Roz Denny Fox (28 page)

Wade stuck his shaggy head around the door. “Make that three light sleepers. I’ll probably lead the stampede. It’s been too long since I rocked a baby at night.”

Hayley gazed from one smiling face to the other. The fear that had clutched at her heart since Joe blew into her camp began to unravel. She smiled at Jake as he ambled over to take a last peek at Cammy. And she didn’t act embarrassed or push him away when he turned and kissed her goodnight. She slid fully beneath the warm covers in a room that felt totally secure. Her heart accepted Jake and his family—even if her brain was slower to come around.

A
T MIDNIGHT, AGAIN AT TWO
and sometime after four, Hayley awakened to Cammy’s crying, only to have Jake or Nell or Wade place a freshly diapered baby in her arms for nursing. Now it was almost nine-thirty. Jake stood over her bed, smiling and holding a breakfast tray.

Hayley cast a sleep-fogged glance at an empty cradle. Panicking, she bolted upright and threw aside her covers.

“Whoa! Mom has Cammy in the kitchen. The pediatrician has come and gone—Cammy got a clean bill of health. The doctor left you a note. Mom sent the tray. The doctor ordered a healthy breakfast to, uh, help produce milk,” Jake stammered. “Cammy was slugging down a two-ounce bottle of water when I left them,” he said, his voice growing stronger. “Can you manage the tray by yourself?”

Hayley fluffed two pillows and eased back against them, taking care to restore the quilt, although she couldn’t say why she’d suddenly be self-conscious around a man who’d delivered her child. She focused on the stack of toast, bowl of cereal and tall glass of milk, but those blasted tears plagued her again.

“Don’t you like toast and cereal? Why are you crying?” With his hands full, Jake felt at a loss to console her.

Unable to speak through a constricted throat, Hayley staved him off with a hand. “I…I… No one’s ever served me breakfast in bed before.”

“Then you’d better eat, before it gets cold,” Jake urged gently. “In the Cooper family, it’s a treat reserved for special occasions, like anniversaries or Mother’s Day.”

Hayley let him settle the tray across her lap. “I feel like such an impostor. You’re all doing so much for me, and I’m not a Cooper.”

“Not yet.” Jake left her to digest that, along with her breakfast.

As Hayley ate, she studied the sunny room with its hand-rubbed oak furniture and oval braided rug. There were watercolor paintings on the walls and knickknacks on the dresser. Grandpa Ben had never owned a home; he’d always rented. Only now did Hayley realize how long they’d lived with secondhand junk.

She wished Francesca could see this room and the nursery Nell had let Hayley peek at last night. Francesca insisted no one lived in homes like the ones that were pictured in the magazines Hayley collected. They were just for show, she’d said. But the Coopers’ house was beautiful yet obviously well lived in. Hayley understood in a way she never had before that expensive furnishings and lush carpets and shining oak floors didn’t make a home; the people who lived there did. The Coopers had created a place of beauty and shelter and love. A home.

Wade himself came in to take her tray. He seemed incongruous in the elegant feminine room—Hayley still felt ill at ease in his presence. She sat very quietly, expecting him to try to harass her into revoking her mining claim.

“Nell’s busy playing grandma,” he told Hayley with a huge grin. “I’m relegated to being your waiter. Jake and Dillon have gone to put a new battery in your pickup. They’ll have your truck and trailer here by noon.”

“Good. Tomorrow or the next day I can be on my way to Tombstone.”

“What’s the rush? And why Tombstone? I thought Eden said you were going to learn the jewelry business by starting out as her apprentice. Isn’t Tombstone a far piece to travel?”

“Oh.” Hayley inspected her ragged fingernails. “Yes, we discussed an apprenticeship. I realize now, with the baby and all, I wasn’t being very realistic.”

“I expect Eden will change your mind when she gets here. She and Nell are already conspiring on where to fit a crib and a playpen in their office.” A fond look softened his craggy face. “Nell and I always took the boys to work with us. That’s the best thing about being your own boss—setting the rules.”

Hayley weighed what he’d said as he left and Nell breezed through the door, bringing Cammy for a feeding. “I’ll leave you two to your privacy. Eden just drove in, and right behind her is the county sheriff. Jake told his dad that no-good ex of yours threatened to file a lawsuit to gain half your mine. Don’t you worry. If that’s why the sheriff’s here, Wade will set him straight in a hurry.”

“I can’t ask you to fight my battles, Nell.” Hayley shifted Cammy so she could wriggle out of bed. But the baby set up a howl.

“You didn’t ask us. It’s become a family matter. Get your body back in bed and feed that poor starving child.” Nell grinned and winked as she leaned down and kissed Cammy’s nose.

The baby quieted enough to blink unfocused blue eyes. Hayley sank back into the pillows. She really ought to object more vigorously to all this pampering. “On the other hand, cupcake,” she whispered to the baby after Nell had gone, “let’s wallow in it while we can. They’re all so darn nice, how can we
not
love them?”

Hayley was asleep when Jake tiptoed into the room two hours later. Cammy had begun to stir in her cradle. He lifted her and carried her into the nursery next door for a diaper change. Returning, he sat in the rocking chair in Hayley’s room.

It was there that Hayley saw him when some small noise happened to wake her. He was concentrating so hard on singing to the baby he obviously didn’t realize Hayley had opened her eyes. Which suited her. She liked looking at the way Jake’s big strong hands tenderly swayed the small bundle, as if he held something precious.

Hayley couldn’t recall the size or shape of her father’s hands. Or if he’d ever held her like that. But he must have. Ben said she’d been her parents’ pride and joy.

Hayley had always intended that her children would have the love of two parents. Sadly that wasn’t to be. A hole seemed to open in her heart and left her feeling drained and empty.

“Well, hello, sleepyhead.” Jake stopped rocking and bestowed a loving smile on the rumpled woman in the bed. “Your daughter was just telling me her tummy’s growling and I should interrupt your nap.”

Hayley scrambled into a sitting position, hoping Jake hadn’t been able to read her dark thoughts. As he leaned over her and placed Cammy in her arms, another wave of emotion swamped her. Jake smelled like sunshine and soil and car grease. Earthy scents Hayley associated with good memories. It shook her to realize she still did have good memories of men. Her dad. Gramps. And now Jake Cooper.

“Before you get started feeding the wee one,” Jake said, straightening to slide a hand into his snug jeans pocket, “I have something for you.”

“Jake, you can’t keep buying me things.” Even as she said it, Hayley was curious to know what kind of gift would fit in his pocket.

He pressed a pendant into her hand. A white-gold modern bas-relief sculpture of the Madonna and child. Where their faces should have been were two ovals of pale blue.
Her opals.

“I asked Eden to specially make it for you,” Jake murmured. “I know it’ll never replace your mother’s cameo, but I wanted you to have something to commemorate Cammy’s birth and your opal discovery.”

Hayley’s tears began to flow. They fell like rain, wetting Cammy’s blanket.

Jake, who was better prepared for Hayley’s tears this time, kissed them away while he fastened the chain around her neck. “It has a safety catch on the back of the pendant if you’d rather pin it on a jacket.”

His smile held more than warmth and friendship. Hayley recognized love in the depths of his eyes. Her trembling fingers blindly sought and found the smooth pendant. Clutching it, she stammered out a wholly inadequate thank-you. Twisting to stare at the delicate piece, she whispered, “I’ve never told a soul, but Joe…didn’t buy me a wedding ring. At the JP’s, I gave him a gold band. He refused to wear it. I saved out of my grocery money and bought myself a band. He got mad. Said it was a waste of money. Oh, I don’t know why I’m telling you this. It’s just…your mom said the sheriff came by. If Joe knows I have anything this nice, Jacob—” her voice turned to a sob “—he’ll find a way to take it away.”

“Shh.” Jake tipped her tear-streaked face up and kissed her lips. “I’m not going to let Joe near you. Dad’s phoned our lawyer. He said for you not to worry. Joe’s bogus lawsuit will be laughed out of court.”

Eden knocked on the open door. “Excuse me. I hate to interrupt this touching scene, but I’m dying to know what Hayley thinks of the pendant.”

Hayley could do little more than telegraph Eden a wet radiant smile.

“I told Jake it was a bad idea, that you’d hate it.” Eden entered the room, nudged Jake and winked. “I guess you won’t mind if I steal this precious lamb while you pull yourself together,” she teased Hayley. “Oh, I can see now she’s a future Miss America,” Eden breathed, gazing reverently at the baby.

Still with a death grip on the pendant, Hayley tried again to articulate her deep appreciation.

Eden brushed off Hayley’s gratitude. “It’s a simple design. Jake sketched what he wanted. The hardest part was finding matched opals. The stone is a joy to cut and polish, as you’ll soon learn. Well, not too soon,” she added, smiling into the infant’s sweet face. “Some time this spring. How does March sound? By then, you guys will be settled in Jake’s new house. Besides, if you bring Cammy to work too soon, I’ll be tempted to badger Dillon into starting our family a year earlier than we’ve planned.”

Hayley clutched the Madonna so tightly her knuckles turned white and she almost snapped the slender chain. “I…I’m not moving in with Jake.”

Eden shot her brother-in-law an apologetic glance. “Oops. Nell and I thought we’d given you time enough to pop the question. Shall I call Dillon? Do you need a script?”

Jake closed his eyes. “Scram, Eden,” he muttered gruffly.

“Sure. But get on the stick, Jacob. Nell and I are itching to decorate for a holiday wedding.”

“Eden!” Jake roared. His harsh voice startled Cammy. She screwed up her small face and let out a cry. Rising, Jake relieved his sister-in-law of the baby. Holding Cammy on his shoulder with one hand, he used the other to hustle Eden out.

She muscled her way back into the room and grinned at Hayley. “I’m counting on being your matron of honor. I’ve got a new bronze-colored dress just begging for such an event. And Nell reminded me that the boutique across the street from the shop has a gorgeous, pale peach empire-waist dress that would go great with your coloring. With Nell’s pearls, it’d make a perfect wedding—”

Jake shut the door. He stood, facing away from Hayley a moment, catching his breath before he found the courage to turn and look at her. When he did, he felt awful. She’d turned white as the sheet clenched in one hand. “Well,” he said lamely, “now that Eden’s let the cat out of the bag, I guess I’ll have to hold you prisoner until you agree to marry me.” He kissed the baby, who’d quieted.

“I was going to soften you up with the pendant and then drag out the big guns.” Fishing in his shirt pocket, Jake produced a flat velvet pouch. He sat on the edge of her bed and laid it in Hayley’s lap while he pried her cold fingers open. It wasn’t easy, but he eventually managed with one hand to dump out a pair of wide gold bands studded with diamonds and opals. “If you’d rather have a set with an engagement ring, I’ll have Eden trade yours. Unlike Joe Ryan, Hayley, I want the world to know I have a wife. I want everyone to know we’re a matched set.”

She picked up the smaller of the two bands. Her lower lip quivered, but this time she was determined not to cry. “I love you, Jake. But I’ve been so afraid to let that happen. I don’t need fancy rings or houses. Only regular hugs from someone who’ll love me and Cammy unconditionally.”

“I know,” he said, tears springing to his eyes as he moved closer and urged her to share his grip on the baby. “What I need is for you to trust me completely.”

“I do. I think I have from the beginning.”

“It’s done, then. And there’ll be no more doubts, Hayley. From here on, you and Cammy are part of the Cooper family.” He kissed her and drew back. “Feed this hungry child while I go alleviate everyone’s anxiety. Mom, Dad, Dillon and Eden are all in the kitchen waiting for your answer.”

Hayley detained him a moment, stealing another kiss. Jake backed from the room, wearing a goofy grin. “You’ve made me one happy man, Mrs. Hayley Cooper,” he said.

T
HE WEDDING WAS SMALL
, but more lavish than the harvest dance, which not one of the Coopers had attended. They’d had too much going on. Their ranch house rang with the laughter of family and close friends.

Hayley wore the peach dress, but she refused Nell’s pearls. The opal Madonna-and-child pendant and her new wedding band were the only jewelry she wanted.

The minister christened Cammy at the same time—Cameo Joy Cooper. Jake had tracked down Joe Ryan—in jail—and convinced him to relinquish his rights to Hayley’s daughter. It hadn’t been difficult. Adding to his sleaziness, Joe couldn’t wait to sign away any responsibility. Of course, he wasn’t in any position to offer support. Mere days after the incident at Hayley’s camp, Joe and Shad Tilford had been arrested for smuggling illegal substances across the border. Cammy would be ready for college before Joe finished serving his sentence. And Hayley’s opals would more than pay her way through.

Following the wedding ceremony and before Jake spirited Hayley away for a one-night honeymoon at a bed-and-breakfast in Tubac, Nell and Eden took Hayley aside. “Come into the kitchen,” Nell urged. Eden proudly displayed a new sign for their shop. “Wade carved it,” Nell said, tracing the letters spelling out Triple C Southwest Art Gallery.

Eden gave Hayley a spontaneous hug. “Wade renamed the ranch the Triple C when Dillon and Jacob became his partners. We three Cooper women are partners, too. It’s only fitting we trade on such a distinguished name, don’t you think?”

“I promised myself I wouldn’t cry tonight,” Hayley said, sniffling. “I lied.” She broke down completely as Nell thrust a tissue into her hands.

The Cooper men crowded into the doorway. Their eyes weren’t exactly dry. Jake covered his tears fairly well by twice repeating instructions to his mother for taking care of Cammy while he and Hayley went away for the night.

Dillon broke the tension. He walked over and clapped Jake on the back. “When you get back, I have a housewarming gift. It’s a sacrifice, but what are brothers for? I’m giving you guys Coronado.”