Rancher Daddy

But they didn’t see the real her. Nor did Luc. Holly knew she was far from the perfect mother candidate. Perfect mothers didn’t give away their newborn babies to save themselves shame or embarrassment. They certainly didn’t forget about them once they’d given away their children.

But then Holly realized that despite her best attempts, neither had she forgotten. With every birth she assisted, every delivery, every prenatal class she taught she wondered, Did my baby look like this? Is my baby happy? Where is my baby?

There wasn’t and never could be an answer to those questions. That’s the way she’d wanted it. No shame or recriminations that her father would have to live with. At least that’s what she’d told herself when she’d given up her son for adoption.

“Holly?” Luc was looking at her oddly. So was Abby.

“Sorry. Just thinking about Melody. She’s still loose. I need to get home.” And away from Luc’s piercing stare.

“I’m sure you do. I just wondered if Henry had said anything to you about going to visit Luc.” The speaker was a woman named Shelly whom Abby had introduced as Henry’s case worker from Calgary.

“He didn’t, but we did talk about what kind of things happen on a ranch,” she said. “Henry asked how things worked and since I’ve lived on the ranch my entire life, I explained as best I could.”

“Was your friend Luc there at the time?” Shelly asked, her gaze narrowed.

“No. I’d taken Henry out for a soda one afternoon, with Hilda’s permission,” she added. “He never said anything about visiting Luc then but kids get lots of spur-of-the-moment ideas and often act on them. Luc didn’t tell Henry to come on his own if that’s what you’re insinuating,” she insisted, disgruntled by the case worker’s suggestive attitude.

“You’re defending him.” A smug smile tilted Shelly’s lips.

“I don’t have to,” Holly said, disliking her more with every word. “He hasn’t done anything wrong.” She turned to Abby. “I really do have to leave. I can’t afford to lose my horse.”

“Yes, you and Luc go ahead. And thank you for your help. I don’t know how we’d have managed without you.” Abby hugged her and Luc.

“You do realize the police were called out,” Shelly said to Luc.

“But that’s what you do when a child is missing, isn’t it?” he asked, a confused look on his face. Holly wanted to hug him.

“Come on, Luc. I need a ride back to find Melody.” Holly tugged on his arm, relieved when he finally followed her from the house. She got in the driver’s seat without thinking, started the engine and turned onto the highway toward home.

“Can you slow down a bit?” Luc asked in a mild voice.

“That woman! She was intimating that it was your fault Henry took off.”

“I know.” He smiled. “It was nice of you to defend me, but I didn’t coax him to come.”

“Well, I know that but Shelly doesn’t. She seemed a little too ready to put a black mark against you.” Holly sniffed. “I’ve seen workers like her before. So suspicious.”

“I suppose she has to be when she’s protecting a child who has no one else to do it for him.” Luc sounded unruffled. “It’s important to know that the people to whom you give the care of a kid like Henry won’t abuse that trust.”

“I suppose.” Holly leaned back in her seat and took a deep breath. Thinking about the past always unsettled her. But she could hardly tell Luc that.

“Can I ask you something, Holly?”

“I guess.” She twisted to look at him. The last vestiges of daylight were almost gone, leaving only the vehicle’s dashboard lights to highlight his reflection.

“Before your fiancé,” he said hesitantly. “Was there someone special in your life?”

What could it hurt to tell him? It had happened long ago. It was in the past.

“I can’t imagine what prompted that question,” she said, giving him an arch look.

“Humor me.” Luc kept watching her.

“When I was going through my medical training I met a resident. Troy.” Holly exhaled. “I thought I was in love with him but I was wrong.”

“How did you come to think you were wrong?” Luc said quietly. “Did he decide that or did you?”

“He did, okay?” Talking of that time, remembering the decisions she’d made and questioned ever since hurt. She wanted Luc to let it go. “He told me he had plans for his life and they didn’t include me. Then he walked away. I never saw him again.”

Holly didn’t tell Luc that Troy’s plans also hadn’t included the baby she was carrying. That was her secret and she intended to keep it that way. Luc was her best friend but as she’d learned to her cost, keeping your friends meant you didn’t share absolutely everything.

Especially to a man like Luc who was desperate to have a child.

* * *

“It’s good to get rid of that ugly wall board,” Holly said right after she’d tossed a sheet of the offending stuff into the back of Luc’s truck.

“Wood paneling isn’t your favorite?” He was glad to see the smile on her face. For the past three days, ever since the Henry incident, Holly had been introverted, obviously stewing about something yet she refused to share the burden with him.

“It’s dark and depressing. I don’t know why Dad ever chose it. Or maybe my mother did. That would explain a lot about what went wrong in their relationship.” She made a face at him then walked back inside her house. “Want some lemonade? I made it fresh this morning.”

Luc nodded. He’d enjoyed these past few days they’d spent working on her renovation. Holly was fun to be with, full of great ideas and eager to implement them. She also didn’t fuss about things like broken fingernails and dust as Sarah had on the four occasions she’d visited his ranch.

Luc sat next to Holly on the deck outside, savoring his drink and the warm spring afternoon. “Can I ask you something?”

Immediately, her eyes darkened and her face got what he termed her worried look. “I guess.”

“Why is there an umbrella in your garden?” He watched her shoulders sag in relief.

“To shelter my pumpkin plant, of course.” Holly’s grin teased him as did her wink.

“Okay. That certainly explains it.” Luc knew she was waiting for him to ask. “Why does your pumpkin need sheltering?”

“I just transplanted it. I’m trying to make sure it doesn’t dry out before it gets established or get broken in a strong wind so I shelter it for part of each day until it’s hardy.” Holly sounded like a worried mom.

“Must be an important pumpkin.” Luc watched the sparkle return to her eyes.

“It is. It’s a gigantic variety. I’m hoping to enter it in the fair in August and win.” When Holly was excited like this, Luc couldn’t take his eyes off her. “First prize is five hundred dollars. I’m also entering a baby quilt. First prize for that is another five hundred. That would go a long way toward a new sewing machine.”

“Great minds think alike. I’m hoping to win a prize with the old truck I’m restoring.” Luc grinned. “And if I could win another five hundred for being best historic entry in the parade this summer, I’d be able to fix up the ’55 Chevy I’ve got stored in my barn.”

“So we’re both out to win.” Holly chinked her glass against his. “Good luck to us.”

“What is it about sewing that gets to you?” Luc asked curiously.

“What is it about fixing old cars that gets to you?” She shrugged. “I pick up a piece of fabric and I see how it could be used. I have to make it. Now you know how weird I am.”

“Not weird at all,” Luc told her. “That’s how I am with old vehicles. I think I got that from my dad. I don’t remember him much but I remember he loved old cars. I think he lived every moment of his life, like you.” He smiled at her blush. Holly always tried to deflect praise. “Is it tonight Henry’s coming for your wiener roast?”