Page 15 of Lone Star Longing
“I’m not telling anyone until I absolutely have to,” she said. “I don't want everyone talking.”
“They’re going to. It’s a small town, and they don't have anything else to do.”
“I hate that my child is going to be judged for my mistake.”
“Lace.” He put his hand on her arm. “You know you don't have to stay here. You can go to San Antonio, or Houston, anywhere. You don't have to stay on my account.”
“For that matter, you don't have to stay here, either.”
“I like it here. I like the house, I like the landscape, I like the people, for the most part.” Once he’d retired from the Air Force, he’d gone to work for the power company, but he was on medical leave from that now. He was also on the town council, and he loved being an integral part of the town he’d chosen.
She pulled into the driveway. It was a good house. Bright and cheery. She’d moved back in when Jesse was deployed because her dad needed help, and it just made sense to save the money. And while she’d been afraid she would fall into the old patterns of childhood, she hadn’t. She found it really peaceful, actually.
She didn't know if there was room for her child, though. She was going to have to start thinking about that. Her father had turned the bedroom her brothers had shared into his office. She was in her old bedroom, the one she’d shared with her sister. She didn't want to ask for extra space for the baby, but she also worried about living alone with a newborn.
She walked around the car to help her dad out, but instead of leaning on her as he’d been doing, he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her head to his shoulder. The scent of him brought so many comforting memories that she let go of the tension she’d been holding onto, and burst into tears, soaking the sleeve and front of his shirt with them. He cupped his hand around the back of her head.
“We’ve got this. We’re going to make this a happy thing. We’re going to welcome your baby and make him or her the most spoiled little baby in Broken Wheel. In Texas. We’ve got this, Lace.”
Chapter Five
HOLY HELL, BECK WASnot having any luck hiring anyone to come out to his mom’s. Most stated that they were overworked, or that her house was too far. Not like he had a huge selection to choose from, about four guys in town, since a lot of men had left town to go make money in the oil fields.
He needed to get to Las Vegas by Thursday night at the latest, and he was fifteen hours away. He was just going to have to do what he could the next two days himself, head to Vegas tomorrow afternoon, then come back later if he could.
The problem with that plan was that Riley was heading to California next, and Beck couldn't exactly fly back to Broken Wheel. There were no airports within two hours of here. Yeah, there was an airfield, but even Riley didn't have money for a private plane, and Beck wouldn’t ask for it, anyway.
So he had a day and a half to figure something out, to prioritize what needed to be done in the house.
Plumbing inspection first, just to make sure his mother was able to use the toilet safely without falling through the damn floor. Then there were those boards on the front porch. He didn't think she went outside all that much, but he didn't want her to go through, either.
Okay. He’d figure out how to tighten up the toilet first, fix the leak on the sink and tub that were leaving rust stains on the enamel.
He headed to the only hardware store in town. He hadn’t been to Nazareth Hardware in years. The place showed some neglect, considering they sold all the supplies they’d need to fix it up. The overhang was sagging on a post that was warped and unpainted. The front windows, all glass, were dusty and pitted from the desert sand blowing against them.
He pushed in the glass door that dragged along the concrete floor, making a racket of the stiff, discordant bell that hung overhead. He tried to disguise the fact that the sound made him jump, but he was pretty sure the three men standing at the corner saw.
