by Sable Hunter
Molly wished she were invisible. She wasn’t psychic, but she could hear their thoughts and speculations loud and clear. His family all believed she’d sold Tennessee out and ran around on him. It made her uncomfortable as hell. At the time she’d agreed to come, the only thing she’d been worried about was being with Ten and now that worry had multiplied tenfold. What had she gotten herself into? “I don’t want to be any trouble, please.”
“Nonsense, we’ll enjoy getting to know you. After all, you’re carrying a McCoy.” As if that explained everything, Ryder flashed a warning look over her shoulder to her family and continued to lead her up the stairs.
Heath held Ten’s arm to keep him from following the women. “Are you sure about this?”
“I am.” Ten stated unequivocally. “She was working a job that kept her on her feet all day and she needs to see a specialist. I must protect my child.” When Heath didn’t argue, he changed the subject. Anything to get the focus off of him and Molly. Smiling at his big brother, he inquired. “Where’s Cato?”
At the mention of his new wife’s name, Heath smiled. He’d mellowed, there was no doubt about it. “She’s on her way home from a business trip, should be here any minute.” That quickly the direction of his attention changed. “I think I’ll go out on the porch and wait for her.”
After their elder brother’s departure, only Philip and Pepper were left standing with Tennessee. “Do you want to talk about it?” Philip asked.
“There’s not anything to tell. She needed help and it’s my job to do it.”
Pepper crossed her arms and lifted her chin. “I’m sure there were other ways you could assist her without having her barge into our home.”
While Tennessee had mixed feelings about the situation, Pepper’s comment rankled. “She was my wife and she’s carrying my child. What would you have me do?” he asked in a low urgent tone.
Philip, ever the peacemaker, gathered Pepper to his side. “Don’t fret, Sis. Ten knows what he’s doing. It’s our job to support him.”
“That’s what I’m trying to do,” she argued under her breath.
Ten smiled and tapped her on the end of the nose. “I can fight my own battles, baby girl.” Picking up his and Molly’s bag, he started up the stairs. “Tell Jaxson I’ll be out to see him shortly.”
As he moved toward his wing, he could hear Ryder talking to Molly.
“The bathroom is through this door. There’s a Jacuzzi tub in there big enough to drown in and the shower could hold a basketball team. I’d take every opportunity to enjoy it if I were you. I think it’s fully stocked, but if you need anything just let me know. Oh, and the room next door is whatever you want it to be. There’s a desk in there and a sleeper sofa. Maybe one day it could be a nursery.” She gave Molly a friendly smile.
“Okay, thank you.” Molly slowly turned around. The beautiful room wasn’t feminine but it was tasteful, decorated in blues and silver. The only thing that bothered Molly was the location. Being so near Tennessee would be awkward. Although she preferred his brand of disdain over his sister, Pepper’s. The devil you know and all of that, she thought. “Thank you. I’m sure I’ll have everything I need.”
About the time Ryder started to leave, Ten appeared in the door. “Everything okay here?”
“Absolutely.” Ryder insisted. “I was just showing Molly around. Later, I’ll give you the grand tour,” she told her, waving her hand toward the outside.
“I’m sure she’s tired. She came here to rest,” Ten observed dryly. Seeing Molly looking so uncertain did strange things to his stomach.
“Yes, I am tired.” Molly agreed. Mostly she just wanted to stay out of everyone’s way. What she’d seen of the house was beautiful and she would love to see more of it, but all she could think was how different it would be if she were here in any other capacity than Tennessee’s pregnant out-of-favor ex-wife.
“Okay, you take it easy and I’ll go down and put the finishing touches on supper. Molly, I’ll call you when it’s ready.”
As Ryder started to leave, Molly stopped her. “If it’s okay with you, I think I’ll sneak down and fix a plate and bring it back up here. I wouldn’t be good company, I’m afraid.” The idea of sitting down at a table full of people who didn’t want her anywhere near them was daunting.
“Molly…” Ten began but Ryder interrupted him.
“Just leave it to me.” She winked at Molly. “I’ll bring you up a tray when everything’s ready.”
“Thanks.” Molly was grateful she’d made at least one friend.
Once she was gone Tennessee cleared his throat. “Everything will be fine. I’m heading out to check on my brother before we eat and I’ll make some calls and find some information on doctors.”
She nodded, wishing he would go on. Having him this close and remembering the way things used to be was just too painful. “All right. Thanks for everything.” Ten backed out of the room like he was afraid to turn his back on her.
“If you need anything, let someone know.” Ten stared at her as he moved through the door. How could it be possible that she was more beautiful now than when they met? The common held belief was true, being with child gave her an ethereal inner glow that made his heart pound.
“Sure.” She stood still, her hands folded primly in front of her. As soon as he was gone and the door shut, all of the air whooshed out of her lungs and she almost crumpled to the floor. Putting up a calm front in front of him and his family was exhausting.
Downstairs, his family was waiting on him. Jaxson was seated at the dining table with a pained look on his face. He wasn’t adapting well to the prosthesis. Tennessee was worried about him. “Hey, how did the birth go?”
“Lost the mother,” he said, too matter-of-factly. Jaxson felt things like this more than most. “I had three successful births, but I sure hate to lose this one. Gretchen was a good cow.”
“Sorry, Jax,” Ten sat down beside his brother and poured himself a glass of ice tea from a full pitcher Pepper had just placed on the table. The girls were on the other side of the bar, dishing up green beans and new potatoes. A spiral sliced ham sat on the counter.
“Pepper tells me you’ve brought Molly home. What’s up?” Jaxson’s voice was non-judgmental, filled with curiosity more than anything else.
Knowing the girls were listening, he endeavored to explain. “I’d asked her to get some repairs done to her trailer. There was no central air or heat. I didn’t want her bringing the baby home without the work getting done. She was supposed to get it taken care of and send me the bill.” He took a long sip of tea. “I never got one and she didn’t answer my phone calls, so I went to check on her. I found her working in a diner and dead on her feet. While I was there talking to her, she collapsed. I took her to the doctor and he was ready to admit her to the hospital and force her to get rest.”
Ryder threw down her dishtowel. “Unless you made previous arrangements with a local business, how was she supposed to pay for the installation? Most vendors want their money up front. I’m sure she didn’t have the spare funds to get the work done.”
Tennessee looked perplexed, then let out a low curse. “I don’t know what I was thinking.”
“This is all new to you, isn’t it?” Jaxson looked a bit amused. “So, is she having problems?”
“Watch out, Ten, Jax will be advising you on birthing procedures.” Philip said wryly from behind them.
“What did the doctor say about Molly’s condition?” Ryder asked as she sat a plate of dinner rolls on the table.
“High blood pressure, swelling, not eating enough.” Ten related some of what the physician had told him. “I’m going to call and make her an appointment in Austin tomorrow.”
“She has no family?” Philip asked, grabbing a roll and pulling it apart to take a bite.
“No, no one.” Tennessee picked up his napkin and laid it across his knee.
“It all sounds fairly serious to me, we’ll have to keep an eye on he
r.” This was the first time Pepper had contributed to the conversation. Tennessee could tell she wasn’t as accepting of the situation as Ryder.
“Whew! Something smells good,” Cato announced as she breezed in and went right to work helping the other two girls pile a tray high with big slabs of Texas chocolate sheet cake.
Heath came wandering in behind Cato with a dazed happy look on his face. Love was certainly agreeing with him. Ten was jealous. “Sit down, brother.” He pulled out a chair.
Heath looked around. “Where’s our guest?”
“She’s up in her room.” Ryder announced. “I’m about to take her up a plate and I think I’ll eat with her upstairs.”
Cato was standing where she could read everyone’s lips. “Heath was telling me Molly was here. I want to come upstairs, too. Girl talk!” She looked at Heath. “Would you mind?”
He gave her a big smile. “No, go ahead. Just don’t stay gone too long, baby girl.”
Phillip looked at Jaxson and rolled his eyes. “The man has certainly changed his tune.”
Ryder took a tray down and began filling a plate for Molly. “Pepper, will you be joining us?”
Pepper didn’t answer at first. “I’m not sure I’d be good company.”
Tennessee watched the exchange between his sisters. As angry and betrayed as he’d felt, he still had these protective instincts toward Molly. “Pepper, cut her a break.”
“How can you say that?” His fiery little sister was up in arms because she felt her brother had been mistreated. “She didn’t love you enough to be a good wife! She hurt you!”
To hear Pepper come to his defense against Molly made Ten feel like he was watching all of this through a funhouse mirror. “Right now we have to think of their health, both Molly and the baby. My baby.” Just saying the words gave him strength of purpose.
“He’s right.” Ryder handed Pepper a tray. “Cato get the other one with the tea and let’s go make the mother of our future nephew feel welcome.”
Upstairs, Molly stood at the window and surveyed the Highlands Ranch. She didn’t know for sure, but she suspected the land as far as the eye could see belonged to the McCoys. They were rich people. She clasped her arms, hugging herself. A feeling of loneliness swept over her. If only things were different, if only she were here as Tennessee’s wife, beloved mother of his unborn child. Today he’d seemed different, not as angry. He was still distant, but not as accusing. Oh it wasn’t as if he’d forgiven her – not that there was anything to forgive…
The unfairness of her situation speared her heart with sorrow.
Knock! Knock!
“Come in.” Molly walked toward the door and opened it, finding Ten’s sisters and another beautiful woman standing there with their arms full. “Oh, my.”
She stepped back and they swept in. “Molly, this is Cato McCoy. Heath’s wife. She can’t hear so when you speak to her, face her. Cato reads lips.”
“Yes, I do.” Cato came forward to hug Molly. “Welcome to the Highlands. We have come to eat with you.”
Molly noticed Pepper didn’t seem quite as enthused about their impromptu dinner party as did her sister and sister-in-law. “Oh, this wasn’t necessary.” Not wanting to sound ungracious, she hastily added. “But I appreciate it. Here, let me fix us a place to sit.” She rushed around to take things off of a round table next to the French doors leading out to the balcony. “I believe this will be the perfect size.”
“Very good.” Ryder said as she began to unload the trays. “Pull up a chair everyone, we have some catching up to do.”
Down below, the men all sat around the table eating. Every now and then they would hear a peal of laughter and as one, their eyes would be cast to the ceiling.
“You know, this could be dangerous,” Jaxson remarked with a straight face.
“You’re telling me,” Heath snorted.
“They sound like they’re having a good time.” Philip observed as he helped himself to another piece of ham.
“Hand me one.” Tennessee held out his plate.
Philip did so even as Heath waved his fork at Ten. “I’m glad to see you’re eating,” Heath said, just before he put a piece of potato in his mouth. “We’ve been worried about you. You’ve lost a few pounds.”
“Hmmmph,” Ten muttered, “pounds that I needed to lose.” He passed the remark off as unimportant. The truth was a little harder to analyze. His appetite had returned because he felt at peace. And the reason for that peace was upstairs. Tonight she’d be sleeping just yards away from him with only a thin wall in between.
A thin wall and an ocean of duplicity separated them.
The thin wall he could breach, but he didn’t think he was strong enough to swim against the tide of dishonesty.
Meanwhile…
“So, you went down the canyon wall with Tennessee?” Cato asked wide-eyed with wonder.
“Yes, and we managed to get Mr. Hunt to the top safely. Together.” The significance of the last word wasn’t lost on Molly as she said it.
“And you two got married in Santa Fe? I’ve heard of the Inn at Loretto. I’m sure it was beautiful.” Ryder commented, folding her napkin in her lap.
Why were they having this conversation? Molly couldn’t understand. What was the use of rehashing the past? “Yes, the wedding was very nice.” It was their marriage that had fallen apart.
Suddenly a fork clanged against a plate. Everyone but Cato jumped. Molly jerked her head up to see Pepper staring at her with fire coming from her eyes.
Okay, the time for politeness and glossing over the truth was over.
She stood up, her chest heaving. “How could you do it? He loved you so.” She wadded up her napkin and threw it in her chair. “How could you turn on him like this? Destroy his dreams and sleep around on him? Don’t you know how lucky you were to be loved by my brother? He’s the best of men!”
“Pepper…” Ryder held out a hand and Cato stood as if to get between them if necessary.
Molly stood, slowly. She looked from one woman to the other. “Let me explain something to the three of you.” Her voice wasn’t loud, but it was full of steel. “I can’t explain to you what happened. I don’t know how Greg O’Neil found out Ten’s bid.” She bit out each word. “But. It. Wasn’t. From Me.”
Throwing her own napkin down, she stepped away from the table. It seemed imperative to put distance between herself and her accuser. “I did not break our marriage vows. I did not betray your brother.” Her voice broke. “Whoever did this was very careful to put the blame on me. But I didn’t do it!”
The door was thrown open. “What’s going on in here?” Tennessee asked, his eyes moving from one woman to the other. He could see the strained expressions, the hurt look on Pepper’s face and the wary expressions that Ryder and Cato wore. But the face that drew him the most was Molly’s. He’d heard what she said, he’d heard it before. Her eyes were impassioned, her color high. If he didn’t know better, he’d say the woman before him believed herself to be innocent of the accusations made against her.
“Molly was explaining to us…” Ryder began.
“Don’t bother. Tennessee doesn’t believe me. He’d rather believe people who hate him rather than someone who loved him.” With those bitter words, Molly turned and ran through the nearest door, slamming it behind her.
* * *
Molly stood under the spray of the shower, letting the hot water wash away her tears. When she could cry no more, she shut off the water from the sumptuous shower and stepped out on a small rug to dry off.
Standing in front of the mirror, wrapped in a towel, she brushed her teeth and stared at her pale face. The sight caused her to let out a half cry half laugh. It was hard for someone of her coloring to look wan, but she did.
Out of nowhere, a whoosh of air startled her. A door on the other side of the vanity opened and Tennessee stepped through wearing only a very brief pair of shorts. Molly grabbed her chest. “Where did you come from?”
>
“My room,” he pointed through the door. “We’re sharing a bathroom.”
“I thought that was a closet,” she gasped.
“Sorry.” He pointed back over his shoulder. “The door wasn’t locked.”
“I didn’t know I needed to,” she grumbled, shutting her eyes. He was almost naked and the image of his sculpted hot body was burned in her mind. His chest was just as perfect as she remembered, rippled with muscles and lightly dusted with hair. “Please cover yourself up.” She threw him a towel with a shaking hand, recalling the hours of pleasure she’d enjoyed kissing and touching every inch of his strong body.
“I didn’t know you were in here, but since you are, I wanted to tell you that I talked to Pepper and she’s calmed down. She won’t be causing you any more problems.”
“Thank you. She came back later to apologize. I’ll just try to stay out of her way.”
He noticed Molly was avoiding looking at him. “Am I bothering you?” Ten asked, his own body singing with arousal. He was holding the towel she’d handed him in front of his crotch or Molly would see exactly how she affected him.
“Yes, you’re practically indecent.” Seeing him this way made her want him so much she could’ve wept.
“Would you call what we used to do together indecent?” When she didn’t answer, he did it for her. “I wouldn’t. I’d call it fuckin’ fantastic.” He was popping off, when what he wanted to do was beg her to come to him. He wanted to hold her close. He ached to see her beautiful body, to know if it had changed with her pregnancy. Were her breasts larger? Would he be able to see a swell where their baby lay?
Squaring her shoulders, Molly faced off with him. “I’m not having sex with you, Tennessee.”
He felt the knife twist in his heart. “I wasn’t offering. Why would I want Greg O’Neil’s leavings?”
Molly picked up a bottle of bath gel and hurled it at him, following it with some shampoo. “Get out! Now!”
Tennessee dodged the missiles she launched at him and left. Immediately he felt contrite. He’d been unnecessarily harsh with her. And she wasn’t well. He tried to enter again, to apologize but the door was locked.