Daddy Plus One: A Single Dad Secret Baby Billionaire Romance

by Brooke Valentine

  Daisy remembered the letter in her undergarments drawer. She’d rummaged through her drawer several times seeing it unopened, but she hadn’t bothered to stop and open it. A part of her didn’t want to let Rhett have the closure he did not allow her to have. She assumed it was a letter apologizing and maybe rationalizing what he’d done to her. She hadn’t expected Rhett to travel this far to see her after one unanswered letter.

  “I never read it,” she admitted.

  Rhett’s face fell. “I knew it. That’s why I had to get on the train and see you.”

  “You can’t be here,” Daisy said. “Do you realize you got on the very train that we were supposed to take together? But you left me,” she said again.

  “I never expected for you to get on the train without me. I never dreamed you would just leave. All of a sudden, you were gone. Your family doesn’t even have a single clue where you are.”

  “Did you tell them?”

  Rhett looked away. “No.”

  “Of course you didn’t. Then you’d have to admit your hand in all of this. You told me you loved me,” Daisy cried.

  “I do love you, Daisy.” Rhett said walking towards her cautiously. Daisy took a step back. I came all this way to see you. I’m staying and not leaving until you leave with me. What are you even doing here anyway?” Rhett looks around with a look of distaste. “You can’t tell me you live here.”

  “How did you even find me?”

  “The saloon. A man there knew you. A judge?”

  Daisy nodded. Of course. Judge Conner. Rhett was dressed handsomely. Rhett was here at Henry’s with his debonair style and gorgeous face. He looked sorely out of place. She couldn’t possibly leave with Rhett after everything now. She was a married woman. Outside, Daisy heard the rumble of a stagecoach and horses and looked outside the window.

  A yellow stagecoach stopped in front. A beautiful woman with stunning red hair climbed down. The woman saw ruggedly handsome man with dark hair and bronzed skin emerging from the stables. Sally waved away the stagecoach driver who promptly pulled away. When the man approached closer, she knew who he was but asked anyway. “I’m looking for Mr. Rodriguez.”

  Silas said to the woman shyly, “That’s me.”

  The woman smiled at him. They stared into each other’s eyes. Silas was enchanted with this woman’s smile and her beautiful bright red hair. The woman said, “You don’t know me… yet. But, I love to imbibe in romance. I am a dreamer. And most of all, I am intensely intrigued by love.”

  Silas’s heart swam as she said recited parts of his letter to Beechtree. He stuttered, “You didn’t write. No one wrote. I thought that… I never received a letter.”

  The woman said, “I didn’t want to write. I wanted to see for myself. I wanted to meet you in person.” Silas swooned; his face exploded in a big smile.

  Lilah and Tallulah peek out from the stables watching Silas talk to the woman in fancy clothes and a hat with a long white feather. Tallulah was enraptured with the long feather watching as it swayed when the woman talked. She took a few small steps forward and said, “Who are you?”

  The woman said happily, “Sally. My name is Sally.”

  Tallulah took a few more steps towards them. “My name is Tallulah.” She jerked a thumb backwards towards Lilah. “That’s Lilah. My sister.”

  “Nice to meet you,” Sally said to her. “Nice to meet you, too,” sally said to Lilah.

  Tallulah stepped closer. Lilah was now close behind her. Tallulah took Silas’s hand and said proudly, “This is Mr. Silas.”

  Sally looked at Silas and said, “I know.”

  Inside, Rhett pulled Daisy away from the window. He pleaded with Daisy. He grabbed her hands again and looked at them closely. “Your beautiful soft hands! What happened?”

  Daisy pulled away. “It’s called hard work, Rhett. You wouldn’t know.”

  Rhett persisted and swooped Daisy into an embrace. He began to dance with her around the sitting room. “Why work when you can dance, my darling?” Rhett swung her around and Daisy remembered the grand banquets and extraordinary social gatherings Charleston was known for. She closed her eyes and imagined she was dressed in an elegant dress at Magnolia Hall with Rhett.

  “Who are you?” Lilah said interrupting Daisy’s daydreaming.

  Daisy pushed away from Rhett when she saw Lilah standing there looking at them strangely. “This is an old friend, Lilah. This is Mr. Calhoun.”

  Behind Lilah, Sally gasped. “Daisy!”

  Daisy recognized Sally instantly. The women ran to each other and fell into a tight embrace. “What are you doing here?” Both women exclaimed.

  “I came to meet Mr. Rodriguez. I hoped that I’d see you here in town. I didn’t know you two where so closely acquainted.” Sally said.

  Rhett asked perplexed. “You know each other?” How could Daisy know people he didn’t know. For most of their lives, Daisy and Rhett only knew the same people from Charleston. Anyone Daisy knew, Rhett knew.

  “We met at a boardinghouse,” Daisy answered.

  “Boardinghouse?” Rhett’s face scrunched up uneasily. “You stayed in a boardinghouse like a common person?”

  “What’s wrong with a boardinghouse,” Sally asked. “I intend to open one right here in town.”

  Daisy grabbed Sally’s shoulders and brought her in for another hug. “That’s fantastic, Sally!”

  “There is nothing wrong with boardinghouses,” Rhett said correcting Sally. “Absolutely nothing wrong if you’re poor.” He crinkled his nose. “I prefer staying at reputable inns, which is where Daisy and I will be staying for the remainder of time we are in town.”

  Tallulah shouted to Daisy, “You’re leaving?”

  Rhett answered for Daisy, “Yes. Now, run along Daisy. Get your things. Or leave it. We’ll get you brand new untainted things.”

  Lilah was in a panic. “You can’t leave. Papa isn’t here. You can’t leave Miss Daisy,” she tugged at Daisy’s skirts.

  Daisy assured the girls, going to them and smoothing their worried brows. “I never said I was going anywhere, Rhett.”

  “I’ve seen enough of this rundown place to know that you would not be staying her if you could help it. You don’t have to say a word. No one knows you better than me. We’ve known each other our entire lives.” Rhett walked around surveying the interior more and said, “My heavens! Where are your servants?”

  “There aren’t any,” Sally said.

  Rhett raised a hand to his forehead trying to fathom such a thing. “You’d have to do every single thing yourself. What kind of life is that, Daisy?” He flung his hands into the air. “I’ve seen enough. Let’s go.”

  Suddenly, the front door opened. Henry came shuffling in dragging in a large bag and holding his side. His face was pale and stricken. He threw himself in a chair and grimaced at the resulting pain.

  “Papa!” Lilah and Tallulah said rushing to him.

  “Henry, what happened? Are you okay?” Daisy said coming to his side.

  Henry held his hand up. “I’m okay. I’m okay.” Daisy pulled his hand away and saw blood staining his shirt.

  “Henry, blood!” Daisy shrieked. Lilah and Tallulah began to cry at the sight of it. “Sally, can you take the girls into their room?” Daisy said. Sally nodded yes and herded Henry’s shaken daughters away.

  Daisy peeled off Henry’s shirt. Daisy examined Henry’s torso and found an entrance and exit wound in his right lower abdomen. She sprang up and ran for the linens she had previously gathered for laundry. She ripped a sheet in half and wrapped it around Henry’s muscular torso.

  “What happened?” Silas asked as Daisy tied the sheet tightly around Henry’s waist.

  Henry looked down weighing his words. He might as well be out with it. “The boys and I robbed a train.” Daisy pulled away as he spoke. He kicked the bag he had drug in. “It was a good haul: $40,000 in gold coins, $8,000 in silver, $15,000 in gold bars, and stacks of bank drafts,” he uttered. Silas opene
d the bag revealing gold and silver coins. “It’s not all here. We split it and hid most of it.”

  Henry looked at Daisy’s horrified face. Rhett stood by completely appalled and reached for Daisy’s hand. Henry watched as Daisy, dazed and baffled, let Rhett comfort her. Henry continued. His voice shook. “We overtook the train and forced the conductor to hit the brakes and separate the engine, tender, baggage, and express cars. We hustled the engineer to the express car and got him to ask the expressmen for entry. The expressmen weren’t suspecting a thing so they opened with no problem. When they opened the doors, we were there with our shotguns.”

  Daisy let out an audible gasp. Henry said, “We didn’t hurt anyone. I’ve never shot and killed anyone ever.” He paused before saying, “Except in war.”

  “Who shot at you?” Daisy asked.

  “That didn’t come until later. After we made off with the goods.” Henry shook his head hardly believing it himself. “The Espinosa brothers wanted more than their fair cut. They wanted it all actually. We had a shoot-out at Wiley’s.” Henry paused looking up at the ceiling. “Wiley’s dead, but Buster, Bellamy and I got away. We split up in New Mexico.”

  “Espinosa?” Daisy said remembering the ominous men that stood on the porch weeks ago. Daisy’s voice trembled. It slipped her mind to mention they were here looking for Henry. “They were here,” Daisy said softly. Her voice strained.

  “What?” Henry said. “They were here? When?”

  “Weeks ago. Before you left. They were here! Looking for you.”

  Henry’s face filled with alarm. His eyes darting in realization. “They know where we live?”

  Rhett pulled at Daisy as he walked to the door. “We’ve got to leave here at once, Daisy.”

  Henry stood to face Rhett. “Who are you?”

  Rhett replied, “Who are you?”

  Daisy interrupted the men’s standoff. “I’m leaving Henry.”

  “You can’t leave. You’re my wife,” Henry said. Rhett’s eyes raised in shock.

  “You lied to me. You are a thief!”

  “I have money now, Daisy,” Henry pleaded.

  “Stolen money,” Rhett said coldly.

  “Stay out of this,” Henry said pointing a finger at Rhett.

  “I married you under false pretenses. I am getting our marriage annulled.”

  Lilah and Tallulah run out from their room with Sally trailing behind them. “You’re leaving!” Lilah screamed.

  Daisy knelt down to the girls. “I can’t stay here. I have to go home.”

  “This is your home,” Tallulah cried.

  “Please don’t go,” Lilah pleaded.

  “Prends bien soin de toi. Take care of each other,” Daisy kissed them on their wet cheeks. “Silas is a wonderful teacher. You will learn so much more from him than I could ever teach you,” Daisy said looking at Silas. Silas looked at Daisy with a conciliatory look.

  Daisy hugged Sally. “I’ve only just come and now you are leaving,” Sally said.

  “Silas is a kind wonderful man,” Daisy said. She kissed her on the cheek.

  Rhett led Daisy outside. She could hear the girls crying even louder. The sound of the wailing struck Daisy hard. She motioned to turn back, but Rhett stopped her. “Those aren't your children or your responsibility. That man is a liar and criminal.” Daisy nodded sadly in agreement and climbed up on the Rhett’s rented wagon. “We’ve got to get out of here. Those men are coming, and I don’t intend to be here when they show up.” Rhett grabbed the reins of the horses and led them away.

  Daisy turned her head to watch the ranch house as they rode away. Rhett said, “I'll get things sorted with Nelly when we get back and explain to her that although we are married, you are the women I love.” He rested a hand on Daisy's thigh. “I've missed you.” He squeezed her thigh hungrily kneading his fingers into her flesh.

  “What does that mean for me, Rhett, if you’re married?”

  “Does it matter? As long as we are together.”

  “Why don't you divorce her?” Daisy stammered.

  Rhett laughed. “Daisy, I cannot do that. Think of the money at stake!”

  Daisy's heart sunk and shattered. Rhett hadn't changed, but she had. It's so easy to fall back into old habits and friends, but Daisy had changed since they last saw each other. She was no longer the same girl Rhett once knew.

  Chapter 19

  Henry buried his head in his hands. Although Daisy was gone, it meant that, for now, she was safe and it was one less person that Henry had to worry about. Henry’s chest twisted. He couldn’t let anything happen to his little girls.

  Henry said to Silas, “Get the wagon ready. You and the girls have to leave.” He looked at Sally. “Including you, Miss…?”

  “Sally. I’m Sally.”

  Henry nodded. “All four of you have to leave now.” Sally said nothing understanding the gravity of the situation.

  “What about you?” Silas asked Henry.

  “I’ve got nothing to do, but wait for them.” Henry answered taking out his double pistols out of their holsters on his hips. He examined them before putting them back in place. He peeked out the front window.

  “I can stay with you and help,” Silas pleaded. “I’m a good shot. Not as good as you, but I can hold my own.”

  “I know you can, Silas. You are a good man,” Henry said clapping Silas on the back in thanks. “But, no. If something happens to me, I need you to take care of my girls.” He faced Silas and grabbed him by the shoulders. “Promise me, you will see after my daughters if something happens to me.”

  Silas nodded understanding that if they both died it would leave the girls truly alone now that Dinah and now Daisy had left. “I will. Yes, you can count on me.”

  Henry heard horses trotting up. He peered out the window again cautiously. His chest twisted into a tighter knot at what he saw. It was Daisy, but the Espinosa brothers were with her. Jorge had a pistol pressed to Daisy temple as he dragged her off his horse. “Baker!” Jose yelled. “Baker, come out!” Daisy was crying but trying to keep her composure.

  On the wagon with Rhett, Daisy realized what kind of life she would be returning to with him in Charleston. Rhett was asking a lot from her, more than he, himself, would ever give her. His needy hand creeping up her thigh unsettled Daisy. Rhett was not in love; he was in lust. His lust wouldn’t ever be enough to fill her heart.

  “Stop the wagon,” Daisy said.

  “What? Why?” Rhett asked incredulously.

  “Stop the wagon this instant!” Daisy screamed. Rhett halted the horses. “I can’t do this with you, Rhett. You haven’t changed. You don’t love me.” She gave him a quick kiss on the cheek.

  “I love you, Daisy. Sure. I do,” Rhett said. His voice didn’t convince Daisy he really meant it.

  “Go home, Rhett. Go home to your wife. She deserves more than this. So do I.” She climbed down off the wagon. She turned and walked back towards the ranch. She said over her shoulder to him, “Say hello to Mamie for me. Good bye, Rhett.”

  Rhett stood in the wagon watching as Daisy walked away. “I came all this way,” Rhett said.

  “I know. So have I. I’ve come a long long way, Rhett.”

  Rhett was wounded from Daisy’s sudden decision. He rode off on the wagon and never looked back.

  When Daisy was nearly to the house, she heard horses behind her, thinking it was Rhett she didn’t bother to turn around. Instead, she felt her body being lifted up off the ground. She felt hard metal press into the small of her back. “Let me give you a lift,” Jorge Espinosa said ominously.

  Now, Jorge was dragging her in front of Henry’s house. Her feet were stumbling over each other with each of his steps as she shook with fear.

  “Silas, take the girls and sneak out back. Head to the Judge’s,” Henry said as he walked to the door.

  Lilah and Tallulah ran up to look out the door. “Daisy!” Tallulah screamed. Lilah, seeing the gun to Daisy’s head, pulled Tallulah back. />
  “Let’s stay inside, Tallulah,” Lilah told her little sister.

  “Go with Silas,” Henry said to his daughters. Lilah quickly led Tallulah back away from the door. Sally herded them to the back door.

  Henry picked up the bag of coins and walked out onto the porch. He hadn’t bothered to put a shirt on. His face and chest were beaded with sweat. His face was impassive as he watched Daisy stumble in Jorge’s arms.

  Daisy screamed, “Henry!” when she saw him.

  “Not a sound, puta.” Jorge sneered. Daisy continued to cry silently. Her lips shaking uncontrollably.

  “Let her go,” Henry ordered.

  “You know what we want! Give us that, and we will let her go!” Jose screamed.

  “You have your cut,” Henry said coldly.

  “Obviously, we want it all,” Jose said shaking his head pulling out his pistol and pointing it at Henry. Jose moved robotically unnerved by threatening another person with violence.

  Jorge said, “I could kill her and you right now if I wanted to, Baker. But that would be stupid, wouldn’t it?” He glanced over at his brother for confirmation. “I need to know where you hid it - all of it. That would be mighty stupid of us to kill you before we figured that out.”

  “I can give you my share.” Henry threw the bag at Jose’s feet. Jose stooped down to look into the bag.

  Jose surveyed the contents of the bag and said, “Baker, this is nice. Thank you. We appreciate it, but this is not nearly enough. This is not even your full share. You must think we are really stupid,” Jose laughed.

  “This is my share. I can’t tell you what the other guys did with theirs.”

  “Your friend, Wiley, the dead one? We obviously got his share,” Jose said with a laugh. His laugh broke threateningly, “But, we know the lot of you buried the loot somewhere here to Nevada.”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  Jorge sighed, “Matter of fact, we could murder your entire family right in front of you until you tell us where the loot is.” He yanked Daisy closer to him. “Let’s start with her.” Jorge cocked his gun.

  The sound of the gun cocking back triggered an instinct in Henry that hadn't been awakened since the war. With a brutally fast motion, Henry grabbed his two pistols out of their holsters. The brothers were caught off guard. Henry shot both brothers square between the eyes firing both pistols at the same time. He was a magnificent sharp shooter, a talent that made him a war hero and now had saved his wife. The Espinosa brothers’ bodies went down with two solid heavy thuds.