Daddy on the Way by Lois Richer

Author:Lois Richer [Lois Richer]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781459257887
Publisher: Harlequin

When Amy grabbed Clay’s hand in the excitement of the 4-H light horse drill later that evening, he tenderly smiled and held on. And when she seemed to remember who he was and tugged away, he kept smiling and suggested they leave. Nothing about the recalcitrant little girl seemed to faze him, Maryann noticed.

“I’m sorry she’s acted up so badly,” Maryann murmured ten minutes later as she rode home with Clay. She smoothed the blonde strands that lay across her lap. “She’s not usually so rude.”

He glanced at the little girl’s sleeping face and grinned. “Don’t worry. She’ll get used to sharing you once she gets into school. After a few months she’ll develop some interests of her own and be only too happy to leave you behind.”

“How do you know all this? Are you some kind of child expert?”

He snorted, easing to a stop in front of Wintergreen. “Not likely. I just remember my own childhood. I tended to cling to my mother. Maybe because I thought she’d go away like Dad. I used to make sure I hung around the house if anyone came by.”

“Maybe you were protecting her.”

“In a way.” He nodded. “Once I got involved in school, I forgot all about what she was doing during the time I was away. I guess I knew I could depend on her.”

“Why did she never marry again?”

Clay shrugged, his lips tightening. “She never divorced my father. She said she’d only ever loved Willard Matthews and she wasn’t going back on her promises—no matter what he did.” His soft smile lit up his face inside the cab. “I always admired that about her. She always had hope.”

“And he never came back?” Maryann thought the woman had wasted her life on a scoundrel, but she didn’t want to say it.

“No.” Clay got out and came round the truck. He opened her door and lifted Amy from her arms. “You get the doors. I’ll carry her.”

No one else was home yet, so they hurried up the stairs, making as little noise as possible so that Amy wouldn’t awaken.

“Where should I put her?” He moved through the door and waited.

“Through here. I’ll just take off her shoes. She’ll probably stay asleep.” Maryann led the way to Amy’s room and pulled down the covers. When he laid the child down, Maryann quickly lifted away the hat, slipped off her shoes and skirt and then covered her. “Good night, sweetheart. Happy dreams.”

Amy sighed, opened one eye, and frowned at Clay.

“I want a horse,” she mumbled.

“I know.” He patted her cheek. “Go to sleep now.” He left the room.

A soft sigh told Maryann the little girl was in dreamland. She flicked on the night-light and, after one last check, clicked off the light, then followed Clay from the room.

“It’s late. I’d better go.”

Clay moved toward the apartment door and she followed him, aware of a knot of frustration forming in her stomach. She wanted him to go…didn’t she?

“Will you come out tomorrow?” he asked quietly, searching her eyes.

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