The Blackstone Promise

by Rochelle Alers

  Slowing her pace, she smiled, stopped and waited for him to approach her. He’d elected to wear a flannel shirt with jeans and a pair of worn boots.

  She’d seen him dressed in a tailored suit, a tuxedo and jeans with a pullover sweater or cotton shirt, and she liked him dressed down best. The casual attire seemed to enhance his rugged handsomeness.

  Her smile faded the moment she noticed his stern-faced expression. “Good morning.”

  Sheldon’s gray eyes swept over Renee, lingering momentarily on the puppy cradled against her chest. “I thought because it wasn’t a work day you’d stay in bed beyond daybreak.”

  “I enjoy getting up early and walking.”

  “Why don’t you wait for me to walk with you.” His tone was softer, almost conciliatory.

  “I don’t want to wake you up.”

  “Wake me up, Renee.”

  “Okay, Sheldon. I’ll wake you up.”

  He pointed to the puppy. “What do you have there?”

  “A pet.”

  He lifted both eyebrows. “A pet?”

  “Our pet, Sheldon.”

  He crossed his arms over his chest. “Did I say I wanted or needed a pet?”

  Renee shook her head. “No. But, if I’m going to live with you then he will become our pet.” She peered up at him. “Don’t you like animals?”

  Sheldon gave Renee an incredulous look. “If I didn’t like animals why would I own a horse farm? I’m not opposed to you having a dog, but who’s going to take care of him when we go away?”

  “When are we going away?”

  “I’d planned to take you to the cabin this weekend. You said you wanted to learn how to fish.”

  “Can’t we take him with us, Sheldon? Please,” she added when a frown appeared between his eyes.

  The corners of his mouth twitched then inched upward as he tried and failed to bite back a grin. “Yes, princess. You can bring our pet to the cabin.”

  Moving closer, she wound her free arm around his waist, encountering a bulge in the small of his back. “Sheldon.” His name was a weak whisper. He was carrying a handgun.

  Grasping her hand, he pulled it away from his body. “It’s all right, baby.”

  “It’s not all right. I don’t like guns.”

  “Neither do I,” he countered. “But sometimes they are a necessary evil.”

  She took a step backward. “I don’t want to see it.”

  “Walk ahead of me and you won’t see it.”

  Renee moved in front of Sheldon. She could feel his gaze boring into her back. “I need a name for the puppy.”

  “Is it a boy?” She nodded. “How about Patch?”

  “How did you come up with that one?”

  “Because he looks as if he’s wearing a black patch over one eye.”

  Renee stared at the sleeping puppy. So much for her being observant.

  “Patch Blackstone. I like the sound of that,” she said, peering at Sheldon over her shoulder.

  “He’s going to need food.”

  “Peter promised to bring some to the house.”

  Sheldon shook his head. Three months ago he lived alone. Now he had not only a woman but also a dog sharing his home. “Try to paper train him as soon as possible, because I don’t want more work for Claire.”

  “I’ll clean up after him.”

  “No, you won’t.”

  “Why not, Sheldon? He’s my pet and therefore my responsibility.”

  “You don’t need to be on your knees cleaning up dog crap. I’ll do it.”

  Renee’s back stiffened. “No, you won’t.”

  “If that’s the case, then get rid of the damn dog.” She stopped, spun around and walked back to face him. “I’m not going to argue with you, Renee,” he warned in a deceptively soft voice.

  There was something about Sheldon’s expression that stilled Renee’s tongue. His implacable expression was unnerving. “Nor I you,” she said quietly.

  Turning on her heel, she bit down on her lower lip until it pulsed between her teeth. How could she prove her point with a man who refused to debate?

  The answer was she couldn’t.

  Renee sat next to Sheldon at a table in the dining hall. Each table’s centerpiece was representative of the season: tiny pumpkins, gourds, sprigs of pine and pine cones. Orange and yellow tablecloths had replaced the usual white. Prerecorded taped music provided a nice backdrop for the various conversations from the diners.

  She’d had a light breakfast because she wanted to save her appetite for Thanksgiving dinner. Within minutes Kevin Manning, his wife and their niece, Cheryl, joined them.

  Nineteen-year-old Cheryl had become a racing celebrity. Barely five feet in height, she topped the scales at an even one hundred pounds.

  Ryan Blackstone stood up, waiting for conversations to fade. He smiled, flashing sparkling white teeth under a neatly barbered mustache. “Good afternoon. Unlike my esteemed father and brother, I’ll make this speech short and sweet, because I don’t know about you but I’m hungry enough to eat a horse.”

  There came a round of hisses and boos when he mentioned horse. “Not any of our horses, of course.” This was followed with applause. Ryan sobered. “But on a more serious note, I’d like to give thanks for so many things this year. I’m thankful for our families, immediate and extended. We also have to thank Kevin and Cheryl for their incredible successes. We are thankful and grateful for the new members of our farm family.” He smiled at Renee and Beatrice.

  “I’d also like to thank my brother for his hard work and unwavering support as we prepare for another generation of Blackstone Farms achievements. I’d like to thank my father for always being here not only for me but also for all of us. He’s sacrificed a lot to make Blackstone Farms what it is today, and for that I’m certain he will be rewarded in ways he cannot imagine.

  “Last year our mothers came to Sheldon because they wanted a safe environment for their children. That request gave birth to the Blackstone Farm Day School and Infant Center. This year some of you have asked for a place of worship, and your request has been taken under advisement. Sheldon has offered to give up five acres of land in the north end for the construction of an interdenominational church. The contractor laid the foundation two days ago, and we hope to have the project completed before spring.”

  Ryan paused as applause and whistles rent the air. He held up a hand. “Some of you may not be aware of it, but in another life one of our grooms served as an assistant pastor in a little church in Texas.” He motioned to a table to his right. “Reverend Jimmy Merrell, I’d like for you to meet your flock and bless the food.” There were gasps of surprise intermingled with applause.

  Jimmy stood up and clasped his hands, everyone following suit. Renee folded her hands in her lap. She gave Sheldon a sidelong glance when his hand covered hers.

  There were so many things to be thankful for this year: the child kicking vigorously inside her; the love of the man cradling her hand; the love and happiness her mother had found after so many years of pain and despair, and her brother for his love and support after she’d come to him when she needed him most.

  The invocation concluded and the feasting began. Renee ate so much that she had to refuse dessert. She’d wanted to sample the pastry chef’s renowned sweet potato pie, and in the end she had a slice wrapped up to take with her before she and Sheldon left for their weekend at the cabin.

  Sheldon cradled Renee to his chest, staring into the flickering flames in the fireplace. A gentle smile touched his mouth. It was a perfect scenario: a man and woman in bed together while their dog slept on a rug in front of the fireplace.

  He’d come to the cabin with Renee because he needed to be away from the farm…and alone
with her. Here he hoped he would be able to face his fear and come to terms with his feelings for her. He had known there was something special about her from the very beginning, yet he could not have imagined he would fall in love with a woman carrying the fruit of her love for another man inside her.

  Once he’d recovered from the shock that she was pregnant it had become insignificant. Kelly had married Ryan and had become mother to Sean, his son from a prior marriage. Kelly had legally adopted Sean the year before.

  Sheldon closed his eyes, sighing softly. If he married Renee before the birth of her daughter, then she would automatically become a Blackstone.

  “Have you thought of a name for the baby?”

  Renee snuggled closer and wiggled her nose when the hair on Sheldon’s chest tickled her. “I’ve thought of a few.”

  “Do you want to tell me, or it is a secret?”

  “It’s not a secret. I’m considering Virginia, because it was my grandmother’s name. I also like Sonya and Hannah.”

  “They’re all strong, traditional feminine names. Have you picked out ones for a boy, just in case?”

  Pulling out of his embrace, Renee sat up. “I can’t have a boy.”

  Sheldon noted the look of distress on her face. “Why not? Sonograms aren’t always that accurate.”

  Tunneling her fingers through her hair, Renee held it off her face. “I don’t want a boy, because…” Her words trailed off, locked in her throat.

  Reaching for her, Sheldon pulled her up to sit on his lap. “Why not, Renee?”

  She stared at him in the wavering light from the fireplace fire. “A boy needs a mother and a father. I know I can raise my daughter by myself, but not my son.”

  “I’ll help you, darling.”

  She froze. “What?”

  “I’ll help you raise your son. I’ve made mistakes with Ryan and Jeremy, yet they’ve turned out all right. I’m very proud of them.”

  Renee shook her head. “No, Sheldon. I can’t ask you to do that.”

  “Didn’t you ask me to protect you and your baby?”

  “Protect, not assume responsibility for raising it.”

  A weighted heaviness settled in Sheldon’s chest as he digested Renee’s statement. She would permit him in her life but not to share in it.

  His life had come full circle. Julia had married him, borne his two sons, yet she had withheld a part of herself from him, had concealed her illness until it was too late.

  Was he destined to repeat the same mistake? Had he fallen in love with a woman like Julia?

  Now it was his turn to hide, hide his true feelings from Renee. He had fallen in love with her, would probably always love her, but it was something he would never reveal to her or anyone else.

  He squeezed her shoulder. “Let’s get some sleep because we’re going to have to get up early tomorrow to go fishing.”

  “Let’s go, sleepyhead. Time to get up.” Renee mumbled in her sleep, but did not wake up. Sheldon shook her harder. “Renee.”

  Her lids fluttered wildly as she opened her eyes. Where was she? She heard a soft yelping and came awake. Rolling over on her back she saw Sheldon leaning over her.

  “What time is it?”

  “Four,” he whispered.

  “Four o’clock in the freaking morning?”

  Grinning, he nodded. “Let’s go while the fish are biting.” He nuzzled her ear. “Okay, princess. If I catch the fish you’ll have to clean them.”

  Renee sat straight up. She hated cleaning fish. “No. Give me a few minutes and I’ll be ready.”

  Sheldon sat down on the side of the bed, watching her as she walked to the bathroom. She was moving more slowly now. Cupping a hand over his mouth, he closed his eyes.

  He had spent a restless night wondering whether he’d coerced Renee into living with him. Renovations on her bungalow were nearing completion, and he thought about giving her the option of moving out of his house and into her own.

  But seeing her waddle across the room while massaging her lower back squeezed his heart. He couldn’t leave her—not now. Not until after she delivered the baby.

  Renee lay on a wooden bench in the bathroom, her legs covered with foam. Sheldon straddled the bench, razor in hand. He had offered to shave her legs.

  He raised her foot to his thigh. “Relax, baby. I’m not going to cut you.”

  “I’ve always shaved my own legs.”

  Leaning forward, he laid a hand over her distended belly. “That was before, when you could bend down or lift your leg. Right now, you’re at my mercy.”

  Staring up at the recessed lights, Renee nodded. “That’s what I’m afraid of.”

  His right hand moved up her thighs and covered the furred mound. “You know I wouldn’t take advantage of you.”

  She slapped at his hand. “I know nothing of the sort.”

  “Maybe if I shave a little higher the hospital won’t charge you for that particular procedure once you go into labor.”

  “Stop it, Sheldon!” She laughed so hard that her stomach muscles contracted. “Now, I’m hurting,” she said between guffaws.

  “Where?”

  “My sides and back.”

  Hovering over her, Sheldon smiled. “I’ll give you a massage after I finish your legs.”

  Renee calmed down enough to remain still as he drew the blade over her legs.

  Sheldon finished one leg, then did the other. Gathering her off the bench, he cradled her to his chest.

  “I think you’ve gained a few pounds since yesterday.”

  Renee met his gaze. “Did you see how much I ate for Thanksgiving?”

  He shook his head. “No, because I was too busy stuffing my own face.”

  “I hope the doctor won’t put me on a diet after I weigh in.”

  “How much have you gained overall?”

  “Twelve pounds.” She’d doubled her weight gain since coming to the farm.

  “That’s not much.”

  “I know. But there are times when I feel like a beached whale.”

  “You look beautiful.”

  Tightening her hold on his neck, Renee kissed his stubbly jaw. “You’re so good for a woman’s ego.”

  He angled his head. “You are beautiful, Renee.”

  “Thank you. I’d like to cook for you tonight, Sheldon.”

  “Are you sure you know how to cook?”

  She remembered another time when he’d doubted her culinary skills. “Stay out of the kitchen, and you’ll see if I can. I’m going to check your refrigerator and freezer, and if you don’t have what I need then you’re going to have to drive me to the nearest supermarket.”

  He placed her on her side on a table in a steam room. “There are no supermarkets around here.”

  “Where do you buy your food?”

  “I usually bring it from the farm.”

  “Like the keg of beer you and your buddies drink during your annual fall frolic.”

  “If I tell you something, will you promise not to tell anyone?”

  Sheldon’s expression was so serious Renee felt her heart stop before starting up again. “Yes.”

  “We usually drink a couple of six-packs, not a keg.”

  “Tricia said her grandfather brags about you guys emptying a keg in a couple of days.”

  Pulling over a stool, Sheldon sat down and gently kneaded the muscles in Renee’s lower back. “The first year we got together we bought a keg. We emptied the keg by pouring out more than three quarters of the beer. I’m lucky if I can drink two beers in one sitting.”

  “Then it’s all a lie?”

  He pressed his mouth to her bare shoulder. “It wasn’t a lie. When I said
we emptied a keg everyone assumed we had actually drunk a keg of beer. We never bothered to clarify the misconception because that would destroy the wild bunch’s mystique. Do you know how many guys want in our elite organization?”

  Renee laughed again. “You guys are a fraud.”

  “And you better not tell,” Sheldon threatened.

  “I’ll think about it.”

  “Renee!”

  “Okay, Sheldon. I’ll keep your secret.”

  Rounding the table, he hunkered down and kissed her until her lips parted to his probing tongue. The kiss claimed a dreamy intimacy that hinted of more as Sheldon gathered Renee off the table and carried her into one of the downstairs bedrooms. He lowered her to the bed, his body following; he supported his weight on his elbows.

  Reversing their positions, Sheldon pressed his back to the headboard and brought Renee to straddle him, her back against his chest. Lifting her slightly, he entered her, covering her breasts with his hands. The coupling lasted minutes, but when they climaxed simultaneously it was to offer the other the sweetest ecstasy either had ever experienced.

  Chapter Eleven

  Renee stood at the cooking island, adding chopped fresh rosemary to a lemon marinade for the trout she’d planned to cook on the stovetop grill.

  “Do you need me for anything before I go upstairs and wash my hair?” Sheldon asked as he walked into the kitchen. He had taken Sean with him to Staunton for a haircut.

  She smiled at Sheldon. “No. I’m good here.”

  After sharing cooking duties over the Thanksgiving weekend, she and Sheldon continued the ritual once they returned to the farm. He had been so impressed with her cooking skills that he had begun making special requests.

  He left the bed when she did, accompanying her on early morning walks, and returning to the house after stopping for breakfast at the dining hall. She had adjusted her work hours from nine-to-five to eight-to-four. Although she no longer required a nap during the day, she rarely slept soundly through the night. As soon as she got into bed the baby began her nightly aerobic workout.