The Baby Truth

But Sassy wasn’t a coward. She’d never run from a problem; she’d always faced them head-on. And she was going to prove to Jett Sundell and the powerful Calhoun family that she was more than a pitiful orphan without a direction.

Chapter Two

Jett’s ranch, the J Bar S, turned out to be more than just a little spread. Ten miles north of town they turned off the main highway and onto a red dirt road, where they passed beneath a rustic entrance made of rough cedar posts. Once the truck rattled over a wide cattle guard, the flat land covered with shrubby chaparral stretched toward the east as far as the eye could see. To the west, low hills were decorated with twisted juniper and ponderosa pine, and behind them, somewhat taller mountains were thickly forested with evergreens.

The direction of the road eventually changed and took them straight to the mountains, then curved and climbed its way onto a small mesa. Once the truck reached the flattened strip of land, a rambling L-shaped house, nestled in a copse of tall pines and cottonwoods, came into view. Some hundred yards to the right of the house stood several barns and a maze of wooden corrals where a herd of playful horses were stirring the dust.

Jett parked the truck beneath a carport located at the west end of the house. While she waited for him to skirt the vehicle, she took a moment to study his home.

The walls were made of very dark brown logs with natural rock coming halfway up the sides. A walkway made of planked wood ran along the front of the house, until it reached a small porch where a holly bush blazed with bright red berries. Two black-and-white collies suddenly appeared from a far corner of the yard and jumped in excited circles around Jett’s legs.

He ordered the dogs to give him space, then opened her door. “Here we are, Sassy,” he said, as he extended a hand up to her. “Don’t mind the dogs. They love people. I’ll help you in, then come back for your bags.”

It was on the tip of her tongue to tell him she no longer felt faint or needed his help to walk, but she quickly bit back the words. The men she’d spent time with, including Barry, had always treated her like a tough, outdoorsy girl who could take care of herself. This was first time in her life that she’d ever had a man treat her like a delicate lady. She might as well enjoy the special treatment for as long as she could.

With his strong hand wrapped around hers, she climbed out of the truck and stood beside him. The dogs immediately rushed to her and she made a point of greeting them before she turned her attention back to Jett.

“Before we go in, I want to thank you, Jett. In spite of some of the things I said to you, I really do appreciate all that you’re doing for me.”

He smiled at her, and for a moment Sassy forgot everything, including the reason she’d even come to Nevada. There was something in his eyes that made her feel welcome, that said he was glad she was here. But that didn’t make sense. Jett didn’t know her. Not really. And if he did, what would he think? she wondered. She was a maid and lived on a salary that kept her bills paid and food on her table, but little more.

He linked his arm through hers and started down the long sidewalk. “I have plenty of space and time. And it’s not often that I get a client like you.”

“Oh. I thought the Calhoun family were your clients. Not me.” She would have preferred him to describe her as a friend. But that hardly mattered, she told herself. She was here to search for her parentage, not for a man.

“Technically you’re right. But I have a protective nature. Especially when it comes to pretty women. So I’m making you my client, too.”

He added another grin to the last of his words, and Sassy figured he’d never had a problem manipulating a woman’s heartstrings. But she didn’t need to worry about losing her heart to this charming cowboy. She was carrying a baby. That should be more than enough to turn off any man’s ardor.

Compared to the Cantrell’s elaborate, two-story house back on the Chaparral Ranch, Jett’s home was a modest, though very comfortable, size. After passing through a small foyer, they entered a living room furnished with a wood-framed couch done in dark green-and-brown fabric, a matching love seat and two armchairs. In one corner, a television was tuned in to the weather, while a mug of coffee and a newspaper littered a varnished cedar coffee table. Braided rugs added splashes of color here and there across the inlaid wood floor. At the far end of the space, a fire burned low in a rock fireplace and filled the room with delicious warmth.

“Bella! Come here! We have company!”

Jett’s shout brought a flurry of movement from somewhere in the rooms beyond, and then a woman with a long, dark ponytail appeared in an open doorway, followed by a black cat with a red collar around its neck.

“Oh! Jett, I wasn’t expecting you back home so early.” She walked toward her brother, who was still holding on to Sassy’s arm, then suddenly she stopped in her tracks and stared incredulously at the both of them. “Who—?”

“Sis, this is Sassy Matthews from New Mexico. She’s going to be staying with us for a few days.”

Her gaze traveling keenly over Sassy’s face, the tall, attractive woman stepped closer and extended her hand. “Hello. I’m Bella Sundell,” she introduced herself.

Seeing the same warm light in Bella’s eyes as she had in Jett’s, Sassy felt immediate relief. “Nice to meet you, Bella.” She shook the woman’s hand. “And I apologize for barging in like this. Your brother insisted it would be okay.”

“It’s no bother.” Bella shot her brother a shrewd glance. “In fact, this is quite exciting. Jett never brings guests home. Especially ones who look like you.”

“Bella! What kind of remark is that?”

With an impatient roll of her eyes, she asked, “Are you blind? She’s the spitting image of Finn Calhoun. A beautiful one, that is.” She turned back to Sassy. “Are you a relative of theirs?”

Sassy was amazed by the woman’s reaction. “No. I don’t think so.”

Jett looked at Sassy, and his expression said “I told you so.” To Bella, he said, “Actually, Sassy doesn’t know who she’s related to. And the story is too long to get into right now. Sassy had a nasty faint a bit earlier at the airport and we’ve spent the past couple of hours at the emergency room. She needs to eat and then rest.”

“Oh, my. I hope it was nothing serious.”

Deciding there was no point in keeping it a secret, Sassy replied, “I’m going to have a baby.”

Bella’s expression immediately changing to one of concern, she reached for Sassy’s arm. “That’s serious enough. Come along with me and I’ll find something for you to eat. Then you can rest.” She started leading Sassy out of the room, then tossed over her shoulder, “Jett, put her things in the bedroom next to mine, will you?”

“Sure. And don’t go plying Sassy with a bunch of questions,” he warned his sister. “She’s already had one lawyer digging at her today.”

He turned to leave the house and as Bella guided her down a short hallway, Sassy asked curiously, “Are you a lawyer, like your brother?”

“No. I work as a legal assistant, but I took the day off. I had a few personal tasks to deal with in town. And don’t worry, I’m not a nosy gossiper. I won’t bother you with a bunch of questions.”

“That’s the least of my worries,” Sassy told her. “I just feel awful about barging into your home like this. I had reservations at a hotel in town but your brother insisted I cancel them. Just because I fainted he seems to think I shouldn’t be alone. But I’m hardly his responsibility.”

“That’s Jett. He likes to help people. Anyway, it’s just the two of us living here, so you won’t be a bother to either of us. In fact, it’s great for me to have female company. It’s always just Jett or Noah, the ranch hand, roaming around the place.”

Since Bella Sundell wore no wedding ring, and was using her maiden name, it was fairly evident that she wasn’t married. Sassy gauged her to be somewhere in her thirties, past the age where most women became wives and mothers. Maybe she was wrapped up in an important career, Sassy thought. Or could be that the Sundell siblings just weren’t the marrying kind.

A few more steps took them inside a cozy kitchen with a round red Formica table and matching chairs, varnished wood cabinets and a black-and-white checked tile floor. The space smelled faintly of coffee and baked bread, and the scents had Sassy realizing she’d not eaten since early that morning, before she’d boarded the small plane in Ruidoso.

Bella helped her out of her coat, then hung it on a hall tree situated by the door.

“I should’ve asked if you feel like sitting at the table to eat,” Bella said. “If you’d rather lie down, I’ll bring a tray to the bedroom.”

Since Sassy’s job was to serve others, it felt strange to have this woman offer to do things for her. “Thanks, but I feel like sitting. And don’t go to any trouble. A half sandwich of anything will do. Lunch meat, peanut butter, whatever you have.”

Bella walked over to the cabinet and pulled out a loaf of bread from a wooden bread box. “That’s easy enough. Jett can’t live without salami. I’ll fix that for you. And to drink we have coffee, soda, tea, milk.”

“Coffee would be heavenly,” Sassy replied, then her lips parted as it suddenly dawned on her that she was now eating and drinking for a developing baby. She had to think before she put anything into her mouth. “Oh. Maybe I’d better drink something else.”

“I have decaffeinated,” Bella quickly assured her.

Groaning, Sassy reached up and massaged her aching forehead. “I’m sorry. I must sound crazy to you. But I—well, I just found out this afternoon that I’m pregnant. Before today I didn’t have a clue, and I think I’m still in shock.”

Forgetting her task, Bella turned on her heel and quickly returned to Sassy. “Oh, you poor darling!” she exclaimed as she eased down in the chair opposite Sassy’s. “You must be in a daze!”

Daze couldn’t quite describe it, Sassy thought. But she didn’t say that to Jett’s sister. Instead, she quickly explained the situation of Finn’s letter and her decision to fly out here to meet the Calhoun family.

Shaking her head, Bella reached over and clasped both her hands. “Well, while you’re here you mustn’t worry about a thing. Jett will help you with the Calhouns. But I’m sure you already knew that before you came out here to Nevada.”

Actually, Sassy hadn’t known any such thing about Jett Sundell. Over the phone he’d had a nice voice and a patient manner about him. But he’d not seemed overly enthusiastic about her traveling all the way to Nevada to see the Calhouns. So she’d hardly expected this much help from the man. And it made her wonder why he’d had a change of heart. Because she really did resemble Finn Calhoun? Or because, like Bella had said, he simply liked helping people? Either way, she was going to have to be careful around the man and not let him see just how much he stirred her senses.

“Who says she’s going to need help with the Calhouns?”

Both women turned their heads in the direction of Jett’s voice to see him striding into the room. While he removed his hat and hung it on a hook next to Sassy’s coat, Bella returned to her sandwich making.