“Push, Colette,” Abby coached. “Come on, you can do it. Push.”
The words echoed in Colette’s mind. Instantly a splintered memory filled her head….
“Push, Colette. Come on, Belinda and I can’t do it all alone.” The wagon was heavy, laden with treasures and goodies for a picnic beneath the dragon tree. Belinda and Abby were pulling and Colette was at the rear to push the wagon up the hill. But whenever her sisters weren’t looking, Colette sat on the edge of the wagon, getting a brief ride until one of them turned around and yelled at her once again.
* * *
“ICAN SEEthe head. Come on, honey. Just a little bit more,” Abby encouraged, and as she had so many years before, Colette did what her big sister bid. She drew in a deep breath, then bore down, screaming in relief as Abby shouted triumphantly and the baby cried a lusty hello to the world.
“It’s a girl,” Abby exclaimed, tears glistening in her eyes as she wiped Colette’s forehead with a damp cloth. “Oh, Colette, you did a terrific job and you’ve got a beautiful daughter.”
The doctor placed the tiny child in a blanket that smelled of sunshine and fresh air and laid her in the crook of Colette’s arms. Euphoric joy suffused Colette as she looked at the child…her daughter. A wealth of dark hair covered the little head, and solemn deep blue eyes regarded Colette in an expression something between wisdom and amusement. It wasas if the child, in the moments after birth, possessed all the answers of the universe.
With a yawn the baby nestled against the warmth of Colette’s body and closed her eyes. Fierce protectiveness welled up inside Colette and she stroked the tiny face with a gentle finger. This baby, this child, had no name and no memories, born to a mother who had no recollection of her own past. She stared at the little face, wondering if the baby resembled her daddy. Oh, God, where was the father? Why hadn’t he been with her? Who was he? Why couldn’t she remember?
Tears burned hot and she blinked them away, refusing to give in to the despair that clawed at her insides. She needed answers. More importantly, she needed to find out why she felt as if she were running from something…or someone.
* * *
DAMN HER!
Hank Cooper would have given anything to unleash the most vulgar string of curse words his twisted mind could create, but instead he sank onto a bench outside the barn. The late afternoon sun washed his back and shoulders with a balmy warmth. He half smiled sardonically, too bad the warmth would never penetrate into his soul. He’d thought she might come back here, back to her roots, back to the ranch. He was rarely wrong.
He swept his hat off his head and slapped it against his knee, his thoughts whirling like dust across the prairie. He didn’t think she’d recognized him, but he knew better than to trust her. Still, he’d seen no recognition in her eyes, not even when he’d touched her.He clenched his hand, trying not to think of that moment when his hand had gently touched her stomach.
He’d been shocked when he’d seen her get out of the taxi, her stomach protruded, her features twisted in pain. Although he’d known she was pregnant, the reality of her physical condition hadn’t hit him until he’d seen her ready to give birth.
“Hi, Hank.”
Hank looked up to see Bulldog, his round face decorated with his usual friendly smile. Hank nodded curtly, not particularly interested in company.
Bulldog sat next to Hank, the bench creaking beneath his sturdy weight. “Want one?” he asked, holding out a handful of peppermint candy. Hank shook his head. Bulldog popped several pieces into his mouth. “Colette came home,” he said, sending toward Hank the sweet scent of the candy.
“I know.”
“She’s been gone a long time. I missed her.” The tips of Bulldog’s ears reddened slightly. “I always thought she was so pretty. She had a baby.” His smile transformed into a scowl. “I hope some man didn’t wrong her. I’d kill anyone who hurt Colette.”
And I won’t let anyone get in my way,Hank thought.
“Sure you don’t want one?” Bulldog offered the candy again.
“No, thanks.”
“Well, I gotta get back to work.” Bulldog stood and smiled. The gesture lit up his moonlike face, added depth to his rather vacant gaze. “It’s gonna be nice around here with Colette back and a new baby in the house. Yes, sir, things are gonna be just fine.”
With a tuneless whistle, Bulldog waved, then strode off.
Hank watched the big man until he disappeared into the barn, then he turned his attention to the house. His hands clenched at his sides as he thought of how Colette had gotten away from him, sneaking away like a thief in the night. It amazed him that she’d honestly believed she could elude him, that he would let her slink away and forget about everything. If she thought he would just let her go, she was sadly mistaken.
His gaze sought the window of her bedroom. White curtains moved in the slight breeze but no sound drifted from the interior. Colette. And now a baby. Another problem.
Consciously he took a deep breath. That was all behind him now. She was here and he wasn’t about to lose track of her again.
* * *
AHAND STROKING HER, creating flames of delight as it touched her, caressed her. The hand was achingly familiar…a lover’s hand and Colette knew it belonged to the man she loved, her baby’s father. She struggled to open her eyes, wanting to see him, but her eyelids were too heavy. She touched his face, feeling bold features, sensual lips, the small indention in his chin.
Suddenly the hands no longer stroked, but rather imprisoned, exerting painful pressure. Fear choked her throat as she struggled to get free. “Help me,” she cried.
