Later, when the service was over, and everyone had crowded around to ooh and aah at the baby and say all the silly things adults say to babies, like “Isn’t he just the most adorable boy you’ve ever seen!” and “Oh, he looks like his mother!” “No, of course he doesn’t look like his mother, he’s the spitting image of Luke.” And from one woman named Lucille to another woman named Lucille, “Oh, and of course you’d remember!”
“Never mind what I remember,” said the second Lucille.
Even Tex looked down into the baby’s face and then up at Luke. “Well, you’ve finally done something worthwhile,” he said, grudgingly, while Lettie chided him for his bluntness and poked at his arm, telling him to hush.
Everyone filed out the big double doors of the church to gather under the cool shade of the cottonwood, leaving Luke, Charlotte and Henry standing inside.
Henry stood at the open door, an errant breeze lifting a strand of his straight, white hair, poised to say goodbye and walk away. Luke felt a stab of disappointment that was sharp and deep.
Henry turned his hat in his hand, looked out the church door and then back, not at Luke but at Charlotte.
“Was it your idea to name the boy after me?”
Charlotte lifted her chin. Luke felt his heart sink. Nothing had changed after all. Charlotte said, “It was a mutual decision. Luke and I agreed that it was what we both wanted.”
“You are…a good woman. You have a forgiving heart.”
“I’m glad you think so.”
“I’m glad you and Luke are settled in your new home. It helps me…to forget…” His courage failed him. “I thank you for asking me to be a part of…things here today. Well, I guess I’d better be going.” Henry turned away, his shoulders sagging. He looked very old. He smoothed his hair back and put on his hat.
In that silence, that long silence, Charlotte felt as if she’d lost her ability to breathe. Even the baby was still, sensing her tenseness. If she let this moment go by, she would regret it for the rest of her life. She couldn’t wait for Henry to ask for the baby. He never would. He would think he didn’t have the right, that he had lost his privileges as a grandfather. A Steadman man was never easy, but he was well worth the battle. Quickly, before she lost her nerve, she said huskily, “Wouldn’t you like to hold your namesake?”
Henry stood stock-still, as if her words had shocked him. At last, he moved, shaking his head. “It’s been too long. I might…drop him.”
“Of course you won’t drop him,” Charlotte said quickly. “Here, we’ll help you.” With brisk determination, she walked to Henry and put his grandson into his arms. Luke felt as if the breath he’d been holding would explode inside him.
Henry frowned, as if he were genuinely afraid he might drop his grandson. The baby looked up at Henry, smiled and kicked his feet. Henry gazed down at the boy as if he were looking at heaven. “He doesn’t mind my holding him.”
Luke felt so…strange. He felt as if he wanted to tease his father. “He knows a soft touch when he sees one. Watch out for him. He’s a schemer.”
“He’s a fine-looking boy.”
“We didn’t think so. We thought he looked a lot like you, Dad. He’s certainly got your nose.”
Henry glanced up at his son, looking very taken aback. Then his smile came, a little rusty, but a smile, nevertheless. “I believe he does have my nose, at that.” Another hesitation. “He has his mother’s eyes.”
“Maybe he’ll dazzle the girls with those and they’ll forget to look at his nose.” Luke put his hand on his father’s arm. “He has a lot to learn. We’ll need help teaching him.”
“Oh, I’m sure you’ll do a fine job.” Henry looked up, saw the quick flash of disappointment in Luke’s eyes. “But on the other hand, there are probably a lot of things a grandfather can teach his grandson. Like how to cast a fly rod, and how to turn a cow, and how to tell if a girl likes you by putting a dandelion under her chin. If you’ll let me take him out occasionally—”
“He’s your grandson,” Luke said softly. “You can see him as often as you like.”
Henry gazed at his son. In a choked voice, he said, “Generosity seems to run in this family.”
Charlotte smiled through her tears. She’d been given her rainbow, and it had so many pretty colors in it.
Henry raised his eyes to Luke. “I’d like to get to know my grandson. Maybe I’ll do a better job of being a grandparent than I was a father.” And still holding the baby in his arms, Henry turned and walked out the church door into a June mormng brimming with the promise of summer.
* * * * *
eISBN 978-14592-8076-2
A COWBOY IS FOREVER
Copyright © 1996 by Shirley Larson
All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the editorial office, Silhouette Books, 300 East 42nd Street, New York, NY 10017 U S.A.
All characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all incidents are pure invention
This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S A.
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Printed in U.S.A.
Table of Contents
Cover Page
Excerpt
Dear Reader
Title Page
Dedication
Books by Shirley Larson
About the Author
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Epilogue
Copyright
A Cowboy Is Forever Page 23