by Diane Darcy
“Thank ye.”
She went inside the living room/dining room/kitchen area and he followed making the spacious room seem smaller. “There’s a bedroom, and a bathroom through there,” she pointed at the small hallway. “The kitchen is stocked with mostly canned goods, and there are fresh eggs if you’re willing to collect them, but feel free to come to the kitchen anytime. The TV has Netflix, or there are some DVDs if you want to watch a movie.”
“Thank ye.”
“Okay then, I’ll leave you to it.”
She turned to see the three dogs waiting patiently outside the door. “Looks like you won’t hurt for company. They’re allowed to come inside if you want, but they know they’re not allowed on the furniture.”
Again, he smiled, and it sort of made her breathless.
Good looking guy. Knowing her grandfather brought him home especially so she’d meet him was also doing a number on her. She’d never been tempted in the past. Was there a chance Grandpa had snooped in the file she had in her bedroom and found him for her?
Now she was the one that was unhinged.
The fact that Calum was attractive to her was neither here nor there. She could easily ignore it, and intended to do so. She had a baby to grow so she wasn’t exactly in a prime position to interest a man anyway.
Not that she wanted to.
“Don’t hesitate to let me know if you need anything. Good night.”
“Wait, lass. I’ve something I need tae ask ye.”
She almost didn’t want to turn back as what felt like a premonition shivered up her spine, but she didn’t want to be rude so she turned around and was hit fully with his presence. Big, bold, larger than life, and when his chin jutted forward in a determined way, heart-meltingly adorable. She was inclined to say yes to whatever it was he wanted to request. An advance on his payday, perhaps? “Yes?”
He looked nervous but resolute and she pasted an encouraging smile on her face so he’d be able to work up the nerve.
He opened his mouth, closed it, then opened it again. “Will ye marry me, lass?”
Mandy’s mouth dropped open and she turned away without saying a word to him to march back to the house, the gravel of the driveway crunching beneath her feet.
When she got there, she threw open the door and called out, “Grandpa!”
Chapter 2
Calum stood in the doorway of his new home and watched Mandy walk away. Mayhap stomp away would be more accurate.
He’d certainly fouled that up, hadn’t he?
No doubt Mr. Calhoun, Red, would be dismayed at the way he bungled it.
After he watched Mandy go inside, he invited the three dogs to join him and shut the door with a sigh.
He turned to see the three canines looking to him for direction. “Good luck with that, laddies. Ye’ll not get any sense from me this night.”
He knew very little about women, that was a given, and anything he’d ever known, he’d long forgotten.
After showing him how to work the bar for a few hours, Mr. Calhoun had driven him to the ranch, first answering every question he’d had about the truck, and then easing his way into talk of his granddaughter.
“She’s a stubborn one. Always has been. But a beauty for all that.”
He’d shot Calum a searching glance. As Calum didn’t know what was expected of him, he’d simply grunted.
“I could die at any time, as I’ve got me a bad ticker.”
“Ticker?”
“I’ve a weak heart, son.”
Calum nodded.
As the man drove, he pulled a piece of leather from his back pocket, opened it, and handed a thin portrait to Calum.
It was of a girl, a beauty, with long dark curls about her shoulders, a gorgeous smile, and a twinkle in her brown eyes. Again, Calum wasn’t sure what was expected of him, so he handed back the likeness and said, “Ye didnae lie, she is a beauty.”
“Yep. And I could keel over at any second. I’ll be leaving the bar and the ranch to my granddaughter. It will all be hers someday. Maybe someday soon.”
“She’s a fortunate lass.”
“I expect her husband will be fortunate as well. A pretty girl with lots of property.”
“Aye.” Calum felt like they were dancing around a subject, that Red was trying to tell him something, but held his peace and watched as they traveled down the road.
It was fascinating. The long stretches of land, lightly covered in snow, the road out in front of them, the speed of the truck. It was if they flew. Finally freed from the grounds of Culloden Moor, any bit of dirt, any building, the air itself, was new and intoxicating.
“The thing is, you see,” Red seemed hesitant and then finally hurried into speech. “The thing is, my granddaughter is expecting. A baby, that is. And she hasn’t got a husband.”
Oh.
Calum sucked in a breath. Oh. His heart started a hard rhythm in his chest making him realize that for the first time in centuries it was beating.
This. This was why he’d been sent here.
He didn’t even know the girl, hadn’t met her, but concern for her burned through him leaving him momentarily weak before strength surged through him.
Finally.
It was a second chance for him.
A chance at redemption.
Mayhap a chance for the girl as well.
He’d been sent to make sure she did not come to a bad end like his mother, mayhap Eleanor.
“I will marry her.”
The older man looked shocked. “Well, then. That is to say … that’s great!” He shot a worried glance Calum’s way. “Do you need a green card or something?”
Calum did not know what that was. “Nae, I doonae.”
“I’m going to have to insist you sign a prenup to protect my granddaughter and the baby.”
“That’s fine.”
“Fine? You’re not married or anything, are you?”
“O’ course no’. If I was, how could I marry yer granddaughter?”
“Right.” Another worried glance. “The thing is, I’m looking for someone who will treat her right.”
“O’ course.”
“And it will need to happen right away.”
“We willnae need tae post the banns?”
“What? No, you’re just going to need to stand in front of the pastor.”
And that, had been that. With the agreement in place, he’d met Mandy, and naught had changed his decision. If possible, she’d been even more beautiful in person, feminine, kind to strangers, and blessed with a cooking skill that by itself should have men lining up to ask for her hand.
With a visible baby bump, he was surprised she hadn’t jumped at the opportunity to marry him.
Mayhap he should have remembered all girls like to have a bit of romance, even the ones with trouble upon them.
Mayhap especially the ones in her condition.
Still, give her the night to think it through, and she’d no doubt be grateful and accepting in the morn.
She would marry him, and she would give her bairn a name. His name. He knew when fate was giving him a second chance and he wouldn’t squander it.
Mandy found her grandfather in his study.
He stood by the fireplace looking as guilty as all get out.
Normally, she would have thought it was because of the glass of whiskey he was holding in one hand.
It was such an old, tired conversation, that she almost slipped into berating him before she caught herself. She could ignore the whiskey for now.
“Grandpa, you’re never going to believe this,” her tone was over-the-top sarcasm. “But your new worker, Calum Milne, just proposed to me. What do you think of that?”
Grandpa’s eyes widened. “That boy’s a fast worker, I’ll give him that.”
“Really? And what else will you give him? My hand in marriage?”
“Now, Mandy, don’t get yourself in a snit.” He tossed back the slug of whiskey right in front of her whic
h told her he definitely wasn’t thinking straight.
Her eyes narrowed, but she put off scolding him.
“Anyway,” he gestured with the now empty glass. “What are you looking at me like that for? If the boy up and proposed marriage, it’s nothing to do with me. He likely saw you’re in a bad situation, and is trying to help out. He seems like a good boy.”
Boy? Huh. Mandy glared at her grandfather. “And I wonder who told him about my bad situation.”
Grandpa glanced at her stomach, and then away. He lifted both shoulders in an exaggerated shrug. “Boy’s got eyes in his head, don’t he? I introduced you as my granddaughter, Mandy Calhoun. I’d say it’s kind of obvious you’re in need of some help. Obviously, he’s got a good heart. Maybe he thinks your man up and died.”
Mandy threw herself down on one of the big armchairs in front of the fire.
Grandpa gingerly sat down across from her, placing his glass on the highly polished mahogany table at his side.
She tried to lean forward, wasn’t quite able to, so she placed a hand on her stomach instead. “Grandpa. You have got to stop meddling in my life. I’m having this baby, I’m going to be a single mother, and I don’t need you dragging home strays and trying to force them to marry me. It’s embarrassing.”
“You not having a man is what’s embarrassing. Anyway, I never forced that boy to do nothin’.”
“Bribed him, then.”
At that, Grandpa’s gaze shifted away, and Mandy chuckled before she knew she’d meant to, suddenly seeing humor in the situation. “Bribery. Did you tell him the farm came with me?”
Grandpa grinned at her, knowing the worst of her temper had fled. “And the bar. Don’t forget about the bar. Though I did tell him he’d have to sign a prenup.”
Mandy waved a hand in the air. “Of course, a prenup.” She sighed. “What am I going to do with you?”
“It’s not that I’m unhappy to be having a great-grandson. I’m thrilled. Now find yourself a husband to go with him, and you’ll make me the happiest man in the world. Calum really seems a good sort. If he wants to marry you, why not give him a chance?”
She shook her head. “Did you think this up with Pete and Frank?”
“They might’ve been there.”
Mandy stood and headed out of the study.
“Wait! Where you goin’? You told me the boy proposed, but you never told me what your answer was.”
“Make sure you finish those dishes!” was all she said, and all the answer he deserved.
Holding onto the wooden rail, she went up the stairs and then down the hallway to her bedroom.
She shut the white washed wooden door with a resounding snap, leaned against it, and sighed.
She grasped her stomach with both hands and looked down. “Did you hear that, little bean? Your grandfather got me a marriage proposal tonight and he’s not even sorry about it.”
Her white lace curtains fluttered a bit, and she pushed off the door and crossed to the window to slide it shut. If she was going to be talking to her son, she didn’t need anyone overhearing.
She could see the guesthouse in the distance, surrounded by trees and, good grief, just looking toward the place had her heart beat picking up speed.
A marriage proposal? Really?
She shut the curtains and moved away, glancing around her bedroom feeling suddenly uncertain about what to do.
Her bedroom was a mini suite, complete with its own en suite bathroom, television on the wall, and a desk with her computer in one corner.
When her grandparents had built this house back in the ’50s, it had been a third the size. Over the years, they’d built onto it, always hoping for a bigger family, but grateful for the one child they’d had. Her father. Who’d passed away before she’d even been born.
Since she worked on her computer most mornings and afternoons, she didn’t usually come up until bedtime and was feeling at a loss.
She was hiding, wasn’t she?
The two men on the property had her hiding away like she was the one who’d done something wrong!
With an exclamation of disgust, she grabbed the blue folder in her top dresser drawer, stuffed it in her purse, and went back down the stairs. She put on her jacket and grabbed her key off the key ring and headed toward the garage.
“Where you goin’?”
“Out.”
“Out, where?”
“I’m headed over to Sierra’s, if you must know.”
“Oh. Well, have fun.”
Mandy didn’t turn around, but she lifted a hand in acknowledgment.
She wasn’t hiding, and this wasn’t running away.
Sometimes, a girl just had to get out of the house.
Sitting across the kitchen table from Sierra, Mandy tapped on the refinished wooden surface, right beside the 8 x 10 photograph. “Isn’t that crazy?”
When Sierra shook her head, her fluffy blonde hair floated around her face before settling once more. Her mouth was still hanging slightly opened, and Mandy laughed.
“What?” Sierra shot an irritated glance in her direction. “Give me a moment to process this. You’re saying that the father of your child showed up at your house today and proposed marriage? I mean, come on! What are the chances? Is he a stalker or something?”
“I didn’t say he was the father of my child. He just looks like the father of my child. And I’m pretty sure it was Grandpa who talked him into it.”
They both glanced down at the photo on the table, and studied the man in the picture.
It was a head and shoulders shot, outside, with a grassy background, and you could tell that the man was big, muscular, and probably tall.
Check. Check. Check.
He had a full head of dark red hair that seemed to have three colors of red in it. A lighter color, a medium shade of auburn, and a rich dark red that made her think of rubies.
It was the most beautiful color she’d ever seen, and she’d been hoping like crazy that her child inherited it.
The mild look of confusion on his face didn’t hide the kindness in his gaze, something she’d certainly been drawn to when choosing who would father her child.
That also seemed to be a trait their erstwhile house guest possessed in spades.
It couldn’t be the same man, could it?
“He’d seemed honest enough when he said he’d never been to Salt Lake City.”
Sierra sat back with a smile and a grin. “Chances are very strong it’s not the same guy, you realize that, right? Unless you think he’s got an agenda, and has tracked you down, as well as any other women he may have impregnated?”
“I know, I know.” The alarm on the oven went off just in time. She needed a moment to think about this.
Sierra got up, took the pan of chocolate chip cookies out of the oven, and divvied them onto two plates. “I’ll be right back.”
As Sierra took one of the plates into the living room where her younger siblings were watching TV, Mandy sat back and let herself relax.
She had consciously tried to stay relaxed while she was growing this baby, so as to give her child the calmest environment possible.
She wasn’t going to start getting uptight at this late stage.
When Sierra came back into the room and moved the plate on the counter to the table, Mandy snagged a napkin and helped herself.
“You know what? It doesn’t matter.”
Sierra giggled and then bit into her own cookie. “Whether he’s the father or not? I agree. It doesn’t matter. But here’s what I find very interesting. A guy, who you found attractive enough to be the father of your child, has either shown up at your ranch, or his look-alike has. Are you going to try and tell me that you’re not interested in him as a man?”
Mandy hadn’t told her friend the rest of the story, maybe because it was embarrassing, and maybe because her friend knew her all too well. She was once again trying to decide whether to reveal that Calum had proposed out of the blue, when her f
riend caught something in her expression.
“What?” Sierra’s gaze was searching, her tone insistent.
“It’s nothing,” Mandy said, and then forced a laugh.
“Amanda Ann Calhoun! You tell me what it is right this minute!”
Mandy chuckled again, and could feel heat rising in her face. She shook her head, shrugged her shoulders and finally said, “He proposed.”
Sierra’s face was blank. “He, who? The Highlander? He proposed what?” Sierra’s expression turned indignant. “Oh, no, he did not!”
Mandy laughed out loud. “He proposed marriage.”
Sierra was speechless.
Mandy laughed. “Like I said, Grandpa must’ve talked him into it. When I walked him out to the guesthouse, he asked me to marry him.”
Sierra’s mouth was literally hanging open, and Mandy’s laughter spilled out. “Oh, my gosh! You should see your face right now!”
Sierra slapped a hand on the table. “I wish I could say I was outraged or surprised or whatever on your behalf! But I’m simply ticked off! I’ve been trying to get Luke to propose to me for over a year now, and you get a proposal from a good-looking guy and you’re six months pregnant!”
Mandy laughed all the harder, until finally, her friend grinned and chuckled as well.
“So, what did you say?”
“I didn’t say a word, I just turned and walked away.”
They were both still laughing when Sierra’s mom came in the room. “What’s going on in here?” Sierra’s mom, an older, plump version of Sierra with her fluffy blonde hair and wide smile looked between the two of them.
Mandy didn’t want this getting around, so she simply shook her head. “Just reminiscing about high school. Remember the time Kyle Watson took a tumble off the bleachers because he was trying to impress Jessica Leto?”
With a grin, Deanna put some of the cookie-making utensils into the sink. “It worked, didn’t it? She’s Jessica Watson now, isn’t she?”
As the three of them laughed, Mandy sent Sierra a stern look.
Calum was new to their community and she didn’t want people talking about him behind his back.
With Deanna at the sink, she held up her pinky finger to Sierra, and her friend was quick to grasp it with her own pinky as they shook.
