A Baby for the Deputy

by Cathy McDavid

  “Shut it off,” Aaron hollered, afraid continued effort might result in severe damage.

  Samantha scrambled out of the truck. Her mouth was set in an identical stern line Aaron had seen all three Hartman sisters wearing earlier. He was beginning to think looks weren’t the only quality they had in common.

  By now, evening had given way to night. Above their heads, the parking lot lights flickered and crackled with an electrical hum. A few daring nighttime insects ventured down from the lights. One had the nerve to tangle in Samantha’s hair.

  She swatted at it furiously. “What now?”

  “I’ll call Conroy’s in the morning,” Ray said. “He’ll send the tow truck. You can leave your truck here. No one will bother it.”

  “And in the meantime?”

  “Where are you staying?”

  Samantha hesitated, wilting a little under the pressure of being scrutinized. “The inn.”

  Morning Side Inn, like a lot of establishments in the community, was horse friendly. Behind the main building, the owners had constructed a corral and dirt RV lot for guests to use during their stay, which explained what Samantha had done with her horse and trailer.

  The inn was also expensive. If she couldn’t afford to pay for her truck repairs, she certainly couldn’t afford to stay at the inn for long.

  “I can drop you off there later tonight,” Ray said. “Once we’ve finished talking.” He fished his keys from his pocket. “Let’s meet at the house. Samantha, you can ride with me and Dolores.” He turned in a circle and frowned, suddenly realizing his wife had been missing all along.

  “No way am I riding with you,” Samantha stated frimly. “I’ll walk to the inn. It’s not far from here.”

  “I think we should talk tonight,” Ray insisted. “The sooner the better.”

  She scrunched her mouth to the side, debating what to do. Suddenly, she pointed at Aaron. “I’ll ride with him.”

  Reactions ranged from surprise to displeasure to resistance. Aaron didn’t blame them. He’d already intruded enough on what was a private matter. Besides, someone else needed him more. “I can’t take you. My daughter’s expecting me home any minute.”

  “What if I drive you?” Frankie asked Samantha.

  The young woman raised her chin like before. “If he doesn’t take me, I’m not going.”

  Aaron had witnessed this same stubbornness in Mel, usually when she refused to give up on a sick or injured animal. Also, the one time he’d broached the subject of them dating like a regular couple.

  She’d insisted what they had suited them both. Why complicate matters? Lately, he’d been thinking he should have argued more. She deserved better than what they had, even if she didn’t believe so. And he had started wanting more, even if he refused to admit it.

  Their gazes briefly connected, and he wondered if she also ever reconsidered their arrangement.

  “This is probably best handled by your family,” Aaron said to Samantha.

  “They’re not my family,” she contradicted him. “I already have one. My mom and dad and two brothers.”

  Again, everyone except Ray seemed taken aback by the news, eyes widening and jaws going slack. What other secrets was he keeping?

  Mel was the first to speak. “Maybe you should drive her to Dad’s house. We certainly can’t keep standing here all night.” Before Aaron could refuse, she added, “I’ll go with you.”

  No one brought up the obvious. As deputy sheriff, Aaron was familiar with the town and didn’t need directions. Could Mel be trying to find time alone with him? As alone as they could be with another person sitting three feet away.

  That wasn’t why Aaron ultimately agreed to drive Samantha. It was the scared look on her face. She was a kid in trouble, though no one else apparently saw it. If his daughter ever needed help, he hoped a responsible and trustworthy person like himself stepped in.

  An unofficial vote was taken, and Aaron found himself in his SUV with Mel in the front, Samantha in the back and a heavy silence surrounding them. Guess he’d been wrong about Mel’s motives.

  “Take a left,” she instructed when they reached the parking lot exit. “Turn east onto Harvest Street.”

  Traffic was never heavy in Mustang Valley, with the exception of holidays when the whole town came out to celebrate. With each occasional vehicle passing them in the opposite direction, the interior of the SUV was illuminated by oncoming headlights.

  Aaron caught quick glimpses of Mel’s profile. She was just as scared as Samantha. He also understood why—her entire life was changing—and was glad he’d come along for her, too.

  Chapter Four

  The Hartman home was about four miles past where the paved road leading out of town ended and the dirt road began. Mel’s parents had built it soon after her father accepted a head wrangler position at The Small Change Ranch, using the entirety of their meager savings for construction. The house was a short distance from the ranch and until recently, her father had ridden to work every day.

  He told people the reason he quit was because his favorite horse had been retired and put to pasture, not that his arthritis had worsened. Mel didn’t have the heart to dispute him. Her father was a proud man.

  “What about your friends?” Aaron asked Samantha, glancing again in the rearview mirror. Mel noticed he’d been doing that a lot during the drive.

  “What about them?” Samantha said tersely.

  “Are they expecting you tonight?”

  “No.”

  “Have you called them?”

  Samantha gave another terse reply and slouched into her seat.

  Mel frowned. Really? Aaron was attempting chitchat? And who were these supposed friends of Samantha’s anyway?

  “What if they’re worried?” Aaron asked.

  “You always this nosy?”

  “Comes with the job.”

  Gauging by her tone, Samantha didn’t like Aaron better than Mel or the rest of them. So why insist on him driving her?

  The two had another brief exchange, and Mel’s irritation escalated. Perhaps because Aaron had obviously learned details about Samantha and Mel knew nothing. None of them did. Except her father. He’d known her name, at least. And that she existed. He was certainly on good terms with Samantha’s mother. Or, had been at one time.

  A sister. Mel had another sister. She silently did the math. Her dad and Samantha’s mom must have met one, no, two years after Mel’s mother died.

  Pain burned inside her chest. Plenty of people would defend her father, saying he hadn’t been married when he and Samantha’s mom met and that two years was a reasonable period to mourn before entering into a new relationship.

  Only it didn’t feel reasonable to Mel. The man she remembered had been devastated to his very core, blaming himself for a freak riding accident he couldn’t have prevented even if he was there when it happened. Afterward, Mel’s father could barely drag himself out of the house to buy groceries or take the girls to a school function. He’d gone to work every day only because he’d needed to support his family—what remained of it.

  Date? Engage in dinner conversation? Laugh? Have sex? It was beyond Mel’s ability to take in, and she hugged her middle.

  “Cold?” Aaron asked, already adjusting the air conditioning.

  “I’m fine.”

  She quietly fumed. Why hadn’t her father told them about Samantha? It made no sense. Having a child with another woman was a big deal. Life altering. Did he think they’d never find out or not care if they did?

  “Why now?” The words erupted from her, and she twisted in her seat to confront Samantha. “Why pick today of all days to suddenly show up?”

  “Does it matter?” Samantha stared out the passenger window.

  “You crashed my dad’s birthday party and demanded forty thousand dollars. I’d
say I’m owed an explanation. All of us are.”

  Samantha’s head snapped around. “You haven’t wanted an explanation for eighteen years. I could ask you, why now?”

  “Wait just a minute. I had no idea—”

  “And that’s my fault?”

  Mel opened her mouth to protest, realized the futility of it and instead swung back around, her tenuous hold on her temper threatening to break. She did not like this person. This stranger. This interloper.

  “He’s not the great guy you think he is,” Samantha said.

  “How do we even know you’re his daughter? You could be making the whole thing up.”

  “Did he act like I was making it up?”

  Mel wanted to scream. This could not be happening. It had to be a mistake. A terrible joke gone horribly wrong.

  The next instant, Aaron’s hand reached across the console for hers.

  “Relax,” he said softly. “There’s no use getting upset.”

  She should have shaken him off and would have if not for the warmth flowing through her and the knotted muscles in her neck slowly loosening. Damn him for sensing what she needed, which at the moment was a nonjudgmental friend in her corner.

  Opening her fist, she linked her fingers with his, marveling at this tiny intimacy. For the first time away from the motel, they were holding hands, and she had to admit, the sensation was nice. It was also something she could get used to if she let herself.

  “You two together?” Samantha asked from behind them.

  Mel snatched her hand away, the remark hitting much too close to home for her liking. “It’s not like that. We’re just friends.”

  “Right.”

  Mel imagined Samantha rolling her eyes.

  Aaron grinned and shrugged, not the least bit bothered.

  If only Mel could be as unconcerned as him. But she couldn’t. Not when she secretly, sort of, wanted to take their relationship to the next level. Or was that back a level since most couples began by dating, not sleeping together whenever the time was right and they felt like it.

  Her hand drifted to her belly. Could she be pregnant? If yes, their relationship might jump ahead two or three levels overnight.

  She remembered her plan to purchase a home pregnancy test tomorrow. Well, so much for that. With Samantha’s appearance and her outrageous demand, the day, and entire weekend, had taken a crazy turn. She’d be lucky to get to the store by Tuesday.

  One good thing, she hadn’t felt nauseous for a while now. Perhaps it was the flu after all.

  Without being told, Aaron turned the SUV onto the road leading to her father’s house.

  “I’ve been here before,” he said in response to Mel’s raised brows. “Your house, too.”

  “Make the rounds a lot?”

  “I like to keep tabs on certain people.”

  Did he? “Is that also part of the job?”

  His response was a smile.

  What did that mean? That he personally watched out for her and her family? Why, for heaven’s sake? Sure, he cared for her, but not like that.

  “How much farther?” Samantha demanded with growing impatience.

  “Not long.”

  Beyond the next rise, the front porch light on the Hartman house came into view. Aaron increased his speed slightly, and the SUV bumped over several potholes carved into the road.

  Mel’s stomach abruptly lurched. Well, so much for thinking she’d recovered. Leaning back, she closed her eyes and hoped she didn’t throw up in the SUV.

  “You all right?” Aaron let up on the gas, slowing the vehicle.

  “Just nerves.”

  “It wasn’t nerves yesterday.”

  She sent him a sideways glance, silently warning him to drop the subject. Thankfully, he did.

  A few minutes later, they pulled into the driveway, and Aaron parked to the side in order to let Mel’s father pass them. He and her sisters had been following close behind the entire drive.

  Mel thrust open her door, more than ready to get out. She was less enthusiastic about what lay ahead.

  “Thanks again.” She attempted a feeble smile. “For everything.” There’d be no more hand holding for her and Aaron. Not tonight and not with Samantha watching.

  “Call me later,” he said, repeating his earlier request.

  “I will.” A phone call that had nothing to do with arranging an evening at the motel. Their first of that sort, Mel mused.

  Realizing Samantha hadn’t moved, she said, “We’re here,” then waited, feeling like she’d stated the obvious.

  Samantha chewed on her lower lip, not moving. Mel wanted to ask what was wrong. After making a huge scene at the café, she couldn’t believe Samantha had suddenly developed cold feet.

  “I’m not going inside.” Samantha hitched her chin at Aaron. “Not without him.”

  “No!” Mel managed to get out, a second ahead of Aaron.

  “Samantha,” he said, “it’s getting late. I have to go home to my daughter.”

  By now, Mel’s sisters had disappeared into the house. Her father waited beside the open garage door.

  Samantha spoke so quietly, Mel wasn’t sure she’d heard correctly.

  “Please. You’re the only person I know here.” After a beat, she added, “You helped me before.”

  Aaron considered briefly, ultimately relenting and unbuckling his seat belt. “Only for a few minutes.”

  “That’s not a good idea.” Mel was thinking of her family’s reaction.

  “She’s young and all alone.”

  Apparently, Mel’s corner wasn’t the only one Aaron was in. He’d taken a position in Samantha’s, too. Mel was torn between being furious at him and touched by his concern.

  Samantha’s shoulders slumped with relief. So, she did have cold feet after all. Hard to believe after the brazen way she’d confronted them at the party.

  Aaron got out of the SUV, followed by Samantha. He waited for Mel to join them before heading into the garage. She made a point of walking on his other side and slightly in front. This was her family. Their house. She would lead.

  “You need something, Deputy?” her father asked when they neared.

  Samantha cut in before Aaron could respond. “He stays or I leave.”

  Aaron lifted a shoulder in apology. “I promise to keep my mouth shut and any opinions to myself.”

  Mel’s father didn’t look happy. She found it hard to sympathize despite defending him earlier. He was in large part responsible for this mess.

  Samantha hung close to Aaron as the four of them paraded single file through the laundry room, along the short connecting hall and into the kitchen where Frankie and Ronnie waited. They, too, showed surprise and displeasure at seeing Aaron.

  “What’s he doing here?” Frankie glowered accusingly.

  Mel’s father dropped his phone, wallet and keys on the counter. “Samantha invited him.”

  “Do we need a mediator?”

  Rather than reply, he addressed the group. “Anyone want a cold drink before we get started?”

  Mel thought she might want a stiff drink but decided that wasn’t a good idea.

  “I’ll get them.” She recruited Ronnie to help. When her sister wasn’t looking, she grabbed a couple of the peppermint candies her father kept in the drawer for his frequent indigestion.

  The moment Aaron was finished with his phone call to his mother-in-law, letting her know he’d be late, people began sitting at the dining-room table. The area was separated from the kitchen by a long breakfast bar and a trio of oak bar stools. Frankie switched on the overhead light. The normally cozy glow did nothing to improve their collective serious mood.

  Aaron waited for Samantha to pick a seat at the end of the table before pulling out the chair beside her. Since he’d been invited by Saman
tha, it was natural he’d sit beside her. That was what Mel told herself, anyway.

  By the time Mel finished distributing glasses of ice water, Ronnie had already claimed a seat. That left one empty chair, which just happened to be on Aaron’s other side.

  All attention was focused on her when she sat. Her and Aaron. Eventually, she’d have to answer their unspoken questions. Like what was going on between them and for how long?

  Not tonight, however. For in the next instant, everyone’s gaze turned to Samantha.

  * * *

  AARON COULDN’T REMEMBER when he’d last felt this out of place. Maybe in the attorney’s office when Robin, her head partially shaved from a recent medical procedure, had insisted they update their living trust and her medical directive. Or when he’d told Nancy he was taking a job in Mustang Valley.

  It wasn’t just the invisible daggers being fired at him from all directions or the furious expressions on every Hartman face. Nor was it being dragged into the middle of a family dispute. Aaron had dealt with plenty of those during his law-enforcement career.

  What made him uncomfortable was the fact that, in this particular dispute, he was a participant. An unwilling one, and only by association with Samantha, but a participant nonetheless.

  Maybe he should leave after all. Forget Samantha needing an ally. But Mel looking ready to fall apart at the seams kept him rooted to his chair.

  Guessing from her stiff posture and refusal to acknowledge him, she didn’t appreciate his assistance. Hopefully later, when she’d calmed down, she would see he’d been trying to help.

  Please don’t take long, he thought, certain it would. Messes like this one, almost twenty years in the making, required more than a single evening of discussion to resolve.

  For one brief second, he considered locating Mel’s fingers beneath the table and folding them inside his. He came to his senses at the precise moment Frankie’s searing gaze elevated to nuclear.

  Great. What effect was this going to have on their daughters’ friendship? None, he hoped.

  Aaron suffered another pang of guilt—he’d lost track of how many tonight. Poor Kaylee. That she always forgave him when he came home late and missed story time was a minor miracle and one he didn’t take for granted.