A Baby for Dry Creek by Janet Tronstad

Author:Janet Tronstad
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2004-12-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

Reno wondered what was wrong with him. He’d remembered his wallet, since they were going to do some shopping. He’d remembered the tire chains, since, even though the day was sunny so far, the mud was still thick on the road. But he had forgotten all about that dress.

Chrissy was wearing rubber boots on her feet because of the mud, and she had Justin cradled in her arms, but every man in the hardware store turned to stare at her in that midnight-blue dress when Reno opened the door and she walked through it.

Reno wondered how much of a sin it would be to take down each of his neighbors, some of whom were old enough to be his father. Of course, those two ranch hands from the Elkton spread were there, too, measuring out some nails for mending fence, and they were about Reno’s age.

“Here, take this.” Reno slipped out of his denim jacket and passed it to Chrissy.

He saw her start to protest, so he added, “It’s not charity. It’s just to keep you warm.”

Chrissy looked at him and nodded. “Thank you, then.”

Reno felt more pleased than he should that she had agreed to accept something from him. She was one of the most hardheaded women he knew when it came to her pride.

“Here, let me hold Justin while you put it on,” Reno said next.

Chrissy handed him her baby, and Reno felt even more pleased. He hadn’t had much holding time with the baby since they’d gotten to the ranch, and he missed it.

“Glad to see you made it to town to visit us,” Elmer said from where he sat by the stove reading the Billings newspaper. He set the newspaper down on the floor and looked at Reno and Chrissy. “Didn’t take you long.”

Reno flushed. “We needed some supplies.”

Elmer nodded. “I thought you might. Babies have a way of needing the craziest things. I remember when you were a baby. You had a special craving for applesauce. Your father used to have to make a special trip into Miles City just to get it for you.”

“That was Nicki.” The older citizens of Dry Creek had a tendency to confuse Reno and his sister. Fortunately, they had both heard the stories for so many years, they could usually set the record straight.

“Ah, well then.” Elmer picked up the newspaper and settled back to read it. “I expect the little one won’t be asking for that, then.”

There was a moment of silence.

“Reno’s not the baby’s father,” Chrissy announced—a little too loudly, Reno thought. “Even if Reno ate a tubful of applesauce, Justin won’t be liking it, because they’re not related.”

The store got even quieter.

“I wasn’t meaning anything by my words,” Elmer said softly from where he still sat. “I was just remembering how babies are, and Reno and his sister came to mind—they were both cute as a button.”

“He’s lucky he can remember that far back these days,” Jacob said from the other chair.

“My mind’s just as sharp as it ever was.

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