Baby, Oh Baby!

Apparently Rachel didn’t feel the same way about worms.

Janie put a finger to her lips. “Don’t you fret. Far be it from me to judge you and your young man for doing the wild thing.”

“No, it’s not that—”

“If I was a few years younger, I’d be suckered by those blue eyes, too, honey. I just know you and your fella will do right by this baby and get married. It’s plain as day.” Cora patted her arm, then took another look into the carrier. “She’s somethin’.”

Janie curved her fingers around the other woman’s arm. “C’mon, sister. We have to go before you embarrass this nice young couple any more. Good to see you, Rachel. Jake, nice to meet you.”

“Wait—” Rachel held her hand up as the bell above the door double-dinged their departure. She met his gaze and there was a hint of a grin in her brown eyes. “Why didn’t you set them straight?”

“Because I saw how you were wasting your breath,” he said. “Besides, I was too busy trying to wrap my mind around that ‘wild thing’ remark.”

“I’m sorry,” she said, her cheeks pink. “I had no idea talking to you here would be a problem.”

“No harm done.”

“That may not be entirely true.”

“How do you know those two? Doesn’t seem like you’d travel in the same circles.”

“Cora was in the hospital when she broke her hip and had surgery. As soon as a patient is admitted, it’s my job to juggle their course of treatment with their insurance reimbursement. I also check into nursing homes and rehabilitation facilities. In Cora’s case, she needed heavy-duty physical therapy to get her back on her feet. It’s nice to see her up and around. On the other hand, she’s up and around and moving so well the whole town will think we’ve had a baby together.”

“Are you saying that sweet little old lady has a big mouth?”

“Mouths. Plural. Those two sweet little old ladies spread stories like a farmer spreads manure,” she said, sitting down across from him.

Jake laughed. He couldn’t help himself. Then Sally Jean set two salads in front of them. With her hands on her hips, she looked from Rachel to Jake. “You two look like you’re havin’ fun.”

Jake wouldn’t go that far. But if anyone had told him he would be laughing over dinner with the woman who was messing with his family, he’d have called the person crazy.

“Entrées will be out in a few,” she said, and walked away without waiting for an answer.

“Eat. You need to keep your strength up.” But when the smile disappeared from Rachel’s face, part of him wanted to call the words back.

“My strength? Because of the baby,” she guessed, her gaze narrowed on him. “If you have your way, that won’t be an issue much longer.”

“You got the papers?” he asked.

“Regarding Emma’s custody hearing? Yes,” she said, picking up her fork.

Jake studied her, wondering if she was planning to stab him with it. Just a moment before, when she’d laughed with him, her brown eyes had been sweet and warm as cocoa. Now her expression was pinched and uncomfortable, as if her panties had shrunk two sizes.

“How could you, Jake?”

“You left me no choice.”

“There’s always a choice. I’m here to try to talk you into dropping your custody petition.”

“Now why would I do that after that high-priced attorney spent so much time on it?”

“Because you want what’s best for Emma.”

He didn’t see it that way. But the least he could do was hear her out. “Tell me how ignoring the fact that my niece isn’t with her family is in her best interest.”

“You don’t have to ignore anything—especially her. In fact I would encourage you to spend as much time with Emma as you’d like. Keeping this situation out of the court system is what would be best for everyone. It’s not too late to rescind the paperwork.”

“I can’t do that.”

“Jake, listen to me,” she pleaded. “You must see that ideally Emma should be with Holly and Dan. They’re her parents.”

“Okay. I’ll grant you that.” He met her gaze. “But they’re not here at the moment. They took off and left their child with you. I don’t see that as ideal.”

“Me, neither. But where’s the harm in leaving things status quo?”

“I’m just making sure my brother’s rights are protected.”

“I’m not going to trample his rights. I’d like nothing more than to put this child in his arms and Holly’s. That’s what I plan to do as soon as possible. But if the court gets involved, it will only complicate issues when Holly and Dan come back.”

“How can you be so sure about Holly?” he asked.

For an instant doubt shadowed her eyes, making them dark and distant. A moment later the look disappeared. Determination hardened her expression, compressing her full lips.

“I told you before, Jake, this is her baby. She’ll be back.” Rachel sat up straighter and met his gaze. “For that matter, what about your brother?”

“What about him?”

“You keep doubting Holly, but what about Dan?”

“Say it straight out, Rachel.”

“He lied to me,” she reminded him. “How do you know he won’t keep on running?”

If he knew what was good for him he would, Jake thought, trying to decide what sort of punishment would fit this crime. But sooner or later the Fletcher instincts would kick in. Dan would do the right thing.

“He belongs here. The land is in his blood. He’ll be back,” Jake said, absolutely convinced he spoke the truth.

“Then there’s no reason to go to court. Emma will be fine with me until her parents come home.”

It wasn’t that simple. He’d had a child taken from him; he knew how it felt. He wouldn’t stand by and do nothing while the same thing happened to his brother. This time he wasn’t a boy. No one was going to take advantage of him.

“It’s nothing personal, Rachel.”

“Then why does it feel that way?”

“I couldn’t say. I’ve learned not to take chances. Do unto others before they do it to me.”

“That’s awfully cynical.”