HAPPY NEW YEAR, BABY FORTUNE!

by Leanne Banks

  After eating his dinner and taking a hot shower, Colton went to bed, but he still didn’t sleep well. He tossed and turned, trying to figure out what he should do about Stacey.

  It was so cold that by afternoon the next day, he decided not to torture himself by staying outside any longer and chose to work in one of the barns close to the house. Hearing the barn door swing open, he turned to see Stacey standing in the doorway holding Piper in one hand and a basket in the other.

  His gut took an involuntary dip at the sight of them. Both pairs of eyes were trained on him expectantly. “Hey there,” Stacey said, and lifted her lips in a hesitant smile. “Have you recovered from taking care of us on Saturday night?”

  “I think the more important question is whether you’ve recovered. How are you feeling?” he asked.

  “Much better. It was a twenty-four hour virus. I’ve been holding my breath because I was afraid either you or Piper might catch it. You haven’t felt sick, have you?”

  “No, but I’m lucky that way. I don’t get sick very often,” he said, thinking he might not have gotten the stomach virus, but he still felt as if he’d caught some sort of emotional virus that was keeping him bothered and interrupting his sleep.

  “I’m glad to hear that,” she said. “I wanted to thank you. Seems like I’m doing that a lot lately,” she said and smiled again. “I made some chocolate-chip cupcakes for you. You seemed to like the other ones.”

  She lifted the basket toward him, and he moved forward to take it. “You didn’t have to do that, but thank you.”

  “My pleasure,” she said, and the silence stretched between them. He felt her searching his face, but he couldn’t offer her any answers if he didn’t have any answers for himself.

  She cleared her throat. “Well, I guess I’ll go now. Thank you again for taking care of us on Saturday.”

  “I’m glad I could help,” he said, and watched her walk out the barn door. Part of him screamed that he should go after her. But Colton had no clue what he would say.

  * * *

  Stacey walked away from the Fosters’ barn with a lump in her throat. She couldn’t bear to return to her house right away, so she drove into town and wandered around the Superette with Piper perched on her hip. Stacey knew she’d gotten her hopes up about Colton, and she clearly shouldn’t have.

  She picked up a couple bananas for Piper and seriously checked out the chocolate bars.

  “Oh, no,” a female voice said from behind her. “I’m counting on the hope that I won’t crave chocolate once I deliver this baby. You’re scaring me, Stacey.”

  Stacey turned around to find Ella Mae Jergens looking at the candy-bar display. She smiled at the pregnant woman. “I’ve always loved chocolate,” she said. “Pregnancy didn’t make it any worse, so don’t base your fear on me.”

  “You’re so sweet,” Ella Mae said. “I really have to watch my weight. I’m married to an important man, and there will always be women chasing after him.”

  Stacey felt sorry for Ella Mae if she thought her husband would stray due to a little pregnancy weight. “I’m sure he adores you and sees you as truly beautiful.”

  Ella Mae smiled. “You’ve always been a nice girl. I was glad to hear you’ve been spending time with Colton Foster. Other people have been saying the only reason you got involved with Colton was to get back at Joe, but I didn’t believe them. You ignore those rumors and hold your head high, Stacey. You deserve a good man.”

  Stacey’s heart tightened with distress. “What other people have been saying that?” she asked. The only time she’d heard the horrible rumor was from Billy, Joe’s friend.

  “Oh, I don’t know,” Ella Mae said. “I heard it from my mother, who heard it from someone else. You know how this town is. Any kind of gossip, true or false, spreads like wildfire. Don’t pay any attention to it. It will pass. But I will get just one candy bar,” she said, and grabbed one from the display. “Here comes my mother. I’m spending the day with her. Take care, now,” Ella Mae said, and headed for the checkout.

  Sick from Ella Mae’s comments, Stacey put the bananas back and fled the store. Could the day get any worse?

  After Stacey returned home, she couldn’t muster much conversation. Her mother tried to make small talk as the two baked side by side in the kitchen, but Stacey just wasn’t in the mood. She wondered if having to take care of Piper on Saturday night had pushed Colton over the edge. Even though he’d always been sweet to the baby, he wasn’t her birth father. He may have looked at his experience Saturday night and feared for his future.

  Or had he heard more about the nasty rumor that Ella Mae had repeated to Stacey? Stacey knew that people in Horseback Hollow liked to gossip, but she was sick over the latest outright lie that was spreading like fire.

  “You’re very quiet, Stacey,” her mother said as Stacey washed some pots and pans. “Are you feeling ill again?”

  “No, no. I’m fine,” she said, and dried the lid to a pot.

  “Is something bothering you? I talked with your father last night about your financial concerns and he doesn’t want you worrying,” she said. “If you need more money—”

  “I don’t,” Stacey said. “I got another student lined up for tutoring this week, but I know I’m not going to be making a lot of money right now. I’ll figure that out later.”

  Her mother nodded and spread out a dish towel on the counter to dry. “Okay. Is there anything else on your mind? You know you can talk to me.”

  Stacey inhaled and sighed. “I’m not sure this thing with Colton is going to work out,” she confessed and fought the urge to cry. She wiped the already clean counter for the third time.

  “Why not?” her mother asked. “Did you decide you don’t have feelings for him?”

  “Oh, no,” Stacey said, and swallowed her deep disappointment. “I have feelings for him, but I just don’t think Colton is ready to be a daddy.”

  “Well, you could have fooled me. You should have seen how he hovered over Piper on Saturday night,” her mother said with a firm nod of her head.

  “That was just one night, Mama,” she said. “He may be thinking he’s not ready to take us on a full-time basis,” Stacey said. “I can’t really blame him. A lot of men wouldn’t want to father someone else’s child.”

  “You can’t possibly believe that,” her mother said. “Colton Foster is a good man. He would always do what’s right.”

  “But how is it right for him to take on the responsibility for a child that isn’t his?” Stacey countered. “How is it fair?”

  Her mother frowned. “I think you may be jumping the gun. You need to give Colton a little time.”

  “I’m trying not to pressure him, but everyone we run into seems to want to make a comment or give advice about us seeing each other. I don’t know,” she said, shrugging even though she was miserable. “Plus, I haven’t told you, but there’s a terrible rumor going around about us. Some people seem to think that the only reason I’ve started spending time with Colton is to get back at Joe.”

  “Well, that’s a complete fabrication. How would Joe even know that you’re seeing Colton since he hasn’t bothered to check on you or his baby?” her mother asked, indignantly. “If I were a lesser person, I could wish some bad things on that boy. Leaving you in the lurch like that. With a note, no less. Thinking about it still makes my blood boil.”

  Stacey knotted her fingers together, then pulled them apart and knotted them again. “This is turning into a big mess. I think I’d better give Colton some space.”

  * * *

  Jeanne Marie Fortune Jones stepped in line at the tiny Horseback Hollow post office. Her mind hopped and skipped to different issues weighing on her—Stacey’s romantic predicament and her troubled son Christopher—as she patiently waited her turn.

  “Hello, Jean
ne. Good to see you,” Olive Foster said as she got in line behind her neighbor. “How are you?”

  “Good, thank you. I see you have packages,” Jeanne said. “Christmas gifts you need to return?”

  Olive nodded. “I overdid it this year, and my husband, Frank, can be so hard to please,” she said with a heavy sigh. “What about you?”

  “I’m sending a letter to my—” She broke off and smiled. “My sister in England, and another to my brother James. I know everyone uses email these days, but I thought both of them might enjoy a letter.”

  “That’s nice of you. Are you still getting used to being a Fortune?” Olive asked.

  Jeanne nodded and stepped forward. “It’s still hard to believe, but it’s wonderful having brothers and a sister and all these new nieces and nephews.”

  “I think it’s so sweet that your children added the Fortune name,” Olive said. “It shows a lot of family unity.”

  “Not all of them have,” Jeanne said, thinking of Liam. “But they’re all adults and it would be wrong for me to push them. They should make this decision on their own. It’s not a perfect situation, but I’m glad most of them are interested in getting to know their new family.” Jeanne thought, too, of her son Chris and the resentment he held against the Fortunes and their wealth. She wished he could let go of his ill feelings, because she knew he would be much happier if he did.

  “How is Stacey doing? I heard she got sick the other night,” Olive said.

  “Yes, she did, but she’s much better now. Colton took care of the baby during the worst part of it. You’ve raised a fine young man.”

  Olive beamed with pride. “Thank you. We’re very blessed with both our children,” she said.

  Jeanne hesitated, wondering if she should say anything else. “I know that Stacey has enjoyed spending time with him lately.”

  “Yes, we are pleased about that. Stacey’s a wonderful young lady.”

  Silence stretched for a long moment between them. “Of course, I understand if things don’t work out. They’ve just started seeing each other, and we don’t know what will happen in the long run.”

  Olive looked pensive and stepped closer to Jeanne. “It’s none of my business, but is something wrong between them?” she asked in a lowered voice. “Colton hasn’t said a word about her the past few days, and he seems a bit withdrawn.”

  “Well, I have to confess I’ve been concerned lately, too. Even though I love Colton, I told Stacey to be careful about getting involved again. She didn’t seem to appreciate me giving my opinion,” Jeanne said. “It’s hard to hold your tongue when you worry about your children.”

  “I know what you’re saying. I hate to admit it, but I asked my husband to speak to Colton about spending time with Stacey. I wanted it made clear that he shouldn’t take advantage of her.” Olive winced. “I wonder if I should have kept my thoughts to myself.”

  “They’re adults and very responsible,” Jeanne said. “I’d hate to think I helped to mess up anything by sticking my nose in their business.”

  “Me, too,” Olive said miserably. “I suppose it wouldn’t help to bring it up to Colton in casual conversation.”

  “Probably not,” Jeanne said.

  Olive sighed. “I guess we’ll just have to do what we should have done from the beginning. Be quiet and hope for the best.”

  Jeanne nodded in agreement, but she worried about her daughter. Stacey had already been hurt enough. “Please don’t tell anyone, but someone has started a terrible rumor,” she confided to Olive.

  “About Stacey and Colton?” Olive asked in surprise.

  “Yes. Someone, and we don’t know who, has been saying that the only reason Stacey has been spending time with Colton was to get back at Joe because he left her. The reason I’m telling you is because I want you to know that is absolutely not true. I think Stacey has fallen for your son, but she feels as if she needs to back off and give him some breathing room.”

  Olive frowned and shook her head. “Why is it that people find it necessary to gossip about people who are just trying to do their best? If someone is stupid enough to repeat that rumor to me, I’ll set them straight. You can count on it.”

  Jeanne felt a surge of gratitude inside her at Olive’s protectiveness of Stacey. “You’ve always been the best neighbors we could have. I would love it if we could be in-laws,” Jeanne said. “I’ll be saying my prayers and crossing my fingers that our children will work this out.”

  Chapter Eleven

  Piper had lost her favorite binky. Or, someone had lost Piper’s favorite pacifier. Perhaps her father’s hunting dog had eaten it. The who didn’t matter. The fact was that Stacey needed to get a replica of the favorite binky immediately. As Stacey headed out the door on a cold, rainy winter night, Jude called out, “Hey, do you mind picking up a burger for me from The Grill?”

  “You just ate chicken potpie,” she retorted, pulling up her hood.

  “I’m still hungry,” he said mournfully as he walked into the den with Piper in his arms.

  Stacey couldn’t turn him down. He was doing her a favor by pacing with Piper, who had been crying without stop for nearly an hour. With the windshield wipers whipping from side to side, Stacey drove to the Superette, praying that she would find the treasured binky. The rain spit in her face as she rushed through the door. She studied the poor selection of binkies and chose two—just in case—then checked out.

  Next stop, The Grill. She went inside and placed the take-out order. Pacing the front of the restaurant, she heard the jukebox playing one of her favorite songs in the bar and peeked inside at what the other half were doing tonight.

  She caught a quick glimpse of Colton nursing a beer and froze. He must have sensed her looking at him because he glanced up, and his gaze locked with hers. Wanting to avoid him, she pulled back inside and prayed Jude’s burger would be ready soon. She haunted the cash register. “Hurry, hurry,” she whispered under her breath.

  “Hey, what are you doing out on a wicked night like tonight?” Colton asked from behind her.

  Stacey took a deep breath and turned around. “I could ask the same of you.”

  Colton shrugged. “Cabin fever. I just needed to get away from the house. What are you doing here?”

  “Piper lost her favorite binky, and I had to try to find one like it. Jude asked me to pick up a burger for him. He’s pacing with Piper, so it’s the least I can do, even though he’s already had dinner.”

  “You want to come in here while you wait?”

  She shook her head. “No, thanks.” She glanced at the checkout, but there was no sign of her take-out order. “Listen, I just want you to know the rumors aren’t true.”

  He frowned at her. “What rumors?” he asked.

  “About me.” She swallowed over the sudden lump that formed in her throat. She thought she’d gotten control of herself during the past few days. Why had that control evaporated so quickly? “There was a rumor that the only reason I got involved with you was to get back at Joe. I just need you to know that isn’t true.”

  He stared at her in disbelief. “Who said that?”

  “Well, I heard from someone who heard from someone from someone, so I don’t know. It’s just important to me that you know it’s not—”

  She broke off as an attractive brunette approached Colton from behind and looped her arms around him. “Hey, baby, where’d you go?”

  Colton glanced at the woman in surprise. “I thought you were busy with someone else.”

  She shook her head and nuzzled him seductively. “I was just trying to get your attention.”

  Colton cleared his throat and looked at Stacey. “Uh, this is Mary,” he said.

  “Malia,” the woman corrected with an indulgent grin. “He’s so cute, isn’t he?”

  “U
h-huh,” Stacey said.

  “Maria is new in town,” he said, still messing up the woman’s name. “I just met her tonight.”

  Stacey couldn’t believe her eyes. “Nice to meet you, Malia. How did you end up in Horseback Hollow?”

  “I needed to get off the grid. Violent ex,” she said. “This seemed like a good choice.”

  “I hope it will work out for you,” Stacey said, and finally Jude’s order was delivered to the register. She was so relieved she nearly shouted. “Oh, there’s my takeout. Have a nice evening. I need to get back home.” She paid her bill and ran out the door to her car.

  Just as she slid onto her seat, Colton caught the door before she could close it. “Hey, that wasn’t what you think it was,” he said, rain pouring down over his head and jacket.

  “It’s okay,” she forced herself to say. “There are no strings between us. You can do what you want. Malia probably doesn’t have any little kids.”

  “That’s not what’s important,” he said.

  “I’m not so sure about that, and I can’t say I blame you. If I were a man, I might not want to take on the baggage of a baby that wasn’t mine. I understand, Colton. I really do,” she said, although she wished things could be different.

  Colton shook his head, but she couldn’t handle this discussion any longer. Her sadness overwhelmed her. “I need to go,” she said, and pulled her car door shut.

  * * *

  Colton called himself ten times a fool during the next twelve hours. He could barely sleep when he thought of the injured expression on Stacey’s face. He should have stopped her. He shouldn’t have let her go. He should have told her how much he’d missed her and that he wanted to work things out with her. Instead, he’d stood in the rain trying to come to grips with the ridiculous rumor she’d relayed to him.

  Colton spent the day working in the barn. The sound of silence, however, echoed inside his mind. Unable to bear the scrutiny of his family, he decided to go into town again and get a burger from The Grill. He didn’t know where else to go. This was yet another time when he needed his own place.