Chapter 6 #2
Tears blurred her vision as she continued to stare at him. They were going to make a beautiful baby, she thought achingly. He murmured in his sleep, strong arms wrapping around her body as if he was afraid she was going to disappear.
Biting her lip and blinking away the tears, she closed her eyes and settled against his chest. He was going to fight her, she thought achingly.
He was going to end up hating her when she left.
It was not something she wanted to happen, but that was the way it had to be.
She had no idea what the future held for them, but there was a child involved and perhaps they could come to some sort of civilized agreement.
She had to believe that or else she would go mad.
*****************
"I don't understand." Sara-Lee stared at the woman who had marched into her office without an appointment.
But she supposed that when one owned the establishment, there was no need for one.
She had jumped up from her desk where she had been dealing with an irate customer's account as soon as she noticed who had pushed her door open.
"Bryson told me it's over; he said he's starting things up with Ms. Merrywood again."
"Well, he's wrong, isn't he?" Barbara had closed the door to ensure privacy.
Taking a seat on one of the plush chairs in front of the mahogany desk, she eyed the woman who had yet to sit down, her stare measured.
She would personally take her shopping as soon as Bryson came to his senses and placed a ring on the girl's finger.
The black and white suit she had on was too tailored and made her look too mannish.
"I don't understand," Sara-Lee repeated, feeling foolish and flushing to the roots of her hair as Barbara lifted a derisive brow. "I apologize for sounding so foolish, but Bryson made it clear-"
"My son is understandably confused." Barbara flicked at an invisible piece of lint on her own elegant lime green skirt and straightened the collar of her matching jacket. "I had a very enlightening conversation with that woman and she's leaving the end of the week."
"But... but the baby-"
"I doubt there's one." Barbara had wondered about it as she left the cottage.
"I have a feeling it's something she came up with to get Bryson to toe the line.
I refuse to have my son falling victim to her schemes again.
" Her eyes snapped furiously. "I'm hoping I can rely on you to pick up the pieces after that woman has left. "
"Of course."
"Good." Barbara nodded in satisfaction. "I would hate to think that you took whatever he said to you personally."
Sara-Lee felt hope flaring inside her chest. After Bryson had left, she had indulged in a bout of crying and half a bottle of wine. Now his mother was telling her that she had nothing to worry about.
"What if there's a baby?" she asked hesitantly.
"If there's a child involved and the DNA proves that it's Bryson, we will sort it out.
Women like Ms. Merrywood rarely if ever want a child hanging around and spoiling their images.
We will raise the child ourselves. I'm sure she would gladly hand him over so that she can go on doing whatever it is she does. "
Barbara rose gracefully. "I will let you know what I need to be done." She turned at the door and swept a glance over Sara-Lee that had her cringing. "I don't expect you to fail me again."
"I won't. I promise." Sara-Lee hastened to reassure her.
"Good. I hate it when people disappoint me."
Waiting until the door had closed behind her, Sara-Lee sank down in the chair, her knees like jelly.
It would not do to displease the matriarch of the town.
People might talk behind the woman's back, but that was all they could do.
The McNabs had their hands in every pie.
Clasping her hands in front of her on the desk, Sara-Lee allowed herself a glimmer of hope.
She might just become Mrs. Bryson McNab after all.
With a smile wreathing her lips, she went back to work.
*******************
"I hear the pretty little filly is back in town.
When's she going to come riding again? I admire her form on a horse.
" Jack Michaels grinned at the fulminating stare thrown at him from the younger man.
He was supervisor on the ranch and had been with the family from before Bryson was born.
Jack had seen the little boy endure under adverse circumstances, ones that had never broken him.
His old man, the cruel and sadistic son of a bitch, may he rot in hell, had put Bryson under tremendous pressure and the boy stood up.
He had become the better for it. Now with the ranch under his leadership, it had become one of the leading beef suppliers of prime beef in the US of A.
He had introduced several things his father had despised, including modern equipment to make the work economical and efficient.
Their beef was the best for a reason, because their cattle fed off the land.
The organic vegetables and fruits had taken off like a shot.
He treated his men with respect and dignity and invested in not only their future, but their families as well.
The rose garden was a showpiece and provided the delicate blooms to the local flower shops.
He had upgraded the courthouse and the museums. McNab Crossing had become a spot on the map that brought tourists and show producers pouring in.
He worked from dusk till dawn and did not think himself better than the men he hired. That alone put him far above his old man in Jack's book.
"She's pregnant," Bryson murmured, giving the horse he had been rubbing down a pat on the flank to send the animal along with the rest grazing in the paddock.
It was midafternoon and the afternoon sun was brutal.
Lifting his head, he scanned the sky, a frown touching his brow.
They were in for another one of those unpredictable summer showers that could cause flooding.
"Pregnant, huh?" Jack slapped him on the back with a hand that was as large as a hunk of ham. "Congratulations. You're going to be a daddy."
"I'm scared as hell," Bryson muttered. Pulling out his canteen, he took a long thirsty swig, eyes narrowed against the glare from the sun. "I don't know if I can pull it off."
"You're not your old man." Jack intuited instantly the cause of the young man's worry. "You're a far better person."
Before Bryson could respond to that, there was a shrill whistle, indicating that there was trouble somewhere on the east side.
********************
She tensed automatically when she heard the door open. She had left the suitcase in the foyer and knew he saw it when he came in.
"I'm in the kitchen," she called out. She had gone for a run to clear the cobwebs from her head and was now in the kitchen drinking a cup of tea. She was not prepared for the argument that was coming but was braced for it.
He came in and stood there, one shoulder braced on the doorway.
"There's a suitcase in the hallway."
"I know. I put it there. How was your day?"
"We're not doing that." He had stood there staring at the evidence that she would be leaving and felt the pain twisting his heart. After what they had shared since she returned, he had not expected her to still want to leave.
"Why?"
She busied herself stirring more honey into the cup and avoided his eyes. "I have work to do. I have a meeting with a client first thing Monday morning and a contract to fine-tune. This is a major client, and I cannot afford to screw things up."
"You're really leaving."
She finally lifted her head to stare at him and felt her heart turning over. He had come straight from the ranch and was still covered in dust. His hair was tousled and he looked so tired, she wanted to go to him and soothe away the exhaustion. She knew how hard he worked.
"I am, yes. We can communicate-"
"I don't want to frigging communicate! I want to be there for my kid. You want to work? Fine. Open a practice here. Work for me. I have an entire fleet of lawyers; you can be one of them and the rate is highly competitive."
"I don't want handouts," she told him stiffly. Getting up, she dumped the rest of the lukewarm tea into the sink and rinsed the cup out, before putting it away.
"What the hell do you want then?"
"I want to go home."
"I'm in love with you."
The declaration turned her heart over and had her gripping the edge of the sink.
"It's too complicated here."
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" He stood where he was, not trusting himself to move.
"It means I cannot live at the ranch."
"Then live someplace else. We have a great number of accommodations to choose from."
"It's not that simple." Taking a deep breath, she turned to face him, feeling something clutch at her heart at the painful look on his face. "I will give you regular updates-"
"That's not good enough. I have to be part of my child's life, and you will not take that away from me."
Her eyes glittered. "Don't threaten me. As a lawyer, I know my rights and this is my body. We can co-parent-"
"I don't know what the hell kind of game you're playing, but I'm not in the mood." He moved then and she had to steel herself not to back away at the ominous look on his face.
"Are you really leaving? I want to hear you say it."
"Yes! I'm leaving and there's nothing you can say or do to make me change my mind."
He stood there staring at her for a minute, the pain in his heart multiplying.
"Then you leave me no other choice. You'll be hearing from my lawyers.
" Without another word, he turned on his heels and left.
She waited until the door had slammed shut before sinking down on the stool, her knees shaking.