Texas Hope: Sweetgrass Springs Stories (Texas Heroes Book 16) (25 page)

“What kind of deal?”

“Let’s agree that we both have regrets and put them aside. You’re here for Ian, and we need to keep our heads clear and work together. So…what’s done is done. I won’t ever stop being sorry for how things went down, and I know the fault isn’t yours.”

“Not true. I was weak and—”

He grabbed her hand and squeezed. “And we’re not going there anymore. This is Day One of our life as grandparents. Our son needs us, whether he knows it or not. Our grandchild deserves to be born surrounded with peace and happiness and love. Agreed?”

She squeezed back. “Agreed.”

“I’ll drive on through town and take you to the ranch so you can put your things away first.”

“Oh, Gordon, I can’t stay there. Ian lives there, doesn’t he?”

“He and Scarlett have talked about building their own house, yes, but it’s still my home, and I’m inviting you to stay there.”

“There are only three bedrooms. Isn’t one going to be the nursery?”

“It is, and you’re right, but I’m giving you my room. I’ll bunk with the hands.”

“No. I can’t turn you out of your own home. Oh, please, isn’t there a hotel here yet? A motel?”

“No. Only one B&B that’s full right now with Jackson’s geeks.”

“What?”

“I’ll explain later. But stop panicking and think about this: staying at the ranch gives you the most opportunities to be with Ian away from the crowds.”

“And just as many chances to ratchet up the tension in the house.”

“Scarlett wants you to stay there. The sofa pulls out into a bed, so I can stay inside if you’re afraid of Ian.”

“Could I stay in the bunkhouse?”

He chuckled. “I’m sure Billy and his brother would be thrilled. No—you remember what that bunkhouse was like. It hasn’t improved.”

“Then let me sleep on the sofa. Or get a room in Fredericksburg or—”

She was clearly terrified and inches from fleeing.

“You’ll take our—my room. That will give you the most privacy. And Ian is going to behave himself.”

“Or else?” A flicker of a grin.

“Something like that. You haven’t seen Scarlett in action with him.”

“Oh, Gordon, I don’t know…”

“I do.” He hoped so, at least. “Would you rather see Ian first, before we go out there? Get it over with?”

“In front of everyone?”

He thought a minute. Blast this celebration, anyway. It sure complicated his plans. “Okay, let me make a call.” He pulled out the cell phone he seldom used and handed it to her. “Look up Scarlett’s number, please.”

She did and he punched the number.

“Ruby’s Looney Bin,” Scarlett answered.

He grinned. “That bad, huh?”

“Oh, good grief, why on earth did Nana want to pull this off overnight? It’s a madhouse. Is she with you? Sophia?”

“She is.” He glanced over at Sophia. “I’m having some trouble convincing her that she’s welcome at the ranch.”

“Let me talk to her, would you?”

“I guess.” He handed over the phone.

Hesitantly, Sophia took it. “Hello?”

He could hear Scarlett talking a mile a minute.

“That’s very sweet of you, but—”

Apparently Scarlett was not taking no for an answer.

“I just don’t think it’s a good idea. He’s already been hurt too much. And you don’t need the stress.”

As she listened, her head cocked as if considering. “Do you think you can get him there?” She gnawed at her lower lip.

Gordon dragged his gaze away from her mouth and focused on the road.

He’d kissed that mouth many a time. Had loved every second of each kiss. He wished he could…

Wow. He shook his head. Now that was getting ahead of himself and completely off track.

He tuned in again as the call drew to a close. “See you there. Scarlett, thank you. I can’t wait to meet you. I’m so happy about your baby, and if you’d let me—well, I shouldn’t jump the gun. Ian may ban me from Sweetgrass, but if he doesn’t, I would very much like to be a part of your baby’s life.” Tears glistened in her lashes. “Really?” One tear fell. “I’m so happy Ian has you.” A small smile. “You’re too generous. I—there’s no way to make up to him what I—okay. Yes. You’re right.” She drew in a breath that hitched a little. “Thank you, Scarlett. I don’t have the words to tell you what this means.” At Scarlett’s next words, Sophia smiled and wiped at one eye. “See you soon.” She disconnected and held the phone close, not looking at him.

She was small and soft and fragile. He couldn’t keep himself from placing one hand on her shoulder. “Are you okay?”

She looked up, eyes bright with tears. “She’s really wonderful, isn’t she? Good for Ian.”

“She really is.”

“She says no matter what Ian does today, she wants me in their baby’s life. She swears he’ll come around.” Hope warred with fear. “She’s going to get Ian over to Ruby’s house, so we can meet in private.”

“That’s a good idea. And she’s right. He’s a good man, and a fair one. Stubborn as a rock, but not cruel. He’s just been…”

“Hurt,” she supplied. “At my hands.”

“But not your fault. And I’ll keep telling him how things really were as many times as I need to. It’s on me more than you, Sophia.”

“It’s not. I’m the one who—” She smiled. “We’re doing it again, aren’t we?”

“I guess we are. So…did talking to Scarlett help?”

“It did, but—” She hesitated.

“What?”

“Would you stay nearby? It’s not yours to fix, and I’m not asking for that, but if I knew you were close, I’d—”

“I’ll stand right by you, if you want.”

“Oh, I want,” she said with a twinkle. “But I’m through being a coward. Or at least, not so much of one.”

“I think you’re brave as hell,” he said as they reached the outskirts of Sweetgrass.

“If you see Veronica, I’m counting on you to herd her my way, Mr. Mayor.” Jackson Gallagher’s voice was all deference and crap.

“Would you stop that? There is no mayor, and as long as we don’t incorporate the town, we don’t need one,” Ian frowned at his childhood best friend as they finished nailing together the kissing booth.

“I can see it now…written in the sky…
A Vote for Ian Is a Vote for Truth. Justice. The American Way
—oh, wait, that’s Superman.”

“Bite me,” Ian tossed back. “If you’d mind your own—”

“Ian!” shouted Eric Mackey. “There you are!”

“Hey, Eric,” Ian greeted the boy. “Having a good day so far?”

“Yeah, and I—” He wrinkled his nose. “Kissing booth? Yuck.”

“And here we thought you’d be happy,” Jackson said.

“Why would I be happy, Uncle Jackson? Kissing is gross.”

“Better not tell Samantha that.” Ian kept his expression serious. “She’s planning to buy kisses from you.”

“Eww! No way! Kissing is stupid, and Samantha’s stu—”

“You weren’t about to call Samantha stupid, were you, son?” asked Mackey as he sauntered up.

“Um—no, sir. But—” The boy was clearly conflicted, and Ian couldn’t hold back his grin. At seven, kissing was not an activity any boy wanted to contemplate.

“But what?” Mackey asked. “Kissing is something you’ll learn to appreciate as you get older.”

“If you say so.” Eric’s skepticism was clear. “You and Mom like it, but you’re weird.” Mischief danced in his eyes.

“Weird, huh?” Mackey made a grab for him, and Eric dodged, but not fast enough. Soon he was upside down and being tickled unmercifully.

Ian and Jackson watched, grinning. The boy had had a rough start in life with his neglectful birth mother, who’d spent all her attention on one lowlife after another—until one killed her. Eric had learned to flee to Rissa’s barn when the men turned their fists on him, and when he’d been orphaned, Mackey and Rissa quickly stepped up to adopt him.

One lucky kid, Eric was.

“Uncle?” Mackey asked, still tickling.

“No way—” Eric dissolved into giggles again.

“No way?” Mackey twirled an imaginary mustache. “So I need to be more creative in my torture, you say? I know—I’ll hold you down while Samantha kisses you.”

Alarm took over. “Dad! You wouldn’t!”

Mackey set Eric on his feet, grinning. “You think not?”

“Please, Dad. Oh, wait—”

“Hmm…waiting…I don’t think so.” He looked around. “Anybody seen Samantha?”

“Wait, Dad. For real. I’m supposed to tell Ian Scarlett needs him.”

Ian lost his grin. “What’s wrong? Is she at the cafe?”

“She said she’s fine, she just needs to see you.”

“How did she look?”

Mackey glanced at Jackson. “You believe this guy? No way am I acting like a fool over Rissa when she gets this far along.”

Jackson snorted. “Get real. You’re crazy about my sister. It’s just that you know she could whip your ass.”

“There are other things she likes more about my—” Mackey glanced at Eric and shut up.

Jackson snickered. “Oh, do tell, Romeo…”

Mackey might have answered, but Ian was already racing off. Barely two minutes later, he was walking into the cafe. “Where’s Scarlett?” he asked Jeanette.

“Where do you think she is? Cooking, as usual.”

“She’s not supposed to be cooking today. Everybody’s bringing stuff.”

“She’s got it in her head that she needs to make a special dish.”

“So she’s all right?”

Jeanette had once had a crush on Ian, though he’d never realized it. She only looked at him with pity now. “She’s not the first woman on the planet to have a baby, Ian.”

“I know, but—she’s so tiny.”

Jeanette’s eyebrows rose. “You’re planning to mention that? She’s twelve feet tall in her head.”

“I know, but…she’s really okay?”

“Sure, she’s tired, but who isn’t?”

“Okay.” But he wouldn’t breathe easy until he laid eyes on her. She was more than simply tired, and she’d been up again in the night with contractions, so he wasn’t happy to find out she was standing and cooking.

The woman had no sense of her own limits.

He would have them for her. Even if she didn’t like it. “You need to sit down,” he said as he entered the kitchen.

Ruby chuckled and glanced at her granddaughter. “Told you.”

Scarlett rolled her eyes dramatically. “Didn’t Eric tell you I’m fine?”

“He did, but—”

“Ian.” Her smile was sweet and soft…but her expression was solemn.

His senses went on alert. “What?”

“Let’s go out back for a minute.” She removed her apron. “You got this, Nana?”

“I do. You two go on. Take her to my house, Ian. Where she can’t see what all needs doing.”

“That I will.” He reached for her.

“If you scoop me up again, Ian McLaren, I swear I will—”

He scooped her up and silenced her with a kiss as he took her out the back way and crossed the twenty yards or so to Ruby’s back porch. Once there, he settled in one of the big wicker rockers, holding her on his lap.

And kissed her again.

“You love that he-man stuff, don’t you? You’re aware how annoying it is?”

“I am.” He smiled down at her, then kissed the tip of her nose. “Damn, you’re pretty.” He stroked her belly. “How are you today, little girl?”

“Your son is fine,” she countered.

“So… any more contractions?”

“A few.”

“Then we’ll just sit here awhile.” He started the chair rocking and felt, in this moment, that life was pretty perfect. She nestled against him for a few minutes, but he could tell she wasn’t completely relaxed. “What is it?”

She exhaled and sat up. “It’s your mom. Your dad and I thought seeing her again might be easier for you in private. They’ll be here anytime.”

He couldn’t help tensing. “So it’s an ambush?”

“No, my love.” She turned his face to hers. “That would be bringing her to you in front of the whole town. Which would be tough on both of you.”

“I said I’d be polite.” His jaw clenched. “I keep my promises.”
Unlike some people
, he thought but didn’t say.

“I love you. I don’t know how to make this easier for you.”

“I’m fine. I don’t care about her. She’s nothing to me.”

“Oh, love…” She stretched upward and kissed him softly. “Whatever you need, I’m here.”

“But you’d like a happy ending, I know that. You want me to welcome her with a big hug and everything be fine.”

“I want you to be happy. I think getting past this will help.”

“I said I’d be polite, and I will.” He wanted to stand, to pace. But he wanted more for her to rest, so resolutely he put his mother out of his mind and started rocking again.

Until he heard a pickup door open with the distinctive squeak of his dad’s truck. He opened his eyes and watched his father help a woman out of the passenger side.

When she turned Ian’s way, everything in him seized up.

She was the same, and she was completely different. Older, yes, but still beautiful.

And scared. He wasn’t the best horseman around because he couldn’t tune into body language. Just as he noted the protective stance his father was taking. The concern in his gaze, laced with warning.

Oh, Dad, no
. His father looked like nothing so much as a man protecting his woman. Ready to defend against all comers.

They approached, and Ian needed to be on his feet. “Let me up, sweetheart,” he said to Scarlett. He rose and settled her beside him, squaring his shoulders to face what felt like a threat.