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Jolie reached out to smooth a hand over the baby’s downy hair.So soft, so sweet.Was there anything more precious? Just the scent of a clean baby always touched a melancholy chord in her heart. She held open the front door. “I’ll be here.”
Halfway out onto the landing, Maria turned and smiled. “I just want you to know. No matter what anyone says, I’m real glad you’re here, and I think you’re agreatdoctor.” With a cheery wave, she headed up the sidewalk.
Her words still rang in Jolie’s ears long after Maria and Emiliano disappeared from view.No matter what anyone says...
What had she gotten herself into?
HIGH ON THE HILLSoverlooking Walking Stones Ranch, Robert Maxwell pulled his horse to a stop.
The incredible view of the mountains rimming the ranch on three sides, and the endless vista of rolling grassland to the east, had always filled him with a sense of satisfaction. Now he felt only the roiling anxiety that had set in after Bobby’s accident last October, and had escalated with the passing months.
The charges against his son had secretly terrified Robert. The Aiken boy’s injuries and the looming multimillion-dollar lawsuits were enough to raise his blood pressure. But he paid expensive lawyers to deal with those types of problems.
The Wheeler girl was entirely another story. When her greedy, conniving father showed up at the ranch at the end of Thea’s wedding reception last month, Robert had quickly ushered the man into the office at the back of the house.
Abe hadn’t expressed a shred of concern for his daughter Mandy, but he’d made it clear that he was after money. A lot of it.
Now Robert looked over to where Bobby had stopped his horse. “Tell me again what you told me the night of Thea’s wedding.”
Slouched in his saddle, Bobby stared at the mountains rising to the west. Only the flick of a muscle in his jaw indicated that he’d even heard.
“Did you get that girl pregnant or not?” Robert demanded. “A man has to have honor, son, or he’s worth nothing. Honor and a sense of responsibility.”
Bobby didn’t answer.
“I haven’t said a thing about the Wheeler situation to anyone else—not even your sisters. But something like this won’t stay secret long. We need to deal with it.”
“Why? Wheeler’s just an old drunk.”
Robert had intended to stay calm. To discuss the issue in a businesslike manner, to get at what he suspected was the truth, and then work on a way to take care of it. But Bobby’s insolent tone set his teeth on edge.
“Because, you young fool, if you slept with that girl, then she could be carrying a Maxwell,” Robert said through clenched teeth. “Doesn’t blood meananythingto you?”
Bobby jerked a shoulder. “Yeah...we messed around.” His gaze slid away. “But she could’ve gone off with someone else, too.”
The muscle twitching in the boy’s temple and the guilt written on his face told the story that he wasn’t man enough to tell.
“Our lawyers contacted Abe. Apparently, the girl has moved out and is refusing to cooperate. She says she doesn’t want help from us or anyone else. It might take a court battle just for DNA testing to prove who the father is.”
“So then we’re okay.”
“Okay?” Robert roared. “For once in your life, show you’re a man, instead of some kid who nearly kills his friends by driving drunk. You’ve messed up way too many times.”
Bobby flinched. Gathering up his reins, he wheeled his horse sharply away.
“It’s time for you to grow up. You’re almost nineteen. You said you were ready to take on more of the ranch operation. So far, I haven’t seen any evidence. And if that’s your child, you need to take responsibility. Is that clear?”
“Crystal,”Bobby bit out. Nudging his horse into a lope, he headed across the ridge and disappeared down the other side toward the herd they’d spotted earlier.
At least he didn’t hightail off in the other direction. That’s progress.
Last year, after Robert’s heart attack, the boy had made bedside promises to grow up and start shouldering more responsibility at the ranch.
He hadn’t followed through. As always, Bobby had a short memory when it came to anything but his own pleasure.
Robert’s horse sidestepped impatiently, wanting to follow, but he held the gelding back.
A trio of hawks circled high overhead, drifting on thermal currents. The lands of Walking Stones surrounded him, as timeless, as much a part of him as his own flesh. A legacy of pride, of accomplishment, of possession.
