Scott: Triplets (Members From Money Book 13)

by Katie Dowe

  “Oh baby, I am so sorry. I called you so many times but I did not hear from you and I started to think the worse.” She was secretly glad that it had not been him. “I had no idea it was so bad.”

  “I just want to get some sleep and forget about it for tonight.” He said as he heaved a sigh.

  “I will run you a bath,” she got to her feet immediately and went to do so.

  She pampered him. She ran the sponge over his weary body as he leaned back and closed his eyes. He had started to fall asleep right there and she was loath to wake him up but she did and rubbed the water off him before choosing a pyjama bottom for him to wear with a t-shirt. He climbed onto to the bed wearily and reached for her.

  “Scott, you are tired,” she protested weakly as he used a palm to cup her breast.

  “I need you,” he told her with quiet intensity.

  Without another word, she slipped the nightgown over her head and he came over her. His lovemaking was frantic and restless as he plunged into her over and over again until he poured himself inside her with a shattered groan!

  *****

  The rains stopped later that night, and in the morning she went with him to look at the damage. He had told her he was okay to deal with on his own because he had men there to help but she had taken his strong cheeks and told him forcefully: “We are in this thing together. Remember?” And that was it.

  The damage was not as bad as they had thought. The men had been out there since in the early hours of the morning clearing debris and fixing fences. Baker’s body had been found washed over on the east side caught by barbed wires. The coroner had been called and the body removed. Kadine traveled with him as he surveyed the damages and she wished she could erase the tension from his handsome face. He had masked his pain well as he stayed with the children and interacted with them trying to explain why he had not been available last night.

  He stopped the vehicle and looked down at the rushing water going through the crevice in the rock. It had covered everything last night carrying away everything in its path. It had been the worse flood rains in fifty years. “His wife is not doing well and they have a son who is not mentally fit. He works on the farm taking care of the layers.” He murmured as he looked around. Kadine wanted to put her arms around him and comfort him but knew it was not the time. He had dropped exhausted on top of her and had slept there, moving only a few hours later when he had awaken.

  “We will take care of everything,” she told him slipping her hand into his. “I will go and personally see what she needs and tell her we will take care of the funeral arrangements.”

  He looked at her then and pulled her into his arms holding her tight. “Please, don’t regret giving up everything and coming here with me.” He begged.

  She eased him away and looked into his eyes. “How can you say that?” she cried softly. “I love you! The life you have showed me is the best I ever had! Don’t you ever say that to me again.”

  “Thanks,” he said humbly tilting her chin upwards. “Thanks,” he murmured again as he took her lips in a devastatingly tender kiss that rocked the very foundation she was standing on!

  Chapter 13

  Milo Baker was buried in a small grave at the edge of the land he had worked for most of his life. Kadine was true to her word and dealt with all the arrangements, sparing the grieving widow from handling the painful details of the funeral. The turnout was surprisingly good considering that he had been a quiet farmhand who went about his daily duty like clockwork.

  Mrs. Baker stood hunched over at the edge of the soft grounds as her husband was lowered. His son, Milo Junior, stood next to her holding her hand. Scott had promised to take care of them as long as they were alive and they were grateful. The rains had stopped a week ago and the sun had come to soak up most of the water from the earth. The place looked green and refreshed while they got ready for autumn.

  The service was short and to the point done by the very minister who had performed their marriage ceremony. The crowd dispersed rapidly and within a few hours after the food that had been provided had been eaten, the men went back to their quarters to change out of their formal wear and into work gear. There was work to be done and as much as they had loved Milo, the work had to continue.

  “I will see you later,” her husband told her quietly as he changed and put on faded denims and a grey sweater. It was Friday afternoon and the weather had turned cold.

  “Where are you going?”

  “I just need to clear my head for a little bit. I will be taking one of the horses.” He went into the huge closet to take out a pair old work boots. Kadine followed him. Even though it had been a small ceremony on the grounds, she had dressed in black wool dress and knee length boots. She was planning to go over and check on Mrs. Baker in a few minutes.

  “Stop shutting me out Scott,” she had taken off her boots and was in her stocking feet.

  He looked up in the process of lacing up his boots, his dark blue eyes unreadable. She was used to him being the tower of strength in every situation and had gotten accustomed to it. “I am not shutting you out Kadine, I just have work to do,” his tone was a little impatient as he continued lacing up his boots. He got to his feet and spared her a brief glance before reaching for his jacket. “I am going to check on the kids.” Without even kissing her goodbye, he went from the room swiftly.

  Kadine thought about following him and demanding that he talked to her but she had seen the stubborn and slightly desperate look on his handsome face and knew that she would not get anywhere! She sat down on one of the padded stools and hunched her shoulders wearily. So much had happened for the last year or so and she was not sure she was capable of dealing with it! She looked up as a knock sounded on the bedroom door and got up to take a look. “Miss Patsy was wondering if you wanted her to pack some food items for Mrs. Baker.” Mia, one of the household maids, asked her demurely.

  “Yes, of course.” She forced a smile to her lips. “I will be down in a minute.”

  Squaring her shoulders, she went back to find something to wear. She had made a vow to take the good with the bad and she was quite prepared to do so.

  *****

  Scott allowed the wind to whip at his clothes and his wheat blonde hair as he gave the mare his head. All around the men were clearing up debris and repairing fences. He had stopped at one broken down along the path leading to the cabin and had done the repairs himself. He had been torturing himself with the fact that he had lost a man. He kept wondering if he should have been firmer and insisted that they all stopped for the night and go home to get some rest. He was here wondering if he had pushed them too hard. How would his wife and children feel if it had been him? The worst part was that the widow and son had not even shown any signs of resentment but had in fact been grateful for the help that he had proffered. He brought his mare up shortly as he came to the rushing stream. He sat there astride the horse and watched the water gurgling over the rocks. He had gone into the play room and watched as his children played with some toy or the other. They had not noticed him at first and when they did they had dropped their toys and come running to him. He had sat on the carpeted floor with them for a few minutes and allowed himself to enjoy their innocence before leaving and promising them stories for later. He tugged on the reins and the mare pawed the air before he made a tight turn and head on up to the cabin. It was a little past four and he was feeling the heaviness in his limbs!

  *****

  “Thank you, Mrs. Taylor,” Maddy Baker told her with a grateful smile as she took the package Kadine handed her. The small cabin-like house was as neat as a pin and very colorful.

  “Call me Kadine, please,” she said with a smile as she took another package with wrapped pastries into the small kitchen. “You will not have to cook for a very long time.”

  The woman smiled tremulously. “I am going to miss him. He was so committed to his job that he would go out early in the mornings and come in late at nights. Even when they ins
isted he took days off, he would not hear of it.” She looked at the woman who was married to her boss and exclaimed. “Where are my manners? Would you like some tea?”

  Kadine was about to refuse when she saw the hopeful expression on the woman’s lined chocolate brown face.

  “Of course,” she sat at the small dining table as she scurried around to put the kettle on. “Milo Junior changed his clothes and went straight back to work. I suppose he has to keep busy.”

  She turned the flames off from under the kettle and brought two nice cups to the table. She took the cover off one of the pie dishes and cut them two slices and brought them over with the tea. “I cannot tell you how good it is for you to be here. I know you are busy with those adorable children and the planning of the park.”

  “It is no problem.” Kadine said smiling at her. “What do you plan on doing now?” the woman was probably in her early fifties. Kadine wondered what she could do to occupy her time.

  She shrugged a little bit. “I used to help out sometimes in the green house but I have bad arthritic fingers, so I am not able to tend to the plants as much.”

  “How about being my assistant?” Kadine asked her suddenly.

  “What?” she looked up at the woman before her startled.

  “I need someone to answer the phones and to sort out my correspondences. I really need the help.”

  “You don’t need my help Ms. Kadine,” she said quickly as she put her cup down.” I am not qualified in that sort of thing and I would only mess up what you are trying to do.”

  “I am sure that is not true. It is not hard work and it is something to occupy your time and you would be earning money.” Kadine’s tone was persuasive.

  Maddy Baker clasped the cup between her palms and looked down into the liquid pensively. “I have never done office work before.”

  “I will guide you. As I said, it is not anything hard and I will be there if there is anything you need to know.”

  “You are just doing this because you feel sorry for me.”

  “Maybe,” Kadine did not deny it. “Or maybe I really do need help and I do not have the energy to interview a ton of people. It could be something you like.”

  Maddy Baker looked at the beautifully confident woman opposite her for a moment and then nodded. “Self-preservation — it is the key.”

  “Exactly. You start on Monday and I expect you to dress nicely. Not because you are walking a few blocks to the farm house that does not mean that you won’t be coming to work. I do not tolerate tardiness and if you cannot make it tell me beforehand. I will show you how things work and after that, you are on your own. You will get an hour for lunch which will be provided by the kitchen and if you work over four thirty you get an added income. How does that sound?”

  “Very good” Maddy looked at the woman shrewdly. “You don’t suffer fools gladly, do you?”

  “No, and I do not believe in people sitting by and feeling sorry for themselves. Life goes on and you are allowed to grieve but earn a living while doing so.”

  “You are right,” for the first time since she had received the news of her husband’s death she felt light and like she had purpose in life. “I will be by there early Monday morning with my Sunday best.” There was a glimmer of a smile on her homely face.

  “Good.” Kadine told her briskly and stood up. “Not quite Sunday best but something in between.”

  Maddy nodded. “You are a good woman, Mrs. Kadine.”

  “Say that to me when you have worked for me a month.”

  “I will.”

  *****

  He did not call nor did he answer when she called! She had gone back over enjoying the mile or so walk and the bracing coldness of the day and had gone straight to the children’s playroom to spend some time with them. She had had dinner with them when it seemed as if Scott was not coming and had made excuses for him by telling the children that he had stuff to do. She had seen Patsy looking at her curiously but had ignored the look and continued eating the succulent roast beef. She then gave the nannies the night off and read her children two stories staying with them while they slept before going off to their suite. She had stopped trying to call him and figured that he would show up when he was ready. She stopped shortly as Patsy materialized out of nowhere. “Yes Patsy?”

  “You have not heard from Scott?” the woman’s tone mirrored her anxiety and she wanted to cream the man she had vowed to respect!

  “No,” she said a little sharply. “I am sure he is okay. Go on to bed.”

  “He hates to not be in control,” the woman ventured.

  “He cannot always be in control.” She hesitated and her expression softening. “Go and be with John and let me deal with my husband.”

  The woman looked at her in shock. “What?”

  “I knew from the time I came here for vacation. Call it a woman’s intuition. Don’t you think it is time you put him out of his misery and marry him?”

  “It’s not–” Patsy’s thin shoulders sagged. “I have not told Scott.”

  “He is not going to bite your head off Patsy. You are entitled to happiness, we all are.”

  “I will tell him.”

  “Good. Now go to bed. Scott is fine.” She went off to her suite thinking that if he was not lying somewhere in a ditch she was going to murder him!

  He did not come in until the early hours of the morning and by that time she was fast asleep. The minute he saw her curled up onto her side he felt the shaft of guilt going through him. He had allowed his selfishness to keep him from her and he knew he deserved anything she had to give him. He crept silently into the bathroom and took a quick shower pulling on his sweat bottom and a t-shirt before going into the bed careful not to wake her. He sighed heavily as he thought about the argument he had to face in the morning and turning on his side he went to sleep.

  He did not see her the next morning when he woke up. He listened to hear the shower going but the place was silent. With a sigh, he swung his legs off the bed and made his way into the bathroom where he took a quick shower and got dressed. He was due to go and get some more work done, but he had to make up for his lapse today by taking his wife and kids out somewhere. He was thinking a drive into town and ice cream later.

  She was dressed in a simple floral dress with her thick hair tied back into a ponytail. She had one of the girls on her hip as she wiped off something off her face. The other two children were eating their breakfast.

  “Daddy!” Kandra screamed as she looked up and saw him in the doorway. Kadine stiffened but did not turn around. He strode into the room and dropped kisses on the two children seated and moved over to Kadine and Kandace.

  “May I?” he murmured reaching for his daughter.

  With a shrug, Kadine handed her over and the little girl hugged him tight. “You did not read us stories last night!” she accused him.

  “I apologize baby girl,” he ruffled her curls. “I had some things to do.”

  “That’s what Mommy said.”

  “We want to go outside, please.” Sean Andrew said.

  “That’s the plan. How about going to the museum and then going for ice cream? He asked looking towards his silent wife who had poured herself some coffee and was sitting at the table.

  “Yay!” they chorused.

  “I have some things to take care of but I am sure Aunty Patsy would love to come.” She looked at him coolly before looking at her kids.

  He opened his mouth to protest but closed it again. “We will ask her.”

  He waited until they were finished eating and their nannies had come to get them before he spoke to her. “I am sorry.”

  “Not good enough.” She told him coolly and before he could say anything else she left the room leaving him standing there looking after her.

  He found her in the office he had made for her when he was ready to leave. Patsy had been delighted to accompany them and the nannies were getting the children ready to leave. “I messed up,” he murmu
red as he leaned against the door jamb. “I had a lot of remorse and a lot of things to think about and I stayed at the cabin doing so.”

  She looked up from her lap top and at him. “I don’t need excuses. I need my husband to be here and work things out.”

  “I need your forgiveness. I feel like crap when you are upset with me.” He murmured.

  “You are going to be feeling that way for a while longer,” she deliberately clicked on something on her computer indicating that the conversation was over.

  “Kadine–”

  “I have work to do and time is going. I would appreciate you coming back here with the children before it is very late.”

  He hesitated and then left.

  Kadine leaned back against the chair and closed her eyes wearily. She was so mad at him that the screams were trapped inside her throat!

  *****

  His heart was not in it. No matter the fact that the kids were excited about the displays, he did not feel whole because she was not with them. He first put a weary Kandace in his arms and then Kandra. Sean Andrew insisted on walking all the way. He had to go and do some tours of the inns next week and he wanted her to come with him. In spite of the flood rains in the last week or so the demands were in for his vegetable and fruits and he had several more supermarkets wanting to cut a deal but he could not go anywhere until he had sorted things out with her.,

  “Miss Mommy,” Kandra told him drowsily as she nuzzled into his neck.

  “So do I baby girl,” he whispered softly.

  *****

  “Is it because you have three children, a husband and a hell of a farm taking care of why we have not seen you in a month?” Leesa demanded.

  Kadine laughed in genuine delight at the woman’s voice.

  “That’s part of it. The theme park is taking up more of my time than I anticipated. Thanks by the way for the investors you referred to us.”

  “No problem. Now as part of the very exclusive and elite wives, we are planning a benefit for the cancer patients at the local hospital to help them deal with the various medications. It’s being held next Saturday at the Royal Palm hotel. I am not taking any excuses darling and I expect you and that delicious man you married to be there. You did know that Latoya is pregnant, don’t you?”