Daddy with a Deadline

by Marilyn Shank

  Annie walked up her porch steps, and when she turned to wave, just the sight of her lit a flame in Trent’s heart. A really big flame. Funny how one smile from the woman made his throat parch and his palms turn clammy. He was losing bodily control at an alarming rate of speed.

  Annie affected him like no woman ever had. Not even Dawn. He’d worry about his irregular heartbeat, but the symptom only occurred in Annie’s presence. The woman messed with his psyche too. He now knew more about cribs and bassinettes than a reclusive rancher ought to know.

  Trent started the truck and headed for the nearest convenience store, trying hard to shelve his runaway emotions. He was on a short-term mission and his time with Annie had an end date. An end date he intended to honor.

  He pulled into a Shop and Save and borrowed a phone directory. He checked under the name Miller and spotted Alex and Sara at 3515 Meadow Lane. Hmm. Maybe he’d pay Annie’s friend a visit on his way home.

  And after that he’d return to real life: to ranching, to training horses, and to the solitary life he loved so much. He could hardly wait!

  Trent walked up the sidewalk of a redbrick house with pots of geraniums all over the porch. He saw no sign of toys in the yard and assumed this was the couple’s first baby. When he knocked on the door, a woman almost as pregnant as Annie opened the door.

  “Are you Sara Miller?”

  “Yes.”

  “I’m Trent Madison. We’ve never met, but...”

  “You’re Annie’s cowboy.” The woman placed a hand over her mouth. “Uh-oh. That came out wrong.”

  “Close enough,” Trent said as he felt a flush creep up his neck. “I’m a rancher and a friend of Annie’s.”

  “Come in.” Sara pushed open the door and Trent entered a tidy living room. “Have a seat.”

  As he sank onto the couch, Trent felt totally displaced. When he paid folks a visit, they always discussed horses. Never babies! He cleared his throat. “I need help with a project I’m working on.”

  “What sort of project?”

  He raked a hand through his hair, wishing he could charge out the door and never come back. “Actually, it’s a baby shower.”

  About now the woman would toss him out on his ear. Or call for a straitjacket.

  “For Annie? You’re throwing a shower for Annie?”

  Hearing the concept put into words made it more ludicrous than ever. “Rosa, my housekeeper, will plan the event.”

  “It’s a great idea, Trent, but you’ll never get Annie to agree. Several teachers have offered to host a shower for Annie, including me, but she’s so independent that she won’t put anyone out. She finally said she might let us throw one after the babies arrive.”

  “My housekeeper suggested making the shower a surprise.”

  “Hmm. What a great idea! That way Annie Samuels, self-made woman, won’t get to vote. I’m all for it.”

  Trent expelled a sigh. “You know her pretty well.”

  “Annie’s my best friend, and I’ll help you all I can. But Doc Newsome says my baby could come early, so I may be out of circulation soon.”

  “Then we’d better get moving,” Trent said, as if he had a clue on how to proceed. “Rosa doesn’t know who to invite.”

  “Why don’t I collect names and phone numbers of some teachers in our building. And we can invite Mrs. Higginbotham, Annie’s next-door neighbor.”

  “Great.”

  “Do you have a day in mind?”

  “How’s Saturday? At one thirty?”

  “Works for me. Tell Rosa I’ll help fix refreshments and organize the games. And I’ll call her with that list of names.”

  The weight of the world lifted from Trent’s shoulders. “I see why Annie likes you.”

  “I see why she likes you too.” Sara’s dark eyes danced with mischief.

  “Annie hates me. The woman shoots down every suggestion I make and argues with me nonstop.”

  Sara giggled. “That means she likes you.”

  “Is she this cantankerous at school?”

  “Yes. But she’s also the best teacher I know. And I’d never have survived my pregnancy without her.”

  Trent handed Sara his card. “Here’s the phone number at the ranch. Thanks for your help.”

  “Thanks for including me.”

  “Are you kidding? I couldn’t pull it off without you.”

  And he meant every word.

  As Trent headed for his truck, he felt desperate for a dose of normalcy. Maybe he could spend tonight with Wildfire. Working with an untamed horse might restore his perspective. And help him forget about pregnant women and baby showers!

  The day Brad’s letter came, Trent’s world had shifted on its axis. He’d give anything to resume his former life, but he didn’t know how.

  Annie patted the fender of the shiny car parked in her driveway. “Now listen up. I intend to learn how to drive a stick shift. And I expect you to cooperate.”

  She squared her shoulders and wriggled into the driver’s seat. “By the way, your name is Pete,” she said. After starting the engine, Annie shifted into reverse and backed up.

  To her surprise, the car didn’t lurch as much as yesterday. Not having a drop-dead-gorgeous cowboy riding shotgun helped. “That’s the spirit, Pete. Let’s try that again.”

  For the next thirty minutes Annie backed out of her driveway and pulled back in again. Whenever the car sputtered, she willed it to keep running, and it usually did. She smiled smugly. So a pregnant woman, almost ready to deliver, could learn new things!

  Heady with success, Annie ventured into traffic. The longer she drove, the more confident she felt. She’d show that obnoxious cowboy. She pulled onto the highway and drove toward Copper Creek Ranch.

  When she arrived and spotted Trent in the corral, Annie’s heart did a backflip. Even from a distance the man looked strong and commanding. And he moved with power and grace.

  Behave yourself, she told her heart. But it paid no attention.

  She parked next to Rosa’s Neon and climbed out. Trent spotted her and waved his Stetson. As he came toward her with long, sure strides, Annie’s heart did a happy dance.

  Today the cowboy wore faded jeans with a rip in one knee—an endearing touch. “How did this car get here?” he demanded. “Did you have it towed?”

  Annie lifted her chin. “I drove it myself. Very well, I might add. Pete never died once.”

  “Pete?”

  “The car. It looks like a Pete, don’t you think?”

  He shook his head and smirked. “You’re a strange lady, Annie Samuels. A mighty strange lady.” The warmth in Trent’s tone prevented a counterattack.

  A magnificent horse prancing in the corral caught Annie’s attention. “Is that Wildfire? Your work in progress?”

  “Yep. And he’s agitated today. But he’ll come around.”

  “How do you tame him?”

  “I’ll show you, if you like.”

  “Sure.”

  “You stay behind the fence,” Trent instructed.

  He unlatched the gate and secured it behind him. Wildfire tossed his head and whinnied. “Easy, boy, easy.” His voice was firm yet gentle.

  As he walked toward Wildfire, Trent’s shoulders drooped and he kept his palms down. Each movement seemed slow and calculated. With every step he took, Wildfire backed up and whinnied again. But as Trent persisted, the horse became less rebellious.

  Annie watched with fascination. Everything this man did, he did well. Whether it was painting the nursery, driving a stick shift car, or taming a horse, Trent had mastered the skill. Just watching him brought pleasure. And her heart continued to misbehave.

  Some time later Trent backed toward the gate and joined Annie outside the corral.

  “You’re good at that.”

  “I should be. I practice a lot.”

  “What were you doing?”

  “Building a trust relationship. Breaking a horse takes time, Annie. It doesn’t happen overnight.” />
  “How do you build it?”

  “No jerky movements, gentle speech, no threatening behavior. And I respect his space.”

  “Hmm. I use the same tactics with my kindergarteners.”

  Trent grinned. “I’ll bet they work too.”

  “How long does it take?”

  “Each time I work with Wildfire, he trusts me a little more. One day I’ll saddle him. That will be a milestone.”

  “I had no idea it took so long.”

  “Most worthwhile things do.”

  Annie liked the cowboy’s logic. And his methodical, patient manner. If anyone could tame a wild horse, Trent was the man.

  A new thought occurred to Annie. If she shelved her emotions, maybe she and Trent could be friends. Friends and nothing more.

  “Are you up for a walk?” he asked.

  “Sure.”

  They headed past the corral and barns and toward the open field. A flock of geese flew overhead and honked in their off-key manner. Annie breathed deeply—as deeply as she could with her active twins having a fistfight. She sighed. “It’s quiet. And the air smells fresh.”

  “It’s country air. Very little pollution.”

  “Copper Creek Ranch is amazing, Trent. My kindergarten students would be enthralled with your ranch.”

  “Really? Why do you say that?”

  “They’d love running through the fields and picking wildflowers. And your horses would be the primary attraction.”

  “I’ve never thought about having kids at the ranch,” Trent admitted.

  “You’re kidding. Surely you want children of your own someday?”

  Annie saw Trent stiffen at her comment. After a few moments of silence, he said, “Probably not. I used to think about having kids, but I got over it.”

  “Mumps and measles are something you get over,” she retorted. “Not children.”

  They walked on in silence. Annie figured her question had stirred some feelings Trent wasn’t ready to confront. Finally he said, “I talked to Dawn, my ex-wife, about the possibility of our having kids, and she said she’d like that.”

  “But it didn’t work out,” Annie surmised, wondering if one of them had fertility issues. She’d better stop quizzing the man on this very personal matter. Obviously the subject was uncomfortable to discuss.

  “Dawn didn’t want children,” Trent added, his tone sounding harsh now. “It was a lie when she told me that she did. Almost everything Dawn told me was a lie.”

  Now Annie fell silent. Trent needed to get this pain out of his system. He’d obviously carried the burden for a very long time.

  He rammed his hands into his pockets. “Only three weeks after we had that conversation, Dawn filed for divorce.”

  Annie stopped walking and turned to face him. The pain she saw in his eyes and heard in his voice tore at her heart. “Oh, Trent. How awful that must have been. I’m so sorry.”

  He shrugged and glanced down at his boots. “I was a first-class fool about everything relating to Dawn. Because I trusted her, I didn’t realize she’d cleaned out our checking account. Or that she’d taken a big chunk from our savings as well.” His chuckle was sardonic and without a trace of humor. “To say Dawn took me to the cleaners is a huge understatement.”

  He turned and they resumed their walk. Annie was pondering what she might say to bring him some comfort when she stepped into a gopher hole. She nearly lost her balance, but Trent grabbed her shoulders to steady her. “Whoa, there. We can’t have you taking a tumble. Are you OK?” The concern on his face seemed genuine.

  “I’m fine. Just a little embarrassed.”

  Trent reached for her hand, and without thinking Annie slipped hers inside his. “For security,” he explained.

  She nodded. “For security.”

  Trent’s hand felt like heaven cradling hers. She shouldn’t be holding his hand, but the twins’ safety was important. If only her heart would stop skittering.

  He didn’t speak anymore about his failed marriage. Annie realized for the first time how deeply Trent had been hurt by his ex-wife. He turned to look at her and asked, “Sure you’re OK?”

  “I’m fine,” she told him. But she wasn’t. Her pulse skipped wildly and she felt oxygen deprived. And this time she couldn’t blame it on her pregnancy.

  Annie sighed. If she wanted her relationship with Trent to be “friends only,” she had a long ways to go.

  CHAPTER 8

  HOW WILL I ever give the twins everything they need? Annie wondered as she wheeled her cart through the baby aisle at Meyer’s Market. Her children didn’t even have decent beds. The bassinettes did look like picnic baskets on steroids, although she’d never admit it to Trent.

  As Annie turned the corner, she almost crashed into Sara’s cart. “Hey, lady, watch where you’re going. You need another driving lesson,” her friend teased.

  “I’ll have you know I drove to the market myself. Pete didn’t die once.”

  “Is Pete the name of the car? The one your cowboy gave to you?”

  “He’s isn’t my cowboy. And he didn’t give me the car. It’s a loaner. Just until Eloise is repaired.”

  “When’s the last time you saw your benefactor?”

  “Yesterday. I drove out to the ranch.”

  “Good move. Did you spend some time with Trent?”

  “I watched him work with his horse Wildfire. Trent’s wonderful with horses, and his ranch is awesome. We even took a walk.” Annie sighed. “But I shouldn’t have gone.”

  “Why not, for goodness’ sake?”

  “I’ve already spent too much time with the man. He called this morning and offered to bring me Rosa’s enchiladas for supper, but I told him I was busy.”

  “So you’d rather eat alone than spend time with a man you really like? Sorry, I don’t get it.”

  “I have to manage on my own. Trent’s only here for a little while. I can’t get attached.”

  “But the man likes you, Annie. A lot.”

  “He feels obligated. There’s a difference.”

  Sara shook her head and sighed. “So where are you headed after shopping?”

  “Home. To indulge in frozen pizza and watch some mindless television.”

  “Now that sounds exciting.”

  “Doesn’t it? See you later, Sara.”

  “You’re making a mistake,” Sara called. “A big mistake.”

  Annie ignored Sara’s comment. But in truth, returning to her empty house didn’t seem so appealing. And she tried to forget how yummy Rosa’s enchiladas tasted. But worst of all, she missed Trent. She’d seen him just yesterday and missed him already.

  When Annie approached her house, she spotted Trent’s truck in her driveway. Her pulse picked up speed as she pulled Pete to the curb and climbed out.

  Hmm. The truck was here, but she saw no sign of the cowboy.

  Mrs. Higginbotham came hurrying down the sidewalk. “I hope I didn’t do anything wrong,” she said. “I told that man you went shopping and you’d be home soon. But he was extremely persistent.”

  Hmm. A perfect description of Trent Madison.

  “Since I’ve seen his truck here a lot, I figured he was a friend, so I agreed.”

  Mrs. Higginbotham wrung her handkerchief, and her face turned cherry red. Knowing the woman’s blood pressure spiked under stress, Annie patted her hand. “Don’t worry, Mrs. H. Um, what, exactly, did you agree to?”

  “I gave that cowboy the key to your house.”

  “You did what?” Annie tried not to screech out the words but didn’t quite succeed.

  Mrs. H bit her lip. “I gave him the key. So he could work on the surprise.” The serious wringing of the handkerchief continued and her face looked redder than ever.

  Deep breath, Annie told herself. Deep breath. “I’m glad you gave him the key,” Annie finally said. “You know how I love surprises. Now go make yourself some chamomile tea and put your feet up for a while.”

  “If you’re sure eve
rything’s OK.”

  “Everything’s just peachy. Thanks for helping out.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  Annie watched her neighbor till she reached her porch steps. When the woman turned to wave, Annie waved back. Then she stomped up her own steps. The nerve of Trent Madison! To wheedle a house key out of poor Mrs. Higginbotham! He’d better have an earthshaking reason for his behavior. Like a house fire or a burglary in progress. Anything less and she’d call the police and send him straight to jail!

  “Not half bad,” Trent said as he studied the crib he’d just constructed. At least one of the twins would have a bed. A great, top-of-the-line bed.

  Annie’s babies should not sleep in picnic baskets. And Trent was here to see that didn’t happen. He took a swig of the soda he’d brought along and started assembling bed number two.

  Trent whistled as he worked. Just like the seven dwarves. Hmm, maybe a dwarf theme would be good for the nursery. Annie’s boys, if that’s what she was having, would prefer that to those silly woolly lambs. Or teddy bears in dresses! No self-respecting boy could stomach that froufrou stuff.

  Trent worked quickly, hoping to vacate the premises before Annie returned. That would postpone his imminent death a while longer.

  “Trent Madison? What are you doing in my house?”

  Annie’s voice sounded louder and shriller than usual. Trent glanced at the window and considered climbing out.

  “Nothing much,” he called back.

  “Breaking and entering is a crime. Where are you anyway?” Her voice became more piercing with each word.

  “In the nursery.”

  “What are you up to now?” she demanded.

  “Come and see.” Trent eyed the window longingly but stayed to face the music. It wouldn’t be a soothing sonata—more like a screechy violin solo in a minor key.

  Annie stormed into the room with a bag of groceries tucked under her arm. Her cheeks had flushed to a becoming shade of pink, and her blue eyes sparked fire. “You bought the beds!” she yelled. “After I told you specifically that I needed to wait a while longer, you went ahead and bought the beds!”