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He turned back to the stove and Betsey stared at his back. She hated he had to come in straight from working the Avery’s ranch and not even be able to sit down but if he’d not jumped in to help, she wasn’t sure how much longer she would have been able to hold it together.
Her imagination had run wild all day with silly notions. As mad as she was at Aaron for running off and leaving her a year ago, the fact he was here now—and looking at Samuel as if he was the most wonderful thing he’d ever seen—made all the pain she’d suffered seem so insignificant and regardless of what she’d said to herself and others, or her vow to hate Aaron Hilam forever, Samuel needed a father.
Samuel finally got full enough he fell asleep. Betsey stood and carried him to their room and laid him gently in his cradle, then straightened and buttoned her dress. The mirror on the wall by her dresser reflected a haggard girl she barely recognized. She was pale and dark circles lay like bruises underneath her eyes. Her hair lay limp and lifeless and she didn’t think she’d had a full nights sleep since Samuel was born. He was a cranky baby. Ben said it was because he took after his father. She smiled. Aaron certainly was cranky when he wanted to be.
A soft knock rapped on the front door and her pulse leaped at the sound of it. She hurriedly brushed and re-braided her hair, the sound of Ben’s footsteps loud as he walked across the house, the front door swinging open moments before voices filled the air.
The door didn’t slam shut. At least Ben hadn’t slammed it in Aaron’s face like she expected him to. Assuming that was who’d been at the door.
She saw movement behind her. Aaron stepping into her line of sight in the mirror confirmed it had been him at the front door. “He’s sleeping.” Aaron leaned against the door frame. She turned and met his gaze. They stood staring at one another for a long while and she wondered what he was thinking. Hertraitorous heart was whispering if she wanted the best for Samuel, she’d forgive Aaron, cross the room and kiss him like she wanted to but plain stubbornness kept her feet rooted in place. That and the fact she’d not make a fool out of herself like she had the day he left. She’d cried, screamed, and begged for him to stay and he’d rode off like she wasn’t even there. She’d not beg him for anything ever again. If Aaron wanted a place in Samuel’s life, then he’d ask for it.
From the other room, she heard Ben say supper was ready. Aaron never took his eyes off her and his unwavering attention was causing her cheeks to heat. She broke eye contact with him and took a step toward the door. “Are you hungry?”
He nodded. “I’ve not eaten since noon.”
She blew out a pent-up breath. “Then let’s go eat. You can visit with Samuel once supper is over.” He stepped away from the door as she approached it, then followed her back into the main room.
Ben had the table set with three plates, she noticed, the food laid out and glasses filled with fresh milk. As she sat, she wished she’d fixed something—more. The simple fare of baked chicken with green beans and potatoes seemed so plain now. Not that she would try to impress Aaron or anything. She sighed at the lie and thanked Ben when he handed her a filled plate.
They ate in silence for the most part, Ben and Aaron digging in to their food as if they’d not done so in days and even though the meal wasn’t anything fancy, neither seemed to mind. They were refilling their plates for seconds when Ben glanced over at her and said, “Alex was over at the Avery place today. She asked about you.”
“Oh? What did she say?”
“She wanted to know when you were going to come by and see her and the babies.” He took another bite and washed it down. “Said Jesse won’t let her leave the house alone with them and won’t take her out visiting.”
She snorted a laugh. “That won’t last long.”
Ben grinned. “No. Once she’s able to hitch up that wagon without groaning in pain, she’ll be riding over half of Willow Creek regardless of what Jesse has to say about it.”
“Next time you see her, tell her I’ll get by when I can. Until you get the broken wheel on the buckboard fixed, it may take a while to get out there, not to mention work.”
“You don’t need to be in that saloon.” Aaron looked up and locked eyes with her. “You’ve got no business in there.”
Ben snorted and went back to eating without a word. They’d had this discussion so many times she knew it by heart.
“That’s none of your business, Aaron.”
“It is now.”
She laughed. “Why? Because you suddenly found yourself with a child, you think you can step in and start telling his mother what to do?”
He laid his fork down. “No, but a woman with a child has no business in a place where men would just as soon toss you to your back as to look at you.”
Her face heated. “I don’t work the rooms upstairs and I have half a mind to slap you silly for even suggesting I do!”
“I’m not suggesting anything—“
Samuel let out a bellowing cry before he could say more.Damnation. Why had she yelled? She glared at Aaron as she stood and went to her room. Samuel stopped crying the moment she picked him up. When she made it back to the table, Aaron had pushed his plate away and had his arms folded over his chest. “Stop looking at me like that Aaron Hilam or I’ll have Ben escort you to the door with his boot in your backside.”
He snorted a laugh. “I’ll leave when I’m good and ready.”
Betsey sat down, tucked Samuel against her left arm and picked her fork back up. She ignored Aaron for the most part but every time she looked up at him, his gaze was locked on Samuel. The fact it was reminded her that, if it wasn’t for the baby, Aaronprobably wouldn’t even be here. Something clenched tight in her chest at the thought.
Aaron slid away from the table and stood, coming around to her side. “Let me have him.”
She wanted to refuse but found it pointless. She handed him, Samuel, her eyes following him all the way to the rocker by the fire where he sat down. She tried to concentrate on eating as she watched him hold their baby but stared at them for so long, her food went cold before she was done.
Ben gave her foot a nudge. She knew without asking he’d get rid of Aaron in a second. That all she had to do was ask, but as stupid as it may be, she shook her head and stood, then started clearing the dishes away. Like it or not, Samuel was Aaron’s son and now that he knew, she didn’t think she’d be able to get him to go away—and deep down, she knew her traitorous heart didn’t want him to.
