The Baby Trail (Baby Bonds #2)

by Karen Rose Smith

  “He’s sober now. He’s here now. I get the feeling he wants to be the father he couldn’t be before.”

  “You’ve talked about this with him?”

  “No. But we did talk at the barn dance.”

  “He has regrets?”

  “A man doesn’t get to be his age without some regrets.”

  Gwen already knew a lot about Garrett’s regrets.

  At the sound of footsteps, Gwen caught sight of Tiffany carrying Amy through the living room.

  Reaching the kitchen, Tiffany gave her a smile. “She was awake. I thought I’d bring her in to join us while we had dessert. Or should I have left her in her crib?”

  Gwen stepped away from Garrett and the pleasure of standing so close to him…being touched by him. “There aren’t any rules on that one. I think we should enjoy her while she’s happy and content.”

  As Tiffany slipped into a chair, holding her little girl as if she was the most wonderful bundle in the whole world, Gwen was once again reminded how much she wanted a little one of her own in her arms. And she wanted Garrett to be the father.

  “I’ll check on her,” Gwen told Tiffany at the end of the reality show they’d been watching.

  Garrett had sat on the floor in the living room, putting together Amy’s play saucer while Gwen and Tiffany had commented on and watched the new TV program. Even though they were using a baby monitor, during every commercial, Tiffany had hopped up and gone to the baby’s bedroom—just to look at her daughter and make sure she was okay.

  Gwen offered now because she needed to stretch her legs. She needed some distance from Garrett. She’d kept one eye on the program and one eye on him. Every once in a while, she’d caught him glancing at her. It was as if they had an invisible string tied from her heart to his. He probably wouldn’t agree with that. Even so, along that string, need and hunger vibrated back and forth until she didn’t know if she was feeling his or hers.

  Escaping, she slipped quietly into the bedroom and went to the crib. Amy’s hair, what little she had of it, was the same color as her mother’s. Her little face was round and her nose turned up at the end. In her pink sleeper, her chest rising and falling, she looked so precious. Amy gripped Gwen’s heart in a way no one else ever had.

  “Still sleeping?” Garrett asked, carrying in the saucer and sitting it near the changing table Gwen had borrowed from Shaye.

  “Still sleeping,” she murmured as he came to stand beside her at the crib, their shoulders brushing.

  When she glanced at him, the shadows in the room couldn’t hide the look of pain on his face.

  “It hurts for you to be around her, doesn’t it?”

  “Like a toothache. It’ll go away eventually.”

  “More like a heartache,” she murmured. “What makes you think it will go away?”

  “I’m hoping being around Amy and Tiffany will make me forget the rest.”

  When he lifted his hand, she saw the glow of his watch as he checked it. “I’ve got to get going.”

  “Late date?” she asked lightly.

  “Late appointment over at The Silver Dollar. Clint needs advice on a new security system. He wanted to wait to consult about it until after all the help was gone.”

  “I see. We haven’t talked about when Tiffany will start working for you. She has to be comfortable handling Amy on her own. I’m taking a vacation day tomorrow to give her a hand. I’ll leave her alone for a couple hours in the afternoon so hopefully she can get used to the feeling that Amy’s depending only on her.”

  “That’s got to be scary…being a new mother,” Garrett said with a shake of his head. “When she does start, I’ll make sure I’m around the first few days or so. Not that I’m going to be much use.”

  Gwen had her own ideas on that. She had the feeling that once Garrett held the baby in his arms, he wouldn’t be awkward like other men.

  “Why don’t we wait until Monday for her to start?” he suggested. “I’m going out of town tomorrow and don’t know exactly when I’ll be back—Saturday or Sunday probably.”

  “Is this search-and-rescue or business?”

  “Business. I’m flying to D.C.”

  Gwen knew D.C. wasn’t far from Northern Virginia where his ex-wife lived.

  Her questions or curiosity must have been evident because he explained, “I’ve bid on a government contract to develop software. That’s really all I can say.”

  “Do you do much of that kind of thing?”

  “I did work for them once before.”

  After another look at Amy, he turned to Gwen. “I’ll call you when I get back, then we can decide what Tiffany needs to bring along for the baby.”

  “All Amy will need now is the crib, diapers and plenty of formula.”

  As if he couldn’t keep from touching Gwen, he toyed with one of her curls with his index finger. “You might not get much sleep in the next couple of months.”

  “I’ll survive,” she said gamely. When she thought of a bed and Garrett in the same sentence, sleep wasn’t part of it.

  “You talk a good game,” he murmured as he bent closer. “But after two weeks of no sleep, you’ll be singing a different song.”

  She couldn’t think of the words to any song right now as Garrett bent his head and covered her lips with his. When he kissed her, the usual fireworks blotted out everything else. Her whole body came alive as his tongue danced with hers, as his hands hugged her waist and slid up close to her breasts.

  Breaking the kiss, he murmured, “I want to take you to bed but you have chaperones.”

  Even in the aftermath of desire unfulfilled, she managed, “And you’re glad of that, aren’t you?”

  As he rested his chin on her head, he folded his arms around her. “Gwen, I’m not sure what to do with you.”

  That made her push away from him. Her hands went to her hips. “Well, if you’re not sure, then you don’t deserve me.”

  He laughed. “Isn’t that the truth.”

  When he leaned back, his smile slipped away. “You walked into my backyard and my life began to change. I’m still not sure I like it.”

  Halfway to the hall he stopped and turned around. “But damn it all, I like you.”

  As she heard his bootsteps in the hall, Gwen knew her feelings for Garrett went much deeper than his for her. But with that last acerbic statement, she understood there was more than attraction between them…and so did he.

  She smiled down at Amy and repeated, “He likes me.”

  That was enough for now.

  The following afternoon, Gwen ended up in the barn at Saddle Ridge with Kylie.

  “Do you spend every spare moment in here?” Gwen asked Kylie as her friend watched her new young mustang from inside the barn. The corral outside the barn door, once a large one, had been sectioned off with an extra line of fence. It was about twenty by twenty with boards encircling the top and bottom. The Bureau of Land Management had requirements for an adoption site so the horse could stay in the corral or take shelter in a twelve-by-twelve-foot box stall in the barn.

  “I don’t have many spare moments,” Kylie answered. “Some of them I spend with Molly. Her mother is dropping her off after school so she can see the progress I’m making with Feather. Molly loves horses almost as much as I do.”

  Molly was a ten-year-old who’d received the gift of riding lessons from her parents for Christmas. She didn’t have a horse of her own and she loved coming to Saddle Ridge whenever she could.

  “You’re not still giving her riding lessons, are you?”

  “No. We stopped in August. I told her after the baby’s born, she can continue if she wants. She said her mom might take them, too. She’s such a joy to be around and good company. When her mom needs a sitter, I don’t mind watching her.”

  This afternoon, Gwen had wanted to give Tiffany a few hours alone with Amy. She’d gravitated toward Saddle Ridge to check on her friend. Kylie’s tummy was definitely growing rounder under her oversized
sweatshirt.

  Gwen studied the sorrel mustang in the corral. “How old is she?”

  “About ten months. Isn’t she a beauty? I can’t wait to braid that mane.”

  The mare’s mane and tail were flaxen.

  Instead of telling her friend she had to be careful, Gwen asked, “And when do you think that’s going to happen?”

  “I’m not sure. She’s doing well. Dix can lead her by her halter into the stall now, and she’s eating out of my hand.”

  She took what looked like an oatmeal cookie from her pocket. “Shaye and Dylan stopped out over the weekend. I think Dylan’s goal is to repair all my fence before winter sets in. He’ll become a rancher if he doesn’t watch it.”

  Gwen could remember when Dylan wasn’t sure he wanted to stay in Wild Horse Junction. “Have you been to their new house yet?”

  “No, I haven’t had a chance. Shaye’s told me all about it, though. She’s so happy she can’t see straight.”

  “They are made for one another, even though it didn’t seem like it on the surface.”

  Feather came trotting into the barn, stopped, cautiously eyed Gwen and proceeded toward her mistress. Kylie laughed, a sweet free sound Gwen hadn’t heard in a long time. She held out the snack to the horse and Feather gobbled it up then tolerated a pat on the nose before hightailing it out to the corral again.

  “Where’s Dix?” Gwen asked.

  “The North Ridge, moving some cattle.”

  When Kylie bit her lower lip, Gwen could tell there was something she wanted to talk about. Leaning against the stall, Gwen waited.

  “I went through Alex’s closet. The church is having a Thanksgiving drive so it seemed like a good time to do it.”

  “You should have called me. I would have helped you.”

  Kylie shook her head. “I had to do it myself. He had a few shirts from when we were first married, and I…” Her voice caught. “I kept two of them. One he wore on our honeymoon when we drove to Bozeman. The other one…” she shrugged “was one of his favorites.”

  “I bet lots of memories came rushing back.”

  Staring outside at Feather, Kylie nodded. “Yes, they did. I had to go through everything, pockets and all that.”

  The hairs on Gwen’s nape stood up at the change in Kylie’s voice. “Pockets can be personal.”

  Kylie reached into her back pocket and drew out something white. “I found this.”

  As Gwen took the cocktail napkin, she saw it was printed with the name of Clementine’s Saloon, a night spot in Wild Horse Junction.

  “Turn it over,” Kylie directed her.

  On the back side of the napkin, in an obviously feminine flourishing cursive handwriting, Gwen read—Alex, meet me at midnight and we’ll have some fun.

  “I can’t tell if it’s signed with a T or an F.” Gwen studied her friend. “What are you thinking?”

  “You know what I’m thinking. I just don’t know whether to pursue it or not.”

  “You mean find out who T or F is?”

  Kylie nodded.

  Gwen was all for the truth, but Kylie had to get on with her life now. “What good would it do to find out?”

  “I could get a few questions answered.”

  “If you did see this woman, and if you found out for sure Alex had been unfaithful, how would that affect you? You’ve suspected an affair for a long time. Wouldn’t it be better to concentrate on what’s ahead of you, rather than what’s behind you?”

  Retrieving the napkin from Gwen, Kylie returned it to her pocket. “I know you’re right. But when the chores are done and I can’t sleep, I lay there and wonder.”

  “After the baby’s born, you’re going to be so tired all you’ll want to do is sleep when you lie down.”

  “You’re so practical,” Kylie said with a small smile.

  “You know being practical is just a small part of it.” She encircled her friend’s shoulders. “You’ve got to look ahead.”

  “It’s hard looking ahead, Gwen, when I’m not meeting expenses. I can’t lose this place. It’s my baby’s legacy and I’m afraid if I can’t get it in shape, at some point Brock’s going to push me to sell it.”

  “Do you think he’d do that?”

  “I don’t know what Brock would do. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen him, even longer since we’ve had more than a stilted conversation. I’m writing up an ad campaign for spring, after the baby’s born. It would be a good time of the year to take on two-year-olds to train. Once I get that money flowing again, maybe I can turn things around.”

  Kylie had to start somewhere, but Gwen had a feeling that the financial problem Saddle Ridge faced was big and Kylie wouldn’t be able to take on enough horses to fix it.

  “You still haven’t found out if you’re carrying a boy or a girl?”

  “Nope. I don’t want to know. I want to be surprised. I found an antique cradle in the attic. Dix brought it down for me and I cleaned it up. I just have to pick up a mattress for it. I’ve been sewing sheets, making little kimonos, and adding inserts to my jeans so I can wear them longer.”

  “When do you have time to sew?”

  “I can’t do as much of the physical work as I used to, so I sew instead. I’m just afraid Dix is getting over-burdened. He doesn’t complain but I worry about him. Dylan’s helped a lot but I don’t want to impose on him, either. Somehow I have to bring in more money.

  Kylie wanted to take on the burden of Saddle Ridge on her own very small shoulders, but Gwen had the suspicion that if Brock Warner knew the condition the ranch was in, he’d interfere in her life whether she liked it or not.

  Garrett wasn’t sure why he was doing this—meeting his ex-spouse for lunch.

  The Trellis hadn’t changed much in the past five years. There were still photographs of the historic buildings around D.C. on the walls and an atmosphere that said everyone with briefcases was doing important work. The restaurant-goers had thinned by two in the afternoon as Garrett waited for Cheryl in the lobby.

  When she walked in the door in a brown trench coat, her chin-length blond hair swinging toward her mouth, her blue eyes finding him instantly, he felt…regret. So much regret. Then he noticed her figure as she walked. Something was different. Her trench coat was open and he could see the slight protrusion under her top.

  Holy thunder, she was pregnant!

  The first minute was awkward, as he didn’t know exactly what to say, and she didn’t seem to know what to do. Then she gave him a loose hug and kissed him on the cheek. “It’s good to see you.”

  He simply said, “I see congratulations are in order.”

  Her smile dimmed a bit. “We’ll talk over lunch.”

  Once they were seated and given menus, Cheryl shrugged out of her coat and let it fall on the back of her chair. “You’re looking well. And very civilized. Not at all like a cowboy from Wyoming.”

  He’d worn a navy suit and tie today for his meetings. “I’m here on business. But I tucked in jeans and boots to wear on the flight home.”

  The smile that seemed a bit forced to him faded as she set aside her menu. “I’m so glad we could meet like this instead of talking on the phone. I never thought you’d be on the East coast again.”

  When he’d finally gotten hold of her his first night in D.C., she’d asked if they could talk over lunch.

  Her lashes lowered, then she looked up at him. “Are you happy, Garrett?”

  “Close to it.” He thought about Gwen and that brought a surge of happiness that surprised him.

  “I called you because everything seemed…unfinished between us. Do you know what I mean?”

  “We were both hurt and angry and disillusioned.”

  “I said things I shouldn’t have.”

  “Like you’d never forgive me?”

  “Yes. Now that I’m pregnant again and past the first trimester, I realized I only said that to hurt you, not because it was true.”

  “I think you meant it when you s
aid it.”

  Her eyes filled with the memories of her miscarriage, the sadness and grief that had gone along with it. “Yes, I guess I did. But I want you to know I don’t blame you anymore. It was something that happened. I had to tell you that. I wasn’t meant to carry that baby.”

  His baby. And now she was carrying someone else’s. He glanced down at her hand. There was no wedding ring.

  She saw his look. “I’m not married. Not yet. We’re supposed to get married the beginning of December.”

  Something in her voice alerted him to her use of a particular word. “Supposed to get married?”

  “Tell me something, Garrett. Why do you think we didn’t work?”

  Careful, man, he told himself. This could be a minefield.

  As if sensing his hesitancy, she prompted, “Be honest. I need you to be honest.”

  “We didn’t work for lots of reasons. First of all, I didn’t know what a marriage should be. My dad was never around. I knew that played a part in my parents’ divorce, but there was more to their breakup, too. Do you know what I mean? I thought as long as I took care of you the best I could, brought in a paycheck, had sex regularly, that’s what marriage was.”

  “That was very different from what I expected…from what my parents had. They never went anywhere without each other. I don’t think they’ve ever been separated overnight! My expectations were so different from yours.”

  “And now, apparently, you’re engaged. To the right man?”

  Her face reddened slightly. “The truth is, I don’t know. I’ve only known him for six months. I wanted…I wanted a baby badly. He and I seemed to click. I think we’re both ready for a family.”

  “But?”

  “I’m having doubts about how fast I jumped into this. No doubts about the baby. But as each day goes by and the wedding date gets closer, I think about our divorce and how tough it was. I think about the night you left.”

  “You’re getting cold feet.”

  “It’s more than cold feet. Sometimes I wake up in a full-blown panic.”

  Just like when they were married, Cheryl wanted him to make everything better. He hadn’t known how to do that then, and he didn’t know how to do it now. “Why did you want to see me?”