A Baby for the Rancher

by Margaret Daley

  “It won’t be long before he’ll be in the same place.”

  Lucy left out the front door, paused on the large porch and took a deep breath, the air perfumed with the honeysuckle in the flower beds along the house. No doubt one of Mamie’s touches. She descended the stairs and headed for the barn, a spring to her step. The Robin Hoods case was solved, and her county could get back to business as usual. She prayed Pastor Mathers’s words Wednesday night would help heal the tension that the area had been under for six months.

  As she neared the tent setup, she pushed the thought of work from her mind. Ben had it right. This was for the children and nothing was going to spoil it.

  Until she entered the tent and saw Maddy with Christie, crying.

  * * *

  Ben rushed into Cody’s room and found Grandma Mamie rocking him while he bawled. “What’s wrong?”

  “He felt hot, and I took his temperature. It’s a hundred and one. He’s stuffed up and has been rubbing his ears. I know Tyler and Eva are coming. I think Tyler should check him out. He might have an ear infection.”

  “I’ll call him. What can I do?” Listening to Cody crying broke his heart and made him feel helpless.

  “Nothing. You used to get them when you were young. If it’s an ear infection, Tyler will write a prescription for him.”

  “But he has a fever.”

  “This won’t be the last time he does. It’s part of growing up. I gave him baby Tylenol.”

  “I’ll take him while you call Tyler.” He needed to hold his son, make sure that Cody knew he was here for him.

  He took his son from his grandmother’s arms, then sat in the rocking chair when she left to phone Tyler. Cody looked up at his face, tears in his eyes. The sight tore at Ben’s composure. “Son, we’re getting help for you.”

  Cody rubbed the left side of his head against Ben’s shoulder, his crying easing into whimpers. Ben rocked him and hummed a new country-and-western tune he’d heard on the radio the other day. Slowly his son nodded off, and by the time Mamie had returned Ben had risen to put Cody to bed.

  “I’m amazed at how he’s taken to you.” His grandmother peeked into the crib.

  Ben moved to the hallway and said in a low voice, “When is Tyler coming?”

  “He and Eva were already on their way. He has his medical bag with him, so he’ll come up to the house when they get here.”

  “Good. Let me know if I need to drive into town and get a prescription for Cody.”

  “Eva already said she would. You need to be at the barn. This is your shindig.”

  “But I shouldn’t leave him.”

  “Why not? I raised your father, you and Grady. I think I can handle Cody. I looked out the window and everything is proceeding as planned but you know how that can change.” She waved him away. “Go now. The kids will arrive in an hour and a half.”

  Ben hesitated.

  “You aren’t abandoning your child.”

  “I’ve got my cell with me. Call if Cody gets worse.”

  “I will.”

  He walked away slowly, not sure if he could immerse himself in the Easter-egg hunt when Cody wasn’t feeling well. No one was better than Grandma when a child was sick. By the time he’d neared the tent, he’d convinced himself he was doing the right thing.

  When he entered, the area was empty except for Maddy and Lucy, sitting at a table in the corner. The teenage girl’s back was to him, but the look of concern on Lucy’s face urged him forward.

  “What’s wrong?” he asked as he approached.

  Maddy twisted about, her eyes red, but Lucy was the one to say, “Two of the girls made some catty remarks in front of Maddy about Gareth stealing to give her gifts.”

  “But he didn’t. Gareth used his own money to buy those gifts. He told me when he called me.”

  “When did you talk to him?” Ben sat across from Lucy.

  “This morning before I left the house to come here. He wanted me to tell you he’s sorry about not being able to help today. His father won’t let him.”

  Ben recalled Wednesday evening when the teen had overdosed on sleeping pills. “In this case with all that has happened this week, that’s probably a good decision.”

  “That’s what I told him. He needs to consider what’s best for him. He didn’t mean to take all those pills. He hadn’t been able to sleep, and he kept taking them.”

  “What did you say to the girls?”

  “That Gareth needed our prayers, not condemnation.”

  “I hope they listen.” Hopefully time would heal the wounds the teenagers’ actions had caused.

  Lucy glanced toward the entrance into the tent. “Candace is here. We need to finish setting up. Maddy, can you have Christie and Lynne return to help?”

  “Sure.”

  “I wonder if Byron knows that Gareth is calling Maddy,” Ben murmured as the girl left.

  “Yes, he does. In fact, she is going to dinner at his house after church tomorrow.”

  “She is? Byron agreed to that?”

  “According to Gareth, he suggested it. She’s a bit intimidated by the invitation, but she wants to support Gareth. She has a gift. She looks at the best in everyone.”

  “We need more like her in Little Horn.”

  Grady stuck his head into the tent. “Since Gareth and Winston aren’t coming, I need some help with the races. I’ve mowed the field, but there are some holes we need to fill in. I don’t want a kid breaking his leg.”

  “I’m coming.” Ben looked back at Lucy, said, “I’ll see you around,” then winked at her.

  * * *

  Over two hundred children ran around looking for Easter eggs in three separate areas. In the barn, the babies to three-year-olds were in a special place to look for their treats, with Chloe and Amelia supervising. Lucy watched over the four-to seven-year-olds while she spied Ben and Grady with the kids eight to twelve.

  “Remember, when your basket is full, you need to stop hunting for the eggs,” Lucy called out in the front yard as she walked around seeing where any hidden goodies still were, then helping the youngest to find them.

  Eva joined her. “Sorry I was late. I had to run to town for a prescription for Cody.”

  “He’s sick?”

  “Ben didn’t tell you? He has an ear infection.”

  “No, but we’ve only seen each other from afar, except when he first came out. Maddy was having a problem, and we dealt with that. Then everything got crazy.” Lucy studied Eva a few seconds. When she saw Tyler and Eva together, she was reminded what a good marriage was like. Her parents had it. As a young girl, she’d yearned for one like theirs. “Something is different lately, Eva.”

  “Am I that obvious?”

  Lucy nodded.

  “I’m not sure if you’ve heard or not, but Tyler and I are looking into adopting a child. It will take a while, but the idea of having a baby thrills us.”

  Lucy hugged her friend. “I hadn’t. That’s great. You’ll make a wonderful mother. I saw how good you were with Cody.”

  “I don’t want too many people knowing since it’s a long process.”

  “I’ll pray for you two. You and Tyler will make good parents.”

  Eva beamed and shifted her attention to the young ones still hunting eggs. “The children are having so much fun.”

  “What I like is once they have a full basket they can go do something else with the other activities.”

  “Ben knows how to throw a party.”

  “Yes, he’s good with kids.” Lucy scanned the area for Ben. No wonder he’d looked troubled when he’d first come in the tent.

  “Both Ben and Grady were always good to me when I followed them around growing up. Ben has a way with children.”

 
“Will Cody be all right?”

  “Yes. Maybe a little fussier than usual, but the medicine should work soon. It’s handy to have a doctor around. We were on the way when Aunt Mamie called. Tyler always takes his medical bag with him, so we just kept coming.”

  “I guess that’s why I haven’t seen Mamie with Cody. I was hoping to hold him.”

  “Why don’t you go relieve her for a while? I know she was looking forward to seeing the children.”

  “Are you okay by yourself?”

  “You were. See all the moms and dads hanging around taking pictures? I’ll recruit one of them if I need someone.”

  Lucy started for the house. “Where are they?”

  “They’re upstairs in Cody’s room.”

  As she walked toward the house, Lucy smiled at the news from Eva. She hurried her pace because she wanted to hold Ben’s son. When she did, she felt as if she’d come home. Probably not what she should feel, but the baby was so adorable and trusting. She could get lost in his big brown eyes with those long dark lashes. They reminded her of Cody’s father. The vision of Ben with his son in her mind sped her heartbeat.

  Inside, she mounted the staircase two at a time. When she entered his room, Mamie finished changing his diaper, then glanced back at her.

  “He’s been fed, had another short nap and his medicine seems to be working.” Mamie picked Cody up and turned toward Lucy. “How’s the egg hunt going?”

  “The kids are having a great time.”

  “I’m glad. Ben was worried that y’all couldn’t pull it off so quickly.”

  “May I hold him?” Lucy held out her arms, and Ben’s grandmother passed the baby to her.

  “Is that why you’re here?” A twinkle brightened Mamie’s eyes.

  “Yes, he’s adorable, but don’t get any ideas. I actually came to let you go to the egg hunt for a while.”

  “Sure, Lucy. You keep telling yourself that. You’d be a terrific mom like your own.”

  “Ben and I are not dating. We’ve been spending time together because of the case and the Easter-egg hunt. That’s all.”

  One of Mamie’s eyebrows rose. “I won’t be long. You’ll be needed in the arts-and-crafts tent after refreshments are served.” She strolled toward the hallway. “I appreciate your giving me a break. It’ll be nice when everything is settled with a nanny or...” Her voice trailed off as she moved farther away.

  Lucy held Cody out and in front of her. “Your great-grandma will have you fixed up with a girl before you know it, but if you’re anything like your daddy, you’ll run. So, big boy, what do you want to do?”

  He flung his body from side to side.

  “Are you telling me you want down?”

  He gurgled and answered with gibberish.

  “Okay.” She scanned the room. “Let’s go downstairs, where it looks like most of your toys are.”

  She cuddled Cody against her and headed for the stairs. His sweet baby scent stirred yearning in her heart.

  * * *

  Ben searched the kids swarming the refreshment table with various teenagers trying to keep order as they served the snacks and punch. Where was Lucy? In fifteen minutes the children would be ready to rotate through the different activity stations.

  Then his gaze zeroed in on his grandmother. Who was with Cody? Was he asleep? He headed for Grandma. “How’s Cody doing?”

  “Great. Lucy relieved me for a while. I thought I would bring Cody outside to enjoy a few minutes of fun. I see you set up a little petting zoo for the young ones. When did you do that?”

  “Last night I started thinking the babies and toddlers might not do the crafts or races, and I don’t know how long they would listen to a story. But animals seem to enthrall them, so I had a few ranchers bring some and set up a small pen in the barn. Ruby brought a pony so a parent can walk around holding a young one on its back.”

  His grandmother looked him up and down. “Where was this side of Ben Stillwater hiding? That’s a great suggestion to entertain the ones under two or three. Don’t be surprised if you have some four-and five-year-olds in the pen, too.”

  “I’m going to get Cody. Are you staying?”

  “Yes, this is where the action is.”

  Ben strolled toward the house. When he stepped inside the entry hall, he heard giggles coming from the living room. At the entrance he stopped and watched Lucy.

  Her arms out in front of her, she said, “You can do it. You walked along the furniture like a pro. Grab my hand.”

  Cody smiled, scooted to the end of the couch and studied Lucy’s fingers only a couple of feet away. His son took one step toward her. Then letting go of the cushion edge, he walked toward her until he realized he wasn’t holding Lucy or the sofa. His eyes widened, and he plopped down on his bottom.

  Lucy scooped him off the floor. “You did it, Cody. Two steps by yourself.” She twirled him around, his giggles filling the air. Then Lucy saw Ben. Her face flushed, she brought Cody down next to her chest. “How long have you been there?”

  “Long enough to see my son’s first steps.” Ben’s heart swelled at the sight of Cody in Lucy’s arms as though he belonged there.

  “We were playing with his ball and he was so close to going and getting it once that I thought I’d encourage him.”

  “I can see in his eyes he wants to badly. I came up to get y’all. Mamie sent me. She wants Cody to see the petting pen.”

  “He’ll love it. Where is she?”

  “Near the arts-and-crafts tent.” When she started to give him Cody, he shook his head. “He likes you holding him.”

  “And I like holding him.”

  As they made their way to the Easter-egg hunt, Cody played with Lucy’s gold stud in her right ear, trying to figure out how it got there. Ben was ready to intervene if he pulled on her ear, but soon his fascination turned to all the children and adults at the ranch.

  “He’s so curious. Reminds me of you.” Lucy looked sideways at Ben.

  “Yeah, I got into a lot of trouble because of my curiosity.”

  “Are you going to be in the tent or at the field where the races are?”

  “In here. Grady thought Chloe should help him in case a girl has a problem, but I’m not sure how much help I’ll be. I never color within the lines.”

  “Whereas, I would get upset if I went out of the lines.”

  “And yet, you and I get along. Amazing.”

  Lucy stopped near Mamie, and she took Cody. “What’s amazing?”

  “My son. I saw him take a couple of steps by himself today.”

  Mamie grinned. “He did! He must have wanted something a lot.”

  Ben’s eyes gleamed. “Yes, he did. Lucy.”

  “Ah, I see. Good taste, Cody,” Mamie said to his son.

  “Okay, you two, if you’re trying to make me blush, you are succeeding. I’m going inside to see what Candace wants me to help with.”

  “I’ll join, Lucy. I see a herd of kids coming this way.”

  For the next hour Ben was so busy going from one child to the next that when the Easter-egg hunt was over, he was surprised. He peered at Lucy across the room, the sunlight slanting in through the entry and pooling about her. She’d suggested several women for him to date who would make a good mother for Cody, but she was the one her son responded to. And he knew she did to his son. But that wasn’t the main reason he’d rejected all those other women.

  In that moment Ben realized he’d fallen in love with Lucy—at least this was what he thought the deep ache for her coupled with the need to be with her all the time was. In his twenty-eight years, he’d never allowed himself to care that much about a woman. He could say this had sneaked up on him, but not really. This past month had been surreal—flying by but at the same time crawling by. W
hen he was with her, he couldn’t believe how fast their time together passed, but then when he wasn’t, all he thought about was seeing her again.

  But where did he stand with her? Did she still think of him as the old Ben, never dating a woman for long? His gut tightened. He’d always been the one to walk away, not the other way around.

  * * *

  Later that evening Lucy finally plopped into a cushioned chair on the back porch at the Stillwater Ranch. “The dishes and kitchen are clean, and my legs hurt from being on my feet so much today. Where’s Ben and Grady?”

  Chloe sat in the lounger and propped her legs up. “At the barn, checking to make sure everything was returned to its former place. Ben forgot to take down the pen for petting animals, so he and Grady went to do it.”

  “Did Cody go down all right?”

  “Yeah, and Mamie went to bed right after she put Cody in his crib. Today was a good one but tiring. My feet are swollen. Which has happened a few times since being pregnant.” Chloe leaned back and sighed. “I may never move from this spot.”

  “I know what you mean, but I’ve got to drive home soon. I thought I would wait until Ben got back and say good-night to him.” Lucy stared at her lap for a long moment, then asked, “Do you think Ben has changed since we were teenagers?”

  “Yes, he’s about two inches taller and twenty more pounds, all muscles. Well, he was before the coma, but his weight is returning. I’ve enjoyed working with him on his physical therapy. He didn’t give me grief like Grady did at first.”

  “Grady’s leg is so much better. He hardly limps anymore.”

  “That’s because I insisted he do his therapy. Men can be so stubborn at times.”

  “I’m glad to hear Ben is cooperating with you.”

  “The old Ben might not have. He never took many things seriously. But he does now.”

  Yes, she’d noticed that, especially his son, but would it last? As a police officer she’d seen many people confess to be changed, but the first trouble they got into they reverted to their old ways.

  “What’s wrong?”

  Lucy shook her head. “Just thinking back to when we were teenagers. I realized I had a crush on Ben in high school for a time, then he broke a friend’s heart when he stopped dating her.”