Madison's Children

“What about your mother?” Maddie kept holding back, trying not to let her emotions get involved.

“My dad hates my aunt. She’s my mother’s sister and my mother can’t even visit her. My mom won’t go against my dad.”

This was all sounding very odd to Maddie. “How did you hear from her?”

“I called her from school to tell her what my dad was planning. I need to see a doctor and she told me to come, but not to tell my father.”

“You haven’t seen a doctor?” This one thing stuck in Maddie’s mind.

“No, ma’am. We can’t afford it.”

“But there are free clinics—if not here, then in Giddings.”

Ginny shook her head. “My dad wouldn’t let me go. He said if I was so stupid to get pregnant then I could have the baby at home just like my mom had all of us.”

Good heavens, this was terrible. The girl needed to see a doctor.

“Do you know when the baby is due?”

“No, ma’am.”

Maddie took a deep breath and looked off to the vehicles traveling on the country road, some stopping at the gas station/convenience store across the highway, others at the local café and the rest continuing on to their homes and ranches. A cool breeze wafted Ginny’s unwashed scent to her.

Everything in her told her not to get involved with a girl she didn’t know, but she couldn’t ignore the fact that Ginny needed medical attention and more.

Oh, she hoped she didn’t regret this. “What’s your aunt’s name?”

“Thelma Jenkins.”

“Do you have her phone number?”

“Why?”

Maddie bit her lip. “I’ll give you the money to get to Temple, but I want to talk to your aunt first.”

Ginny smiled and her whole demeanor changed. “Oh, Ms. Belle, thank you.” Ginny glanced at the pay phone beside them. “I’ll call her now if…if you’ll loan me two quarters.”

Maddie cursed herself for not bringing her cell, but she’d been in such a hurry to catch Cooper and Rufus that she’d left it behind. Opening her purse, she dug for change and handed it to Ginny. The girl jumped up to make the call.

The traffic was deafening, and Maddie couldn’t make out what Ginny was saying. Ginny held out the phone to Maddie and she spoke to Thelma Jenkins.

The lady assured her she would do everything to help Ginny. Hanging up, Maddie felt much better.

“I’ll give you the money for bus fare, but you have to tell your parents where you’re going.”

“Sure. They won’t care.”

Maddie couldn’t imagine a parent not caring.

“And I’d like your aunt’s number and address.”

Maddie pulled a pad from her purse and handed Ginny a pen. After Ginny scribbled the name and number, Maddie tucked it into her purse. She then reached for her wallet and counted out fifty dollars.

“That should be enough for the fare and a little extra.”

“Oh, thank you, Ms. Belle. You’re so nice.”

“And please check in at the school and let them know you’ll be gone for a while.”

“I will.”

Maddie motioned toward Ginny’s stomach. “Take care of that baby.”

“I plan to.” Ginny hugged her briefly, and Maddie got into her truck and drove away, hoping she was doing the right thing. If Ginny wanted to keep her baby, she should be allowed to. Every woman had that right.

As she neared High Five, she met Walker going in the opposite direction. She would call him tonight and let him know about Ginny. That was the least she could do. After all, he was worried about Haley and her involvement with Ginny. She’d probably get a lot of attitude and a sermon about minding her own business.

She’d call, anyway. He had been nice today, and maybe they had reached a new understanding.

Maybe.

CHAPTER FIVE

BY THE TIME MADDIE’S DAY ended, she was exhausted. They managed to finish the fence around the pen, and her arms ached from stretching barbed wire, but it was done. She was proud she had the strength to keep up with Cooper. As she fell into bed, she relished that feeling.

Before sleep claimed her, she remembered she hadn’t called Walker. Thoughts of him caused her to move restlessly beneath the covers. What was it about the man that triggered every feminine response in her? Maybe it was because he was so different from the men in her city life. Or maybe it had been so long since she’d been with a man that her feminine sensory receptors were out of whack. Or whatever. She was too tired to think anymore.

She should call him, but it was late and she might wake Georgie. The morning would be a better time.

AT FIVE MADDIE WAS UP and not so raring to go. She felt as if she’d just closed her eyes. But they planned to round up the expecting cows and wanted to get an early start. This might be just a little too early. Coop said there weren’t many cows calving this time of the year, so that was a plus. Births were usually in the spring and fall.

After brushing her teeth, she thought of calling Walker, but it was too early. She’d call at lunch. She shimmied into jeans and stuck her arms into one of Cait’s pearl-snap shirts. Luckily they were close to the same size. After tucking her shirt into the jeans, she zipped and buttoned them, then deftly wove a tooled leather belt through the loops.

She sat down to tug on her boots. Wiggling her toes, she was reminded how different her attire was from her Philadelphia wardrobe: suits, silk blouses and Jimmy Choo heels. Oh, yeah, she missed those shoes, but that was another life. Today she was a cowgirl, and work waited for her. Gathering her hair into a short ponytail, she jogged for the stairs, which she figured was a good way to wake up.

She met Etta as she was going out the back door. “Good morning, lazy bug,” Maddie mocked with a smile.

“Don’t get smart,” Etta replied, handing her something wrapped in tin foil. “Breakfast taco. I made them for Rufus and Cooper and I saved one for you.”

“Thanks, Etta.”

“Get some juice from the fridge.”

Maddie grabbed bottled water. “This will do.”

“Now, lunch will be ready at twelve and I expect everyone here. You can’t go all day without a proper meal.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Maddie kissed her cheek. “Please look after Gran. I’ll check on her later.”