Dakota Home (27 page)

She didn't like his attitude. “For as long as I want. Don't think you can tell me what I can and can't do, Jeb McKenna.”

He looked away and gestured toward the chair. “All right, point taken.”

“I'll drink a glass of milk if you have that,” she said, sorry now for snapping at him.

“I don't,” he said apologetically.

“It wasn't on your list,” she reminded him.

“I don't generally drink much milk,” he said. “Would you like anything else?”

“No.” They were certainly getting off to an awkward start; Maddy wondered what he'd say next.

He waited a moment, his hands around the steaming mug. “Are you all right, uh, healthwise?”

“Yes, I feel great. I've been reading quite a few books on pregnancy and I thought I'd experience some morning sickness by now.”

“You haven't?”

“None yet.” For which she was grateful.

“When you're done with those books, I'd like to read them.”

He would? That cheered her, but she was afraid to put any stock in the request. “I'll bring them next week.”

A faint smile came and vanished. “Thanks.”

This was followed by another lengthy pause. Maddy's mind was full of all the things she wanted to tell him—how excited she was about the pregnancy, how she and Lindsay talked nearly every day and compared notes. She wanted to explain the baby's development and the subtle changes taking place in her body, but said nothing.

“Is there anything I can do for you?” Jeb finally asked.

You mean other than loving me?
she wanted to say. Instead she simply shook her head.

He took a sip of coffee. “Sarah tells me you and Dennis are still seeing each other.”

So he'd heard about last week's dinner date with Dennis Urlacher. Dennis had wanted to apologize for telling Jeb about the baby. Technically, he'd abided by her wishes and hadn't come right out and told Jeb, but he admitted he'd broken her trust. They'd talked about it, and Maddy had assured him it was probably for the best; Jeb had to find out sometime. They'd parted as friends.

Jeb stood and took his mug to the sink. “Are you going to marry Dennis?” he asked, his voice devoid of emotion.

“Marry him?” His question took her completely by surprise. She couldn't believe he'd asked her something like that. Could he
be
any dumber? “Give me one good reason I'd marry Dennis.”

“You're dating him…My sister said…” Jeb snapped his mouth shut.

“I can't think of a single reason Dennis would want to marry me. Think about it! He's in love with Sarah—and I'm pregnant with another man's child.”

“So what are you saying? Are you marrying Dennis or not?” Jeb demanded, his voice an angry shout.

“No!” she returned, just as furious. So this was the reason he'd brought her to the ranch. He wanted to quiz her about Dennis. It seemed Jeb didn't want to marry her himself, but he didn't want anyone else to marry her, either.

She stood abruptly. “I have to go.”

“There's something else I'd like to say.”

“Not now. I've had it! As far as I can see, all you want to do is question me about my relationship with Dennis. What does it matter? It's none of
your
business. You've made it abundantly clear that you don't want me in your life.” She dashed to the back door.

“Maddy, wait, will you?”

Refusing to listen, she snatched up her coat, thrust her arms into the sleeves and ran outside, not stopping even though Jeb repeatedly called her name. She'd always thought of herself as a reasonable, easygoing person, but Jeb had a way of fueling her anger faster than anyone she'd ever met.

“Wait…”

She hurried toward her vehicle, blocking out his words. Once she'd started the engine and put the car in Reverse, she noticed Jeb standing on the steps, looking miserable. About as miserable as she was feeling.

During the hour's drive to town, she thought about him obsessively. She wished they could have had a real conversation; she'd been willing to try. But then he'd gone and ruined everything by asking about her and Dennis.

Needing someone to talk to, Maddy walked to Knight's Pharmacy, hoping Lindsay was visiting Hassie. Her friend often stopped at Hassie's after school and then came over to the grocery store.

Hassie glanced up when she entered. “Lindsay's gone to Grand Forks with Leta, in case you were looking for her.” She did an exaggerated double-take. “My, what's gotten into you?” she asked, grinning broadly. “You seem fit to be tied.”

“I am. Could I have a soda and some advice?”

Hassie came out from behind the counter. “You're in the right place. Jeb got your dander up again?”

“He really did it this time,” Maddy said as she climbed onto a stool. “Oh, Hassie, you wouldn't believe the things he says to me.”

“Yes, I would. He's a man, isn't he? Tell me, when does a man have the sense God gave a buffalo?”

Maddy smiled. “He tells me he wants to talk, and then he has the nerve to ask me if I intend to marry Dennis.”

“I don't blame you for losing your cool. Any folks who've got eyes in their heads can see you're in love with Jeb.”

This wasn't comforting news. “They can?”

“Furthermore,” Hassie added, gently patting her hand, “it's just as obvious that he feels the same way about you.”

“M
ama, Mama.” The shout was followed by a muffled cry.

Buffalo Bob groaned and rolled over to find Merrily had bolted upright in bed. She'd tossed aside the covers and reached for her robe.

“Not again,” Bob complained. They hadn't enjoyed a full night's rest since her return several weeks earlier. It was clear she loved the kid, but as far as Bob was concerned, Axel was a major pain. Never in his life had he realized how much attention a toddler required. Merrily continued to waitress for him, but not as often as before. Most of her time was taken up with Axel, who was both demanding and temperamental. Bob had repeatedly questioned her about Axel's family, but she always managed to distract him or change the subject. If he pressed too hard, she closed up entirely and avoided him. He didn't want that, either.

So far, Bob had tried everything he could think of to make friends with the boy, but Axel wanted nothing to do with him. Usually the kid wouldn't even look at him. Merrily had made it plain that she and the kid were a package deal, but Bob was beginning to think he'd gotten a
raw
deal.

When Merrily wasn't back after fifteen minutes, Bob went to see what was taking her so long. He found her sitting on the edge of the bed, gently rocking Axel, whispering endearments to the boy.

“What's wrong now?” he asked irritably. Was it too much to expect a decent night's sleep? Merrily was up and down at least a dozen times damn near every night.

Merrily placed her finger over her lips to silence him.

“How much longer will you be?” He kept his voice low.

She shrugged. “He had a bad dream,” she told him, speaking so quietly he had to strain to make out the words.

Bob drew his hand down his face. “If I had a bad dream, would you comfort me, too?”

Her grin told him she'd happily see to his needs—and then some. Bob instantly felt better and returned to bed. Not long afterward, Merrily joined him.

“Had any bad dreams lately, big boy?” she asked as she slipped between the covers and moved close to him. She rubbed her bare leg against his and slid her arm across his chest.

“Plenty,” Bob told her, staring up at the ceiling. “Real bad dreams.”

She kissed his jaw and ran her tongue slowly along his ear. Shivers raced through him and he let loose with a husky growl and rolled onto his side. He kissed her and let her know how badly he needed her special brand of comfort. When he least expected it, Merrily pushed him away.

“It's Axel,” she cried, throwing back the blankets and climbing off the bed.

Bob groaned and flopped onto his back. His patience was already in short supply, and his mood had taken a dramatic turn by the time Merrily got back.

“What the hell was wrong now?”

“He had another nightmare. If you'd been through what he has, you'd have bad dreams, too.” She sat on the bed, her back to him. “Do you want me to leave, Bob? Is that what you're saying?”

“Not you.”

“You want me to get rid of Axel?”

He was afraid to ask her to make a choice; he had the distinct impression she'd choose the kid over him. “What I want is for everything to be the way it was before—just you and me.”

“It hasn't been just you and me for almost two years. Why else do you think I left you all those times?”

So she'd been dividing her time between the kid and him. As best as he could figure, Axel lived in California and was the lure that dragged Merrily away from him.

“If you don't want Axel around, I understand,” Merrily told him matter-of-factly. “But I go with him. He needs me a whole lot more than you do.”

Bob doubted that.

“No one loves him except me. If you can't learn to care about him, then…then maybe it'd be better if I just left.”

Bob definitely didn't want that. He placed his hand on her shoulder, but she shrugged it off. “Don't you see,” she said, and her voice quavered suspiciously, “I'm the only mother the kid has?”

Bob did see that, but he didn't like it. Before this, he'd been the focus of her tender loving care and he hated sharing her with a whiny two-year-old. Especially one who couldn't seem to sleep more than a couple of hours at a stretch.

“What you don't understand,” Merrily continued with emotion in her voice, “is that he needs you, too.”

“Me?”

“He needs a father.”

The word hit Bob like a baseball bat on the back of the head.
Him,
a father? The idea was laughable, ludicrous. Crazy.

“But he hides his eyes every time I'm anywhere close to him,” Bob said.

“If men had hurt you the way they've hurt that little boy, you'd hide your eyes, too.” Her back was still to him, her arms crossed. “Have you ever noticed the scar on his thigh?”

Bob had.

“His father used a lit cigarette to teach him a lesson. If Axel was going to cry, then he thought he should give him a reason.”

The rage that filled him was palpable. “The son of a bitch!”

“There's more, much more. Things I can't bear to think about.”

Bob's heart went out to the child. “Did anyone call the authorities?”

“Me,” Merrily told him. “But by the time they arrived…” She didn't finish.

“What happened?” Bob asked, careful not to seem too demanding.

“By then, there was no longer any ‘evidence.' And I wasn't considered a…reliable witness. And after that little episode…”

“What?”

“His daddy decided to sell him.”

“Sell him?” Bob exploded. “How? I mean, good God, you don't buy or sell children.” What he really wanted to ask was what kind of man would do such a thing, but the answer was obvious. The kind of man who'd burn a toddler with a cigarette.

“I didn't have the money he wanted.”

“You were going to buy him?”

“I was going to do whatever it took to keep him safe,” Merrily said.

“Then how'd you get him?”

She shook her head. “I have him, that's all that matters.”

Bob sighed. Damn, but life could get complicated. Another thought struck him, one with terrifying consequences. “You in any danger?”

She laughed without any real humor. “I'd be a dead woman if he ever found me, but don't worry, he won't. No one knows about you or this place. We're safe here.”

Bob stroked her back. “You and the boy can stay as long as you want.”

She turned, and a slow, sexy smile spread across her face as she leaned toward him. “Now, what was it you were saying about a bad dream? I'm here to make it all better.”

Bob grinned and raised his arms, inviting her into his embrace. He groaned as Merrily joined him between the covers and stripped off her nightgown. Switching off the lamp on the nightstand, he reached for her. She came to him with an eagerness that stole his breath and in those next frantic moments, she reminded him, in lots of ways, just how lonely he could get without her.

Buffalo Bob woke at first light. Merrily was asleep in his arms, her face peaceful in slumber. She hadn't told him outright where she'd gotten the kid, but he was convinced now that she'd done the right thing. When he'd questioned her further, she refused to answer, telling him the less he knew, the better off they'd all be. Bob hoped that in time she'd trust him with the rest of the story.

Axel's soft cry drifted in from the other room. As carefully as he could, Bob extracted himself from Merrily, not wanting to wake her. He found the boy curled up in one corner of the bed. When he saw Bob, Axel buried his face in the pillow.

“Good morning,” Bob said softly, knowing the sound of his voice often terrified the youngster.

Axel wouldn't look at him. “Mama,” he insisted.

“Mama's still sleeping.”

Axel whimpered.

Bob advanced slowly into the room, then sat on the very edge of the bed. Still averting his face, Axel crawled to the farthest reaches of the bed. Bob had no idea how to gain the kid's trust. Suddenly he remembered that his own mother used to sing to him. The hell if he could remember any lullabies, though. Instead, he sang a ditty from his motorcycle days. The words were a little raunchy and Merrily would probably object, but Axel seemed to enjoy it. When he finished, the boy lifted his head and smiled.

A smile. A simple, innocent smile, and Bob felt like he'd pulled off a major coup.

“Give me five, my man,” he said, stretching out his hand.

Axel sat up and slapped his palm, then hurriedly crawled back to the corner of the bed.

“Want to come downstairs and help your old man fix breakfast?” he asked.

Axel stared at him blankly.

“Morning,” Merrily said, standing in the doorway. “How are my men this morning?”

“Mama!” Axel scurried across the bed, and Bob lifted him down and watched as he raced toward Merrily, eager to be taken into her arms.

Holding the boy against her hip, Merrily walked over to Bob and kissed his cheek. “Thank you,” she whispered.

“Hey, what did I do?”

“Nothing much,” she said, her voice trembling, “but I think you just took the first step toward becoming Axel's daddy.”

Bob thought about that and glanced at the toddler on Merrily's hip. For the first time Axel wasn't hiding his face.

“Give me five,” Bob said again, and held out his hand.

Axel laughed and slapped Bob's palm with all his might.

 

Sarah felt more optimistic than she had in months. Thanks to Lindsay and her uncle's furniture store, she was selling quilts steadily and receiving more money than she would've believed possible. Advance orders came in every week, more than she could fulfill on her own. Since the first of the year, two local farm wives had come to work for her part-time. Every cent she could, Sarah set aside for attorney's fees. Divorces didn't come cheap.

In March, with winter still upon them and only the promise of spring ahead, Buffalo Valley looked gray and dingy. Dirt smudged the snow-lined streets and a gloomy pall hung over the town. People's moods always hit a low point between March and April, she'd noticed. But something was happening to Buffalo Valley. Something good. After years of decline, years in which she'd watched businesses close and families move away, the town had taken an unmistakable turn toward recovery.

Three homes had sold, which meant three new families had moved into the community, drawn by new business ventures. The Hoopers had come with JCPenney's catalog store, which was now in full operation. Rachel's pizzeria was doing well enough to allow her to hire extra staff. On Valentine's Day, Jean Hooper had opened her beauty shop. A high-school friend of Rachel's, a divorced mother, had moved into the old Sheppard house off Spruce Street, and Pastor Dawson and his family would be taking over a house close to the old Catholic church. Larry Dawson had grown up in the area, and people were pleased to see him back.

Perhaps best of all, Calla had turned sixteen and was working as a weekend waitress for Rachel. With her job, her attitude seemed to improve, which Sarah deeply appreciated, although she and Calla still tended to ignore each other most of the time.

As far as Sarah knew, Dennis was no longer seeing Maddy, but he hadn't asked to see
her,
either. Sarah had decided to wait until she'd received word that the divorce proceedings were underway before she admitted the truth to Dennis. She was embarrassed and ashamed that from the beginning, she'd led him to believe she was already divorced.

The news on that front was good, too. After several weeks of searching, Susanne Sullivan had been able to locate Willie Stern in Minneapolis. He'd moved three times in five months. She was preparing the divorce documents and would have them delivered shortly.

Sarah was thrilled. The sky might be gray, the weather dreary, but she felt full of hope for the future. She loved Dennis and knew he loved her. Soon she'd be able to come to him a free woman.

Yes, Sarah thought, Buffalo Valley Quilts was prospering, and so was she.

A dirty red pickup truck pulled into a parking space across the street from her store, and seeing it, Sarah frowned. It looked exactly like Jeb's. He so seldom drove into town that she found it hard to believe it could be her brother.

They hadn't talked much since Jeb had learned of Maddy's pregnancy. Last week he'd phoned, though, for the first time in a month. Initially she had thought he'd called for no reason, which was highly unusual for Jeb, but several minutes into their nonconversation, he oh, so casually asked about Maddy. Only then did Sarah realize why he was calling her: he wanted information.

Sarah didn't have much to tell him. Busy as she was with work, she rarely saw Maddy, who seemed equally involved in her own business. One thing she did know, Maddy had turned Hansen's Grocery around financially. People went out of their way to shop at Maddy's.