Page 17 of Her Cowboy Baby Daddy
“It’s not like I have no control. Ninety percent of the time, I stop and think before speaking. But that remaining ten percent can be deadly. And the bit Mr. Hunt was using on his horse was an abomination. It must have weighed a couple of pounds. Very showy. Probably a pricey antique, but that poor horse was way too young to be carrying that thing in his mouth.”
“I might have said something, too, under those circumstances.” Hayley hated it when people had no idea that they were causing an animal pain. Or worse, they knew, and didn’t care. She decided to be charitable and put Carter Hunt in the first category. His wife did give generously to Whiskers and Paw Pals.
“I just wanted you to know that sometimes I say things I shouldn’t.”
“I appreciate it.” She doubted that Andie would say anything that would grievously offend her, but one never knew.
Hayley said goodbye and left her new hand to settle in.
Tomorrow she’d pick up the water lease from Ken, then drive to the Keller Ranch to meet with Daniel Keller. She wondered if Spence would be there, since he’d been the one to put forth the issue, and she also considered the fact that she kind of wanted him to be there. Wanted to see him because... yeah. She was gratified that he’d stopped by the ranch during the windstorm.
Gratified and what else? There was more to this heady feeling she experienced while talking to the man.
Gratification and a sense of danger.
Interesting.
Hayley slowed her steps as she considered. What was threatening about Spence?
The way she reacted to him.
So it wasn’t so much Spence as herself. Again, interesting.
She was realistic with herself regarding guys; what was possible, what was not. She hadn’t seen many happily-ever-afters, and while she applauded those who managed to hold on to relationships through thick and thin, she hadn’t experienced anything like that firsthand. Certainly, her parents hadn’t set an example to follow.
Her dad never remarried after her mom left him, and it was now clear that Reba was looking for something she couldn’t find. Being beautiful in an old-school, Rita Hayworth way and financially comfortable due to an inheritance, she had a lot of guys to choose from, but she inevitably chose wrong. Each new relationship was “the one.” Then the cracks would appear, and eventually, the sledgehammer would come out, smashing the relationship to smithereens, then off Reba would go, looking for the guy who would give her a perfect life.
Fortunately, Hayley had gone to live with her father early enough in life to learn to be independent instead of guy dependent, and being a geek hadn’t hurt in that regard. She’d watched her mom from the safety of the sidelines, hoping each new stepfather would be different, only to discover that they were basically all the same. And not one of them had the ability to connect with a child—aka her. Thankfully, she had limited time with them, but each and every one of them managed to make her feel like she had a third eye or something.
She put a hand on her flat abdomen and promised her future baby that she or he wouldn’t have to deal with that shit.
Hayley went to bed early that night. Even though it was still daylight, she could see the warm glow of a light in the window of the left side of the duplex cabin. She nodded off almost immediately, jerking upright when the phone rang.
The house was dark, and she didn’t bother checking the clock as she got out of bed and made her way to the kitchen where the landline phone sat on the desk where she did her accounts.
It rang again and, heart beating faster, because late-night calls were rarely good, she picked up the receiver and said hello.
Then she said hello again.
“Do yourself a favor and keep your water on your own property.”
The line went dead.
A spark of anger ignited as Hayley set down the receiver. Really? Someone had called her late at night to warn her off?
Did... whoever... honestly think that a late-night call would sway her?
Maybe.
She was a woman alone on the ranch—or rather, she had been until bringing Andie home with her.
Who would know that she was thinking of leasing water?
She hadn’t told anyone but Ken; however, she had no idea whom the Kellers might have told.
She walked across the dark kitchen to stare out the window. She could only see the duplex cottage by craning her neck, but the lights were off. She didn’t even know why she was checking, other than idle curiosity and the need to distract herself while she got a grip.
The call was creepy, and she was reacting accordingly. Nothing wrong with that.
