If she told her friends, it was one step closer to telling him—gun-toting, coyote-shooting, one-night-stand-abandoning Liam—that he was the daddy of her baby.
But she had to tell her friends. She was panicking and she needed their help to figure out what to do. Not now, though. Right now she needed to hug Henry so tight, to cover his soft curls with kisses, to hear his delighted laugh when she pushed him on the baby swings at the park.
“I have to go. I’ll tell you tonight, at book club. I promise. Just don’t tell Liam anything else, okay?”
“You want me to keep pretending that Henry is a cat.” Vivian studied her carefully, a worry line creased between her dark eyes. “I don’t know what is up with you. I’m worried, frankly. But I’ll make sure the others know to stick with that story. For now.”
“Thank you, Vivian.” Trisha swiped at the tears that were starting to spill over onto her cheeks. “I know it doesn’t make much sense, but it will. At book club.”
She ran for her car and started the engine. Soon she was pulling up to the curb in front of Lillian’s house. She raced for the front door, desperate to cuddle her son close.
* * *
LIAM TRIED TO focus on what Maya was saying about the placement of the coyote pen. He was standing behind the wildlife center with her and Emily, measuring out the distance from the building to the shed they planned to build.
In the few minutes since Trisha had left, they’d all been a little distracted. Liam didn’t know what was causing Maya and Emily to exchange such questioning looks, but he knew how he felt. That he’d done damage by walking out on Trisha that night. Damage that his apology might never be able to repair. Shooting that coyote had made things even worse. Trisha loathed him now, if she didn’t before...
He’d been wrong, thinking their night together had forged a connection between them. He needed to let that idea go and let her have her peace.
It should feel like a relief. He didn’t need the headache that was Trisha. There was plenty to worry about without her. Boone had called last night and mentioned that Dad had been acting real tired lately. When their mom had gotten badly fatigued, it had turned out to be cancer, fatal cancer, so Boone, Wyatt and Tommy were all worried. But, of course, Dad wasn’t listening to anyone and wouldn’t go to the doctor.
After they’d hung up, Liam had gone back to the pasture near the coyote den with a big flashlight, hoping he could find the wounded coyote. There’d been no sign of it, so he’d gone back again at dawn today, roaming farther and farther along the steep hills.
It was ridiculous to lose so much sleep over the fate of a coyote. But he’d learned in his recovery program the importance of making amends. Even if he didn’t feel he’d been completely wrong to fire at that coyote, clearly everyone else around here did. So he had to try to make it up to them. But it hadn’t worked. He couldn’t find the poor animal anywhere.
Just after dawn, Maya had shown up and lowered some kind of fancy camera into the den. The adult wasn’t there either.
“How’s it going back here?” Jace came around the side of the building, holding hands with Vivian. They were followed by his nieces and nephew. His oldest niece, Carly, was pushing a wheelbarrow full of tools.
“Are we glad to see you!” Maya hugged Jace and Carly, and high-fived with the two smaller ones, Alex and Amy. Carly set down her wheelbarrow to give her a hug. Then Maya peered past them. “Did Caleb come with you?”
As if in answer, a funny-looking shepherd mutt came bounding around the side of the building and launched himself at Maya.
“Einstein, down!” But she was laughing as the ecstatic dog put his paws on her chest. It was only then that Liam realized the dog was missing a back leg.
Ranger got up from his place in the shade to visit the canine newcomer, but Einstein was only interested in greeting his mistress.
“That’s enough,” came a deep voice and Einstein immediately sat. Ranger sat, too, looking mildly alarmed.
Liam turned his head to see who’d spoken. A big, bulky man with tattooed arms was walking toward them.
“You made it,” Maya exclaimed. “Liam, this is my husband, Caleb. He’s going to help out today.”
Caleb’s big hand enveloped Liam’s in a firm grip. “Good to meet you. Heard there’s been a little trouble with a coyote.”
“My fault.” When Caleb released his hand, Liam squeezed his fingers into a fist to make sure they were still working. “We do things differently in Texas.”
“That’s the way it’s done most places. Come on by our ranch later in the week. We can teach you a lot of wildlife management methods that don’t involve guns.” He glanced at Maya with a wry smile. “Like it or not, it’s become one of my missions in life.”
“Now, don’t pretend you don’t like showing folks around.” Maya hooked her hand under her husband’s arm and looked up at him with laughter in her dark eyes. “You’re practically getting long-winded on those tours of yours. I’m pretty sure I saw that rancher from Fort Bragg stifling a yawn during your talk about sheep the other day.”
Caleb’s laugh boomed out in stark contrast to his stern features. “Yeah, I might have gotten a little carried away when I was talking about the dogs.”
“Our livestock guardian dogs,” Maya explained. “Caleb adores them, maybe a little too much. I have to remind him that they’re not pets.”
“They were one of the best investments I’ve made.” He winked at Liam. “You’ll meet them, of course, when you check out the ranch.”
“I look forward to it.” Liam still felt like a fish out of water, but Jace and his friends were kind. They barely knew him, but they were going out of their way to make him comfortable.
“Where are you at with this pen?” Jace came forward to examine the stakes they’d driven into the ground to mark where the posts should go.
“We’ve got chain-link fence and metal posts being delivered in a couple hours,” Liam told them. “I figure I’d better start digging so we’re ready when they arrive.”
“I rented a mini loader,” Jace said. “We’ll get this done a lot faster that way.”
“Can we drive it?” Little Amy looked so eager to get started that they all laughed.
“I’m not sure you’re old enough.” Carly smoothed a gentle hand over her little sister’s hair.
“You and Alex are going to help me cut the edges so the whole thing is just the right shape,” Vivian told them. She pulled a shovel out of the wheelbarrow and shoved it in the soil right next to the stake Emily had left there. “We’ll start here.”
“I’ll do that,” Jace and Maya said in unison.
Vivian straightened, wielding the shovel like she might smack them with it. “I am fine. All better. No fussing.”
Jace and Maya glanced at each other ruefully, and Maya held up her hands in a gesture of surrender. “Sorry, Viv.”
Jace crossed over to his wife and kissed her on the head, whispering something in her ear that made her smile. Then he handed the other shovels to Amy and Alex. “You’d better get started or Vivian will have this all dug up before you get your chance. She’s tough that way.”
Giggling, the two kids pushed their shovels into the ground next to Vivian.
Something was going on there, to do with Vivian’s health, but Liam had no idea what it was. Nor was it his business. He took advantage of the moment to move closer to Emily and ask the question that had been bothering him. “Is Trisha okay? She seemed like she ran out of here.”
Emily’s cheeks suddenly flushed pink. “Trisha? I’m sure she’s fine. She just had a lot to do today.”
It was silly to keep asking about her, like a kid with a crush in junior high or something, but he couldn’t help it. “Have you known her a long time?”
“Yes. At least... Well, Trisha’s pretty private.” Emily looked past Liam for a mome
nt, and Liam followed her gaze to catch Vivian mouthing something to her. “I mean, not private in a bad way.” Emily looked flustered, which was odd. Liam hadn’t seen her get rattled before. “Why? Is there something you want to know?”
What was he hoping to know? “Just curiosity, I guess. She seems so upset at me. I guess it just made me wonder about her.”
“She loves animals. She’s a natural caretaker, an amazing parent—” Emily broke off for a moment, a strange expression flitting across her features “—to her cat. To all the animals she meets, really. So she takes it very personally when an animal gets hurt. It’s one reason why she’s so good at her job. She’ll forgive you for that coyote, eventually. Just give her some time.”
“Thanks,” Liam told her. “I appreciate your understanding.” What Emily probably didn’t realize was that there was so much more for Trisha to forgive. Why hadn’t he just left a note that night in Texas? Or even better, stuck around and said goodbye? He’d been a coward. Afraid to let her know what a loser she’d hooked up with. The old familiar shame crawled up his spine. He glanced at Caleb. “Can I give you a hand with unloading that digger?”
“Absolutely.” Caleb grinned. “But I get to drive it first.”
It felt good to joke. To lighten the mood. “You sure about that? I drove across California just last week. There are some lousy drivers in this state.”
Caleb took the bait. “You’re talking to an ex-marine, my friend. I can drive any rig, anywhere.”
The straightforward banter was a relief. “I won’t argue with that. You drive first.” Still laughing, Liam followed Caleb around the side of the building, ready to dig, to build, to lose himself in this project and try to forget about Trisha, at least for a little while.
CHAPTER SIX
MAYA CUDDLED HENRY CLOSE, planting a gentle kiss on his brown curls. “Trisha, what was going on today? Do you want to talk about it?”
Trisha glanced around at the members of The Book Biddies Book Club who were lounging and chatting in Kathy’s comfortable living room. They’d talked about the book, a historical mystery, and now everyone was immersed in their own conversations. Emily and Priscilla Axel, Trisha’s former third grade teacher, were sunk into Kathy’s big slipcovered armchairs. Annie Brooks, dressed in her usual jeans and a flannel shirt, was seated cross-legged on the floor talking with Vivian. Maya’s grandmother Lillian and Eva, a local gallery owner and founder of the Shelter Creek Wildlife Center, were sharing a love seat, deep in an animated discussion. Monique, the owner of the local beauty salon, was helping Kathy clear the dessert plates.
“Everyone looks like they’re busy,” Trisha wavered. “Maybe I should just wait until another time.”
Maya skewered her with a look. “I had to make sure my husband did not mention Henry when we dug out the coyote pen today. Poor Emily got so flustered when Liam asked about you that she started babbling about your love of cats. If you don’t want to talk about it with the whole group, I understand. But I wish you’d let me, Vivian and Emily know what’s up.”
“Liam asked about me?” Trisha blushed when she realized how teenage she sounded.
Maya’s brows rose a little more. “Why, yes. Apparently he was worried because you seem to dislike him so much.”
Trisha was silent, taking that in. She’d seen Liam as this one-dimensional person so far. Handsome, callous, and now, a threat to her and Henry. It hadn’t occurred to her that he’d spend time worrying about her feelings.
“You do seem to have a problem with him,” Maya went on. “Is it the coyotes?”
“That’s definitely part of it.” Trisha looked at Henry, who was getting sleepy in Maya’s arms. The lids of his eyes looked puffy. Maybe she should just take him home and put him to bed and avoid this whole problem for a few more hours.
“And the rest? I’m not trying to pressure you, Trisha. But you told him Henry was a cat, and that fib isn’t going to hold up for long. Do you like him? Are you afraid he won’t like you back if he knows you’re a mom?”
It was tempting to take that idea and run with it. But it would be another dead end.
“Okay. Here we go.” Trisha stood up, a little dizzy with nerves, but determined. “Excuse me, everyone. May I have your attention?”
The chatter in the room petered out. Kathy and Monique appeared in the wide doorway from the kitchen and leaned on either side of the doorframe. The two looked like complete opposites—Kathy with her gray hair cropped sensibly short, in her loafers, slacks and cardigan; Monique dressed like she should be going to a nightclub in platform shoes, black leggings, a fitted top, full makeup and all kinds of jewelry. Yet their love of books and gossip and friendship brought them together.
Everyone waited, watching Trisha expectantly. She should have rehearsed this, should have thought about what she would say. “Um...hi.”
“Hi, Trisha,” Eva called from her spot on the love seat. Everyone laughed, except Maya, who gave her a look that clearly said, Go on!
“I’m dealing with a bit of a dilemma that I’m hoping you all can help me with.” There, they were nodding. At least that was a good start.
“I’ve never told you who Henry’s father was. But I’m going to tell you now.”
Every eyebrow in the room went up. The Biddies had been so polite about not asking, but they must have been curious all this time. Trisha took another deep breath, trying to steady her careening heart. “He was a man I met in San Antonio, when I went to visit my friend Becca. She and I went to a hotel bar and ended up crashing a wedding in the ballroom next door.” She flushed. “Becca is a little wild like that.”
“Apparently you are, too,” Kathy said, and Trisha glanced at her, afraid to see censure on her face. But all she saw was warm support.
“Anyway, at that wedding I met a guy and I...” Oh gosh, her face was so hot it might just melt off. “... I went to his hotel room. When I woke up in the morning, he was gone. I never got his last name. It turns out I didn’t really know his first name either, until recently. That night, he said his name was William. Now I know he goes by Liam.”
“Oh my gosh.” Vivian gasped out the words. “Our Liam?”
Trisha nodded. Ugh, she felt so exposed. She suddenly wished there was a way to take the words back. As if they were butterflies she could trap in a net and set free outside in the empty, anonymous night.
Vivian glanced around at the group. “We have a guy named Liam working for us,” she explained.
A thick silence coated everything. Trisha could hear the grandfather clock ticking off seconds in Kathy’s hallway.
“What a bizarre coincidence.” Emily leaned forward, elbows on knees, and clasped her hands together. “What are you going to do?”
“I don’t know. I mean, I never thought this would happen. He just disappeared that morning. I’ve always felt like Henry was all mine. Only mine.”
“And now you might have to share him,” Maya said softly. “Oh wow.”
The tears that never seemed far away these days started rising in Trisha’s throat. “I feel like I need to tell Liam. But I barely know him. My friend Becca called me last night. She did some online research. His family is well respected among the Texas ranching community. She found some information about his bull-riding career, but that’s it. I looked online a bit, too. He doesn’t have social media accounts, apparently. So all I really know about his character is that he didn’t stick around that night. And then he shot a coyote on Vivian and Jace’s ranch.”
“Charming,” Monique drawled, her expression of distaste making it clear she found it anything but that. “In my opinion, you’re under no obligation to tell him anything. He walked out on you. He didn’t make any effort to stay in touch.”
“He’s a father,” Lillian said quietly. “And he has no idea. It seems like he has a right to know.”
“Maybe even a legal right,
” Eva added.
Trisha looked around at her friends, trying to read their expressions. “Do you all think I’m awful? I mean... I had a one-night stand!”
“We know you’re not awful!” Priscilla exclaimed. But she’d been Trisha’s teacher. Of course she’d say that.
“We all know at least a little about biology, Trish.” Monique’s lipsticked mouth tweaked into a wry smile. “We figured there had to be a guy involved somehow.”
“I had a one-night stand once,” Kathy said.
The entire group turned to stare.
“Kathy Wallace, all these years we’ve been good friends and neighbors, and you never told me.” Lillian started laughing. “You wild girl.”
Kathy’s pink-cardiganed shoulders lifted in a shrug. “It was decades ago. On a business trip. And it wasn’t glamorous like they make it seem on the TV shows. A very off-putting experience, really. Never wanted to do anything like that again.”
“I’ve had one, too,” Monique confessed easily. “Though it sounds like mine went far better than Kathy’s.”
“Okay, before we all start confessing things we shouldn’t, let’s figure out how to help Trisha.” Annie, always restless, stood up and started pacing the rug in front of the fireplace. “Vivian, what do you know about this Liam guy. Is he a good egg?”
Vivian stood, too, and shoved her hands into the pockets of her sweatshirt. “I don’t know him well yet. Jace used to work at Liam’s family’s ranch when he had time off from the rodeo circuit. He told me that Liam got into bull riding and was doing really well for his first couple years. Then he got stepped on. His leg was crushed.”
“Ouch.” Emily winced.
The poor guy. Trisha could empathize with him on that issue. She looked over at her sleepy baby cuddled up to Maya. “You hear that, Henry? Both your parents have messed-up legs. Once you learn to run, we’ll never be able to catch you.”
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