AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Him and a lot of things. But, yeah, he’s at the top of the list. Raising a kid—especially a boy his age—alone isn’t exactly a piece of cake.”
“What about his father?”
Katie frowned. “Took off when I got pregnant. Haven’t heard from him since. I decided I could raise my baby alone and I haven’t really had to. Mom’s always helped out.” She studied the horizon, but Bliss suspected she wasn’t observing the mountains or lowering sun; instead, she was looking inward, to a private place only she could see. “I don’t talk much about Josh’s father. It’s easier that way, although my curious son has been asking a lot of questions lately.” She lifted a shoulder. “What about you? No kids, I know, but why haven’t you ever married? And don’t tell me you never met the right kind of guy, ’cause I won’t believe it. With your looks, money and connections, my guess is that men—most of them potential ‘right guys’—were flocking all over you.”
“Maybe the right guy turned out to be the wrong one.” Bliss eyed the cattle lumbering in the fields of the lower hills and tried not to let her thoughts turn toward Mason again. “Mom and Dad’s marriage wasn’t exactly picture-perfect, but then, you know that. Mom always wanted me to date—and I quote—‘a strong, moral man with social standing, not some riffraff or rough-and-tumble cowboy like I did.’”
“Oh.”
Bliss plucked a piece of dry grass from a clump near the fence post. “According to my mother, no one was good enough for me and I really wasn’t interested.”
“Because of Mason,” Katie guessed shrewdly.
“What?”
“Hey, I’ve lived here all my life, heard the gossip, and it doesn’t take a genius to put two and two together. You got involved with Mason and John gave him the old heave-ho about the time of your riding accident up on the ridge. Your dad blamed Mason for what happened.” She glanced at Bliss, then continued. “Terri was pregnant, Mason married her, and you’ve never given your heart to another man, right?” Her green eyes were dark with unasked questions and Bliss found it increasingly impossible not to like Katie Kinkaid.
Pride inched Bliss’s chin up a notch or two. She wanted to argue but thought better of it. Wasn’t Katie reaching out, talking to her, being the sister she’d never had? “Something like that,” she admitted. There was more, a lot more, but some things were private and couldn’t be shared, especially with a stranger who just happened to have turned out to be a half sister.
“Well, good.”
“Good?” Bliss couldn’t believe her ears. For years, Margaret had paraded eligible suitors in front of her face, begging her to find someone to share her life with and get over whatever it was that had been eating at her—especially if it had to do with a certain cowboy John had told her about.
“Yeah. Good.” Katie tossed her hair away from her face. “Now you and Mason can get together. He’s divorced, you’ve never married and the rest can become, as they say, history.”
“I think that’s a little premature.”
“Ten years is a long time.”
Bliss bristled. “Listen, if anyone needs a man, it’s you.”
Katie’s small jaw became granite. “Believe me, Bliss, no one ever needs a man, but sometimes it’s nice to have one around. I’m doing just fine on my own.”
“So am I.”
“Well, I wouldn’t pass Mason up, if I were you. He loves his kid and is a good man. Last night we had Dee Dee over, you know.” She thought for a minute. “She’s a good kid—a little on the quiet side—but then, I’m used to Josh, who’s more than outgoing. But I’d only been around Dee Dee a couple of times before, but I liked her. She made sense. It’s too bad her folks don’t see eye to eye.”
“Mason’s crazy about her.”
Katie’s smile was wistful. “I know, and Terri doesn’t realize what a godsend that is. There are so many fathers who are deadbeats or more interested in themselves than their kids.” She sighed, then shook off the wistfulness that had come over her. “Anyway, as I said, Mason’s a catch, Bliss, and now that you’re my sister, I guess I have the right to give you some advice. Don’t make the same mistake twice.”
“I’ll try not to,” Bliss replied, a little unnerved at Katie’s boldness. Sure, they were related by blood, but that didn’t give her half sister the right to try and run her life.
Katie dusted her palms together. “Time to tackle the car again.” She walked back to the worn-out convertible and stuck her head under the still-open hood. Perplexed, she wiggled a few wires, then unscrewed the caps on the battery. “What I wouldn’t give to have taken auto mechanics in high school. Damn.” She replaced the caps and wiped her fingers on her jeans. With a sidelong glance at her half sister, she said, “So you’re out here all alone for the next few nights.”
“I’ve got Oscar.” At the sound of his name, the dog gave out a yip and wagged his tail, but his head was still craned upward as he focused on the squirrel.
“And Mason, if you want him.”
Bliss stiffened. “Give me a break.”
“Don’t tell me he’s not interested.” Katie closed the hood with a loud clunk. “I may not have ever been married, but Mom’s walked down the aisle enough for the two of us. I’ve seen love and maybe even been there once myself. You, Bliss, have got it bad, and so does Mason.”
“You don’t know—”
“Sure, I do. I’ve known Mason a long time. So have my brothers. He’s in love with you, Bliss, whether you want to know it or not. Well, speak of the devil.” A satisfied smile stole over her face.
Oscar gave a quick little bark as Mason’s truck rolled into the drive.
