“Thank you for coming.” Priscilla clasped her hands on the table. There were bruises all over her arms.
“You said you needed to speak to me.”
“Have you seen Sam? Is he okay? They won’t tell me anything.”
“He’s fine. A worker with CPS came out and spoke to him. He’s been able to stay at the ranch, but I don’t know how long.”
Tears filled her tired eyes. “I’ve made a deal. If I sign myself into a rehabilitation clinic, they won’t charge me as an accessory to kidnapping. They said you took up for me and said I wasn’t involved. Grace, no one has ever believed in me.”
To say that she wasn’t upset and angry over the situation would be a lie, but Grace felt for the woman. She had a problem and she needed help from people her understood. “It’s time you believed in yourself.”
“You’re the only one I know to ask…” She sighed.
“Ask what?” Grace shifted in the hard-plastic chair.
“Please take Sam for me while I’m gone. I don’t know how long but it’ll be at least a year. He likes you. You’re a good person. I need to know that my baby will be taken care of while I’m getting better. He’s important to me.”
“Priscilla, I—”
She gave a jerky nod, wiped her nose with a crumpled tissue and glanced at Sheriff Conley who was sitting on the other side of the window. “Grace, if you won’t he’ll end up in foster care. I don’t want that to happen.” Her eyes silently pleaded. “I want a better life for him.”
Grace didn’t know how to respond but thinking of sweet Sam being taken away to live with strangers made her heart hurt.
“I’ll take care of him, but you have to make a promise.”
Priscilla’s eyes lit. “Anything. Just tell me.”
“You have to get better. Do what you need to do to give Sam a better life yourself.”
“I will.”
Conley opened the door. “It’s time, Priscilla.”
After the sheriff placed her in handcuffs, Priscilla gave Grace a thank you smile.
As she was leaving the jail, her mind was consumed with the events over the last few days. After Gam was taken away, and she gave her statement to a deputy, Ruger drove her home. They’d sat in silence. What could she say? He’d made a decision and they couldn’t be together. And honestly, she understood. He had a child coming who would need him.
Now Sam needed Grace.
She walked to the diner and took a seat in the corner booth, waving at Chynna. She joined Grace. “You okay? What’d she want?”
Blowing out a long breath, Grace said in a lowered voice, “Priscilla asked me to take care of Sam while she’s in a rehab clinic.”
Chynna cleared her throat and chuckled. “Wow. And?”
Rubbing her fingers over her temples, Grace shrugged. “I agreed.”
“What? Really?” Chynna sipped her Coke from a fountain glass.
“What else would I say? This isn’t his fault. He’s innocent.”
“What does this mean for you? That you’ll be staying in Cooper’s Hawk?”
“I haven’t thought that far ahead yet. I need to speak with an attorney.”
“I’ll text you over a number for a great real estate agent who can get you fixed up with a house.” Chynna tapped at the keyboard on her phone. “You should have it now. It’s only if you decide to stay.”
“Thanks.”
“Look, it’s none of my business, honey, but maybe you should speak to Ruger. You like the guy, right?”
“Chynna, he made his choice. Now that Flora is pregnant—” the other woman’s growl stopped Grace. “What?”
“I don’t know the woman, but I do know Ruger. He’s an upstanding guy. They don’t come along often, hun.”
Grace absorbed the information while picking at the paper napkin. “That’s possible, but—”
“Dude, Ruger saved your life. Maybe he thinks he’s doing you a favor by letting you go.”
“I should be going. Sam is with Hannah and I told her I wouldn’t be long. I still have a few last-minute details to take care of at the ranch. Thank you for letting me borrow your car for a few days.”
“That’s what friends are for. It’s parked in back.” Chynna took the keys from her pocket and handed them to Grace.
She drove the borrowed SUV to pick up Sam and then drove to the ranch. When they pulled into the entrance, Sam asked in excitement, “I see Harvard. Can I help him at the barn?”
“Sure, but stay with him, okay?” The hands had all taken Sam under their care over the last few days.
Letting the boy out, Harvard waved at her and she waved back. Driving up to the house she parked and went inside. Placing the keys and purse on the table, she felt a sense of sadness knowing she wouldn’t be here much longer.
“I heard you visited Priscilla.”
She about jumped out of her skin at the voice. She swiveled, pressing her hand against her chest. Ruger was sitting on the couch, his elbows on his knees. Dark circles lined his eyes and he looked like he hadn’t slept in months. “You shouldn’t scare me like that.”
“Sorry.” He stood and hooked his thumbs in his front pockets. She wished she didn’t feel such an array of emotions when he was near. If only she could dislike him, but she loved him. Those feelings didn’t just go away. “What did she want?”
“News travels fast around these parts.” She wasn’t sure she wanted to speak to Ruger. She strolled into the kitchen to start making Sam’s lunch.
Ruger followed and leaned against the door jamb. “Well?”
Sighing, she grabbed the loaf of bread and peanut butter and jelly, Sam’s favorite. “She asked me to keep Sam while she’s in rehab.”
“That’s a lot to ask, especially when she played a role in the abduction.”
“Yes, but I told her I would. Sam needs stability.” She smoothed creamy peanut butter on one side of the bread.
“Grace…”
She dropped the knife and turned to face him. “I’ll be leaving here soon. I’ll finish up decorating today and just as soon as I can find a place—”
“I don’t want you to go.”
Blinking, she couldn’t believe her ears. “What? So, you’d like me to stay here and be a cook? Walk around as if you and I haven’t shared anything? I trusted you, Ruger.”
“And you can still trust me. I don’t want you to stay here as the cook. I want you to help me run this place. No, that’s not right.” He blew out a long breath. “I want you here with me because I care for you.”
She gave her head a frustrated shake. “I can’t be here and pretend that I don’t have feelings and want more. I want you to be there for Flora. I really do. And for the baby. I just can’t be here and watch that.” She turned back to finish the sandwich, holding back tears.
He came up behind her and pulled her against his chest. “Grace. Grace. Grace.” His words held such raw emotion.
“Don’t do this, Ruger,” she whimpered.
“I want you. I want us. I’ll be there for the baby, but I want you in my life too. Forgive me for my past. I need you. Nothing means anything if you’re not here with me. I’ve been an idiot.”
“And what?” she whispered.
He gently turned her to face him. “Be with me, sweetheart. The baby might change things, but not the feelings I have for you. Just say you’ll give this a try. We can do this together.”
“I don’t know.”
“Do you love me?” His eyes pleaded.
“Yes, I do.”
“Then what is there to know? Flora doesn’t want the baby. I do. We can raise him or her together. We can be a family.”
His offer shocked her.
Could she be a mother to his baby with another woman?
Was she strong enough?
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
“FINALLY. THEY’RE ASLEEP.” Grace closed the door to the twins’ room. At three months they were starting to sleep through the night.
Ruger wrapped his arms around her shoulders and held her. “Thank you, sweetheart. Thank you for being the best wife and mother to our kids.”
“It’s easy. You make it easy. I love each of you with all my heart.”
Seven months ago, they’d had a private wedding ceremony. They became man and wife—and a family.
A judge agreed to let them take temporary custody of Sam who was thriving at school. He even joined baseball and made new friends.
Priscilla called on occasion and Sam talked to her, but he didn’t want to live with her, which he said every day. Ruger and Grace had been taking him to therapy for his nightmares and slowly he was sleeping better, but just as the therapist said, it would take months, or even years before Sam could feel safe.
Just as Flora had promised Ruger, she didn’t want the babies. The day she delivered them she’d invited him and Grace to be there for the birth. Flora had signed over all rights to Rose and Noah the next day. A date was already set when Grace would officially adopt them.
She loved the twins like they were her own. And she loved Sam like he was her son.
They had to postpone the opening of the B&B until the new house on the ranch was completed where Ruger and Grace and the children would live. They only had a few more days until they could move into their home.
Emily hadn’t been happy when Grace told her she planned on staying in Cooper’s Hawk, but in the end, Emily wanted her sister to be happy. Eventually, Grace would decide what she needed to do career-wise, but for now she liked being with the kids, and liked finalizing the last few details of the B&B.
She looked up at her handsome husband, pride building in her. “I have something to show you.” She took his hand and led him into their bedroom. “Have a seat.” She pointed at the flowered chair.
He did as she requested. “Is everything okay?”
“Better than okay.” She opened the drawer to her nightstand and took out the stick, holding it up for him to see. “Guess what, husband?”
It took him a second and then his eyes widened. “Is that a pregnancy test?”
She nodded. “Yes.”
He jumped up from the chair. “Are you?”
“Yes. It’s early, but I took four and they all came out pregnant. We’re going to have a baby, Ruger.”
“Woot!” He lifted her into his arms and swung her around in circles. He gently set her down, smiling from ear to ear. “You’ve made me the happiest man alive!”
Tears filled her eyes, but only happy tears.
They soon would be a family of six. Grace had gone from lonely and sadness to having more joy than she could ever imagine. Every dream was becoming reality.
She touched the tattoo on her wrist and said a silent, “Thank you.” Grace believed in her heart that sweet Caroline had been a part of all this, made it all possible. “I’ll love you forever, baby.”
Not the end but only the beginning.
For those who are curious, the snake who slithered into the hutch was relocated into the woods where he also lived happily ever after…
From the author:
Thank you for reading. Please leave a review and let others know your thoughts.
Check out the entire selection of books by me… http://www.amazon.com/Rhonda-Lee-Carver/e/B00CQLXKTO/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1456497552&sr=1-2-ent
Hugs,
Rhonda Lee Carver
At an early age, Rhonda fell in love with romance novels, knowing one day she’d write her own love story. Life took a short detour, but when the story ideas were no longer contained, she decided to dive in and write. Her first plot was on a dirty napkin she found buried in her car. Eventually, she ran out of napkins. With baby on one hip and laptop on the other, she made a dream into reality—one word at a time.
Her specialty is men who love to get their hands dirty and women who are smart, strong and flawed. She loves writing about the everyday hero.
When Rhonda isn't crafting sizzling manuscripts, you will find her busy editing novels, blogging, juggling kids and animals (too many to name), dreaming of a beach house and keeping romance alive. Oh, and drinking lots of coffee to keep up with her hero and heroine.
For other titles by Rhonda Lee Carver, please visit: www.rhondaleecarver.com.
Find me on Facebook, too! www.facebook.com/rhondalee.carver
Other books by Rhonda Lee Carver
Rhonda Lee Carver Books by Series
Tarnation, Texas Series
Hitched (Book 1)
The Cowboy's Son (Book 2)
Pour Me a Drink (Book 3)
Cowboy State of Mind (Book 4)
Big Hearted Cowboy (Book 5)
Mountain Force Series
Justice by the Lawman (Book 1)
Secured by the Lawman (Book 2)
Tormented by the Lawman (Book 3)
Lawmen of Wyoming Series
Protected by the Lawman (Book 1)
Wanted by the Lawman (Book 2)
Seized by the Lawman (Book 3)
Claimed by the Lawman (Book 4)
Sheltered by the Lawman (Book 5)
Taken by the Lawman (Book 6)
Saddles & Second Chances Series
Roman's Choice (Book 1)
Penn's Fortune (Book 2)
Weston's Trouble (Book 3)
Urban's Rush (Book 4)
Hugh's Chase (Book 5)
Cowboys of Nirvana Series
Cowboy Paradise (Book 1)
Ropin' Trouble (Book 2)
Smoke. Fire. Cowboy (Book 3)
Kissed, Spurred & Valentined (Book 4)
Cowboy is Mine (Book 5)
The Discreet Cowboy (Book 6)
A Perfect Cowboy Daddy (Book 7)
Cowboys Forgive (Book 8)
Second Chance Cowboy Series
Second Chance Cowboy (Book 1)
Second Ride Cowboy (Book 2)
Second Round Cowboy (Book 3)
Second Dance Cowboy (Book 4)
Second Song Cowboy (Book 5)
Second Burn Cowboy (Book 6)
Second Hope Cowboy (Book 7)
Second Sunrise Cowboy (Book 8)
The KNIGHT Brothers Series
Pride and Pleasure (Book 1)
His Weekend Wife (Book 2)
The Darkest Knight (Book 3)
Letting Go Series
Letting Go (Book 1)
Legacy (Book 2)
Without You (Book 3)
Rhinestone Cowgirls Series
Under Pressure (Book 1)
Pressure Rising (Book 2)
Pressure Point (Book 3)
Secret Pressure (Book 4)
Resisting Pressure (Book 5)
Studs in Scrubs Series
Hot as Hell (Book 1)
Dirty as Hell (Book 2)
Smooth as Hell (Book 3)
Buttermilk Valley Series
Unexpected Hero (Book 1)
The Lawman's Promise Book 2)
Wicked Wolves Series
Wicked Pleasures (Book 1)
Wicked Lust (Book 2
Other books by Rhonda Lee Carver (Not part of a series)
A New Year’s Cowboy
Leather for Two: Wings of Steel MC
Fighting Flames
Double Dare
With Honor
Sin with Cuffs
Friends with Benefits
Dreaming Ivy
Castle’s Fortress
Delaney’s Sunrise
Diamond in a Rose
Have you read Bighearted Cowboy (Book 5, Tarnation, Texas)? Here is a bonus read…
CHAPTER ONE
“Don’t push!”
“What’s going on? What’s wrong with my daughter?” The frantic mother stood by the table in the emergency room where her seventeen-year-old daughter was curled up in pain.
Charlotte Sophia had worked as a nurse long enough to ably compartmentalize her emotions from professionalism. However, a part of her wanted to wrap her arms around the scared young patient and tell her, �
��everything will be all right” but the proficient nurse in her knew time was of the essence to save the lives of the mother and the unborn child. “Ms. Hampton, your daughter is pregnant, and she is in active labor.”
“Pre-g-nant?”.
“Yes. She’s having a baby. I know it’s a shock, but I need you to be strong for your daughter. Missy,” Charlotte directed her attention to the crying teenager. “Did you know you were pregnant?”
Out came two moans before she finally answered, “No. I didn’t know. Am I going to live?” Frenzied-filled dark eyes stared up at her. “I feel like I’m being attacked inside.”
“You’re going to be fine.” Charlotte wiped her face gently with a cool, damp cloth. “When did you first notice any cramping or pain?” Her intention was to get information while trying to calm Missy as much as possible. They were still waiting on an available doctor who could help deliver the baby.
“I left school early because I was sick. I went home and was playing a video game and winning too. You know, the one where the cyborg attacks California and—”
“Missy!” her mother reprimanded. “Stay on track, for God’s sake!”
“Fine! I thought I was starting my period, the worst one of my life, but this sucks. Can you get it out? Can you give me something for the pain?” More tears flowed to mix with the streaks of mascara on her cheeks. “I have practice tonight.”
“Listen to me carefully,” Charlotte said evenly. “I know this is painful and you’re scared. It’s important that you stay calm and whatever you do don’t push. So you play sports?”
“Soccer. I-I play soccer.” She was in between contractions, but they were close together, so she didn’t have much of a break.
“Ah, a soccer player. You’re determined and strong. Just like you do in the game when you’re ready to make a goal, you can do this, and you will do this, sweetheart. Just keep breathing and concentrate.” Charlotte looked up at the teen’s mother. “Stay with her and keep her relaxed as much as you can.”
Cowboy Wilde (Cooper's Hawke Landing Book 2) Page 22