Waiting for Baby

“Sure.”

Gary, who’d been standing nearby, took charge of the vet, leaving Jake alone with Lilly.

“Is it all right for me to pet Big Ben?” she asked.

“Would you like to walk him to his stall?”

“Yes!”

Jake went over and untied the mule’s lead rope. Big Ben ambled obediently alongside Jake, his large feet clip-clopping in the dirt.

“Here.”

She took the rope. Bunching it in her fingers, she gazed up at Jake. “What now?”

“You walk, he follows.”

“Just like that?”

“With him. Not so with all horses or mules. But this guy’s a teddy bear.”

“I walk.” She took a tentative step.

“That’s it.”

“He’s not following.”

“Keep going.”

She did. The heels of her completely inappropriate shoes wobbled and dust coated her expensive slacks. Big Ben finally extended one foot and lifted his huge head to snuffle her hair.

“Hey! That tickles.” Lilly raised her hand, not to push the animal away but to stroke his nose.

Big Ben snorted and nuzzled her cheek, clearly enamored.

He wasn’t the only one.

Jake found himself attracted to Lilly all over again.

He would have to watch himself closely in the coming weeks and months. Lilly deserved more than he could give her. She deserved a man ready, willing and able to commit.

Chapter Three

“Put your seat belt back on, Jimmy Bob.”

“But we’re here.”

Lilly turned around and gave the young man a hard stare. She sat in the front passenger seat of the center’s specially modified van. Beside her, driving the van, was Georgina. The student volunteer accompanying them sat in the rear.

“Not yet,” Lilly told Jimmy Bob. “We just pulled in to the ranch entrance. The stable is another mile from here.”

Jimmy Bob rarely rebelled but he did so today, his normally cherubic face set in stone, his arms folded. Lilly attributed his stubbornness to excitement. Since he’d learned yesterday morning that he’d be one of the six people accompanying Lilly on the center’s first trip to see Big Ben, he’d been bouncing off the walls. His high-strung behavior earned him frequent reprimands from the staff members and his family. This morning, he’d reached emotional overload, becoming surly and rebellious. Not uncommon behavior for individuals with Down’s syndrome.

Lilly couldn’t allow Jimmy Bob to ignore the rules, today or any other day. Anyone riding in the van obeyed them or wasn’t permitted to go on the next outing.

“Pull over,” she said.

Georgina slowed and eased the vehicle safely to the side of the bumpy dirt road. She knew the drill, and once they were stopped, she put the van in Park and shut off the ignition.

“Damn it to hell, Jimmy Bob,” the woman sitting beside him shrieked. “Put your freakin’ seat belt on.”

“Don’t swear, Miranda,” Lilly scolded.

“He’s screwin’ it up for everybody.” Jimmy Bob’s seatmate clutched the sides of her head in an exaggerated display of theatrics. A lock of wildly curly hair had come loose from her ponytail and stuck up like a rooster’s comb.

“Jimmy Bob,” Lilly implored in a tone that was midway between firm and coaxing.

“Can I ride the mule first?”

“We’re not riding Big Ben today. The farrier has to put new shoes on him.”

“When we do get to ride the mule, can I be first?”

“Oh, puleeze!” Miranda banged her head repeatedly against the padded rest behind her. “Quit being such a damn baby.”

“Miranda. You’re not helping.” Lilly aimed a warning finger at her.

Miranda slapped a hand over her mouth to muffle her groan.

Lilly cautioned herself to remain calm. Though her patience was often tested by the people in her care, she hardly ever lost it. Had her son lived, she would’ve made a good mother.

Her throat closed abruptly and tears stung her eyes. Lilly didn’t know why. It had taken a while, but in the two and a half years since Evan’s death, she’d finally stopped crying at every reminder of him.

“What’s wrong, Miss Russo?” Jimmy Bob didn’t miss a thing.

“Nothing.”

He grabbed his seat belt and buckled it. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you mad at me.”

“I’m not mad.” She smiled at him, still fighting her unexpected weepiness. What had come over her today and why?

She wondered if seeing Jake so often lately and the memories stirred by those encounters had anything to do with her fragile mood. Lilly had come to care deeply for him during the six weeks they’d dated, which was why she’d pressured him for a greater commitment, ultimately triggering their breakup. And as much as she’d wished things could be different, she was afraid her feelings for him were as strong as ever.

Visiting the ranch two or three times a week wasn’t going to be easy and made her wish that her boss was around more to share the responsibility.

Georgina started the van and pulled back onto the road.

“It’s about freakin’ time,” Miranda exclaimed, flinging her arms every which way.