by Marin Thomas
You don’t have the right to be possessive of Hannah or the baby if you turn your back on them.
He wanted to be there for them both, but old fears crept in, undermining his confidence.
He glanced down the street and noticed a sign advertising Puppies 4-Sale with an arrow pointing at the feed store. Alonso went to take a look. The bell on the door announced his arrival. “Hey, Mel. You look a lot better than the last time I saw you.”
The store manager grinned. “Shoulder’s a little sore if I do too much, but thanks to you, I can move it just fine.” He demonstrated by raising his arm in the air. “Gave the missus quite a scare, though.”
“I imagine you did.” Alonso glanced down the aisles.
“Whatcha looking for?” Mel asked.
“I saw that sign for puppies down the block.”
“Burt’s dog had another litter. There’s one left.” Mel pointed behind him. “He’s sitting in the storage room, watching the TV.”
Alonso poked his head inside the room. An old man sat in a lawn chair puffing on a cigarette. “Howdy.”
“I saw your sign across the street.”
“I was hoping to find this pup a home before Christmas. You interested?”
“What kind of dog?”
“Bullmastiff. It’s a male.”
No wonder the man was having trouble finding the puppy a home. “He’ll be a big dog once he’s full grown.” Maybe too big for Hannah to handle.
“His sire is two and a half feet tall at the shoulder and weighs 170 pounds.”
“I don’t know much about the breed other than its size.”
“You won’t find a dog more loyal to family than a bullmastiff. They’re fearless protectors.”
Alonso liked the sound of that. “Are they easy to train?”
“If you work with them. Once you develop a bond, they won’t leave your side.”
“Any drawbacks?”
The old man chuckled. “They drool a lot.”
“What about babies? Are they careful around little people?”
“Kids can tug their ears and crawl on their backs. The dog’ll tolerate a lot, but they don’t like strangers. Watch ’em when new people come by.”
“How are they with horses and other ranch animals?”
“They’ll protect them, too.”
“Let me take a look at the puppy.”
The old man opened the dog crate and removed the puppy. Alonso held the pup and the dog wagged its tail, then licked his face.
“He likes you,” Burt said.
The dog had a cream-colored coat, black ears and a black snout. “I’m guessing they eat a lot.”
“Yep.”
He’d have to make sure his child-support checks covered dog food and vet bills. “How many pups were in the litter?”
“Just three. The other two were females.”
“What kind of shots does he need?”
“I had the puppies checked out by a vet a week ago. They’ve had their first round of vaccinations already and they were dewormed.” He reached into his pocket and held out a business card. “Vet’s local.”
“How much?”
“I got a thousand a piece for the females but I’ll take nine hundred for the male.”
Nine hundred?
“He’s a purebred. His papers are right here.” He patted his coat pocket. “You ask any breeder who shows these dogs and they’ll tell you I gave you a deal.”
“I don’t plan to show the dog.”
“Guess I could take eight hundred, then.”
Alonso stared into the puppy’s eyes. Are you worth eight hundred dollars? The dog licked Alonso’s nose and that sealed the deal. He handed the puppy to the old man. “I’ll be back with the money in a minute.”
Alonso crossed the street and ducked inside the drugstore. After withdrawing money from the ATM, he asked the clerk for a large empty box. While she searched for him, he perused the Christmas aisle and picked out a red bow. Then he paid for his purchase and left.
“You can take this blanket with you.” Burt stuffed the cloth into the cardboard box, then held out a plastic grocery bag. “Puppy food and teething toys.”
“Thanks.” Alonso took the box with the puppy and set it on the checkout counter. “Looks as if I’ll need more puppy food.”
“Pet supplies are in the back corner,” Mel said.
Two hundred dollars later, Alonso had purchased three large bags of puppy food, a water bowl, food bowl and more chew toys, along with a horse blanket and a sturdy kennel in case Hannah wanted to crate the puppy in the house when she wasn’t there.
As soon as he’d loaded the supplies in the truck and set the box with the puppy on the front seat, the boys walked out of the convenience store with sodas and a handful of movies. He felt bad for doubting the boys and waited a few minutes until after they’d left before heading out of town.
When he arrived at the ranch, he parked behind the barn and sneaked the dog inside. He set up the crate in the storage room and gave the puppy food and water before heading inside to eat lunch with Hannah and the boys. After the meal, he excused himself to check on the dog. He went back and forth between the house and the barn all day and evening, checking on the pup. Later when everyone went to bed, he’d bring the dog inside. He wanted Hannah to find the puppy under the tree Christmas morning.
Chapter Twelve
“Shh...”
Alonso held his breath and kept his eyes closed.
“Be quiet.” Luke’s voice carried into the living room, where Alonso pretended to sleep.
Two pairs of sock feet crept along the hallway. The back door opened then closed. Alonso sat up and shoved his feet into his boots, then checked on the puppy—fast asleep in the crate hidden behind the couch. By the time he stepped outside, the taillights on the Civic were fading fast.
He grabbed Hannah’s keys from the hook by the door, shrugged into his coat, then took off after them. Damn Luke for sneaking out during the wee hours of Christmas morning. With luck he’d catch the teens before they got into trouble.
When Alonso reached the main road there was no sign of the car. His first thought was to drive into town, but his gut insisted the teens were headed west, so he turned right and hit the gas. He’d gone a mile when he noticed a vehicle parked on the shoulder of the road up ahead.
He slowed as he approached, saw it was a pickup, then sped by. But as he passed he caught sight of the Civic parked on the shoulder with its lights off.
Damn it, Luke. The kid better not be buying drugs. He shifted into Reverse and hit the gas. Someone hopped into the truck and sped off, leaving Luke standing alone on the road. Alonso parked in front of the Civic. Michael sat in the front seat of the car and stayed there when he spotted Alonso. Smart kid.
“It’s not what you think,” Luke said.
“So you weren’t buying drugs?”
“No!”
“Then, what the hell are you doing out here at two in the morning?”
“I can’t tell you.”
“If you can’t tell me then that means you were up to no good.”
“It’s not like that. I’m trying to fix something.”
Alonso stared long and hard at the teen, who appeared shaken. “Who was that guy you were talking with?”
“I can’t tell you.”
“Fine, but you’re going to tell your sister. I’ll follow you home.”
Shoulders slumped, Luke returned to the car, made a U-turn and drove back to the ranch, Alonso riding his bumper.
When they pulled into the yard it was two thirty. “I’ll give you until after opening presents in the morning to talk to Hannah. If you don’t, then I’ll say something.”
The
boys went into the house and retreated to Luke’s bedroom. Alonso locked up, checked the puppy—still fast asleep—then stretched out on the couch and stared into the dark. Hannah was pregnant with his child. Her brother was still up to no good. And the sheriff had yet to catch the culprits responsible for destroying her property.
There was no way he could leave Hannah in such a mess.
* * *
HANNAH WOKE TO a quiet house Christmas morning. After taking a quick shower she threw on a pair of jeans, which she discovered pinched her around the waist. She tossed them aside and slipped into her comfy gray sweatpants and a pink sweatshirt. Shoving her feet into her rabbit-ear slippers she went downstairs and put a breakfast casserole and a pan of cinnamon rolls into the oven.
“Need help?”
She glanced over her shoulder, then swallowed a sigh. Alonso’s sexy sleepy-eyed stare made her want to forget about food and go back to bed—with him. “No, thanks. Breakfast will be ready as soon as the boys are up.”
He sat at the table.
“Orange juice?” she asked.
“Thanks.”
She set the glass in front of him, then joined him. “I’ve decided to wait to tell Luke about the baby until after Michael and you leave.”
He swirled the juice in the glass. “Don’t you think I should be here when you break the news?”
“No, I’d like to handle this my way.” Because Luke will want you to stay. She didn’t give him a chance to argue with her. “I thought you parked the truck by the barn last night.”
“I took a drive earlier this morning.”
She quirked an eyebrow, but didn’t pry. “Remind me to tell Luke that we need to meet with Principal Connelly over break and get his class schedule for next semester.”
The timer on the oven dinged and she removed the rolls, placed one on a plate and handed it to Alonso. “I’ll be right back.” She was halfway down the hall when the boys stepped from Luke’s room.
“What smells so good, Ms. Hannah?” Michael asked.
“Cinnamon rolls. Get ’em while they’re warm.”
The boys joined Alonso at the table and ate in silence. Ten minutes later the rolls were gone.
“Let’s open gifts while the casserole is baking,” she said. They all headed to the living room. “Michael, you’re our guest. You go first.” Hannah handed him an envelope.
Michael gaped. “I didn’t expect a gift.”
“It’s not much,” she said, wishing there had been more money in the budget for gifts, but the insurance deductibles had wiped out her savings.
“Wow, thanks a lot!” Michael studied the gift card. “I’m gonna buy a new riding glove with this.”
“Here’s yours, Luke.” Hannah had given the same thing to her brother.
“Thanks,” Luke said.
“I got you guys something, too.” Alonso reached beneath the couch cushion and handed each teen a smaller envelope.
“iTunes gift cards!” Luke said.
“Cool,” Michael said. “Thanks, Mr. Marquez.”
“Yeah, thanks, Alonso.”
“What did you get—” Luke sniffed the air and made an ugly face. “Did someone fart?”
“Luke!” Hannah rolled her eyes.
“Can’t you smell that?” Luke asked.
“I think I know what it is.” The three stared at Alonso. “Hannah’s Christmas gift.” He ducked behind the couch.
“What’s back there?” Hannah asked.
“This little guy.” He stood with the puppy in his hand.
Hannah gasped.
“You bought my sister a puppy!” Luke shouted.
“I hope no one is allergic to dogs,” Alonso said.
“Is it a he or a she?” Luke asked.
“It’s a male bullmastiff.” He handed the puppy to Hannah and she cuddled it against her.
“How big will he get?” she asked.
“Close to a 150 pounds.”
“That’s huge,” Michael said.
“They’re gentle giants and used as guard dogs. He’ll protect his family and his breeder said he’ll be good with ba—kids of all ages.”
Hannah breathed a sigh of relief when Alonso caught himself before he said babies.
“I bought a stockpile of food and the puppy has already had his first round of shots.”
Although it was thoughtful of Alonso to want her to have a dog for protection and she appreciated that he’d stocked up on supplies for her, how could she afford to keep the animal once he left? And it wasn’t only the financial cost of owning and caring for a pet that worried her—the dog would always be a reminder of Alonso.
“Let me hold him.” Luke took the puppy from her. “Can we play with him outside?”
“Sure.” Once the boys left the house, Hannah said, “As much as I appreciate the thought, I can’t afford a dog.” Taking care of the bison cost her plenty already.
“I’ll pay for its food and vet bills.”
She trusted Alonso to keep his word, but what if his work situation changed and he couldn’t follow through on his promise?
“You need a dog, Hannah. It’ll be just you and the baby once Luke takes off after he graduates from high school.”
A knot formed in her throat when she imagined herself alone with a dog and a child. That was not the future she’d envisioned, but maybe Alonso was right. She would feel safer if she had a dog for protection. “Thank you.”
Alonso hugged her and she buried her face in the crook of his neck. Why did he have to be the man she wanted but couldn’t have?
“Hannah?”
“Hmm...”
“Luke has something to tell you.”
“What?”
He stared into her eyes. “The reason I moved the pickup was because the boys left the house at two in the morning and I followed them.”
Her heart dropped into her stomach. “Where did they go?”
“I caught up with them a couple of miles down the road. Luke was talking to a guy on the shoulder, but he took off when I stopped. Luke wouldn’t say what he was doing out there but I made him promise to talk to you about it.”
And earlier Hannah had woken up believing this Christmas would be a new start for her and Luke, but nothing had changed. Her brother was back to his wild ways. “I better find out what he’s up to.”
“Send Michael inside with the puppy,” Alonso said. “He can help me clean the dog crate while you and Luke chat.”
“Thanks.” Hannah trudged outside as if the weight of her bison herd rested on her shoulders.
* * *
“MICHAEL,” HANNAH SAID when she stepped onto the porch, where the boys were playing with the dog. “Would you take the puppy inside and help Alonso clean the crate?”
“Sure.” Michael sent Luke a panicked look before disappearing with the dog.
Luke shuffled his feet but wouldn’t make eye contact with her. “I hear you and Michael sneaked out of the house earlier this morning,” she said.
Her brother’s hand shook when he pushed the hair off his forehead. Was it that bad? “You told Alonso you weren’t buying drugs. Was that the truth?”
Luke nodded, but remained closemouthed.
“Who was the guy Alonso saw you with?”
Tears welled in her brother’s eyes and Hannah’s chest grew tight. She hadn’t seen her brother cry in forever—he hadn’t even shed a tear at his mother’s or their father’s funeral.
“I did it because I thought you’d make me stay here and help out on the ranch after I graduated.”
“But I told you I wouldn’t.”
“I know that now, but—”
“Hold on.” The ranch was her dream—whether she kept it or not had noth
ing to do with Luke. “I won’t lie. It will be tough not having your help, but if rodeo is your future, I won’t stand in your way.”
“But you kind of are.”
“How am I keeping you from following your dream?”
“You won’t leave this stupid ranch, so I’m gonna have to stay.”
She raised her arms in the air. “Why do you believe you have to stay? I already told you that I’d try to buy out your share if and when you knew for sure you were going to rodeo.”
“I can’t leave you alone. Something might happen to you.”
That Luke worried about her warmed Hannah’s heart. “Nothing is going to happen to me. I’ve been taking care of myself and you for a long time. I’ll be fine when you leave.”
“But you’ll be all alone.”
Not for long.
“And you’ll be lonely.”
Hannah couldn’t stand the anguished look on her brother’s face. “I don’t mind being alone.”
“But you’ve always been there for me. It’s my turn to be there for you.”
Tears filled Hannah’s eyes. To hear Luke acknowledge the sacrifices she’d made for him made her love him all the more.
“If I rodeo, I can’t be there for you. That’s why I did it.”
“Did what?”
“I paid a guy to vandalize the ranch.”
Hannah sucked in a quick breath.
“The guys who tried to rob the convenience store hooked me up with this person who does stuff for money.”
No. No, Luke. No!
“Where did you get the money to pay him?” Her brother didn’t even have a job.
“I’ve been saving my allowance and I borrowed money from Connor.”
Connor worked at a pizza parlor after school and on weekends. “How much did you take from him?”
“A thousand dollars.”
