A Cold Creek Baby

by RaeAnne Thayne

  Nearly eighteen months ago, Mimi had driven her car into the creek on Brant’s family ranch during a February blizzard. Much to everyone’s surprise, an unlikely romance began between her quiet, solemn war hero of a friend and the tabloid princess—who happened to be pregnant with another man’s baby at the time.

  They married last August, just in time for Abby’s arrival. Easton couldn’t be more delighted that Brant found someone so perfect for him. Mimi’s fun-loving, light-hearted assault on life was the perfect foil to the serious, dedicated Army major who always tried to do the right thing.

  After several long deployments to the Middle East, Brant had been stationed stateside for the past six months, much to Easton’s relief.

  “What are you up to?” Mimi asked now.

  “Enjoying a spectacular sunrise on the Windy Lake trail,” she answered. “I wish you could see it.”

  “I do, too. Take a picture with your phone and e-mail me,” Mimi ordered, in that peremptory way of hers that somehow always came across charming instead of bossy. “But I didn’t mean what are you up to right this moment in time. It was more a question in the global sense.”

  “In what way?” she stalled, though she had a feeling she could guess where this was going.

  “We’re hearing rumors about you.”

  “Wow. Clear in Los Angeles? I would have figured you just have to look out your window to find people doing far more interesting things than I.”

  “True enough. The other day, you wouldn’t believe what I saw outside Pinkberry. But I digress. Tess called me last night from Seattle with some interesting gossip about you, but we figured it was too late for either of us to call you for verification.”

  Easton winced. She should have expected this. Brant and Quinn weren’t the only overprotective ones in her little family.

  “Mimi, I’m shocked. You, of all people, know you shouldn’t believe every interesting bit of gossip you hear, right? For instance, I read in a fairly reliable magazine at the supermarket checkout that you were pregnant again, with quintuplets this time. Guess Brant must have some serious warrior sperm. Or it was possibly an alien abduction sort of thing.”

  Mimi laughed. “Shut it, you. I’m not pregnant. Maybe in a year or two and not quintuplets, God willing. But we’re not talking about me or any silly tabloid. Tess heard Cisco is in town.”

  She grimaced, grateful Mimi couldn’t see her. She really didn’t want to get into this right now.

  “Just what sort of spy network do the two of you have since you both live hundreds of miles away?”

  “Well, Tess’s mother was at the florist in Pine Gulch when she could swear she saw you and Cisco come out of the clinic across the street. And get this, she has some crazy notion that you had a baby with you. I told Tess maybe her mother stopped off at The Gulch for a few too many appletinis on her way to the florist. Or maybe she needs to get a new eyeglass prescription.”

  Easton let out an exasperated breath. “Do they even serve appletinis at The Gulch?”

  “No idea. I say we go find out next time I’m in town since I’m not nursing anymore. But again, not the point. Is Cisco there?”

  She sighed. “It is completely impossible to keep anything secret in Pine Gulch. I should know that by now.”

  Except one thing. Her hands tightened on the reins at the grim thought. Somehow, against all conceivable odds, she had managed to conceal one salient detail about her life from everyone in Cold Creek.

  Especially from Cisco.

  “So it’s true?”

  “Yes, it’s true. Mrs. Jamison doesn’t miss a trick. You should know that. You can assure Tess her mother hasn’t been drinking and she doesn’t need new glasses. Cisco showed up here two days ago.”

  Mimi was quiet for a long moment and Easton could almost hear her speculation in the silence. She strongly suspected Mimi and Tess both had guessed her feelings for Cisco to some degree, though neither woman had ever pressed her on it.

  “So are you going to explain or leave me hanging here? Why is he back? Where has he been? Why were you at the medical clinic? And for heaven’s sake, where does the baby come in?”

  She laughed at the barrage of questions, grateful to Mimi for diverting her from her lingering malaise after the kiss.

  “The baby is an orphan from Colombia whose father apparently had family here, so she has dual citizenship. He’s trying to transfer custody to an aunt, who won’t be available to take her for a few more days.”

  “And why is Cisco involved in this? Is he in the adoption business these days?”

  “I guess he was friends with both parents. The mother’s last wish was for the baby to come back to the U.S.”

  “So the baby isn’t his?”

  “Apparently not.”

  “And the clinic? What was that about? Is everybody okay?”

  “Geez, Mimi. You haven’t even asked what I’m wearing yet. And don’t you want to know what I’m planning to fix for breakfast this morning?”

  The other woman laughed. “I figured you would rather get the third degree from me instead of my highly trained special forces soldier of a husband. Consider it a favor. You know I’m just being nosy so you won’t have to go through all this with Brant, who happens to be much better at interrogation than I am.”

  “I think you can probably give him a run for his money,” Easton muttered as she reached the barn.

  “So why were you there? Is the baby sick?”

  She dismounted, her phone still nestled in the crook of her shoulder as she began to work the surcingle.

  “Not the baby.” She paused, wondering how much she should share with Mimi. Finally she opted for honesty. With their intricate intelligence network, Mimi and Tess would find out soon enough.

  “I had to take Cisco in to see Jake. He’s came home with a knife wound that’s become infected. But don’t worry, Jake’s on top of things.”

  “He always is,” Mimi said with obvious fondness for the doctor who had delivered her baby. “Good grief, though. A knife wound?”

  “I know, right.”

  “That man. I’d like to give him a good, hard shake. Doesn’t he know how much you all worry about him while he’s living so hard down there?”

  “He knows.”

  The man would have to be an idiot not to know—and Cisco was many things but he wasn’t stupid.

  “To be honest, I’m not so sure it matters much to him or he would have come back years ago.”

  Mimi made a sound of disgust that still managed to come across as elegant. “I worry enough about Brant,” she said. “It’s one thing for him to put himself in harm’s way. But he’s an Army Ranger and that’s what he signed up for. Those of us who love him have to just accept that this is his particular calling. But none of us knows what Cisco is up to down there. I think that’s what makes Brant the most crazy.”

  “Yeah, me, too.”

  Mimi’s voice softened. “Having him there can’t be easy for you, can it? How are you holding up, honey?”

  Again, she winced at the mingled concern and speculation in the words.

  “No big deal.” She tried for a casual tone but she was pretty sure the effort fell flat. “You know I’m always happy when any of the family can make it home.”

  “Do you want me and Abby to come out there? Brant’s going to be gone for two weeks on this assignment, so our schedule is pretty free, except for a command performance at Grandpa’s.”

  Mimi’s father, Werner van Hoyt, was a brash, powerful Hollywood producer and real estate mogul who had completely shocked Mimi by embracing his role in his beloved granddaughter’s life.

  Easton considered having Mimi and Abby there. She supposed they would provide a much-needed buffer between her and Cisco, perhaps ease some of the awkwardness. It was difficult for anyone to be stiff and uncomfortable with Mimi around and Abby completely charmed anyone who wandered into her orbit.

  On the other hand, Easton didn’t want to drag her f
riend and her teething baby across several state lines—and some silly part of her wanted to selfishly hoard this rare time with Cisco.

  “We’ll be fine. I’m sure he won’t be here for long, once Belle is settled. You know how Cisco is.”

  “That man,” Mimi said again. “Someone ought to glue his shoes to the floor to keep him where he belongs.”

  “Yeah, but they’d have to catch him first and he’s a slippery one.”

  Mimi gave a short laugh. “True enough. Well, you be careful. If you change your mind about Abby and me coming out, let me know.”

  “I will.”

  After they said their goodbyes, Easton finished removing the horse’s tack and let her out to pasture.

  Easton watched Lucky roll in the spring grasses for a moment before she climbed up and headed to the water trough.

  Be careful, Mimi had said.

  Easton supposed that meant she ought to try avoiding any more midnight trips to the kitchen, especially if she might encounter any dangerous men so hopped up on ibuprofen they can’t control themselves around her.

  She sighed. If she could only stay up the mountains until he was gone, everything would be fine. Too bad for her, that was impossible.

  “Hold still, sugar, or we’re both going to make a mess here.”

  Belle giggled and clapped her hands while Cisco struggled to pull the front part of the diaper over her and fasten the tabs around her chubby little legs.

  Diapering a baby definitely wasn’t part of his skill set. He’d come to that rather grim conclusion the first day after Soqui died. He wanted to think he’d become a little better at it with all the practice he’d had the last week, but not much. His hands had never felt so big, his fingers so ungainly.

  “Almost done with the diaper. Then on to the clothes.”

  She twisted her body, reaching over her head for the box of wipes he’d set at the head of the changing table.

  “Hey, hold still, you.” He quickly handed her a stuffed dog with an assortment of sensory offerings for paws. A squeaker in one leg, something crinkly and noisy in the other, a couple of nubby teething rings.

  What a blessing that for the most part she was a happy, easygoing little kid. He could tell she missed her mama and couldn’t quite understand why her circumstances had changed so dramatically. Sometimes she would cry pitifully for a few moments, but she could always be cajoled out of a major tantrum.

  She seemed to have adapted with remarkable ease to having a fumbling, inept bachelor caretaking her.

  He could only keep his fingers crossed that she continued this whole easygoing routine. “You’ve got to make a good impression on your auntie tomorrow, kiddo,” he told her now and Belle blew a raspberry at him and gnawed on her puppy.

  He sure hoped he’d done the right thing, bringing her here and setting her up to live with a stranger. Yeah, he was only following what Soqui had begged him to do as she lay dying. But ultimately, no matter her mother’s wishes, he was still responsible.

  Too late to change things now, he supposed. The wheels were in motion and Belle’s aunt would arrive at the ranch the next day to pick her up.

  He wasn’t entirely sure how he felt about that, if he were honest with himself. Belle was a cute little thing and he would miss her, he supposed.

  “It’s for the best,” he assured her as he finished pulling on her little pink sweatpants and went to work on her socks.

  “Gaaaaa,” she expounded.

  “My sentiments exactly,” he said.

  She grinned at him, that big gummy smile that showed off her two little pearly whites. “Bababababababa.”

  “You said it, sister.”

  A low laugh rippled through the room and he jerked his gaze to the doorway. Easton stood with one hip against the jamb, her arms crossed over her chest. Her cheeks were slightly pink from being outside and her sleek waterfall of blond hair was braided down her back. She looked sweet and fresh and innocent and so lovely it made his throat ache.

  How long had she been there? He tried to tell himself the heat soaking his face was probably just a few lingering remnants of fever.

  She quickly transformed her laugh into a cough. “Don’t stop on my account. Sounded like the two of you were solving the world’s problems.”

  “We’re finished. Aren’t we, bellissima?”

  The baby gurgled her agreement and handed him the slobbery stuffed dog.

  “Um. Thanks.”

  He slanted a look at Easton and found her watching him, an intense, unreadable look in her eyes.

  After a moment, she blinked and looked away. “I’m really sorry. I didn’t realize Belle would wake so early or I wouldn’t have left the house. I had to check a few things up in the high pasture, but I thought I could be back before either of you were up.”

  “We’re not your responsibility. I told you I could handle things with her today.”

  “Everything on the ranch is my responsibility,” she said simply.

  She loved the ranch. She always had. When she wasn’t chasing after Quinn, Brant and him, she was following her father. Easton had never been happier than when she was doing ranchwork. Didn’t matter what—working on the insides of a tractor with Quinn, moving irrigation sprinkler pipe or on the back of a horse having a contest with him to see who could round up more strays in their grazing allotment.

  She belonged in this place. The rest of them had wandered away, like the Four Winds Jo used to call them because of their directional names. Quinn Southerland settled in Seattle, where he ran a wildly successful transportation company. Brant Western had joined the Army the moment he could and had quickly been channeled through officer training. Since then, he’d served overseas more times than he’d been stateside.

  And Cisco. Well, he had wandered plenty for all of them.

  “How is she doing today? Did she sleep well?”

  He shrugged. “She woke up an hour ago a bit on the cranky side. I think she was missing her mama.”

  He regretted the word the moment he said it. Belle pulled the dog’s ear away from her mouth and looked around the room as if expecting Soqui to show up any moment. When nobody else materialized, Belle’s little chin started quivering.

  “Maamaaamaaamaaaa,” she whimpered.

  Easton’s blue eyes filled with a deep sympathy. “Poor little lamb.”

  Although he was still holding the baby, Easton leaned in and pressed a kiss to the top of Isabella’s tousled curls.

  She smelled deliciously of spring, of wildflowers and rainshowers. His body stirred, caught up in memories of slender curves and soft skin and the tiny, sexy sounds she made when he kissed her.

  “My heart just breaks for her,” she said.

  Easton had always been so tender-hearted toward anybody—or anything—in pain. The scrawniest calves, baby birds that fell out of the nest, the kid on the school-bus that no one else sat by.

  Even him.

  After Guff’s death, he had been in a dark, ugly place, knowing that this man he respected and loved so much had died believing Cisco was a useless ne’er-do-well with nothing on his mind but tequila and women.

  Easton had reached out to him. She had followed him into the mountains after the funeral when he had been desperate for escape. She had kissed him because she felt sorry for him and he, in his supreme selfishness, had taken things too far.

  “She’ll be okay. Some part of her will always miss her mama, I imagine.”

  “Like you?”

  He flashed her a quick look. “And you. I was only three when I lost my mother. You had a lot more years and memories to get past.”

  “The absence is the same, no matter your age,” she answered quietly. “You and I were both blessed to have Jo to fill the void a little. I hope Belle’s aunt will step up and be the mother she needs.”

  John’s sister had sounded nice enough on the phone, though decidedly frazzled. He couldn’t blame her, since she had been making her father’s funeral arrangements at
the time. Cisco just had to hope she didn’t turn out to be some cranky hag who hated kids.

  “I hope so. There. Now you’re all ready for breakfast?” he said to Belle, who giggled and gnawed the dog a little harder.

  “May I take her?” Easton asked.

  “Sure.”

  She pulled the baby into her arms and Cisco told himself that ache in his gut as he watched Easton press her cheek to Belle’s was only a little hunger pang.

  “How are you feeling?” she asked as she led the way down the stairs toward the kitchen. “Any more fever?”

  Only for you.

  He forced himself to shrug. “The antibiotics Jake gave me seem to have kicked in. I’m fine now. Great.”

  It wasn’t exactly the truth, but he wasn’t about to tell her he still felt like three-day-old roadkill.

  Her eyebrows raised skeptically, but before she could call him the liar that he undoubtedly was, he opted to distract her.

  “What was the crisis that had you out so early?”

  “Not really a crisis.” In a matter of seconds, she competently buckled Belle into the high chair in the kitchen, when it had taken him a good ten minutes to figure out the complicated rigging the night before.

  “We’re having some runoff issues,” she went on. “You know how it is in the springtime. The creek’s running high this year from the heavy snows we had over the winter, and I told Burt I would go up to take a look and see if we need to sandbag the hay shed up there in the upper pasture.”

  He poured coffee. “Do you?”

  “The creek will be cresting in the next day or so and my gut is saying the water won’t go high enough to reach the hay.”

  “But you’re going to have Burt and the boys sandbag anyway,” he guessed.

  She flashed him a rueful smile. “Of course.”

  “Was it Guff or Jo who used to always remind us it wasn’t raining when Noah built the ark?”

  She laughed. “Both, I think. And my father, too. When you fail to prepare, you should prepare to fail, right? I had it drilled into me from the time I was Belle’s age, I think.”

  After a moment, his answering smile slid away. “This is a bad time for me to show up with another complication, isn’t it?”