by Lori Wilde
“Who’s gonna take care of the farm while you’re gone
all day?”
“I don’t know!” Daisy snapped.
Aunt Peavy got quiet.
Daisy rose to her feet, went to the sink and patted the
elderly lady on the arm. “Look, I’m sorry I growled at you.
This thing with Kael’s got me out of sorts.”
“It’s okay. I’m just worried.”
“I know you are.” Daisy gave her a hug. “Don’t fret,
I’ll take care of things like I always do.”
Like / always do.
The phrase echoed in her head. For once, she’d like to
rest the mantle of burden on someone else’s shoulders.
How nice it would be to have someone else slip behind the
reins and take over. Someone like Kael Carmody.
No! What on earth was she thinking? She couldn’t allow
that irresponsible man to assume control of her destiny. No
way. No how. Under no condition.
And yet some tiny part of her dared to hope. Dared to
daydream about what might have been or what could be.
What would have happened if Kael had forsaken the rodeo
circuit and married her years ago? Would she have become
a happy housewife and contented mother instead of an em-
bittered spinster, pouring all her affection onto her sister’s
child?
Fool! Hadn’t she learned her lesson? Hadn’t that man
burned her enough? She was a masochist to even toy with
the notion of marrying him to resolve her problems. No
measure of financial troubles could top the difficulties in-
herent in becoming Kael Carmody’s wife.
The back door banged closed, jerking Daisy from her
reverie. She looked up to spy Travis standing in the entry-
way, tears streaming down his cheeks.
She flew from her chair to kneel at her son’s side.
“Honey, what’s wrong?”
“They sa-sa—” Travis sobbed so hard he hiccuped on
the sentence. “Said I can’t go on the Cub Scout picnic
’cause I don’t have a daddy.”
Daisy enveloped him in her arms. Seeing him so upset
wrenched her heart in two. “Shh.” She patted his back.
“Take a deep breath and calm down.”
Travis obeyed, his heavy sigh sending a shudder through
his entire body. He swiped at his eyes with the back of his
hand.
“Better?”
He nodded, but a forlorn expression clouded his face,
letting Daisy know it was definitely not better.
“Who told you you couldn’t go to the Cub Scout pic-
nic?”
Travis rolled the hem of his shirttail between his fingers
and studied his feet. “Scott Standish and Tommy Martin.
They said only boys with daddies could go.”
Daisy forced her teeth together, biting down on her an-
ger. It wouldn’t be the first time kids had taunted a child
because he was different.
“How come everybody has a daddy but me?” Travis
raised his hazel eyes and stared at her. Accusing eyes that
looked just like Kael’s.
But you do have a daddy, you do, you do.
The words reverberated in Daisy’s head. Was she wrong,
after all, for wanting to wait before letting Kael tell Travis
the truth?
“How about if I go with you to the picnic,” Daisy said,
avoiding his question.
Violently, Travis shook his head. “No,” he insisted,
“it’s gotta be a dad.”
Daisy rocked back on her heels. Father-son picnic in-
deed. Didn’t the people who organized these things realize
what they were doing to children without fathers?
“Maybe Kael could take you.”
Travis gave her a dubious look. “He’s not my dad.”
Her spirits plummeted. It was painfully obvious Travis
needed a father. She’d been aware of it for some time.
“He would be if your mama married him,” Aunt Peavy
said, putting in her two cents worth at exactly the wrong
time.
Travis perked up. “You’re gonna marry Kael?”
Daisy shot Aunt Peavy a withering glance before return-
ing her attention to her son. “Honey...”
“Oh, Mom, please, please.” He pressed his palms to-
gether in a prayer. “Kael is so cool, and I need a dad real,
real bad.”
His hopeful request swept over her more relentlessly than
the ocean’s tide. How could she even consider denying him
his father?
Shame blazed a path through her conscience. She’d
charged Kael with the offense of selfishness when in fact
she was the selfish one. Daisy had allowed her own nega-
tive feelings toward Kael to get in the way of what was
best for Travis.
Every child deserved a mother and a father.
But didn’t that child also deserve a mother and father
who truly loved each other? Didn’t he deserve more than
parents locked in a cold marriage of convenience? Al-
though she still loved Kael with a passion that would never
die, he’d hadn’t once mentioned love when he’d asked her
to marry him. If his actions seven years ago were any proof,
he didn’t know the meaning of the word.
“Mom?” Travis laid his hand on her shoulder and
peered at her. “Are you okay?”
Daisy blinked and stared back at the child who was as
much a part of her as if he’d sprouted from her own womb.
Suddenly she knew what she had to do, even though it
meant eating crow and swallowing her pride. She had to
go to Kael Carmody and tell him she’d changed her mind.
“May I speak with you a moment?”
Kael glanced up from where he sat on a work bench in
the bam, sharpening his mother’s kitchen knives. He was
surprised to see Daisy Hightower standing in the doorway,
the afternoon sun slanting her shadow across the hay-
strewn floor.
“Sure,” he replied, setting the whetstone aside. “Come
on in.”
She hesitated, hung at the door like a puppy on a leash.
Even from the distance of ten feet he could smell her
honey-flavored aroma—rich, amber, sweet. Slim-cut blue
jeans hugged her narrow hips. She wore a gray oversize
T-shirt that should have camouflaged her breasts instead of
accentuating them as it did. Kael caught his breath and
battled the emotions rising inside him. The woman grew
more tempting every day.
She kept her hands clasped behind her back and avoided
meeting his gaze head on. “This isn’t easy for me.”
“What isn’t?” Nonplussed, he cocked his head and stud-
ied her. Her cheeks were pink, but the rest of her face was
so pale her freckles stood out prominently.
“Saying what I’ve got to say to you.”
He ignored the chugging sensation in his belly and patted
the bench beside him. “Have a seat.”
“I’d rather stand.”
Kael shrugged. “Suit yourself.”
She twisted her fingers into an anxious knot and bounced
on the balls of her feet. “I’ve reconsidered.”
He froze, not quite certain he’d heard her correctly.
She cleared her throat.
“Reconsidered what?” he asked, feeling as if he were
gingerly stepping over invisible land mines.
“You know.”
“Tell me, Daisy.”
She let out her breath, stuffed her hands in her pockets
and made it a point to stare at the empty horse stalls along
the back wall. “Your offer. I’ve reconsidered.”
“What offer is that?” It wasn’t kind of him, but he
couldn’t resist baiting her. Kael experienced a fluttering
sensation as if a basketful of doves had been let loose deep
inside him. What had happened to initiate this turn of
events? Whatever caused it, he was grateful.
“Why do you have to be so difficult?”
“It’s not often I see the proud Miss Daisy Hightower
grovel, I must admit I’m enjoying it immensely.” Kael
folded his arms across his chest and grinned.
“Oh, forget it! I should have known you’d be a jerk.”
Daisy spun on her heels.
“Whoa!” Kael leaped up, all smugness gone, and
dashed across the floor to grab her arm before she got away.
She twisted in his grasp, her skin burning his fingers.
Kael gulped but held on.
“I’m sorry,” he said.
He felt her muscles relax. She tossed her head and sliced
him a saucy expression. A look that made him want her all
the more.
“Shall we start over?” He raised an eyebrow, worried
now that his teasing had made her change her mind.
“All right.”
“You’ve come to accept my marriage proposal?”
She nodded, but she appeared none too happy about the
prospect. “Yes, but I want it understood this is strictly a
marriage of convenience. I’m only agreeing to this arrange-
ment for Travis’s sake and because I’m in desperate need
of money.”
He studied her face, searching for the smallest sign of
emotion. A twitch of her eye, an upturned smile, anything
that would tell him she harbored feelings for him. But
Daisy Hightower had schooled her emotions for too many
years. Kael could read nothing in the impervious mask she
presented.
“I guess I can appreciate where you’re coming from.”
“You’d better. I’m marrying you for your money and
for my son. Those are the only reasons.”
“So you said.” Kael narrowed his eyes. He didn’t want
her to know her statement had just ripped his heart from
his chest.
“You seem awfully accepting about this.”
“I want us to be a family. That’s all that matters.”
Daisy wrinkled her nose in frustration. “You do com-
pletely understand that this is a marriage in name only,
don’t you?”
“What are you getting at?” He leaned closer, and she
took a step backward.
“There’ll be no consummation of the marriage vows.”
“You mean you won’t let me make love to you.”
“That’s correct.” She held her head high, her shoulders
straight and her lips pressed into an unyielding line, but
despite her hard-line stance Kael knew he wasn’t imagining
the red flush creeping up her neck. Daisy was embarrassed.
Kael stuck his tongue in his cheek to keep from grinning.
Fueling her anger at this point would be detrimental to his
case, and if she even suspected he found her amusing, she’d
turn tail and flee. It had taken a lot for her to come to him
and belatedly accept his proposal. He knew exactly how
much pride it had cost her, and he wondered what catalyst
had induced her abrupt change of heart.
“Well?” she demanded, drawing herself up to her full
five foot four inches. ‘ ‘Is it a deal?’ ’
“Marriage in name only?” Kael fingered his jaw.
“You’re asking a lot from a red-blooded American male.
You expect me to spend the rest of my life without sex?”
The pink blush on her face darkened to brilliant scarlet.
“I...I...er,” she stammered.
Her hesitancy told him she hadn’t given the issue much
thought from his viewpoint. Suddenly Kael knew without
a doubt that Daisy was still a virgin. That realization cre-
ated a soft, melting sensation inside his chest. She’d saved
herself for him, after all these years.
A knot of emotion lodged in his throat, surprising Kael
with its intensity. He had an irresistible yearning to swing
her into his arms, bury his face in her hair and tell her
exactly how much he loved her. But Kael was terrified of
scaring her away.
“Well?” He arched an eyebrow.
“You can have your own...er...private life.”
“You’re giving me permission to sleep with other
women?” It was mean to tease her, but Kael couldn’t resist.
“Since it won’t be a real marriage in the carnal sense of
the word, then you’re free to do what you like in that area,
yes.”
He noticed Daisy’s breathing was ragged, her pupils di-
lated. He wanted to tell her that no other woman on the
face of the earth could ever tempt him to break his wedding
vows to her but something held his tongue. Because of what
had happened with Rose, Daisy still did not trust him. No
matter what he might say, he could only prove himself over
time.
“All right.”
“You do agree?” her voice came out high and squeaky.
“Yes.”
“That’s good then.” She stuffed her hands in her back
pockets and nodded her head, but she looked less than
pleased.
“So no lovemaking between us.”
“None.”
“Never?”
“Ever,” she replied firmly.
“If that’s the way it’s gotta be.” Kael shrugged. He con-
sented to her stipulation, even though he had no intention
of honoring it. He had to get Daisy to marry him, no matter
what it took. Once they were actually married, however, all
bets were off. By hook or by crook, she was going to be
his bride. In every sense of the word.
“That leaves one other provision.”
“Let’s hear it.” Kael waved an expansive hand.
“We don’t tell Travis you’re his biological father.”
“Wait a minute, I can’t agree to that.”
“Please let me finish.” Daisy frowned. “We won’t tell
him for now.”
Kael shook his head. “No. I don’t like this. Why wait?”
“I think he needs time to get used to the idea of having
a man about the house.”
“Why can’t that man be his father?”
“You’re a stranger.”
“I won’t be for long.”
“He’s only seven years old,” Daisy argued. “He won’t
understand the complexities of his conception. I haven’t
even told him that Rose was his biological mother.”
“We don’t have to tell him that.
“What are you going to tell him when he asks why you
waited seven years to come back into his life?”
Twisting his face in thought, Kael paused to consider her
wisdom.
‘ ‘When would we tell him?’ ’
“When the time is right.”
Kael mulled over her suggestion. He saw no value in
waiting, but Daisy was the boy’s mother. She knew Travis
better than he did. Still, it would be hard not telling his son
the truth.
“Besides,” Daisy said, reeling in a heavy sigh.
“Besides what?”
“We really don’t know how long you’ll be able to stick
with this marriage. If you get tired, and wanderlust hits,
it’ll be easier for Travis to accept your departure if he
doesn’t know you’re his real father.”
“Do you really believe I’d walk out on you?”
“You did it before.”
“No, Daisy, that’s not true. Back then, we had not com-
mitted ourselves to each other. This time it’s different. This
time it’s for keeps. I have no doubts about my own serious
intentions. What I want to know is, are you up to the chal-
lenge of becoming my wife?”
Chapter Seven
Three days later Daisy and Kael stood before the justice
of the peace at the Refugio county courthouse with Travis
and Aunt Peavy serving as witnesses. Kael’s parents were
in New York City on business and hadn’t been able to
attend. It was just as well, Daisy decided. She was nervous
enough going ahead with this arrangement without all the
normal wedding fanfare.
Kael had bought her a bouquet of pink roses, red car-
nations and white baby’s breath. Although she’d protested,
the gesture had touched her. Even though this was a mar-
riage of convenience, Kael was obviously serious about his
intent.
At least for now, she reminded herself. Anybody could
stay in one place for a few months. What happened when
those months turned to years, and the years turned to de-
cades? Would Kael remain at her side or would he quickly
grow bored in Rascal and leave her stranded? And if by
some miracle he did stay longer, what would happen in
nine or ten years when Travis left home and there was no
longer a reason for them to stay married?
Daisy swallowed hard and pushed those disturbing no-
tions aside. If she entertained these kinds of thoughts for
very long she’d chicken out of this artificial marriage for
sure.
Smoothing imaginary wrinkles from her cream-colored
