Baby in the Bargain
Table of Contents
Excerpt
Baby in the Bargain
Copyright
Dedication
Welcome to Cactus Gulch, Texas
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Epilogue
A word about the author…
Thank you for purchasing this publication of The Wild Rose Press, Inc.
Willamenia pulled the truck to a stop
at the entrance to the ranch. Taking her hands from the wheel, she lifted them upward and watched as they trembled. “Some things never change.”
From the moment she’d entered the feed and seed, the hairs on her arms stood on end. She didn’t see him. Still, she knew he was there.
“Lee Hawks, I didn’t think you’d still be in town.”
Lawd! She put her forehead on the steering wheel. How was she going to keep her heart safe?
“Breathe,” she reminded herself. “Just breathe.” She lifted her head and focused on the picturesque ranch scene in the distance. “There’s no way Lee Hawks would ever lower himself to work for my father.” She summoned her courage, reached for the key, and the truck hummed back to life. “No matter what happens, I can never let him know.”
Baby in the Bargain
by
Tessa Berkley
Babies of Cactus Gulch, Book 2,
part of the
Boots and Babies Series
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales, is entirely coincidental.
Baby in the Bargain
COPYRIGHT © 2018 by Tessa Berkley
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission of the author or The Wild Rose Press, Inc. except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.
Contact Information: info@thewildrosepress.com
Cover Art by Diana Carlile
The Wild Rose Press, Inc.
PO Box 708
Adams Basin, NY 14410-0708
Visit us at www.thewildrosepress.com
Publishing History
First Yellow Rose Edition, 2018
Digital ISBN 978-1-5092-1853-0
Babies of Cactus Gulch, Book 2
Boots and Babies Series
Published in the United States of America
Dedication
To my husband,
who suffers through sandwiches and tight deadlines.
~
To my editor, who I couldn’t do without,
and my wonderful cover artist, whose talent is remarkably able to catch what is in my brain.
I can’t do without you.
~
To the Wild Rose Press,
for having faith in me to publish this book,
I can’t thank you enough.
~
To those who love romance,
this story was written with you in mind.
I hope you will enjoy.
Welcome to Cactus Gulch, Texas
Cactus Gulch has more cowboys per square inch than any other place in Texas. Home to one of the biggest ranches, Diamond D, the air around it is charged with testosterone. Where there are men, ladies are sure to follow—and with them come little bundles of trouble in pink and blue.
Chapter One
Willamenia Cogsdale slowed her truck and steered it to the side of the road. Slowing to a stop, she glanced over to the precious cargo buckled in the car seat next to her. Ten hours on the road, stopping only for gas and soda, had pushed her to the breaking point, but she had no other choice. She stepped out of the cab and crossed the two-lane road to gaze down into the valley below.
“Not exactly the way I wanted to return.”
A soft breeze tossed her long hair over the edge of her left shoulder. Shoving her hands into the front pockets of her jeans, she stared down at the lights marking the town of Cactus Gulch. She’d have to get gas soon. Hopefully, there was a station open. Turning, she walked back to her truck and gazed upon the sleeping child.
“You didn’t count on this either, did you, pretty girl?”
The baby took a deep breath and sighed, content to stay in dreamland. Willamenia stared down at her daughter, her cherubic face tilted toward her. One hand clutched the pink blanket; the other was balled and pulled next to her cheek. She could never get enough of watching her sleep, or the way she smiled in the morning as the oatmeal dribbled down her chin, or even the sweet little frown just before she turned up to cry.
“You’ve got me wrapped around your little finger already, don’t you?”
The baby didn’t have to speak; Willamenia already knew it was true, and it had been since the day she was born.
“I can’t spend all night staring at you. I’ve got to get us home.”
The stomp of a foot in the horse trailer hooked to the back of the truck added urgency to her mission.
“Okay, okay, I’m going.”
Sliding back under the wheel, she started the engine, and the truck lumbered back onto the highway. Shortly before midnight, she pulled into a twenty-four-hour quick-stop just outside the town limits. Stepping down from the cab, she pulled her credit card from her shirt pocket and slipped it into the correct slot.
“Just twenty dollars, please,” she prayed and pressed the buttons.
To her relief, the pump sprang to life. When it was done, she climbed back in and pulled the rig beneath the lights of the parking lot, where five semis stood parked for the night.
“Well, it’s now or never.”
She pulled her cell phone from her jacket pocket and pressed a familiar number. And waited. It took only three rings before a gravelly voice answered.
“Cogsdale.”
She swallowed. “Hi, Grandpa, is Dad there? It’s me.”
Silence followed. She was afraid he’d hung up, and then he replied.
“Who is this ‘me’?”
“Willamenia, Grandpa. It’s me, Willamenia.”
The phone went silent once more. Muffled sounds of feet shuffling across the floor followed.
“Jeremiah?” There was a pause. He shouted again, only louder. “Jeremiah, there’s someone on the phone. Someone who calls herself Willamenia.”
Listening to her grandpa speak of her in an abstract form hurt. “I guess I deserved that,” she mused, “seeing how I hurt them so.”
The phone crackled. “Willamenia, is that you?”
She gave a slight smile as she spoke. “Yeah, Dad, it’s me.”
“So, what can I do for you?”
She swallowed past the lump that had formed in her throat and clutched the phone tighter. “I-I need a place to stay.”
She held her breath as the phone went silent.
“Who’s with you?”
“Me, the baby, and Silverheels.”
“I see.”
The tightness of his voice tied her stomach into knots.
“How long are you planning to stay?”
She dampened her lips before replying. “I-I don’t know. I need a place to regroup, to get back on my feet.”
“So you’re in trouble?”
“No, Dad, not exactly trouble…”
“Broke, then.”
Willamenia slumped in the seat. “Yes, Dad, I’m down to my last thirty dollars.”
The assessment of her finances hurt. But the time to be brutally honest was at hand. Alli dese
rved to be safe and well fed, even if it meant swallowing her pride.
“Have you contacted that no-account father of your child?”
She winced as he spit out the words “your child.”
“Dad, we’ve been over this. It won’t do any good. I made a mistake, a big one. Don’t blame my child for this. I’ll carry the burden.”
“Do you even know his name? Or was he one of many?”
“No, there weren’t many. Just one. The wrong one. Look, Dad, I will pull my own weight.”
“You’ll have to. We aren’t set up for babies here at the house.”
“I know. I’ll take care of it.” She rubbed the spot just above her temples. “I just need to be home. Can’t you understand?”
Her father’s tone softened. “I do. I understand. But I didn’t raise you this way.”
“I know.”
“For two years, we’ve waited for you to tell us who. Now you want to come home and still keep us in the dark? It isn’t very fair.”
She didn’t have an answer. Yes, he was right. She’d been a good girl up until temptation took hold. “No, Dad. It wasn’t right. But knowing the father’s name isn’t going to change my mistake.”
“No.” He sighed. “I guess not. Where are you now?”
“The Quick Mart just outside of town.”
“We’ll have the lights on for you. Drive safe.”
Relief poured over Willamenia. “Thanks, Dad. I appreciate it. I really do.”
“Just come home, Willa.” His voice sounded tired. “Just come home.”
Less than an hour later, road weary, she pulled into the yard and turned off the engine. Climbing down, she looked around at the training facility her father ran for Big Jim Davis. Not a lot had changed. The same old red barn stood off from the house. Beyond that, in the moonlight, she could see the grandstand and the show ring where she had learned to race barrels. Looking back, it was the best time of her life—so many memories, and so many heartaches.
Behind her, the door slammed. Willamenia turned and watched the tall figure move toward her. To say that Jeremiah Cogsdale was larger than life would have been an understatement. At six foot four, he often towered above those around him. He would seem more at home as a center on a basketball court than on the back of a novice Quarter horse. His deep voice made it impossible for the man to whisper. Yet, for all the negatives, her father had a gentle manner with both horses and children. She glanced at the ground and sliced the toe of her boot along the surface. Willamenia wished he felt the same about family.
“Willamenia.”
She glanced up. “Dad.”
His eyes flickered over to the trailer.
“We’d best get Silverheels into a stall. He’s got to be a little cramped in that trailer.”
“Yes, sir.”
Stepping over to the rear of the trailer, they each took a side and slid the locking pins free.
“Ready?”
She nodded, turned her hands, and the ramp began to lower. Hearing the metal grind, the big dappled gray stallion stomped his feet with growing impatience.
“Easy,” she called.
At the sound of her voice, the horse turned his head and watched a cloud of dust rise as the ramp settled to the ground.
“Bring him out,” her father said with a nod.
She climbed up the ramp, grabbed the lead rope, and hooked the snap onto the halter.
“You ready?”
“Ready.”
Standing at the horse’s head, she watched her father unhook the rump strap, and the horse took a step back.
“Easy.”
She placed a hand on the horse’s chest to steady him as he stepped onto the ground. Silverheels glanced toward the barn where the mares were kept and gave a deep long neigh that shook his whole body.
“Still king of the roost.” Her father chuckled.
Willamenia ran her hand down the horse’s neck. “He still throws good colts.”
“Nice. I’m sure once the ranchers around here know he’s back there will be a call for his services.”
She held her breath and secretly hoped her father was right. An infusion of cash would help her bottom line.
“Come on, I’ve got a nice barn and padlock with your name on it.”
With the horse between them, Willamenia let her father lead the way to the smaller barn with its high fence surrounding the structure on three sides.
“He’ll be able to run and relax while looking over the mares,” her father remarked as he swung the stall door shut. “There’s a bale of hay, if you’d like to give him some.”
“Yes, thank you. I’ll get some feed tomorrow.”
Snatching a third of the bale, she dumped it over the door. They stood together, father and daughter, as in the days of her youth, watching the stallion make himself at home. Silverheels bent his head down and blew across the cedar shavings, sending a few floating upward. Once satisfied with his new digs, he moved to the hay and munched contentedly.
“I need to get back to the truck. The baby might wake.”
Her dad nodded.
Neither spoke as they made their way to her vehicle. She opened the door and leaned in to find the toddler still asleep. A snap unbuckled the harness that held her secure in the seat. Willamenia gently eased her daughter from the truck.
“Say hello to your granddaddy, Alli.”
The child snuggled down against Willamenia.
“Y-you named her, Alli?”
Willamenia nodded. “After Grandma.”
Her father didn’t speak, didn’t move. He merely stared down at the sleeping baby.
“Want to hold her?”
Her father took an uneasy step back. “No.”
Hearing the sharpness of his own answer, he blinked, then added, “It’s getting late. You need to get her to bed and you get some sleep.”
“There’s a portable crib on the floor. Could you hand it to me?”
Her father waded in and grabbed the green fabric cube that rested on one of the mats.
“You go on. I have this.”
She blinked. If this was a test, she didn’t want to fail.
“No, I can…”
“I have this, Willamenia.”
For the blink of an eye, they stood staring. A test of wills, designed to see who would back down. She took a deep breath and stepped back.
“I’ll follow you.”
Her father nodded and stepped off toward the house.
As they moved up the steps to the screen porch, he held the door open so she could enter. At the door, a grizzled old face greeted her.
“Hi, ya, Grandpa?”
Willamenia opened one arm to engulf him in a hug. He hesitated. His eyes narrowed. A shaft of fear lanced her soul. Had he forgotten her?
“It’s me, Willamenia.”
He glanced at his son. “You didn’t tell me she was coming home.”
Stunned, she glanced at her father for help. A look of regret in his eyes couldn’t be hidden.
“Dad.”
Her grandfather looked over at him. “Huh?”
“Dad.” Her father’s voice was gentle. “Dad, that’s not Allison. It’s your granddaughter, Willamenia.”
“Willa-” The old man slipped closer.
She held her ground as he leaned in.
“Willa? Shoepeg? Is that you?”
She smiled. “Hi, Grandpa.”
The hug this time was genuine, and he even bestowed a kiss on her cheek. Her grandfather smelled of peppermint and aftershave. The memory of sitting in his lap while they looked at pictures of horses brought tears to her eyes.
“I’ve missed you, Shoepeg.”
“I missed you too, Grandpa.” She shifted the baby.
Her grandfather stepped up, and this time the hug seemed real.
“Who you got there?” He pointed at the child she held.
“Your great-granddaughter. Her name is Alli.”
“Alli.” He sniffed. “A
lli.” He shook his head and walked off grumbling.
“Come on, Willamenia, let’s get you upstairs.”
Her father sounded tired. She wanted to ask him what was going on, but instead she held her tongue and followed him upstairs. Her mind turned on the events of her conversation with her grandfather on the phone and what she’d witnessed downstairs. Yes, her grandfather was old, but there seemed much more to it.
“Here we go.”
They stopped in front of a familiar door.
“It hasn’t changed much. I have a lady come in once a week to dust and deep clean.”
He put his hands on the door.
She decided to speak up. “Dad, what’s wrong with Grandpa?”
Her father stilled, then turned and gazed back at her. The pain in his eyes was apparent. “He’s getting old and forgetful.”
“Have you thought about taking him to the doctor?”
Her father shook his head. “Digs in his heels every time. I’m worried about him.”
“I can understand.”
She pressed her lips together and digested the information while her father focused on turning the knob and opening her room. His hand ran along the right side of the wall and flipped the switch. Light flooded the room. Willamenia blinked. He was right. The room hadn’t changed at all—her white four-poster bed against the north wall, the bulletin board with her ribbons a bit more faded but still hanging there.
“Where do you want me to set up this crib thing?”
“Put it near the bed, Dad, under the window.”
She moved to the bed and placed her daughter on it. Pulling the pillows from the head, she put them around the child to keep her from rolling off. Then Willamenia helped her father open the portable crib. In no time, they had it set up and the child inside. Both she and her father watched as Alli rolled to her side and pulled her thumb into her mouth.
“Just like you used to do.” Her father chuckled.
Willamenia leaned down and covered the child with her favorite blanket. Looking back at her father, she smiled. “She can sleep through anything.”
“You were always a quiet child. Observation seemed to be in your nature. ‘Look before you leap’ was your motto, according to your mother.” His gaze shifted from the child to her. “That’s why it’s so hard to understand this secrecy you intend on keeping. What are you hiding?”