“I’m calling all the motels in town.”
Rita gasped. “You’re not going to abandon me in my hour of wedding need, are you? Besides, there’s only one motel in town now, and it’s full up with rodeo folk.” She set the milk and cookies on the bedside table. “’Course, there’s Carolyn’s Bed and Breakfast. But Carolyn’s not renting any rooms right now because of the flood.”
Ava’s brow furrowed. “Her rooms are on the top floor.”
“Not from the rain.” Rita popped a cookie into her mouth and grinned. “Waterbed incident.”
Ava put a hand up to stop Rita from saying anything more. “Got it.”
Rita reached out and took her sister’s hand. “Please don’t leave. I’m sorry about today. I was a horrible sister.”
“Not horrible. Just exasperating, interfering and a devious little pain in the—”
“Okay, okay.” Rita fell back onto the bed. “Look, I love you and I want to see you happy. What Dad did four years ago was so unbelievably wrong and unfair. I just thought maybe if you and Jared talked things over it would help the situation, maybe heal some old wounds.”
Ava smiled halfheartedly. “I appreciate that, little sister, I really do, but you saw how he looked at me today. The damage is done. It’s over.” She eyed her seriously. “And by the way, what Dad did wasn’t your fault.”
A stain of pink brushed Rita’s cheeks and she looked away. “I could’ve helped you.”
“No, you couldn’t have. You were too young.” Ava sighed. “There was no painless way out of that situation. If I had gone to Jared, he and his grandmother would’ve been out on the street. Dad promised me that. And I wasn’t going to let that happen.”
“They have a big house now, you know.” Her tone was leading and hopeful. “And no financial worries.”
“I know,” Ava said quietly, then pointed at the cookies. “Can I have one of those?”
Rita laughed and thrust the package toward her. “Have two.” She sobered momentarily. “Are you going to see Dad while you’re here?”
A flicker of apprehension coursed through Ava. “I don’t think so.”
“Maybe introduce him to his granddaughter?”
“He’s made his feelings about Lily all too clear.”
“He really changed when you left. Well, after his car accident. That bump on the head seemed to knock some sense into him and some understanding into his heart. I think he’d really like to see you, Ava. I think he has some regrets.”
Ava shook her head firmly. “I can’t take that chance. I won’t have Lily hurt. I have enough to deal with in Jared.” She nodded at the phone book. “That’s why I should find another place to stay.”
“Oh, c’mon. He said he wasn’t coming to the wedding, right?”
“Right.”
“So what are you worried about?”
Ava shrugged. Jared had promised not to come to the wedding, which meant he probably wasn’t stopping by for an invitation. “I guess I really shouldn’t be, huh?”
Companionably, they sat together on the bed, eating their cookies and drinking their milk.
Rita broke the silence. “He still has feelings for you.”
“Oh, I know. Hatred, contempt—”
“Whatever it is, you have to tell him the truth.”
“I tried once, remember?”
Rita put her arm around Ava. “You have to try again.”
“I just don’t think he’s ready yet.”
“He’s not ready? Or you’re not?”
Ava grabbed another cookie, stood up and walked over to the window to check on her daughter. She didn’t even want to contemplate Rita’s suggestion. Jared hated her now. And more than likely, after their exchange today, he wouldn’t be coming within a mile of her—
The thought died. Ava’s throat tightened and her hands began to tremble.
Through the thin pane of glass and dusty screen, a scene she’d imagined a thousand times in her head was unfolding. Lily had abandoned the sandbox and her friends and was standing beside the rosebushes talking to a tall, gorgeous Cheyenne.
“You got any horsies?”
Jared smiled down at the cute little girl with her large eyes and long copper ponytail. “Seven of them.”
It was late afternoon, but the sun was so hot it could simmer chili. It was the kind of day that begged for water or shade. Or lemonade, he thought as the little girl sitting in front of him awkwardly handed him a Dixie cup from the kid-size plastic table that sat on the brick patio near the grass.
“Thank you, ma’am,” he said and downed the cool, tart liquid.
He wondered who she was. Probably another one of Mrs. Young’s grandkids—although she didn’t look like one of those black-haired tikes. And if she was one of the Young kids, why was she over at Rita’s place? Barbecue? Could be. Paradise was a real family kind of town.
He waved at a tired-looking Mrs. Young, then glanced down at the little girl who was tugging at his jeans. It was no spoiled, frilly-dressed young lady who looked up at him. No. The little girl who had introduced herself as Lily was dressed in jeans and a T-shirt, her cheeks and hands smudged with dirt. She was a tomboy, he could tell that the minute he’d walked into the backyard and she’d jumped up from the sandbox and leaped over the side like a circus performer—with no fear, only blind confidence. She had to be around three or four, but he wasn’t sure. She wasn’t totally forthcoming on that front, opting instead to pepper him with questions. Not that her pluck bothered him. He liked kids. Just didn’t know many, that’s all, didn’t have much experience around them.
No brothers or sisters had meant no nieces or nephews.
Lily crooked her finger as though she had a big secret to share, and he bent down to hear her whisper, “My mommy reads me a book about Appaloosas.” The word came out sounding like apple and ooosas. “You got Appaloosas?”
He nodded. “Two. Soon to be three.”
“You might buy some more?”
“Nope.” He sat back on his heels. “My mare’s about ready to foal.”
“What’s that?”
“She’s going to have a baby.”
The little girl clasped her hands to together and let out a sound that resembled a squeal. “A baby?”
He chuckled. “Yep.”
“When?”
“At the end of the week, I expect.”
“Oh, I want to see. Please?” she asked. “I can help. I’m gonna be a good horsie rider when I get big.”
A shadow fell between them on the grass. Jared stood and saw Ava walking toward the little girl, eyes wary and nervous.
“Mommy,” Lily called to her with a wide smile. “This is Jared.”
Mommy. Jared’s gut constricted, making his breathing tight. This little girl was Ava’s…child? The word cut deep, as did the idea that Ava had been touched by anyone but him. Although he knew she’d been married, he’d ripped the knowledge from his mind. Didn’t want to think of her with another man. But here it was right in the face, proof-positive.
“I know who he is, Lil,” Ava said at last, her green eyes fastened on him, questioning him. Why was