When Trish walked out on Clay, secretly she’d wanted an assurance that she was the right choice for him, that his love for her hadn’t died with all the bickering and arguing. But that assurance never came. His motivation was clear: he was through with her. He wanted to move on.
She’d held the sum total of her marriage, the divorce papers, in her shaky hands that day and broken down, crying her eyes out. Her heart shattered and her stomach in turmoil, she hadn’t eaten for days after. It was no surprise that she’d gotten sick and missed an entire week of work. Once she’d finally pulled herself together and gone back to the office, she’d become a different person—a person who knew she’d been right all along not to rely on Clay or anyone else for her happiness.
It was like seeing those empty seats in the school auditorium when she’d walked on stage, her parents the only ones MIA from their child’s performance.
“While I’m here, I’m going to focus on the fundraiser for Penny’s Song. I won’t have a lot of time,” she said, lifting her eyes to his, “for anything else.”
Dubious, he cocked his head to one side and his eyes lit like sparks on the Fourth of July. “Count on me to change your mind.”
Trish stood there rooted to the spot, unable to say a word.
Unfinished pleasure, he’d called it.
Even as Clay came closer to kiss her forehead and say goodbye, she stood with shoulders stiff and prayed she hadn’t made a giant, dumbass mistake.
By unwittingly posing a challenge to Clay.
It was the one thing her husband never passed up.
Five
With cattle in the distance and puffy white clouds gracing the sky, Trish parked the Volvo near the entrance to Penny’s Song. She set Meggie in the Cadillac of strollers and headed over to the corrals to show her the horses.
Trish had grown up in Nashville, a city full of country music and honky-tonks, of crowded streets and great shopping. She wasn’t an expert on horses, cattle or ranches, which came as a shock to those who didn’t truly know her. Even though she’d made her home at Worth Ranch for a short while, she’d never really felt like she’d fit in here, so seeing the little ranch come to life was as much a treat for her as it was for the children here.
Today she would take everything in from her own perspective and lend a hand.
A girl came running out of the barn when she spotted them. “Hi!”
“Hello, Wendy.” Trish smiled at the child she remembered from the other day.
“I just finished mucking out a stall.” Wendy pinched her nose and made a freckled face frown with enough drama to win an acting award. “It’s really stinky in there.”
Amused, Trish laughed. “I bet it is.”
“But I earned tokens. And later today, I get to buy something at the general store. I’ve been saving up for Cuddles.” Wendy’s chest swelled with pride.
“What’s a Cuddles?”
“A kitty. With tiger eyes.”
“Oh, that sounds nice.” Trish assumed the feline was a stuffed animal.
“After I get her, can I show the baby?” She lifted her chin to meet with Trish’s eyes.
“Of course. Meggie would like that.”
The little girl touched Meggie’s hand and the baby cooed, giving her a small toothless smile. Wendy lingered for a moment and when lunch was called by the sounding of an iron triangle, she rose and headed to the saloon.
Trish spent the rest of the afternoon in the general store, spelling the college-aged boy named Preston, whose services were needed at the stables. Meggie cooperated by falling fast asleep in the parked stroller inside, behind the counter. Trish had become familiar with the items on display for purchase. They were quite a mix of old and new. Stuffed animals, board games and toys populated the shelves as well as wrapped candies in mason jars. There were DVD movies, all age-appropriate and a shelf full of books, both classics and newer collections. One wall of shelves held healthy snacks, apples and oranges in short crate barrels, along with crunchy granola bars and snack crackers.
The job was a breeze. When Meggie woke up, Trish fed her a bottle and held her in her arms, slowly walking the length of the store, showing the baby items that fascinated her. Five eager young customers had come in at different times, browsing the shelves, and were equally excited to see Meggie again. The baby had fun interacting with them. Trish noted how each one of the children, no matter the age, seemed to have a real appreciation for Penny’s Song and their own role in making the ranch work.
Wendy came in last that day with a cheerful hello for Trish.
“Hello again, Wendy. You’re here for Cuddles, right?”
Wendy nodded and walked over to the stuffed animals on the shelf, eyeing the white ball of fluff with two golden eyes. “I’ve saved up my tokens all week.”
“She’s very cute, but are you sure that’s what you want?”
Wendy grinned wide, showing a gap in her mouth where two teeth were missing. “It’s for my sister. She’s five and she’s been lonely for me.”
Trish swallowed hard. Tears burned behind her eyes. She didn’t have words and found herself speechless, stunned by the girl’s selfless generosity. Wendy had been the ill one. She’d gone through an ordeal which would make any child greedy for a little comfort, yet she’d thought of giving her younger sister a gift from her hard-won earnings. “That’s…very nice of you. I’m sure your sister will love it.”
Wendy headed to the bunkhouse, vowing to sleep with Cuddles for the next few days, to keep her safe until she could give the kitty to her sister. Trish closed up shop shortly after, her heart brimming with warmth for all the Wendys in the world. Penny’s Song was a worthwhile venture, a charity to be proud of, and Trish was glad she’d made the effort to come and bear witness to it.
Just as she was pushing Meggie in her stroller toward the car, she spotted Jackson Worth, Clay’s brother, coming out of the barn deep in conversation with Suzy Johnson. The warm fuzzies she was feeling instantly turned cold. The sensation wrapped itself around her like a frigid sheet of ice. The woman was laughing, her dark mane of hair bouncing on her shoulders as she moved alongside Trish’s brother-in-law. Her cheery disposition annoyed Trish. It was something she’d have to reconcile for the next few weeks.
Suzy was doing a good thing by volunteering, but a little voice inside her head chose to ignore that rational thought. Suzy wasn’t the root of her problems with Clay, but she’d been a catalyst and the last person she wanted to speak with at the moment.
Jackson caught sight of her and waved. Oh, man. Trish sucked in a breath and waved back. She wanted to be anywhere but here and wished the earth would do her a favor and swallow her up. More realistically, why hadn’t she locked up the general store just five minutes earlier and avoided the whole situation? Her heart sank as the two strode over with purposeful strides, heading straight for her.
Trish kept her eyes trained on her stunningly handsome brother-in-law. Forcing a hint of a smile, she waited while they approached.
“Trisha Fontaine. I’d heard you were back at the ranch.” Jackson gave her a bear hug, drawing her tight to his chest. She’d always liked Jackson and she hugged him back with genuine affection. In a smooth move, he set her away to size her up, his easy gaze roaming over her from top to bottom. “You’re looking good, sis.”
“Hi, Jackson.” He was the only one she’d let get away with calling her Trisha. And he relished it. The man was ten times charming when he set his mind to it and many said he most resembled his legendary great-great-great-grandfather, Chance Worth, with his dark brooding eyes and seductive smile. “I’ve been here a few days. Where have you been?”
With a shrug, he sent her a stunner of a grin. “Getting into trouble.”
She had to smile back at him. “No doubt.”
Suzy stepped forward. “Hi, Trish.”
“Hello, Suzy,” she said warmly enough. She refused to feel inferior and let the woman get the best of her, despite the ease she ha
d with the Worth men.
“I heard about your friend’s death and I’m sorry for it.” Suzy gave a pitying glance at Meggie in the stroller. “You taking the baby and raising her, it’s very noble.”
“Thank you. It’s the right thing to do.” She kept a civil tone. “Meggie’s a true joy in my life. She’s very sweet-natured.”
Right on cue, Meggie let out an ear-piercing wail.
Trish did a mental eye roll.
Jackson’s smile never wavered. “She’s a beauty. With a healthy pair of lungs.”
Suzy pointed at the baby, making an observation. “Healthy and wet. Looks like there’s a leak.”
And sure enough, Trish glanced down to see a wet spot underneath the baby, the stream of moisture fanning out onto the quilted padding lining the stroller. “Oh my goodness. Where did that come from?”
She bent to the baby, offering silent apologies and lifted her out of the stroller. Trish knew exactly where that had come from. She’d forgotten to change the diaper while she was working in the general store and now the baby was letting the whole world know.
Heat rushed up her cheeks immediately as she tried to soothe Meggie’s cries with some quiet shushing and rocking. Meggie was having none of it. The only answer was to make a hasty escape and be done with it. “I’d better get going,” she rushed out without sparing Suzy a glance. “I’ll change her in the car. It’s good seeing you two.”
But Jackson wouldn’t let her run off. He gripped her arm gently before she turned, coming to her rescue. “I’ll get the stroller and help you load it into the car.”
“Thanks.” Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Suzy’s brows knit together and a look of utter misgiving cross her features.
Geesh.
With the baby crying, the stroller destroyed and Nurse Suzy Johnson looking on, Trish had failed the most basic Motherhood for Dummies course, with a big fat F.
Trish pulled up to Tagg’s house and parked the car, her nerves just about shot. She’d gotten over her initial humiliation today—though it felt like she’d been caught with her pants down—and managed to rationalize the entire event in her mind as a diaper malfunction. The diaper had been faulty with tabs that lost their sticking power and had leaked like a faucet. It was an accident that could have happened to even the most astute mother, she told herself even though she’d promised Meggie she’d do better in the future. She’d managed to wash the stains out of the stroller and blow dry the quilted padding until it looked as good as new. The material was made for accidents of the moist kind, it seemed. Trish was grateful for that.
I’m the one taking the baby steps.
She had to stop thinking like that, yet those dubious thoughts filtered in and made her doubt herself and her abilities time and again.
She got out of the car and opened the back passenger door. “We’ll just drop off the cake and be off,” she said to her chubby-cheeked baby.
Meggie turned to the sound of her voice with her eyes bright, filled with trust. A powerful jolt of love rushed through Trish’s system. She couldn’t believe how much she loved the little fourteen-pound bundle of mischief.
At one time, Trish wondered if she’d ever get to this point with Meggie. She recalled those first few days after Karin died. How difficult it had been, being the replacement mother, knowing Meggie sensed the difference and seemed out of sorts and hard to handle. Although she was familiar with Trish, she hadn’t known her in the mothering role and her sharp instincts had taken hold. It had been weeks before she accepted her. Now the baby placed her full faith in her, seeming to forgive her mothering blunders.
She lifted Meggie in her arms, and after the day she had, decided not to press her luck by juggling the baby and the lemon chiffon cake in her arms. She’d ask for help from Tagg or Callie when she got to the front door.
She took a few steps toward the house, when a pickup truck pulled up and parked behind her car. Clay appeared, bounding out of the cab and as she blinked away her surprise, she did a mental eye roll.
She couldn’t seem to catch a break today.
“Hey,” he said, glancing at Meggie first with a soft flicker in his eyes. Then as he approached, his gaze flowed over Trish from top to bottom like warm, thick honey. It was a Worth trait, the ability to send molten-liquid looks to women. When Clay sent one her way—as if he was remembering every inch of her naked flesh—her nerves met with unwelcome tingles as if he’d physically stroked her.
“Hey, yourself.”
“They didn’t tell me you’d be here,” he said. She wondered how he’d meant that. His expression was unreadable.
“I’m not. Here. I’m just stopping by for a second. I made Tagg and Callie a cake.”
“Oh, yeah? What kind?”
“Lemon chiffon. Helen helped me. I screwed up the batter the first time.”
Clay’s grin spread his mouth wide. His bruises were still there, but Trish looked beyond them to his handsome face. “Helen? Oh, man, where is it?”
She pointed to the car.
“I’ll bring it in,” he said with boyish eagerness.
“That’s not—” But then she caught herself. The sooner she could deliver the cake and thank the Worths, the sooner she could be on her way. “Thank you. Could you bring the book bag, too?”
“Sure thing.”
Not only did he retrieve the items she’d asked for, he also slung the diaper bag over his shoulder. She should tell him that it wasn’t necessary, she wouldn’t be staying long enough to need it. But he’d caught her by surprise. He’d find out soon enough.
“It’s nice that you visit your brother,” she said, making small talk to fill the silence as they walked along the path to the front door.
“More like, I’m being hijacked. After the accident yesterday, Callie insisted on having me over for dinner. She wouldn’t take no for an answer, and I’m not about to argue with a pregnant lady.”
“You’re feeling better today?”
She shouldn’t have asked. She shouldn’t care so much, but he was still her husband and a man she once loved very much.
His voice lowered in a sensual rasp meant for her ears only. “Yeah, you cured me last night, remember?”
A hot flush sped up her throat to singe her cheeks. “Clay.”
His eyes smoldered as if he were reliving the memory of last night’s lovemaking, and Trish fell into the trap of recollection. She couldn’t suppress those memories either, not with Clay beside her. Breathing in his rugged scent and hearing the rich, sexy tone of his voice made her painfully aware of him as the man who’d taken her to heaven last night. She kept on walking, grateful Clay’s hands were otherwise occupied. She wouldn’t stand a chance if he touched her.
The baby squirmed against her body and Trish’s focus was brought back to reality. She put things in perspective as she shifted the baby onto her other arm and settled her into a more comfortable position. The distraction was appreciated and necessary.
Score one for Meggie.
When they reached the front door, Clay knocked. They stood there together, the three of them, Clay with the covered cake in his hands and Trish with the baby in her arms. To anyone who didn’t know better, they would have looked like a true family of three. Trish squelched the idea quickly when the door opened.
Callie didn’t seem surprised to see her. Instead, she offered a gracious welcome. “Come in, both of you. Trish, I’m glad you stopped by. You’re staying for dinner, of course. I’ve made enough for an army.”
“Oh, no,” she said as Clay allowed her to enter the house first. “I couldn’t impose. I made a cake, well, with some major help, and I hear it’s Tagg’s favorite.”
Tagg appeared behind his wife and took interest in the cake holder Clay held. “You made lemon chiffon?”
It was as if Trish’s stock went up, judging by the look of approval on his face. “Guilty as charged. It’s a thank-you for lending me the baby equipment. I’ve been using everything.” She wouldn�
�t reveal how much Meggie had “used” the stroller today. Trish was going to replace it with a new one, when the time came to give the equipment back. “It was very generous of both of you.”
“Happy to help out,” Tagg said, and Callie agreed. “But I won’t say you shouldn’t have. I’d sell my soul for lemon chiffon.”
“It’s wonderful that you’re here,” Callie said. “And you have to stay. I have a hundred questions for you about babies.” She glanced at Meggie and smiled, stroking the baby’s soft cheek with her finger. “You have hands-on experience with this little one.”
Callie spoke directly to the baby with the softest whisper. “You remember me, don’t you?”
Meggie didn’t react, she only watched Callie with interest.
Callie put a hand on her belly. “I can’t wait.”
Then Callie turned to Clay and shook her head. “You gave us a scare yesterday.” She walked straight into his arms and hugged him the best she could. Between her growing belly and the things Clay held in his hand, it wasn’t much of an embrace, but it was obvious that Callie and Clay had a good relationship.
“I’m fine,” Clay offered mildly, as if she was making a big deal out of nothing.
Callie ushered them into the parlor and Clay handed Tagg the cake and Callie the book bag.
Trish explained, “I’m no expert on babies, but I brought you five books that I found very useful. I’ve highlighted the key points and made notes in the margins.”
Callie peeked inside the bag, her eyes lighting up. “Wow, you sure did. These are great. I can’t wait to start reading them, but I still want to pick your brain. Have a seat. Dinner will be on shortly.” She hugged the books to her chest and walked into the kitchen.
It was a done deal. Trish couldn’t back out now and disappoint her. She’d seem ungrateful.
“Thanks again for the cake,” Tagg said with a grin. “My stomach’s on high alert now. I’ve been craving lemon chiffon.”
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