Of course the news that Cole was back had spread. But relief swept through Catherine that John had kept his promise.
“Exactly my point,” Cole barked at his nephew.
Before another word was said, Catherine needed to talk to Cole in private.
“Hi, Gavin,” she spoke up. “If you’ll give me a minute with your uncle, then he’s all yours. Wh-why don’t you go out in the living room?”
He stared at her like she was the great mystery of the ages. “Sure.”
She reached for Cole’s hand and drew him into the second bedroom, shutting the door behind them. When he turned to her, she hardly recognized him for his wintry expression.
His brows had formed a black bar above his eyes. “What’s going on with you?” He grasped her upper arms.
Her throat tightened. “I was trying to tell you b-before you started kissing me. I didn’t know having more children was included in our agreement.”
She felt his fingers tighten around her flesh. “When I explained that I wanted a real marriage, you said you understood.”
“I did, because I realized you meant we’d be sleeping together. But until you mentioned bringing more brothers and sisters into the world I had no idea you’d included that as part of it.”
For a second she thought she saw a glint of pain in those cloudy depths.
“I guess I should have known, but all I had on my mind at the time was Bonnie.” She tried to swallow but couldn’t. “Naturally it’s your dream to rear a family. So what I’m trying to tell you is that it’s still not too late to annul our marriage. That’s why I asked John not to say anything to the family yet.”
Cole’s hard mouth had taken on a whitish tinge. He was livid. She didn’t blame him.
“I’m going to leave for Reno in the next few minutes. All you have to do is explain to Gavin I’m the woman who had your baby, but we couldn’t work things out. After considering what was best for Bonnie, we decided to let you raise her.”
His eyes had formed slits, which caused her to speak faster and faster. “In private you can tell John the whole truth and this will all be over.”
Her eyes glistened, but she refused to cry in front of him. “You’ve won Bonnie legally. She’s where she should be. I’m glad I was the one who could help you, but you’re not in love with me. In time the right woman will come along. Love will happen naturally, the way it’s supposed to. She’ll fill that ache in your heart and give you the family you dreamed of having with Jenny.”
“What’s this about?” came a voice of ice. “Your idea of revenge for the man who destroyed your dreams?”
She backed away from him, shaking her head. “You couldn’t really have asked me that question. I’m doing this to help you attain yours. To satisfy your curiosity, the man you think I was involved with was a pathetic teenager my own age. It was the first time for both of us, and from every aspect a miserable mistake. Telling him I was pregnant scared both of us to death. I never saw him again.”
Maybe she imagined a momentary bleakness lurking in the recesses of his eyes.
Taking advantage of his bemused state, she rushed past him and opened the door. Before he could stop her she made it down the hall to the living room.
Gavin was sitting on one of the chairs, playing with a small, battery-operated video game. He flashed her a surprised glance. She smiled at him, reached for her purse and suitcase and flew out the front door. By the time she made it to the truck, Cole was almost at her heels.
If the gods were kind, it would be unlocked.
They were more than kind. His keys were in the ignition.
“Whoa, Uncle Cole. Was she ever mad!”
“She’s scared.”
Catherine reminded him of a graceful filly who needed special handling to get her to come to him willingly. It was his own fault for pushing every damn button guaranteed to make her skittish.
Gavin looked up at him. “Of you?”
“Not exactly. It’s complicated.”
He pulled out his cell phone and called Mack.
“Hey, boss-glad you’re back.”
“It’s good to be home, but I’m without transportation at the moment. Do me a favor and catch up to the woman driving my power wagon. If you hurry you’ll reach her before she hits the highway.”
“What woman would that be?”
“My wife.”
Mack chortled. “Hey, Cole-it’s me you’re talking to.”
“Don’t I know it. I’m counting on you to manage the impossible.”
After a pause, “I’m on my way. Then what am I supposed to do?”
“Bring her back to my house.”
“What if she doesn’t want to come?”
“She will. Tell her Bonnie woke up feverish and is in consolable.”
“Who’s Bonnie?”
“Our daughter.”
“Maybe I’m in the middle of my own dream.”
“It’s no dream. I got married in Reno. Tell you about it later.” He clicked off.
Gavin was all eyes. “You really got married?”
“I sure did. Want to come and take a peek at your new little cousin?”
Catherine had the turnoff from the Bonnibelle in her sights when a truck barreling down the road behind her whizzed past, kicking up dust. She couldn’t believe it when the driver started to make a U-turn in front of her, forcing her to apply the brakes.
An au then tic cowboy, maybe late forties, jumped down from the cab. He strode toward her in a well-worn Stetson.
Cole had sent him, of course. She was surprised she’d gotten this far before being apprehended. No one walked out on Cole. She dashed the moisture from her cheeks, but anyone with eyes could see she’d been sobbing.
He approached her, removing his hat. Squinting at her, he said, “Good afternoon, Mrs. Farraday.”
That was all she needed to hear. The feathers were out of the pillow now. Air rushed from her lungs.
“I’m Mack Irvine, by the way.”
Cole’s ranch manager…
“How do you do, Mack?”
He held the hat in front of the brown plaid shirt covering his chest. “Cole says you need to get back to the house quick. Your daughter woke up and started to cry. He’s pretty sure she’s running a fever and needs you.”
Catherine didn’t believe it for a second, but she had no desire to argue with the man Cole not only revered but depended upon. What went on between her and her husband shouldn’t have to upset the running of his ranch. Especially when the histrionics were a by-product of her own flawed nature.
She’d run away. Just like she’d done over and over during her teenage years. When she couldn’t deal with reality, her answer was to take off. Apparently certain patterns couldn’t be broken no matter how hard she’d fought to change them.
But for once in her life she had to go back and face the consequences. She owed it to Cole, who’d been nothing but wonderful to her and deserved to hear all the truth that was in her. What he decided to do with that knowledge wasn’t her right to determine.
“Thank you for telling me,” she said quietly. “I’ll turn around.”
Mack looked vastly relieved. He nodded, put on his hat and walked back to his truck.
CHAPTER TEN
COLE saw the power wagon coming from a long way off. While he waited for his wife to materialize, he made coffee, then propped his hip against the counter while he drank it.
At long last he was going to have the luxury of being in his own home with Catherine. No more interruptions, no deadlines.
Thanks to Rosemary, who’d come for Gavin and had gone crazy the second she’d laid eyes on the baby, she’d taken everyone home with her. No doubt at this moment the whole family was marveling over the latest addition to the Farraday clan.