Thank you, dear. After a sip, Mabel said, I hear theres a new doctor in Midland who specializes in brain problems like your mothers.
Really? Old people were afraid if they spoke the word Alzheimers out loud theyd contract the dreaded disease.
Ill find out his name before my next hair appointment.
Thatd be great, thanks. Her mothers insurance didnt cover experimental tests or medicines. Cassidy had spent hours on the phone with insurance representatives, each call ending with I wish there was more we could do, but unfortunately
The timer dinged and Cassidy rinsed the dye from Mabels hair. Next, she trimmed the ends, then retrieved a pink plastic tub of rollers from the storage cabinet. Shed put in the final roller when a truck pulled alongside the Lincoln.
Why, its Logan Taylor, Mabel said.
The cowboy sported the same somber expression hed worn earlier in the day when Cassidy had stopped by his ranch.
How long have you been cutting his hair? The gleam in Mabels eyes warned Cassidy not to say too much, lest she give the woman the idea that she and Logan had a thing goingwhich they didnt.
Logan isnt one of my clients. Mabel opened her mouth, but Cassidy cut her off. Time for the dryer.
Hello, Logan. Mabel wiggled her fingers in the air.
Feeling Mabels eyes on her, Cassidy offered a weak smile.
Logan cut through the yard, stopping outside the shed doors. Mrs. Wilson, he greeted the older woman. Then his gaze shifted to Cassidy. Do you have a minute?
Sure. She tucked Mabels head under the dryer, flipped the switch to high and lowered the hood. Hoping the noise would drown out whatever Logan had to say, she stepped outside the shed.
His shadow fell over her like a dark, menacing storm cloud. He didnt speak, which gave her a chance to study himshaggy, dark hair, cheeks covered in beard stubble and dark smudges beneath his brown eyes. Why hadnt she noticed his unkempt appearance earlier?
Because you had other things on your mind.
About that night He removed his Stetson and twirled it around his middle finger. I had too much to drink
Thats why I drove you home. That was the truthsort of.
The cowboy hat spun faster. Sodid I or did you
Neither actually. He hadnt asked her to stay nor had he asked her to leave. She hadnt offered to stay nor had she offered to leave. It just happened.
Her heart ached at the abject misery in the mans eyes. The fact that he failed to remember their lovemaking should have hurt or angered her, but she felt only sympathy for him.
I thought you should know about the baby. She sucked in a quiet breath. In case you wanted to be involved in the pregnancy. Shed hoped, prayed, fantasized that Logan would step up to the plate and be a father to their child, regardless of his feelings toward her.
His gaze wandered around the yard. Are you
The words were barely a whisper and Cassidy had trouble hearing above the hum of the hair dryer. What did you say?
Right then Mabel shut off the dryer at the same time Logan raised his voice. Are you sure the babys mine?
Mabel gasped.
Cassidy stared in shock.
Logan groaned.
Oops. The cat was out of the bag.
Chapter Two
The blood drained from Cassidys face, leaving her skin as white as the siding on the trailer. She swayed to the left, then to the right. Fearing shed topple, Logan grabbed her arm and hauled her to the trailer steps a few feet away. Put your head between your knees. He pressed his hand against the back of her neck, ignoring the silky texture of her hair.
Oh, dear. Youre feeling poorly. Mrs. Wilson rushed to Cassidys side, her plastic cape flapping in the air.
Im fine, Cassidy mumbled between her legs.
Logans nose curled at the smell of ammonia rising from the older womans head. No wonder Cassidy felt sickbreathing toxic fumes all day.
Listen, dear. Ill leave and
Give me a minute, Mabel.
If youre sure Mrs. Wilson retreated to the shed and ducked her head beneath the dryer.
Ill get you some water. Logan stepped past Cassidy and entered the trailers kitchen, then searched the cupboards for a drinking glass.
Cassidy? Are you makin all that racket?
Crap. Its Logan Taylor, Mrs. Ortiz. He poked his head around the doorway. Cassidy needs a drink of water.
Oh. The older woman glanced across the room. I dont know where Cassidy is.
Shes outside. He resumed his search.
A few seconds laterCassidy? You makin all that racket in there?
Logan Taylor, maam. He wondered if Cassidys mother knew about the baby. Logan found a glass, ran the cold tap, then headed outside. Here. He handed Cassidy the drink, before retreating to the bottom of the steps.
I dont bite. She flashed a crooked smile.
If not for the pasty color of her complexion, hed have two-stepped toward his truck and gotten the heck out of Dodge. Do you need me to take you to a doctor?
The smile vanished. I dont need you to do anything, Logan.
Fearing his presence upset her, he said, Maybe we should talk later.
Cassidy glanced at Mrs. Wilson. That might be best.
How long did old biddy hair take to style?
Give me a couple of hours, Cassidy said, reading his mind.
He doubted Mrs. Wilson had enough hair on her head to require two hours of teasing. The former schoolteacher flipped off the dryer and began removing her curlers. Ill take you out to dinner later, he said.
Color flooded Cassidys cheeks. Youre asking me out on a date?
A date? Hed already gotten her pregnant, wasnt it a little late for a date? Uh He shook his head. I was thinking along the lines of a business meeting. He didnt dare become too friendly with Cassidyshe was just too attractive for his peace of mind.
Oh. The light faded from her eyes and he felt as if hed kicked a puppy across the barnyard. Thanks, but I cant leave Mom here by herself.
Recalling the odd way Cassidys mother had behaved a few minutes ago, he asked, Is your mother ill?
For goodness sake, Logan. Mrs. Wilson formed a capital letter A with her fingers. Sonjas
He stared at the older woman, not having a clue as to what she meant.
Moms got Alzheimers, Cassidy explained.
Alzheimers? He hadnt heard. Because hed kept to himself for so long the only person he had any meaningful conversations with was Fletcher. Ill bring supper here. Logan came up with a mental list of local restaurants and bars. Tacos sound okay? Cassidy pressed her fingertips to her mouth and shook her head.
Bethany had suffered morning sickness at all times of the daythat was the only part of pregnancy Logan understood. His wife had always lost the baby before the queasiness abated. He noticed a grill near the tree. How about steaks on the cooker?
Cassidy sat up straighter. Steak sounds good.
With a nod he left. And didnt look back.
As soon as he cleared the trailer park and merged onto the highway to Junket, Logan eased up on the accelerator. Cassidys face flashed before his eyes. He hadnt meant to hurt her feelings by questioning whether or not the baby was his.
Hed known deep in his gut that he was the fatherbut hed held out hope he wasnt. Cassidys pregnancy made him feel as if hed betrayed Bethanys memory. Shed tried for years to have a baby and Cassidy had gotten pregnant during a one-night standnone of it made sense.
Learning Mrs. Ortiz had Alzheimers had taken Logan by surprise and confirmed how little he knew about Cassidys life. Cassidy had been two years behind him in school. He remembered her as a cute, shy girl hed once helped to collect the contents of her purse after it had spilled in the hallway. He couldnt recall if shed dated muchhed been too wrapped up in Bethany to pay attention to other girls.
Cursing, he gripped the wheel tighter. He intended to offer financial assistance with raising the baby but nothing more. Hed figured Cassidy would have plenty of help from family and friends. Now he questioned how shed manage her hair salon, care for an ailing mother and cope with a new baby.
You could shoulder some of the burden.
Logans subconscious slammed on the brakes. Cassidy was a sexy, beautiful woman. Spending time with her would sorely test his determination to keep his hands to himself. He blamed his elevated testosterone levels around her on the fact that he hadnt had a normal sex life in years.
Each time Bethany had become pregnant, the bedroom door had closed in his face. Shed been terrified intercourse would cause a miscarriage. As soon as shed recovered from the inevitable miscarriage hed been allowed back into the bedroom for stud duty. When Bethany had finally carried a baby through the first trimester, Logan knew he wouldnt have sex again until after the baby had been born. When Cassidy had walked into Billies Roadhouse, Logan had been celibate almost a year.
Aside from his celibacy issues, Logan had kept a dirty little secret. Ever since that September night he and Cassidy had ended up in bed together, hed fantasized about making love to hermost likely because he didnt remember the details of the first time. Hed woken the morning after to her feminine scent on his bed sheets. Hed noticed the towels on the bathroom floor but hadnt remembered taking a shower. A week later hed discovered a pair of black panties beneath the bed. Hed meant to toss the scrap of lace into the burn barrelinstead hed stuffed the lingerie in his sock drawer.
After his talk with Cassidy at dinner, Logan intended to keep his distance. He hated to get her hopes up that hed hang around for the long haul. Cassidy was young and beautiful and sexy. One day shed find a man whod marry her despite having a childLogans child.
He concentrated on the ribbon of winding road, refusing to contemplate Cassidy falling in love with another man.
Especially when a tiny part of him wanted to be that guy.
PLEASE WEAR THE YELLOW BLOUSE. Cassidy hovered in the doorway of her mothers bedroom. Logan will be here any minute for supper. And my mother is still walking around the house in her bra.
I dont want Logan to eat with us.
An hour ago you were excited about having company. Dont you remember? Cassidy muttered a curse beneath her breath. Would she ever learn to quit saying remember? Sometimes the word upset her motherother times being reminded of her memory loss didnt faze Sonja.
Wheres my blue shirt? I like the blue shirt. Her mom searched through the nightstand drawer instead of the closet. Oh, look, Cassidy. Heres my cream. She held up a tube of hand lotion. At the end of every day Cassidy searched the trailer until she found the lotion and returned it to the nightstand.
You smeared frosting on the blue shirt when you decorated the cookies. Remember.
What cookies?
Ignoring the question, Cassidy helped her mother slip into the yellow blouse, then grabbed her hand and led her to the recliner in the living room. Your show is on.
Oh, good. Her mother pointed the remote at the TV and changed channels every thirty seconds.
Meanwhile Cassidy snuck into the bathroom to brush her teeth, powder her nose and dab a light pink gloss on her lips. She refused to acknowledge how hurt shed been when Logan had asked if she was certain he had fathered her baby.
The rumble of a truck engine met her ears and she hurried outside. Dusk had descended over the trailer park, and the Millers Christmas lights blinked on and off, reminding Cassidy again that she needed to decorate before Christmas passed her by.
Out of the corner of her eye she noticed the living-room curtains flutter in Alice and Bettys trailer. Because of her mothers dementia, Cassidy never invited men over. By morning the news of Logans visittwice in one daywould have swept through town like a summer wildfire.
Junket was ripe for a new scandal. The last time folks wagged their tongues had been when Fletcher McFadden had filed for divorce from the local bankers daughter after shed admitted to an affair with a famous bull rider. The Junket Journal had carried the story on the front page.
Cassidy was well on her way to becoming Junkets new tabloid tale. Not thirty minutes after Mrs. Wilson left this afternoon, Cassidys phone had rung off the hooksuddenly everyone needed a trim or color. Shed booked twelve appointments for the following week. At least she had a few days to prepare before she was bombarded with questions.
Is Logan really the father of your baby?
How long have you two been dating?
And questions they didnt dare askDid you have an affair with Logan before Bethany died?
Are you and Logan getting married?
Hi, she greeted Logan when he approached the porch.
He set the grocery bag on the step. Hungry? The one word sent shivers down her spine. His deep voice reminded her of the husky endearments hed whispered the night theyd made love.
Starved.
If you tell me where the charcoal is, Ill start the grill.
A bag of briquettes and lighter fluid is beneath the trailer. She pointed to a section of aluminum skirt that housed a storage compartment. Ill turn on the outdoor lights.
Cassidy grabbed the grocery bag and retreated inside. She flipped the light switch, then carried the groceries into the kitchen where she noticed the name Bibbys on the bag. Cassidy and her mother never splurged at the local meat market and delicatessen. She traveled into Midland to shop at a discount grocery store chain. The bag contained steaks, twice-baked potatoes and a package of Caesar salad with dressing. She preheated the oven, then cracked open the window to allow fresh air in.
Are you digging out her Christmas decorations, young man?
Oh, dear. Cassidy peeked between the blinds and spotted her neighbors standing in their backyard.
No, maam. Were grilling steaks tonight.
Oh. Id hoped you might be helping Cassidy string Christmas lights on her trailer, Alice said.
Shes usually the first resident to decorate for the holidays. Betty chimed in. Her trailer always looks so pretty.
She didnt
Cassidy has the cutest little Rudolph with a flashing red nose. Alice wiggled her nose and giggled.
Maybe shes feeling too poorly to fuss over Christmas. Betty crossed her arms over her chest. With her being in the family way.
The gossip had already been to town and back. If the cousins knew about her pregnancy, so did everyone in the trailer park.