Small-Town Moms

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Small-Town Moms Page 10

by Tronstad, Janet


  She’d been saddened by the news and hurt through and through thinking about how their lives had been ripped apart, and they’d never, ever get to meet—at least here on earth. Maegan and Olivia’s only consolation was learning that Dawn, their deceased sister, had children.

  Wes was her four-year-old son. She also had a daughter by another man. Olivia and Maegan had decided they should go and check on Dawn’s children. Maegan had gone to Montana to see about Dawn’s little girl who was living with a single uncle. To her total surprise Maegan and Clint Parker had fallen in love! Olivia was still in shock about that. It had happened so quickly. Why, it had happened before she’d even been able to get her life lined out in order to make the trip to Mule Hollow.

  Gabe McKennon hadn’t wanted her to come. “With or without your mother’s invitation I was coming out here. I have a right and a duty to meet my nephew and to make absolutely certain that he is being well cared for.” She didn’t add that Gabe McKennon was not helping satisfy her mind.

  “I’m Wes’s dad, and he is being well cared for. I do what I believe is best for him.”

  “And meeting his aunt is bad?” Why would he not want her around—what was bad about that? What was he hiding? “Look, I have a right to meet my nephew.” Staring at him she set her own stubborn jaw. “Is your mother here? Is Wes here?”

  “No.”

  That did it. “Look, Mr. McKennon. I am going to meet my nephew whether you want me to or not. It is my right. I’m going to see for myself that he is happy and doing well.”

  The irritating man’s brows flattened, and a crease formed between them. “I can assure you he is both.”

  “Excuse me if I insist that I need my own assurances, thank you very much. Your attitude so far hasn’t eased my mind.” There was no sense beating around the bush. She’d given him the courtesy of a phone call in the beginning and he’d given her nothing. “What kind of dad are you anyway?” One thing was certain—she wasn’t leaving town until she found out.

  “My attitude is concern for my son. I’m sorry if you feel put out, but I’m Wes’s dad, and my job is to keep him healthy. And that means being cautious about the people I let into his life.”

  Of all the insulting… Olivia had just been told she wasn’t good enough to be in her nephew’s life! This would not do. Not do at all.

  Gabe was going to have to have a serious talk with his mother. It wasn’t like her to go against his wishes on something as serious as Wes’s well-being. He’d been startled three weeks earlier when he’d been contacted by his ex-wife’s sisters. He hadn’t known Dawn had sisters or that she’d been adopted as a baby. There was a lot he hadn’t known about Dawn. But the moment he’d opened the door and laid eyes on Olivia Dancer, there was absolutely no denying who she was. Olivia resembled Dawn, and there was no denying that they were sisters. They had the same heart-shaped face, with lively, amber eyes that were tilted up at the edges.

  Behind him he heard the back door open and his stomach clenched. Whether he’d wanted this meeting or not, unless he did something quick, it was about to happen. His mother and Wes’s happy chatter filled the rooms behind him as they came in from picking tomatoes in the garden. Wes loved to garden. Wes loved everything.

  “He doesn’t know about you,” Gabe snapped, feeling roped and tied. This was a nightmare. The mother of his son abandoned them the second the baby was born. She’d taken her small daughter he’d grown attached to and told him she wanted him to leave them alone. It had all been tough to deal with. Now her sister wanted to insinuate herself into the life of his son. And his own mother instigated the situation behind his back. What was she thinking? Gabe scowled. It was pretty obvious mothers stuck together…and tossed their sons under the bull. He didn’t like it. Not one bit.

  At the sound of Wes’s voice Olivia’s eyes brightened.

  “Mom,” her daughter called from the truck. “Can I pul-leeze get out?”

  “No, stay in the truck,” she called to her daughter and then turned back to him. “Is that Wes?”

  Gabe heard his mother’s approaching footsteps and felt himself sinking in quicksand. Wes was chattering away about a “whopper of a tomato.” As if he were in the middle of a collision course, Gabe could only stand there. He was a man who could make split decisions in a matter of seconds, but suddenly looking at the bright, expectant eyes of Olivia Dancer, he hesitated. That hesitation cost him—it gave his mother time to make it to him before he could shut the door. What had he planned to do anyway—pretend Olivia hadn’t come by? Not a very diplomatic remedy to the problem. Then again, where Wes was concerned, he wasn’t worried about diplomacy, he was worried about his son. Thankfully he heard his mother send Wes to wash his hands, which gave Gabe a few seconds to get this situation turned around.

  “Gabe, who is at the door?”

  Gabe glared at Olivia, wanting more than anything to close the door on her. He almost did, but even he thought that was too rude.

  Holding his ground in front of the door, he glanced over his shoulder at his barely five-foot mother. “Georgetta, we need to talk.”

  Chapter Two

  Georgetta McKennon cocked her sandy-blond head to the side and eyed Gabe suspiciously. She was alert since she knew he only called her Georgetta when he was really unhappy about something she’d done. “Gabe, are you going to step out of the way and let me see who you’re hiding on the other side of that door?”

  He was looking over his shoulder at her, blocking her vision, though he knew it was a losing battle. His mother wasn’t much bigger than a powder keg but just as explosive as they came. “I’d rather not,” he grunted. “But since you’re responsible for her being here, I guess I have no choice.”

  His mother’s eyes lit with enthusiasm, and she clapped her hands together. “Wonderful! Olivia is here,” she gushed—actually gushed—as she swept past him. She proceeded to completely ignore his bad mood by greeting Olivia like she was her long-lost best friend.

  “What a pleasure to have you here.” Pink with excitement, Georgetta bypassed a handshake and wrapped her arms around the woman. “This is wonderful. Just wonderful!”

  Looking a bit overwhelmed, Olivia stepped back, smiling warmly. “I’m glad to be here.”

  The genuineness of her smile hit him in the gut, and instantly Gabe felt his hope sinking—no way was he going to get his way here. Nope…his mother had taken sides against him in this situation, and that wasn’t good. It was also wholly unexpected.

  “I’ve got your rooms ready, and we are so excited you are here to stay with us for a few weeks.”

  “Rooms? Stay!” Gabe rambled as his temper shot up. “Weeks.” His mother had been busier than he realized—how could she have invited Olivia and her daughter to spend a few weeks with them on his ranch—in his house? “She isn’t staying here.”

  He put his foot down.

  “Yes, she is.”

  “Mother. Georgetta—”

  Georgetta cut him off with an exasperated look. He’d received that look many times growing up. It was the “I’ve-taught-you-better-than-that” look.

  “It’s okay,” Olivia interjected, giving him a glare of her own. “We can stay in town.”

  Good. He’d rather her not stay at all—but staying in Mule Hollow was better than nothing.

  “You will do no such thing.” Georgetta shot him a stern look. “This house is plenty big, and I invited you. You are my guests.” She pointed toward Olivia’s truck. “You, grab Olivia’s suitcases,” she ordered Gabe. To Olivia she spoke softer. “Let’s get Trudy out of that truck. Wes will be out any minute—”

  “You will say nothing to Wes about this. And you won’t, either,” he demanded to Olivia.

  “I wouldn’t think of saying anything to hurt Wesley— Wes,” she corrected. “But surely he knows about his mother.”

  Georgetta gave a quick nod. “He knows about her, but he never knew her. She—”

  “She didn’t hang around long enough
to hold him at the hospital.” Gabe had no forgiveness in his heart for Dawn. She’d been tired of pretending that she had any kind of love in her heart by the sixth month, and when the baby was born she’d refused to even look at Wes. How did a woman not look at her son?

  Olivia’s eyes widened. “She didn’t hold him? I don’t understand.”

  “Join the club.”

  “That’s enough, Gabe. Olivia, we’ll talk about this more later.” Trudy had gotten out of the truck and was walking up the steps. She didn’t look any more thrilled at being here than he was that they were here.

  The girl resembled Wes if Gabe looked hard enough. They had the same face shape, same eyes. Except Trudy looked guarded right now. Or just plain uncomfortable like him.

  “Trudy,” Olivia said. “This is Georgetta and Gabe McKennon.”

  “Hello,” Georgetta said, totally enthralled with the situation that she ignored the clear signs of trouble here. “I’m so excited that Wes has a cousin! You are lovely. How old are you?”

  Trudy’s gaze slid from Gabe’s mother to him, pausing on him before she looked down. “I’m ten.”

  Olivia placed her arm around Trudy’s shoulders. “She just had a birthday.”

  “I’m sure that was fun.” Georgetta smiled.

  Gabe listened and tried to process the fact that these strangers were supposed to be staying in his home. His mother lived here, too, and had a right to invite whomever she wanted to stay. But still… Wes strode out of the house, breaking into Gabe’s thoughts. His son gave a wide smile the instant he saw Olivia and Trudy. Gabe felt the situation tilting their way.

  “Hi,” Wes said, older than his four years. “I don’t know you.”

  Olivia chuckled, bent down and held out her hand. “I’m Olivia and this is my daughter, Trudy.”

  “I’m Wes McKennon.” He shook their hands, beaming—Wes was a friendly little guy and had never met a stranger. Gabe felt his heart twist with love and pride at how he proclaimed who he was. This was his son. He loved him more than anything. “I’ve got a horse. You want to see him?” he asked Trudy, who looked startled but nodded.

  “That’s a great idea,” Georgetta said. “I’ll take the children to look at Pony Boy. You two can get better acquainted, and you can show Olivia where the guest rooms are.”

  It was a clear day in May, but Gabe felt the storm of the season rolling in around him as he watched his mother follow the kids. Trudy looked back at them as she walked away; her troubled eyes connected with his and his unease grew.

  “I have a right to meet my nephew.”

  Gabe wasn’t a mean guy, just protecting what was his, but even he couldn’t ignore the woman’s confusion. “Look, I’m sorry I’m coming off so hard. But this is my son and I don’t want him hurt. He’s beginning to ask questions about his mother. Questions that tell me he’s realizing there’s a hole in his life where she’s supposed to be.”

  “I don’t see where that concerns me. What about your mother?”

  “My mother is great. But he understands that she is his grandmother. The other boys have younger mothers. He’s noticing. You’re his aunt, and I just don’t want to confuse him any more than he already is.” Not to mention at some point Wes was going to also learn he had a sister. Gabe had only recently located Lilly but hadn’t had a chance to make contact. And frankly, hadn’t been sure if he should.

  “I’m here to get to know him. Not to harm him. If that’s what you’re afraid of, you can relax. My sister was about his age the last time I ever saw her.” She swallowed hard and blinked as if to ward off tears. “I just need to know him.”

  Oh, no…not tears. Gabe shifted uncomfortably, trying to figure out what to say or do.

  She met and held his gaze straight on, all brightness that could be tears gone. “Don’t get nervous, Gabe. I don’t cry.”

  He locked his spine. “I wasn’t nervous.”

  “Oh, yes you were. I saw terror in your eyes.”

  Terror. “I wasn’t terrified.”

  She gave a husky chuckle. “Yes you were. But most men are terrified of crying women. So relax. Around me you’re safe.”

  This was far more uncomfortable than she’d dreamed it would be. Olivia couldn’t figure out why Gabe was so hostile about her being here. She was determined to make the best of it. She was determined to hold on to the joy she’d felt upon finding out about Wes. She followed Gabe down the hall of the spacious ranch house. He carried their large suitcases and led the way to her and Trudy’s rooms. She couldn’t help but wonder about the man her sister had fallen in love with. He seemed hard…but then, he was probably just feeling protective of Wes. After all, he didn’t know her. Then again she knew she wasn’t a threat unless he wasn’t being a good father. She got the feeling, despite their differences, that Gabe McKennon was a great father.

  She liked that. Justin had been a great father, too. He would have protected Trudy from anything he thought had potential to hurt her. Sadness filled her momentarily, as it always did when she thought about living life without Justin. It had been three years since he’d been killed in a boating accident, and she was making progress. She’d filled her life with all kinds of things to keep her busy. Homeschooling Trudy kept her fairly busy—but it wasn’t enough to take up all the hours in a day. She’d begun volunteering every leftover spare moment to some sort of organization so she wouldn’t feel the loneliness that tried to overtake her when she wasn’t moving.

  She was the head of the women’s group, the secretary of her Sunday school department, a member of the landscape crew and the hospital auxiliary, a volunteer at the senior citizen center—and they were a busy, busy group. Anyone needed a volunteer, she was it! You name the organization, she was there.

  She hated to admit it, but after clearing her calendar for the next few weeks and heading out here to Mule Hollow, she’d actually felt a sense of freedom. There still remained, even with the gruff cowboy so adamantly against her being here, a sense of relief for the break from responsibilities.

  “Here they are. Take your pick,” Gabe said, stepping into the second room he’d indicated. The rooms were neat, decorated in Southwestern décor like the rest of the house. The furniture was rustic, bold like the man in front of her. She had to admit that she could see why her sister would have been attracted to Gabe before she fell in love with him. The man was easy on the eyes. Not that she’d noticed that anymore. So many of her friends had tried to fix her up in the past two years. This year had been the worst. The busyness of her life had not only warded off the loneliness she felt, but it also gave her more excuses for not dating. Looking at Gabe, she couldn’t help seeing the craziness of her situation. She volunteered to keep the loneliness at bay, and yet she had no desire to date someone to try and take that edge off. She wasn’t going to say she would never remarry. She was only thirty…but she wasn’t looking. She was searching for a connection to her sister right now.

  “The house is wonderful,” she said. “I love the décor. Did Dawn help decorate?” She didn’t miss the flicker of anger in Gabe’s eyes, and she almost wished she hadn’t asked the question.

  “Dawn wasn’t here enough to decorate. This is what the place looked like when I married her. Look, I have work to get to. I obviously can’t stop you from being around Wes since my mother set this ball rolling without consulting me. So I’m just going to have to trust you to take care.”

  Olivia started to tell him that she wouldn’t dare do anything to hurt Wes, but Gabe didn’t give her the chance. The man said his piece and then was gone. Turned on his boot heel and strode down the hall.

  She stepped into the hallway and watched him march out the front door. His boots clomped on the porch as he went. The screen door slammed, and within seconds she heard his truck door slam, too.

  Of all the rude, hardheaded men she’d ever encountered, Gabe McKennon topped the list!

  Chapter Three

  Gabe wasn’t sure why he went to town instead of th
e pasture, where he could have been alone. Finding solitude probably would have been the smart thing. But his truck had turned left, and here he was, pulling up in front of Pete’s Feed and Seed.

  Like the rest of town, the feed store was a colorful sight. Bright yellow with green trim, it stood out almost—almost—as much as the outlandish pink hair salon across the street. If it wasn’t for the array of colors, Mule Hollow would have resembled an Old West town the way it stood out on the horizon like a beacon. Of course, it was far brighter than any place he’d ever seen, each clapboard building painted a different color.

  Wes was an old Western movie buff at the ripe old age of four. He’d asked Gabe if there were men with guns hiding up on the roofs the first time he saw the vividly painted town. Gabe smiled as he thought about Wes looking for outlaws on the rooftops. His son had an imagination and would hide behind the green picnic tables sitting on the plank sidewalks and pretend he was shooting the bad guys off the roofs.

  Not today though.

  Today Gabe was buying supplies by himself—nothing that really couldn’t have waited. He’d just needed to get out of the house before he said something to either his mother or to Olivia Dancer that he might regret.

  What had his mother been thinking? The question dug in like a thorn in his side, even now. When Dawn left the hospital and he’d had to bring Wes home by himself, his mother had never faltered. She’d left her life in the small town he’d grown up in and moved in with them. Recently, when he’d relocated to Mule Hollow, she’d moved right along with them. She’d been a life-saver for him and Wes…

  But she’d stepped over a boundary here.

  She’d forgotten that Wes was his son, and if he hadn’t wanted Dawn’s family involved in Wes’s life, then that was the way it should be.

 

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