Marin Thomas - Lone Star Father

Scarlett winced.

“My grandparents died a long time ago,” Jessie said. “That’s why Mrs. Delgado had to call my dad.”

Had to call? “You didn’t keep in touch with your father?”

Jessie shook her head. “My mom said he didn’t want anything to do with us.”

Wow . No wonder Reid and his daughter appeared uneasy with each other.

“His name was on my birth certificate.” Jessie pulled Fang closer to her body as if the animal was a shield. “So I’m stuck with him.”

Stuck? That wasn’t the way things worked in social services, especially with children Jessie’s age. If she hadn’t wanted to be with Reid, her caseworker wouldn’t have forced her to live with him.

The lobby door opened and Fang barked. Reid stepped inside, wearing pajama bottoms, a rumpled T-shirt, his cowboy boots and hat.

Scarlett smiled at the pillow crease along his cheek. “Good morning.” It took immense willpower to maintain eye contact with him and not allow her gaze to drift over his muscular chest and the cotton bottoms clinging to his slim hips.

He dragged a hand down his tired face, then looked at his daughter. “I woke up and you weren’t in the room.”

“Fang had to pee,” Jessie said.

“I bet you could use some caffeine.” While Scarlett made him a cup of joe, a deafening silence filled the room. When she offered him the drink, his fingers skimmed her knuckles and tiny sparks raced up her arm. “There’s cream and sugar on the table.”

“Black is fine.” He took a sip, then spoke. “You hungry?”

“We had oatmeal,” Jessie said.

Scarlett smiled. “I can make you a bowl, if you’d like.”

“I’ll pass, thanks.”

A vehicle pulling into the parking lot caught Scarlett’s attention. “Sadie’s here.” She glanced at the wall clock. “She’s up early.”

The white minivan parked in front of the window and when the rear door opened, Scarlett’s nephews hopped out and raced over to the office. It took both boys pulling on the handle to open the door and when they burst into the lobby, Tommy shouted, “Aunt Scarlett, we got a girl cousin!”

Scarlett laughed. “I heard.”

“It sucks.” Tommy looked at his brother. “Right, Tyler?”

Scarlett frowned at the pair. “Your mom told you not to use that word.”

“I forgot.” Tommy noticed Jessie sitting in the chair and walked over to her. “Is that your dog?”

“His name is Fang,” Jessie said. “And just so you know, boys suck, too.”

Tommy and Tyler exchanged wide-eyed glances.

“You two look alike,” Jessie said.

“That’s ʼcause we’re twins.” Tommy nudged Tyler in the side. “Right?”

Tyler pointed to the dog. “Can I pet him?”

“Sure.”

The boys took turns petting Fang and then Tommy spoke when Sadie walked into the office. “That’s my mom.”

Jessie pointed to Reid. “That’s my dad.”

“We’ve got two dads.” Tommy glanced at Tyler and his brother nodded.

“Sadie, this is Reid.” Scarlett introduced the adults. “And Reid’s daughter, Jessie.”

“You and Jessie couldn’t have picked a better time to visit.” Sadie smiled. “The whole family will be here when Lydia and Gunner bring the baby home from the hospital.”

Scarlett loved her cousin for acting nonchalant about the fact that her husband’s brother had returned to town unannounced and with a daughter no one had known about. Not that Sadie’s easy-going personality put Reid at ease. His gaze swung to the door, then over to the window before returning to the door. The cowboy wanted to flee.

“Scarlett,” Sadie said, “I need you to come with me and the boys to buy party supplies for the baby’s homecoming tomorrow. I’m planning a surprise get-together for the new parents at the ranch.” Sadie nodded to Jessie. “As long as the dog doesn’t mind waiting in the van while we shop, why don’t you come with us.”

Tyler patted Jessie’s thigh. “Will you come?”

Jessie looked at Reid, and he said, “We don’t have any plans.”

“Sure,” Jessie said. “I’ll go.”

Reid’s rigid stance relaxed. He didn’t seem bothered that his daughter hadn’t wanted to spend the day with him.

Jessie scooped Fang off the chair. “I’ll get dressed.”

“Do you have a key card to get back into the room?” Reid opened the lobby door for her after Jessie flashed the card in his face. “Take a twenty out of my wallet on the nightstand in case you see something you want to buy for yourself or the dog.”

Sadie sent Scarlett a curious look when Jessie left without saying a word to anyone. “Boys, have you said hello to your dad’s brother? This is your uncle Reid.”

“I thought Uncle Gunner was Dad’s brother,” Tommy said.

“Your father has two brothers.” Sadie smiled at Reid.

“Nice to meet you, boys,” he said.

“We’re five.” Tommy walked over to Reid and squinted up at him. “My dad wears a cowboy hat but his is black.”

Scarlett hid a smile behind a pretend yawn. The boy’s forthrightness took getting used to.

“Are you older than my dad?” Tommy asked.

“Nope. I’m thirty-two.” He studied the twins. “I can’t tell you apart.”

“That’s ʼcause we look alike,” Tyler said.

Scarlett laughed. “You can tell them apart by remembering that Tommy asks a lot of questions and Tyler’s favorite hobby is reading.”

“Do you got more kids?” Tommy asked.

“No. Just my daughter, Jessie.”

Tommy wrinkled his nose. “She’s a girl.”

Reid’s mouth flirted with a smile and Scarlett was mesmerized by the twinkle in his blue eyes. “Jessie’s a girl all right.”

“Is Fang a boy dog?” Tommy asked.

Reid nodded.

“Okay, enough questions.” Sadie pointed across the room. “Pick out a book and read while we wait for Jessie.”

Tyler walked over to the refurbished post office mailbox compartments and opened one of the doors. He removed a children’s book from the slot, then climbed into a chair. Tommy sat next to his brother and listened to him read.

“When does Virginia take over for you?” Sadie asked Scarlett.

“Not until eight but Gunner said she usually shows up early.” Scarlett turned to Reid. “Virginia lives across the street from our aunt.”

Sadie laughed. “She’s what Aunt Amelia calls a colorful character.”

“Colorful is right,” Scarlett said. “Virginia is pushing sixty, but dresses like a twenty-year-old.”

Reid reached for the door handle. “Jessie’s got my number in her cell phone if you need to get ahold of me.”

“Before you go,” Sadie said. “I have a message for you from Logan. Your brothers would like you to meet them at the Saddle Up Saloon at noon.”

“Sure. Where should I pick up Jessie later?”

Sadie waved a hand. “Come out to the ranch. Jessie will enjoy helping the boys feed the petting-zoo animals.”

“See you later then.”

As soon as the door closed behind him, Sadie said, “He couldn’t escape fast enough.”

Scarlett watched Reid cross the parking lot. “I’d love to be a mouse in the bar when the Hardell brothers meet later.”

“Let’s make a list of party supplies while we wait for Virginia to arrive.”

Scarlett retrieved a notepad and a pen from the desk drawer, eager to hear how Sadie planned to decorate for both the baby and the black sheep’s homecoming.

* * *

REID PARKED THE pickup behind the old Woolworth building in downtown Stampede. It was five minutes before noon and his gut was tied into a pretzel knot.

The Hardell family reunion would be a far cry from a Hallmark movie scene. He’d be lucky if he escaped the gathering with his surname intact.