Waiting for Baby

Lilly’s defenses shot up. “Because they’re disabled?”

“Because they’d be neither guests nor employees. I’m not sure they’d be covered by our insurance in the case of a mishap.”

“Oh. Of course.” Insurance wasn’t an obstacle Lilly had considered, and she chided herself for her shortsightedness. “I understand. You have to do what’s best for the ranch.”

“I’ll call our agent later today. Check with him on how the policy reads.”

The wheels in Lilly’s mind turned. “What if our insurance covered the clients while they were on the ranch?”

“Does it?”

“I’ll find out. If not, maybe Dave could have a special rider added.”

Jake drummed his fingers on the desktop. “Even if I end up agreeing to your proposition, I’ll still need to take it to the family for their approval.”

Here was an obstacle Lilly had considered. Jake managed Bear Creek Ranch but it was owned equally by eight members of the Tucker family, including him.

“I’d be happy to meet with them,” she said, hope filling the void left by her earlier disappointment.

“Let’s wait a bit. That may not be necessary.”

She sat back in her chair, unaware that she’d inched forward.

“Your clients would also have to keep a reasonable distance from the guests. Please don’t take this the wrong way, but they might make some people uncomfortable, and I have to put our guests’ interests first.”

Was Jake one of those “uncomfortable” people? Lilly compressed her lips and paused before replying. She encountered this discomfort on a regular basis. And not just at work.

It had started with her ex-husband, immediately following their son Evan’s birth. She’d also seen it in the expressions of countless friends and relatives who had visited during the two months little Evan resided in the hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit. Then later when they brought him home, still hooked to machines and monitors. The discomfort prevailed even at Evan’s funeral seven months later.

Differences and abnormalities, Lilly had sadly learned, weren’t always tolerated. All she could do was try to show people that special needs individuals were frequently affectionate and charming.

“That won’t be a problem,” she told Jake. “The people we choose to bring will be closely supervised at all times. At least one staff member for every two to three adults.”

“That should be acceptable.”

“Good.” She made a mental note to contact the college regarding more student volunteers.

“I’ll let you know what the family says.” Jake rose.

Lilly did likewise. “Do you know when that might be?” She started to mention the Malcovitches impending house sale, then bit her tongue. Another reminder of Jake’s ex-wife’s engagement wouldn’t advance her cause. “We need to find a place for the mule this week.”

“Saturday’s the earliest I can get everyone together. If you’re stuck, you can board the mule here temporarily.”

“Really?” She couldn’t help smiling. His offer was both unexpected and generous. “Thank you, Jake.”

He came around the desk toward her, a spark of interest lighting his eyes. “It was nice seeing you again, Lilly.”

As they walked toward his office door, his fingers came to rest lightly on her elbow. The gesture was courteous. Not the least bit sexual. Yet, she was instantly struck with an image of that same hand roaming her body and bringing her intense pleasure.

Oh, no. She didn’t need this now. Not when she’d finally resigned herself to their breakup.

“I’ll call you in a day or two about our insurance policy.” She casually sidestepped him, the movement dislodging his hand.

“Take care, Lilly.”

Was that concern she heard in his voice? Did he regret the ruthless manner in which he’d informed her they were through? A more plausible explanation was that she’d only heard what she wanted to.

But then, there was that look on his face….

“You, too, Jake.” She left his office before she could jump to a wrong conclusion, barely acknowledging the young woman seated at the workstation behind the front desk.

Lilly’s thigh-hugging skirt hampered her hasty retreat across the lobby. She slowed before she tumbled down the porch steps. From now on, she vowed, whatever happened between her and Jake Tucker would be strictly business. Forget all those looks and touches and vocal inflections. She wasn’t going to endanger a valuable program for the center. Nor was she risking her heart on the basis of a few misread signals.

BUTTONING HIS flannel-lined denim jacket, Jake headed out the main lodge and along the uneven stone walkway leading to the parking lot. A gust of wind swept past him, sending a small pile of leaves and pine needles dancing across the hard-packed dirt.

He held the crown of his cowboy hat, dropped his chin and walked directly into the chilly breeze. Fall came quickly to this part of the state and stayed only briefly before winter descended. Within the last few weeks, the temperature had dropped twenty degrees. By next month, frost would cover the ground each morning. Soon after that, snow.

Bear Creek Ranch was always booked solid during the holiday season, which stretched from late October through the first week of January. Nestled in a valley at the base of the Mazatzal Mountains, it was surrounded by dense ponderosa pines and sprawling oak trees. Bear Creek, from which the ranch derived its name, ran crystal clear and icy cold three hundred and sixty-five days a year. Fishermen, both professional and amateur, flocked from all over the southwest to test their skill at landing record-breaking trout.

Jake had lived on the ranch his whole life—until two years ago when he’d walked in on his then-wife with another man. Given the choice, he’d have sought counseling and attempted to repair his and Ellen’s deteriorating marriage, for the sake of their three daughters if nothing else. Ellen, on the other hand, had wanted out and promptly divorced him.

Because he wanted his daughters to grow up in the same home he had, enjoy the same country lifestyle, remain near the close-knit Tucker family, Jake had let Ellen keep their house on the ranch until their youngest child graduated from high school. He’d purchased a vacant lot a few miles up the road. There, he’d built a lovely—and terribly empty—house on a hill with a stunning view no one appreciated.

Never once did Jake dream Ellen would bring another man into his home to sleep in his bed, eat at his table, live with his daughters. The very idea of it made him sick. And angry. That anger had prompted him to invite Lilly on a date.

Seeing her for the first time since he’d botched their breakup, watching the brave front she put on, had reminded him of the genuine liking he’d had for her and still did. He’d been a jerk for treating her so poorly—but not, he reasoned, for letting her go.

As difficult as their breakup had been for both of them, it was for the best. Jake had jumped the gun with Lilly, something he’d realized when she’d begun to pressure him for more of a commitment. His daughters were having trouble coping with their mother’s upcoming marriage and the prospect of a stepfather. A new woman in Jake’s life would’ve added to those troubles, and his daughters came first with him. He’d chosen wisely, he felt, to call it quits with Lilly before too many people were hurt or, as in her case, hurt worse.

Climbing into his pickup truck, he took the main road through the ranch to the riding stables. He pulled up beside a split-wood fence his grandfather had built fifty years ago and parked.

“Howdy, Jake.” Gary Forrester, the ranch’s manager of guest amenities, came out from the barn to greet him. He carried a metal toolbox in one hand. In the other, he jangled a set of keys to one of the ATVs the hands regularly used to get around the property.

“Hey, Gary. You off somewhere?”

“The number-three pump went on the fritz this morning. I’m on my way up the hill to see if I can talk sweetly to it.” The older man had a real knack with finicky pieces of machinery, coaxing them to work when they were beyond repair. Hired thirty-plus years ago by Jake’s grandfather, he’d become a permanent fixture on the place.

“I won’t keep you long, I promise.” Jake ambled toward the holding corral where a dozen horses milled quietly in the warm noontime sun. The other dozen or so were out carrying guests on one of the many scenic trails winding through the nearby mountains.

“I can spare a minute.” Gary set the keys and toolbox on the ATV’s wide seat and joined Jake at the corral. “What’s on your mind?”

“Any chance we have room for another animal?”

“Sure. You found one?”

“Not exactly.” Jake rested his forearms on the piped railing. “This one would be a boarder.”

“Hmm.” Gary raised his weathered brows. “That’s a new one. Didn’t think we were in the boarding business.”