Rocky Mountain Daddy. Lois Richer

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СКАЧАТЬ everything. I wrote my information on the back, just in case you need to contact me, though I’d rather you didn’t. I’ve done enough.” She stepped forward, thrust the envelope at Gabe, her jaw tight. “Don’t bring him back,” she growled, her voice low and threatening. “I can’t keep him. I got enough trouble raising my own kids and paying all Eve’s bills.”

      “But—”

      “You be good,” Kathy said to Eli, her fingers clutching his shoulder.

      Olivia saw the boy wince.

      “This is your dad. You’re gonna live with him, like we talked about. Bye.” Without another word or even an embrace, Kathy wheeled around, climbed into her car and roared back to the corner. She disappeared down the highway.

      Olivia remained silent, embarrassed that she’d witnessed the incident. Gabe’s frigid expression kept her from offering her sympathy, but then as he studied Eli, his icy appearance began to melt and soften. Longing filled his blue eyes—as if he couldn’t quite believe his dreams had just come true. Several long moments stretched until finally Gabe walked up to the boy and squatted in front of him.

      “Hello, Eli. I’m very pleased to meet you. My name is Gabe Webber.” He held out a hand, withdrew it quickly to strip off his leather work glove, then thrust it out again and waited.

      Olivia caught her breath when Eli looked up, staring into intense blue eyes that were an exact replica of his own. Their jutting chins had the same hard line. Dark crisp curls flopped onto prominent brows in an identical manner. The child was a mirror image of Gabe. There could be no doubt that man and boy were related.

      “Are you really my dad?” Eli’s murmur barely carried over the freshening wind whispering across the foothill grasses.

      “That’s what your aunt said.” Gabe let his unshaken hand drop. “I’ll have to read your mom’s letter before I know more.” He gulped, then added very quietly, “But I guess I am your father, Eli.”

      Big fat tears began to course down Eli’s cheeks. His shoulders sagged.

      “Why didn’t you come?” he asked, his voice breaking on a sob. “I prayed and prayed. Why didn’t you come?”

      Then, like a broken reed that just couldn’t hold itself up anymore, the little boy collapsed in a heap, sobbing his heart out.

      * * *

       He had a son.

      Gabe stared at Eli while his brain mentally regressed to the day he’d handed Eve a copy of their divorce decree. He could still hear her voice.

      You’ll be sorry, Gabe.

       No, Eve. I won’t. I wish our marriage could have worked out, because I loved you. But you don’t want me. You only ever wanted what Dad’s ranch could give you—money. Now you have it, though the stress and pain you’ve caused us will cost us a lot more than those few dollars you grabbed at. Goodbye, Eve.

      Then he’d waited for her to leave. Had she already known she was pregnant?

      “Gabe?” Olivia’s soft voice cracked the mirror of his past. She moved closer to meet his gaze, her silver-gray eyes clouded as she glanced pointedly at the sobbing child. “Do something,” she whispered.

      “I don’t know—” He spread his hands helplessly. The kid wouldn’t even shake his hand. What was he supposed to do?

      “Oh, for mercy’s—” Obviously exasperated, she walked to Eli and squatted in front of him. “Eli? My name is Olivia DeWitt. My aunties live in that great big house up there. See it?”

      Eli paused in his weeping, looked up and nodded with a sniff.

      “It’s called The Haven,” Olivia continued. “My sister is making doughnuts there today. Would you like to go with me and have some?”

      Gabe stared. He hadn’t seen Olivia interact with kids much. She always seemed aloof, or perhaps standoffish was more accurate. Yet here she was offering to take his son—his son?—for doughnuts. Just another thing his brain couldn’t seem to process.

      “The thing is, Eli, my car has a flat tire. We’ll have to ride up there with Gabe in his truck. Okay?” she asked.

      “Uh-huh.” Eli scrubbed away the tears, which left dirt streaks across his face. He stared at Gabe. “Is he my dad for sure?” he whispered.

      “I don’t know, but why don’t we forget about that for now and go enjoy the doughnuts. Maybe some lemonade, too. Deal?” Olivia held out a hand and, to Gabe’s shock, Eli shook it.

      They rose together. To Gabe it was as if some invisible bond stretched between them. A bond he hadn’t been able to achieve. That stung.

      “Could you drive us, please, Gabe?” Olivia asked, locking up her vehicle. “I’ll leave my car here for now. Gabe?” she prodded when he didn’t respond.

      “What? Uh, drive. Sure.” He could hardly tear his gaze away from the boy. His son.

       God, I’m going to need some help here.

      He put Eli’s small shabby suitcase in the truck bed without saying anything more, mostly because he couldn’t think of anything appropriate. And yet, as he drove to The Haven, a million questions rolled inside his head. Why? That was the most pressing of them all. It seemed that his questions, like Eve’s letter in his pocket, would have to wait till later.

      Eve. Every nerve in Gabe’s body tensed. Anger surged and the knot in his stomach tightened. Deceiver. Cheater. Liar. She’d been all of those, so why was he surprised by this? He clenched his jaw, braking a little harder than he should have in front of the huge stone house.

      “Livvie!” Tillie and Margaret Spenser jumped up from the shaded cedar bench outside the back door. Both rushed toward them as Gabe parked and walked around to open Olivia’s door.

      “Another of our dear girls is home,” Aunt Tillie gushed.

      “Just for a week,” Olivia said as she released Gabe’s helping hand.

      He thought that sounded like a warning.

      “But—”

      “My dear aunties, Victoria, and Adele have made their lives at The Haven and I’m very happy for them and you.” Olivia interrupted Margaret as she hugged her close. “But Gemma and I are still the family’s wanderers. I’m home for a visit, then I’ll have to leave here to start my job. But having two of your four foster daughters living here permanently isn’t bad, is it?” she teased.

      “It’s wonderful. All part of our God’s glorious plan, my dear. Where’s your car?” Tillie Spenser asked as she followed her sister in hugging Olivia.

      “Bottom of the hill. Blown tire.”

      Olivia’s unconcealed chagrin made Gabe smile, until Tillie released her and included him in the hugfest. Then she bent to study Eli.

      “Hello, young man. Welcome to The Haven. It’s doughnut day, did you СКАЧАТЬ