The Texan's Surprise Son

by Cathy McDavid

  “It won’t come down to that.” Jacob kissed her lightly. “I swear. He’s the most important thing in the world to me, too.”

  “What if you get injured like your brother or Brock?”

  “I have two more rodeos left, including Nationals. The odds are in my favor I’ll walk away unscathed. And with a new job.” Jacob rolled her onto her back and trapped her between him and the mattress “Then, I’m officially retiring. Less than a month. Tell me you can live with that.”

  “I can.” She moved beneath him and traced the length of his spine with her fingertips.

  “It’s all going to work out, sweetheart.”

  “I hope you’re right.”

  “Count on it.”

  Mariana may still have had her doubts. Jacob, however, could see their future clear as a bell. It was going to happen—they’d be together. Nothing was standing in their way.

  Chapter Twelve The past two days were the best Jacob could remember in a long time. He and Mariana were a couple.

  Unofficial couple. She’d been crystal clear on that. She didn’t want to say anything until after the National Finals Rodeo in December.

  Jacob went along with her for the most part. She didn’t want people—his family, let’s be honest—jumping to the wrong conclusion. That she was with him only because she didn’t want to lose shared custody of Cody.

  Of course, nothing could be further from the truth. Her feelings for Jacob were real and true, as were his for her. The small doubts that surfaced now and then were simply leftovers from when his father betrayed him and Brock disappointed him.

  She also, he supposed, didn’t fully trust him. That bothered Jacob the most. He was a man of his word. He would not be competing again after Nationals. She had to believe him.

  “Morning!” Simone smiled brightly when he opened the front door.

  “How are you doing?”

  “I brought some construction paper, glue and crayons.” She held up her arm, laden with supplies. Slung over her shoulder was a small canvas tote. Items she’d need for spending the night.

  Mariana was off to Houston to attend a deposition with several of Paulo Molinas’s former employees and wouldn’t be back until the following day. Jacob was heading to the Valle del Sol Rodeo.

  “I thought we’d make paper turkeys. For Thanksgiving,” Simone explained. “You are having dinner?” She looked momentarily stricken. “Did I make a wrong assumption?”

  “Not at all,” Jacob assured her. “Paper turkeys are a great idea.”

  She expelled a relieved sigh and entered the house. “No scissors, I promise. I precut all the pieces last night.”

  Jacob again commended himself for making the right decision in hiring Simone. She might not be the most outgoing person in the world, but she was sweet and patient and good with both Cody and Buster, who’d beaten Jacob to the front door to welcome her.

  “Mone!” Cody came charging into the living room, calling out his nickname for Simone. Body slamming her right leg, he hugged it. With affection, not fear.

  “How’s my boy today?”

  “Good,” Cody shouted.

  “Shh. Inside voice, okay?” She handed him her canvas tote. “Can you put this in the bedroom for me?”

  He set off, half carrying, mostly dragging his load. By prearranged agreement, Simone was staying in the guest bedroom where Cody slept. Where Mariana used to sleep. If Simone thought anything of the new arrangements, she kept it to herself.

  Jacob returned to the kitchen for a second cup of coffee. Mariana was still in the bedroom, finishing packing for her trip. She was scheduled to meet the rest of her team in Houston. Jacob didn’t have to leave for another two hours. He should pull onto the Valle del Sol Rodeo grounds with plenty of time to spare.

  He was feeling good. Psyched. He didn’t have to win any events this weekend, only place in the top six spots. That didn’t mean he’d settle for less than his best. He could—would—do this. For his, Cody’s and Mariana’s futures.

  Just as he was topping off his coffee mug, his cell phone went off, the chime identifying the caller as Daniel.

  “Good luck this weekend, bro.”

  “How you feeling?”

  “Like I’ve been hit by a truck.” Daniel was recuperating at the Roughneck. Their sisters had gone from caring for Brock to caring for him.

  “Or thrown from a bull?”

  “That’ll teach me.” The threat was a weak one. Jacob suspected his brother would compete again. He didn’t have a woman and son waiting at home for him. Too bad.

  “Everything still on schedule for Tuesday?” Jacob had agreed to drive his brother to the surgery center and stay with him during the procedure to repair the torn ligaments in his shoulder. While not a hospital, the outpatient facility was enough like a hospital to unnerve Daniel.

  “7:00 a.m. sharp. Just so you know, Brock is coming, too.”

  “Only Brock?”

  Daniel laughed. “Funny.”

  Not really. The Baron family had a habit of showing up in droves.

  “I don’t mind if that’s what you’re asking.” Between the purchase of Starr Solar Systems and transporting Daniel home after the accident, Jacob’s feelings for and patience with his adoptive father had grown.

  “I just want this over with.”

  Jacob could hear the tension in his brother’s voice. “From what your doctor says, your recovery is going to be a whole lot worse than the operation itself. I hear physical therapy is a bitch.”

  “As long as I’m out of that place in the six hours the surgeon promised, I’m okay.”

  Mariana entered the kitchen, looking killer gorgeous in one of her suits.

  “Gotta go,” Jacob said. “I’ll call you later. Let you know how I did.”

  He didn’t care that Simone was in the house. He hauled Mariana against him for a kiss, which he intended to be brief and wasn’t.

  When he finally set her on her feet, she was flushed and breathless. “We’re not alone,” she warned.

  A shame, indeed. “Knock ’em dead at the deposition.”

  “It’s really a formality. I don’t expect any startling revelations, though it would be nice. I’m not sure why I have to go. Four attorneys seems excessive.”

  “When did you stop wanting that promotion to junior partner?”

  “You’re right.” She tugged on her jacket lapels. “Duty calls, and I respond.”

  He fixed her a travel mug of coffee for the road while she went into the family room and said goodbye to Cody. Watching them over the length of the breakfast bar, something inside Jacob shifted. It was his heart continuing to heal.

  She sauntered up to him, a smile on her face. “Walk me to my car.”

  He did and resumed kissing her outside. Though now, instead of Simone, they had curious neighbors to worry about. Actually, Jacob didn’t care who saw them. This was what couples did, unofficial or not.

  “Good luck,” she said, giving him one last hug.

  “You mean that?” He stared down into her eyes.

  “I want you to final. What’s important to you is important to me.”

  Another round of goodbyes, and she was in her car and on the road. Jacob felt the loss keenly. Returning to the house, he checked on Cody, then started packing his own bag. An hour later, he was loading the truck.

  Simone burst into the garage, her eyes wide with alarm and a whimpering Cody in her arms. “Jacob, I’m sorry to bother you. Something’s happened.”

  “What’s wrong?” He charged around the side of the truck. Cody looked fine, but still... “Is he hurt?

  “No, no. Not Cody. My daughter’s been in an accident. The other driver ran a red light and T-boned her car.”

  “Is she all right?”

  “Yes. No. The air bag went off. Broke her glasses and cut her face. And her knee hit the dash.” Simone started to cry. “She’s scared.”

  Jacob placed a hand on her shoulder and squeezed. “What do you nee
d from me?”

  She didn’t hesitate and passed Cody to him like he was a sack of groceries. “I have to go.”

  “Sure.”

  Perhaps because he could sense his nanny’s distress, Cody’s whimpering escalated into full-fledged squalling.

  “Sorry to leave you like this,” Simone said over her shoulder.

  “No worries.” Jacob followed her into the house. “It’s your daughter.”

  He imagined Cody at eighteen, a college freshman on the way to class and being struck by another car. The thought terrified him. Naturally, Simone wanted to rush to her daughter’s side.

  “Keep me posted,” he said.

  “Thank you.” She fetched her things from the spare bedroom. A minute later, she was flying out the front door.

  “Bye-bye.” Cody waved between sobs.

  Only then Jacob realized he was alone in the house with Cody, needing to leave for the rodeo soon, and that he had no responsible babysitter until Mariana returned tomorrow.

  Leeza was the first name that came to mind. Jacob instantly dismissed her. Too much responsibility for a girl her age and too much of an imposition to her parents. His sisters! Wait, not Lizzie. She had a newborn to watch and was chronically exhausted. Savannah and Carly were working in the store. Even so, he tried them.

  “How goes it?”

  “Not well.” Carly sounded stressed. “We’re having equipment failure. The walk-in refrigerator is down. The repairman’s here now.”

  “That’s good.”

  “Not good. He’s saying the entire motor needs replacing. Naturally, there isn’t one in stock, and it’ll take a full day to have one delivered. Savannah and I are unloading all the perishables. It’s just crazy.”

  Jacob imagined the monumental task. “I’ll let you go.”

  “Wait a second. You didn’t say why you called.”

  “The nanny’s daughter was in a car wreck.”

  “My God! Is she okay?”

  “Minor injuries. She should be all right.”

  “Can I help? Do you need something?”

  “No. You get back to the fridge.” He couldn’t ask his sisters to watch a toddler on top of everything else they were dealing with.

  “Call you later.” She hung up an instant later.

  Though it was a long shot, Jacob tried Luke next. He had the most experience with two-year-olds. After six rings, the call went to voice mail. Jacob didn’t bother with a message.

  Desperate, he debated calling Mariana and asking her to turn around. She’d mentioned there were four attorneys and that she wasn’t really needed.

  No. The promotion was a priority. As was the case. Her clients were depending on her.

  One choice remained. Well, two. Jacob could stay home, which wasn’t a choice at all as far as he was concerned, or take Cody with him. There had to be women at the rodeo willing to watch Cody while he competed. Wives, girlfriends and mothers of competitors regularly attended.

  Mariana was going to come unglued. He’d promised her he wouldn’t take Cody to a rodeo unless she came along. Also that he wouldn’t make any decisions regarding Cody’s care without her input.

  It couldn’t be helped. This was his last weekend to compete before Nationals.

  Jacob did call Leeza and arranged for her to watch Buster. Then he threw together some of Cody’s things for the trip. Did he have everything they’d need? Clothes, diapers, toys, snacks. If he forgot something, he’d simply buy it there. In between competing.

  Thirty minutes outside of town, his cell phone rang. Jacob answered while simultaneously reaching into the backseat to pass Cody some animal crackers. Hopefully, that would stop the boy’s constant crying.

  “Sorry I missed your call earlier,” Luke said.

  “I figured you were busy.”

  “Sounds like you are, too.”

  After Jacob explained the situation, Luke offered to drive to the rodeo that evening. Jacob declined. By then, he planned to have a babysitter lined up.

  “Are you sure?” Luke asked. “That’s a lot of responsibility.”

  Did no one think him capable of caring for his son?

  “I’ve got it handled.”

  “All right.”

  His lack of confidence irked Jacob.

  Maybe he was biting off more than he could chew. A two-year-old at a rodeo with no advance child care lined up? That was taking a risk.

  His goal, however, was just within reach. His do-or-die moment. No way in hell was he quitting now.

  *

  MARIANA SWUNG HER Infiniti into the parking lot of their opposing counsel’s law offices. She immediately spotted a familiar car belonging to one of her team members. The other three attorneys had driven to Houston together. Mariana requested to arrive separately so that she could leave early tomorrow and not have to wait on them.

  Okay, she admitted it. She missed Cody and was a tiny bit worried about him. Not that Simone wasn’t a great nanny.

  She was also eager to be home before Jacob returned from the Valle del Sol Rodeo. Though that wouldn’t be until Sunday evening, she wanted time to prepare a special dinner to celebrate his qualifying. One that included champagne, a decadent dessert, then something intimate, and a little naughty, for later, once Cody was asleep.

  Sitting in her parked car, she placed another call to Simone, all the while chiding herself for being overprotective. Just because the nanny didn’t answer was no reason to jump to conclusions. She and Cody might have gone outside to play. Or she could have put her phone on Vibrate because Cody was napping, and she didn’t want anything to wake him.

  When Simone didn’t answer, Mariana left a message. Her call to Jacob also went straight to voice mail. He was probably traveling a remote part of the highway and out of range. Just as she was telling herself to relax, her phone went off in her hand. The relief she felt was short-lived. It was neither Simone nor Jacob on the line.

  “Hello, Ray,” she said.

  The private investigator’s deep baritone filled Mariana’s ear. “Got some information for you. Finally.”

  Mariana automatically reached into her briefcase for a notepad and pen. “What is it?”

  Adele Black had been good at covering her tracks. Ray’s investigation into her background had hit a number of roadblocks, hence, the lengthy amount of time with nothing to report.

  “She and Delia Baron are definitely one and the same person.”

  “You can prove it?”

  “Have the documents and photos in front of me right now.”

  Ray was nothing if not thorough and dependable. He needed to be in his business, especially when the outcome of a court depended on his findings.

  “That’s good news.” At least, Mariana hoped it was good news. Jacob’s adoptive siblings may feel differently. “Send me a bill.”

  “This one’s on the house. Without your help, we wouldn’t have gotten half as much from that insurance company. My wife still brags on you.”

  “Anytime. You let me know.”

  “I’ll email you the pics and docs the minute I hang up.”

  “Thanks. If I don’t talk to you before, you and your family have a happy Thanksgiving.”

  “Same to you.”

  Mariana resisted calling Simone and Jacob again. If they weren’t contacting her to report a problem, then she should assume all was well.

  With only a few minutes to spare, she grabbed her briefcase and dashed inside the building. Her team members welcomed her with “You’re late” and “We were starting to get concerned.”

  As it turned out, all the rushing and reprimands were for nothing. After being led to a large, tastefully appointed conference room, the team was made to wait. And wait. A young, professionally dressed woman, her features carefully schooled, came in to advise them the witnesses would be another ten minutes. Mariana figured it was a strategic ploy intended to unsettle them.

  Mariana was unsettled all right. But only because she couldn’t dismiss t
he niggling concerns that no amount of deep breaths assuaged.

  “Excuse me a second,” she said. “Be right back.”

  Ignoring the frowns of her fellow team members, she stepped outside the door, found a spot down the hall with a modicum of privacy, and made calls to Simone and Jacob. Still no answer. With a groan of frustration, she called Carly. Finally! A live person.

  “How are you?”

  “Fine.” Mariana spoke in a low voice so that the employees passing by didn’t overhear her. “My private investigator called. Brace yourself. He says Adele Black of AB Windpower is definitely your mother.”

  Carly audibly gasped.

  “I’ll email you the docs. I was only able to skim them, but they look legit.”

  “Oh, my God!”

  They chatted briefly. Carly was concerned about the reaction of her siblings. There would be relief, but also more questions. Why was AB Windpower, Adele Black, buying up Baron Energies’ stock? There had to be an explanation.

  Down the hall, the glass door to the conference room opened, and Trevor, the team’s self-appointed leader, stuck his head out.

  “I need go, Carly. I only have a minute, and I want to try the nanny again. For some reason I can’t reach her.”

  “She’s gone.”

  “Gone? What are you saying?” And how would Carly even know Simone’s whereabouts?

  “Jacob called a while ago. Your nanny’s daughter was in a car wreck, and she had to leave.”

  “Oh, no!”

  “From what he said, the girl’s all right.”

  Mariana was glad for that, but her biggest concern was her nephew. “Where’s Cody?”

  “With Jacob.”

  She went weak with relief. “He stayed home.”

  Her next thought was that he’d miss the rodeo and his last chance to qualify for Nationals. Poor guy. He must be devastated.

  “No, he didn’t,” Carly said. “He’s on his way now to the Valle del Sol.”

  “He went to the rodeo? With Cody? Who’s going to watch him while Jacob competes?”

  “He said he’d find someone.”

  “Find someone!” A stranger would be responsible for her nephew.

  Mariana’s head spun. This couldn’t be happening. Jacob had sworn he’d talk to her first before making a move regarding Cody’s care. How long had that lasted? A week? Two?