A Rancher's Pride(25)



Then he marched past her and back into the kitchen.

Kayla walked toward the table, refusing to look at him, he knew. She reached for the noodle casserole.

“Let me give you a hand with that.” He grabbed the dish.

“I can manage it.”

“I’m sure you can. But it’s my house, remember? My kitchen, too. I appreciate you doing the cooking, and I figure the least I can do is help clear up. I’m used to it.”

She shot him a puzzled look that resembled Becky’s, but with a lot more punch behind it. “You’ve had a sudden change of heart.”

He forced a rueful smile. “Let’s just say I found my company manners.” Better to think of her that way, as a guest in his home, a temporary visitor. Which is exactly what she was.

Although not nearly temporary enough to suit him.



LATER THAT EVENING, KAYLA almost laughed as she thought of what Sam had said. She stood in the guest bedroom, rummaging through her overnight bag, and shook her head.

Did he really think she would fall for that line? She doubted he had any company manners. At least, she hadn’t seen any evidence of them yet. No, he had something else up his fresh, clean, T-shirt sleeve.

Trying to make her forget his outburst in the kitchen, more than likely.

As if she could.

Still, she had pretended to go along with the idea, needing to keep things peaceful for Becky.

The thought of her niece made her smile. The thought of the surprise she had for her made her grin.

She had left Becky in the bathroom, brushing her teeth at the sink, eager for the bedtime story Kayla had promised her.

Hurrying across the bedroom, Kayla stepped out into the hall and almost ran into Sam. She came to a dead halt. So did he.

His gaze dropped to the object in her hand.

“What’s that?”

“Just a stuffed animal.” She forced herself to speak naturally to him. “It looks pretty awful, doesn’t it? It’s well loved.” She held the toy up to show him. A small black bear, once furry but now with a worn and matted pelt, a squashed nose and only one eye. “I had it in my carry-on but forgot to tuck it in with Becky last night. I can’t believe Ronnie didn’t pack it up with Becky’s things. It’s her favorite toy. I bought it at the airport in Santa Fe the day Ronnie and I—”

Left.

She’d cut herself off, but the unspoken word hung between them, as hurtful and harsh as if she’d yelled it at the top of her lungs. Mentally kicking herself, she rushed on. “It’s the state animal, Ronnie said.”

“A black bear.” He nodded. “I would have bought one for Becky, too. If I’d known about her.”

“If you’d…?” She tried again. “What…what are you saying?”

“Plain enough. I never knew about Becky. Never even knew Ronnie was expecting.”

She gasped and shook her head. How could that be possible?

But there was no missing the pain that filled his eyes.

Despite their uneasy relationship, despite all Ronnie had said about Sam, Kayla couldn’t help feeling devastated by the sight. Before she could think, she reached out to him. Just short of touching his arm, she pulled her hand back. Frozen in place, she stared at him, unable to say a word.

Mixed emotions tumbled through her. Confused thoughts muddled her brain.

“But…” Again, she halted. Finally, she found her voice. For the little good it did her. “You never wanted anything to do with the baby. Ronnie told me—”

“Yeah,” he interrupted in a dull tone. “I’m sure she did.”

Abruptly, he turned and walked away.

She wanted to stop him, to reach out without retreating this time, to make some kind of physical contact that would ease his pain.

Instead, she did the only thing she could do. She wrapped both arms around the well-worn bear and hung on tight.





Chapter Eight





Sam paced his bedroom floor and tried to swallow his groan.

Kayla didn’t believe him.

He could tell from her expression, from her halting words. From the way she’d reached out to him and then backed away as if he were something she wouldn’t touch.

That same contrariness he’d felt out in the yard before supper had him wanting to reach for her, too. Dang, but this arrangement of theirs seemed nothing but a lead-in to trouble.

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