by V. A. Dold
Carol ended the call and raced to get dressed and out the door. “I’m so sorry, Joe. I can’t do breakfast.”
“Okay. But we still need to talk.”
She scooped up her purse and keys and gave him a quick kiss. “Can we talk when I get home this afternoon?”
“Yeah, I guess it can wait a little longer.”
“Thanks, babe. I’ll see you in a few hours.”
Joe watched Carol run out the door and sighed. Damn. His plan to tell her about the kids before they made love had gone up in flames. With his luck, karma would bite him in the ass before he got the chance to tell her. Hold on. Maybe this was a good thing. This would give him the chance to make sure he explained everything just right so she would understand and not be angry. He could take a little time this morning to practice his speech.
He rinsed his coffee cup and set it on the dish rack to dry. Yeah, that’s what he’d do. He would spend the extra time working out exactly what he would say.
Joe dried his hands and checked Carol’s cabin one last time to make sure he had everything. Then he headed out the door. He was half way to his place when he stopped dead in his tracks. “Son of a bitch!” Someone slashed his tires. He hustled to his truck and checked front and back on the driver side. Both tires had huge gashes. Then he ran to the passenger side. Same thing. All four tires were destroyed. It wasn’t until he walked around the front of his truck that he noticed a slip of paper tucked under the wiper.
Scowling, he snatched it loose.
“I warned you. She’s mine. Next time, someone will get hurt.”
Instantly, he put two and two together. “God damn it!”
Whoever this nut-job was. It was the same person from the doctor’s office and the restaurant. Joe yanked his phone from his pocket and called Sheriff Doug Dansby. This was a lot more serious than a kid playing pranks.
“Sheriff’s office, how can I help you?”
“Hey, Marybeth. This is Joe Christian. Is Doug available?”
“Hi, Joe. Yeah, he’s here. I’ll connect you.”
“Good morning, Joe. To what do I owe the honor?” Doug asked in his gravelly voice.
“Well, Doug. For lack of a better term, I seem to have a stalker. I need you to come out to the ranch and make a report on my truck. Whoever this is slashed all four tires.”
“I’ll grab Seamus. He has a camera to document the scene. Then we will be right there.”
“Are you going to have to take my truck into evidence or can I call the garage for new tires?
“We’ll dust for prints, cast any shoe prints available, and take the tires as evidence.” He paused and then chuckled. “I think we will be okay, leaving you the rest of the truck.”
“Thanks, Doug. I’ll see you in a few minutes.” Joe ended the call and scrolled through his contacts for the garage.
“Morning, Lloyd’s Garage.”
“Hey, Lloyd, it’s Joe. How’s the wife?”
“She’s good as gold. How are you doing?”
“I was doing fantastic until I saw my truck. I’m in need of five new tires. Some asshole slashed all four plus the spare.”
“Lord have mercy. Did you call the sheriff?”
“Yeah, I just got off the line with Doug.” Joe could hear Lloyd tapping on his keyboard.
“You’re in luck, I happen to have the tires you need in stock. I’ll balance them and be out there in a bit to put them on for you.”
“Thanks, buddy. You can probably find me in the barn when you get here.”
“You bet. I hope the rest of your day goes better for you. Bye, Joe.”
“Thanks. Bye.” Joe shook his head at the condition of his beloved truck and headed for the house. It would take Doug close to a half hour to show up. He had plenty of time for another cup of coffee.
*****
Carol was taken aback. There were only two appointments scheduled and yet she walked into a waiting room filled with people. She stepped behind the desk and stowed her purse in a drawer. Coffee, she really needed a large steaming cup before she unraveled the mystery of why eight people, seven of whom were children, were staring at her expectantly.
Plastering a polite smile on her face, she sat her cup on the desk and took a breath. “Has everyone checked in?”
A woman who appeared to be the grandmother politely answered. “Yes, ma’am. We’re waiting for my daughter. She is in with the doctor now.”
“All right. Can I get you a cup of coffee or bottled water?”
“No thank you, ma’am. We’re just fine.”
Carol busied herself, listening to voice messages, and returning calls to set appointments for next week. Once that was taken care of, she sifted through the emails awaiting responses. She was deleting the last of the junk mail when Kensie and the patient entered the waiting room. The woman looked like she would deliver baby number eight any second.
She sipped her coffee while Kensie gave the woman instructions. “Take one tablet every four hours. I want to see you for a recheck in a week.”
“Thanks, Doctor Le Beau.” She looked at her tribe of children and grinned at Kensie. “Having your clinic in town is a godsend. I used to have to haul this menagerie to Austin.”
“I’m glad I can be of service. Have a good day, Mrs. Perkins.”
Carol watched the family file out the door and turned to her best friend. “Is she shooting for her own baseball team?”
“Could be.” Kensie chuckled. “It’s pretty common for the ranchers in the area to have large families. Speaking of children, what about you? Have you been to see the doctor I recommended?”
“Not, yet. But now that things have gotten physical with Joe, I guess I should.”
“Well, there’s no time like the present. That was our last patient of the day. They others either canceled or rescheduled. You’re already in town. Why don’t you see her now?”
“I don’t have an appointment.”
“That shouldn’t be a problem. I talked with Doctor Well’s this morning, and she had a light schedule. She’s only a block down. Grab your purse and head on over there. If you want, I’ll sit with you after I lock up here.”
“Yeah, okay. You’re right. I would like to know if the possibility of a family is in the cards for me.” She slipped her purse strap over her shoulder and smiled. “Who knows, miracles happen.”
An hour later, Carol walked from the exam room to find Kensie waiting for her.
“I’m so sorry, Carol. I can tell from your expression, you didn’t get a miracle.”
She shook her head and blinked back tears. “Nope. Pregnancy isn’t an option for me.”
Kensie pulled her in for a hug. “I’m sure everything will work out. God always has a plan.”
She sniffled and pulled back to wipe her nose. “Exactly. Just because I can’t birth a baby doesn’t mean I can’t be a mother. Maybe I’ll spend a little time researching adoption or foster parenting. I’m not getting any younger, and I’m sure adoption agencies have an expiration date for prospective parents.”
Kensie linked arms with her as they headed for their cars. “That’s the spirit. I’ll see you at home.”
It was a long silent drive back to the ranch. She had a lot to think about. If her relationship with Joe became serious, she would have to tell him she couldn’t have children. That conversation scared the hell out of her. She didn’t want to lose Joe, and lack of children could be a deal breaker.
As she pulled up to her cabin, Carol was surprised to see a car she didn’t recognize parked in front of Joe’s house. She watched as an older woman and two kids walked out of his front door. Joe wasn’t far behind. Just as she was wondering who they were, Joe fist bumped the little boy and ruffled his hair. Then the girl hugged him tight and both kids jumped into the back seat of the car.
The woman popped her trunk, and she watched as Joe loaded duffle bags into it. Why would he have their luggage at his house? Who were these people?
She waited in
her car until the other car pulled away. These people must be important to Joe, he had watched the car until it was out of sight. Curiosity got the best of her. She got out and walked over to stand next to him.
She took his hand and smiled up at him. “Hey, Joe, I see you had visitors. Who were they?”
The moment Joe had realized Carol was home and watching his kids leave with his mother, his heart stopped. This wasn’t the way he had rehearsed telling her about his kids. No, this was a nightmare waiting to blow up in his face, and he’d earned it.
He knew she wouldn’t take this well. She had a history of men deceiving and hurting her. She’d asked him to be honest with her, and for the most part he had. Keeping his family a secret would be viewed as a lie of omission. Joe searched his mind for the right words. He had to explain his actions in terms she would understand or he’d lose her for sure.
“Joe?”
He gave her a sad smile and pulled her toward the house. “Why don’t you come in? I have something to show you, and we can talk.” His fear of her reaction made him tremble like a leaf in a stiff wind.
She frowned at his strange behavior, but followed him up the stairs.
He knew the instant she spotted the photos on the fireplace mantle. She stiffened and yanked her hand from his grasp.
He glanced at the smiling images of his children and suddenly realized he’d not only betrayed Carol he’d betrayed them as well. By not revealing their existence, he’d denied them just as Peter denied Christ. How could he do that to his children?
He picked the most recent pictures of Tracy and Troy and turned back toward where he knew she still stood.
His voice shook as he sat at the end of the couch and began to speak. “Please, sit with me. All I ask is a few minutes of your time to explain.”
He wasn’t brave enough to see the hurt and betrayal in her eyes that he knew would be there. He focused on the photographs and waited for her to take a seat. Finally, he felt the couch dip.
“This is Tracy,” he said as he offered Carol the photo. “She’s all preteen girl, and hell on two legs. And this is her twin brother Troy. Even though he’s only ten, he tries to do everything I do.” He took a quick glance at Carol to gauge her reaction.
“With all the pictures you have, they must be important to you. Why haven’t you mentioned them?” Her brows knit together. “Are they kids who live here on the ranch?”
His heartbeat accelerated. This was the moment of truth. He took a breath and whispered, “No. They’re mine.”
He didn’t have to look to know she hadn’t taken it well. She gasped and dropped the photo beside him as her weight left the couch. Then the sound of her heels slapping hard on the wood floor hurried to the door.
He shot to his feet and rushed to stop her. “Please, I can explain.”
She held the doorknob in a white knuckled grip. Her thunderous expression was not one of patience or an interest in understanding.
“Explain? Her eyes shot venom with so much force he flinched. “It’s simple, you’re just like every other bastard I’ve been stupid enough to let into my heart. Hell, I even went as far as to fall in love with you and thought you felt the same way. I guess that’s on my head. This entire time you were hiding a huge secret just to get in my pants. Well bravo, it worked.”
“That’s not true! I do love you and my reason for not telling you had nothing to do with making love to you. I was protecting them.”
“From what? Me? That’s just rich. I would never harm a child.”
Joe raked his hands through is hair. “Please. Try to understand. I didn’t want them to get attached.”
Her eyes widened and a tear rolled down her cheek. She jerked the door open and stormed out the door. “Go to hell, Joe.”
Pain rippled through his chest as he watched her run from him. He had been so stupid. He hadn’t viewed his secret as lying. He had made such a mess of things and was lost for a way to fix it.
*****
Joe pulled himself together. He had chores to do and a lot of thinking ahead of him. Leaning on the corral fence he was supposed to be fixing, Joe closed his eyes and played the mental video of how Carol looked when she came apart in his arms. Beads of perspiration on her face, full lips parted, and little sounds of pleasure filling the quiet of the room. To him, she was the thing of dreams.
His world before her and since he’d fallen in love with her were polar opposites. He had to win her back.
He was so deep in thought he didn’t hear Lucas coming.
“Hey, Joe. How’s it going with Carol?”
Joe signed and glanced at his boss, then quickly averted his eyes. “Yeah, as a matter of fact, I saw her this morning.”
“Uh oh. I’m sensing trouble in paradise. I don’t mean to poke my nose into your private affairs, but if you need advice, I might be able to make a few suggestions.”
Joe scrubbed his face with his hands and took a deep breath. “Ah hell, Lucas. I thought I was doing the right thing. You know how I never mention the kids to the women I spend time with. I sure as heck don’t bring them home with me. I don’t want Troy and Tracy to deal with a revolving door of females and accidentally fall in love with one. So, I didn’t tell Carol, either. I was waiting until things became serious. I tried to tell her last night and again this morning, but I was interrupted.”
“Okay, so tell her now.”
“Too late. She saw the kids with me before I could come clean.”
Lucas pulled off his hat and slapped his leg with it. “Ah, hell.”
“Yeah.”
“Did you explain your position to her?”
Joe felt weary to the bone and utterly broken. “I tried. I’m afraid she isn’t in the frame of mind to listen. She stormed out of my house before I could tell her the why of it. I broke her trust. That isn’t going to be easily regained even if I can get her to stand still long enough to say more than two words.”
“Why not? Once she hears your reasoning, she’s bound to see your side of the matter.” He hung his arms over the fence and absently rolled the brim of his hat. “What we need to do is figure out how to get her to sit still long enough for you to make her listen.”
Joe glanced at Lucas expectantly. “Got any bright ideas for making that miracle happen?”
“Maybe. Let me talk it over with Kensie and I’ll get back to you.”
*****
Carol managed to get to the safety of her cabin before the tears broke in earnest. How could she have been so stupid? It had hurt when her ex took off with her sister, but Joe’s deception shattered her heart. Her pain erupted in ragged sobbing gasps.
She fell to the bed and curled into herself, hugging her pillow for comfort. After several long minutes, exhaustion and a strange numbness slowed her tears.
She patted around the nightstand for the Kleenex and blew her nose. As she sat up and straightened her shirt, her phone rang.
“Hello?”
“Hey, Carol. How’s it going with Joe?” Kensie asked.
“I’d like to talk to you about that. Can you come to my cabin?”
“Sure. You sound kind of funny. Is something wrong?”
Carol sniffled. “Yeah, you could say that. I’ll tell you about it when you get here.”
A few minutes later, not only Kensie but also Krystal stood outside her door. “Come on in.” She smiled, but it felt weak, and she couldn’t hide the tinge of melancholy in her voice.
Kensie took her by the shoulders and studied her face. “Carol? You’ve been crying. What happened?
“Joe. That’s what happened. He’s a deceptive bastard just like the rest of them.”
Kensie glanced at Krystal and back at her. “I think you should start from the beginning.”
Carol sighed. “In that case, I think we are going to need some tea.”
Krystal beat her to the kitchenette. “I’ll make the tea. You start talking.”
Over the next ten minutes, Carol told the whole sordid
tale.
Kensie gaped in disbelief. “He didn’t tell you?”
She closed her eyes, feeling as if her heart were torn in half. “He never even hinted at a family.”
“Did he explain why?” Krystal asked, looking equally perplexed.
Carol shook her head and then surprised herself and her friends by bursting into tears. “He said he didn’t want them to get attached to me.”
Krystal, always quick to offer comfort, scooted her chair next to Carol’s and put her arms around her.
Kensie tapped her nails on her ceramic cup and frowned. “Did he say anything else?”
“I didn’t give him the chance. I had to get out of his house. There was no way I was going to let him see me cry.”
“Hmmm. I’m willing to bet a hundred dollars, he had his reasons. Joe is very protective of his kids. After losing their mother before they were old enough to know her, the last thing he would do is take the chance of breaking their hearts.”
“Yeah,” Krystal agreed, nodding. “I know for a fact, he never brings women home. I once overheard him tell Ace that he didn’t want the kids getting attached to a woman he had no feelings for and didn’t plan to keep around. But that doesn’t apply to you. I know he has feelings for you.”
Carol dried her eyes and gave Krystal a small smile. “That doesn’t change the fact that he didn’t tell me.”
Invisible to everyone but Krystal, Stacy stood before Carol, her hands on her hips. “He tried to tell her last night and again this morning.”
Kensie raised a brow at Carol. “Are you sure he hasn’t tried? Has he said anything about having something he wanted to talk to you about?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know. If he did, he didn’t try very hard. Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine. I always bounce back. I hate to be rude, but I’d like to be alone for a while.”
“All right, but I think you need to give him the chance to explain things before you write him off,” Kensie said, as she stood to go and Krystal followed.
Carol shook her head. “I don’t know. I think I just need a break.”
Krystal gave her a hard look. “Don’t be too hasty and throw away a good thing. In the end, you’ll regret it. Please, give him a chance.”