The SEAL's Second Chance Baby

by Laura Marie Altom

  “Thanks for that lion trick.” Effie cocked her head in a way that had her long golden ponytail catching glints of afternoon sun—not that Marsh cared. It was just an observation.

  Kind of like the way that necklace her son had been messing with had settled into that sweat-glistening hollow at the base of her throat?

  Marsh cleared his throat, then, when the baby reached for his hat brim, passed her back to her mom. “Think she misses you.”

  Effie took her daughter, but she also took an extra long look at him that left him wondering if she hadn’t zeroed in on exactly why he no longer wanted to hold the perfectly content child. Because no matter how loud he raged or how long he cried, being around kids just plain hurt.

  “Come on inside, and I’ll give you your grandfather’s wallet.”

  “Sure.” Feeling like an old hound, Marsh trailed after her, hating himself for checking out her behind in faded jeans that hugged her curves as well as any wet suit.

  “Marsh. What a nice surprise.” Mabel stood at the stove, seeming unaffected by the afternoon heat. “When I found Wallace’s wallet, I wondered how long it would take him to figure out it was gone.” Whatever she had simmering smelled delicious—especially since he’d skipped lunch. From what little he knew about Mabel, all it would take for a dinner invite would be wielding his best smile, but the thought of sharing a table with not just the baby but the whole family was enough to send him running.

  “Here you go.” Effie handed him what he’d come for. “We only took half the cash.” She winked.

  “Actually, the old coot said he wants me to take you to buy a new ride. Said he didn’t think your van would be big enough for the whole family once he and Mabel get hitched.”

  “That’s crazy. You tell your grandfather thanks, but no, thanks. Me and that van lasted longer than my marriage.”

  “Will do.” He slipped the wallet in his back pocket, tipped his hat to both ladies and turned for the door.

  “Wait!” Mabel called. “Since you’re here, you might as well stay for dinner. We usually eat early, on account of the kids needing to get to bed between seven and eight.”

  “That’s a mighty kind offer,” Marsh said, “but I just ate. I sure would have rather had something homemade.”

  “I understand. For sure, you come eat with us another time—in fact, anytime. Pretty soon, we’ll be family and both you and your grandpa could use fattening up.”

  “Probably so, ma’am.” After a last tip of his hat, Marsh bolted for the door before his starving stomach ratted him out by growling.

  On the ride home, he wished for a logical answer as to why he’d outright lied to the kindly old woman, but the only thing he could come up with was the fact that out of all the hand-to-hand combat situations and gunfights and gnarly near-catastrophic water-based events he’d survived, nothing scared him more than being around Effie and her three kids.

  Nothing had brought him deeper satisfaction than being a family man, yet never again would he open his heart to that kind of love. Why? Because it hurt too damned bad to lose it.

  Chapter Six

  “He scrambled out of here faster than a cat with its tail on fire.” Mabel flipped the pork chops she was frying.

  Taking salad fixings from the fridge, Effie said, “I think it hurts him—being around the kids.”

  “Why?”

  “Wallace didn’t tell you?” Effie normally wasn’t one to gossip, but this was information Mabel kind of needed to know.

  “Apparently not.” She turned down the stove, covered the cast-iron skillet and wiped her hands on a dish towel.

  “Marsh’s three-year-old son drowned. Not long after, he and his wife divorced.”

  “Oh, dear...” Mabel clamped her hands over her mouth. “That’s awful.”

  “I know. Outside, he apologized for running out on breakfast. He never came right out and explained why, but I’m guessing being around Cassidy brought back too many memories of his son.”

  “Maybe so...”

  “Can I come out now?” Colt shouted from his room.

  Effie sighed. “I forgot all about him being under house arrest.”

  “What did he do?” Mabel sat at the table.

  Effie retold the day’s events.

  Mabel whistled. “That boy is a pistol. It’s a darned shame Marsh wants no part of being around your boys. They sure could use a strong man in their lives.”

  “They’re doing fine,” Effie said, a bit harsher than she’d have liked. It irked her to no end when her grandmother inferred Effie wasn’t doing an adequate job with the boys. Of course they needed their father, but what was she supposed to do about it? She couldn’t remember the last time Moody sent a card, let alone called or stopped by for a visit. If she felt abandoned, it shouldn’t come as too big of a surprise that his sons did, too. Only instead of internalizing their pain the way she did, they acted out—or at least Colt did. For the most part, Remington was a sweetheart. Poor Cassidy had been too young to even miss having a dad. Effie and Mabel and her brothers were the only family she’d ever known. “At least they’ll all soon have Wallace—unless you want your privacy. I’d understand if you two want your own place, and I’ll start looking for an apartment.”

  “Actually—” Mabel patted the table beside her “—have a seat. I wanted to wait until after the wedding to bring this up, but I figure now is as good a time as any.”

  “Okay...” Should I be worried?

  Effie settled Cassidy in her walker, then joined her grandmother. “What’s up?”

  “I know this isn’t the most pleasant of topics, but I’m not getting younger, and before I die, I want to—”

  “Whoa.” Effie held up her hands. “You’re not sick, are you? And even if you are, we’ll find—”

  “Hush. I’m fine. We need to discuss my will—or, I guess the fact that there’s no real need for one. Since I plan on leaving everything I own to you, and Wallace wants to do a bit of traveling, I figured why not deed it all over now? That way, after the wedding, you and the kiddos will still be settled here, and wherever Wallace and I decide to roam, I’ll be worry free.”

  “Grandma, no. I couldn’t.” A peach-size knot lurked at the back of Effie’s throat. “This is your house. I told you when we first came to stay that our being here was only temporary. You and Wallace hardly know each other. God forbid, what if things don’t work out?”

  “Then I assume you’d let me have my room back.” Mabel laughed. “Child, Wallace and I have been carrying on quite the flirtation for years. The two of us feel right. Like a couple of old boots that finally got made into a pair. Now, let me have my way on this, and once my lawyer draws up the paperwork, I want you to sign. Okay?”

  With her throat too tight to speak, Effie nodded.

  “And get that awful look off your pretty face. This is a good thing. I just gave you a house and a leaky old barn. You should be thrilled.”

  Effie laughed through her tears. “That’s the truth. Last time it rained, I’m pretty sure it was wetter inside the barn than out.” She wrapped her grandmother in a fierce hug. “Thank you. For as long as I can remember, you’ve always been here for me. I appreciate you more than you could ever know.”

  “The feeling’s mutual.” Mabel kissed her cheek before checking on the pork chops. “Now, while I finish dinner, you might want to check on your three little devils. It’s awfully quiet...”

  True! Effie lurched from her chair to find the twins in the nursery. Cassidy grinned up at them from the floor, though if she’d had any idea what the two menaces were up to, Effie doubted she’d be amused. Colt held the mop, and Remington struggled to keep hold of a soapy, water-filled bucket they must have filled in the bathtub.

  “What are you doing?” Effie took the bucket from her son befor
e it sloshed all over the baby and the carpet.

  “She has a dirty diaper,” Colt said.

  “We knew you was busy talkin’ to Gramma, so we was gonna change it.”

  “We were going to change it. And thank you, but if you wanted to help, why not use a diaper wipe?”

  “Eeeeew.” The boys made matching disgusted faces.

  “Mom,” Colt said. “We didn’t want to touch the poop. So we were going to mop it.”

  Effie took the mop, too. “I’ll give you both points for creativity, but once I put these back in the closet, we’re going to have a lesson on the right way to change your sister.”

  “Aw,” Colt complained. “Do we have to?”

  “Yes.”

  “I’m not touching poop.” He crossed his arms.

  Effie sighed. Now was one of those times when she wished for a strong male influence in the boys’ lives. But she’d already loved and been left. Her heart couldn’t take that kind of pain all over again, and she certainly wouldn’t take a chance on subjecting her kids to it. Which left her on her own once Mabel and Wallace took off on their grand adventure.

  Maybe Marsh would stay on at Wallace’s ranch? If so, he’d had such a great touch with Remington. What if she offered to muck his horse stalls or something in exchange for him spending time with the boys? It would be embarrassing to even ask, but Moody had flat-out told her he had no time to help with the boys. When it came to Colt, she needed to be proactive before his behavior moved from being comical or bratty to downright dangerous—to either himself or others.

  * * *

  THREE DAYS LATER, the last place Marsh wanted to be was at a caterer’s with the happy couple, Effie and her baby girl, but at least the food two perky gals kept bringing out tasted a helluva lot better than what he or Wallace got from opening a can.

  Their tasting room had been set up in the former drugstore on the main drag through town. Maysville had a population of a few thousand on any given Saturday, but during the week, not much was going on. Horn Avenue was a four-block business district just off the two-lane highway leading to Colorado Springs. Ragtag businesses ranging from the café and feed store to a couple of bars and auto mechanics were bookended by two city parks. Cottonwoods and weeds were about the only things to grow, but a while back, the city council arranged through the Air Force Academy to have a pair of retired fighter planes installed alongside playgrounds.

  The town’s most impressive feature was its front-range Rocky Mountain view. On a clear day, Marsh felt as if he could see clear to heaven, which brought him closer to his son.

  The four adults sat lined up at the old soda fountain while Cassidy sat on the floor in her carrier, cooing and batting at dangly toys.

  Damn, she was a cutie.

  So was her mom.

  The heat hadn’t let up, and Effie had knotted her long hair into a bun, only more hair seemed to have escaped than stayed up. She looked too thin, hot and frazzled—but real pretty. He had the craziest urge to whisk her off to a well-air-conditioned steak house to put meat on her bones.

  “I’m partial to the prime rib.” Wallace scowled at the portion of plain grilled chicken breast that Cherry of Cherry and Berry’s Catering set in front of him. “I’ve never been a fan of much that walks on two legs.” He turned to Mabel. “Except for you, sweet darlin’.” Kiss, kiss.

  “Aw, thank you, sweetheart. You’re my favorite two-legged critter, too.”

  Marsh and Effie shared at look.

  The happy couple had been at this for a good hour, and if a decision wasn’t made soon, he was damn near ready to bolt—only this time he’d take Effie and Cassidy along for the ride. The lovebirds could fend for themselves.

  Cherry noted the selection on her iPad. “So let’s see. We’ve got the T-bone, prime rib and lobster for the buffet’s meats. Ready to get started on the side dishes?”

  Marsh raised his hand. “Mind if we take a break? I need to stretch my legs.”

  “Me, too.” Effie was already standing.

  “How about you two take a quick walk?” Mabel said. “I’ll keep an eye on the munchkin.”

  “Thanks.”

  Marsh waited by the door while Effie gave her grandmother a sideways hug. Once they were outside, he asked, “What time do your boys get out of school?”

  “Three fifteen.”

  “Damn. I was hoping it was earlier so you and Mabel would have an excuse to stop this party sooner rather than later. It’s only noon.”

  “Don’t think I haven’t had the same idea.” They headed toward the north park. Marsh was glad. It had the best mountain view and the most shade.

  “Wonder how much longer till this heat breaks?”

  “Wish I knew. It’s getting old.” He stepped aside while an elderly couple crossed in front of them to enter Halliday’s Insurance.

  “Aw, they were sweet,” Effie said when they’d passed. “But do you ever feel like we’re the youngest folks in town?”

  He chuckled. “Now that you mention it—yes. Just wait till the wedding. We’ll be the youngest at the altar by forty years.”

  “It’s funny, but also kind of sad. Wish Wallace and Mabel had met sooner, but who knows? Maybe having each other will give both of them such a health boost that they’ll live extra years.”

  “Hope so.”

  They waited for five cars and a truck hauling a cattle trailer to pass before crossing the street to the park.

  They meandered down a winding blacktop path until reaching an aspen-filled glade. It was too hot for the usually alpine trees, and the leaves drooped.

  “Those trees look how I feel.”

  Effie laughed, then sat on a bench near a man-made gurgling stream. Her pale blue sundress matched her eyes, and Marsh fought an irrational urge to tug the band barely holding her long hair in place.

  “Now that—”

  “What do you—”

  After both tried speaking at once, they shared a smile.

  “Ladies first,” Marsh said.

  “All right...” She ducked her gaze and now held her hands tightly clasped. “I’m not even sure where to start. I guess I was going to say that now that I’ve got you alone, I’ve got an odd question for you—and if you’re not interested or it feels forced, I completely understand.”

  “That’s the most intriguing thing I’ve heard in a while. What’s up?” Is she asking me on a date? Why else would she need me alone? She’d never given any indication that she was even attracted. But if she is? He wasn’t sure how he’d feel. Since his divorce, women had been the last thing on his mind.

  “Well...” Beneath her freckles, her cheeks turned an appealing pink.

  Shit. Should he man up and ask her out? “Effie, if you want to go on a—”

  “Marsh, I need you to—”

  They cut each other off again, but this time it was good, because Marsh welcomed the comic relief. With luck, she’d aborted her mission and realized she wouldn’t want to spend any more time than necessary with a head case like him.

  She forced a breath, then began again. “The other afternoon at the house, when you made Remington forget his missing eyeball—” she grimaced “—you had such a great way of calming him without babying him like I always seem to do. At the time, it might not have seemed like much, but your help meant a lot to me.”

  “It was no big deal. You forget I used to be a dad. I know how kooky kids sometimes get.”

  “Oh, I know—which is why I feel bad even asking you this, but would you consider spending an hour or two a week with my boys? I’d gladly do a favor for you in return. Clean or cook—whatever. It’s just that the older they get, the more I feel like they need a strong male influence, and unfortunately, their dad took himself out of the picture.”

  She didn�
�t want him to spend time with her, but with her kids?

  Wow, Marsh, you’re even further off your game than you thought.

  “I know it’s a lot to ask, but last night, the boys tried to mop the baby, and—”

  “Hold up—they what?”

  “Long story.” Her adorably toothy grin made him a little sad she hadn’t wanted that date. “Honestly, I’m not even sure what I’d need you to do. I’m just struggling with discipline—mostly with Colt—and wondering if I devise a way to nip trouble now, it won’t get worse once he’s older.”

  “Makes sense.” What didn’t was the way Marsh realized he’d leaned closer while she’d been talking, rapt with interest over anything she had to say. The corners of her lips had the cutest crinkle, and at that moment, he would have agreed to anything to spend more time watching her talk, which was confusing as hell.

  “Then you’ll do it?”

  “It would be a privilege.”

  She exhaled. “I wasn’t sure how you’d take it. I thought you might think I’m a kook. Plus, I worried if being around Colt and Remington might bother you since, well, you know...”

  “What happened with my son?” His jaw hardened, and he nodded. “The funny thing is, your guys are so much older than he was that it’s somehow different. With your daughter, I remember those baby stages, but Colt and Remington are a couple of characters who make me happy—not sad.”

  “Good. Then we have a deal?” She held out her hand for him to shake.

  “Hold up—not so fast.” He couldn’t resist teasing her. “You mentioned that we’d be exchanging services. What do I get?”

  “Oh—of course.” She reddened again, and he liked the rev it brought to his pulse. “Well, I can clean, exercise your horses, cook—”

  “Yahtzee. Me and Wallace live on TV dinners and pork ’n’ beans. How about a couple times a week, you bring over your crew and I’ll take them out riding, teach them about horses and cattle, and hopefully sneak in a few life lessons? Meanwhile, you and Cass can be inside, whipping up a meat loaf or spaghetti—oh, and pie. Lord, I’ve missed pie.”