Engaged to the Single Mom by Lee Tobin McClain

Author:Lee Tobin McClain
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2014-06-11T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

Angelica strolled toward the field beside the barn, more relaxed than she had felt in a week.

She’d tried to work up the courage to talk to Troy about their relationship, even to tell him the truth about why she’d left him, but it hadn’t happened. Finally this morning, she’d turned the whole thing over to God. If He wanted her to talk to Troy, He had to open up the opportunity, because she couldn’t do it on her own strength.

Red-winged blackbirds trilled and wild roses added a sweet note to the usual farm fragrances of hay and the neighboring cattle. Beyond the barn, she could hear boys shouting and dogs barking as Troy’s Kennel Kids tossed balls for the dogs.

Today—praise the Lord—she’d gotten word that Xavier was accepted into the clinical trial. He’d go for his treatment in a couple of days, and Dr. Ravi was reassuring about everything. The treatment wouldn’t be difficult, and he was optimistic that the trial would work, told stories of patients’ numbers improving and “positive preliminary findings.”

Impulsively she lifted her hands to the sky, feeling the breeze kiss her arms. Lord, thank You, thank You.

She rounded the corner of the barn and froze.

One of the Kennel Kids, older and at least twice Xavier’s size, loomed over him, fist raised threateningly.

“Hey!” Poised to run to her son, she felt a restraining hand on her shoulder.

“Let him try to handle it himself,” Troy said.

She yanked away. “He can’t fight that kid! Look at the size difference!”

“Just watch.” Troy’s voice was still mild, but there was a note of command that halted her. “Wendell always pulls his punches, so don’t worry.”

Clenching her fist, still primed to run to her son, she paused.

Xavier smiled up guilelessly at the other boy. “Hey, I’m sorry my ball hit you. My pitching stinks.”

“Leave him alone, Wendell. He’s just a kid.” One of the other boys put an arm around Xavier.

The bigger boy drew in a breath, and then his fisted hand dropped. “Yeah, well, don’t hit me again. Or else.”

One of the puppies jumped into the mix, and as if no threat had ever existed, the group broke into a kaleidoscope of colorful balls and yipping puppies and running boys.

As her adrenaline slowly dissipated, Angelica leaned against the wall of the barn and sank down to a sitting position.

“I want to go give Wendell some positive feedback. He’s getting better about controlling his anger.”

“I’m still working on that myself,” she snapped at him, but halfheartedly. She knew it was good for Xavier to socialize with other kids, but these rough-around-the-edges boys scared her.

She watched Troy walk over and speak briefly with Wendell and then clap him on the back. Xavier, completely unmoved by his near brush with getting the tar kicked out of him, was rolling with one of the puppies.

Taking deep breaths, she willed herself to calm down. She hated the way Troy was high-handed with her, but after all, he was right, wasn’t he? Xavier had handled the situation himself just fine and was fitting in nicely with the other boys.

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