The Cowboy's Christmas Baby Read online

  Erin’s question caught Dean off guard, though he shouldn’t have been surprised. Clearly she didn’t think he could do the job, either.

  “Dean’s capable,” Jan said. The faint narrowing of Jan’s eyes encouraged Dean though it would take a lot more than a bit of restrained anger on the part of his boss to balance out Erin’s lack of confidence.

  “I wasn’t thinking of that,” Erin said, lifting one hand, clearly flustered. “It’s just... I thought...” She waved off her comments. “I’m sure Dean is more than able to do the work.”

  “Good. I think so, too, otherwise I wouldn’t have put him on the job.”

  “Look, if this is going to be a problem, let me work on that job in Mercy,” Dean said.

  Jan slowly shook his head, gnawing at one corner of his mouth, a sure sign he had something he didn’t really want to say. “Sorry, I just hired on a new guy and he’s married and got a couple of kids. He needs the hours. Besides, this is close by and I won’t have to charge out traveling time for you.” Jan gave him a careful smile, as if hoping that would placate him. “And this way you can start whenever you want. Work your own hours.”

  It all sounded so reasonable, but his boss’s comments still bothered him. And he was trying hard not to read subtext in his reasoning. Working his own hours meant flexibility for the rehab he was supposed to be doing and for the days he wasn’t well because the pain took over.

  “Of course,” he said. “I get it.”

  Then his eyes slid sideways to where Erin stood. She was looking at him and he didn’t imagine the pity on her face.

  Anger surged through him. Anger with his circumstances and that Erin had to be a witness to this moment.

  He wasn’t good enough. Simple as that. Just a washed-up bronc rider who couldn’t even get on a horse.

  Erin hadn’t wanted anything to do with him all those years ago. He was convinced she certainly wouldn’t want anything to do with him now.

  * * *

  “Be it ever so humble.” Lauren turned off the vacuum cleaner and looked around the living room with a half smile. They had been busy in Erin’s new house most of yesterday and today, cleaning and moving furniture in.

  “It looks homey,” Erin said, pushing a brown leather recliner into the corner beside the rust-colored couch Lauren had just finished cleaning. A wooden table replete with scuff marks and coffee rings sat in front if it. Mismatched end tables flanked the couch, each holding different lamps. A love seat in a pink plaid sat across from the couch. They had come out of a storage shed on Vic’s mom’s place. The rest came from the secondhand store in Saddlebank.

  Two wooden chairs and three folding chairs were tucked under the oval wooden table in the dining room. A metal watering can holding daisies and lilies sat on the table. That particular touch of whimsy was courtesy of Jodie, who had shown up only briefly, full of apologies. She and Finn had a last-minute meeting with Abby Bannister to scout out some wedding photo locations.

  It didn’t matter to Erin that Jodie couldn’t be here. She would see her again. That much she could count on now that she was back at the ranch.

  “It’s perfect,” Erin said, folding her arms as she glanced around the room. Her home.

  Her own.

  And the best part was the cast-iron wood stove taking up the far corner of the living room. She already could imagine being curled up on the couch, reading a book, Caitlin in her arms, the lights low as a fire crackled in the stove.

  “And you’re sure about this?” Lauren was asking as she plumped the pillows they had found at the bargain store in Mercy. “You’re sure about living here on your own?”

  “Believe it or not, I am,” Erin said. “You have no idea what a treat it will be for me to have my own office.”

  “Vic said the internet people might be coming tomorrow so it will be a day or two before you’re connected again.”

  “That’s okay. I’ll need a couple of days to get myself organized.”

  “Will you be able to keep busy? Out here?”

  Erin chuckled at the skepticism in her sister’s voice. “I actually just got a call this morning from a previous client in Colorado. He wants me to do a series of static and interactive graphics for his website and some promotional material he will be putting out. It won’t be for a month or so but in the meantime I’ve got a few feelers out on some other work.”

  Lauren shot her a puzzled look. “Still can’t believe all that coloring and sketching you used to do has translated into a job.”

  “The degree in graphics design probably helped, too.”

  “Of course.” Lauren gave her a smile, then dropped the pillows on the couch. “So this is the last of it. I’m really glad we managed to find a crib for Caitlin, as well. At least she won’t have to sleep in an apple box.”

  “Or a bottom drawer of a dresser like Granny always said Mom did,” Erin said with a laugh.

  Lauren released a gentle sigh, glancing down at the engagement ring on her finger then over at Erin. “I’ve been thinking about Mom lately, what with so many changes in our lives. Jodie getting married, me engaged. And now you with the first—” She stopped there as if not sure what to say.

  “The first grandchild,” Erin finished for her. “I’ve been thinking about Mom, too. And Dad. I know I’ve said it already, but I’m sorry I missed the funeral.”

  Lauren gave her sister a quick hug. “You had your reasons. Did you read Dad’s letter to you?”

  “I haven’t had a chance. Caitlin was fussy most of last night.”

  “You should have woken me or Jodie up,” Lauren chided, giving her shoulders a gentle shake. “Either of us would gladly have held her.”

  Erin felt a surprising hitch to her heart. The six weeks she’d spent at the house with her roommates after Caitlin was born had been fraught with tension. Though her friends were helpful and for the most part considerate, she still overheard muted grumbling about short nights and interrupted sleep. She wasn’t accustomed to having help offered.

  “Sorry. I didn’t think—”

  “That Jodie or I would want to hold our own niece?” Lauren shook her head. “Honey, you’re with family. You’re allowed to have expectations.”

  Which was probably part of her problem with Sam, Erin figured. She didn’t dare have expectations. Each time she brought up their future he would gently tell her she shouldn’t pressure him. They would talk later.

  Then later came and here she was.

  “Speaking of,” Lauren said, tilting her head, “I think I hear something.”

  Erin heard a squawk from the room she’d claimed as her bedroom and was about to go get Caitlin when Lauren stopped her.

  “I’ll do this. You just sit down.”

  Then she hurried off.

  But Erin wasn’t about to sit down. Not with the bags of stuff they had purchased sitting on counters. She was eager to put it away. To get her kitchen cleaned up and organized.

  Just then Dean came into the house carrying a box holding her laptop and router and Erin was distracted by a more important task.

  “Here. Let me,” she said.

  “I got this.” He shot her an annoyed glance.

  “I don’t mind helping,” she said, reaching out to take the box from him.

  As she did her hands brushed his and they both pulled back at the same time. Which made the box tilt precariously.

  Dean shifted and took a sudden step left. In the process he fell against the recliner, which teetered as Dean struggled to regain his footing.

  Erin made another grab for the box, but Dean caught his balance, grimacing as he did.

  “Are you okay?” she asked, concerned at his quick intake of breath.

  “I’m fine. Leave me alone.”

  “I’m sorry. It’s just
that’s my laptop in that box. I need it for my work and I didn’t want—”

  “Didn’t want it to fall?” Dean gave her a sardonic look and handed her the box. “Here. Take it if you think I’ll drop it.”

  She wanted to protest, realizing she had overreacted. She wanted to explain that the laptop was new. That she still owed money on it. That she needed it for her job. A job she now needed more than ever since she had Caitlin depending on her and she had medical bills to pay.

  But that would have taken too many words and too much exposing of her life to someone she preferred to keep in her past.

  Then she looked up at him and was dismayed to see him staring at her as he still clung to the box. They stood there, old memories braiding through the moment. How intense he could be the times he asked her out. How her foolish heart had beat just a little faster each time he did. How her practical mind told her to say no.

  Then he gave the box a tiny shove, returning it to her. But as she took it, she felt as if he was also pushing her away.

  She shook her head as she set it on the kitchen table, suddenly disoriented. It bothered her that a simple touch of Dean’s hands created such a strong reaction in her.

  Then Lauren came out of the room holding Caitlin and reality settled her faintly beating heart.

  She had a daughter to take care of. She had responsibilities. Her reaction to Dean was just a hearkening back to old memories. With all that had happened to her in the past, she knew she was stronger than that.

  She had to be.

  * * *

  The next morning, Dean parked his truck and shot a quick glance at his watch. 7:45. He couldn’t see any movement inside the house. Maybe he had come too early?

  Not that it mattered anymore. The growl of the diesel engine coming on the yard would have woken Erin up.

  The house was tucked into a copse of trees and as he got out of the truck the wind picked up, rustling through the leaves of the aspen. They were already showing a tinge of orange and yellow amongst the green. Fall was on the way, but thankfully today was warmer.

  He walked to the back of his truck and opened the tailgate. The ladder he needed to unload was long and unwieldy and he would have to do some creative lifting to get it to the house.

  As he manhandled it out of the truck, he felt a strong twinge in his leg followed by one of regret. Jan had offered to come by and help him get everything ready, but after Erin expressed her doubts about his ability he wanted to prove he could do it himself.

  The end of the ladder came off the truck and crashed to the ground. Next step was getting it to the house.

  “Do you a need a hand?”

  Dean’s heart jumped and he spun around, almost unbalancing himself in the process.

  Erin walked toward him, her baby tucked in some kind of carrier strapped to her front.

  She wore a long sweater that flowed as she walked. Her hair was tied up in a loose bun-looking thing emphasizing her narrow features. And once again he wondered what had happened to her the past few years to put that edge in her voice, that hardness in her eyes, the hollows in her cheeks. Wondered if it had anything to do with the baby she carried.

  “I’m okay,” he said, lifting his chin as if challenging her to help him. “I do this for a living.”

  “I’ll let you get to your work. But let me know if you need a hand.”

  He just nodded, glancing from her face to the baby bundled against her chest. “I doubt you’ll be able to help much.”

  “Excuse me,” she huffed, sounding insulted. “I know how to handle a hammer and nails. I’ve done home renovations before.”

  Her snippy tone was a shock. “So tell me, Miss Home Renovations, why is it okay for you to question my abilities but not okay for me to question yours?”

  She looked taken aback. “What do you mean?”

  So now she was going to play dumb. Tiffany had excelled at that. Throwing back his suspicions about her faithfulness by going on the defensive and lobbing out questions.

  He wanted to make it easy for both of them and drop it. But if he was working here for the next week or so, he needed to face her doubts head-on. “Tuesday, when Jan and I were here, you asked if there was someone else who could do the work. Like you didn’t think I was capable.”

  She blushed, which did two things. Confirmed his suspicions and made him even angrier.

  “I may not be able to ride a bucking bronc, but I can fix your siding and replace your windows,” he said, wishing he could keep the anger out of his voice. Seeing his ex-girlfriend’s pitying look just before she dumped him had been a tough pill to swallow. Going through the slow and painful steps of rehab even more so. But to have this girl whom he once admired and dreamed of dating treat him like less of a man was like a slap. “It might take me longer than usual and if that’s a worry, I’ll tell Jan to adjust your bill,” he snapped. “Call it a disability discount.”

  Erin took a step back, looking as if he had hit her and he regretted being so defensive.

  “I’m sorry” was all she said. Then she turned and strode back to the house, her sweater flaring behind her in her hurry to get away from him.

  He blew out a sigh as she closed the door, shaking his head at his stupid outburst. Way to go, Moore, he chided himself. Way to treat the customer.

  She was probably in the house, calling Jan up and telling him she didn’t want this crazy man on her yard anymore.

  He sucked in a breath and picked up one end of the ladder, pulling it away from the truck. Then he started toward the house, his steps deliberate as he dragged the thing behind him.

  He hoped she didn’t look out the window at this point to see just how disabled he really was. He knew it shouldn’t matter to him what she thought.

  But it did. Far too much.

  As he lifted the ladder against the house, moving slowly and carefully, he struggled with his own doubts.

  He would finish up here today and then he would phone Jan and tell him he had to find someone else.

  No way was he going to work for someone who didn’t think he could do the job.

  Especially not Erin McCauley.

  Chapter Four

  Erin drizzled the glaze on the bundt cake she had made, then stood back to admire her handiwork.

  Too much? Not enough?

  What kind of cake did you bake for the man in front of whom you’d made a complete fool of yourself? What kind of cake said “I’m sorry” the best?

  This morning, after her run-in with Dean, she had packed up Caitlin and made a quick trip to town to talk to the people at Dis-Connected about getting her internet up and running. From there she’d headed to the grocery store to pick up a few things she was missing, as well as supplies to bake this cake.

  But now that it was done she was having second thoughts. Should have just gone with cookies. Or muffins.

  She tossed the bowl with the remainder of the icing into the sink. Seriously, how indecisive could she be? Had Sam done this to her? Stolen her identity and her confidence?

  The answer to that would be a resounding yes if she were honest with herself. But she didn’t want to admit he’d had that much influence in her life. Lauren had always accused her of being a people pleaser. Her life with Sam was the epitome of that personality trait.

  She could hear Dean clattering around outside, going up and down the ladder. She didn’t know what he was doing out there, only that she wasn’t going out to watch. After his outburst she doubted he would appreciate spectators.

  Well, the cake was done and it was a quarter to twelve. He would be quitting for lunch soon. Perfect time to bring it out to him.

  She glanced at the clock again just as her phone rang.

  It was Jodie.

  “Hey, sweetie,” Jodie trilled, “I’m
about five minutes away. Can I stop in?”

  “Of course. You’re always welcome here.”

  “I kind of figured, but I don’t want to intrude.”

  Jodie’s words gave her a tick of sorrow. In her shame and retreat from her sisters had she come across as so unapproachable?

  “Will Caitlin be awake?” Jodie asked.

  “She’s sleeping now, but I’m sure she’ll be up soon.” Thankfully Caitlin had settled in last night. It was as if she too sensed they had arrived at their final destination.

  This morning Erin had gone for a walk around the property and down the road, just to get a sense of the place. To let herself enjoy the space, the quiet and the simple fact that this belonged to her and only her.

  Then she’d made a fool of herself in front of Dean.

  “Then if it’s okay, I’m coming over,” Jodie said.

  “That would be great.”

  This way she could put off the agony of indecision over the cake she had just made and, instead, catch up with Jodie. She wanted to talk about the wedding and settle back into her sister’s life. The easier sister’s life.

  Though she and Lauren were twins, she always felt like the younger sister around her. She knew Lauren loved her, but the dismayed expression on Lauren’s face when she’d arrived with Caitlin showed Erin how disappointed her twin was.

  Whereas Jodie’s reaction had been one of joy.

  Erin set the cake aside, quickly washed up the dishes she had used, tidying with a sense of anticipation. She shot a glance around the house. Everything was in order.

  Outside she could hear thumps and the occasional screech of nails. She was very curious as to what he was doing, but her embarrassment over how he had misinterpreted their last interaction kept her inside the house, uselessly tidying. Then she heard a muffled squawk from the bedroom and she rushed to pick up her daughter. Just as she came out of the room she heard a vehicle pull up.

  And as Jodie came up the cracked and uneven sidewalk, carrying a bouquet of flowers, Erin’s throat thickened and tears welled up in her eyes.