The old man shook his head as he limped over to him. Bert leaned against the bed of the truck. “So you’re just goin’ to tuck your tail between your legs and head for the hills.”
“Well, what do you suggest I do?”
The man shrugged. “First, you have to find a way to cool her off just so she’ll listen to your apology. You have to get on her good side.”
“I’ll take any side as long as I can talk to her.”
The old foreman smacked his hand against his leg. “That’s what I want to hear, son. Now, what’s that girl’s one weakness?” he asked, then raised a hand in warning. “Be careful. You fail this one, and I’ll throw you off the place myself.”
Jared found himself smiling. “Evan.”
He nodded. “Now, you convince Dana how much the boy means to you. How much you want all of you to be a family. Guaranteed, you get the child on your side, then you’ll soon have the mother.”
“You think so?”
“The fact that the girl loves you something fierce doesn’t hurt.”
“Dana loves me?”
Bert nodded again. “And I wouldn’t be wastin’ my time with you if I didn’t think you loved them both more than your own life. You couldn’t help it if you were a little slow on discovering that part,” he murmured.
“I do love Dana.”
“Tell her, not me. And you better spend your time figuring out a plan to convince her.”
Jared was already way ahead of him. “I think I have just the thing. Would you mind if I stayed in the bunkhouse tonight? I have a lot work to do by morning.”
“Maybe, if you tell me what you’re gonna do.”
Jared grabbed his duffel bag and toolbox from the truck bed and started off to the bunkhouse. “Gladly, but you and Owen have to help me with Evan’s surprise.”
Chapter Twelve
The next morning came too soon as far as Dana was concerned, but she didn’t waste any time. She had too much to do for Evan’s birthday party. Six children would be coming. Four were Randells—toddlers Elisa Mae, Katie Rose, James Henry and also ten-year-old Brandon. Evan also had invited two friends, Matt and Michael, from his Sunday school class.
Then there were the adults: Chance and Joy, Abby and Cade, Josie and Travis Randell. Even Ella and Hank were coming. Except for Bert and Owen, Dana would be the only person who wasn’t part of a couple.
She turned her thoughts to last night and Jared’s return. Today could have been so different, if only she’d asked him to stay. Her heart ached at the thought of him not being in her life. It shocked her how much she’d come to rely on him. How much she’d come to love him.
Last night she’d wanted desperately to call him back, to fall into his arms, but in the long run both she and Evan would only be hurt. She couldn’t let Jared back into their lives only to have him leave again. And she would do anything to protect her son from any more pain and disappointment.
Dana went downstairs to the kitchen where she found Evan dressed and waiting for her. By the expression on his face, he didn’t look like he was ready for a big party today.
“Hello, sweetheart. How’s the birthday boy?”
Evan shrugged. “I’m okay.”
“What would you like for your special birthday breakfast?”
Another shrug. “I’m not hungry.”
She pulled out a chair and sat down next to him. “You know what happens to a birthday boy who doesn’t smile? He gets tickled!” She went for his ribs and realized that he had tears in his eyes.
She stopped. “Evan, tell me what’s wrong.”
“He promised, Mom. Jared promised he’d be here for my birthday.” The child began to sob against her shoulder.
She hugged him to her, fighting her own tears. “I know, honey. I’m sorry. But sometimes things can’t be helped.” She felt guilty that she’d been the one to send Jared away. But in the long run, she’d had to do what was best for all of them. “There’ll be lots of other people coming today. All the Randells and their kids. And Chance is going to bring his horse, Roughneck, and show you all his tricks. There’ll be games and presents. Oh, and Bert and I have a real big present for you.”
The child raised his head and wiped his tears away. “I don’t care. I only want Uncle Jared.”
So did she. “It’s pretty big and way cool.”
That caught his interest. “How big?”
“So big, I couldn’t bring it into the house. We’ve been hiding it in the barn.” Dana had been tickled when Bert found a secondhand children’s saddle. He’d spent weeks cleaning and repairing the tack until it looked new. “How about we go out there right now and have a look?” she asked.
When he nodded, she said, “You go ahead and find Bert, I’ll be right out.”
“’Kay,” Evan said and took off.
As soon as the door slammed, Dana’s own tears fell. “Damn you, Jared Trager. Why did you ever have to come here? Why did you ever have to let us love you?”
Suddenly Evan called out. “Mom! Come outside. Hurry!”
Dana rushed to the door as her son ran up on the porch. “Evan? What’s the matter?”
“He’s back,” he cried, waving for her to follow him. He scurried down the steps and ran to the side of the house.
“Evan, wait.” Dana hurried after him around the corner of the house and stopped suddenly when she spotted what Evan was pointing at. Jared Trager up on a ladder wielding a paintbrush over the faded wood siding. By the looks of the large glossy white section painted, he’d been at it for a while.
“Hi, Uncle Jared,” Evan called out as he waved.
“Hey, it’s the birthday boy.”
“I’m five today.”
“I know,” Jared said as he laid his paintbrush across the bucket and wiped his hands on the rag hanging from his pocket.
Dana couldn’t take her eyes off the man as he slowly descended the twelve-foot ladder. He wore only jeans and his work boots, his bare chest glistening in the morning sun. Her pulse started as she recalled a few other mornings, with him lying next to her…. She shook away the thought.
“What are you doing here?” she asked, trying to work up some anger.
Jared placed his hands on his hips. “I realized I have a lot of things around here that I need to finish.”
Dana didn’t want him finishing anything. “You’ve already done enough. Don’t you need to get back to Las Vegas, to your construction company?”
“There’s no hurry.” His gaze locked with hers, and she had trouble breathing. “I don’t break promises.” He turned to Evan. “And I came back for your birthday.”
Evan’s eyes widened. “You’re coming to my party?”
Jared smiled. “Wouldn’t miss it. And I brought you a special present.”
“You got me a present?”
Jared nodded. “Maybe if you ask your mother she’ll let you open it now.”
Both Jared and Evan looked at her. What choice did she have? The man wasn’t playing fair. “I guess one wouldn’t hurt.”
“Oh, boy.” Evan cheered.
“It’s over there on the deck.” Jared pointed and they both watched as the child ran off.
Dana glared at Jared. “I don’t know what you’re trying to pull, but I don’t like it. Not when my son could end up hurt.”
Jared knew he still had a lot of convincing to do. “I’m not going to hurt Evan. I love the boy. I’m trying to tell you that you both matter to me. I want a life with you and Evan.”
“Don’t, Jared.” She stopped him. “We went over this last night. You don’t want to stay here.” Tears formed in her eyes. “Sooner or later you’ll leave us. Please, give him your present and make an excuse and leave.”
She turned away and Jared stuffed his hands into his pockets to keep from pulling her into his arms.
“I don’t think it’s Evan that you’re worried about, Dana. I think it’s you who are afraid. You care about me, or you would have never come to my bed and
let me make love to you.”
When she didn’t respond, he gripped her arm and made her look at him. “And if you don’t think what we have is special, or that I don’t love you more than my next breath, then I guess I am wasting my time.” He released her and started toward Evan. He took a deep breath trying to hang on to his control. He needed to keep it together for the boy’s sake.
Jared grabbed his shirt off the deck and slipped it on. This wasn’t working out the way he’d hoped. Although it felt as if his heart had been ripped from his chest, he plastered a smile on his face and watched Evan rip the paper off his birthday gift then lifted the lid to reveal a miniature tool belt.
“Wow.” Evan held it up. “It’s just like yours.”
“It sure is,” Jared said. “I had it made specially for you.”
The boy hugged him. “Thanks, Uncle Jared.”
“You’re welcome,” he managed, swallowing the rush of emotions. He took the belt from the boy and draped it around his narrow waist. “Now, there are some tools that go in here, but I’ll put those in when we’re working on something. You have to promise not to use them unless I’m with you.”
“I promise.” He smiled. “Look, Mom, it’s cool.”
“It sure is.” Dana smiled. “Evan, I need to talk with Bert. Will you stay here with Jared a few minutes?”
Dana turned and hurried off to the barn, barely making it inside before she fell apart. She ended up in Sweet Brandy’s stall, taking her solace from the affectionate filly.
“I take it you didn’t accept Jared’s offer?”
Dana looked up to see Bert. “What are you talking about?”
“Your husband is out there and you’re in here crying your eyes out.”
“I’m not crying and Jared was never really my husband.” Dana turned away so she didn’t have to look Bert in the eye.
“Girl, you know better than to lie. You two may have gotten married for different reasons, but there for a while I hadn’t seen you so happy in a long time. And that man is the cause of it. He’s the cause of your son’s happiness, too.”
“But he’s leaving us.”
“How do you know that? Didn’t he say that he loved you and the boy?”
She nodded. “Words are easy. He left us just like Marshall did.”
The old man limped to the stall gate and opened it. “There’s one difference. Jared came back. Sweetheart, you can’t make him keep paying for his brother’s sins. If I’ve ever seen anyone who needs a family, that man does.”
Dana was afraid to hope. “He’ll always be pulled back to Las Vegas. He has his business there.”
Bert frowned, emphasizing the lines on his face. “He didn’t tell you?”
“Tell me what?”
“Jared backed out of the deal. He didn’t buy the company.”
Dana gasped. “But it’s what he wanted. It was his dream.”
The foreman pushed his hat back. “Funny thing about dreams… They aren’t very important if you don’t have someone to share them with. Jared’s been looking for a place to belong. His dream is a family.”
Another flood of tears threatened as Dana realized the risk Jared took to come to her. And she’d pushed him away. Made him think she didn’t want him.
“Oh, Bert,” she gasped, and the filly flinched. “I’ve been so wrong, I have to tell him….” Dana stepped out of the stall.
Bert grinned and waved. “You go on, girl, I’ll handle Sweet Brandy.”
Dana ran out of the barn and across the yard. Breathing hard, she rounded the house but didn’t see Jared or Evan. Then she heard laughter and located the two in a grove of trees next to a stack of lumber.
She slowed her pace as she came up to them. Her son saw her first. “Look, Mom.” He held out a piece of paper. “It’s a fort. Uncle Jared and me are gonna build it. Together.”
Jared stared into her eyes. “If it’s okay with your mother.”
Dana wanted to rush into his arms. Thank him for loving her son, praying he still loved her. “It’s fine with me.”
“Yippee! I’m gonna go and show Bert and Owen my tool belt!” Evan started off toward the barn.
Dana let her son go, her gaze never leaving Jared’s face. Suddenly she was trembling, wanting him to reassure her. But how could she ask him to put himself on the line again, when she’d kept pushing him away?
“You sold your business?”
He looked surprised, then nodded. “I realized it wasn’t what I really wanted.”
“But it was your dream.”
He shrugged. “Dreams change.”
“What’s your dreams now?”
“I don’t think you want to hear them.”
She came closer, so close she felt his heat and inhaled the familiar intoxicating scent of him. “I do,” she breathed. “I wasn’t ready to listen yesterday, but I am now.”
“All right. I want a family. Kids.” He glanced around. “I want a place like this.” His eyes met hers. “Most of all, I want you and Evan in my life.”
Excitement poured through her. “Did you mean what you said earlier?”
Jared knew exactly what Dana was asking. “Yes, Dana, I meant every word. I love you.”
When she gasped, he enfolded her in his arms and drew her against him. “I can’t live without you,” he continued. “You’ve gotten into my heart. You are my heart. You and Evan.”
“Oh, Jared, I love you, too. So much.” She closed her eyes, momentarily. “I was afraid that—”
He stopped her words when his mouth captured hers in a hungry kiss that he hoped relayed his gratitude for her trust and love. They clung to each other like a lifeline, barely controlling their desire.
“Tell me again,” he asked as he cupped her face.
“I love you.”
He closed his eyes and pressed his forehead against hers. “Ah, Dana, I love you so much. I thought if I went back to Las Vegas I could forget you and Evan. It only made me realize what an empty life that I truly had there.”
“But you wanted to buy the construction company.” She still couldn’t believe it.
“It didn’t mean as much to me as you and Evan.”
“Oh, Jared, but you loved it.”
“I love being a carpenter. And I think I’ll have plenty of that to do around here. I’m going to make the Lazy S a showplace again. And after that I don’t think I’ll have trouble finding work around San Angelo.” Jared held Dana to him, loving the feel of her body against his. “If you’re worried about me being able to support you, don’t. I still have plenty in my trust fund.”
“I never cared about your money.”
He gave her a wink. “I know, you had designs on my body.”
She laughed, but it quickly died. “I’ve been so lonely since you’ve been gone.”
He pulled her closer to him. “Not as lonely as I’ve been. I missed your body tucked up against mine. I miss the soft sounds you make when I touch you…love you. Oh, yes, I’ve definitely been away from you too long.” His mouth closed over hers in another hungry kiss.
They broke apart when they heard the sound of a car coming up the road. A long, black town car. Dread washed over him.
“Who is it, Jared?”
“Graham Hastings.” He wished he could erase the worry in her eyes. “You stay here, Dana. I’ll handle it.”
He walked to the car just as a white-haired man climbed out. Jared stood in front of his father, blocking his path. “What are you doing here?”
“Did you think I wouldn’t find out about my grandson?” Graham said. “I plan to be a part of his life.”
Not if Jared could help it. “Marsh didn’t even want you to know about Evan, let alone have you in his life. Neither do I. I’m his stepfather and I plan to adopt him.”
“I can give him so much more than you can.”
Jared’s fists clenched. “It always comes down to the money, doesn’t it, GH? Evan doesn’t need your money. He needs a father who will be t
here for him. And I will. So you can leave now.”
“You really are a bastard.” Graham reached into his pocket, pulled out a photograph and handed it to Jared.
“But you’re not Jack Randell’s only one. It seems he’s spread his seed all over the West. There are two more out there.”
Jared fought to show a reaction. “Why is it so important?”
“Years ago I hired a private investigator to find out about your mother’s…indiscretion with Randell. Couldn’t have him showing up and trying to get money. It seemed I never had to worry. Jack Randell didn’t want any of his…kids.”
Jared didn’t want to hear anymore. “Well, you’ve said your piece, so you can leave now. I’m Evan’s stepfather and if possible I’ll do everything to keep you away from him.”
Just then Evan came out of the barn. Graham’s attention darted to the boy and Jared thought he saw longing in the old man’s eyes. Then it disappeared and Graham climbed back into the car and drove off.
Dana rushed to Jared. “Don’t worry,” he assured her. “He’s not going to take Evan away. I promise.” He kissed her.
“Yuck, you guys are kissing.”
Jared tucked the photo into his pocket. “You have a problem with me kissing your mom?”
Evan shook his head. “No, ’cause she’s happy when you kiss her.” He came closer. “Are you gonna live here and be my dad?”
Jared crouched down. “Yes, I’m going to live here. And if it’s okay I’d like to be your dad.”
Evan glanced at his mother, then at Jared. “You love us?”
“Yes, I love you and your mother very much.”
Evan threw himself at Jared. “I love you, too, Dad.”
There was no other feeling in the world like a child’s loving arms. For the first time ever, Jared knew he’d found what he’d been looking for.
Suddenly a caravan of cars moved down the road. “Looks like the party is about to start,” Jared said.
“Oh, no,” Dana cried as the Randells began filing out of the cars. “I have so much to do before I’m ready.”
Jared pulled his wife back into his arms. “Don’t worry. We’re all family.” He sure liked the sound of that.
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