Following their usual Monday routine, Harley drove in at noon with sandwiches and cold drinks for the crew. The crew was assembled, eating in the shade, the pony campers at the picnic tables across the yard, when Leonora Morgan drove up in one of the golf carts they kept for guests and workers to get around the ranch.
“Hi, everyone! Harley, have you got a minute?” Their boss was dressed in lime-green capris and a floral blouse, her ash-blond hair held back in colorful scarf.
“Sure, Mrs. M.” He set down his sandwich and strolled over to the cart.
“I hope Ben told you about dinner tonight. We’re expecting you, dear. We have two lovely ladies joining us, so we need you to round out the table.”
Harley tipped his hat. “I’ll be there. What time?”
“Six-ish is fine. See you then!” With a wave at Maggie and the others, she drove off, leaving a cloud of dust in her wake.
Jeb whistled as Harley sidled back to join them. “She’s got your number, Boss.”
Maggie rose, face flushed, and tossed her sandwich wrapper into the trash on her way into the barn. “Thanks for lunch, Harley.” Another word and she would burst into tears.
A short time later, Harley found her on the office, pretending to do some paperwork. “Mags, you okay?”
“Yes, why wouldn’t I be?” She looked away, hoping to hide her tears.
“Oh, I don’t know. Maybe ’cause there’s trouble in paradise?”
“Stop it, Harley.”
“He’s a good guy.”
“If you say another word in his defense, I will quit right now.”
“Well, okay, how about this? Em deserves to have a dad, and you could do a hell of a lot worse than Ben Morgan.”
“So much for my asking him not to tell anyone. What a stupid, stupid fool I’ve been. To trust him, to be taken in by him again!”
“He didn’t tell me, Maggie. I’ve known about Emma since the first time I laid eyes on her. I was there the night of the barbecue, remember? I saw you guys go off, drunk as skunks, already all over each other. And I can count. Nine months later, Em was born. Doesn’t take a genius to put two and two together and realize you didn’t hook up with some Princeton guy that quickly.”
“Then why didn’t you say?”
“Not my business. I figured you’d tell me if you wanted to talk about it.”
“Does the whole town know?”
“Not that I’ve ever heard.” Harley decided not to mention Ruthie’s occasional comments to him over the past several years, or the way Ben Senior looked at Emma.
“So what’s tonight all about, anyway? Who’s Leonora throwing in front of you and Ben this time?”
“Search me. Probably some sorority sisters she’s dredged up from her Cowbelle network.”
Maggie groaned.
“Look, the boss lady’s dinner is nothing. I’ve known Ben Morgan since we were in diapers, and I’ve never seen him talk about a woman like he does you. Obsessed is the word that comes to mind, and my friend, the playboy doesn’t get obsessed with women. He’s crazy in love with you.”
“Says you. I don’t know that. Not a word since I told him about Emma.”
“Give him time. He’ll come around.”
Jeb poked his head in, gazing from one boss to another. “Hey, Maggie, want me to get the campers started?”
“Thanks, Jeb. I’ll be right out. I thought we’d take them on a short trail ride. They’re ready, don’t you think?”
She brushed by Harley.
* * *
Chapter 33
Monday evening, Maggie, Emma, and Ned went to Gracie’s for dinner. Ned and Emma kept up most of the conversation while Maggie moped, trying to smile at appropriate intervals. All she could think about was Ben, Harley, and the sorority sisters, wining and dining at the big house. Her heart ached with sadness and loss.
Doing a credible imitation of the Queen Mother, Leonora Morgan presided over the dinner table. The party included Ruthie and her new boyfriend, Chas, Ben Senior, Ben, Harley, and their “dates,” Joanie Suttell and Sally Skeffington. Joanie and Sally were, indeed, newly recruited Cowbelles. Both held good jobs in Tucson but lived in Saguaro. Their families were part of Leonora’s country club set, and both had grown up with their handsome tablemates, albeit admiring them from afar, as they were seven years younger.
All Ben could think about during dinner was Maggie and how much he had missed her. Miracle of miracles, he had a daughter, a sweet, brave child. The realization filled him with awe and profound gratitude to her sexy, gorgeous, infuriating mother. Lost in thought, he was startled by his mother’s poke.
“Bennie, Sally is asking you a question!”
“Oh, sorry, what?”
Knowing full well what was on his friend’s mind, Harley came to his rescue and made up a story about a difficult problem they had been wrestling with that day. As he prattled on, talking complete gibberish, Sally and Joanie hung on his every word. Although gorgeous, Ben Morgan was clearly in La La Land, but not so his hunky friend.
Joanie leaned toward the handsome cowboy, her skin-tight lemon-yellow top revealing a wide swath of cleavage. “Oh, Harley, your work sounds so fascinating. I’ve been dying to take some riding lessons. Haven’t ridden since my pony camp days. Do you and Ben give private lessons?”
Oh, please, Ruthie thought, watching the performance going on at the other end of the table. Could Harley be any more sickening? Where has Leonora found these airheads? Sally was pretty, in a preppy, stick-up-your-ass way, her shoulder-length blond hair pulled back in a simple floral headband that matched her summer dress, which hugged her thin frame, but Joanie? Could the woman be any more of a floozy with her fake boobs hanging out of a skin-tight V-neck top and white slacks that looked as if they’d been painted onto her long, shapely legs? Joanie’s auburn hair was tied carelessly back in a loose chignon, curls framing a heart-shaped face. Her jewelry was clearly high-quality and expensive, but the woman was a slut!
Ruthie turned back to Chas, feigning flirtatious interest she did not feel. He was a nice guy, but dull as dishwater. A CPA from Tucson, with short, dark brown hair, pale-skinned from a life spent indoors hunched over a computer, he looked sickly beside the two cowboys at the table. His photo on the dating site had shown him kayaking, but it was clearly false advertising. He wasn’t the outdoorsy type. Ruthie decided that he looked particularly dorky tonight in a green polo shirt and pressed khakis.
Leonora clapped her hands. “Riding lessons, what a wonderful idea! Ben has been looking for projects, and I’m sure Harley could take a break this week and help out. Make them take you out on the trails. They’re beautiful right now with the desert in bloom.” Not bothering to ask Harley and ignoring her son, who was clearly a million miles away, she asked, “Do you two have a day that works for you?”
Sally and Joanie proposed Thursday, and before Harley could think up an excuse, the boss lady had set up a riding lesson for ten in the morning. He wasn’t even sure Ben had heard, but he would tell him later. Between them, they’d figure out an excuse not to take the two Barbie dolls out for a ride.
* * *
Chapter 34
The next morning, Ben, Ruthie, and their parents were sitting at the breakfast table when Leonora waved a piece of toast in her son’s direction.
“Tell us again why you feel you need to take a day out of work to chauffeur Maggie Williams and her daughter to doctors’ visits? I’m sure she’s used to doing this herself, and I’m certain Harley can use you at the stables, or your poor father could use help with all the bookings coming up.”
“Leave him be, honey.”
Leonora turned to glare at her husband.
“I’m fine,” Ben Senior said, “and the stables have been running just dandy for five years without Ben. Besides, we can’t get too used to him being around. Even though I’d give my right arm to have him stay forever, he has a business to run in California.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. He’s
not interested in that now that he’s home, are you, darling?”
Ruthie watched her brother and cringed. Their mother was doing it again, driving her brother away. If looks could kill, Leonora would be lying flat on the dining room floor. Deciding a change of topic was in order, she said, “That was an interesting dinner last night, wasn’t it? Chas was treated to quite a show.”
“Really, Ruth, bringing an Internet date to our table! I mean, the boy seemed nice enough, but what were you thinking?”
“Mom, you’re forgetting that I’m an Internet date, too. And you should talk, inviting those two airheads Joanie and Sally. If they’d drooled over Harley and Ben any more, they’d have needed bibs.”
“Don’t be fresh! It’s unbecoming.”
“Well, I, for one, think my brother and I are more than capable of finding our own dates and certainly don’t need help from you, nor do we need your permission.”
Ben rose, grabbed his plate and headed to the kitchen. “We should be back midafternoon. If there are things you need, make a list, okay, Dad?”
“Thanks, son.”
On his way by, he gave Ruthie’s ponytail a flip. “See ya, Shortcake. Thanks for breakfast, Mother.”
Leonora stared at the door Ben had closed behind him. “Where’s he off to in such a hurry?”
“Leave it be, sugar. I’ve gotta get cracking.” Ben Senior stood and gave his wife a peck on the cheek and Ruthie a kiss on top of her head.
Ruthie followed the two men out of the dining room, leaving Leonora Morgan alone.
* * *
Chapter 35
When the Rover pulled up, Maggie and Emma were waiting on the front walk, car seat on the ground.
Ben waved at his daughter. “Hey, Emma.”
“Hi, Ben!” She was dressed in shorts and a tee shirt, a white teddy bear in her lap.
Maggie nodded and said, “Good morning,” allowing Ben to load her daughter into the car seat.
Emma chatted all the way into Tucson, pointing out javelinas, jackrabbits and other sights along the way. The two adults responded with enthusiasm to her but said little to each other.
It was agony to be so near to him, yet feel the yawning chasm that had grown between them. Maggie longed to take his hand, to feel his strength and warmth, to draw comfort from his heated touch.
Ben drove, remaining silent except for the occasional comment to Emma. He was still sorting through complicated feelings about the woman beside him. He loved her—of this he was certain—but with that realization came what he regarded as her betrayal. He no longer trusted his feelings when he was around her. Pale and drawn with worry, she looked lovely. Her intoxicating scent filled the car and her nearness aroused all his senses, even as he waged an inward war with his feelings.
Once they reached the clinic, the atmosphere lightened as both focused their full attention on Emma. Ben insisted upon carrying the child in, proudly holding her as Maggie pushed the wheelchair into Reception. Emma was scheduled for blood work and physical exams with several specialists. Through it all, she remained mostly cheerful, except when they drew blood. As Ben held her still, he feared he might pass out, watching them stick his beloved child. In fact, he turned so green that Maggie stepped in and urged him to look away. After the first blood test, she asked for a damp cloth for his forehead and insisted the second round be conducted while Emma sat in her wheelchair.
At noon, Rose came upon them in the cafeteria grabbing a quick bite.
“Hi, guys. How’s it going? You holding up okay, Emma?”
Instantly the child cowered in her mother’s arms. After a morning of being poked and prodded, she was enjoying the respite in the busy, colorful cafeteria, surrounded as they were by other families with children of all ages. Rose reached into her pocket and produced a whistle and a small puzzle, which she set down on the table near Emma. Maggie looked up at Rose and smiled, at the same time stroking the child’s hair. “Thank you, Rose, for everything. Would you like to join us?”
“Thanks, but I won’t disturb your lunch. I’ve got some paperwork to take care of. Maggie, when you’re finished, do you suppose you could stop in to my office? There are a couple of forms they neglected to give you at Reception. It’s on the second floor, room 203.”
“Of course. Would you like me to come right now? Ben could sit with Emma.”
“No, Mommy, I want you!”
“No rush. Take your time. We can wait until the end of the day, if you cannot get away.”
Ben watched the interplay between the women and his daughter’s obvious distress. “We’ll make sure she gets up there. Don’t worry.”
When Rose had disappeared, Maggie turned to him. “Thank you for coming today. It’s been great having another pair of hands.”
He smiled warmly as he gazed from mother to daughter. “Wouldn’t have missed it for the world. Now, who’s ready for some ice cream? They have a soft-serve machine and sprinkles.” He reached out his arms and Emma went to him, her thin arms circling his neck as he carried her off. Over his shoulder, he looked back at Maggie, motioning with his head for her to go. “We’ll be fine.”
Rose was just sitting down when Maggie knocked. “That was quick. Come in, please.” She cleared a chair near hers and invited Maggie to sit. “How did the morning go?”
“Pretty good. After all she’s been through, Emma doesn’t like needles, so the blood work’s always challenging. Then there was the near-fainting episode with your school chum.”
“Oh, dear, is he okay?” Maggie nodded as they giggled, their laughter easing the tension.
“Maggie, I asked you up here because there is one more piece of information that may potentially be really helpful as we assemble all of Emma’s paperwork and test results. You are no doubt aware that her blood type is B?” Maggie nodded. “So, you also know it’s quite rare? According to Emma’s records, you are O positive, so Emma’s dad may have her type, or not.”
Maggie shook her head. “I don’t understand why this is important.”
“Of course, sorry, I should have explained right away. When considering surgical options, we try to type both parents and close family members before making recommendations. In Emma’s case, should surgery be recommended and should you choose to go ahead, we would need a good supply of plasma available. Some we can take from her ahead of time, but with a child that young, we cannot take a lot of blood. We need donors.”
“What about my dad?”
“It’s a possibility. Do you know his type?”
Maggie shook her head. “I don’t think it’s B. I would have heard that sometime with all his injuries through the years.”
“I don’t mean to pry, and would never ask if it wasn’t critical, but are you still in contact with Emma’s biological father?” Maggie hesitated, then nodded. “Would he, do you think, be willing to be tested and give blood?”
“Yes, I’m sure he would.”
“Does he live locally?”
Maggie stared at Rose’s green eyes, waiting and watchful. “It’s Ben, Rose. Ben is Emma’s dad.” Her companion nodded, making a note. She did not appear at all surprised at the revelation. “You knew?”
“She resembles him in so many ways.”
“Yes, she does. We haven’t told anyone, and I’d appreciate it if you didn’t either.”
“Of course not. I would never have asked except we will need him. We will need him acutely if Emma is a candidate for surgery.”
They talked a while longer, and Rose handed her a lab order for Ben. They also made an appointment for the following week to review all the tests with Dr. Heavers and the team. As she rose to go, Maggie turned back. “You were in love with him, weren’t you?”
Rose smiled, a wistful, sad smile. “All through high school and beyond. But he never paid me much mind. A few casual dates here and there, but Ben was a real ladies’ man.”
“I remember well, watching the big kids’ crowd. He was always at the epicenter, wasn’t he? One or
two admirers hanging on his arms?”
Rose laughed. “He was bad, wasn’t he?”
“Still is.”
“You guys seem close.”
“Yes, well, looks can be deceiving.”
“Maggie, for what it’s worth, I’ve never seen Ben Morgan look at a woman the way he looks at you.”
“Thanks, Rose. I’ll see you next week.”
When the Rover pulled up to the house, they looked back to spy Emma fast asleep. “Poor baby,” he said. He unhooked the car seat and lifted the sleeping child out, carrying her into the house.
Ned opened the door as they approached. “Hey, guys, I’ve got chili.”
‘Thanks, Ned. Not for me.” Ben set Emma’s car seat down gently next to the couch as Maggie unfolded the wheelchair. He turned to her. “I gotta get going. See you tomorrow?”
Maggie gave her dad a look, then followed Ben outside and closed the door behind them. “Thank you for taking us, and for taking the blood test.”
“She’s my daughter, Maggie. What’d you expect?”
“I-I don’t know. I just know I’m grateful, that’s all.”
“And now we wait.”
“Yes.”
“I’ll let you go.”
Dark eyes unreadable, he tipped his hat and turned away.
As Maggie watched him walk away, a lump rose in her throat and tears sprung to her eyes. She waited for him to look back, but he drove away, eyes straight ahead.
* * *
Chapter 36
The week was a blur of activity. As Harley and Ben prepared for another four-day pack trip, Maggie and Jeb and the college crew ran the pony camp and gave private lessons in between. Harley’s attempts to get them out of the private lessons with Joanie and Sally had failed miserably so both he and Ben were tied up for several hours on Thursday and Friday with the adoring ladies.
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