About a Baby

by Ann Yost

  Too late she remembered her newly coiffed hair.

  “Nuts!” She slammed off the shower, but the bouffant “do” was gone forever.

  Great. Now she’d look like a drowned rat. A cranky drowned rat.

  Hallie towel-dried her hair. Immediately, the curls Jolene had worked so hard to subdue reappeared. She rubbed vanilla-scented moisturizer onto her skin and slid into the flapper-style fire engine red dress. It had fit perfectly when Jolene convinced her to buy it last month. Now it was a little loose.

  Stress would do that to a person. Her eyes narrowed. Another sin to lay at Basil Outlaw’s door.

  She studied the mirror. From the front, the dress looked sleek and sophisticated with its high neckline and spaghetti straps. What made it distinctive was the back. It consisted of a series of narrow crisscrossed straps that ended at the base of her spine.

  Hallie hadn’t been sure about the frock, but Jolene said it was sexy and provocative while remaining tasteful. She’d liked it and she’d bought it.

  Now she wondered whether she should wear it at all. Would Jake get the wrong idea or worse, think she was a tease? Maybe she should just put on the black sheath she’d worn to every formal occasion since college. But then she couldn’t wear the adorable strappy red shoes.

  Hallie heaved a sigh of exasperation. Wardrobe was so much more complicated when there were men involved. She applied a little blush, some mascara and lip-gloss, and glared at her reflection in the mirror. Her hair looked like seaweed. She’d just plugged in the hairdryer when she heard Jake at the door.

  Well, dang. He was early. At least the seaweed hair would offset any inappropriate message sent by the red dress.

  She swung the door wide, an apology on her lips, but the man standing tall, dark and impatient on her doorstep wasn’t the sheriff. She gasped at the sight of the perfectly cut black tuxedo that hugged the masculine lines of his body. His gray eyes blazed and the lines around his mouth deepened. Just for a minute, Hallie couldn’t take in any oxygen at all.

  He knew it, too. The toad. He gave her his slow grin, the one that always turned her inside out.

  “Nice dress.” He walked in as if he owned her place.

  His eyes glittered. “Very nice dress.”

  “You look n-nice, too,” she stammered. “Why are you here?”

  “No sense in taking two cars. I figured I could ride with you. I cleared it with Deputy Dawg.”

  “Fine,” she said. Butterflies filled Hallie’s stomach and she felt lightheaded. The evening that had looked so dreary just a few minutes ago sparkled dangerously before her. “I’m almost ready to go.”

  “You’re not ready. Your hair’s wet.”

  “It’ll dry.”

  He put a firm hand on her wrist. “You’ll get sick,

  Halliday. Go on and dry it.”

  She shouldn’t listen to him. He wasn’t her keeper or her lover or her anything.

  “You’re such a tyrant.” She made a face at him and pivoted sharply.

  “Hold it.” It was a command. “You are not going anywhere in that dress.”

  Good grief.

  “Let me guess. You don’t like the back.”

  “What back? It doesn’t have a back. You’re practically nude. You are nude. It’s outrageous. Go change.”

  “It’s stylish. And I’d like to remind you that you have no right to tell me what to wear.”

  “I’m not telling you what to wear. I’m telling you what not to wear.” He thrust long fingers through his hair, giving it a tousled, sexy look. “This is a dance, Halliday. That big ox will want to put his arm around you.”

  “He’s not a big ox,” Hallie protested. At least he’d confirmed her decision on which dress to wear.

  No way was she changing into the black sheath now.

  He clenched his fists, and his voice grew as steely as his eyes. “He’ll be touching your naked back.”

  “The big ox is here,” Jake called out in a cheerful voice as he walked in through the unlatched door. Hallie hadn’t heard him come up the stairs. “And for the record, I don’t have any problem with touching her naked back.”

  Baz’s eyes shot fire. Typical, Hallie thought. He showed no self-consciousness at being overheard calling Jake a name. In fact, he ignored the other man and glared at her.

  “Change your clothes, Halliday.”

  “I’m not changing, Baz. Get over it.”

  “She’s fine just the way she is,” Jake added, mildly. “Besides, I’m afraid it’s too late.” He grinned at Hallie. “You have to wear red.” He produced a lightweight plastic container inside of which was nestled an oyster-colored orchid with a bright red center. “I consulted Jolene, so I’m pretty sure it’ll look perfect on the dress.”

  “Oh, Jake,” said Hallie, “it is perfect.”

  “So are you.” He dropped a kiss on Hallie’s nose and pinned the corsage to her dress with a deft, competent move. A girl would be damn lucky to have a guy like Jake. Hallie mourned what might have been. Baz’s face matched the center of the orchid.

  Hallie felt the steam rising off him from several feet away, but he didn’t comment on the flower or the kiss. “Dry your hair,” he barked.

  She did. He was right and, besides, drying gained her a modicum of control with those dancing curls. When she came out of the bathroom, Baz snatched up her coat before Jake could get it, and he held it open for her.

  Then he glanced at her feet. “Very practical,

  Halliday. I can see you slogging through two feet of snow in those.”

  “She won’t have to slog,” said Jake, easily. “I’ll carry her to and from the car.”

  Baz had moved to within an inch of Jake before Hallie could get the next words out of her mouth.

  They were a couple of great looking men, she thought, equally tall and well built, one dark, one blond. Intelligent men, too. Though neither one was revealing that quality at the moment.

  “I’ve got boots,” she said, hastily, dragging them out of the closet. “Nobody has to carry anybody.”

  She put on her boots, and Jake took her arm.

  “I’d be honored to carry you,” he said, in an intimate voice. “You couldn’t weigh much more than a sack of potatoes.”

  She laughed at him, and swatted him on the arm.

  Baz didn’t say anything else, but when Jake helped her into the passenger’s side of the Blazer, Baz told her to move over on the bench seat, and she was forced to sit between the two of them for the seven-minute ride to the Garden of Eden.

  “I kinda like this arrangement,” Jake said, cheerfully. “Gives me an excuse to sit closer to you.”

  A sound came up out of Baz’s chest, but it didn’t turn into words.

  Hallie was so busy trying not to breathe in the devastating testosterone she didn’t notice when Jake pulled into a parking spot in front of the Garden of Eden.

  “Be right back.” Baz opened the passenger side door.

  “Where are you going?”

  “To pick up my date.”

  His date? Suddenly it all made sense.

  Sharon. Baz’s date was Sharon.

  Jealousy hit Hallie like a barrel of Gatorade after a soccer win. Sharon was perfect for Baz. On top of her other sterling qualities, she was originally a city girl. The two would find sorts of things in common.

  “Hallie?”

  She forced her mind back to the present.

  “Everything, okay?”

  She reminded herself she’d turned the other man down. He had a perfect right to date anyone he wanted. She found a smile for Jake. “How are Sam and Lillie?”

  “Fine. Listen, I get the distinct impression you and Outlaw have a past. Not that I’m asking about that. All I want to know is if you’re looking for a future with him.”

  “I’m not. I worked for him in L.A., but whatever we had then is over. He’s just here to help out his dad.” It was a lie, and they both knew it.

  The sheriff shrugged. “T
he doc’s like a lighted stick of dynamite around you. You’re different, too.

  Kind of restless.”

  She felt like pond scum. “All right. You deserve to know the truth, Jake. Heck, you deserve so much more. Your instincts are right about us. There’s bad blood, and there’s unfinished business.”

  He nodded. “Thanks for being honest with me.

  My advice, Hal? Be honest with yourself.” He really was such a decent man. Hallie wanted to cry.

  A moment later the backdoor of the Blazer opened, and she turned to greet her friend. Sharon’s rich auburn hair and her milky complexion contrasted beautifully with Baz’s dark presence. The two were laughing and Hallie felt that horrible flare of jealousy again.

  “Happy New Year,” she said to Sharon.

  To her ears it sounded like a curse.

  Chapter Nine

  When she first arrived in town, Hallie had spent hours in the tiny Eden Library. She’d researched Eden County the way someone else might have studied genealogy to construct a family tree. The Eden County Grange Hall had been built in the late years of the nineteenth twentieth century as a place for farmers to gather to discuss mutual concerns and to share supplies. Its location, five miles east of Eden, had been chosen because James Eden, a descendant of one of the first settlers, had donated the property “to be used for the public good.”

  Back then people thought Eden would grow and, ultimately, the Grange Hall would be within the town’s boundaries, but the local logging industry collapsed because of a dispute between two brothers, and the woolen mill moved to a more centralized location. Eden stayed small, and the Grange Hall remained five miles away.

  Nowadays the place was used for family reunions or weddings. Tonight it was decked out with evergreen swags on the knotty pine walls and twinkle lights threaded through potted plants. A glittering silver ball hung from the ceiling. As it rotated, it scattered shards of light on the dancefloor.

  George Stout, owner of Big George’s Appliances located on Route 2 between Eden and its larger neighbor to the north, Bangor, served as self-appointed disc jockey and emcee for local events.

  His motto was “Something for Everyone” and that applied to music as well as microwaves.

  Big George was playing The Big Noise from Winnetka as they walked in. Hallie’s spirits lifted.

  She loved big band music. Her spirits rose. Tonight marked her one-year anniversary in Maine, and she intended to celebrate.

  After they checked their coats, Hallie, Jake, and Sharon joined Jolene and her date at a table while Baz scouted out drinks.

  “Guess there’s no point asking what happened to your hair,” she said, as she gave Hallie the once over.

  Hallie made a face. “Looks pretty bad, doesn’t it?”

  Jo shrugged. “Not bad. Just different from the way it did in my shop.” She lifted a hand. “Don’t explain. Let’s get some punch. There’s fruit or lemonade. I think both of them are already spiked.”

  “Thank God,” Hallie murmured. She might have to spend the evening watching Baz and Sharon Velcro-ed to each other on the dance floor, but at least she wouldn’t have to do it sober. He made his way across the room as if he owned it. People stepped out of his way like waves before the prow of a ship. He wasn’t the handsomest man in the room, she thought, but he was definitely the most compelling.

  Hallie wasn’t the only woman to notice. Lots of feminine eyes lingered at the dark man in the perfectly fitted tuxedo.

  Cam arrived with his date and, almost as soon as the introductions were made, Big George replaced the swing tunes to oldies from the Sixties, like the romantic “Unchained Melody” and “When a Man Loves a Woman.”

  It was a signal to dance, and most of the couples did. But not all. Hallie noticed that Baz had mousetrapped Jake into a conversation down at the end of the long table. His maneuver left Sharon and herself sitting alone.

  “I wonder,” Sharon said, thoughtfully, “if Baz’s sudden intense interest in the Eden County traffic laws has anything to do with your backless dress.”

  “Good grief, no. Baz is just contrary. Everyone else is dancing, so he isn’t. He’ll probably want to dance when Big George is taking a break.”

  Sharon seemed to study her. “How is it working with him?”

  “Not that bad. Lots of the time he’s out seeing to the farm animals, but even when he’s around, there’s no problem.”

  “You know Cameron fixed us up. I think maybe he was trying to make you jealous.”

  Well he’d succeeded. She was jealous and guilt-y ridden. If there was anything worse than seeing another woman with the guy you wanted, it was seeing one of your best friends in that position.

  “Hmmm.”

  “There’s nothing to worry about. Baz told me why he’s back in Eden. I know he’s hoping for a reconciliation. He’s a nice guy, but this is just an arranged date.”

  “You think he’s a nice guy?”

  “He’s a great guy. Everybody in town is saying so. Does that surprise you?”

  “Back in L.A. he was so taciturn the lab techs called him Stoneface.”

  “That’s kind of hard to believe. He’s so easy and friendly here.”

  “He belongs here. It’s his home.”

  “I think it’s because of you, Hallie.”

  Another splash of guilt hit Hallie. “I’m sorry.”

  Sharon laughed. “If it’ll make you feel better, I’ll tell you a little secret. I’m kind of interested in his brother.”

  Hallie followed her gaze to the dance floor where Cameron was dancing. She had to admit the younger Outlaw brother was devastatingly attractive in his tux, too.

  “Who’s that he’s with?” Sharon indicated his blue-haired partner.

  “I think it’s another former Sunday school teacher. Apparently every lady in town over the age of fifty spent some time teaching Sunday school.”

  “You look lovely, by the way,” Hallie said, belatedly. Sharon’s floor-length lemon chiffon gown emphasized her lovely pale skin and auburn hair.

  “Out of this world.”

  Sharon grinned at her. “And you look hot.” She circled her punch glass with long, slim fingers and lifted it to her lips. Hallie’s gaze fell on her wrist corsage of tiny yellow roses. They matched her dress.

  Baz had certainly gone to some trouble for an arranged date.

  “Jo looks fabulous in that little black number, doesn’t she?”

  “Fabulous. But she doesn’t look thrilled to be with Donny Hanson.” The Hansons owned and operated Eden’s only body shop. Jo caught Hallie’s eye and waved.

  The song ended, and while Big George chose another selection, Jolene marched over to where the women sat. She inclined her head at the men.

  “What’s up with those two—broken legs?”

  “My date is trying to keep Hallie’s date off the dance floor,” Sharon said.

  “That sounds healthy.”

  All of a sudden Hallie was sick of ruining the evening for everyone else. “I’ll take care of this.” She pushed back her chair. She caught Jake’s eye, and he excused himself. Within seconds they were on the dance floor twirling under the silver ball to the sounds of Dave Brubeck.

  Jake held her lightly as though she were delicate and valuable. She smiled up at him.

  “I had an interesting talk with your partner,” he said, neutrally. Hallie’s heart stopped. She braced herself for his next words, but they weren’t what she expected. “He was telling me about your work in L.A. He said he knew then that you’d make a great country vet.”

  Hallie felt a burst of pride.

  “By the way, where’s his scofflaw of a sister?”

  It wasn’t just the derogatory word. It was his harsh tone.

  “If you’re talking about Lucy, she’s in Boston visiting a college friend. Why do you call her a scofflaw?”

  Suddenly he sounded like the cop he was. “I caught her speeding out on Route two 2 on Christmas Eve. Gave her a warning.
”

  “Oh. She was probably hurrying home for Christmas Eve supper. It’s a tradition with the Outlaws.”

  He frowned. “Doesn’t she live here?”

  “Sure. I guess she was shopping in Bangor or maybe she’d taken a freelance assignment for the Excelsior. She wants to be a war correspondent someday.”

  “I shudder to think of her in a battlefield situation.”

  “I know,” Hallie said, seriously. “It could be really dangerous.”

  “For the soldiers.”

  She drew back and looked at him. “What’s gotten into you? Lucy’s a great young woman. How did she get on your bad side?”

  “She’s too good for Eden.”

  “It’s not that. She’s just anxious to experience other places. She’s so young. She wants to spread her wings.”

  He shrugged his big shoulders. “I’m not crazy about her attitude.”

  “Well, for your information, Sam and Lillie like her attitude just fine. Lucy and I ran into them and Mrs. Peach last Friday night at Little Joe’s. The kids love her.”

  He made a face. “I know. Sam named his pet rat, Lucy, Junior.”

  “That’s quite an honor.”

  He held her hand more tightly. Suddenly she had to know what he was thinking. “Jake? What’s really going on here? Do you have a little crush on Lucy?”

  “Hell, no. She’s a kid. I don’t want to talk about her anymore.”

  Hallie played the conversation back in her mind as he pulled her closer and danced her across the floor. Jake and Lucy? It was an unlikely duo. Jake needed a mother for his twins, and Lucy was poised to dive into life. And there was that thirteen-year age difference. She reminded herself that the nine years between Baz’s age and her own had made no difference at all.

  As if he wanted to stop her thoughts, Jake tucked her head under his chin and whirled her around in a series of quick, precise steps. She needed all her concentration just to keep up with him. After a while he loosened his hold, and they slowed to a trot. It was then that she caught sight of Baz’s strong arm circling Sharon’s slim waist. Unlike herself, Sharon was tall. Her head wouldn’t fit under Baz’s chin, but it looked just right resting on his shoulder. They looked so good together. Like an advertisement for People Magazine’s most beautiful couples.