Rocky Mountain Daddy. Lois Richer

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СКАЧАТЬ before being encircled by Adele’s adopted twins, Francie and Franklyn, who’d come racing around the side of the house.

      Gabe noted how quickly Olivia drew away from them.

      “Hey, guys, you’re kinda dirty,” she said, nose wrinkling at the muddy streaks on her formerly pristine white shirt.

      “Yeah. Choc’late mud pies.” Francie grinned. “We gotta wash ’fore we c’n eat doughnuts,” she told Eli.

      “It’s a rule,” Franklyn agreed.

      Gabe had loved the twins from the moment Adele arrived with them over six months ago. He couldn’t have been happier when she’d married his boss, Mac McDowell, owner of the Double M, because it meant the cute pair now lived on the ranch. He loved kids, had always wanted some of his own, but Eve—don’t go there.

      He had a son. Gabe couldn’t make that sink into his brain. Nor could he comprehend why Eve hadn’t told him, especially after she’d become ill.

      “Come on.” Francie grabbed Eli’s hand. “Washup time. An’ don’t miss no dirt ’cause we can’t eat nothin’ till we get clean an’ the doughnuts are yummy.” She whirled to inspect the adults. “Uncle Gabe, you got dust on your cheek. You gotta wash, too.”

      “Yup, you do,” Franklyn agreed. He grabbed Eli’s other hand and drew him alongside, discussing crash-up cars. Eli went along with a confused look on his face.

      “Let’s do have some doughnuts,” Aunt Margaret said. She and her sister followed the kids inside. Only Gabe and Olivia remained.

      “I figured you wouldn’t want to explain to them about Eli until you have everything sorted out,” she said quietly.

      “Thanks.” He could feel her questions.

      “I didn’t know you’d been married, Gabe.”

      “At eighteen. For about three years.” Because she’d witnessed the debacle with Kathy, Gabe figured he owed Olivia at least a rudimentary explanation. “Eve was the new girl in town and I fell hard for her. My dad didn’t approve, though. We eloped, then she moved onto our ranch. I’d worked the ranch with Dad my whole life and I loved it, but Eve said it was boring and hated it. She started to cause problems—on the ranch and between Dad and me. I finally realized that when she looked at me, all she saw was a meal ticket.”

      “I’m sorry,” she whispered.

      “Me, too.” He pursed his lips. Best to get it said and then forget it. As if! “Eve wanted out, so Dad agreed to sell off part of our land to pay her off. She took the money and ran, but Dad’s treasure, our ranch, was decimated. We couldn’t ranch on so little land, though he fought hard to make it work. Six months later he died from a massive coronary. I had to sell the land at rock-bottom prices.”

      “Oh, no.” Olivia sounded genuinely upset. “What did you do then?”

      “Enlisted. Did two tours, but I hated it. I worked at Wranglers Ranch in Tucson for a while. Tried to rebuild my faith in God.” He heaved a sigh. “Then I got into equine-assisted learning. Eventually I came to the Double M and—” He shrugged. “That’s my story. My stupidity in marrying Eve cost me my dad and my home.”

      “I’m so sorry. You never saw Eve again?”

      “No. And I never wanted to,” he muttered, tension building in his head. “Until today,” he grated.

      “You never fell in love again?” Olivia’s hand went up in the automatic way she had of smoothing her hair over her damaged cheek. Funny, but unless she drew attention to it, Gabe never even noticed her scar.

      “No.” Even now, memories of that youthful over-the-top love and the gut-wrenching pain of knowing it wasn’t reciprocated burned inside. “Eve ended my dreams of love and family. I grew up fast and I gave up dreaming.” The words emerged sounding bitter. But then he had a right to be bitter, even more so now.

       Why didn’t you tell me we have a son, Eve?

      “And that’s enough for you?” she asked, a frown marring her beauty.

      “I have a good job with horses, which I love. I live in a great community and I get to be part of The Haven’s ministry. Someday I’d like to have my own spread, but...” He shrugged. “Really, why do I need a house and land?”

      “I’m sorry, Gabe.” Olivia’s softly voiced words offered comfort, but he wouldn’t take it.

      “So am I. My stupidity in marrying Eve killed my dad. I’ll never forgive her for that.” Why had he told Olivia that? What good did it do? Out of the corner of his eye he saw Eli standing in the doorway. Surely the boy hadn’t overheard his snarky comment? “Let’s go enjoy those doughnuts,” he said with forced cheerfulness.

      “Wait.” She stepped forward to rub the dust from his cheek. “Now the twins will allow you to eat doughnuts,” Olivia said with a grin.

      Truth be told, Gabe wasn’t sure he could swallow anything right now. What he desperately wanted was to lose himself in the forest surrounding them and read the letter that burned a hole in his shirt pocket.

      Later, he promised himself grimly. He’d read Eve’s paltry excuses for keeping his son a secret later.

       Chapter Two

      “Is Eli staying here?” Victoria asked Olivia later that afternoon.

      Olivia sat on the deck beside her sister, basking in the warmth of the sun, shielded from any breeze by The Haven.

      “Not that he isn’t welcome,” Victoria backtracked. “Everyone’s welcome at The Haven. But the aunties have some guests arriving tomorrow...”

      “I don’t have any answers, Vic.” Olivia knew her sister’s frown meant she’d demand some explanation, so she relayed the events of Eli’s arrival.

      “Gabe’s a daddy?” Victoria grinned. “Couldn’t happen to a nicer guy. He’s great with kids.”

      “Well, he sure doesn’t seem to know what to do with Eli.” Olivia remembered the devastated look on the cowboy’s face when Eli hadn’t shaken his hand. Then she remembered Eli’s pitiful sob. “There’s something going on with that child, though I’m not sure what that is.”

      Victoria’s adopted son, Mikey, was playing with Francie and Franklyn on the jungle gym equipment about six feet away. Eli stood apart, watching them.

      “Probably after such a loss it will take him a while to feel his way. Most kids are like that.” Vic smiled at her daughter, Grace, who was learning to walk. “Don’t worry. Gabe will make him feel welcome. Meanwhile, your timing in coming home couldn’t be better.”

      “Why?” There was a note in her sister’s voice that worried Olivia. “What’s going on, Vic?”

      “The aunts’ lawyers and accountants are coming to check out everything at the end of the month, to make sure The СКАЧАТЬ