Virgin River (Virgin River #1)(35)

“I haven’t been able to stop thinking about her. I thought, well, maybe I could help out,” Lilly said.

“That’s nice of you,” Mel said. “Do you live nearby? Because sometimes it’s nice for me and Doc to get a break for a few hours. Especially if we have patients.”

“We’re ranchers—I’m on the other side of the river, but it’s not so far. Thing is, I already raised six youngsters—had my first at only nineteen and my baby is eighteen now and already married. But I have room at the house, what with the kids gone off on their own. I could take in the baby until something permanent is arranged for her. I even have those old baby things stored in the barn. Maybe I could be a foster parent. Buck, my husband, he says it would be okay.”

“That’s very generous, Lilly, but I’m afraid we couldn’t pay you anything.”

“I wouldn’t need pay,” she said. “It’s just a neighborly thing. We help out when we can. And I do love babies.”

“Let me ask you something—have you any idea who might’ve had this baby?”

She shook her head and looked terribly pained. “You have to ask yourself, what kind of woman would give up her baby? Maybe some young girl in trouble, no one to help her. I raised three daughters and by the grace of God, none had to pass that way. I have seven grandchildren already.”

“That’s the beauty of starting early,” Mel said. “Your grandchildren come along while you’re still young enough to enjoy them.”

“I’m blessed,” she said. “I know this. I can only imagine that whoever left her must have been desperate, so desperate.” Mel thought Lilly might have even briefly had tears in her eyes.

“Well, I’ll take your offer to Doc and see what he says. You’re sure? Because I can give you some formula and diapers, and that’s all.”

“I’m sure. And please tell Doc I’d be more than happy to do it.”

When Doc returned an hour later, Mel told him the story. His white eyebrows shot up in surprise and he rubbed a hand over his head. “Lilly Anderson?” he asked. He seemed to be considering this idea with some consternation.

“Does something about that worry you, because we can make do here a while longer…”

“Worry me? No.” He collected himself. “Surprises me, is all.” And he shuffled off to his office.

She followed him. “Well? You didn’t have an answer.”

He turned back toward her. “Can’t think of a better place for that infant than Lilly’s,”

he said. “Lilly and Buck are good people. And they know what to do with a baby, that’s for sure.”

“You don’t need time to think about this?” she asked.

“I don’t,” he said. “I was hoping a family would turn up.” He peered at her over his glasses. “Seems like maybe you need some time to think about it.”

“No,” she said, somewhat tremulously. “If you’re okay, I’m okay.”

“Think it over, just the same. I’ll walk across the street and see if anyone’s willing to play cribbage. Then, if you’re of a mind, we’ll take her out to the Anderson ranch.”

“Okay,” she said. But she said it very quietly.

Jack was painfully, embarrassingly aware that Mel had only been in town three weeks, and he could think of little else. Fact was, from the moment he looked at her in the dim light of the bar that first night, he wanted to sit right down at that table with her and get to know her.

He saw her every day, and given their meals together and long conversations, he knew himself to be her closest friend at the moment. And yet there was much about herself she was concealing. She was open about having lost her parents young, her close relationship with her sister and sister’s family, her nursing career, the crazy and chaotic life at the hospital, but it was as though there was a block of time missing. Him, Jack thought. The one who devastated her and left her hurt and lonely. Jack would drive him away, given half a chance.

He wished he knew what it was that had hooked him so quickly, so thoroughly. It wasn’t just her beauty, though that was evident. True, there weren’t any pretty, single women around town, but he hadn’t been lonely. And Mel hadn’t been the only sexy woman he’d laid eyes on in the past few years. He was hardly a hermit; he’d been to lots of the other towns, the coastal towns, to night spots. There’d been Clear River. But Mel had some aura that had him all worked up. That tight little body, full br**sts, compact fanny, rosy lips, not to mention some real sexy brains—it was all he could do to keep from breathing heavy in her presence. When she had those moments when whatever plagued her was forgotten, and she smiled or laughed, her whole face brightened up. Her blue eyes danced. He’d already dreamed of her; felt her hands all over his body, felt her beneath him, felt himself inside of her, heard her soft moans of pleasure and bam! He awoke to find himself as alone as ever, bathed in sweat. Jack was already turned on before Mel dropped Nick on his ass, but if he hadn’t been, that sure would have sealed the deal. She was a dynamo. Gorgeous, feminine little thing with one helluva punch. Whoa. Damn.

The vulnerability in her eyes warned him he’d better be very, very careful. One wrong move and she’d jump in that little BMW and shake the dust of Virgin River off the soles of her shoes, the town’s medical needs notwithstanding. He reminded himself constantly that this was one reason he hadn’t sprung the cabin on her yet. Walking away from her last week after Joy’s party had been one of the hardest things he’d ever done. He had wanted nothing so much as to crush her to him and say, it’s going to be all right—I can make it all right, all good. Give me a chance. Doc and Preacher sat at a table in the bar, playing cribbage. Jack put a slice of Preacher’s apple pie on a plate, covered it with Saran wrap and left the bar to walk across the street. No cars or trucks at Doc’s except Doc’s truck and that little BMW