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Beth took a deep breath and reined in her temper. She stated the facts in a clear, calm voice. “I never told him I was pregnant. He saw the pregnancy test and jumped to conclusions.”
“You should have told him he was wrong.”
“I tried.” Feeling unjustly accused, Beth's volume went up. “You know what he's like. Bossy. Arrogant. Always has to do the right thing. Play the hero.”
“Do you hear yourself? You sound like you think helping others is a bad thing.” Delta shook her head and made her trademark clicking sound. “I've known him almost his whole life. He helps people because he's a good man, not because he wants to play the hero.”
Beth wasn't so sure about that, but she wasn't going to argue with Jared's number one fan. “I really did try to tell him numerous times. He told me to shut up and threatened to kick me off the ranch if I didn't marry him. He dragged me to Vegas. What was I supposed to do?”
Delta pursed her lips and stared at her for a long moment, as if trying to read her mind. Finally, the woman sighed. “You screwed the pooch on this one. Now, what are you going to do to make it better?”
Good question. Maybe if she apologized and threw herself on his mercy, he would back off. Or maybe she should appeal to his hero complex. Surely, he wouldn't boot her out when she didn't have anywhere to go. She could swallow her pride and play the part of a damsel for a few hours.
“I'll talk to him,” she said.
Delta nodded. “Good girl. You go do that while I get dinner started. Make me proud.”
After leaving the kitchen, Beth heard Jared on the phone in the den. It would be rude to interrupt his conversation. She headed outside to the barns instead. There was a lot to do, and she didn't feel right about delegating it all to the men. Jared could wait. He didn't want to hear excuses or apologies from her anyway.
∞∞∞
It was time to leave for the airport, and he was still reeling from the news. He had married Beth for nothing. There was no baby. She was avoiding him now, and that didn't bother him in the slightest. In fact, he would have been avoiding her if she wasn't doing the job for him. He didn't believe her lame excuse about not having a chance to tell him the truth. He may have pushed her to travel with him to Vegas, but she could have shouted the truth over his assumptions anytime she wanted.
Delta rushed into the living room with full-blown panic in her eyes. His first thought was something bad had happened to Beth. His heart stopped dead in his chest, and he couldn't breathe.
Fortunately, Delta didn't keep him in suspense for long. She struggled with her coat while filling him in on the problem. “There is a nasty winter storm headed our way. It wasn't supposed to be here for another forty-eight hours or so, but we're about to get slammed. Hard.”
“What?” His heart sank at the implications. “No. I have to leave. I told them I'd be back in Boston by tomorrow.”
“Sorry, hon. You aren't going anywhere. The airport is closed.” She lifted her cell phone. “I already contacted Beth, and she's letting the men know. They'll get the horses put up for the night and lock down everything.”
Jared nodded. “I know. I used to live here. Remember?” With a long stride, he crossed the large room in a few steps and grabbed his heavy coat off the rack. “I'll help them. You need to get going so you can make it home to Bill before you get stuck here.”
“Bill will be fine.” Delta shook her head slowly. “I don't like the idea of leaving the two of you out here alone, you and Beth.”
Feeling a bit offended, he asked, “Why? What do you think will happen if we're here alone?”
He understood Alice thinking he might want to take advantage of the situation and sleep with Beth. She didn't know him that well, but Delta had helped raise him. Her lack of faith in his ability to control himself hurt.
She placed a comforting hand on his arm. “Without me here to referee, I'm afraid the two of you will kill each other.”
He grinned at that. “What if I promise no bloodshed? Will you go home and sleep peacefully tonight?”
“This isn't funny, Jared. I think you've been away too long. You don't remember how bad these storms can get. You could be snowed in for several days.”
She was right. Nothing about the situation was amusing. The last thing he needed was to be alone with Beth after finding out she'd lied to him. Part of him still wanted to ring her neck.
He zipped his coat. “Go home, Delta. I'll take care of my new wife.”
That put a deeper scowl on her face. “Jared Wilder, I swear if you don't—”
“Relax. I was kidding.”
“Use the satellite phone if you have any trouble, and Bill will drive his old snowplow up here. I mean it. Food. Water. Anything. We'll be here for you in two shakes.”
He gave her a quick hug and walked her to her car. One look at the sky confirmed Delta's weather report. A ceiling of dark clouds moved overhead, and they appeared ready to burst. He hadn't glanced at the thermometer yet, but he was sure it was below freezing. His visible breath mingled with Delta's as she gave him last minute instructions.
“There are casseroles in the freezer, and the generator will kick in if you lose electricity.”
