room looked fine, but the faint scent of licorice and sex made her thighs tighten in remembered pleasure. She refused to be disappointed that Spence hadn’t woken her like Sleeping Beauty this morning. Of course, saying she was Sleeping Beauty might be a stretch. Get into the shower, she told herself firmly. Wash off his scent and cowgirl up. Whether they should or shouldn’t do a repeat of last night—she certainly hoped they would for the sake of her morning sickness—right now, she had chores to do.
Moving in slow motion, Olympia got through her barn work and dragged herself back to the house. She slid open the back door, which led directly into the kitchen, and screamed.
Another feminine screech filled the room. “You scared the crap out of me,” accused her youngest sister.
“Rickie! What are you doing here? Aren’t you supposed to be in school?”
“Nah. Classes don’t start for weeks. Mama is being a pain, and Grammy moved back in after her latest boyfriend dumped her. I had to get out of there. Can I stay here?”
Olympia’s stomach, which had settled nicely, went into a churning wave of sickness. “No,” she gasped and hurried to the bathroom where she threw up the juice and Gatorade she’d sipped in the barn. The pounding on the bathroom door finally registered on her sluggish brain. She had to get herself together before she faced her sister. She rinsed her mouth, looked at herself in the mirror and considered makeup to hide how rough she looked. No. Then Rickie would know something was wrong. “What?” Olympia asked belligerently as she yanked open the door. A good offense was being offensive, she’d learned in a house full of females.
“What do you mean what? You’re sick. Do you have the flu? Or is it—?”
“Flu. You’d better stay away. Maybe you shouldn’t crash here.”
Rickie shook her head, her jaw thrusting out just like Olympia knew her own did. “I can’t leave you here by yourself.”
Olympia didn’t resist when Rickie led her down the hall. “The other bedroom,” she told her sister, directing her away from the master bedroom—the one that had been Olympia’s before Spence had moved in. Since she hadn’t told her sister or anyone else in her family about the marriage or about Spence, how could she explain his presence there or in other places in the house, where he’d made himself at home for nearly a month? Her head swam a little, making it hard to concentrate. Did her room still smell like him and sex? Why hadn’t they gone to his room with its big bed?
Rickie topped Olympia by a good four or five inches and liked to loom over her, like a bosomy sequoia. “What was wrong with your old bedroom?” Rickie didn’t move, and Olympia kept her mouth closed. “I’ll bring you cinnamon toast and chocolate milk.”
Tears stung Olympia’s eyelids. That was what she’d always brought the girls when they didn’t feel good. She nodded and watched Rickie amble out of the room. Her sister never hurried. Her father had been a true cowboy from Oklahoma who’d passed through their lives like a slow summer breeze. Olympia had liked him, but Papa Don had left like all the other men. He sent birthday cards...some years.
No rehashing the past. She had to focus on the here and now. What would she tell Rickie? And how could she get her sister to move on? Olympia smelled the cinnamon, and she actually felt hungry. Maybe something would finally stay down. She resisted stroking her belly, instead propping herself up on the pillows and waiting.
“Here,” Rickie said when she came in with the milk and toast.
Olympia focused on the spicy sweetness. This would do it. She took a bite and savored the memories of tucking herself into bed with her sisters, munching toast and giggling. “Perfect.”
“Move,” Rickie said as she pushed at her sister’s legs, so she could sit on the bed. “What’s going on? There’s dark beer in the fridge, and I checked out what was wrong with the master bedroom. It’s obvious a man is living here.”
This was why Rickie needed to go to college. The girl was too smart. “You know my daddy left me the house, but there are taxes and repairs. I needed a roommate to make ends meet.” Good lie on short notice.
“Then, why are you giving me money?”
“You need it. Plus having a roommate isn’t a big deal. And that’s all he is.” Olympia sipped at the chocolate milk, the coolness soothing her throat and easing her sickness. Could she live on toast, milk and sex?
“Limpy, why are you lying?”
“I’m not lying. I don’t mind a roommate. Plus, when I go out on the circuit, it would be good to have someone I can trust here at the ranch.”
“Not sure you can call this a ranch.” Rickie’s nearly turquoise gaze stayed locked on Olympia. Then she shrugged, her lush fall of red hair drifting over her shoulders as she picked at the comforter. “I could get a job, and you could rodeo sooner.”
“No,” Olympia said flatly. “You need to focus on your schoolwork. I don’t mind waiting to get everything in line. I’ll be able to go out on some of the amateur rodeos as soon as I find a horse.”
“I saw horses when I drove up.”
“They’re boarders and rescues.”
“You look a lot better. You’re not white anymore. I’m going to put my stuff in the green room. Where’s the air mattress? I can’t wait to meet your roommate. I’ll bring the horses in while you rest, and then I’ll let the sisters know where I am. You all mother-hen me.”
Her sister left before Olympia could answer that they mother-henned her because there was something about Rickie that tugged at all of them. Maybe it was her large eyes or soft mouth. They just wanted to protect her from the harsh realities that all the James girls knew firsthand.
* * *
SPENCE WIPED HIS annoyingly sweaty palms on his trousers again as he walked into the ranch house. He had great news, spectacular news. He had been assigned the case in Texas—the big one. Olympia would think she’d gone to heaven, having him out of her hair, right? Except last night had proved once again that they could burn up the sheets.
“Olympia,” he shouted as he came into the kitchen through the slider. The house smelled like an actual meal. She must be feeling better. Good, maybe he could convince her to reenact last night. “I’ve got great news.”
“Hey, you must be the roommate,” a tall redheaded young woman said as she loped into the kitchen.
“Who the hell are you? And where is my wife?”
“Wife?”
“Yes, wife. Again, who the hell are you?”
“I’m her sister Rickie. What do you mean wife? Limpy said that she had a roommate, nothing about getting hitched.”
Olympia had told him that she hadn’t informed her family about Elvis and the Little Chapel. She said that because they didn’t live in visiting distance there was no point in letting them know, especially since they’d be divorced in months. “We got married in Vegas. Love at first sight.” Spence allowed his mouth to move while his brain analyzed and filed the information. “I’ve got to speak w
ith Olympia.”
“She’s in bed. Why’d you leave her here alone? She’s got a bad case of the flu. I found her throwing up—”
Even though he was sure her sickness was the usual, he hurried to see her. He felt for the phone in his pocket in case he needed to call for help.
“Are you okay?” he asked as he opened the door. “Is the baby okay?”
“Baby?” her sister echoed over his shoulder.
“Damn it,” Olympia said with feeling.
“You’re married and pregnant. What the hell, Limpy?” her sister asked as she pushed past him.
Olympia stared at the two of them. Spence saw the color drain from her face. He spotted the wastebasket and moved to the side of the bed with it. She leaned over and retched.
“It’s not the flu, is it, Limpy?” asked Rickie quietly.
Olympia shook her head, lank strands of hair clinging to her face. Spence needed a little time to figure out how this new development affected their situation. He took the wastebasket out to the garbage because he wasn’t cleaning that out. He’d get her a new one. Maybe her sister visiting was fate finally giving him a break. He’d worried about leaving her here alone while he went to Texas. He’d tell her he was leaving day after tomorrow and convince her sister to stay and take care of Olympia. It was all good.
He heard their voices as soon as he opened the back door. He knew sibling fighting when he heard it. He and Payson had had similar knockdown fights—literally. “Girls,” he said as he went into the bedroom. They turned toward him as one, jaws out and eyes slits of annoyance. “This isn’t good for the baby, and I can’t afford to replace all our wastebaskets.”
“I’m fine, Spence,” Olympia said on a huff of breath. She sat up and swung her legs out of the bed. “We’ll talk in the kitchen.” She stood, closed her eyes for a second and then strode off. She had on shorts that stretched tightly across her butt.
“Perv,” her sister accused, clearly noticing the direction of his gaze. “She’s pregnant and throwing up. She’s not thinking about—”
“I think I know more about how she feels, since I’ve been—”
“I’m her sister, and I don’t believe this baloney about love at first sight.”
So Olympia had backed up his story. Good. Much less complicated than trying to explain the prenup.
* * *
RICKIE STARED AT the two of them across the sunny-yellow kitchen table, looking skeptical. “You’re telling me that you met at Jessie and Payson’s wedding, started dating, ran off and got married, and now Limpy’s pregnant?”
“Yes,” Olympia said with assurance.
Spence decided that he’d keep his lawyer’s mouth shut. He didn’t really understand the relationship between these two women. He knew something about it from what Olympia had told him at the wedding. She obviously loved her siblings and had sacrificed a lot to make sure they were safe and happy. He could empathize. Not that he’d given up anything for Payson, but for Calvin, he would do whatever he needed to keep the boy out of harm’s way.
“So, Spence, is that what you told your brother and your parents?” Rickie asked.
He gathered his thoughts, trying to recall what Olympia had said.
“Time’s up. Eahh!” Rickie said, making the universal game-show buzzer noise. “If it takes you that long to come up with an answer, you’re lying.”
“Rickie, stop,” Olympia said. “I’m an adult woman. Spence is a good man.”
He wondered how much that hurt her to say. Although last night she’d been pretty happy with him. “My brother and sister-in-law know. I don’t speak with my parents much.”
“That sounds familiar,” Rickie said.
“I’ll call Mama soon,” Olympia answered. “We’re happy. It’s not exactly how I planned it, but we’re good. Right, Spence?” She reached out her hand to grab his, like any couple would do.
He hesitated a moment before clasping hers. It almost felt natural. He gave Olympia a practiced-for-the-jury smile and said, “Better than good. We’re doing so well the firm is sending me to Texas on a huge case.” The gasp and sudden tension in the room told him that he probably should have worked up to his announcement. How could he be so competent in the courtroom and so lacking in conversational skills at home?
“You’re going to Texas? When?” Olympia asked. At the same time, her sister said, “You’re abandoning her while she’s so sick and way out here with all these animals?”
“It’s just for a week, maybe less, if everything goes well. I’m just a phone call and a flight away.”
“Good thing that I’m staying, then, I guess,” Rickie said more calmly, looking back and forth between the two of them. What did she see?
“I’ll miss you, of course,” Olympia obediently added. “But it sounds like a good move for your career.” Her lips stretched into a smile; it didn’t reach her eyes.
“I know it’s sudden, but I wasn’t expecting to be the one sent. It must mean that the bosses noticed my work. Plus I’m one of the attorneys licensed to work in Texas, and I can travel on short notice, since I don’t have a kid at home.”
“Hmm,” Rickie said. “So they don’t know about the pregnancy?”
“HR does, of course. But I haven’t said anything to my bosses. I recently transferred to this office from Phoenix. I want to show them that I’m an asset before I spring the kid on them. Law firms are about billable hours, which babies tend to limit.” How the hell was he going to work the billable hours he needed with two children at home? That was a bridge he’d cross later.
“We should celebrate,” Olympia said, bracing herself on the table as she stood.
He just stopped himself from putting out a hand to steady her. Rickie was right. It was lucky she’d shown up, because he couldn’t have left Olympia here on her own. “I’ll help you,” he said, following her the few steps to the fridge. He whispered close to her ear, inhaling quickly her Granny Smith–apple scent. “Are you okay? Do you need to lie down?”
“I’m fine,” she said, barely moving her lips. “Do you think Rickie’s buying our story?”
He looked over his shoulder at his pseudo-sister-in-law. He slid his gaze quickly away from her steady one. “Absolutely,” he lied.
“Hope you do better than that in the courtroom.”
“What do you mean?”
“That was the worst lie I ever heard.” She pulled out a bottle of her prized orange soda. “Here we go. Almost as good as champagne,” she said brightly, turning to her sister.
He followed her with glasses and watched as the siblings drank a toast and settled into a conversation about people he didn’t know. He once again heard that affection in Olympia’s voice. She’d be fine here with Rickie, and he’d made the right decision. Despite what she might say, Olympia cared deeply. If she ever met Calvin, she’d treat him with a warmth that Missy had never been able to achieve.
“You’re sleeping in the spare room because of the morning sickness?” he heard Rickie ask. Dang it. The girl wouldn’t leave it alone.
“Of course,” Olympia said smoothly. “If Spence rolls over in bed, it makes me nauseous, doesn’t it, honey?” she asked sweetly.
“For now,” he said and meant it. He wanted to share her bed again. He was pretty sure she felt the same way after last night. “I’d say we’d go out to celebrate, but...” he trailed off.
“I’m good with only soup, animal crackers and salsa. No use going out if that’s all I can eat.”
“That’s fine with me. You can help me put the finishing touches on dinner. Help me to get to know my brother-in-law,” Rickie said. Spence decided to take her comments at face value.
Olympia hugged her younger sister. “Thanks, Rickie. You always were my favorite.”
Rickie’s slow smile took her face fro
m pretty to stunning, and right then, he saw the resemblance between these James girls.
“I’m your favorite because I made you cinnamon toast and chocolate milk. Should I try for Grammy’s famous eggs with the soup?”
“No,” Olympia said in horror, but with a laugh. “Even Spence’s stomach couldn’t take that.”
“What?” he asked, intrigued by the genuine affection and teasing.
“You don’t want to know,” they said in unison and laughed.
“Come on, cowboy,” Rickie said. “Cooking is not just women’s work.”
He turned to say something to Olympia and was pierced by the look of love that she gave her sister’s slowly retreating form. “What?” she asked sharply.
“Nothing. Just happy that someone will be here with you.”
“Me, too. I’ve got to pee.” She rushed down the hall, but she definitely wasn’t sick. He was nearly certain that he’d seen tears in her eyes. She wasn’t the hardened cowgirl she kept telling him she was. With her sister, she was much more like the woman he’d met at the wedding—open, hopeful and funny. Really, Calvin would love her, but his son wouldn’t be here anytime soon. Spence’s focus had to be on Texas and earning the money for the attorney who would fight for a better custody arrangement. Even if he thought she’d be a good mom figure for Calvin, he didn’t want his son getting hurt by thinking that he had a new mom, only to have her abandon him like Missy had.
“Yo, you helping or what?” Rickie asked as she turned to him with a pan of something that smelled great.
“That for me? What are you going to eat?”
“I can take care of myself and my sister,” Rickie said, her pretty face firmed into very serious lines. He nodded his head in acknowledgment. These James women were something else.
* * *
OLYMPIA MISSED SPENCE now that he was in Texas, and she blamed her silliness on her pregnancy hormones. They didn’t share a room and barely shared a life. Still, she missed his morning whistling as he got his coffee and his tuneless humming as he ate his generic cereal that was more sugar than nutrition. She shook her head and made the solitary cup of coffee she was allowed to have. She’d sip it and then go out to the barn and forget about Spence, about the baby and about the agreement that made this all temporary.
