Pulling on a clean sweater, she visited the mirror in the bathroom to run a comb through her hair, then hurried down the hall toward the kitchen. She needed to get these cowboys fed so they’d disperse. Then she and Conner would be alone.
Roy raised his head the moment she came in and whistled. “You look pretty as a picture, Laney. And the food smells great.”
Out of the corner of her eye, Delaney saw Conner scowl, but she refused to give him a second thought. She was too busy taking the pot roast and vegetables out of the oven and transferring the food from pans into bowls. Shoving a serving spoon into each bowl, she placed everything on the long wooden table that ran the length of the room and motioned for Roy, Grady and the others to take a seat.
The young Isaiah, who’d been watching her since she came in, smiled shyly at her. “Is there anything I can help you with, Ms. Delaney?”
Conner’s scowl darkened, but Delaney’s smile brightened in direct proportion. “A simple first name is fine with me. No need to be formal. I think everything’s ready. Just take a seat and enjoy.”
“Aren’t you going to eat with us?” he asked.
“No, not tonight.” Delaney was too nervous to eat and didn’t want to risk having the food make her sick. She wanted to feel her best when she faced Conner tonight.
Isaiah caught her eye again. “Well, this looks mighty fancy, Delaney. I appreciate the effort that went into cooking up something so fine.”
“Thanks,” she said.
“Sure hope you plan on sticking around. I mean, it isn’t every day a cowboy can find such a pretty lady to do his cookin’—”
“Oh, for God’s sake, would you sit down and eat?” Conner snapped.
Surprised by the sudden outburst, everyone paused to look at him, but he ignored the attention, grabbed the closest bowl and began ladling carrots onto his plate as though he hadn’t said a word.
Delaney quickly slipped out. She didn’t want to antagonize Conner before she had a chance to talk to him. She wanted him to be fair and amenable—as far as he was capable. But when she sat down in the living room to wait until she could go back to the kitchen and clean up, she soon realized that she could hear almost everything they said.
“What’s gotten into you?” Roy asked.
Delaney didn’t have to be in the same room to know he was talking to Conner.
“Nothing,” Conner mumbled.
“I was just paying the lady a compliment,” Isaiah said. “Somethin’ the matter with that?”
“You’re too young for her,” Conner said. “Stay away.”
From the sudden silence, Delaney guessed the others had stopped eating and were staring at Conner. Her jaw had certainly dropped.
“What difference does it make to you?” Isaiah asked. “Having a beautiful woman in the house might turn you into a bear, but it doesn’t affect me the same way. I wouldn’t mind getting to know her a little better.”
“You’re only twenty-two!”
“So? Maybe I like older women.”
“I said to stay away from her.”
Delaney wondered if Isaiah would argue, but he immediately backed down. “Whatever,” he said, a shrug in his voice.
The conversation lapsed. Forks clinked against plates, spoons scraped bowls and chairs occasionally squeaked, but no one spoke again until Roy and the others began to file out.
“Thanks for dinner, Laney…Dinner was mighty tasty…See you bright and early tomorrow morning….” they murmured as they passed her.
Delaney gave them each a polite goodbye, then ducked into the kitchen to find Conner still at the table, staring off into space. Finally, finally, they were alone.
“Can we talk now?” she asked.
He didn’t answer.
“Did you hear me? We’re going to have to talk sometime.”
“I don’t have anything to say to you.”
“Then, maybe you can listen.”
“I think I’ve heard about all I want to hear. Or is this when you tell me where to send my monthly check?”
“I don’t want your money,” she said. “If money’s all you’re worried about, then relax, because as far as I’m concerned you’re released from all liability, all obligation, everything. I’ll even put it in writing. I want this baby all to myself.”
He stood and slid the chair under the table. “Then, that’s the last thing you’re going to get,” he said softly and left.
DELANEY TOSSED AND TURNED for two hours before giving up on sleep. After her conversation with Conner this evening, she’d been tempted to toss her belongings in her car and head home. He’d thrown down the gauntlet, and fear that he meant exactly what he said made Delaney want to fight him.
But common sense told her she’d be better off biding her time. Conner had a lot more resources than she did—she didn’t even have a job at the moment, other than the one he was providing—which meant he had a good chance of winning any custody suit. And some part deep inside her still clung to the memory of him as a man who could be as gentle as he was now being harsh. She remembered how he’d put her at ease in Boise by drawing her out and talking to her before making any kind of physical move, how he’d gone to great pains to make sure she enjoyed their lovemaking, how he’d seemed so disappointed when she wouldn’t stay for breakfast…. Surely, he’d get over his initial anger, and they’d be able to work something out.
Kicking off the covers, Delaney got out of bed, pulled on her robe and headed down the hall to the kitchen. Maybe if she had a cup of tea she’d be able to relax. But her morning sickness wouldn’t allow her to drink more than a few sips, and she ended up sitting in the living room in the dark, staring at the dying embers of the evening fire.
To avoid the steady ticking of the clock, reminding her that she’d pay for her lack of sleep in the morning, she called Rebecca, thinking she’d hang up if Rebecca didn’t answer by the third ring. But Rebecca picked up right away, and the alert sound of her voice and the music playing in the background told Delaney she hadn’t been sleeping.
“What are you doing up so late?” Delaney asked.
“I just got off the phone with Buddy.”
“How is he?”
“Good. Said to tell you hello. We’re talking about moving up the date of our wedding.”
“Why?” Lying down, Delaney pulled the lap blanket that was normally folded over the back of the couch around her shoulders, feeling strangely bereft at the prospect of Rebecca marrying and moving away, leaving her here with the disaster she’d created.