Dalton: Contemporary Western Romance (New Horizon Ranch: Mule Hollow Book 5)

by Debra Clopton

  Dalton’s expression darkened. “What a jerk,” he muttered, angrily. “What did you do when you found out?”

  “I didn’t know what to do at first. I found out that I was a cover for him. Me and my son. He made drops and contacts while we were in the car with him. I even made a few drops for him and didn’t realize what I was delivering.”

  “You’re kidding?”

  “Sadly no. He asked me to deliver a box to a business, it was supposed to be parts for a collectible car. I did it a few times. I was so furious when I found out what he was doing. I had put my son in jeopardy. I only found out what was going on when a narcotics cop approached me and told me. I made a deal with them, turned him in and then went into hiding until I testified against him. He went to jail, and was supposed to spend time in prison…I had made a complete mess of my life. And of my children’s.” She looked down at her clasped hands and the shame that hung over her like a dark cloud felt as heavy as concrete.

  Dalton’s gentle hand rested on her shoulder. “You didn’t know.”

  “I realize that but I feel like I should have known something. How could I have spent time with him…married him? I lived with him for goodness sakes and I never caught on to the fact that something was horribly wrong? I’m not a complete dope.”

  “No, you’re not. He must have been a great deceiver.”

  “Still, it gives me no relief knowing this. And it doesn’t help me now.”

  “So what about now. Why are you on the run?”

  “Because, about three weeks ago I found out that he’d cut a deal and was going to be released. He agreed to testify against some of the bigger bosses in the organization. He’s getting out. I didn’t know what to do. I panicked, I knew that he knew he’d been caught because of me. I had divorced him immediately and I was afraid he might come after me. But I was also afraid he might come after Grace. I didn’t put him down as the father of Grace and I don’t think with his record he could have any claim on her but still, I’m worried about him finding out and showing up. I don’t want him to even look at her.”

  “I don’t blame you. It sounds like you might need to worry that he could harm you and your children.”

  She nodded, that thought was the main reason she’d told Dalton. She needed someone else to know. “I have a feeling in my gut that he’s going to come after me. Sweet Mr. Overton kept asking me what was wrong. That man might be old but he was perceptive and knew I was afraid. He told me he knew something was wrong and if I ever needed somewhere to go that he had a place. He said he would never use it again and I was more than welcome to use it for as long as I needed. I took him up on his offer.”

  “And ended up in a flood and in labor.”

  “Yes,” she whispered, watching him.

  How would he react to all that she’d said?

  “Why wouldn’t you tell me this before now?”

  She stood up and moved to the railing. Her hands gripped the edges of the wood as she stared out across the darkness. “Because I just feel so dirty when I think about him. And I feel ashamed. And really stupid–I hate that word and that feeling.”

  Dalton came to stand behind her. She could feel his body heat and the scent of maleness and leather drifted to her. He tugged her around to look at him. “Listen to me. You have nothing to feel bad about. Release it.”

  Shame came over her and tears welled up in her eyes. “I can’t do that. It’s so embarrassing that I could have fallen twice into relationships with men who I thought were good guys. How can a mother with a good head on her shoulders do such a thing?” The question ate at her night and day.

  Looking at Dalton she just wanted to climb into a hole she was so embarrassed that her judgment was so horrible. He had to think badly of her. How could he not?

  Dalton had been shocked to his core by the things Rae Anne told him. She did appear to be a smart woman with a good head on her shoulders so he couldn’t help but be baffled by her bad choices. Did loneliness do that to a person? Or love?

  He wanted to throttle two men.

  Lifting his hand he ran his fingertips gently down her cheek and picked the tears up with his knuckle and traced the curve of her face. “You didn’t deserve this.”

  She had gone very still, her eyes downcast, avoiding his. He felt the warmth of her breath against his fingers as he gently took her face between his hands and tilted her head up so she had to look at him. It struck him as their gazes locked that he wanted to be the man who didn’t let her down. He wanted to be the man in her life that wasn’t a mistake.

  “Rae Anne,” he said softly and then he lowered his head and captured her lips with his.

  Warm and soft and salty with her tears her lips accepted his but he felt her tense and immediately he stopped kissing her and just pulled her close, wanting to comfort her right now. But he knew he could have kept kissing her forever. The beating of her heart against his felt almost like one heart beating. “They didn’t deserve you,” he said gently, into her hair. “And they’re the losers where the babies are concerned.”

  The tension eased at his words. “I think so. Thank you for saying that,” she whispered against his shoulder as her arms came around him.

  He felt the hesitancy in her actions and it made him want to hold her longer, but almost immediately she slipped out of his arms.

  “I can’t afford another misstep, Dalton. You should know that I’m not open to another relationship. I’ve got two babies now and I don’t need anything in my life but them. I can’t allow myself to feel this…”

  He knew what “this” meant. Because he felt it too. It was strong and powerful and filled him with longings he’d never felt before. He knew in his heart that he didn’t deserve it. He had his own demons to fight. His own reasons for not feeling like he deserved to be loved.

  “It won’t happen again.” She was right. She’d probably be horrified when she found out that he’d been involved in a wreck that had taken a mother and child’s life. He couldn’t think about it and he certainly couldn’t talk about it. She’d had enough men in her life who didn’t deserve her. He didn’t either.

  She watched him, as if trying to access whether she could trust what he was saying. At last she gave a nod. “Okay. Thank you for understanding.”

  What looked like worry crinkled her brow and he wanted to smooth it away. Felt compelled to give her a champion. She and her babies deserved a man who could come in and be there for them. Someone who would take up for them instead of tear them down.

  She tore her gaze away from his and strode to the edge of the porch. The moonlight caressed her silhouette. She was beautiful in a soft, feminine way that could very easily drive him crazy.

  “So what’s going to happen if this man shows up wanting to see his daughter?”

  “I’m not going to let him near her. The only way he could prove she was his is with a DNA test. But I don’t think he would go through that. He doesn’t want a child.” Her voice wobbled. “If he shows up here he’s looking for revenge and that’s the only reason he’ll show up. If he wants Grace it will be because he wants to pay me back for putting him in prison. And that’s what terrifies me.”

  Dalton knew that Rae Anne wasn’t as gullible as she felt like she was. This guy had to have really pulled the wool over her eyes for her to not see at least some hint of the man he really was. And that meant he was a calculating, manipulator along with being a drug dealer. “I hate to agree but you’re probably right. We need to tell Brady Cannon, the sheriff. He and his department need to be aware of what’s going on.”

  “I don’t think there’s anything they can do right now.”

  “Look, Amber had a stalker when she first came here and Chase got Brady involved. It just makes good sense to let him know what might be coming.”

  “No one knows I’m here. I just left. I told a couple of friends I was leaving, but didn’t even tell them where I was going.”

  “What if he checks hospitals?”

&n
bsp; Her expression tensed. “I’m trying not to think about that. I just get mad thinking about it. That man cannot find us and that’s all there is to it. I’ll…I’ll leave before he does.”

  “Tell Brady, okay. It’s going to be alright.”

  She didn’t look completely convinced but she nodded. “Okay, I’ll tell him.”

  He smiled at her. “There you go. You made it through a lot more in the last few weeks than most people would have been able to handle. You can handle this too.”

  “I just get overwhelmed if I let myself get caught up in how badly I’ve messed things up and what it could cost my children as they grow up without a dad. Thanks for your support.”

  “Thanks for trusting me. I’m going to head out now. Try and get some rest. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

  He turned and headed for his truck. She was standing on the porch watching him as he drove away.

  It was one of the hardest things he’d ever done.

  Chapter Eleven

  The next morning, determined to move forward with her life, and needing a distraction from the brief kiss that she’d shared with Dalton, Rae Anne pushed the stroller through the large open doorway of Pete’s Feed and Seed. The kiss had been brief but potent. It had taken her by surprise that he kissed her. She could almost believe that it had been out of comfort only but that would be a lie. The air had shifted the instant his lips had touched hers, like the charge in the air after a direct strike of lightning. Her knees had gone weak–she forced the memory from her mind and focused on her surroundings…

  The scent of grain hung heavy in the air of the building that was packed with every imaginable thing a rancher or farmer might need. Pet supplies, cattle and horse medicines, colorful rain gauges, and more. Joey immediately started reaching for items from his position in the front of the stroller. It was built for two with its place at the back for the baby and at the front–close to everything–for her busy toddler.

  “Whoa there, little man,” she said pulling a gauge that looked like a sunflower from his grasp.

  “He can’t hurt it,” a tall man with a balding head and a kind face said from behind the counter. “I’m Pete and if there’s anything I can help you with I’d be happy to. You must be the new addition to town from out at the Overton place.”

  Rae Anne introduced herself. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. And I’m not so sure you completely understand the power of a three-year-old with busy hands.” She laughed and handed the rain gauge to Pete.

  “I want out, mama,” Joey exclaimed, looking around at the store. She could only imagine what all he could get into in the store. There was stuff hanging everywhere. Bridles, brushes, rain gauges, ropes. Just an array of things that would catch a little boy’s attention.

  “No you need to stay in the stroller.” Trying to take a three year old out and an infant made keeping up with them a lot harder. She couldn’t let him roam free.

  Disappointment wrinkled his little brow. He strained in the stroller seat.

  Pete came around the counter and held out a purple lollypop. “How about a pop?” he asked, grinning and instantly Joey’s stricken expression turned into a smile.

  “Say thank you,” Rae Anne prompted him as he took the sucker. He eagerly plopped the sucker into his mouth.

  “No, sir, I said tell Mr. Pete thank you or give the sucker back.” Joey immediately told Pete thank you and continued enjoying the candy.

  “So what can I do for you?” the storeowner asked, his eyes twinkling.

  “I’d like some of those plants you have out front.” She loved flowers and just hadn’t had a place to grow them for a long time. “I’ve never had room to grow my own tomatoes and really want to try.” Plus, she really needed something to keep her occupied and Joey would enjoy it too. He loved to be outside and so a garden made perfect sense. She did most of her work at night after the children were in bed. Being a virtual assistant for authors was a solitary job that required a lot of computer time compiling spread sheets, formatting books, and a host of other things her clients might need. It kept her busy and since she wasn’t working at the nursing home any longer she was trying to find more clients through recommendations of her other ones.

  She was still shocked and forever grateful that Grace was a good sleeper. Joey had been a restless sleeper and had never gotten on a regular schedule. He had been overactive from the moment he was conceived. The little toot was going to be a football player or soccer player for certain.

  “Let’s go see what you want then.”

  She followed Pete outside to where a great array of healthy flowers and vegetable seedlings were stacked on racks. It was a beautiful spring morning and town was busy. Trucks and trailers were moving down Main Street in the tiny colorful town.

  Every wooden building along Main Street was painted a colorful colors. Heavenly Inspirations Hair Salon was across the street and it was a very pretty pink. There was a purple building and a blue building among others. It was happy.

  And despite the things going on in her life she felt happy looking around this town.

  This was a great place.

  She needed to call tomorrow and check on Mr. Overton and let him know how they were doing. And to thank him and express how very grateful she was for him letting her use his place.

  A real estate office next door to the feed store caught her attention…it would be so nice to think about settling here.

  But right now she couldn’t even think about what tomorrow held for her and her children, much less the future. She was just living moment by moment. The touch of Dalton’s lips on hers ambushed her again sending butterflies erupting inside her chest.

  She tore her gaze away from the real estate office. Her pulse jigged at an erratic pace. She had no room for dreams such as that…none. She had messed up too many times in her life. It still baffled her how quickly Dalton had accepted her mess ups. He’d not judged her and she’d expected him to think less of her but he didn’t seem to.

  She focused on the tomato plants.

  “Oh,” she gasped when she read the tags and saw several varieties: Celebrity, Better Boy, Fat Boy. She looked up at Pete in confusion. “There are so many different kinds.”

  He grinned and picked up a six-pack of sturdy looking young plants. “These Celebrity plants grow real well in these parts. That’s a good one for you to start with. And how about a couple of the cherry tomatoes. My wife loves to eat them straight off the vine.”

  “Can I eat’em off the vine?” Joey asked and Rae Anne bit back a chuckle because he didn’t like tomatoes. But, there was always hope that if he could pull them off the vine he’d start loving them.

  “That sounds wonderful. I’ll take them.” She felt good about her choices and picked out a few other things with Joey deciding they had to grow some squash because he liked the picture. Grace stirred and started fussing.

  “She don’t like sittin’” Joey said, squirming in the stroller. “Me neither.”

  Pete chuckled. “You sure have been a good boy in that stroller today.” Joey frowned and crossed his arms, pouting. “I don’t like it.”

  “We’re almost ready to go home,” she said, as a truck pulled up.

  “Norma Sue!” Joey exclaimed gleefully as the rancher woman climbed from the big truck.

  She wore her white Stetson and had on jeans and a plaid shirt. “Well howdy there, little pardner,” she called heading his way. “What are y'all doing?” She planted her hands on her hips and stared at the array of plants in their cart.

  “We’re gonna do a garden.” Joey said proudly then frowned. “I want out.”

  “You do look a little ragged around the edges.” She ruffled his hair. “What if I take him over to grab a breakfast muffin at Sam’s while you finish up. You can come join us when you’re done shopping.”

  Rae Anne squinted at her. “Are you sure?”

  “Am I sure? Sure I am. Me and my little buddy like hanging out together.” Joey grinned lik
e he’d just been given the moon and the look almost made Rae Anne tear up. “Will Roy Don and Dalt be there?”

  “I don’t think so. But some of my other friends will be there.” She hiked a questioning brow at Rae Anne.

  “Yes, he can go. Thank you for taking him,” she said and within seconds she’d freed her son from the constraints of the stroller. He immediately took the older woman’s hand and they strolled down the plank sidewalk together talking about muffins. Rae Anne watched as the two went inside the diner a few doors down from the feed store. He was chattering up a storm as the door closed behind them.

  This was a good place to raise a little boy.

  She could see him here growing up surrounded by open pastures and lots of room to roam. And wonderful, welcoming people like Norma Sue being involved in his life was priceless.

  If only she didn’t have to worry about the possibility of Grace’s father showing up.

  Turning back toward the flowers, she saw a broad shouldered man in starched jeans and a khaki long sleeved shirt approached them. A badge glinted in the sunlight.

  “Hey there, Sheriff,” Pete greeted the tough looking lawman.

  “Afternoon, Pete. And you too, miss,” he said, lifting his Stetson from his head momentarily before returning it back on his dark hair. “I’m Brady Cannon. The sheriff of Mule Hollow. I saw you and your children over here and thought I’d come introduce myself. Are you Rae Anne Tyson? The new lady living in the Overton place?”

  Her heart was thumping like hail on a tin roof and she wasn’t sure why. “Rae–I mean, yes, I’m Rae Anne Tyson.” She held out her hand and told herself to stop being nervous. She hadn’t done anything wrong. Marrying a drug dealer, divorcing him and having his baby was not the smartest thing she could have done but it wasn’t a crime.

  “I hear you were very lucky the night you came to town.”