“I’ll help. Just get Gina home, Rory, before she falls in a heap.” Layla smiled at her friend and Tyson shared a glance with his brother. It would be another chance to talk to her. He could read that message in Rory’s glance but Tyson doubted she’d be willing. He should be grateful she was prepared to be civil after what he’d put her through.
They helped get the family into their truck. Fisher never stirred when Tyson belted him into his car seat. “Looks like the littlest cowboy is worn out.”
“He’ll sleep all night. Had a very big day.” Rory tooted the horn as they drove down the driveway, the taillights winking in the darkness.
Tyson turned to Layla. “You don’t have to stay. I can do the dishes.”
“No, it’s okay. I don’t mind, we have to get used to being around each other, Tyson.” She turned from him and walked back indoors, started to stack and collect the plates from the table.
Tyson followed, determined to give it another try now there was nobody to overhear them. Perhaps Layla would be more open to a discussion when none of the family were around.
First, he picked up the tea towel ready to help while choosing his words. Layla filled the sink with hot water, squirted in the dishwashing liquid and started on the plates. Tyson watched her top cling to the baby bump as she worked, fascinated that his child was growing inside her body.
“Is there a problem?”
He glanced up at her face and couldn’t tell if she was annoyed or amused by his concentration. “Uh, no. Sorry but this is all kind of new to me and I’m…
“Appalled, annoyed, pissed off you can’t break me like you can your damned horses?” She fumed and if he was a wise man he’d let it go and walk away.
But Tyson wasn’t one for giving up and decided if he didn’t try now, he’d never get another opportunity. “No! Never. What is it going to take to get you to understand, Layla? I didn’t think Chance was going to put that ad in the paper. I only wrote it because I was drunk and hurting after you left.” He shuffled his feet, knowing now would be a good time to stop pressuring her. Slow steps rather than rushing in always worked better in his opinion. “I should have taken it out of the paper but I chose to ignore it instead, thinking it might go away. Besides, you’re right. I have nothing to offer you and we come from such different backgrounds.”
*
She threw the dish brush in the sink, spraying water up over her shirt. Her own words were coming back to bite her and she hated it. Nothing to offer her – what an idiot!
“You lived in the city, drive an expensive car, and have more money dripping from your fingertips than I’ll ever know. Why on earth would you think we could have more than what we had?”
Layla could feel her blood pressure rising and it took all of her hard learned skills to not strike out at him. He was even more stubborn than any prosecutor she’d ever met in the courtroom.
“You should maybe stop while you’re ahead, Tyson. Don’t go saying something you can’t take back.” She rested her soapy hands on the edge of the counter, breathing steadily.
“It’s too late. I wish I could take back what I said when you told me you were pregnant but I can’t. If I was one of those swank guys you deal with every day in your business, would I have said the wrong thing? I doubt it. I’d probably have wooed you with flowers and fine dining not dragged you back to my rundown ranch and—”
“Made love to me like no one else has before? Blew my mind enough that I didn’t want to leave when Sunday came around? Cried on the plane because I didn’t want to leave you? Yeah, that did it for me, Tyson. But it wasn’t enough for you to make a phone call to see if we could do it again, to try and change my idea of what a good relationship needed. Is it any wonder I want to stick to my resolve about our differences? So how about you stop telling me how much I don’t want someone like you.”
She met his gaze and saw the uncertainty there but would it be enough for her to give in and make a fool of herself again if he didn’t tell her what she wanted to hear?
“I can’t offer you what you want, Layla.” He lifted his hand to her cheek and then dropped it.
She swallowed. “You haven’t even asked me what I want, so how could you possibly know?” A flutter under her ribs distracted her and Layla lifted a hand to her stomach.
The baby was awake.
“What is it? Is there something wrong? Layla, talk to me, damn it!” Tyson had his hands on her arms, his face bare inches from hers. The panic in his eyes jolted her out of her wonder.
“The baby. It moved.”
He softened the grip on her arms, dropped his hands. “Moved?”
She took one of his hands and put it on her stomach just as the flutter spread over the front of her belly again. “Feel that?”
Tyson’s eyes glazed over and his mouth dropped open. “I’m not sure. It was so quick and faint.”
“Well, that was our baby making his presence known.”
“Really?” Tyson cleared his throat before he spoke again. “Thank you for letting me feel that.” He gazed into her eyes and she was desperate to know what he really thought. “I want what’s best for our baby, Layla, and I wish it was both of us together but I don’t think it will work as much as I’d like to think otherwise. Just let me be there for you, okay? Don’t shut me out.”
Layla swallowed the tears that crept up her throat. She’d made the call and now just when she thought he would fight her on it and tell her what she wanted to hear, Tyson agreed. She was gutted.
Layla swallowed hard and pulled herself together. “Let’s get this place cleaned up and then I need to head for home. I’ve had a long day.”
Tyson picked up the tea towel again and grabbed a plate, drying it before placing it on the counter. “So, how is it going, working in such a small town compared to the big city? Finding enough to keep you busy?”
She dropped her shaking hands into the water and picked up the brush again. He did playing the nothing is wrong game well.
She wished she could carry it off as easily. “Sure. More family wills and small stuff like that. Only a couple of court appearances so far but that suits me. I don’t want the big workload I had in Denver.”
“What are you going to do when the baby comes? How will you manage work then?”
“I don’t know, haven’t really thought about it, to be honest. I’m still kind of finding my feet.” And wishing for things I can’t have.
Chapter Twelve
Rory pulled up at Tyson’s place early the next morning while he was standing out on the porch with his first cup of coffee in his hand. He put his mug on the ground, walked down, and opened the back door of the truck where Fisher looked up at him expectantly, his little hands reaching for his uncle. “So, little man. You and me, eh?” He undid the safety harness and lifted the little boy from the seat.
“How’re Denver and Evan?”
Gina poked her head out the window. “Happy but tired. Their little girl didn’t arrive until 2:30 this morning but she’s healthy, so that’s the main thing. Are you sure you’re going to be alright with Fisher? He’s getting kind of active and will be off exploring if you turn your back on him.”
Rory passed out an oversized bag which he knew would hold everything the boy could possibly need. Gina was nothing if not organized.
“We’ll be fine. I have plenty to do around the yard this morning anyway. He can help me.” Tyson watched Fisher heading to the stables and turned to follow him. “See you later.”
“There’s snacks and clean clothes in the bag. I won’t be too long, Tyson. Thank you.” Gina waved as they drove away.
“Right, Fisher. Let me tell you the rules, little guy.” Tyson hurried off after the child, catching up to him as he rounded the barn door. “No going in the stables with the horses and don’t head off without telling me, okay?” Fisher looked at him with a grin on his face. “If you get hungry, shout out ’cause I know your momma packed enough to feed the pair of us and, between us, w
e’re going to work up an appetite. I waited for you to arrive before I started the chores.”
Together they fed the horses, cleaned out the stables, and collected eggs from the motely bunch of chickens that spent their days scratching around the stables and barn. Tyson and Fisher were busy sharing finger-sized sandwiches, sitting on a bale of hay together when Gina walked into the barn.
“Just look at you two. I hope he hasn’t been too much bother, Tyson.” She waddled over and took a seat next to then, ruffling her little boy’s hair.
“Not a bother. It was good to have him around, you know. Kind of give me an idea of what I might be up for.”
“I wish I could say something to make that easier for you but at least you two are talking about it.”
“Thank goodness for small mercies.”
Fisher jumped down and ran across the barn when he heard a chicken clucking. “Oh dear, he knows that sound only too well. Always running out and getting the chickens off the nest to take the eggs.”
“He’s a great kid, Gina.”
“Yes, he is and he’ll make a wonderful big brother.” She smiled whimsically, then looked at him. “Oh, I almost forgot. I took some photos to show you of the new baby. I sent them to Layla to see but since you don’t have a mobile phone of your own, I promised Evan I’d show you these.” She pulled her phone from her pocket and pressed a few buttons before handing it over to Tyson. “Slide your finger across the screen to see the others. Isn’t she gorgeous?”
Tyson took the phone and glanced at the tiny baby. Her face was wrinkled and bright pink and he almost said so before biting his tongue. “She’s, uh, pretty.” He swiped across to the next photo and it was Denver, Evan, and the baby. His brother and wife looked exhausted but happy.
“She’s a bit squished but that will change in a week or so. Then she’ll be really pretty.”
Fisher cried out, a chicken squawked and came flying out of a pile of hay bales, ruffled feathers fluttering as she clucked and protested the disturbance. The little boy followed with an egg in his hand, the triumphant hunter gatherer. Tears poured down his cheeks as he ran toward them.
Before Gina could get up, Tyson reached for him and picked him up. “What happened little buddy? That chicken wanted to keep her egg to herself, did she?”
The bottom lip quivered before a small sound came out.
He held the egg up to show Tyson. “Mine.”
Tyson laughed and ruffled Fisher’s hair. “You take that egg home and have it for lunch.” He carried him over to Gina. “You look pretty tired still, want me to put this little one in his car seat for you?”
“Thanks, Tyson, appreciate it. When he goes down for his afternoon nap, I think I’ll do the same. Funny but I wasn’t as tired this early with Fisher.”
“Must make a difference with the two of them I’m guessing.” He cleared his throat. “I mean, not that I know or anything but it stands to reason I think.”
Gina smiled and patted him on the arm. “You’re right, that’s what I put it down to as well. Heaven help me in a couple of months when I’m the size of a house. I won’t be able to walk or chase after this little guy.” She smoothed her son’s hair then wiped a finger over his cheeks to dry off his tears.
“You can always drop him over here if you need to. I think we get on pretty well now and I can always find something to keep him occupied.”
“That’s sweet of you. Thanks.”
Tyson walked her out to the truck “I mean it, Gina. Let me know if you need a hand. I’m more than happy to have Fisher hang out with me when you need a break. We’re tight, aren’t we, little cowboy?” He strapped Fisher in the back of the truck and shut the door before walking over to peer through the driver’s open window. “I’ll tell Rory too, Gina. Call me when you need anything.”
She raised an eyebrow at him.
“Alright. I’ll check the answering machine more often but I mean it. He’s no trouble and I still get my work done. I like having a little sidekick around and you need more rest.” He promised himself he would check it at least twice a day. Now he’d made the offer, he could hardly ignore the stupid contraption. “I love him too.”
“I know you do. Thanks.”
He watched her drive away before heading back to his horses. He had new shoes to fit that he couldn’t do with the boy around and after lunch he’d decided he’d go and ride the trail again to make sure it was safe enough for beginners before he put the sign on the gate that stated he was open for business. Pa had painted signs and arrows that clearly marked the trails he’d worked out. Everything was ready apart from his slight bundle of nerves. He had to get started sooner or later. Might as well make it now.
Might even head into town and put an ad in the local paper too. Casually walk past Layla’s office and make sure she was okay. Not that she’d thank him for doing it but Tyson couldn’t keep away, not now he’d seen and felt his son move under his mother’s skin.
Chapter Thirteen
Layla heard the front door of the office slam and winced. Emily’s raised voice made Layla lift her head from the papers she was busy reading, a sense that something was wrong. She pushed her chair back and stood up ready to go and see who had upset her receptionist. Her door flew open and one of the Hansen boys stood in the doorway, his face twisted in anger. Layla refused to back down and walked around to the front of her desk. They’d never met although he was the spitting image of his grandfather, Rupert.
“Now, see here. I don’t appreciate you putting ideas into an old man’s head.” He lifted his hand and poked his finger near her face to make a point.
“Sit down.” Layla indicated a chair.
“This ain’t a social visit, Ms. High Flying City Lawyer. You told Grandpa to change his will, didn’t you?”
Layla leaned against her desk, crossed her hands over her stomach. “I think that should come under client lawyer information, don’t you? Which, if you didn’t understand the term, means it’s privileged information that I will not share with you as you are not my client.” Emily hovered in the doorway and Layla smiled reassuringly at her. “Thanks, Emily, I’m sure Mr. Hansen is just leaving since he doesn’t have an appointment.”
“I ain’t going anywhere until you tell me what I want to know so she can go back to her desk and keep her nose outta my business.”
He glared at Emily and she stuck her chin up. “Your grandpa will have a fit to bust if he could see you now, Jethro. That’s no way to speak to a lady.”
“Some lady. Getting herself knocked up with a dirt poor cowboy who has to rely on his big brother for handouts.” He turned back to Layla and looked her up and down, a sneer on his mouth.
It was the first time anyone had gazed at her like that and it hurt in more ways than one.
“I don’t believe my life was the topic of conversation here. Now, if you wish to make an appointment, might I suggest you leave and do so on your way out?” She felt a small pang of pain for her baby and the small-minded comments that had wounded her.
“Right. You think I’d want to pay for the privilege of discussing my Grandpa’s will with the likes of you? I don’t think so. I’m sure what I suspect is true though, you’ve turned him against the only family he has left.”
“I think you and your brothers did that all by yourselves, Jethro. Gave the man hell ever since your poor mother passed away. And what did he do to deserve such rotten behavior?” Emily walked further into the office.
“If you two think you can take what’s rightfully ours, you got another thing coming. That ranch belongs to me and my brothers when Grandpa passes on and if it don’t stay that way, I’ll be after your hide. You hear me, fancy city lawyer?” His gaze dropped to her chest and stayed there.
A noise came from the reception room and Emily stepped to one side as Tyson barged into the office, a look of thunder on his face. How much had he heard?
Layla put her hand up to stop him but he ignored her and grabbed Jethro by the throat.
“You’re coming with me.”
“Tyson, don’t, please. This isn’t the way to deal with him. I’d prefer to do things properly.”
He glanced at her and shook his head. “Nobody talks to the mother of my child like that. Not now, not ever. Especially not this scumbag.” He turned Jethro around with his hand behind his back and marched him out of the office.
“Emily, call Rory.” Layla held a hand over her stomach and followed out to the reception room, trying to keep her eyes on Tyson.
“Already on it.” She picked up the phone. “You stay out of the way now, you hear? Those two have been at each other’s throats since they were in diapers. Just can’t help themselves. Not that Jethro doesn’t deserve it this time but still, Rory won’t like Tyson getting into trouble again.”
Layla looked out the window into the street. The two men were facing each other, words flying and fists gesturing to the office and back. “They’re going to kill each other unless I do something.” She opened the door ignoring Emily’s cry of protest.
Jethro shouted a profanity and swung his closed fist, connecting with the side of Tyson’s head. Tyson staggered back with the blow but came right back with a right hook of his own. Layla yelled at them but they didn’t hear or chose to ignore her.
“Bloody hell, you two, stop it. Now!” She pushed her way between them, intent on drawing them apart. Jethro caught her on the side of the face with a closed fist. She looked at him in disbelief. Never in all of her years in the courtroom had she been hurt, even by the roughest of her clients. The stars floating in front of her eyes made Tyson’s next punch to Jethro’s face seem almost comical, in slow motion. She slid boneless to the ground.
*
“Layla.” Tyson ignored the crumpled figure of his school yard frenemy, lying in the road and dropped to his knees beside Layla. Her cheekbone shone with a red mark where Jethro’s punch had landed and he could already see the swelling coming up.
Her Favorite Cowboy (The Watson Brothers #4) Page 8
