Page 65 of Secret Baby
"Bye."
Vicki went down to her hands and knees and tied Clara's boots. She held out her hand, "Let's go."
Clara clasped Vicki's hand, in total trust. "Grandma will be back with Dad for lunch, so we can't spend all day. Stewball needs an apple."
Clara tugged at her to move faster. Vicki's heart lifted in her chest, and she felt lighter. They went out the back door.
"Is Stewball your horse?" Vicki wouldn't keep Clara long. Vicki had no clue about horses and hadn't visited the stalls. Now, as her muscles relaxed, Vicki wanted to see all of her daughter's life.
"Grandma helped me name her when she was born." Clara ran ahead into the side structure that must be a barn. "This way, Mommy."
Mommywas a great word. Vicki quickened her pace, until they walked into the barn. The overwhelming smell made her nose curl. Despite the smell of manure, Vicki's smiled from one look at how animated her daughter became near the horse. The bop of her blonde hair was all Vicki needed to see. She'd figure out a way to stay.
"Mom, you're not over here. Come faster."
Vicki rushed to the stall and saw a miniature horse. A grin grew on her face.
Colt was a good father and a good man. He was worth waiting for.
Patience was a virtue she'd somehow figure out.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
After his mother left to run an errand, Colt finished with his double check of every security measure on his farm. No one else would dare set foot on his property. He brushed past a line of trees in his truck, peered through the fence, and saw a small crowd of reporters gathered across the street. Clearly her brother Peter hadn't called everyone off yet.
The local news was usually about someone bleeding, but today they waited outside his house like Colt, Vicki, or Belle had done something wrong.
Colt turned his truck around and went back to the house.
He parked his truck and stared through the windows of his house. The fog in his brain wouldn't let Vicki's discussion of love go. He had to think of what he could do to convince her that she was part of their family, and she needed to stay right here, on the farm, with him.
It was a tall order. He stared at his calloused hands and kicked the dirt under his feet as he climbed out. He never should have agreed to marry Belle in the first place. It was his fault she was in the hospital.
Afternoon rain clouds formed. He swallowed. The moment he took the first step onto the porch, his phone rang. He read the caller identification. Belle. He stepped off the porch, returned closer to his truck, and answered, "Hello."
"Hey, I'm still in the hospital while they run a few more tests on me, but I've been watching the news. Are you okay?"
"I'm fine. I shouldn't have called you the other day in a panic. Vicki took my sister to the doctor's. She hadn't run off."
"I'm happy for you, then."
He should at least ensure she made it back to Washington in one piece. She was his responsibility. "Do you want me to come see you?"
"You don't have to. Look, none of this might be true or it might all be. I have to ask. The news is saying Vicki Morgan used you to drive a wedge in her relationship with her father years ago, and then took off without a care for some world tour. I wanted to check on you and make sure you want to do this."
"Don't believe everything you read." His voice cracked. Their breakup scene left his gut cold. "I'm going to come over tomorrow. It will be good to see you."
"Okay. I'll look forward to it, Collins."
For years, Belle had been the one that stood by him. Belle had always called him his last name, but at least she was dependable. Vicki was unpredictable. Her blonde hair passed near one of the windows of the barn, and his heart beat twice as fast. She should be in the house and not with the horses. He had no idea what Belle said, but he said, "Bye, then."
She sighed. "Bye."
He ended the call, and walked toward the barn and Vicki. He searched through the stalls then saw her next to Clara, as they fed Clara's miniature horse.
With a giggle on her lips, Vicki called out, "Colt, our baby girl has me feeding the animals."
"Good. Everyone works on the farm." His lips tingled to kiss her, though he kept the feeling to himself.
