by Paty Jager
Carina laughed. “How often does she get to see her friends?”
“More often than it looks, believe me.” He reached out to take Tate.
“He’s fine. I’ll take him with me.” Carina slid out of the vehicle and propped Tate on her hip. She turned to Brock. The look on his face sent tendrils of heat swirling in her. His eyes blazed with desire while his lips curved in a content smile.
“You make a sight, Ms. Valencia,” he said in a low, seductive voice.
Carina turned and walked quickly toward the store. Where had that come from? First he offered her antiques to stay on and just now…
Heat surged from her center to her toes and fingers at his words and the look in his eyes. How could she continue to be a nanny in his house? Before she knew it, she’d be begging him to kiss her. Or worse—taking things into her own hands and kissing him!
She shoved the door of the small store open and focused her mind on getting groceries. Tate was fully awake and squirming to get down.
“Oh no, you don’t. You’ll have everything off the shelves.” Looking around, she hunted for a shopping cart. In the very back, she spotted a rather old looking contraption that once could have been a shopping cart.
A woman near her age stood behind the counter. She had platinum-dyed hair with dark roots and thick makeup which would rival Elvira’s. Her plaid flannel shirt stretched across an ample girth while spandex leggings encased her stick legs.
“Is that thing safe?” Carina asked, pointing at the shopping cart.
“He’s been in it before and it hasn’t collapsed,” said the woman, eyeing her up and down.
Carina ignored the jab and moved off to gather her groceries. The woman came out from behind the counter and followed them up and down the aisles.
“You aren’t a relation to Brock. What bar did he pick you up in?” she asked as Carina put a box of dry milk in the cart.
“I don’t spend time at bars,” she answered, hoping the woman would leave her alone.
“Brock only comes here or goes to the bar in Halverton. I haven’t seen you around here, so he had to have come across you at the bar in Halverton.”
Carina moved on down the aisle, piling the needed items in the basket. “Sorry to disappoint you, but he didn’t come across me at any bar.” The woman continued to watch her, making her nerves jump.
“Then what are you doing with Brock’s kid and shopping for their usual supplies?” The woman was sure inquisitive. Coming from the city, Carina learned you didn’t tell strangers anything about yourself. They could be looking for a way to rob, rape, or murder you. She was sure this woman wasn’t looking to do anything more than stab her in the back with false accusations, and she wasn’t about to hand her the knife.
“I guess you’ll have to ask Brock.” Carina pushed the cart up the candy aisle. She snagged a bag of M&Ms for each of the kids.
“I still say he picked you up in a bar.”
“I did not pick Ms. Valencia up in a bar,” Brock’s voice boomed across the store. The woman jumped and blushed before hurrying back to her spot at the counter.
Relief oozed out of Carina in a long breath.
“She’s a nanny and is staying with us to teach Maddie and take care of Tate.” The authority in Brock’s voice made her smile. She watched him stride up the aisle toward her. Taking Tate from the cart, he nodded for her to push it to the counter.
The woman took a defiant stance. “How am I supposed to believe your paying a nanny when you can barely afford these groceries?”
“I believe that is my business, not yours. Total these.” His voice was hard as steel. He watched the woman punch the price of each item into an old cash register.
Brock looked at the candy and then at Carina. “Is that a necessity?”
“I believe it is.” She looked him straight in the eye.
“For you or the kids?”
She glared at him. “The kids.”
“I’ll not have you spoiling them.”
“One bag of candy is not going to spoil them. If it bothers you that much, I’ll pay for them.” She grabbed the candy out of the cart and reached into her pocket for the ten dollar bill she’d stuffed there before leaving the house.
“You don’t have to do that.” He grabbed the candy back, tossing it in the cart.
“I’ll use my own money to spoil the children.” She grabbed them back.
“You sure you two aren’t shacking up?” the woman asked.
Carina looked at the woman at the same time as Brock.
“She’s the nanny.”
“I’m the nanny.” They said simultaneously.
“Put the candy on the counter.” Brock ordered. “The phones aren’t working here either, so you’ll have to go to the hill south of town.” His tone and hard eyes made her drop the candy and head for the door.
At the door she turned back. “Which way is south?”
“Left.”
She held her temper long enough to not slam the door, but she turned left and stalked down the road.
He was so pig-headed. How could he think one bag of candy would spoil his kids? She huffed and grumbled about the man all the way to the top of the hill.
Looking out across the expanse of sage, tufts of light green grass, and sandy soil, she took a deep breath. The tang of sage mixed with the fresh air settled her anger. The spectacular scene with the mountains making a jagged backdrop in the distance captured her admiration. It might not be the lush pictures she’d seen of Oregon on calendars, but it wasn’t butt ugly. She liked the gnarly looking bushes and small rises waving with tufts of grass.
Pulling her cell phone out of her pocket, she turned it on. Spinning in a circle, she stopped when it showed full reception and quickly dialed Georgie’s number, hoping her friend was home.
“Yo.”
Carina fell silent. Who was answering Georgie’s phone?
“Hello?” the male voice said again.
“Is Georgie there?” Carina asked, wondering if this was her friend’s newest live-in. She’d yet to meet Georgie’s latest love of her life.
“Yeah.” She held the phone away from her ear as he hollered, “It’s for you!”
“Well, who is it?” Georgie yelled back.
“Who are you?” he asked.
“Tell her a far-away friend,” she said, knowing it would get Georgie’s curiosity going.
“A far-away—”
He didn’t finish the sentence before Georgie shrieked and breathed into the phone. “I haven’t heard from you since we were cut off.” Georgie blurted. “And I’ve tried to call you on the cell and it would never go through.”
It was so good to hear her friend’s voice, tears burned in Carina’s eyes. “There was a major storm that night. We lost power and phone service.”
“How’s it going? Have you figured out how to stay longer?”
“Brock offered to sell some of his antiques to keep me a few more months.” He wants me to stay. Her heart pattered in her chest.
“That’s good. You need more time away from here.” Georgie lowered her voice. “Your mom’s been over several times wanting to know how to contact you.”
Carina felt small for not leaving any information with her mother, but she needed the space for just a little while longer. “When I’m ready to talk to her, I’ll give her a call.”
“Perry was asking about you the other day.” The contempt in Georgie’s voice was palpable.
Hair on the back of her neck prickled. “What does he care? He stopped caring what I did long before I lost our child.”
“He said something about some papers to sign.”
“The divorce is final. What more needs signed?” As far as she knew everything was taken care of. The house was sold and the money split. She’d put her half in an investment since, as a nanny, she wasn’t in need of a place to live. She sighed. “I’ll give him a call and see what he wants.”
“I wouldn’t. Let him fret it out.
You’ve moved on and he needs to let you.” Though she tolerated him at gatherings, Georgie had never been an advocate for Perry.
Carina looked back toward Dutch Springs, then turned back toward the cell tower. “I think I’m going to have trouble leaving here.”
“It’s a good thing Brock thought of a way to keep you.” The chuckle in her friend’s voice sent her senses on alert.
“What do you mean?”
“The longer you stay the better he gets to know you, and who knows—” She let the rest hang in the air.
“I can’t even think like that! I have to keep my heart and feelings toward this family neutral.”
“Yeah, I can see you’re doing that well!”
The laughter on the other end of the phone upset her. She’d enjoyed Brock’s embrace. Her heart had gone out to both the children. She’d broken all the rules she vowed wouldn’t happen.
“So what’s he like?”
“Who?”
“The father.”
“Georgie, I’m in trouble.” Brock’s bare pecs and eyes blazing with desire flashed before her.
“What do you mean?”
“He’s gorgeous. I’m drawn to him stronger than any man I’ve met before. And it scares me.”
Georgie laughed. “Who are you teaching the kids or the father?”
“It isn’t funny, Georgie! He’s masculine, yet so gentle and caring with his children…”
“So what’s the problem. You’re single, he’s single…”
“I don’t have plans for a man in my life.”
“Who says he’ll be in your life? Have some fun and when you move on, you move on.”
The casual way Georgie could move in and out of relationships had always confused Carina. “You know I can’t do that.”
“Well, you can’t spend the rest of your life being a nun,” Georgie’s voice shook with aversion.
“Brock doesn’t want to get tangled up with a woman again. He’s been married twice. His first wife died.” She stopped and thought. “I haven’t figured out what happened, but he still loves her. Then he remarried, hoping for a mother for his daughter and that woman birthed a beautiful, little boy and left, shattering all of them.” She shook her head. “The father and daughter are close.”
“But they both like you. Everyone likes you. Do the nanny thing, crawl in his bed and have fun. If he isn’t looking for a long term thing, then you’re in the clear. When it’s over come home.”
Carina shook her head. Georgie was a dear friend, but she never understood Carina’s need for a family. “I’m not sure when I’ll get to call you again. They haven’t any idea when the phone lines will be repaired. But when they are I’ll call again.”
“Take care.”
“I will and you do the same. Tell my mom I’m fine—and I miss her.”
“I will.”
“Bye, Georgie.”
“Bye.”
Carina flipped her phone closed and debated whether to call her mom. She missed her mother’s absentmindedness. No, she still wasn’t ready to deal with her mother. As much as she loved the woman, her interfering and neediness Carina couldn’t deal with yet.
Sluggish steps carried her back to the cluster of buildings. She’d left everything behind to try and make a new start. So far she seemed to keep all her guilt and loss hidden from Brock. But would taking Brock up on his offer and staying longer be a mistake?
If she stayed longer, would she be able to walk away from the family? She couldn’t take a loss like that again so soon. The pieces would not be easy to pick up and put back together.
She stopped, turned away from Dutch Springs, and looked across the vast stretch of land. A person could get used to seeing only land and sky and the whisper of the wind carrying the far off call of a bird.
But she was a city girl. And though staying for a while in these beautiful surroundings appealed to her, the thought of more time around Brock frightened her.
Eight
Sitting in the small restaurant, Carina felt the eyes of every one of Rayanne’s family members on her. The three other tables had at least three people sitting at them. She tried to look out the dusty window, fringed with a smoke-stained curtain, which appeared to have once been white with colorful flowers. A loud laugh from the counter made her look at the men seated on the seven bar stools. The place was packed and according to Maddie they were all locals.
“Why is everyone staring?” she whispered across the table to Brock.
“They always do that when someone new shows up.” He bit his hamburger and winked at Maddie.
“Even if someone passing through stops for a burger?” Having so many eyes watch her eat curbed her appetite. It also reminded her of Perry. He had watched her every move before the miscarriage. Almost as if he expected her to do something to thwart the child’s arrival. Guilt washed through her like a shot of cold air. Did he realize she would do something to harm their child? Was that why he grew so distant and cold after the miscarriage? He blamed her as much as she blamed herself? Carina shivered and looked down at the smashed burger bun. She’d lost her appetite.
“I told them you were a nanny.” Carina looked over at Maddie, pulling her out of her agony-filled thoughts. “They’ve never seen any except the one who talks funny on TV.” Maddie poked a fry in her mouth and handed one to Tate.
“Oh, wonderful! They think I’m a television personality?”
“No. I told them you were a plain, old teacher.” Maddie grinned.
Brock added, “They don’t see too many teachers without gray hair and wrinkles around here. Most of our teachers are retired from other areas and end up being asked to teach. In case you hadn’t noticed, not too many people live around here. You just about have to grow up here to like the isolation and the barren countryside.”
“Oh, but I thought the view from the hill where I called Georgie was breathtaking!” It stunned her to think people would find the area barren. “I watched a bunny hop from bush to bush and there was something tan, white, and black moving farther out.”
“That would be antelope.” Brock rubbed a fry around in the ketchup in his basket.
“Really? I’ve never seen one up close. Are there any at Haven?” Carina wanted to see all the local flora and fauna while she worked at Haven.
“If you ride out among the cattle and the high sage.” The guarded look in his eyes made her smile. He knew where that statement would lead.
“So when will you start my riding lessons so I can see some antelope?” she asked, flashing him a challenging smile.
His jaw clenched and she knew the answer.
“I said you weren’t going to ride horses here,” he answered in a low growl.
“Why don’t you want the others to know what we’re talking about? Or don’t you want them to see us arguing?” she added when Brock flinched and scanned the tables closest to them.
She raised a brow and looked at Maddie. The child ignored them as she stuffed fries into Tate’s little fists.
“Both. Are you finished? We should head back.” He tossed his napkin in the red basket.
Carina tucked her leftover fries in a napkin along with her half-eaten burger. She’d finish her meal later—away from everyone’s curious stares.
“Come on Maddie, let’s take Tate to the truck while your dad pays the bill.”
The woman Maddie had pointed out as Rayanne’s mother hurried across the room. “Was everything to your satisfaction, Ms. Valencia?” she asked, wiping her hands on her apron.
“It was fine. I’m just not very hungry.” Carina felt bad the woman saw her put the food in a napkin.
“If you stay in these parts just being outside will give you an appetite.”
She smiled at the woman. “I’m hoping to see more of this area, hopefully by horseback.”
“Oh, Maddie’s the one to take you. She’s a good horsewoman just like her mother.” The wistful look that crossed the woman’s face led Carina to wonder about
Beth. “I hope we see you again soon.” The woman ruffled the hair on Maddie’s head. “And you young lady. Rayanne doesn’t get to see you enough.”
Maddie looked up at Carina. “Hopefully with a nanny, I can come see her more.” The wistfulness in the child’s voice tugged at Carina.
“We’ll see what can be managed.” Carina tucked Tate on her hip and headed out the door with Maddie skipping behind, shouting her good-byes to everyone.
Brock watched them leave. He never thought a woman herding his kids around would lighten his heart, but watching the way Carina handled his children did.
“Why are you smilin’?” Rayanne’s uncle asked, taking a seat at the table and eating fries left on Maddie’s plate.
Brock cringed and glared at the scraggly bearded man. “Just thinking about how good it’s going to feel getting that damn banker paid off.”
“Well, we’s got us a bet that you’re paying that there pretty nanny in bed privileges—”
Brock had a hold of Stan’s collar before he could finish his thought. He yanked the man up and shook him. “If I hear any rumors like that, you better be hiding.” He’d never really liked the man, even when they attended school together. He tightened the collar enough Stan’s face reddened. “Ms. Valencia is here to take care of my kids and that’s all.”
“She’s awful good looking to only be watching after kids,” one of the other men in the room said and snickered. “She lookin’ for a man? I’d keep her happy.”
Brock shoved Stan away from him and stood in the center of the restaurant. How could these men even have such thoughts about a woman they didn’t know? One who had shown herself as nothing but respectable the whole time she’d been in Dutch Springs.
Someone had turned their bias against Carina. He smashed his cap on his head. There was only one person who would benefit most by Carina tucking tail and leaving.
He turned, making eye contact with each male in the establishment. “If any of you make a pass or lay a hand on her, or if any of your women wag vicious tongues about Ms. Valencia—you’re liable to have a cattle stampede through your quaint, little community.”
