Carrying the Rancher's Heir

by Charlene Sands

The simple gesture touched a raw nerve and tears welled up. Maybe Tagg was really trying and maybe this was harder on him than she realized. Not only had he not wanted marriage, a baby or a family life, but she suspected he was dealing with something that plagued him much worse than losing a big cattle deal to her father. Something that had to do with his love for his first wife.

  Tagg stood in the doorway watching Callie fuss around the kitchen, whipping up potatoes in a bowl and baking chicken for the dinner meal. She seemed comfortable in her surroundings, as if she belonged here and didn’t mind his unadorned lifestyle. He had more money than he’d ever need, but he was the one Worth who didn’t have his own servants, didn’t hire out for chores on his ranch if he could do the work himself. He had a team of five part-time employees who took care of his prize horses and kept the stables running smoothly. Once a week, he paid Helen to bring in groceries. Tagg’s lifestyle met his solitary needs. But did they meet Callie’s?

  She’d been raised in the Sullivan household on Big Hawk Ranch. Sullivan had a servant for every day of the week, it seemed. And Callie had grown up in luxury. She was heiress to her father’s legacy.

  “Hey, cowboy. Wanna help me with the salad?” Wire whisk in hand, she stopped cooking to send him a smile.

  He walked farther into the kitchen. “I can do that.”

  She handed him a knife and slid the cutting board his way on the granite island. “Slice the tomatoes and cucumbers and I’ll shred the lettuce.”

  Tagg picked up the knife and began cutting the tomatoes. “You know, if you need help around here, we can hire someone.”

  “Thank you, but I don’t need help.”

  “You’re busy at Penny’s Song every day. It’s only going to get busier when the children arrive next weekend.”

  “I know, but I don’t mind. Makes the time fly by. Besides, you’d hate to have someone here, getting in your way.”

  He already did. Only lately, he’d been enjoying Callie’s company a little too much. He’d been glad to find her at Penny’s Song, wanting to share the arrival of the Cosgrove horses. But at the first mention of her father’s name, Tagg’s good mood had vanished.

  “You might want help when the baby comes.”

  Callie smiled and her dark eyes softened. “We’ll have to see how it goes. While I was out getting books for Penny’s Song, I bought half a dozen on pregnancy and baby care. I want to get it just right.”

  He finished cutting the tomatoes and moved on to the cucumbers. “I suppose we’ll need to take classes or something, right?”

  Callie laid a hand on his arm. “You’d go with me?”

  He turned to her. “Did you think I wouldn’t?”

  “Well, I wasn’t sure. I was hoping you would.” She spoke quietly, her voice trailing off.

  “I want to get it right, too.” He glanced at her belly, something he was prone to do often, as if seeing the evidence of his child growing there would make it more real. But it was too early yet. The only sign he’d seen of Callie’s pregnancy was the ripeness of her breasts. He couldn’t help noticing they felt heavier in his hands, fuller, and were incredibly more sensitive to his touch. Callie’s intense cries of pleasure when he fondled her had gotten him hot and ready in mere seconds. Just thinking about their nights of mind-sucking wicked sex tightened his groin to painful limits.

  Tagg had to admit one thing: he enjoyed making love to his new wife.

  “I’m taking the red-eye out to Tucson tonight.”

  Callie’s brows rose. “Oh? You didn’t mention it.”

  “It just came up. It’s a cattle deal I’ve been working on. I’ve got a meeting first thing in the morning.”

  “Okay. Well then, I’ll get dinner on the table right away.”

  Tagg looked at the chicken she’d just taken out of the oven, the mashed potatoes, creamed just the way he liked it and his gut growled with hunger. But not the kind food could satisfy.

  Callie picked up two plates and Tagg stopped her, grabbing her wrist. “I’m not hungry for food.”

  He pulled her close and wrapped his arms around her waist.

  “What do you need then?” she asked, breathless.

  He filled his nostrils with her scent and nibbled on her throat. She always smelled so good. “You, Callie. I need you tonight. Before I leave.”

  “Tagg.” Her voice was soft, her eyes even softer. “I need you, too.”

  Callie was always a willing partner. Tagg loved that about her. She’d never once denied him. He brushed a kiss over her lips and then another and another.

  She responded with throaty little sounds that wiped away any thoughts of taking her slow. “We’ve never done it in the kitchen,” he whispered, melding their mouths together.

  Sinful laugher escaped Callie’s throat. “You want me for dinner?”

  He grinned between kisses. “You know it.” But the granite island was full of hot food and Tagg didn’t have time to waste moving it all away. “On second thought, let’s have dinner in bed.”

  Tagg made a move to lift her, but Callie stopped him, setting her hands firmly on his chest. “Follow me,” she said, taking his hand and guiding him into the bedroom. He liked it when Callie took the lead. He liked it even more when she shoved him onto the bed and undressed for him.

  “What would you like for an appetizer?” she whispered and removed her chambray blouse.

  “Unhook that thing and come over here.”

  Callie did his bidding and unlatched her white lace bra, freeing her breasts. She came down onto the bed, her legs straddling his thighs. Tagg reached behind her back and splayed his hands out, bending her to him until her breasts were inches from his lips.

  He tasted her then, filling his mouth with one beautiful breast and making her purr with unabashed pleasure. “You taste good,” he said, his voice hoarse. The need inside him grew more urgent. “But I need the main course. Right now.”

  Callie smiled and lowered down, helping him remove his clothes. His shirt went flying and he struggled out of his jeans and shorts. Once he was naked, Callie gripped his manhood. “Not yet. There’s one more course to be served first.”

  She bent over him and took him for a ride with her mouth that if he lived a hundred years, he’d never forget. “You’re good at that,” he uttered.

  She answered back instantly, “Only with you.”

  She’d said that enough times that he was beginning to believe her. Her eyes liquid with desire, her body poised over his, Callie was beautiful and eager, but he noticed something else—something powerful and genuine. Something he hadn’t paid attention to before. But he didn’t have the willpower to analyze it further. He was hot, hungry and ready. And for the next thirty minutes Callie helped him satisfy that hunger.

  Shortly after, showered and dressed in Tagg’s shirt, Callie followed him into his office. “I have an idea.” She didn’t come in here often, but she wanted to see him off tonight. She’d miss him the minute he walked out the door for his business trip.

  “What’s that?” He searched his desk, filling his briefcase with papers and folders.

  “What if I helped out around here? I could be your assistant.”

  He stopped what he was doing to look at her. “You want to work for me?”

  Callie grinned. “Sure. You work long hours. You do practically everything yourself. I bet I can cut your work time in half. You wouldn’t need to be in this office all day long.”

  Tagg smiled and grabbed the lapels of the shirt she wore, pulling her up close. He looked into her eyes, slid a glance down her near-naked body and spoke with sincerity. “Honey, if you worked in the office with me, I guarantee you, we’d spend a helluva lot more time in here. Not working.”

  Callie wrapped her arms around him. “I want to help.”

  “You have your duties at Penny’s Song.” He brushed a kiss across her throat. His sexy aftershave tempted her senses with a rich combination of fresh mint and musk.

  “I don’t have to
be there all day. I can split my time.” The more she thought about it, the more the idea of working alongside Tagg appealed to her. Perhaps it would be one way to get closer to him. She knew asking this of him put him on the spot, but Callie had the advantage right now. Tagg was softening to her and she didn’t want that to stop. She wanted to prove to him that she was a good wife. That she would support him and help him in any way she could.

  “It might be too much, with the baby coming and all.”

  Callie wouldn’t back down. “I feel fine. If it ever got to be too much, I’d tell you.”

  “I’m used to doing things a certain way.”

  “Jackson said you were thinking of hiring someone to assist you.”

  “Jackson has a big mouth. And he doesn’t know what he’s talking about.”

  “Tagg, why are you resisting this so much? I’m here. I know the cattle business. Wives help their husbands. I want to do that for you.”

  He stared at her and shook his head, hesitating to say what was on his mind.

  “What?”

  He glanced at his watch. “I’ve got to get going, Callie. Let’s talk about it when I get back.”

  Tagg gave her a kiss goodbye and left. She listened until she heard his car pull out of the garage and power down the road, the crunch of gravel fading from earshot.

  And then it dawned on her why Tagg wouldn’t let her work with him. She let out a pitiful laugh. It all boiled down to Hawkins Sullivan. Tagg couldn’t forget who she was. She hoped that wasn’t the case, but deep down she feared that was still true. Yet, Callie didn’t understand why her father treated the Worths like they were his mortal enemy. It was high time she got to the bottom of it and found out the truth.

  The next day Callie sat at the Greenhouse Café in Red Ridge facing her father. When he’d first sat down, he had a sour look on his face, especially when he noticed the fresh turkey and veggie salad waiting for him on his side of the table.

  “It’s not that bad, Dad. In fact, it’s delicious.” Callie took a big bite to prove her point. She tried keeping her spirits up with her father, lest he see she was struggling in her marriage.

  “Like the sole of my shoe,” he grumbled, but he lifted the fork to his mouth and took a bite.

  Callie smiled. He’d probably never change. It was too much to ask. “So, how are you?”

  He set his hands on the table. “Fine. Just dandy. My daughter got married and I was allowed to watch from a football field away.”

  “Dad, when we agreed to meet for lunch, we also agreed not to argue. Let’s just be happy to see each other.”

  He clammed up and nodded.

  She saw more pronounced age lines around his eyes now. His ruddy face appeared more sallow. “I love you, Daddy.”

  “You have a funny way of showing it.”

  “Dad,” she warned. In many ways, her father was like the child and she was the adult in their relationship.

  “I love you, too.”

  She smiled. “I know.” She wished he wouldn’t love her so much.

  “I need to know something, Dad. It’s important. I’m married to Taggart Worth—”

  “Don’t remind me. My heart can’t take it.”

  “You see, that’s what I don’t understand. You have other competitors in the area. Granted they’re not as big as the Worths, but you don’t seem to mind losing out to one of them.”

  “I mind. I just don’t let it get to me.”

  “But you hate losing out to the Worths.”

  “Can’t deny that.”

  “Why, Daddy? You seem to target them, time and again. Nothing makes you happier than beating them at their own game. And I would suspect you’d rather take a loss than let them win a contract. I just don’t get it. You can barely stand to hear the Worth name. And it’s always been that way.”

  He pointed his fork at her. “And you…you’re having a Worth baby.” He uttered Worth with enough venom to down an elephant. Callie had to find out why he hated them so much, but she also had to set her father straight.

  “Our baby will be half Sullivan, Daddy.”

  “Humph.”

  “I want this baby.”

  “You’ve never known what’s good for you.”

  “And thanks for asking how I’m feeling.”

  “I can see you’re healthy. You’ve got the color back in your cheeks. You’re eating and look pretty as a picture.”

  Callie smiled. “Thank you.” She’d take a backhanded compliment from her father whenever she could get one. “But you’re still not off the hook for trying to bargain the baby away from Tagg.”

  “Annoyed him, did I?” His eyes lit up for a moment before he took a bite of his salad.

  “I’m in love with Tagg.”

  “He doesn’t love you.”

  That hurt. Hearing her father voice her biggest fear dug a giant hole out of her heart. She couldn’t deny it. She couldn’t prove her father wrong. She wished she had Tagg’s love. She wished for a lot of things, but she wasn’t greedy. Right now, she’d settle for his trust. She’d come to learn that life was messy at times. And this was one of those times.

  “Why do you feel such bitterness toward the Worths? I know it’s something more than business. Please, Dad,” she said, her plea grabbing his full attention. “Tell me. This isn’t a joke. It’s my life. And I’m being torn apart by two men that I love.”

  Her father’s expression changed. The hardness in his eyes softened. A sad frown pulled at his mouth. “All right, I’ll tell you. But this is only for your ears. You’re never to tell another soul about this. Not your friends, not that miserable husband of yours.”

  Callie shut her eyes momentarily. She hated hearing her father speak so ill of the man she loved.

  “I need your promise, Callie.”

  “I promise.” Luckily, she’d picked a corner booth in the café for their lunch. The restaurant wasn’t crowded and she was certain they were out of range for anyone eavesdropping.

  Still, her father lowered his voice before he spoke. “And I’m only telling you this hoping to persuade you to leave your husband and come back home where you belong.” He paused when Callie didn’t respond to that. “It has to do with your mother.”

  “Mom?” Callie blinked. She wouldn’t have guessed this in a million years. “What does Mom have to do with it?”

  “She was in love with Rory Worth when I met her.”

  “Mom? And Tagg’s father, Rory? But I never heard—”

  “No one else knows this. Just me. And now you. Rory’s dead and gone and good riddance to him. He never told a soul what he’d done.”

  Callie listened, part of her wishing she didn’t need to hear this.

  “He took your mother’s virginity and got her pregnant straightaway. Catherine was only nineteen at the time.”

  No, she really didn’t need to hear this, but she had to know.

  Her father’s voice grew quieter. “By the time your mother realized she was with child she went to Rory with the news. You can imagine how frightened she was. She’d trusted him and he’d played fast and loose with her. He told her he didn’t love her. Told her he couldn’t possibly marry her, because he was engaged to be married to another woman.”

  “Oh, wow.” Callie couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “That must have been Isabella Worth, Tagg’s mother.”

  He nodded.

  “It seems Rory and Belle had broken up for all of two weeks. But Rory hadn’t grieved about the breakup. Instead, he’d gotten drunk one night—that was his excuse—and Catherine was in the wrong place at the wrong time. He’d charmed her into bed. Oh, she was head over heels in love with Rory. Had been for years. It broke my heart, because she loved him the way I loved her. And there she was, pregnant with Rory’s child. It was my chance to make things right. I offered her marriage. She told me a part of her would always love Rory Worth. I understood that and hated it and, yet, I still wanted her. I wanted to love her and help her through
it all. But she wouldn’t marry me. She said it wasn’t fair to me. But I hung in there. You see, I loved her enough for both of us.”

  Her father stopped talking, his voice hoarse and weary. He gazed down at the table in thought and then a smirk broadened his face. “I beat the crap out of that miserable Rory one night. He never knew what hit him, and no one spoke about it afterward. He knew why. And that was good enough for me.”

  “Dad, you?”

  “I was in better physical shape then, Callie. Don’t look so surprised.”

  “I’m…not.” But she really was. “You said mom wouldn’t marry you.”

  “No. Not right then. She lost the baby shortly after that and it devastated her. She went into a depression. Of course, those who knew her thought the baby was mine. And that was fine by me. I didn’t want anyone thinking less of your mother and everyone knew I’d asked her to marry me about a dozen times. I guess I wore her down. She finally accepted my proposal.”

  Callie sipped her drink, the lemonade going down like acid. “I thought you two were happy.”

  He reached out for her hand and she clasped it. For a moment, Callie could see her father back then, young, vital and so much in love with her mother that he’d do anything to protect her. “We were. We had a good life. She never looked back after you were born, Callie. You made everything right. I guess that’s why I dote on you.”

  Callie got that. She always had, but now she knew why. She knew the extent of the love her father had for her mother. And she understood why he hated Rory Worth. It must have been hard living in the same town, doing business, knowing that the woman he loved would always be in love with another man.

  “So now you know why I never wanted you near a Worth,” he said finally, after moments of silence.

  Callie had to let it all sink in. “Yeah, now I understand your reasons.” But it had nothing to do with Tagg and his brothers. Why couldn’t he see that? Her father’s way of getting back at them was to beat the crap out of them in business.

  “You’re wrong to hold what Rory did against his sons.”

  “You know what they say about the sins of the father,” he replied stubbornly. “I’m not wrong.”