Jake's Honor (Cowboys 0f Coulee Crossing; Romancing The West Book 1) Read online

“Do you want to put her on a bed?”

  “She might roll off. Can I put her on a quilt on the floor?”

  The women arranged a little bed in the living room where they could see her from the table. Connie put her down and stood back to watch. She smiled tenderly as the baby settled.

  She and Audrey tiptoed back to the table.

  “Now, let’s talk.” Jake kept his voice low. “I’m curious. What did you think would happen when you showed up here claiming I had fathered a child?”

  Connie slowly lifted her head to face him. Her eyes were steady, full of determination if he had to guess what he saw.

  “I thought you would do the honorable thing and take responsibility for your child. I planned to stay until you and Audrey felt you could manage, and then I’d move on.”

  “Let me be very clear. That is not how it’s going to be. You can rest a bit. Let the little one have a sleep. Then I am going to take you to town. From there you can make your way back home. You’ll have to face your predicament without my help.”

  2

  Connie stared at the man. How could he believe the baby was hers and deny his own responsibility? He was far less of a man than she’d even originally suspected. She’d tried to warn Celia what he was like. He had a reputation of being wild. And everything she’d seen of him bore out that truth.

  “Would you have me put her in an orphanage? That’s what both my parents and Celia’s wanted me to do.” They’d informed her that as long as she insisted on caring for the illegitimate baby, she wasn’t welcome in either home. “How can people be like that? She’s an innocent child. Why, you’d treat your dog better.” She pointed to the window where the dog watched the proceedings though his view must be getting dim as he rubbed his nose on the pane of glass, clouding it with moisture.

  Audrey touched Jake’s arm. “It does seem a little harsh. Are you certain she can’t be your child?”

  Jake’s countenance grew deadly still. “I can’t believe you even have to ask. Besides, if there was a chance she was mine I would do my duty and give her a home.” His snort of laughter was bitter. “Though you realize it would be you doing most of the work.”

  “Unless, and until, you marry.” Audrey smiled gently at her younger brother.

  “Yeah, like that would happen. What do I say to a young woman? Here I am, and a little girl too? Besides, I have no desire to be tied down.”

  “Some would welcome a child.” His sister’s longing was evident in her tone.

  “Fine, you take her.”

  Connie had heard enough. “If you won’t take her as her father, then I will keep her. I love this little mite and am not about to shop her around for a home.”

  “Very noble of you.”

  She didn’t know if he meant the words sincerely or mocked her, and she didn’t care. “I’ll take you up on the offer to give me a ride to town.”

  “And then what?” Audrey’s question was softly spoken.

  “I’ll take the stagecoach back to Fort Macleod and set up a home for us there.” She’d take in laundry or sewing. Or she’d marry a kind man who would welcome the child.

  She’d do whatever was necessary.

  “Stagecoach won’t be back for three days,” Audrey said.

  “I’m sure someone would offer me hospitality until then.” She was far from certain of that fact. But she wouldn’t stay here with Jake’s suspicions and refusal.

  Jake was on his feet, heading for the door. “I’ll get the wagon.”

  “Jake—” Audrey called, but the man continued on without a pause. Before he reached the door, it flew open and one of his brothers strode in, shaking his hat.

  “Glad I beat the storm. What’s all the stuff doing on the porch? He looked up and saw Connie. “Company. Hello.”

  “Miss Sewall, you remember my brother Cash?” Audrey said.

  “Of course. Nice to see you again.” She had only seen him a time or two. She’d thought all the Hoopers looked alike, but this man was taller, his hair a shade darker than Jake’s and his eyes watchful but not unkind.

  “You’re a long way from home,” Cash said. “Unless you’ve moved.”

  “I’m in the process of doing so.”

  “So maybe you’ll be a neighbor?”

  “I don’t think so.”

  Jake eased past his brother. He opened the door and was forced back as two more men barreled inside.

  “There’s a nasty storm coming,” one said.

  “We barely managed to outrun it.”

  Jake’s shoulders heaved at another interruption. He stopped to introduce the pair to Connie. “Connie, my oldest and youngest brothers—Blaze and Levi. Miss Sewall was about to leave.” Jake again tried to edge by.

  Connie strained to get the two sorted out in her head.

  Blaze—heavier than the others, was the oldest. Levi, the youngest, with a tall, slim build and a teasing gleam in his eyes.

  “Don’t think anyone will be going anywhere until the storm ends,” Levi said. “Look at how those clouds roll.” He turned from pointing out the door to speak to Connie. “The stuff on the porch belong to you?”

  “Yes.”

  “Let’s get it inside before it gets soaked.” He didn’t wait for anyone to join him as he dragged in a trunk. Seeing his intention, both Blaze and Cash grabbed her luggage and dragged it inside while Jake jammed his fists on his hips and scowled at them.

  The dog slunk in after them.

  “Out.” Blaze pointed to the door.

  “You know how he hates storms.” Levi patted the dog on the head.

  “Then take him to the barn.”

  Levi glanced out the door. “We’d both get soaked.”

  Rain poured down in a dark sheet.

  “Wouldn’t want to send you out in that,” Jake said to Levi. “You might shrink.”

  Connie hid her amusement behind her hand.

  Blaze threw his hands upward. “He’s always been spoiled, being the youngest and all.”

  Megan toddled into the kitchen.

  Three men stared at her, their eyes wide, their mouths hanging open.

  Connie couldn’t help herself. She laughed. “One would think you’ve never seen a baby before.”

  “Never seen one here.” Levi squatted down. “Did the rain bring her?”

  “Don’t be foolish,” Blaze said. His gaze shifted to Connie. “Is she yours?”

  Connie opened her mouth and closed it again without answering. She looked to Jake. Was he going to tell them the truth?

  Audrey spoke. “This is Megan. Connie brought her out here saying she’s Celia’s daughter and Jake is the father.”

  Connie’s heart sank. It sounded like Audrey believed Jake’s accusation that Connie was Megan’s mother.

  Cash shook his head. “Didn’t Pa tell you time and again that your wild ways would eventually catch up to you?”

  Levi stood and grinned. “Does that mean we get to keep her? Yahoo. A little dolly to play with.”

  Jake groaned. “She isn’t a toy. Besides, you should hear her cry.”

  Levi shrugged. “You probably yelled at her.”

  “I did not.”

  Meagan’s eyes widened at Jake’s tone. Truth be told, he spoke rather loudly. Her bottom lip jutted out and quivered and tears pooled in her eyes.

  “See,” Levi said. “You’re scaring her.” He knelt in front of Megan. “You don’t pay any attention to him. Sometimes he’s overly loud. We’re all used to it.”

  Blaze grabbed a mug from the cupboard, went to the stove, lifted the coffeepot, and shook it.

  “I’ll make some right away.” Audrey hurried to the kitchen.

  Blaze waved the mug around. “Let me get this straight. You”—he jabbed the mug toward Connie—“brought this child out here because you believe Jake is her father?”

  “That’s correct.” She kept her gaze focused on Blaze even when Jake groaned.

  “Where is Celia? Why didn’t she bring the baby
herself?”

  Connie blinked back tears of sorrow, fatigue, and frustration. “My cousin passed away a few weeks ago.”

  The men all murmured condolences.

  Blaze turned toward Jake. “Time for you to man up.”

  Thankfully Megan toddled over to Connie and lifted her arms to be picked up. Ignoring the smell of a diaper in need of changing, Connie buried her nose in the little girl’s neck, not wanting to be any part of the staring match between Blaze and Jake.

  Jake was the one to break the impasse. “I have no intention of manning up to some other man’s mistakes.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “He’s saying the baby isn’t his,” Cash said, disgust filling his words.

  “She’s not.”

  “How do you know?” Blaze demanded.

  Jake made a derisive sound. “Didn’t Pa have the little man-to-man talk with you?”

  “I expect I got the same talk you did. Difference is, I listened better.”

  Jake’s snort brimmed with derision. “I don’t ever intend to live so tight and narrow there’s no room in my life for fun.”

  “Look where fun has gotten you.” Blaze jabbed the cup toward Megan held tightly in Connie’s arms.

  Audrey stood by the stove, her gaze going from one to the other of the two brothers. Levi and Cash watched the interaction with keen interest.

  “Think what you want,” Jake said. “But she is not my child. Despite what you assume, I did listen to Pa’s talk, so I know she ain’t mine.” He held up his hand to stop Blaze’s words. “Connie and I have agreed it’s best if she returns to town. From there she plans to go to Fort Macleod.”

  “Aw, shucks.” Levi sat down beside the dog and wrapped his arms around the furry neck. “Guess I’m stuck with you, Bowser.” Bowser licked Levi’s face.

  “More like he’s stuck with you.” Cash leaned against the wall; his expression still watchful. He seemed to know the discussion between the two older brothers wasn’t over.

  “Would you do something about that smell?” Jake said. “It’s making my eyes water.”

  * * *

  Jake regretted his words as soon as he’d spoken them, even without the dull flush on Connie’s face. But this was too much. Blaze was willing to believe the worst of him. Although only a year older, Blaze took his role as eldest very seriously.

  Connie grabbed one of the travel bags and gave a frantic look around the room.

  “I’ll show you to a bedroom.” Audrey led her away.

  As soon as his sister and their guest and that baby with the smelly bottom left the room, his three brothers circled him. Great.

  “Seems to me she must be fairly certain you’re the father to come all this way.” Cash likely thought he was being reasonable.

  Levi rocked back and forth on the heels of his boots. “What harm is there in letting them stay?”

  Blaze leaned forward. “You will do right by that little girl.”

  Jake jutted his face closer toward his elder brother. “I have no intention of living a lie. Besides, Connie said she wants to keep the baby and has plans. Like she said, the baby isn’t up for auction.”

  Audrey returned in time to hear the conversation. “She’s here until the rain lets up. So, settle down.”

  “After that?” Jake hoped he knew the answer.

  “Didn’t she say she wanted to go back to Willow Creek? And from there to the Fort? I think we have to honor her wishes.”

  Jake eased out an overheated breath. Audrey had spoken, so that settled the matter. As soon as the rain stopped and the trail dried up, he would be making a trip to town. And that would be the end of this whole business.

  Connie rejoined them, Megan in her arms.

  Audrey clapped her hands. “Take her things to the bedroom next to mine.” She turned to Connie. “That’s the one I already showed you. You will stay there until it dries up enough for travel. Bowser, you get back to the door.” The dog glowered at her and edged backwards.

  Satisfied that things were under control, Audrey went to the kitchen. “I need to get supper prepared.”

  Levi and Cash grabbed one trunk and headed down the hallway. Blaze went to the second trunk and gave Jake a commanding look. “Yes, sir.” Jake saluted as he trotted over to grab the other end.

  Connie lifted the one remaining bag and followed them. “I’m sorry to put you out.”

  Jake had his back to her and didn’t respond. Blaze gave a half smile. “Guess you aren’t responsible for the rain.” He paused to listen. Rain pounded against the roof. “It’s really coming down.”

  “I like the sound of rain,” Jake said. “Normally.”

  “Normally?” He didn’t miss the warning tone in Connie’s question.

  “Usually it’s a good excuse for a break from work.”

  “But this time?”

  Levi and Cash left the bedroom and stood in the hallway.

  “Yeah, Jake. What’s different about this time?” Levi’s voice rang with mocking. “Except we get to enjoy a bit of company.” He drew his mouth down. “A person could get tired of having only the three of you day in and day out.”

  “Did you forget Audrey?” Jake demanded, not liking the direction of this conversation.

  “Nope. But I’m still glad of a fresh face.” He waited for Blaze and Jake to deposit the trunk in the bedroom. “Do you think Megan would come to me?”

  Connie dropped her bag on the bed. “Hold out your arms and see if she will.”

  Levi did so. Megan ducked her head and studied him from beneath her eyelashes.

  That little look hit Jake with the force of a sledgehammer. He’d seen the same coy fluttering of lashes from Celia. Thought it was intentional; but seeing a baby do it made him consider that it was sincere. Not that he for one moment thought Celia wasn’t capable of flirting.

  Megan leaned toward Levi and he took her, grinning widely. “I think she likes me.”

  Connie chuckled, the sound low and sweet…so unlike the merry burst of amusement Jake would have heard from Celia. “Of course, she likes you. She doesn’t know enough to be cautious around people. So far, she’s known nothing but love…from me and her mother, at least.” Connie’s gaze impaled Jake. Her silent accusation was as clear as if written in foot-tall letters across the wall.

  Connie continued. “I have and will continue, to the best of my ability, protect her from judgment.”

  “I think you’ve been duly warned.” Blaze squeezed Jake’s upper arm. Not enough to hurt, but enough to make his opinion clear.

  Jake strode from the room. What was wrong with everyone? He turned to confront his brothers who were following on his heels. “Why is everyone so eager to believe I’m responsible? And that I’d shirk my responsibilities?”

  “Maybe because you have in the past.” Blaze sounded weary.

  “Like when?”

  Cash answered. Always ready to point out Jake’s lapses. “Like the time you rode through town causing mayhem and Pa had to go soothe everyone’s feelings.”

  “And pay for damages,” Blaze added.

  “I was a kid.” He’d been fourteen and enjoying some of the freedom of a young man working for wages for the first time.

  “Or the time you rode your horse up the steps into the hotel. Or the time—” Cash was on a roll.

  Levi pushed past them. “Who cares about that? Let’s enjoy company while we have it. Come on, Connie. We’ll leave these guys to argue.”

  Connie sidled past them and went down the hall with Levi.

  Blaze stared after them. “Why can’t you be the one to be welcoming?”

  Jake lifted his hands toward the ceiling. What was the use in trying to explain anything to his bull-headed older brother or his cautious younger one? “You’ll never believe me.” He ignored them and went to the kitchen where he plunked down on a chair and stared at the tabletop. Levi had taken their guests to the living room. Bowser had sneaked to the doorway to watch them.
>
  Audrey placed a cup of coffee before him. “Why not make the best of it?”

  “What would that be?”

  “Maybe if you find out why Celia left you so suddenly, you can put that pain behind you.”

  He shouldn’t have been surprised that Audrey knew how much it had hurt him, but he was. He thought he’d hidden it from everyone. “It seems pretty obvious. She had a baby on the way, and it wasn’t mine. How was she going to explain that? Easier to run away.”

  Audrey returned to meal preparations. Jake shifted so he could watch the trio in the living room, ignoring his other brothers who grabbed coffee and sat at the table.

  Levi sat on the floor a distance from Megan and held out his hands. “Come to me, little girlie.”

  Megan made her unsteady way to Levi. What little hair she had was the pale blonde of Celia’s. Which meant nothing. Connie and Celia were cousins, so the baby could look like either of them. Two steps from Levi, she plunked to her bottom and laughed. She had the same infectious laugh Celia had.

  Still meant nothing, he doggedly told himself. She could just as easily be Connie’s baby. Wouldn’t it suit her well to claim it to be Celia’s and try and shove the responsibility to Jake? Not that he was the father or had any obligation toward the child.

  Connie slipped from the living room, seemingly satisfied Megan was safe in Levi’s care, and went to Audrey. “What can I do to help?”

  “There’s no need. The meal is almost ready.” Then Audrey changed her mind. “You could set the table. Plates are there.” She pointed to the cupboard. “Silverware there.”

  Jake took his cup and pushed back from the table. His brothers did the same. Connie edged around them as she set the table.

  Hearing the dishes, Megan toddled from the living room, her fussing alternating with her unsteady steps.

  Jake chuckled. “Seems she can’t walk and cry at the same time.”

  As if to prove his point, she sat down and wailed.

  Jake half rose to his feet, not that he could say why. But Levi beat him. He scooped Megan up and jostled her. “No need to cry, little girlie.”

  Connie went to the pair and took Megan. “Come to auntie.”