The Rancher's Miracle Baby

by April Arrington

  “I know the storm was bad,” she said. “But Razz is fast.” She glanced up, a hesitant smile appearing. “She’s the best barrel horse on the circuit.”

  So, she raced. Alex surveyed the slim but strong curves of Tammy’s arms and legs more closely. No wonder she’d held her own through yesterday’s nightmare. The few rodeo riders he’d known were a tough lot. Full of grit and fight.

  He’d never taken to the circuit life, though he’d tried it once years ago, riding bulls one summer in his early twenties. It was fun, brought in a decent amount of cash and provided an outlet for his reckless streak. But then he’d started missing Susan and realized he wanted her more. Wanted a wife and home. A family of his own. And he’d decided it wasn’t fair to keep Susan waiting. That he should return to Deer Creek, settle down like Dean and do the right thing.

  His jaw clenched. If he’d known then how much he’d end up disappointing Susan, the right thing to do would’ve been a very different choice.

  “I’m hoping she dodged the worst of it.”

  Alex blinked and refocused on Tammy’s face, his stomach dropping. “What?”

  “Razz,” Tammy clarified, studying him again. “She might have outrun the tornado, and if she managed to survive, then maybe your horses did, too.” Her attention drifted to Brody, and her smile widened. “After all, this little guy came out of it okay.”

  Brody grinned, his mouth laden with crumbs, and stretched his arms out to Tammy. She slipped her cookie in her pocket, lifted him up and cradled his head against her chest.

  “Yeah, he did,” Alex murmured, his eyes clinging to the gentle embrace of her arms around Brody and the slow sway of her body as she rocked him.

  The movements were calming, and Brody soaked it up, his eyelids growing heavy and his breaths slowing. Her brown hair slipped over her shoulder and rested against Brody, the wavy locks sharing the same chestnut tones as those of the baby.

  She was a natural at comforting a child and, had Alex not known better, he would have assumed Brody belonged to her. It would be the easiest thing in the world to mistake the two of them for family. For mother and son.

  An ache streamed through Alex’s limbs, making his palms itch to reach out and tug them both close. To hold them in a protective embrace, feel the steady pulse of their hearts and draw strength from their solid presence. To imagine, just for a moment, that he belonged, too. As a man and a father...

  But that would be a mistake. He stiffened and turned away. He’d been abandoned as a child and had struggled to fit in with each of the three foster families he’d lived with as a youth. He’d had to fight his damnedest to establish enough stability in his life to offer Susan the promise of a secure future filled with family and happiness. Things he’d failed to deliver, wrecking Susan’s dreams along with his own.

  No. Nature knew what it was doing. He wasn’t built to be a family man—it wasn’t in his DNA to be a father—and he was foolish for even entertaining the fantasy.

  “Someone’s here.”

  Tammy’s words were joined with the faint churn of an engine and the slosh of tires through mud down the driveway. A compact car eased over the hill, maneuvered around various piles of debris and drew to a stop several feet behind the fallen tree blocking the path. The door opened, and an older woman stepped out, wisps of gray hair escaping her topknot in the soft breeze.

  Alex caught his breath, smothering the urge to run into her arms and seek comfort like he had as a boy. Instead, he placed the bag of cookies on the ground, took off his hat and waited.

  A sad smile dispersed the soft wrinkles lining the woman’s face as she made her way over. “Oh, Alex.” She wrapped her arms tight around him, standing on the toes of her high heels to whisper in his ear, “I’m so sorry about Dean and Gloria.”

  A low cry dislodged from Alex’s throat and pried its way out of his mouth. He coughed, closing his throat against another sob, and tucked the top of her head gently under his chin. “Thank you, Ms. Maxine.”

  He gave in to the moment, closing his eyes and squeezing her close. The familiar scent of her perfume arose from her clothing, and the sweet aroma took him back years. All the way back to when he was a dumb kid and the only bright spot in each day had been her forgiving smile and unconditional support. Ms. Maxine was the closest he’d ever come to having a real mother. His mother had abandoned him at an early age. And from what little information Maxine had available to share with him, his father had never been in the picture.

  “I’m so thankful that you’re okay.” Maxine pulled back and cupped his face with her palms as she scrutinized him. “I think a shave, a wholesome meal and a good night’s rest are in order.” She smiled. Bright and sincere. “Though even without that, I think you’re more handsome now than you were the last time I saw you.”

  He ducked his head, his neck and chest warming. It’d been years since he’d last seen her. Hurt and anger had knotted in his gut the day Susan left, and he’d pushed everyone away, including Maxine. He’d avoided her calls and visits. Had never been able to face the possibility of seeing disapproval in Maxine’s eyes. But there wasn’t a trace of disappointment in her expression.

  Just sympathy and kindness.

  Alex reached up, cradled her thin wrists gently in his hands and managed a small grin. “Nah. I’ve just gotten old.”

  “Old?” Maxine scoffed. “You’ve got years ahead of you before you qualify as being old.” She chuckled, patted his cheeks, then gestured toward his hair. “No, my dear boy. You’ve just got a touch of silver fox in you.”

  The dog yelped and squirmed its way between them, his tail thumping against Alex’s leg as he gnawed on the toe of his boot.

  “Well, hello.” Maxine bent and scratched the dog’s head, then leaned to the side, her eyes straying to Tammy and Brody. “And who do we have here?”

  Alex stepped to the side and swept an arm toward the pair. “Ms. Maxine, this is Tammy Jenkins. The tornado forced her off the road yesterday.”

  Maxine nodded toward the overturned truck and trailer on the other side of the driveway. “I see that. I’m Maxine Thompson and it’s very nice to meet you, although I wish it were under different circumstances.” She held out a hand, which Tammy shook. “I’m sorry about your truck, dear. But don’t worry. The sheriff asked me to relay to Alex that he’s arranging for it to be towed to Sam Bircham’s shop. Sam’s the best mechanic in town, and he’ll have it as good as new before you know it. They’re overwhelmed right now, though, and he asked me to let you know it’ll be a while before he can get to it. If you need to send a message to a family member or friend, I’d be happy to pass it along to the sheriff when I return to town. He’ll make sure it reaches them.”

  Tammy smiled, rearranging Brody on her hip as he straightened in her arms. “Thank you.”

  “And this must be our beautiful Brody.” Maxine rubbed the baby’s arm and sighed as he burrowed his face back into Tammy’s chest. “What a sweet boy.” Her voice lowered. “How’s he doing?”

  “As well as can be expected,” Tammy said, kissing the top of Brody’s head.

  Maxine looked the pair over, then flashed a tender smile before saying, “I see he’s taken to you, Tammy. It’s so good of you to look after him during this difficult time.”

  Alex felt a small smile emerge on his own face, the pleased glow in Tammy’s cheeks provoking it. She and Brody were such a beautiful sight.

  “Oh, it’s no trouble,” Tammy said, blushing. “He’s a joy.”

  Maxine made a sound of agreement, her eyes moving from Tammy to Alex and back again, then wrapped her hand around Alex’s elbow. “Will you please excuse us for a minute?”

  Tammy nodded, and Maxine tugged Alex several feet away to stand facing the field. The dog followed, bumped into the back of his leg, then started snuffling around the grass.

 
“How are you, Alex?” Maxine asked, peering up at him.

  “Fine.” Alex dodged her watchful eyes and gestured toward the field. “I’ll be better if I manage to find my horses in good health and get the business going again. But without Dean...” He sucked in a strong breath and replaced his hat on his head. “I think this ranch may have reached the end of the line.”

  “Oh, I wouldn’t say that.” Maxine shifted at his side, her sleeve brushing his arm as she swiveled to survey the house and stable. “There may be some damage,” she continued, facing him again, “but your foundation is strong. With time and a little elbow grease, this place will breathe again.”

  Alex’s mouth tightened as he scanned the demolished fences, ravaged trees and barren paddocks. Ms. Maxine meant well. But that’d be a lot easier said than done.

  “I worry about you,” Maxine added softly. “Hiding out here all by yourself for so long.”

  “I’m not hiding—”

  “Yes, you are.” The firmness in her voice forced him to meet her eyes again, the blue depths earnest behind her glasses. “You’re not a quitter, Alex. Never have been.” She glanced at Tammy and Brody, then stepped closer to his side. “If I asked for a favor, would you humor me?” she asked. “For old times’ and an old woman’s sake?”

  Alex stiffened, acutely aware of Tammy’s curious stare and the dog chewing on the toe of his boot. “Depends.”

  “How long is Tammy staying?”

  He shrugged. “Just till the wrecker gets here, I imagine. She’s a barrel racer and is probably itching to get back on the circuit already.”

  Maxine sighed. “Dean didn’t have a will, and I know he lost his father a few years ago. I’ve left messages for his half brother in Boston, but it may be a while before I hear back. Do you know of any family Gloria might’ve had that I could contact for Brody?”

  Alex shook his head. “Not that I know of. Gloria’s mother remarried and moved to California years ago. She was never big on keeping in touch. That’s one reason why—”

  He stilled his tongue. No need to drag Maxine through the mud he, Dean and Gloria had lived through in their lives and point out how it’d glued them together. Besides, nothing stayed a secret for long in Deer Creek, and he’d be willing to bet she already knew most of it anyway.

  Maxine frowned. “Everything’s a bit chaotic in town what with all the damage from the storm. If I take Brody now, I’ll have to place him in a children’s home near Atlanta until I’m able to find a suitable foster family. I can’t bring myself to take Brody so far from home just yet. Not when there’s a possibility of him being cared for by someone he already knows.”

  Alex stilled, an unpleasant prickling sensation snaking up the back of his neck. “What are you getting at?”

  “Would you be willing to take Brody in until I can finalize a permanent placement for him?”

  He held up a hand. “Ms. Maxine—”

  “It wouldn’t be for too long,” she interjected. “Just for a little while. Brody’s been through such a traumatic experience and he knows you.”

  “Yeah, he knows me,” Alex sputtered, a stabbing pain ripping through him as an old wound reopened. His eyes flicked over Brody as he snuggled against Tammy’s chest. “But that doesn’t make me a fit guardian.”

  “It would only be temporary, and I’d be in this with you. Judging from that overturned truck, that young lady’s not leaving Deer Creek anytime soon. She’ll need somewhere to stay. I know it’s not good to assume...” Maxine hesitated, nodding pointedly in Tammy’s direction. “But I think if you asked, you might get more help than you’d ordinarily expect.”

  The surprised expression on Tammy’s face made it clear she’d heard every word. It also made Alex’s heart slam rapidly against his ribs.

  Open the door of his battered house and washed-up life to a baby and stranger?

  “Hell, no,” Alex muttered, stumbling back and shaking his boot to dislodge the pup. “And you’re right about the assuming thing. When you assume, you make a pair of asses out of—”

  “Language, Alex.”

  He bit his tongue. That was a familiar tone. Her no-nonsense one. “Sorry,” he mumbled. “But it’s a bad idea.”

  “If you won’t do it for me, will you do it for Dean?” Maxine asked softly.

  Alex winced, a hollow forming in his gut. Damn. She wasn’t pulling any punches.

  “I’m sorry, Alex. I wish none of this had happened,” she whispered. “But it did. And, sometimes, the best way to take your mind off your own pain is to help alleviate someone else’s. Please do this for Dean. And for Brody. It’s just for a little while.”

  Alex dropped his head back and closed his eyes, flinching as the dog growled playfully and bit into his boot harder. “And what am I supposed to do with a baby and a woman?”

  “Where the baby is concerned,” Maxine said, “it’ll come to you. As for the woman...”

  At her prolonged silence, he opened his eyes and faced her. Her mouth stretched slowly into a grin.

  “Well, as for the woman...” She winked. “If I have to explain that to you, you’ve been hiding out from civilization for longer than I thought.”

  A stifled laugh came from Tammy’s direction.

  Lord, help him. He spun on his heels and stalked off, the dog yipping and biting at the hem of his jeans along the way.

  “Alex,” Maxine called. “A body always rests easier after—”

  “Doing the right thing,” Alex grunted back, waving the words away with his hand.

  Only, it was the damnedest thing. None of this felt right. None of it at all.

  * * *

  TAMMY SILENCED ANOTHER giggle with her hand, watching Maxine shake her head as Alex stomped off.

  Good grief, she was being rude but couldn’t help it. A constant stream of laughter bubbled in her belly at the sight of Alex stumbling over the small puppy at his feet, his muscular frame jerking awkwardly to avoid stepping on the animal.

  “He barks a lot but never bites.”

  Tammy lowered her hand, still laughing. “What?”

  Maxine chuckled, too, and walked over. “Alex. He may come across as a mean ol’ grouch, but he’s just a big teddy bear underneath. You just have to be patient enough to get past it all.”

  Tammy’s laughter died out, and she shifted from one foot to the other as Maxine smiled at her. Her arms trembled beneath the weight of Brody’s sleeping form, and the familiar trickle of trepidation crept into her veins. The other woman had a kind face and pleasant personality, but her wise eyes saw too much. And there were so many things Tammy didn’t want anyone to ever see. Most especially, her constant fear of men. It made her feel weak and vulnerable.

  “I see he’s drifted off,” Maxine murmured, smoothing a hand over Brody’s back. She held her hands out, palms up. “Would you mind?”

  Tammy shook her head. “No, not at all.”

  She passed Brody to Maxine, then helped settle him comfortably within her arms. Brody pulled in a noisy breath, then nuzzled his cheek against Maxine’s neck as he settled back into sleep.

  “He’s so precious.” Maxine kissed the top of his head, then grinned. “I hope you didn’t mind me pushing you out on a limb earlier with Alex. I’m just hoping you might consider helping him out and tending to Brody while you wait for your truck to be repaired. You seem to be a natural with kids.”

  Tammy lifted a shoulder briefly, her belly warming. “Oh, I don’t know. Brody is easy to love, and I’ve always wanted a houseful of children.”

  The smile on the other woman’s face dimmed. “Do you have children, Tammy?”

  “No. But someday...”

  Tammy tensed, the words trailing away as she wondered for the millionth time how she’d ever have a family if she couldn’t manage to trust a ma
n.

  “It’s just me right now,” Tammy added, shoving her hands in her pockets. “I was actually on the way to help my best friend with her wedding plans when the storm hit. She’s getting married next month.”

  Maxine’s face brightened. “Oh, how exciting. Weddings have always been my favorite event. Alex had a beautiful—” She stopped short, and her mouth flattened. “Well, that’s not for me to discuss.”

  Tammy hesitated, sneaking a peek at Alex’s broad back as he disappeared into the stable on the other side of the property. The dog scuttled in after him. “Is Alex married?”

  Maxine looked down and rubbed small circles over Brody’s back, her tone sad. “He was at one time. But not now.”

  Tammy dragged her teeth over her bottom lip. “Does he have any family?” She hurried to add, “I don’t mean to pry, but I couldn’t help but wonder when no one came to check on him last night.”

  The other woman nudged her glasses up with a knuckle and shook her head. “Alex has been alone a long time. That’s one reason why he has trouble accommodating guests.” She smiled. “But I think it’d do him good to have Brody around for a bit. It might help him get over losing Dean and allow him to find a bright spot in all of this.” She hugged Brody, her expression lifting. “And this young man is definitely a bright spot.”

  Tammy laughed softly. “Yes, he is.”

  Maxine walked over to her car. “I brought some supplies for Brody and, once the news spread this morning, a few ladies from my church went to the Red Cross setup in town and fixed a few plates of food for y’all. It’s nothing special but should get you through today and tomorrow. And, hopefully, power will be restored soon.”

  Maxine retrieved her keys and started to unlock the trunk, but Tammy stalled her, saying, “Why don’t you let me get that for you?”

  “Thank you.” Maxine handed over the keys. “There are three boxes, and they’re rather heavy. You might want to ask Alex to lend you a hand. I’ll take Brody inside.” She headed toward the house. “Where should I set him down for a nap?”