Well, Maggy reasoned, until this morning she had been singled out to be her successor. Now, looking at the woman’s accusing gaze, she wasn’t quite sure what her future held. Judging from her employer’s demeanor, a psychiatric evaluation might be high on the list.
“I wouldn’t miss it,” Maggy lied, knowing she’d rather face a firing squad than have to endure another one of Miss Barklay’s faculty teas.
“Very well, then. Carry on, Margaret.” Miss Barklay reached down, picked up Cody’s book off the desk and turned on her heel. Maggy felt a moment of panic. Whether her boss liked her choice in reading material or not, Cody had given the book to her, and it meant a lot to her. Maggy wanted it back.
“Miss Barklay?” Maggy’s voice was tremulous. “May I have my book back, please?” Her words caused the other woman’s feet to stop as if brakes had been applied to her rubber soles. Miss Barklay swiveled toward Maggy, hostility flickering in her eyes.
“Why on earth would you want this back?” she inquired curtly. “Surely you don’t intend to continue reading this…this…trash?”
“Trash” was probably the word that did it. Maggy surged to her feet as anger coursed through her. She threw back her shoulders and met the older woman’s gaze. For some crazy reason, Maggy was not about to back down on this issue.
“Miss Barklay,” she said slowly. “That book is hardly trash. While it might not be on the recommended reading list for the students of Miss Avalon’s Academy, I can assure you that it is a well-written, well-plotted story that I happen to have found very interesting. And not only did I find it interesting,” Maggy went on, realizing she was probably digging her own grave. “But so have a great deal of other people. You’ll see that on the cover the publisher has made reference to the fact that the series of books by this particular author has sold very well. In fact, most of them have been best-sellers.”
“But surely—”
“May I have it back, please?” Maggy held out a shaky hand and waited. Miss Barklay’s lips thinned in annoyance and for a moment stormy green eyes warred with cold blue ones. Finally, Miss Barklay slapped the book into Maggy’s waiting hand, then turned on her heel and left Maggy’s office.
“I expect you to be prompt at the faculty tea,” Miss Barklay warned over her shoulder.
Clutching the book tightly to her breast, Maggy heaved a weary sigh of relief and slumped in her chair, feeling inexplicably proud of herself. She had stood toe-to-toe with Miss Barklay for the very first time, and to her surprise it made her feel very good.
She glanced down at the cover of Cody’s book and smiled. Somehow she had a feeling that Wild Bill Cody had had a lot to do with her actions today. Whether she wanted to admit it or not, Maggy knew that Cody and his craziness were having an effect on her.
There was just something about the man. He was big and macho, yet despite all that there was something warm and vulnerable about him, something that made women want to reach out to him, to hold him in their arms.
The man made her head spin with his impulsive craziness, yet at the same time made her toes curl with his tenderness.
So why, Maggy asked herself, wasn’t she running for cover?
Chapter Six
“You’d better lift your chin, honey, your face is so long it’s scraping the sidewalk.” Cody stood in the doorway, smiling as Maggy dragged herself up the walk. Her euphoria at standing up to Miss Barklay had dissolved into remorse, followed quickly by regret.
This afternoon she had done exactly what she had always accused her mother of doing—not thinking through the consequences of things.
Why on earth had she done such a thing? What on earth had ever possessed her to defy her boss like that? She had berated herself nonstop for her impulsive actions. But, she finally realized, no amount of sorrow could erase what was done. All she could do now was prevent any further lapses. And Maggy was determined to do that.
Well, she admitted glumly as she trudged up the walk, her determination was much stronger when she wasn’t staring at Cody’s wonderful face. Somehow the sight of him weakened her resolve.
Annoyed that the sight of him also immediately lifted her spirits, Maggy tried to stamp down the welcoming smile that was threatening her lips.
“Bad day?” he asked, dropping a hand to her shoulder and giving it an encouraging squeeze.
“The worst,” she mumbled. His fingers gently kneaded her shoulders, easing away the tension. Her emotional battery had nearly been drained, but somehow his presence seemed to recharge her. And further annoyed her.
“Do you want to talk about it?” he asked quietly, as if sensing her distress. Maggy looked up at him. Oh, how she longed to talk to him, to confide in him all the confusing emotions she was feeling. His shoulder looked so warm and inviting, just the place to lean her weary head and pour out her troubles. But Maggy knew she couldn’t afford such a luxury. She had to keep Cody at a distance, for the sake and sanity of her health. And her heart.
Cody’s gaze sought hers and for a moment his eyes seemed to be sending a silent message that only she could read. It frightened her with its intensity.
“Well,” she said slowly, “to begin with I was an hour late for school this morning. Then I got caught reading—” Maggy stopped abruptly, wondering if Cody’s feelings would be hurt if she told him the whole story, and decided it wasn’t worth finding out.
“You got caught reading what?” He took her briefcase from her hand and dropped an arm around her shoulders.
“Nothing,” she stammered, letting him lead her into the house.
“Ma-ma!” Bobby’s eyes lit up when he saw Maggy, and her heart melted. Dressed only in a diaper, Bobby was sitting in the middle of the living room playing with some toys. The toddler struggled to his feet, holding on to the table for support. Delighted at the sight of his chubby, cheerful face, Maggy bent down and held out her arms to him. Taking awkward steps, Bobby moved quickly to her.
Scooping him up in her arms, Maggy laughed softly and swung him around and around.
“More!” Bobby gurgled, trying to squirm free. Maggy hugged him close, burying her face in his neck and cuddling the soft folds until he was giggling helplessly.
“Did you miss me, Sport?” she crooned, planting a bouquet of kisses across his cheek. Bobby wiggled impatiently as she held him tight, inhaling his sweet baby smell. Holding him close seemed to ease her despair. This little child had wormed his way quickly and quietly into her fragile heart.
“Miss Sport,” he mimicked, and Maggy planted another fat kiss on the baby’s cheek, not realizing until this moment just how much she had missed him.
Or Cody, she thought, glancing up. With a tinge of disappointment Maggy realized he was fully dressed. She was getting kind of used to seeing his naked chest. But his clothing only emphasized his masculinity. Dark slacks hugged his slim hips and covered his long legs like a second skin. His shirt, left open at the collar, only accentuated the broad expanse of his shoulders and chest. The sleeves were rolled up, revealing a dusty trail of dark hair.
Cody stood there watching her, holding her briefcase in his hand as if he had forgotten it was there. His eyes were warm and caring, and not just for Bobby, she realized suddenly, but for her as well. Lord, she was sinking deeper and deeper and somehow she didn’t seem to have the willpower to help herself. Fearing Cody might read her thoughts, Maggy glanced away self-consciously, planting another kiss on Bobby’s cheek.
“Don’t I get one of those?” Cody asked, flashing her a warm smile. Maggy looked away. Oh, how she wanted to kiss him, to hold him in her arms the way she had done with Bobby! But she was determined both to keep out of Cody’s arms and keep him out of her heart. Cody’s kisses and caresses had muddled her brain and muddied her senses, and Maggy knew she simply couldn’t allow it anymore.
She was going to do what she had promised, help him find a woman, and then send him on his way so that her life could get back to normal. Although Maggy wasn’t certain she k
new exactly what normal was anymore. Was it Miss Barklay’s rigid rules and regulations? Or Cody’s devil-may-care craziness? She didn’t know, and right now she was too tired to think about it.
Banishing such thoughts, Maggy turned and flashed him what she hoped was a bright smile.
“What?” she inquired, deliberately not understanding.
“What?” he echoed, dropping her briefcase on the floor and crossing the room to stand just a breath away from her. “A kiss.” His words caused her heart to flutter wildly in her breast. His gaze caressed her face, going over every one of her features. Maggy swallowed hard. “Bobby’s not the only one who missed you. I missed you, too,” Cody said, lifting a hand to her cheek. Her heart slowly unfolded, reaching out to him.
Maggy glanced up at Cody and without thinking she leaned toward him, lifting her face for his kiss. His lips were warm and moist, and he tasted faintly of lemonade.
“Down!” Wiggling and squirming, Bobby started to protest. Reluctantly Maggy dragged her mouth from Cody’s.
“Here you two are,” Elizabeth said, sweeping into the room. Blinking, Maggy looked at her mother and shook her head. Today Elizabeth wore an elaborate silk dress that knotted over one shoulder and bared the other. A dime-store necklace of assorted colored pop beads circled her slender neck, while mismatched diamond earrings hung heavily from her ears. On her feet she wore bright green running shoes that Maggy knew for a fact glowed in the dark.
“That’s some outfit, Mother,” Maggy commented with a laugh.
Elizabeth glanced down at herself then twirled around, holding the skirt aloft. “Isn’t it though, dear! I rather like it myself.” She scooped Bobby from Maggy’s arms. “Kiss dada good-night,” Elizabeth ordered, waiting while Bobby kissed first Cody, and then Maggy. “Now, if you’ll excuse us, we have a date.”
“A date!” Maggy looked at her mother suspiciously. “What kind of a date?”
“With a greasy hamburger,” Elizabeth replied, heading for the door.
“Mother,” Maggy protested. “You can’t take Bobby out like that! He only has a diaper on. You can’t parade around town with him dressed like that!”
“I’m dressed enough for both of us. Besides, it’s hotter than blazes outside. The child’s comfortable just as he is.”
Her mother had a point. It was blisteringly hot outside, and Bobby did look comfortable. But Maggy wasn’t about to give in so easily. She didn’t know what her mother was up to, but she had a feeling it was no good. “You can’t feed that child greasy food, either,” Maggy said, hoping to stall her mother’s departure until she found out exactly what she was planning.
“And why not?” her mother inquired, coming to a halt and swiveling her head in Maggy’s direction. “Half the country’s population has grown up on fast food. Besides, Bobby likes hamburgers, don’t you, sweetie?”
“Burgers!” Bobby demanded with a hopeful grin and Elizabeth smiled.
“See,” she said, flashing Maggy a triumphant look. Maggy glanced at Cody for some help. He just shrugged his shoulders and grinned in his turn.
“Besides, dear,” Elizabeth said, inching toward the door. “We’re not just going for hamburgers. Are we, Sport?”
“What do you mean, you’re not just going for hamburgers?” Maggy asked suspiciously, clearly not liking the sound of this.
“I told you, but you weren’t listening. You never listen to me anymore,” her mother complained, inching closer and closer toward the front door. “We have a date, don’t we, Sport? We’re going to meet the mayor.”
“You’re what!” Maggy started toward her mother, but Cody grabbed her arm and stopped her. She could feel the warmth of his fingers even through the fabric of her suit. It distracted her momentarily.
“Mother,” Maggy called, watching helplessly as her mother snuck out the door. “What are you meeting the mayor about?”
“Don’t get excited, dear,” her mother called back. “It’s nothing for you to worry about. I’m only going to talk to the mayor about the dreadful condition of the penal facilities in this state. We’re going to persuade him to redecorate the jail. Aren’t we, Sport?”
“Oh my God,” Maggy whimpered. “Mother!” she called frantically, feeling the pendulum of doom swing closer. “Mother!” When there was no answer, Maggy whirled on Cody. “Say something!”
Cody looked at her quizzically for a moment, then crossed to the open door in two long strides with Maggy on his heels.
“Have a good time, Elizabeth. And Bobby only likes ketchup on his burgers—ouch, Mags, what’d you hit me for?” Rubbing his arm, and grinning from ear to ear, Cody looked down at her.
“That’s not what I meant,” she hissed, giving him another whack on the arm. If Cody and her mother were having a race to see who would be the first to drive her crazy, they were in a dead heat!
Cody grinned at her harassed expression. “Now come on, Mags, it’s not so bad. The mayor will probably love your mother.” He looped an arm around her shoulder, but Maggy stepped out of his embrace. He was not going to drown her in his charm this time, she resolved firmly, shoring up her defenses.
“Mother!” she yelled, trying to go out the door after her. Cody grabbed the back of her suit and held on tight. “I’m not bailing you out this time,” she called, twisting and trying to get free. Her mother’s soft chuckle filtered through the night.
“That’s all right,” Elizabeth caroled merrily. “Cody will.”
Maggy turned on him. Fury darkened her eyes. “You knew about this, didn’t you?” she accused him and he had the audacity to grin. “How could you let her just walk out of here?” Maggy cried. “You knew what she was up to, and you didn’t even try to stop her!”
“Stop her?” Cody looked totally bewildered. “Why should I try to stop her? She’s a grown woman, Mags, and besides,” he added with an infuriating grin, “Bobby does like burgers.”
“Ahgggg!” Maggy growled, throwing up her hands in despair. She should have known better than to expect any help from him. “Do you have any idea what the mayor is going to do when he gets a gander at my mother and her little proposition? After what happened last night, Cody, I can’t believe you just let her waltz out of here—and what about Bobby?” she demanded, abruptly changing stride. “That child should not be wandering around town only in a diaper, not to mention eating fast—”
“Mags?” he said softly, dropping his hands to her shoulders again and stopping her tirade. She looked up at him, her eyes meeting his until her legs grew weak.
“What!” she yelled, trying to pretend that his nearness wasn’t affecting her.
“Are you upset?” he asked, grinning crookedly and looking down at her harassed expression. Maggy swore softly and turned away from him. The man was impossible, and, she thought morosely, he was going to drive her crazy. If she wasn’t already crazy.
“Ready to hear my idea now?” Cody whispered suddenly to the back of her ear because she wouldn’t turn to face him. She could feel his warm breath tickle her neck and despite herself, Maggy found herself smiling. Cody’s cologne tonight was different, she thought hazily, potent and tantalizing, drugging her senses into a warm lethargy. He was infatuating and exasperating, and he was trying to drown her in his charm again. But it wasn’t going to work. Maggy swallowed hard. Well, one could only hope it wasn’t going to work. Judging from the wicked pounding of her heart, Maggy wasn’t so sure.
“Do I have a choice in the matter?” she muttered, turning around despite his closeness.
“Nope,” he assured her.
“Let’s hear it, then.” Maggy heaved a heavy sigh and tried to prepare herself for what was to come.
Cody suddenly frowned, his dark brows drawing together as his eyes went over her. “You’ll have to change,” he announced abruptly, grabbing her elbow and hustling her toward the stairs. Maggy dug her heels in.
“That’s your idea?” she cried, wondering what kind of craziness he was trying to drag her into n
ow. “I have to change? What kind of an idea is that?”
“No, no, no.” He laughed, pulling her along and urging her up the steps. “My idea is where we’re going, not what you’re wearing. But you’ll have to change before we can get where we’re going.” He flashed her a wicked smile as if what he was saying made perfect sense.
“Cody.” She sighed, shaking her head slowly. “What you just said made absolutely no sense.”
His grin widened. “I know. It wasn’t supposed to. I’m the one who never does anything sensible, reasonable or…” He frowned.
“Rational,” she supplied, moving up the steps now, despite the fact that she didn’t know what to wear or where they were going. But she did know that she was going to go along with him, wherever it was they were going. At the top of the stairs she turned back to look at him. “Cody?”
“What?” He was looking up at her, his arms crossed, and a wide smile split his face.
“This isn’t going to get us arrested, is it?” she inquired with some concern. His smile grew wider, and so did her concern.
“Now would I do something like that?” he asked, managing to look quite innocent.
“Probably,” Maggy said, trying not to laugh.
“Could we have a little trust here?”
“Trust, after that little speech you just gave?” One brow rose and Maggy stared down at him, deciding to play along with him despite, or maybe because of the kind of day she’d had. Her despair had lifted in the past few minutes.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” he inquired, and Maggy frowned.
“Like what?”
His mouth twitched. “Like maybe you think my train’s not on the right track.”
“Is it?”
“Nope,” he returned, without a trace of remorse. “Now hurry up, Mags. Get changed. Time’s a-wasting.”
“Can you just give me a clue as to what I should wear?”
Baby Makes Three: Heartwarming Love and Laughter Page 8