“I know. If there’s anything else I can do, let me know. We’ll walk to the barn and look at the new arrivals.” Sammi followed the boy outside.
When the door closed, Vickie rushed her and hugged her tight, crying. “I’m so, so sorry. How horrible for you. What did he do when you told him?”
Clearing her head with a couple of blinks, Nikki wasn’t expecting this reaction from Tommy’s former wife, the mother of his other children. What did she say? How could she explain why she...? “He said we just needed to wait until he got the recommendation from your father. He needed it to get into Baylor and for a scholarship. He told me you weren’t really dating.”
Vickie leaned back and nodded. “We weren’t. I spent more time with Jake than Tommy. My mother wanted us together, and he had dreams of being president of the United States one day. He thought Daddy could help him get there. You and I aren’t the only ones he used.”
“When I discovered I was going to have a baby... I thought he’d change his plans for us. I was an idiot. It wasn’t what he wanted, but...”
“You thought he loved you enough to make it right.”
Nikki nodded. “He was so mad, I got scared. And then he told me to...” Taking a step back, she bumped into Adrian. His hands steadied her.
Tucking her head, she wrapped her arms around her middle. Just like that day, protecting her child. “I couldn’t.”
“Oh, sweetheart. Of course not.” Vickie had her arms around her again, holding her even tighter. Making it hard to breathe. “I’m so sorry. You had to be so frightened, and none of us knew you were going through this. I just want to kick him.”
Adrian’s comforting touch on the small of her back vanished. Leaving her cold. Once again, he was making sure she was okay even after he put her out of his life. Why couldn’t she have fallen in love with him in high school?
“Here, sit.” Adrian set the tall glass of tea on the table and pulled out a chair for her. “How’s the knee? You’ve been up and running all day.”
Vickie sat in the chair next to her, still holding her hand.
“It’s fine.” She wiped her face with the back of her hand. When had she started crying? Adrian handed her a tissue.
Danica sat on the other side of her and patted her arm. “It’s going to be okay. Everyone who matters knows now, and it’s fine.”
She didn’t dare glance at Adrian. He still stood.
Vickie leaned forward, her fingers interlocked around the tall glass of her iced tea. “What happened next?” She shook her head. “I talked to Tommy almost every day, and nothing. He never acted as if anything was wrong. The only thing I remember is he didn’t want to talk about you after you left.”
“Probably more of a good riddance than anything else,” she answered and her sister sniffled. Adrian sat next to her and patted her shoulder. “He said if I told anyone he’d deny it and start rumors about me.” She squeezed Danica’s hand. “The twins were younger than me, our grandfather had just passed away, Daddy was going through a rough time with Sheila, and poor Sammi was caught in the middle of all the drama. I didn’t want to add to it. I thought the best course of action was for me to go to my mom’s aunt. She took care of everything and knew a family who were looking to adopt.”
They talked for another ten minutes when Vickie’s phone vibrated. “It’s Seth. He wants to know if we’re done talking.”
Danica stood and gathered the glasses. “I hate that he found out this way. I’m going to find the girls and have a chat. Since they never came in, I’m thinking they have a clue what they did caused problems. I’ll send Ashley to your car.”
After one more hug, Vickie went after her son.
Now she stood in the kitchen alone with Adrian. “Thank you for staying. I know you’ve had enough drama of your own this week.”
He shrugged and grinned at her. “Someone stayed with me while I was doing the whole Hulk thing. Might as well repay them.”
“Did it help? Right now, I’d give anything to jump off a cliff or go over a waterfall.”
He laughed. “In my experience, most women attack the shopping malls or cut off their hair.”
“You’ve been hanging around the wrong women.”
“I’ve been told that recently.” A low chuckle rumbled from his chest.
She wanted to lay her palm against his sternum and feel the vibrations.
“I need to go. Are you sure you’re good?”
“I’m always good.” She smiled. “I’ll walk you to your truck.”
“No need. You should stay and rest.”
She crossed her eyes. “I have to move or I’m going to jump out of my skin. It’s just a walk to the drive and back. I mean, I might go crazy and make a detour through the garden, but I think I can handle it.”
He held his hands up in surrender. “You win. I stand corrected.” He opened the door and waited for her to walk through. The world looked as if there was a filter of blue covering everything. In the trees, a few birds sang and hopped around. Without a breeze, the air was a bit sticky.
“Oh. I forgot a bag.” Adrian reached into the back of the truck and held up a bag with more of the letters in it.
“I’ll make sure they get it.” She stepped close to take it, and when she looked up, she was mere inches from him. Without thought, she leaned forward and touched her lips to the corner of his mouth. He didn’t move, so she pressed a little more and started to move in for a real kiss. Adrian took a quick step back.
Heat climbed her neck and burned her cheeks. What was she doing? He’d made it clear there was not a future for them. Swallowing, she stepped back and gave him space. “Sorry.”
“No, don’t apologize. You just caught me off guard.”
She studied her boots. Why was she such a hardheaded idiot? He didn’t want her, and now he was going to be nice about it.
He lifted her chin with his knuckle. “Hey, being kissed by a beautiful woman makes me a lucky guy. But right now, there’s too much going on. And you’re not in a good place.”
Being in his arms sounded like the perfect place to her. She shrugged. “Can’t blame a girl for trying.”
He laughed and shook his head. “You’re crazy. I’ll see you at the hardware store.”
She stood there until his taillights disappeared over the hill. She wanted to smack her head against the stone wall. Why did she always set herself up for rejection?
Chapter Thirteen
Adrian slipped out the front door. The sun wasn’t up yet and neither should his family be. It was a perfect morning for working the horses.
“Good morning, Daddy.” Mia sat on the side step of his truck with her riding boots on. “Last night you said I could go with you if I was awake and ready.”
His sleepyhead daughter, usually dead to the world until sunshine filled her room, was sitting on his truck, ready to go horseback riding. His gut tightened. “How long have you been down here?” He frowned at her.
“I wanted to make sure you didn’t leave me.”
He’d been thinking of Nikki and hadn’t even noticed his daughter wasn’t in her bed. He needed to get his head on right. “I said that thinking you’d never be up this early, let alone dressed and ready.”
“Yeah, I figured that. I noticed you didn’t even try to wake me up. Nikki said if I wanted to ride horses again, I had to prove to you I was serious. I think being up before the sun will do that.” She hopped off his truck and walked to the passenger’s side. “I left a note for Tío George so he’d know I went with you.” With that, she climbed into the cab and waited for him.
Nikki? She was still taking advice from Nikki. He shook his head. It could be worse. She could be telling him what a mistake he was making by ignoring his feelings for the hardheaded navy girl.
The trip to the ranch was quiet.
Pulling up to the barns, he had to smile. His baby girl, determined to prove she would do anything to get back on a horse, was asleep and drooling against the window. The seat belt being the only thing that held her up.
She’d probably sleep for another couple of hours if he left her here with the windows down. “Mia.”
She jumped. “I’m awake. I wasn’t asleep.”
He laughed. “Right. Come on. The sun’s coming up in the next hour, and we have work to do.”
“Yes, sir!” She jumped from the truck and followed him to the barns. Jefferson, the ranch foreman, already had the coffee going and smiled at Mia.
“So, we have an extra cowhand today. The leg’s all better?”
“I still wear the brace for now, but the doctor told my dad I could ride.”
Adrian poured a strong cup of black coffee. “If you take it easy. That means walking. You can saddle Tank.”
“Tank! He hardly even walks. I’ve never seen him trot, let alone lope. He’s for babies. Or people that can’t ride.”
“Or girls who shouldn’t be riding at all. Before we ride, there are chores to do. You ready?”
“Yes, sir.” Without another complaint, she followed all his orders. By the time the sun started peeking over the hills, his daughter had put in a full day’s work without one whine.
“Hey, chipmunk. I’m proud of you. Ready to ride?”
Instantly, she stood taller. “Really? Yes! Can I at least ride Lancelot?”
“No. For you, he’d go all out if you asked, and I want to make sure you stay at a walking pace. If it goes well, we’ll talk about promoting you. You stay in the ring, and you wear a helmet.”
She nodded as she made her way to the stall where Tank waited.
An hour later, he pulled the young horse he was working with up next to the old Appaloosa. He knew Mia loved horses, but for her to give up sleep was big. His daughter had loved her sleep from the time he brought her home. He’d always been an early riser. She must have got that from her mom.
“How’s it going?”
She sighed. “Slow.” He rode along beside her in silence for a while. He remembered the first day he held her. Sleeping, she curled up against his chest. His baby girl had been so tiny, it scared him. She’d been almost three weeks early.
How did they get here with her approaching her teens? He always thought of her as his little girl. He never imagined himself being the father to a teenager.
“What are you thinking about, Daddy?”
“You and your sleep habits. Even as a newborn, you loved your sleep. I was told you would eat every two hours, even during the night. So when you didn’t wake up, I would get you out of your crib and try to give you a bottle. You’d glare at me.” He chuckled. “When I told your doctor, he said to relax. He told me that some babies liked sleeping all night and I should be grateful. Your mother loved sleeping in late on the weekends.”
“But you’re up before the sun every day. Were you always that way?”
“Yep. Drove my family crazy.”
“Nikki likes being up early too.”
He cut her a look.
“What? You have so much in common. What happened?”
“Nothing. We just... It’s complicated.”
“Did it have to do with my mom coming back? You seemed happy with Nikki until then. Are you freaked out because of what happened when I was born?”
“Mia.” How did he explain the mess of emotions in his head when he didn’t understand them himself? Everything was so tangled up with his seventeen-year-old self, confusing the past and the present. Was he putting things on Nikki that weren’t hers?
“Let’s ride out for a little bit.” He led the horses to the gate and sidestepped his young gelding to open it. Waiting for Tank to mosey through, he tried to sort it out in a way Mia might understand, but it just gave him a headache.
The morning sun coated the ranch in warm light. Birds darted from tree to tree. He took a deep breath. God, I’m trying to focus on Your will. Lead me on the path that takes me closer to You so I can be the father, son, brother and man You need me to be.
He needed to get back to doing morning devotionals. Focusing on God and not his own understanding or anger.
“I read Mom’s letter.” Mia’s voice was soft and low. Like she was afraid of hurting him. Taking a deep breath, he prepared to listen with an open heart and mind. This was about his little girl and her mother, not his wounded pride of being left.
“You did? You didn’t say anything.” Okay, good. That sounded casual.
All he got was a shrug and a few seconds of silence. She glanced over at him, her bottom lip tucked between her teeth. “Do you ever regret having me?”
Pulling his horse to a stop, he stared at her. “Have I ever done anything to make you feel that way?”
“No.” She patted Tank.
“You’re the best thing about my life. Sometimes we find ourselves on a path we didn’t expect, but that can put us on a road to blessings we couldn’t have imagined. You’re that for me. That’s why I named you Mia Valioso, my most valuable treasure. I know it’s a bit corny, but I was seventeen and you amazed me from the first glimpse I had of your tiny fist. My heart became yours in a way I wasn’t prepared for. You changed my life for the better.” The gelding grew impatient standing still. He patted him on the withers. “Let’s head back to the barns.”
“You named me? I thought you both picked my name.”
“No, your mother wanted to call you Brittney Dawn, but when she left, I figured I could call you whatever I wanted.”
“Thank you for that. I love my name. And there are four Brittneys at our school. One is in my class, and she might have to move. Her parents are getting a divorce. She’s sick to her stomach all the time, worried about the future. They’re fighting over her and where she’ll go to school. She doesn’t want to pick between her parents. It’s horrible.”
“Sweetheart, I promise you’ll never have to pick between me and your mom.” He turned the horse back to the barn, holding him to a steady pace so Mia didn’t get too far behind. The horse started prancing to the side, resisting the bit. Using the reins, he had him spin to the left on his back heels. They walked circles around Tank.
“I know. It’s because Mom let you have me. She didn’t fight you. If you think about it, that was a pretty good thing for her to do, wasn’t it?”
Wow. Those words hit him hard in the gut. “Yeah.”
“I was thinking about it the other night at youth. We were talking about being wise and how hard it can be to make the right decision. They told us the story of King Solomon. Two women came to him.” She looked over at him. “You know the story, right? They were fighting over a baby, and Solomon said to cut the baby in half, so they could both have him. The real mom says no—let her have the baby. A real mother would rather give up her baby than see him hurt. That’s kind of what my mom did. Instead of hurting me, she let you have me.”
She stared straight ahead. “When we prayed, I thanked God for that, because you’re a good dad.”
Eyes full of worry, she glanced at him. She needed him to understand. He could see that so clearly.
“In her letter, she said she knew you would take care of me and love me the way she couldn’t.”
Adrian took a deep breath. His eyes and throat burned. Mia’s words wrapped around his heart. Thank You, God, for this child You laid in my arms. Let me be worthy to raise her. “You’re amazing, and I think you’re right about being thankful.”
“Daddy, I was thinking I could invite my mother to the July Jubilee, and she could see me ride.”
That got his attention. “Who said you were riding in the July rodeo?”
She nudged Tank forward trying to get even with his horse. Tank just flicked his ears and ke
pt going one hoof at a time. “The doctor told you I could start riding again, and if I work at it I figured I’d be ready by July. Nikki said she’d be there too.”
“Nikki will probably be back in Arizona by then.”
Her shoulders shrugged. “She said she’d be there.”
Was she misleading Mia? “Don’t get disappointed if she doesn’t make it, or your mother, for that matter.”
“I know. I invited them, but it will be up to them if they come or not. I know you’ll be there, and Tío George.” She smiled at him.
He laughed when he realized she somehow had got him to thinking about her riding in the rodeo. “Okay, but listen to me. You will be wearing a helmet.”
“Daddy! No one wears those at the rodeo!”
“No one else is my daughter, and you are the most precious thing in my life. If you want to compete, you will be wearing a helmet. If you don’t want to wear a helmet, that’s fine. You just won’t ride in the rodeo.”
Ha. He wasn’t going to fight her over this. He was feeling rather proud of himself. This was parenting done right. He knew he needed to enjoy this moment because before the week was out, he’d mess up just as big and go back to doubting his parenting skills. For now, he sat up straight. “Yep, sweetheart, your choice. Watch from the stands in your cowboy hat, or run the barrels with a riding helmet.”
She sighed. “I don’t have to ride Tank, do I?”
He laughed at the expression on her face. He couldn’t blame her for the love of speed. She got all that from him. “You can ride Charm or Lancelot.”
“Thank you, Daddy!” The smile she flashed him lit up his world brighter than the noon sun. “I can’t wait to tell Nikki! She told me if I worked really hard, you’d see that and trust me to ride again. She said she couldn’t wait to watch me ride.”
“Sweetheart, you know she might not be here. I don’t want you to get hurt. You’ve worked hard to get back on a horse, but you can’t make others do what they don’t want to do. No matter how much you pray for it to come true.”
“I still don’t understand why you stopped seeing Nikki.”
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