A Rancher's Pride(19)

Sam forced himself to stare without blinking, without relaxing one bit. He would not let her get to him.

Becky came running over, waving her piece of paper. She slapped it on the table in front of Kayla and snapped her fingers.

From upside down, he saw a brown blob with a couple of floppy additions to it. As little as he could tell about it, the blob could have been anything from a rabbit to a tractor.

“A dog,” Kayla said. She looked at the picture, smiled, then brushed one palm briskly across the other. “Very nice.”

She rose. “I’m going up to get Becky’s milk.”

The child went along with her, gesturing wildly as they went to the counter. Kayla looked on, signing back to her.

What they were talking about, he hadn’t a clue. He never would. Busy as the ranch kept him, what chance in the world would he have of learning another language? Zero to none. Besides, at his age, he probably couldn’t pick up on it, anyhow.

He looked at the drawing on the table again. Beside the brown blob Becky had added a green blob that might have been a doghouse. Or an alien.

Damn.

How could he hope to raise his child? He couldn’t even understand the kid’s drawings!

For a moment, his determination wavered. With both hands, he got a firm grip on his coffee mug as if it could help him hold on to what he really wanted. For Becky to have everything she deserved. Everything she needed.

Was he the one to provide that? Could he care for her well enough? How could he know? He’d only met the child two days ago. Much too soon to tell. Did he want to take care of her?

Hell, yes.

He couldn’t handle this situation as it stood. And he couldn’t let that woman up at the counter take advantage of that.

But would he let his pride keep him from doing what he knew was right?

Kayla had spoken the truth. A nanny couldn’t take care of Becky in an emergency. She’d hit the nail square-on about Sharleen, too. Much as he didn’t want to admit it, he had problems. And only Kayla Ward had answers.

He watched as she talked for a while with Dori before turning to make her way toward their table again. Watched the handful of men in the place look her over, too. Why not? She was a beautiful woman, no doubt about that. And no resemblance to Ronnie at all.

Every time his ex had gone into town, she would dress like she was headed to the city. Big-city prices on those getups, too. Kayla wore more casual clothes, but even in chinos and a silky T-shirt, she seemed as out of place in this town as a heifer in a henhouse. He’d had his fill of beautiful women.

Especially ones named Ward.

She set the half-empty plastic tumbler of milk on the table and took her seat again.

Then she leaned forward. Her lips parted, and for some reason he couldn’t help leaning forward a fraction, too.

“I’ve got the law on my side.”

Her words slammed him back against his seat.

She looked steadily at him. “There’s no getting around the fact,” she murmured, “that Judge Baylor gave me the right to see my niece—whether you like the idea or not. And I don’t want her having to face yet another caretaker right now. You shouldn’t, either.”

Becky patted Kayla’s arm, and she transferred her attention to the child.

Tearing his gaze away, he stared down into his mug again.

She had nerve throwing the decision in his face. As if he could have forgotten the judge’s words. But she had a point, too, about the caretaker. He didn’t want Becky saddled with another babysitter, either. As far as his options went…

Well, he didn’t have any.

Even if he could get someone from town in to help, chances were it’d only be part-time.

He had a full-time problem.

Becky was talking a blue streak in her own way, arms flying. Kayla watched, nodding, saying nothing. But there was a world of response in her animated expressions, in the way she used her eyes and moved her mouth….

He forced himself to look away.

Wielding her crayon, Becky bent over her picture, leaving Kayla free to lean toward him again. This time, he managed not to follow suit.

“Come on, Sam.” Her voice cracked. “Hasn’t she been through enough?”

He set his jaw. She seemed to care for Becky, he had to give her that. Just as she seemed to distrust him. Thanks to Ronnie.

“She knows me,” Kayla continued. “She can talk to me. Even more to the point, she can understand when I talk to her.” He could tell she fought to keep her voice low, to keep their conversation as private as she could. “I’ve said this all before, Sam. And it’s all still true.”