The Price (2 page)

“Ah, you fella’s ain’t nothin’ but sissy’s,” Mark declared, handing the cloth to Dustin who shook his head no, refusing to accept his manager’s gift.

“Speak for yourself,” said Dustin, his nose curled up and twitched, smelling the sour odor. “You’ve been jostling him too much. No wonder he spewed like that. Ain’t that right, Kate?”

“You’re doing just fine, Mark,” she replied as he handed back her week-old son. “But I do think my little Jesse needs changing,” smelling something other than sour milk. “Anyone want to do the honors?”

Every single hired hand shook a violent head “no!” She shrugged and laid her new bundle of joy on the couch, proceeding to expose his other little present.

“Ah, Jesus,” exclaimed Rusty as his long-lanky frame went rigid. “Will you look at that? Is it supposed to be all runny and green?” The color drained from his face and he looked at his friend Dustin, as if to confer.

“Of course it is,” came a commanding voice from behind them.

They all turned to see Jack McBride stride in to the living room, right up to Kate and his son.

“Don’t you know that’s the way of a newborn when he’s being given breast milk?”

Jack reached down and gently rubbed his finger in his son’s palm until the infant curled his own around his. He looked up at Kate and winked.

“We’re horse trainers, not babysitters,” declared Dustin.

“Well then, I suggest you get back to work horse training and quit harassing my wife and son.” Jack gave Dustin an authoritative glare, as if giving him the order to leave.

The others nodded and Rusty nudged Dustin’s arm signaling he was ready to hightail it out of there.

“We’re going,” said Dustin. “Have a tour to get ready for anyhow.”

“Then what are you waiting for boy?” His green eyes narrowed on the lad with stringy, blond hair. “We still have a ranch to run.”

Jack hid his amusement, watching his ranch hands scatter out the front door like boll weevils in the wind.

“You shouldn’t needle ‘em like that,” said Mark, seeing the satisfied grin suddenly appear on his employer’s face.

“Don’t you have somewhere to be, too?” Jack chuckled, returning his attention back to Kate and his son.

“Don’t push it Jack.” He headed for the door. “I’ll be back later to check on my God-son.”

“Thank you for everything, Mark,” called out Kate, and handed a not-too-happy Jack the soiled diaper before lifting a fresh and clean Jesse into her arms.

Seeing the exchange, Mark hooted before his boots hit the wooden plank of the porch and closed the door behind him.

“What do you want me to do with this, baby?” Jack turned up his nose to the white, rolled-up wad displayed in the palm of his hand.

“Put it in the diaper pail. What else?” Kate rolled her eyes then stood.

God, he hated the whole diaper thing. Why he’d rather clean a dozen horse stalls any day over changing diapers, feeling much the same as his ranch hands, but he did it; did it for Kate knowing there wasn’t anything in the world he wouldn’t do for her; especially now, seeing her sway from side to side, holding their son in her arms and singing softly into his tiny ear.

His heart stirred and so did something else when she bent over the basinet and placed their sleeping son gently on his back. His eyes raked over that sweet derriere and he longed to have her back in the saddle.

How was he going to last another five more weeks? Why, the thought of it made his stomach clench into knots. He was half-tempted to abandon all sense of reasoning, and just take her on the spot. But before he could act on his impulse, once more the front door opened and he was greeted by a chubby toddler followed by two mirrored red heads, one longhaired and one short.

“Hey Jack,” the two replied simultaneously, passing him and heading straight for Kate and the new McBride addition.

Jack crossed his arms and frowned. There was not going to be any riding with Clara and Felicia around. Not to mention that little
he-devil
, Henry, who was jumping up and down by his son’s bassinet.

Just then he heard the high pitch squeal that turned into a full shriek.
That’s my boy
, he grinned with pride from ear to ear, listening to the set of lungs on his son.

“Oh good, he’s awake.” Clara wasted no time in scooping up the littlest McBride before Jack had the chance.

He frowned again and pointed in Kate’s direction, giving a silent order for her to follow him.

“I’ll be right back,” said Kate to Clara as she watched the two sisters ogle Jesse, before following Jack into the foyer.

As soon as she cleared the entranceway, a sweeping hand yanked her behind the wall.

“What’s a fella got to do to make time to be alone with his wife?” He barricaded her in as he pressed himself against her. “You need to get rid of Clara and her sister.”

“Jack, I promise they won’t be here long,” she stated with a sweet smile that made him want to melt all over her. “Henry just wanted to see the baby.”

“So what’s Clara’s excuse?” His green eyes permeated her blues. “She’s been here every day since Jesse was born, and it’s getting old, Kate.”

“It could be worse,” she shrugged. “It could be my mother instead of Clara.”

“I’d take your mother over Clara any day!” he exclaimed.

“That’s because you haven’t met her.” She shuttered at the thought.

“Exactly.” A wry smile formed at the corner of his mouth as he flipped the strand of blond that had fallen across her cheek. “At least she has the decency to keep herself scarce and give us some time alone with our son.”

Jack saw a shadow cast over those two beautiful blue eyes and his smile left.

“You have called her, right?”

She bit the bottom of her lip.

“Make the call, Kate.” His eyes narrowed on hers.

“I will, just not now,” she stated. “Besides, I need to get back to Clara.”

She went to move away but Jack had other ideas, blocking her with his strong, hard body and pressing her deeper into the wall.

“Clara can wait, but me on the other hand-” His thumb rubbed over her bottom lip and down the invisible line of her throat. “God, what I want to do to you.”

He lifted her chin with the indent between thumb and forefinger. Then he kissed her long and slow, savoring what was his to take and relishing in the possession of her sweet, delectable mouth. He was getting lost in her and the need to take more was growing inside and out. He barely felt the two tiny hands that started tugging on the leg of his jeans or the small high-pitched voice shouting, “Excuse me! Excuse me!”

He released Kate and looked down to see a strawberry-blond head with two brown eyes staring up at him.

“I want to hold Jesse,” came Henry’s voice while he inadvertently swiped at his nose.

“You have to wash your hands first. Then, sit straight on the couch if you want to hold Jesse,” said Kate, pulling away from Jack and taking the lad’s hand.

It was Jack’s turn to fall into the wall as he watched his wife move away. He reached for her arm and she looked back at him.

“One hour,” he said huskily. “I give them one hour, and then, I’m kicking them all out so we can have time alone together.”

“Whatever you want, Jack,” she smiled, knowing when Jack McBride got something in his head there was no talking him out of it. Not that she wanted to. It was kind of sweet that he wanted to spend time alone with her. There hadn’t been much time for that since the birth of their son and the coming and going of well-wishers.

“Where you going?” She asked, seeing him head for the front door. “Aren’t you going to stay and be the official time keeper?”

“Hell no,” he grumbled. “Like I want to hear a bunch of women squawking like a flock of hens. I’ll be back.”

And with that, Jack left the house. Kate had no doubt that he would be back once the hour was up. She led Henry to the kitchen and washed his hands, before returning to the living room where Clara and Felicia were passing Jesse back and forth like a football.

Henry crawled up on the couch and shimmied his little bottom against the cushions. With arms stretched out, Clara settled the babe into the boy’s arms and kept a firm hand there for support.

“He’s wrinkly!” Henry exclaimed, as he leaned his face closer. “Why is he making fishy faces?”

“I think he’s getting hungry,” said Clara, seeing the baby try to latch on to her nephew’s chubby arm.

“Maybe you should give Jesse back to Katie so she can feed him.” Felicia suggested and saw her son shake his head vehemently, “no!” “Just a moment or two more and then you’re done. Besides, don’t you want to give Jesse the gift you brought?”

That did it. Henry began to bob his head up and down and slide from the couch with the babe still on his lap. Kate slipped Jesse into her arms, just as Henry bolted to his feet. She sat back, undid her top and began to nurse her son. Henry grabbed the present from his mother’s bag and placed it on Kate’s lap.

“You want to help me unwrap it?” She asked the boy.

Henry was happy to oblige. He ripped open the package and retrieved the baby blanket from inside.

“It’s beautiful!” exclaimed Kate, seeing the pattern of black stallions etched on the soft cotton material.

“Kind of reminds you of Black Thunder, doesn’t it?” said Clara as she sat beside Kate.

“It does.” She sighed, remembering the stallion and something else. “It’s perfect. Thank you Felicia and Henry. I’ll cherish it.” Her eyes went moist for the third time that day as her emotions got the better of her.

“It’s just a blanket, Kate,” said Felicia.

“Oh never mind me.” She chuckled, and then sniffed. “I cry at the drop of a hat these days.”

“It’s all those hormones running amuck,” interjected Clara. “For once, I can honestly say
poor Jack,
for having to put up with them, instead of me.”

“You’re all heart, Clara.” She rolled her eyes and shifted Jesse to her other side to nurse.

She placed the new blanket over top, shielding her exposure to a curious Henry.

“I know you too well, Kate,” her friend refuted.

It was something other than hormones that was making Kate off-kilter today.

“And speaking of out-of-control hormones, have you spoken to
anyone else
and told them the good news about Jesse?” Her brow arched in curiosity.

“If you are referring to my mother, the answer is no.” An irritable prick shot up Kate’s back.

“What about your dad?”

“I sent him an announcement like I did when Jack and I got married,” she stated, as if unaffected, but Clara knew otherwise. “I haven’t heard anything yet, but he’ll probably send me some stupid gift.”

“You know it will be
her
that picks it out.”

Kate thought about her dad and his gold-digger of a wife. “Cheryl sent us two candle holders as a wedding present.”

No call, no congratulations; just two measly candle holders that were ugly as all-get-up
, thought Kate as she contained her own ugly mood from brewing.

“So what about Marnie?” Clara brought up her mother again.

“What about Marnie?” Kate’s jaw tightened.

“You going to call her, or send her a notice, too?”

“The last time I spoke to my mother was right before Jack and I got married,” said Kate, remembering the conversation did not go well. “I know I should call her, but right now, I don’t want to break the good mood.”

“I understand,” said Clara, shaking her head. “She could kill a buzz on a three-day binge!”

That broke the ice and Kate laughed, knowing there was a whole lot of truth in what Clara said. Her mother was like a dark cloud ready to burst, raining her criticism and negativity all over Kate. The last thing she wanted was to have this one-single moment of pure heaven spoiled by her mother’s opinions.

“I spoke to Betty the other day and told her the good news,” Felicia interjected, in order to change the subject seeing it was painful for Kate. “She thinks once you get settled at home with the baby that you are going to have second thoughts about returning back to work in the fall.”

“I still want to teach,” said Kate. “But Jack wants me to stay home.”

“Oh, you are going to have your hands full with that one,” laughed Clara.

“I know.” Kate looked out the window and saw Jack by the stables. He seemed to be shouting orders at one of his ranch hands, while the lad shook his head in a submissive yes. “He is a hard man to say
no
to.” She looked back at Clara and Felicia.

“Overbearing ass!” Clara mumbled and nudged her friend.

“He may wear the pants in this family, but I’m the belt,” said Kate. “I keep us straight. He may not like me going back to teaching, but he’ll give in knowing how important it is to me.”

“Well good luck with that one,” interjected Felicia.

This time Kate laughed as she sat Jesse on her lap and patted his back until he released a burp.

She wasn’t sure if it was a nervous laugh, knowing the way Jack felt about her teaching. She hadn’t told him yet, officially, but she’d hinted several times only to have him scoff at the idea. She shrugged and pushed it from her thoughts. Besides, the beginning of school was over a month away, and she would have plenty of time to brace him for what lay ahead.

Once more, there was an interruption, and Kate was glad to be occupied with something else other than her mother, Jack and teaching.

A thin, young man with jet-black hair and dark, red skin entered the living room, along with Dustin. His name was Luke, and he was the newest ranch hand employed earlier this summer and, by far, the best horse trainer they had ever seen. Jack chalked it up to Luke’s Native American heritage, saying it was in his blood and family line. Kate didn’t hold much credence to his statement at first, but it soon became apparent to all that Luke indeed had a gift when it came to horses.

“Sorry to be disturbing you again, Kate,” said Dustin, seeing his employer was still occupied with her friends.

“You’re not disturbing me,” she said with a welcoming smile. “What can I do for you, gentlemen?”

“Luke has something he wants to ask you.” Dustin pushed the new ranch hand in front of him.