The Sheriff's Mail-Order Bride (The Watson Brothers #2)(9)
“I like it. It has loads of potential. Are you staying here with us tonight?” She brushed her hair from her face, turning in the breeze to look around the ranch and Rory noticed the way her eyes slanted ever so slightly above high cheek bones that had a warm tinge of pink to them when she asked the question.
“No. I live at my elder brother’s place for now.” He gave her a funny look. “You can follow me over there shortly.”
*
Gina swallowed hard and bit her lip. “No. I think I should stay here.” He’d made the point that she had lied about Fisher and she had. To move out of her new home already before she could make him see how good it would be with her here wasn’t on the cards. There was so much still to do to the house, paint and repair and fix the damned leaky taps.
“You’re not staying here.”
“But I have to. I made a deal, we made a deal and I know that you weren’t expecting me to bring a baby along. So,” she blinked and risked a glance at him, “I propose that I stay here and do what I promised. Make you a home you’ll be proud of. I can do most things, like repairs and painting.” She hurried her words out lest he try to stop her before she made her case. “I don’t have all the tools I need, but maybe you do. I can…”
Rory lifted a hand and her heart faltered. “Stop right there.”
Dizziness threatened to make her stumble. How was she going to explain to this man that she had no money, no gas, and no chance of getting either anytime soon? She was totally at his mercy; not something she would ever be proud of.
“What’s wrong? You’ve gone a horrible pale color. Do you feel okay?”
“Um…it’s just that, I ah…”
“Just tell me, Gina. Hell, after driving all this way, I think we can agree to tell the truth from now on. We haven’t started out that great, but we can improve on it and try to make things work. Now tell me what’s got you so upset.”
“I don’t want to leave here, to give in. I’m afraid that you’ll send us away if I don’t keep my side of the bargain.” She gazed at her little boy. God, if she groveled any more she’d wear the skin off her belly. “I know what I did was wrong, springing Fisher on you, but believe me I wouldn’t have done it if I had a choice. All I’m asking for is a chance to prove that I can be the wife you want.”
“How is sleeping in a decent bed at my brother’s place going to stop you doing that? I don’t understand.”
She shrugged her shoulders. It didn’t make sense but call it a sense of foreboding; she feared once she left, he wouldn’t let her come back. “Because I don’t have any gas or money to buy more. We only made it this far by sheer luck.” She risked a look at him and quickly glanced away, embarrassed beyond belief. “That’s why we never came looking for you when you didn’t show up at the house.”
Rory seemed to think it over before he finally spoke to her. “I have a can of gas in the truck. Always someone breaking down or running out. Let’s go and sort that out and then we can get this little one home to meet Callie and Chance. I don’t want you staying here until the place has been finished and the electrics and plumbing checked. You can come over here all you want during the days, but at least let me give you a decent bed to sleep in.”
Her shoulders sagged in relief. He wasn’t going to renege on his deal, at least not yet. Even though he was talking chickens and gardens, Gina thought that was only if they agreed to go ahead with the marriage. She quickly composed herself and followed him back to the truck where he handed Fisher over to her so he could get the gas from the back. Together they walked down to her car and Gina watched as he poured it into her gas tank.
“Now, when we get to the ranch, you and I have to have ourselves a good talk. For now, I think you need to get something to eat and drink and let this little one run wild. Follow me, it’s not far.”
“Thanks, Rory. I really do appreciate everything you’re doing for us.”
He gazed down at her, a sadness in his eyes she didn’t want to think too seriously about. Heaven help her if the person who put that look there was herself. It didn’t make her future appear too rosy when she desperately needed some sunshine of her own. “I need to get some things from the house before we follow you.”
She strapped a protesting Fisher back in his car seat and climbed behind the driver’s wheel as Rory stood beside the car. When she turned the key and pumped the gas, the car roared to life and she breathed a sigh of relief.
“Drive up the hill and turn around in the gateway. Give me a minute and then follow me home.”
Home. That word had a warmth to it she hadn’t felt for a long time. Living on the edge of poverty had a way of making every single little thing dark and filled with despair. If it wasn’t for the darling old lady who lived in the room next to them, Gina would never have been able to work as much as she had. When they left, it was hard to say goodbye knowing that she was leaving the only friend they had for a pipe dream and the hopes of a better life which could go either way at any second.
When she’d gathered their personal belongings, Gina followed the truck down the road and along the main road further away from town. They passed verdant pine forests before coming to a turnoff marked by a large grey boulder erupting from the earth. The light was muted and invoked thoughts of danger on moonlit nights. She gave herself a mental shake. It was safe here, Rory was a gentleman and a deputy sheriff. The city was far behind them and so was the danger. She hadn’t had a single moment of fear at the ranch, so why now? See the forest for what it is, Gina and stop letting your overactive imagination go wild. Besides, you have no choice so play nice and make him love having you around.