Lone Star Baby. Cathy Thacker Gillen

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СКАЧАТЬ hot from below the waist.

      “I don’t understand why everyone is so skeptical about my plan to camp out here for the next couple of weeks.”

      Ever the idealist, he imagined she had all sorts of romantic notions—dramatized nicely by the white-organza-covered Conestoga wagon slash bedroom with the set of custom-made wooden steps leading up to it.

      Trying not to think of what was inside that wagon, except a no-doubt very comfy, very femininely outfitted bed, he said, “Maybe because you’re not really the outdoorsy type?”

      Mischief twinkled in her eyes. “Exactly why I’m ‘glamping’ instead of camping.”

      He gave her a long, assessing glance, taking in every pampered inch of her. His desire to protect her intensified. “You got hot water in that shower back there?”

      Violet opened her mouth. Shut it.

      Which confirmed, Gavin thought, she didn’t know.

      “I’m sure it will be fine,” she said stubbornly.

      He couldn’t help it. He laughed.

      She dismissed him with an airy wave of her delicate hand. “I have some money saved. I could always put in a water heater if I want one.”

      He moved in close enough to goad. “Doesn’t that defeat the purpose of glamping, having too many of the usual conveniences?”

      Violet huffed, her cheeks turning an enticing pink, and stepped back from him. “I really don’t see why you’re so concerned with my comfort, but I really wish—” She stopped at the beeping of his cell phone.

      Reluctantly, he lifted it off his belt. “Dr. Monroe.”

      “Hey, Gavin. It’s Mitzy Martin.”

      Laramie County’s premier social worker.

      “I have to talk to you,” the amiable thirtysomething went on, as direct as always. “Preferably in person. Where are you?”

      He watched Violet go back to carrying in belongings. “McCabe House.”

      He wandered out to lend a hand. “Is Violet McCabe there by chance?” Mitzy continued.

      With a smile he said, “She’s standing right in front of me,” and gestured for Violet to wait—that he’d carry the box of books she was contemplating.

      Violet’s brow furrowed.

      “Great!” Mitzy enthused. “I need to see her, too. I’ll be right there.” She hung up before he could ask anything else.

      Clipping his phone back on his belt, he reached out to relieve Violet of the box she had once again started to pick up. “Mitzy Martin wants to speak to us.”

      “Any idea why?”

      “She didn’t say.” But knowing Mitzy as well as he did, it had to be something important.

      * * *

      “LET’S ALL SIT DOWN, shall we?”

      Violet wasn’t surprised that Mitzy got right down to business. Nor did she mind.

      Spending too much time in close quarters with Gavin Monroe always left her feeling off-kilter. Frankly, she needed a chaperone where he was concerned, so she was glad for the extra company. Lest she find herself forgetting her usual reserve and acting on the innate restlessness she felt these days.

      As soon as the three of them were situated comfortably around the table, Mitzy turned on her laptop computer and clicked on the appropriate file. She turned the screen so everyone could see it. “You-all remember Tammy Barlowe and her husband, Jared?”

      Violet nodded. “They came into the ER last spring when Jared fell ill during a weekend trip to Lake Laramie. Gavin stabilized him. I was called in because he was a stage four cancer patient.” Having a last hurrah with his teenage wife.

      “You also know that Jared died last summer.”

      “Tammy wrote us, to let us know.” Violet struggled to contain the lump in her throat. “It wasn’t all bad news, though. She was pregnant. In fact, shouldn’t she be due to deliver in a couple of weeks?”

      “That’s what we need to talk about,” Mitzy said solemnly. “It wasn’t just Jared who was sick. Tammy had a heart condition that made carrying a baby unwise. She chose to ignore medical advice and get pregnant anyway. Although Ava was born a month early, she’s fine.”

      “And Tammy?” Gavin asked.

      Mitzy shook her head. “Her heart wasn’t strong enough. She died during childbirth.”

      Violet laid a hand over her heart. “Oh, no...”

      Gavin squeezed Violet’s hand.

      She relaxed into his grip, accepting the quiet comfort he offered.

      “Because she knew her death was a possibility, she left a videotaped will of her wishes.” Her expression still solemn, Mitzy clicked on the file.

      Tammy Barlowe appeared on the screen. She was clad in a hospital gown and robe. Her short brown bob looked lackluster, her freckles stood out beneath her pale skin, and there were pronounced dark circles beneath her eyes. And yet there was a serenity about her; a deep maternal happiness that seemed to shine through despite her physical difficulties. Hand protectively cupping her swollen belly, she looked straight into the camera and said, “Hey, Dr. McCabe, Dr. Monroe. If you’re seeing this, it means I’m not here anymore...but my baby girl, Ava, is. And that means she needs a home and family to watch over her.”

      Tammy swallowed. Lower lip trembling, she pushed on. “I wish Jared and I had relatives we could call on, but we don’t.” She paused to look long and hard at her audience. “And the last thing either of us ever wanted was to have a child of ours grow up the way we did, in the foster care system.”

      A soft sound of dissent was heard in the background.

      Tammy grinned and lifted a hand at her off-camera audience. “No offense to the social system that helped us, and the social workers and legal aid attorneys who are helping me now. But being a ward of the state is not the same as living with parents who love you and will make sure you grow up right.” Clearing her throat, she glanced toward the camera again. “Which is where you come in, Dr. McCabe. You’re not just a great lady doc, you’re everything I ever wanted in a mom. And, Dr. Monroe, you’re everything I ever wanted in a dad.”

      Violet could see that Gavin would make a wonderful father. Not that she’d ever heard him talk about wanting kids. Or not wanting them, either...

      Tammy continued with her trademark enthusiasm. “Both of you were so wonderful to me and Jared. And you work so well together when it comes to caring for people.” Another long pause. “And I also know, ’cause I did a little checking, that neither of you is married or has any other kids of your own...”

      She hitched in a bolstering breath. “So I’m asking you both to step in, in the event of my demise, and adopt my Ava together. СКАЧАТЬ