Just a few days ago this would have caused her anxiety. Not because she didn’t love creating pictures. That was pretty much her favorite thing to do, other than hang out with Daddy, but because she didn’t have the time to spend all morning on such frivolous things. But now that Bear was helping her with the final jobs that needed doing, she had more free time.
She couldn’t remember the last time she’d spent all morning just playing. Which Bear had probably noticed and was why he’d given her this job. Not wasting any time, she made herself a piece of toast and then she got creating.
For the first time since Ellie had moved in with him, Bear felt reluctant to go home. Because the time had come to tell her about her parents. And he knew that was going to cause her pain.
He just hoped he’d given her a carefree morning with the task he’d left.
Feeling the burden of what he knew, Bear walked slowly up the stairs and opened the door. He saw her kneeling by the coffee table. Her hair was pulled back in a messy bun on her head, a few curls having escaped and fallen down her back. She was kneeling on one of the large cushions he’d gotten her for just this reason.
And her tongue was poking out as she concentrated on carefully tipping some glitter out onto the large piece of paper spread out on the coffee table.
“Hi, baby girl.”
“Hi, Daddy,” she said distractedly. He didn’t take offense. Her glasses were perched on the end of her nose, almost in danger of falling right off and into the pile of glitter and glue. He dragged off his jacket and boots, leaving them by the door. Then he walked towards her and crouching down, reached out to grab her chin, turning her face towards him.
“Daddy! I’m busy creatin’,” she complained.
“Too busy to greet your daddy properly?” he said in a low voice.
Her eyes widened then she gave him a smile. “Of course not! Hello, Daddy!”
He leaned forward and lightly kissed her lips. “Hello, my baby. Had a good morning, then?”
“The best!” She bounced up and down on her knees. “Look at my picture.”
He looked at it. And he had absolutely no idea what he was looking at. This wasn’t unusual. Ellie loved to draw and create things. But mostly, he had didn’t have a clue what she’d created.
“It’s amazing, baby girl.”
“What is it?” she asked him.
Crap. She was gonna play this game. “A snowman.”
“Daddy! It’s Santa!” She glared up at him before worry filled her face. “Daddy? What’s wrong?”
He hated to pull her out of her happy place. But he had to tell her and it had been weighing on him, keeping this from her.
He sat on the sofa and patted his knee. “Come sit with Daddy, baby girl.”
She immediately came to him and he lifted her, settling her on his knee. He looked down at her hands which were covered in glitter and pen marks with amusement. “Looks like someone needs a bath to get rid of all that glitter.”
“I love glitter.” She sighed, gave him a worried look. “What is it?”
“Baby, there’s something I need to tell you. About your parents.”
She stiffened. “What about them?”
He watched as the happiness faded from her face, worry and stress replacing it. Shit. “Baby, before I tell you what’s happening, I want you to remember that you don’t ever have to see them again. Your family is here now. With me. On this ranch. Right?”
She let out a deep breath. “Right. I know. What is it?”
“The night before your hen party, when I sent you to bed early, they called.”
“They called? Why?”
“They told me they were upset they weren’t invited to the wedding,” he told her carefully.
She frowned. “What? How did they even know about the wedding?”
He knew not telling them had been a difficult decision for her. Even though her parents had treated her horribly, he knew she still loved them.
“I don’t know. They didn’t say. My guess is someone in Russell who knew your Aunt Rose told them.”
“Oh, yeah, maybe. Why would they want to come, though? They made it clear they want nothing to do with me anymore. I don’t understand.”
“I didn’t either. That’s why I had Corbin do some looking.”
Her eyebrows rose in surprise. “You had them investigated?”
“I wanted to know what was going on and I didn’t think they had called you because they’d suddenly realized that they’d made a mistake. I don’t want you hurt again, Ellie.”
Some of the tension in her body eased and she gave him a hint of a smile. “You always protect me.”
He’d protect her from this if he could, but this wasn’t something he could keep from her.
“Baby, Corbin discovered that they’re nearly broke.”
“What?” She sat up straight, staring at him in shock. “How can they be nearly broke?”
“Corbin did some searching around. Seems they’ve been living beyond their means. They hired someone to come take care of them and that doesn’t come cheap. Also, your father has been dabbling in the stock market, and he made a few bad investments.”
“And you think they want to come to the wedding, because they want money from me?”
“That’s our best guess,” he told her. “I’m really sorry, baby. I could be wrong. Might be they feel bad about the ways things ended and they want to come see their girl get married.”
“I’m not their daughter. I was never their daughter. I was their servant.” She tried to push off his lap, but he held her tight, not letting her go.
“Bear, let me up!”
“Nope.”
“I’m going to call them.”
“No, you aren’t.”
“I’m going to tell them exactly what I think of them trying to get an invite to our wedding when I haven’t spoken to them in over a year, and Bear, will you please let me up!” Her cheeks were pink with exertion, her face filled with frustration and he thought she looked adorable.
Although that would probably just make her mad if he told her that.
Well, madder than she already was.
He leaned in and kissed the tip of her nose. “You’re not calling them.”
“What? Why not?”
“Because I’m going to call them back and tell them you don’t want them there.”
She looked at him some more then she sagged in his arms. “Bear, I appreciate that, but—”
“No buts,” he told her. “You can be with me when I do it. I don’t like them upsetting you. I wish I hadn’t had to tell you any of this. But I knew I couldn’t keep it from you.”
She let out a deep breath. “They’re my problem.”
“No,” he told her firmly. “They’re our problem. And because I’m the daddy, I get the privilege of standing between you and anyone that might try to cause you harm. Physical or otherwise. I’ll put the phone on speaker all right? You let me do the talking, though.”
She sighed. Then nodded. “All right.”
He could see how anxious she was. He needed to get this over and done with so he could set about soothing her.
So, he set her on her feet and stood then walked over to grab his phone. He settled on the sofa with her on his lap. He searched through his contacts until he found the number.
The phone rang.
“Hello?” a male voice asked.
“Hello, Mr. Bantler this is Bear Macall.”
“Oh yes. Hello.” His voice was far less caustic now. But there was a hint of something in there. Nerves? Eagerness? Bear wasn’t sure.
“I’m just calling to let you know that you aren’t welcome at our wedding,” Bear told him firmly.
There was a beat of silence. Ellie had gone so still at the sound of her father’s voice that he was worried about her. He wanted this phone call over quickly.
“What? Why not?” her father asked. “I want to talk to Eleanor.”
“That’s not
possible.”
“Not possible? Not possible? Margaret, it’s that man Eleanor is engaged to, he said we’re not invited to the wedding!”
“What?” Ellie’s mother’s voice screeched down the phone and Ellie jolted, a low whimper escaping her. He tugged her in deeper against him, even though she didn’t relax in the slightest.
“That’s preposterous. We’re her parents,” her mother protested.
“Seems to me you haven’t been proper parents to her in a long time,” he replied calmly.
“Just because she got in a snit over a couple of things that we kept from her—” her father began to say.
“You told her that you were ill,” Bear interrupted him. “You lied to her and you did it so you could keep her at home, running around after you both.”
“Eleanor always had an overactive imagination,” her mother spat out. “And it has to stop. We are coming to her wedding.”
“You come within twenty feet of Ellie and I’ll have you arrested,” Bear told them calmly.
“What for?” her father sputtered.
“Trespassing, since you’re not welcome on the ranch or at her house in Russell,” Bear replied calmly. “But I’m thinking you don’t even have the funds to get here so that’s probably not going to be necessary.”
More silence. Damning silence. Corbin had been right.
“Eleanor is our daughter. A dutiful daughter would take care of her parents. We deserve that for looking after her for so long.”
“Seems to me you didn’t take care of her much at all,” Bear said, feeling his temper stir. “And whatever you think she owes you, which is bullshit since she’s your child, she has repaid by spending years of her life taking care of you. So I’m gonna make this crystal clear. Don’t contact us. Don’t come near us. You are not welcome.”
“I want to hear from Eleanor,” her father demanded. “How do we know you even told her we called. You could be keeping her from us. You could be holding her captive. I’ve a good mind to contact the sheriff’s department and get them out there to check on her!”
“You’re welcome to do that. I know the sheriff well. Would you like me to get his number for you?” Bear offered.
More silence.
“Eleanor would never keep us from her wedding,” her mother said.
“Actually, she would,” Ellie replied.
Bear tightened his hold on her, turning her so he could see her face. He shook his head at her. This wasn’t the deal. She was supposed to let him handle this. She stared back at him, a plea in her eyes. He sighed then nodded.
“Mom, Dad, saddens me to say this because part of me loves you and always will, but I don’t want you at my wedding. I don’t want you anywhere near me or Bear. We all know the reason you’re really calling. You’re broke. I’m not sure why you’d come to me for money, though. I don’t have any.”
“We know you live on a big, fancy ranch,” her mother said sullenly. “Your Aunt Rose’s house is just sitting there. If you were to sell it you could look after your parents like you should.”
“Or we could move in there,” her father said. “Then you wouldn’t have to go far to check on us.”
More like run around after them.
“Neither of those options are happening,” Bear said firmly.
“This is ridiculous!” her father snapped. “Eleanor owes us. We are her parents. That house should have come to us.”
“Aunt Rose loved me,” Ellie said sadly. “She wanted me to have the house. And you’re both still young enough and healthy enough to go get jobs to support yourselves. Which is what I suggest you do. I gave you years of my life I can’t get back. I’m happy now. I have a new family. I have a man who loves and adores me. I’m not selling Aunt Rose’s house and you’re not moving here. If you call again, no one will answer. I hope you both have a nice life.”
She ended the call.
“Ellie? Baby?” She was so still. Was she going to shut him out?
Then suddenly, she collapsed in on herself, tears coming in huge sobs.
Oh, his poor baby. He stood, cradling her in his arms and carried her to the bed where he lay on his back with her curled in against his chest. He just held her while she cried, letting her get it all out.
Finally, the tears dried up. He reached over and grabbed some tissues to wipe her face and nose. Then he lay back and arranged her on top of him, holding her tight. “You know, I thought one day they might realize what they’d done.”
“It’s their loss, baby. Not having you in their lives. Totally their loss.”
“Makes me wonder if I was adopted.”
He snorted. “We can certainly look into that.”
She laughed softly. “Except I know I look like my Aunt Rose when she was my age so I figure I must be related to them.”
“I know it’s hard, not having your parents at your wedding—” he started to say when she shook her head.
“It’s not.”
“What?”
“It’s not really hard. Sure, it’s difficult to know how little they care about me but it’s not hard, not having them there. It’s a relief. Which makes me feel guilty. But it is. They’d find some way to ruin it. I want this day to be the happiest of our lives. And it will be. With our family. The one we have here. Family isn’t always about blood.”
He reached down for her left hand and pulled it up to his mouth, kissing it gently. “No, baby, it sure isn’t. Family is about the people you love and who love you.”
“And I’m blessed, because my family is the best I could ever have wished for.”
10
Kent and Abby
Abby walked out of the bathroom, her legs still trembling from orgasm Kent had just given her. The second one tonight. The first one was after he’d walked through the front door to find her in position as ordered, kneeling on the ground, naked, her legs spread wide, her arms behind her back. . .yeah, that had ended in some amazing sex against the wall of the living room.
The second time just a few minutes ago when they were both showering before bed.
She lay down on the bed with a plop, her towel still wrapped around her. Kent chuckled as he strode into the room.
“Have I killed you then?”
“Yep, stick a fork in me. I’m done. If you could just throw a blanket over me, I’d appreciate it.” She closed her eyes with a dramatic sigh.
She yelped as she was suddenly grasped under the arms and hauled up towards the headboard. She opened her eyes, staring up at Kent. “Not going to happen, baby girl. You sleep in my arms.”
Aww, he was such a sweetie.
“And before we go to sleep, I want to see what work you’ve done in your journal.”
Oh shit. And just like that, her post-orgasm glow faded as nerves filled her.
“I’m too tired tonight. Can we do it tomorrow night?”
He finished pulling on a pair of long pajama bottoms. Damn, how could he look so sexy in pajama bottoms?
“You can go to sleep, baby. I’ll take a look at it downstairs.” He leaned down and kissed her forehead. “Come on, I’ll get you a nightie and tuck you in.”
Shoot. Damn it. Why hadn’t she been writing in that darn journal like she was supposed to? She climbed slowly off the bed as he reached into a drawer and pulled out a nightgown.
“I haven’t been writing in it,” she blurted out as he turned to her. Like a band-aid, she figured it was best just to get it over and done with.
Kent placed the nightgown on the bed as he stared down at her. A small line appeared between his brows.
“Why not?” he asked gently.
She shifted from foot to foot. What should she tell him? That she’d forgotten? Yeah, she figured that wouldn’t exactly go down well considering he gently reminded her every day to take time out and write it down.
“Abby?” he said warningly. He sat on the bed then reached out and tugged her close. He undid the towel, letting it drop to the floor before he pulled h
er onto his lap. He grasped hold of her chin, turning her to face him. “The truth, please.”
She sighed. “I don’t know. Each time I go to do it, I freeze. It’s like I don’t know what to write. I feel like I should put down the good memories, except all the bad stuff keeps coming up.”
“Then put that down.”
She tensed. “Really? But I thought this was about keeping the good memories alive?”
He rubbed his hand up and down her back. “Max wasn’t all bad or all good.”
“Yeah, nobody would ever describe Max as all good,” she agreed.
“So the memories of him are going to be mixed. But maybe if you write down the bad stuff, then the good things will come more easily.”
“Okay,” she said quietly. “I’m sorry I haven’t been doing it. Are you upset with me?”
He frowned. “I’m not upset that you haven’t been doing it. I am disappointed you didn’t tell me you were having trouble so I could help you.”
Crap. Her shoulders hunched. She hated disappointing him. She’d rather he be angry at her.
“Hey, look at me.”
She glanced up at him miserably. He kissed her gently on the forehead. “We all make mistakes, baby girl. I just want you to know you can come to me about anything.”
“I know,” she whispered. “Sorry.”
“Lean on me, sweet girl. I am here for you.”
“I love you, Daddy.” And she was going to do better. She swore it.
“Love you too. Now, I want you to go and get your hair brush and bring it back here.”
“What?” She jumped off his lap. “You’re punishing me because I couldn’t write in the journal?”
He frowned. “I wouldn’t punish you for that.”
Oh. So maybe he actually wanted to brush her hair? That would be nice. That thought was firmly squashed when his face grew stern, though. “But when I asked you each night if you’d written in the journal, how did you reply?”
Well, shit. “I said yes.”
“You lied to me, didn’t you, baby girl?”
“Yes.”
“So now go and get your hairbrush so we can get this over with and you can get some sleep.”
A Montana Daddies Christmas Page 8