Читать книгу The Baby And The Cowboy Seal - Laura Altom Marie - Страница 10

Chapter Two

“Sorry,” Wiley said. “Guess since you have a baby, I assumed Henry has a dad nearby.”

“Yeah, well, he doesn’t.” When it came to discussing Macy’s ex, Rex, aside from the cute rhyme, there was nothing amusing about what he’d done. He not only cheated on her during her pregnancy, but left her two months after Henry’s birth. Macy’s best friend, Wendy, had warned her he was no good, but Macy had refused to listen. They hadn’t spoken since.

“Hey, I didn’t mean to start anything.” He bowed his head, and for the first time since their unlikely reunion, seemed genuinely affected by something she’d said. “I was just making conversation.”

“It’s not a problem. Talking about it makes me sad. I’m generally a happy person, and...” Her voice cracked, but she refused to give Rex any more power to darken her life. She swiped tears from her cheeks, then kissed Henry’s dirt-smudged forehead. “Anyway, thanks for letting me use the sink. I’ll finish in the garden and leave you on your own to do whatever it is you do.”

“Macy, wait.” She’d walked past him only to get a jolt when he reached out and touched her arm. Their contact had been fleeting, yet each individual fingerprint scorched through her thin shirt. She’d given him up such a long time ago, but her body remembered what her heart had tried to forget. When he’d left for the Navy, announcing he had no plans of ever coming back, she’d still been in high school and forced herself to move on. “Sorry I’ve been such a hard-ass.”

“It’s okay.” She didn’t want this attraction to him. Moreover, she didn’t understand it. Her father cautioned her to keep her distance from Wiley, but the part of her that had shared seemingly endless summers with him on this very land found it awfully hard to stay away. “Henry’s dad cheated on me. I had had a tough pregnancy, and we weren’t...together...for a while.”

“That doesn’t give a man the excuse to step out.” Was that alcohol on Wiley’s breath? “If anything, you having a rough time should have brought you closer.”

“Please, stop.” For some crazy reason, she found it easier to be with Wiley when he was salty. This new and improved kinder—possibly drunk—version knocked her off balance. “I’m over it and I suppose, in retrospect, if I’d have paid more attention to Rex’s needs, I wouldn’t be a single mom now.”

“You know how when we were kids, I used to razz you about everything from your shortness, to talking too much, to the color of your hair?”

“Yes. But how is that supposed to make me feel better?”

“Hear me out. The point I’m trying to get at is that as annoying as you were, I still had—have—affection for you. You might be a pain in my you-know-what, but you’re mine, you know?”

“Oh, my God, you’re awful.” She left the shadow-filled living room in favor of occupying a rocker on the porch and plopped Henry onto her lap. “You’ve gone from telling me I’m stumpy and have ugly hair to calling me a pain in the rear.”

“You totally misunderstood what I was trying to say.” He’d limped after her, and leaned on the low porch rail in front of her chair. “Even though it’s been years since we’ve seen each other, I have fond memories. You’re the kid sister I never had.”

Yet another low blow. From the first day she’d met him when she’d been six years old, she’d suffered from a serious case of puppy dog adoration. On that day, she’d announced her plan to marry him. But now that she was grown, she realized he was nothing more than a neighbor—not even a particularly good one! If that was the case, why did her pulse quicken just being near him?

“Thank you for your help in the garden. The past few months have been tough. I didn’t mean to take my frustrations out on you. From here on, I guess we’ll just agree to keep our distance, and—”

“Why?” Macy asked.

“Excuse me?”

“Why should we make an effort to stay apart?” For some unfathomable reason, her breaths turned erratic from just asking the question. She’d meant it in a purely platonic way, yet the girl who’d crushed on Wiley as if he’d been a hunk straight off the cover of her coveted Teen magazines didn’t acknowledge that fact. Forging ahead even though her best course would probably be to hush, she said, “Think about it. You, me and Henry are all alone up here. Every day I struggle to care for the animals and garden and cook and still have time to spin my fleece and knit. You’re probably messing with the same chores. Think how much more efficient we’d both be if we did everything together—just like we used to when our grandparents made us muck stalls and weed their gardens.”

For a long time he was quiet, which made her wonder if she’d done the wrong thing in even making the suggestion.

“If you don’t think it’s a good idea,” she finally said, unable to take any more of his stony silence, “that’s okay. I mean, my feelings won’t be hurt.”

“Look, your idea has merit, and if I were in a different—”

“Forget I asked.” Because now that he was turning her down, Macy felt stupid—ridiculous, considering she shouldn’t have even asked him in the first place. But despite the brave front she put up for her parents, the truth about her daily existence was that she often felt starved for adult companionship. She hooked one of Henry’s curls with her pinkie finger. She loved being a mom, but sometimes she caught herself carrying on conversations with an eight-month-old and actually expecting him to answer. “Guess I’ll go ahead and finish planting, then be on my way.”

“I told you I’d do it.”

“Yes, you did. But I don’t like feeling indebted to someone, and the fact of the matter is that my llamas trampled your tomatoes and ruined your entire row of green beans and zucchini. Since your plants were already established, and starting you over from scratch with seed didn’t seem right, I dug up mine.”

“You what?” He frowned. “Macy, that’s crazy. It’s not like if I don’t have green beans and zucchini I won’t survive the winter. You do realize there’s a grocery store just down the mountain in Eagle Ridge?”

“I know, but—”

“Look...” He sighed. “You were honest with me about your ex, so I’m going to return the favor. You might not have noticed yesterday, but I don’t get around as well as I used to. God’s honest truth? My pride didn’t want you seeing me in my current condition. The fact that you dug up your own garden to replace mine? Well, it’s real decent of you—especially after the way I acted. And since we’re now down to only one patch of beans and zucchini between us, how about we share?”

“You sure it won’t be a bother?”

He scratched his head. “Forget all I said about your plan, and let’s team up on our gardens—but that’s it, okay? I’m not good company right now, and—”

She rose from her chair to hug him.

“Please don’t say that about yourself.” She’d meant for the gesture to be no big deal—a casual hug between old friends. But with the baby between them, and her past feelings for Wiley creeping in like a seductive fog, she couldn’t help but long for something more. But was that longing so much about Wiley? Or her desire to go back in time to a period when life had been uncomplicated and happy, with her only cares centered around where she’d traipse after her favorite cowboy on any given summer afternoon?

What she hadn’t expected was for Wiley to hug her back—fiercely, as if she were a lifeline. “Thanks.”

“For what?” When she summoned the courage to pull back, she peered up at him, halfway expecting to find the answers in his brown eyes for why he’d turned so bitter. But then did she really need further explanation beyond the aggravation he must feel about his leg? And about being forced by circumstance to retire from a job that—if her dad’s VFW hall gossip was correct—had been more like his life’s passion?

“I’m thankful for your help with the garden—but mostly, for you being you. I’ve been so wrapped up in feeling sorry for myself, I never stopped to consider just how many folks have it worse than me. Raising Henry on your own can’t be easy.”

“It’s not, but...” Did he really equate her son with his having a disability? Just when they’d taken a baby step forward in behaving civilly toward each other, why did she feel as if they’d now taken two giant leaps back? “You do understand that no matter what happened with my ex, Henry’s a blessing?”

“Oh, sure. I meant that we all have our own crosses to bear.” He conked his forehead. “That came out wrong. I didn’t mean to imply you’re not a great mom, and your baby’s not cute as a button—just that it’s tough enough caring for your livestock and garden on your own, caring for a baby alone must be ten times harder.”

“True. But I don’t dwell on the fact. I prefer to look on the bright side, which is that I’ve been gifted with an angel to remind me how sweet life can be.”

“Wish I were able to share your optimism.” He looked down. “Right now all I can see is about three steps ahead, and that’s scary. I’ve always believed I could weather any storm, but this thing with my leg is different. From the start, it was totally out of my control—and I hate that. If something’s happening in my life, I ought to be able to confront it head-on.”

“I’m sorry,” she said. “What you’re going through—I can’t imagine. But things are going to be okay. They always are.”

His gaze turned cold. “Wish that were true, but it’s been my experience that a lot of times, shit goes from bad to worse.”

“I think you were right...” It was on the tip of her tongue to scold Wiley about cursing in front of her baby, but why waste her breath? Considering his dour frame of mind, he’d only do it again. “It’s probably best if we keep to our own parts of this old mountain. All the plants I owe you are in my wheelbarrow in your side yard. I’ve got the roots wrapped in damp paper towels, but you’ll probably want to get those in the ground sooner as opposed to later. Leave the wheelbarrow by my gate. I’ll come around to get it.”

Before she lost her resolve, Macy hiked Henry higher on her hip, then took off across Wiley’s yard.

“Aw, hell...” She barely heard Wiley mutter. “Macy, wait!”

“Can’t!” she called with a backward wave after stooping to pluck Henry’s backpack-style carrier from where she’d left it in the garden.

And that was the God’s honest truth. She no more trusted herself to turn around for one last look at Wiley than she did not to eat an entire plate of fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies.

He’d always represented something larger-than-life. Years before he’d been a hotshot SEAL, he’d possessed a cocky swagger. A way of squaring his shoulders and jaw that had not only mesmerized her, but alerted her to the fact that he was beyond her reach—not that he’d ever said it in so many words, but in her heart, she’d known.

Even when she was fourteen and more than ready for her first kiss, she hadn’t dared hope to experience the feel of her lips grazing Wiley’s. He was destined for better than her—a greatness she’d recognized even all those years ago. At the time, she’d predicted he’d one day be a famous bull rider—maybe even a movie star—and considering he had a face handsome enough to charm the devil, Macy figured Wiley would end up with a rodeo queen or a brilliant doctor or lawyer. Never in a million years would he end up with a girl as ordinary and plain as she.

And yet now, walking away from him, she recognized the tables had been turned. Oh, he was still every bit as handsome as he’d ever been. And his slight limp didn’t bother her in the least. What she did find inexcusable was his attitude. She was sorry for what he’d been through—couldn’t even imagine the horror. But that didn’t give him the right to abandon life. Where his gaze had once been vibrant and sparking with energy, those same brown eyes now looked dead. And that scared her.

* * *

FOR ABOUT FIVE SECONDS, Wiley considered chasing Macy, but what was the point? They’d said all they had to say—he’d spilled far more than he’d ever planned to share with anyone—let alone the firecracker who’d tormented him for as long as he could remember.

He exchanged his flannel pajama bottoms for jeans and a red plaid shirt, rammed his bare feet into socks and then cowboy boots, then headed to the garden.

The notion that Macy had uprooted her plants for him had him all messed up inside.

Who did that?

Sure, they’d been friends back in the day, but they were nothing now—less than acquaintances. Which begged the question, why had he spewed all that personal BS? And why did he now feel like crap over the fact that yet again he’d sent poor little Macy skittering as if she was Beauty and he was the Beast?

So what? Why did he care?

Maybe because that story she’d told about her cheating ex hadn’t set well. She deserved better. With that crazy-colored hair of hers and freckles that looked as if angels sprinkled cinnamon atop the bridge of her button nose, she was more than pretty. In fact, there had been a point before his grandfather died when Wiley had started to look at Macy in a much different light than merely the pesky little kid from next door.

She’d been fourteen, and he’d just turned eighteen—too old for her, yet incapable of turning away from the kid-transformed-into-sexy-young-woman stealing the show at his high school graduation party.

Macy had tagged along with Dot and Clem.

He closed his eyes and saw her as plainly as if he’d stepped back in time.

The night was unseasonably warm and scented with a bouquet of feminine perfumes. A thunderstorm approached and lightning backlit the partiers making good use of O’Mally’s deck. Every so often thunder boomed. Eagle Ridge had only four restaurants, but this was his favorite, which was why his parents held his party there. So many people had come that the event spilled out of the private dining room and the local band his dad hired set up on the covered stage located just off the spacious deck. The stage was two-sided, which allowed whoever was playing to perform inside or out. In the winter, a garage door closed it off from the snow, but tonight, that door stood open for the band currently performing a Bon Jovi classic.

Liquor was flowing, and Wiley’s grandfather kept sneaking Wiley and his friends steady rounds of whiskey shots and beer.

“Hey, Wiley,” Macy said when she left the dance floor for a cup of his mother’s virgin punch. She looked different—better. “Excited to be out of school?”

“Hell, yeah.” He couldn’t stop staring. What had she done to transform herself from pain-in-his-ass to hottie? When had she gotten boobs?

“Got big plans?”

“Nah. Grandpa needs me to help on the mountain. I figure I’ll do that in the off-season, then hit the rodeo circuit. You know I won my last three bull-riding events.”

She rolled her eyes. “Duh—like you’ve only told me ten times. Get a new story.”

“Kiss your mom with that sassy mouth?”

“Nope, but I wouldn’t mind kissing you.” She raised her chin, and the challenge in her eyes did funny things to his stomach. She’d put her long curls up, and instead of her usual T-shirt and jeans, she wore a blue sundress that made it all too easy for him to peer down at her female assets. Her mounded boobs had him not only hitching his breath, but shifting his weight to hide the instant action beneath his fly.

“You’re just a kid,” he mumbled.

“Not anymore.” In the shadows with the band now playing a slow country song, she sidled up close—uncomfortably close. Not because he wanted her to go away, but because in that moment, he didn’t want to let her go.

She escaped his hold to dance solo, waving her arms above her head, which only put more of a strain on her dress’s thin fabric. Lord, her boobs were nice. How had he never noticed?

Thunder cracked.

Other guests shrieked while running inside to get out of the sprinkles promising to soon be a downpour, but she stayed.

The rain made good on its promise, and even though the band had stopped playing to move their gear inside, Macy danced to her own music, swaying and laughing with her eyes closed. As long as he lived, Wiley doubted he’d ever see a more beautiful sight. Her hair had fallen and her soaked dress had turned see-through. She wore no bra, and in the light cascading through the windows, nothing was left to his imagination.

She was no longer Little Macy, but a girl he had to have.

“You’re wild!” he called above the storm.

She giggled. “I know.”

“I’ve got to kiss you.” Wind pushed him closer, and with his hands on her sweet ass, he pressed himself against her, needy for release.

“It’s about time.”

A gust stole his straw cowboy hat, but he hardly noticed on account of how badly he wanted her. He leaned in for that kiss, but then her dad charged onto the deck and grabbed hold of the back of Wiley’s shirt.

“Boy, what the hell are you doing?” To his daughter, Steve barked, “Macy, get inside!”

“Y-yes, Daddy.” Her teeth chattered.

“I—I’m awfully sorry, sir. It—this, won’t happen again.”

“Good. It better not,” Steve said. “Get out of this rain and sober up. You smell like a damned brewery.”

“Yessir.” In the packed restaurant and bar, the increasingly drunken crowd turned rowdy, but Wiley’s brief interaction with Macy’s angry father turned him sober.

Wiley tried finding Macy, but her whole family was gone.

Hours later his parents were, too—only forever.

Having had too much to drink, his father had taken a curve too fast on the slick, winding mountain road leading to their home. The car careened off a steep embankment, and according to the sheriff, his folks had died instantly.

By all rights, Wiley should have been with them, but he’d been back at the bar, shooting pool and drinking beer with his friends.

A week later, Wiley joined the Navy and didn’t return to Eagle Ridge for ten long years until his grandfather’s funeral—which, considering what a great man his grandfather had been, pretty much made Wiley scum. Now, four years later, the only thing that had brought him back was his bum leg. Otherwise, he would still be doing the job he loved, with the friends he loved. He sure as hell wouldn’t be back on this mountain where everything he saw and touched reminded him of all he’d lost.

Not just his health and way of life, but his entire family.

It was too much loss for him to cope with, let alone understand, so he finished in the garden, then retired to the front porch with a bottle of Jim Beam. And he drank and drank until the whiskey’s warmth dulled the physical and emotional pain, and Macy was no longer an attractive, vibrant woman from whom he still craved that long ago stolen kiss.