"Give me a day or two," he said.
"Your wife will be ready to go to her parents on Monday."
"Thank you, Doctor."
"You were both very lucky, young man. Now let's hope the little one behaves himself and stays put for another six months."
His stomach knotted, leaving him nauseous. What was he going to do? Once again, they had little means to live on.
Slowly he strolled to Daisy's room. Her mother and father stood next to her bed talking to her. No one noticed when he walked in the room.
"Daisy, you and the baby would be better off at home than in that shack you're living in."
"Papa, it's not a shack. It's a one-bedroom cabin. I'm sure the first house you and Momma lived in wasn’t the best."
No, they didn't live in luxury, but the cabin was nice and cozy for the two of them.
Her father sank down on the bed beside her. "No, but I was capable of taking care of your mother and your sisters."
It was true. Lee had not shown he was suitable to care for his young family. No matter how hard he worked and tried, every time he thought he would get ahead, life slammed him down.
"It took your father a year before he built us a nice house. But I agree with Papa, come home and let us watch over you. That young man hasn't even come back for you."
"This is the week he sells his cattle. The worst time for me to get hurt."
"You're his wife, he should be here."
If they turned, they would see he was here. Right now, he felt invisible and his heart cracked with grief.
"Well, Lee has not had a year yet, and he just sold his first cows. We'll be fine."
That wasn't true. For nearly three years, he had lived on the ranch, but this year was the first time he sold cattle.
When her mother sat on the bed on the other side of her, Lee realized they left no room for him. They surrounded Daisy and began to apply the pressure.
"You and the baby should live with us. Eventually, you could file for divorce..."
"Mother," Daisy said.
But she didn't say no, and she didn't disagree with her mother. Was she fooling him? Over the last few months, he believed she loved him, but maybe the accident proved it was all a lie.
"This young man can't provide for you. And now you have a little one to think about."
Lee had heard all he could take. For the moment, his wife was holding out, but how long before they wore her down and convinced her that moving in with them permanently would be the best for her and their baby.
Turning he walked out the door, his heart breaking. He was a failure. A total and utter disappointment. After promising his father he would succeed, he had failed. His choices were limited; he could pay either the doctor or the bank, but there were not enough funds for both.
Daisy and his child deserved better. His little family deserved someone who would make certain they had a roof over their heads and had plenty of food. Someone like his father-in-law.
Chapter 30
Lee. Her parents had arrived not long after he went in to speak to the doctor and then he had never returned.
Either the bill was so expensive, or he heard them talking and fled. On Monday, her father and mother came and picked her up and took her to their ranch. Not home to Pagosa, but her family home.
Now, she was once again residing in her old bedroom and yet it felt odd. Like she had stepped back in time, but she was no longer that girl.
Her morning sickness seemed to have eased, but her dresses were snug against her waist and she was pulling them up over her expanding waistline.
As she gazed about the room, she thought about Lee and wondered where he was and what he was doing.
When she asked about the bill, the doctor told her not to worry, her husband was taking care of it. Then she pointedly asked him how much. When he told her, she’d been astounded.
How could Lee pay the loan on the ranch and also the hospital bill?
Late one night, she walked down the stairs. Now that the morning sickness had passed, she seemed to crave food.
When she entered the kitchen, her father sat at the table, eating a slice of cake. “Don’t tell your mother I’m in here eating cake.” She laughed. “She says I’m getting fat.”
Her father had put on some pounds, but he worked so hard, she didn’t worry about him getting too heavy.
“I’m here in search of the same cake,” she said.
“Better grab a piece before I finish it off.”
She cut a slice and took it to the table. When she sat across from her father, they were silent as they ate their snack.
“Did the doctor tell you how much the bill was?” she asked.
“All he said was that Lee was taking care of it.”
“Yes,” she said. “Papa, what did you pay for your ranch? Did you have to carry a note for a while?”
He laughed. “Your mother and I were poor as church mice those first few years. We almost lost the ranch once, but thank goodness, your mother took in some sewing and got us back on our feet.”
It was a story she had never heard. Yes, she knew there had been bad years, but she had never heard about her mother working.
How could she make her father understand about her and Lee?
“We never wanted our children to have to work as hard as we did those first few years.”
“But weren’t those the years that gave you character. That made you into the people you are now? Mother is always wanting to be at the top of society and you’re always wanting to be the biggest and best rancher.”
Her father stared at her and then sighed.
“How did Lee do on the cattle sell?”
“Don’t know. Since the accident, I haven’t seen him. My doctor bill is several hundred, so I don’t know how he will pay the bank note and the medical doctor. I’ll find out when you take me home.”
Her father’s eyes narrowed.
“I thought you and the baby were staying here. Your mother has been talking divorce. Is that what you want?”
No, it wasn’t what she wanted. She wanted Lee and their family, but was that what he wanted? She loved Lee, but there had been no words of love uttered from his mouth. Since he learned she was pregnant, he’d been absent and now, she knew he could not make both payments.
What would he do?
“If you were in Lee’s shoes, would you leave Momma? Especially with her pregnant?”
“No,” her father said adamant. “What would ever make you think that I would?”
“Why would you think I want to leave my husband? You made me marry him and I’m so grateful you did. He’s a kind, hard-working man. He wanted to ask you to borrow your bull. That’s why he was there the morning you found us.
“Instead, his brother-in-law helped him. Besides forcing us to marry, what have you done to help us succeed? Now I fear he’s going to lose the land because of my accident. If he loses the land, we will move and I will do everything in my power to make certain he’s successful. The man deserves it.”
She slid her empty plate back. “Good night, Papa. Sleep well.”
Anger filled her as she walked up the stairs. How quickly successful men forget their struggle to the top. How quickly the spoiled, favored one, recognized greatness in a man.
And her man was great. Now she had to find him and tell him they would be all right. Somehow they would get through this.
Chapter 31
Lee hated today. With a sigh, he closed the gate of Whispering Pines and rode his horse toward Durango.
Hopefully, the bank would allow him time to come back and clear the cabin of his and Daisy's things.
Daisy.
What was he going to tell her? How could he explain to her they had lost everything? The land, the cabin, everything due to the accident. The accident he was responsible for. The one that almost killed his wife and his baby.
What kind of husband injured the people he loved? A terrible one.
Today, he woul
d tell her he overheard them talking and if she wanted a divorce, he would give her one, though it would kill him. What choice did he have? And she and the baby would be better off with her parents. At least Sidney could provide for his family, unlike Lee.
First, he wanted to tell the banker Whispering Pines was his. Then he would speak to Daisy. After that, he planned on buying a bottle of whiskey and crawling inside it.
Why not? No one would care.
The promise he made to his father was moot. He had failed to become a successful man. At this point, he might as well find his brother and go back to robbing banks. But that wasn't the kind of man he would ever be.
When he rode into Durango, he noticed all the new buildings and wondered if he could do construction. It was something he often considered and even contemplated building the house he and Daisy planned to raise their children in, but instead now, they would both be alone.
He loved her more than his next breath, and yet, he never bought her a wedding ring. He never said I love you. He never gave her his heart, though she owned it.
The woman deserved so much more than what he gave her. So when she said she wanted a divorce, he would not fight her, though he didn't want to end their marriage. For her sake, she would be free of him.
When he pulled up in front of the bank, he sat staring inside, wondering if he could rob it and save his property, but he quickly shut down those thoughts. That was crazy and would be breaking all his promises.
Lee refused to go back on his word.
Slowly he slid off his horse, his feet almost attaching themselves to the ground. No, he didn't want to go inside. He didn't want to tell the banker the land was his.
Knowing it had to be done, he walked into the building and Mr. Roberts waved him over to his office.
"Lee, how are you?"
What did he say? I hate you for what you're about to do to me? I hate you for taking the ranch, the only thing beside Daisy I have ever loved?
"Not good."
"What's wrong? Is it Daisy? Is she doing all right?"
"She's fine," he said, though he hadn't seen her since that day in the hospital. "I'm here to tell you I'm letting the land go."
"What? What are you saying? The note was paid off day before yesterday," he said.
Dumbfounded, Lee stared at him. "Who paid it?"
"Your father-in-law came in and said something about it being a wedding present."
Why would Sidney Trippe do that when he was trying to talk his daughter into divorcing him? That didn't make sense. The man didn't like Lee, and he would never let the man have control over him. If Daisy’s father thought this gave him the right to tell him what to do, he was wrong.
And Daisy. What did she have to do with this?
"So the land is free and clear?" he asked the banker.
"Yes, now you can build your wife a house," he said with a smile. "I'd be happy to loan you the money you need for lumber."
Lee turned and started toward the entrance. "No. No more loans. But thank you, Mr. Roberts."
"If you decide to sell, I can get you a nice price," he said as Lee walked out the door.
Like hell. First, he had to find out why his father-in-law and his wife had conspired to pay off the loan. Was it so Daisy would get the ranch in the divorce?
Somebody had some explaining to do.
Chapter 32
Lee rode his mare hard to Daisy's parents’ ranch. Fear and anger gripped him. Were they planning on taking Whispering Pines from him? And yet what would Daisy do out there all alone with a baby?
God, he loved this woman, but sometimes her family drove him nuts. Her mother was a conniving bitch determined to get the best for her children and her father was not much better.
They had never given him a chance. They forced him to marry their daughter and fought them at every turn.
He pulled his horse to a halt and decided it was time to set the record straight.
"Daisy," he yelled. Unless he had to, he was not entering that house.
His mother-in-law came to the door. "Lee? Why don't you come into the house?"
"No, I want to speak to Daisy outside," he said in a commanding tone that brooked no argument.
She turned and said something to a servant. In a few moments, his wife limped down the stairs. Just seeing her sent warmth rushing through him, but the sight of her leg and arm filled him with guilt.
"Did you pay the note off on the land?"
"No," she said. "How could I do that?"
"The banker said your father paid it off and I figured you had something to do with it."
"No, he didn't tell me anything. Why are you so angry at me?"
Why did she seem shocked he was furious? What did she expect? Especially since she was planning on divorcing him.
"I'm furious because you're going to divorce me. When you were in the hospital, I overheard your parents trying to convince you. To hell with the land. To hell with the ranch. Don't you know I love you and our baby? Nothing else matters but the two of you."
With his heart breaking, the words spilled out. Tears filled his eyes. Damn it, he didn't want to lose her. He wanted their family.
Daisy tried to run to him, but the crutches made it slow. "About damn time you said you loved me, Lee Sackett. For months, I have waited to hear you say that."
Sliding from his horse, he met her halfway. "I didn't want to do it like this. I wanted to make it a special occasion and give you a wedding ring."
Reaching up, she grabbed his face and brought his lips down to hers. His wife kissed him and he sank into her, missing her so much.
"If we lost everything and still had each other, I would be happy. All I need is you."
With a groan, he lifted her in his arms. "Oh, Daisy, I love you with all my heart. As much as I didn't want to marry you, I'm so glad your father forced us into getting married. Please don't ever leave me."
"No, Lee, I'm not divorcing you. We're expecting a baby together and I can't wait for it to arrive. You must have overheard us at the hospital."
"Yes, and I couldn't stay. You're my wife, my love, my everything."
She smiled at him. "Thank goodness, you're here. I missed you so much."
Softly, he ran his hand over her belly. "You've grown. I'm sorry I didn't act excited when you told me. All I could think about was the pressure of the ranch and another mouth to feed in that little cabin. This is our baby and I want both of you so much. But you deserve so much more."
"We'll make it," she said. "You're a smart man who will make Whispering Pines a success. And I'm going to be there beside you, helping you every step of the way.”
Love flooded Lee and he smiled down at her. She loved him and didn't want a divorce and he couldn't let her go.
"Thank you for marrying me and loving me."
A big grin spread across her face and that smile could convince him to do anything she wanted.
"But I can't let your father pay off our note."
Just then Mr. Trippe came down the stairs.
"I'll pay you back," Lee said.
"No," Sidney said. "My daughter reminded me how we struggled and how I couldn't have done it alone. I've been looking for pastures to let my cattle graze. What if I lease twenty acres from you and place some heifers there and even bring over my bull? From what I know, you have good grass and clear water."
“Thank you, Papa,” Daisy said, still holding onto her husband.
The man was making an effort and Lee felt like he needed to accept. "All right, for the next five years, it's yours. After that we can renegotiate."
Sidney walked over and shook Lee's hand, pulling him into a hug. "Welcome to the family, Lee. Couldn't help but overhear your and Daisy's talk. Son, you remind me of myself twenty-five years ago."
Amazed, Lee smiled at his father-in-law. Maybe her family wasn't as bad as he thought. Maybe there was hope for them all coming together.
"Thank you, Mr. Trippe."
Nellie Trippe
joined her husband. "With a baby coming, I think we should help you build a bigger house. The babies are going to start arriving every year for a while. For your family, you'll need a home where all these children will fit."
The money he was going to give to the bank could be used to build them a larger house. One his wife deserved.
"All we need is some labor to help me," he said. Glancing at his wife, he added, "I'll let you put in the nails."
The woman's eyes grew large. "I can't hammer."
At the absurd idea, they all laughed. How in the world had he gotten so lucky? Warmth filled him. Today, his father would be so proud of the successful and soon-to-be family man he'd become.
Chapter 33
Daisy glanced out at the crew busy constructing their new home. The weather slowed construction last fall, and this summer, they were determined to finish.
Today, her mother and father were visiting. Outside, her father was helping Lee and the other men put the framing up for the two-story house while her mother held her grandson.
Her parents had finally visited Meg and seen her son. Between their three daughters, they had six grandchildren with another on the way.
"Oh, look, he's smiling at me," her mother said, laughing.
"That means he's probably making a dirty diaper," she told her mother.
Her and Lee’s lives together had been wonderful. They spent the winter waiting on the baby to come and enjoying their time, just the two of them.
When William arrived in March, they celebrated his birth and their first anniversary. Now here it was late September and the house could not be built fast enough.
William Sidney Sackett was now six months old, and in another seven months, baby number two would arrive.
This time, she hoped he would react differently.
"Did you hear the latest scandal?"
"No," Daisy said, thinking how would she learn of Durango gossip way out here in Pagosa. Besides, she didn't care about that life any longer. Her life was here, raising her son and loving her husband.
The Debutante's Revenge: Western Historical Romance (Debutantes of Durango Book 6) Page 11