For His Daughter's Sake
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Stella Bagwell
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Chapter One
Callie Sheldrick carefully hid a bored yawn behind her hand as she watched Melanie Driscoll, the honoree of tonight’s bridal shower, open one of the many gift-wrapped boxes stacked on a decorated table.
“An air fryer! I can’t wait to try this!” Melanie exclaimed. “When Gabe asks for fried food, I won’t have to remind him about the fat and extra calories!”
Several of the women seated in a semicircle around the table where the pretty blonde was busily tearing into another gift began talking at once, extolling the virtues of the air fryer. Until the next gift emerged and more squeals of delight and claps of approval rippled through the shower guests.
“A blender!” Angela, the mother of the groom, chimed out. “How perfect! Now you can make all kinds of smoothies for you and Gabe!”
Callie rolled her eyes toward the ceiling and wondered if there was something wrong with her. Why were these women getting so excited over kitchen gadgets that would probably end up doing little more than collecting dust?
In all fairness, Callie might get excited about kitchen appliances if she knew how to cook. But she was totally lost when it came to preparing food, and the fact didn’t bother her in the least. Besides, she wasn’t the one getting married, she thought glumly. No, she was one of the few women left in Bronco, Montana, who wasn’t wearing an engagement ring or, for that matter, even dating anyone.
“That’s the second time you’ve yawned in the past five minutes,” Vanessa Cruise said in a low voice next to Callie’s ear. “Didn’t you get enough sleep last night?”
Callie glanced at her friend and roommate. Vanessa would probably be the next to have a wedding shower. The pretty brunette wasn’t engaged with a ring yet, but she suspected Vanessa’s boyfriend, Jameson John, would most likely surprise her with a sparkler any day now.
Stifling a sigh, Callie tried not to think that sooner, rather than later, Vanessa would be Jameson’s wife and living on his ranch. Callie didn’t want to dwell on the thought of her roommate moving out of the apartment. And she definitely didn’t want to think about how her own boyfriend had ended their relationship and skipped town right before Christmas. Now that it was August and months had slipped by, she’d gotten over the sting of Zach’s rejection. But that hardly meant she wasn’t lonely.
She was, in fact, very lonely.
“Oh, I thought I had hidden the yawns behind my hand. Sorry. I hope no one else noticed. Especially Mel. This is her special night. And it is a beautiful shower.” Callie gestured around the elaborately furnished den on the Ambling A. “This house isn’t a ranch house. From what I’ve seen, it’s more like a modern-day castle with a Western flair. And this room has been turned into a fairyland with all the decorations. The flowers alone must have cost a fortune.”
“It’s all gorgeous,” Vanessa agreed. “The pink and coral color scheme is dreamy. I’m betting those are the colors Mel has chosen to use at her wedding.”
“With the wedding at the end of the month, she must be going crazy with all the planning right now. Especially when it will be a fairy-tale event.”
“Anything less wouldn’t be fitting for an Abernathy,” Vanessa told her. “And then we’ll have Jordan Taylor and Camilla Sanchez’s wedding to look forward to.”
Callie’s sigh was wistful. “It’s really incredible how many couples here in Bronco have paired off this past year.”
Two middle-aged women sitting a short distance from Callie and Vanessa must’ve heard them discussing engagements and weddings. Both glanced in Callie’s direction before exchanging conspiratorial smiles.
“It’s good that Gabe is getting married, but it’s high time someone finds a nice girl for his cousin, Tyler Abernathy,” one of the women said.
“Why, you can take one look at the man and see that he needs a good woman in his life,” the second woman replied.
Callie avoided glancing at the talkative pair, even though she was shocked by their comments.
Back in July, at the Bronco Barbecue during the Fourth of July celebration, Callie had taken notice of Tyler Abernathy. He’d been helping his four brothers run the booth for Abernathy Meats. Tall, with very dark hair and a somber expression, he had a quality that had caught Callie’s attention. But then she’d dared to take a second glance and that’s when she’d noticed he was carrying a baby in a BabyBjörn, and wearing a wedding band on his left hand. Now these women were saying he needed a wife? It was scandalous!
Confused, Callie glanced over at Vanessa to ask whether she knew the details of Tyler’s marital status, but her roommate was caught up in a conversation with Cassidy Ware, the perky young blonde who owned Bronco Java and Juice in downtown Bronco Heights.
“Such a sad situation.” One of the women across the way spoke again. “Losing his wife in a car accident when little Maeve was only three months old. I don’t know how the young man has been able to hold himself together.”
“I’ll tell you how,” a third woman sitting beside them interjected. “The Abernathys are strong stock. The family won’t allow Tyler to fall apart. He has those four strapping brothers to help him out.”
“Yes, but brothers can’t replace a wife,” one said. “And if you ask me, Tyler’s quite a catch.”
A few of the women who’d jumped into the conversation agreed with the idea of Tyler being a catch. But two of the older women near them shook their heads.
“I can’t see it. Changing diapers and walking the floor with a crying baby. That’s no way for a new wife to start a marriage.”
“Right,” the other agreed. “She’d end up being a glorified babysitter. Not a real wife. And Tyler’s only been a widower for six months. The last thing on his mind is finding a new love.”
Callie tried to ignore the gossiping voices as her mind whirled with the fact that Tyler was a widower. How terrible for him and for his daughter. The little girl would never know her biological mother.
Oh Lord, Callie should be ashamed for ever being attracted to the man in the first place. But she’d truly not known about the tragic situation.
Needing a moment to compose herself, she leaned her head toward Vanessa’s. “I’m going to the powder room.”
Her friend frowned. “Are you okay? You look pale.”
In spite of feeling a bit shaken, she said, “I’m fine. I’ll be right back.”
With Melanie continuing to open the stack of festively wrapped gifts, no one noticed Callie’s slipping away. At least, she didn’t think anyone had noticed. But as soon as she left the powder room to return to the den, ninety-four-year-old Winona Cobbs, the town’s psychic, waylaid her.
This evening the woman was dressed in her usual flamboyant style. A red-and-white-striped jumpsuit with billowy legs and sleeves swallowed her tiny figure, while a headband covered with red silk flowers held her long white hair back from her face.
She said, “Let’s go sit a minute, Callie.”
Callie was trying to think of a polite excuse to hurry back to the party, but words failed her as Winona’s frail hand grabbed her by the forearm and led her over to a pair of chairs near the refreshment table.
Since Winona’s consulting business had moved inside the Bronco Ghost Tours offices where Callie worked as administrative assistant to Evan Cruise, she saw the old woman coming and going every day. But Winona had never done anything more than say hello or lift a hand in greeting. Why had she chosen tonight to corner Callie?
“I really hate to miss seeing Melanie open the last of her gifts,” Callie said politely. “Did you have something important to tell me? Something about Evan?”
With a vague smile on her wrinkled face, Winona patted the back of Callie’s hand. “This isn’t about my great-grandson. This is about you, Callie. You need to be aware that the time has come.”
Really? For what? The refreshments to be served? Callie tried not to look any more bored than she had when Melanie had pulled out the air fryer. “I don’t understand. The time has come for what?”
Winona gave her a knowing nod. “When it happens, you’ll understand. The signal is strong. I can feel it.”
Callie found it hard to believe that people actually consulted Winona for psychic readings. They could probably make just as much sense from a fortune cookie, she thought.
Smiling wanly, she decided the only thing to do was to placate the old woman. “I wish I could feel it like you’re feeling it.”
Winona’s eyes were sparkling, as though she were eyeing a pot of gold. “You will, Callie. You’re not feeling the signal now because you’re fighting it. But don’t be afraid.”
Why should she be afraid? Was the signal coming from an alien planet? she wanted to ask Winona. “Afraid of what?” Callie had to query.
Confident she’d gotten the message across, Winona rose. “Everything will be clear—in time.”
With those parting words, Winona went on her way. Callie stared after her for a moment, then, with a confused shake of her head, hurriedly returned to her seat next to Vanessa.
“Have you been in the powder room all this time?” her friend asked. “I was about to come looking for you.”
Callie whispered under her breath, “I was on my way back when your great-grandmother waylaid me. I couldn’t get away from her. Not without seeming rude.”
Vanessa arched a brow at her. “Winona? What did she want with you?”
“If I ever figure it out, I’ll let you know,” Callie said wryly, then inclined her head toward Melanie, who was still ripping open gifts. “What did I miss? More kitchen appliances?”
“A toaster oven, a steam iron and a set of cast-aluminum cookware.”
Callie tried not to grimace. “Sounds like Mel will be able to spend days in the kitchen and never have to come out.”
Vanessa frowned at her. “Why, Callie, where is that sarcasm coming from? Aren’t you happy for Mel and Gabe?”
“Of course, I’m happy for them,” Callie said, hating herself for sounding so childish. “And I’m sorry if I sound petulant. To be honest, I’m feeling a bit left out. All of you have someone, Van. A man standing proudly at your side—loving you and planning a future with you. I suppose I’m wondering if I’ll ever find my once-in-a-lifetime love, or if I’m destined to always be alone.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. Mr. Right is going to come along for you, and soon. I just have a feeling.”
Callie rolled her brown eyes. “You’re beginning to sound more like your great-grandmother every day.”
Vanessa laughed. “Maybe mystic powers run in the family.”
Attending his cousin’s party tonight at DJ’s Deluxe was the last thing Tyler Abernathy had wanted to do.
Already exhausted from herding calves to the branding chute all morning, not to mention seeing after his baby daughter for the remainder of the day, he hadn’t felt like driving into Bronco to meet his brothers and friends at the fancy barbecue place. But his cousin Gabe was getting married at the end of the month and, while Melanie was enjoying a bridal shower, Gabe was having his own little celebration with the guys. And Tyler could hardly blame him. It wasn’t every day that a man married the woman of his dreams.
To make this day even worse, since Tyler’s mother and all his female cousins were attending the bridal shower at the Ambling A this evening, there’d been no one to babysit Maeve. Not that taking his daughter with him was anything unusual. Since Luanne’s death six months ago, he’d taken Maeve with him practically everywhere. Having her with him at the party was really nothing new. And, so far, his daughter had been a good baby.
Having decided a change of venue was in order, the group of men had exited DJ’s Deluxe and headed out to the Ambling A. Tyler had considered saying his goodbyes and driving on home to the Flying A, the ranch owned and operated by his parents and their five sons, but he’d not wanted to look like a party-pooper.
Now as Tyler entered the den of the Ambling A, carrying his nine-month-old daughter in the crook of his left arm, he glanced around the room crammed full of women. Obviously, he was the first guy from the party at DJ’s to arrive and he felt like a fish out of water.
He was scanning the room, trying to locate an inconspicuous place for him and Maeve to park for a few minutes, when he noticed a young brunette looking straight at him. However, as soon as Tyler turned his gaze directly on her, she shyly glanced away.
She looked vaguely familiar, but if he’d met her before, he didn’t recall it. That was hardly a surprise. These past months had been a blurred nightmare for Tyler. Faces, names, even time, didn’t really register with him.
“Hey, Tyler!”
He looked in the direction of the voice calling out his name and spotted his cousin motioning him to join her in a corner of the room away from the refreshment table, where many of the women were helping themselves to cake and punch.
After working his way through the female crowd, Tyler sank into a padded folding chair next to his cousin, then let out a weary sigh as he carefully set Maeve on the floor next to her baby daughter, Josie.
“Hi, Tyler. How’s it going?” Erica asked.
“I’m okay. And you?”
She regarded him with a keen eye. “I’m doing great. But I’m guessing it would be safe to say you’ve had a long day.”
His pretty blond cousin had married Morgan Dalton, a local rancher, back in November and, a few weeks later, she’d given birth to Josie. The little girl was the same age as his Maeve and both were similar in size. But there was a huge difference in the two babies. Josie was usually happy and laughing. Maeve’s personality was totally unpredictable. She might be giggling one moment and crying angrily the next.
“It feels like this day has gone on forever,” Tyler said. “I just left Gabe’s party at DJ’s Deluxe.”
With a look of concern, his cousin studied him closely. “And you took Maeve with you? That couldn’t have been much of a party for you.”
“No matter,” he said. “I only went for Gabe’s sake. Not for fun.”
Erica grimaced. “I don’t suppose you do much of anything for fun. You know, Tyler, you really do need help with Maeve.”
He handed Maeve a small stuffed animal from the diaper bag he’d carried in with him. The baby let out a happy coo and drew the little black-and-white kitty straight to her mouth.
“Maeve is my responsibility, Erica. I promised Luanne I’d take care of her, and I can’t let her down.”
“Luanne is gone, Tyler,” Erica said gently. “But I imagine if she could see you now, wearing yourself razor-thin, she wouldn’t be happy.”
Erica was right. His late wife wouldn’t be happy, Tyler thought ruefully. While Luanne had been alive, she’d been angry with him during most of their marriage. He’d never been able to make her happy.
“Mom and all my cousins, including you, are here at the shower. I didn’t have anyone to babysit.”
“You could’ve dropped Maeve off at a childcare center in town before you went to DJ’s,” Erica suggested. “I think there’s one that has late hours.”
Tyler scowled at her. “While I watched the guys eat barbecue and down beers? That wasn’t going to happen.”
He’d barely gotten the remark out when the sound of male voices entering the den caught everyone’s attention. Glancing over his right shoulder, he watched his brothers and Gabe laugh and banter their way to a table displaying unwrapped gifts.
“Looks like that bunch is feeling good. Maybe you should’ve had a few rounds with them. At least it might have put a smile on your face,” Erica suggested.
“No alcohol for me. I have enough trouble staying awake as it is.” Swinging his gaze back to his daughter, he noticed her crawling away. He quickly sat her back at his feet and fetched a teething ring from the diaper bag. She took the bright red rubber ring, but he doubted it would keep her pacified for very long.
Not caring that the party was far from over, or what anyone would think of his leaving early, Tyler decided he would give Melanie and Gabe his best wishes and then take his daughter home.
As that resolving thought formed in his head, he glanced over to his left and saw her—the brunette—again. Even though she was standing with her back to Tyler, he recognized the brown wavy hair and petite figure dressed in a summery pink dress that floated around her knees.
“Who’s the woman with Vanessa Cruise? She looks familiar, but I can’t place her,” Tyler said to Erica.
His cousin glanced in the direction of the two women. “That’s Callie Sheldrick. And you ought to recognize her. She’s Evan’s administrative assistant for Bronco Ghost Tours. I’ll call her over.”
“Uh—no, that’s okay. Don’t bother her,” Tyler said quickly, wishing he’d kept his mouth shut.
Ignoring his protest, Erica quickly motioned for the woman’s attention. “Callie! Over here!”
As the young woman made her way across, Tyler rose politely.
“I called you over because I thought you might want to meet one of Gabe’s cousins,” Erica told Callie. “He thinks he might’ve met you before.”
Tyler watched a pair of big brown eyes turn in his direction and, as her gaze settled on his face, felt a most unusual punch to his gut.
“Oh, you probably saw me last month at the Fourth of July barbecue. You and your brothers were running a booth—selling Abernathy meats.”
Tyler quickly searched his memory, but for the life of him, couldn’t recall seeing this pretty brunette that day. But it wasn’t like him to take a second glance at any woman. In fact, he’d only noticed this one tonight because she’d been openly staring at him. Until she’d realized he’d spotted her, and then she’d looked away as though she’d been caught with her hand in the cookie jar.
“I, uh...maybe that’s where I saw you,” he said finally, frowning. “Did we talk? Uh, to each other, I mean?”
Red color was seeping into her cheeks and Tyler could see that she was embarrassed for some reason. Because it was obvious he couldn’t remember meeting her? Or because she hadn’t forgotten seeing him?
“No,” she replied. “You and your brothers were very busy that day. I was there at your booth with a friend. That’s all. No big deal.”
Seeing Maeve was about to crawl off again, he picked her up and settled her in the crook of one arm before he thrust a hand out to the woman. “Well, I’m Tyler Abernathy and this little mover and shaker is my daughter, Maeve.”
The brunette barely touched her hand to his and Tyler wondered if she was always this shy or if something about him was putting her off.
“Nice to meet you,” she murmured. “I’m Callie Sheldrick.”
She turned her gaze on Maeve and, as if on cue, his daughter burst out crying.
The woman took a step back, as though her presence had brought on Maeve’s loud cries. “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to disturb the baby.”
Frowning, Tyler automatically bounced Maeve up and down in an effort to quiet her, while Callie continued to back farther away.
“Maeve’s crying has nothing to do with you, Callie.”
“Sorry,” she said and then, with a shake of her head, turned and hurried away.
Totally confused, Tyler glanced at Erica. Because Maeve had started to cry, Josie had become upset and crawled into her mother’s lap and was whimpering for attention. Great, he thought. As usual, his ineptness at fatherhood was causing a mess all around.
“What was that all about?” Tyler asked. “She looked like she thought Maeve was going to morph into a little monster.”
Erica batted one hand through the air. “Callie isn’t that experienced with babies. Little ones like ours make some people nervous. Why don’t you take Maeve over and get her some cake or punch?”
“And put her on a sugar high? I’ll never get her to sleep tonight.”
Laughing, Erica shook her head. “Tyler, you desperately need to lighten up on yourself and Maeve. A few sips of punch or a bite of cake isn’t going to send your daughter on a rampage. This is a party. Let her enjoy it.”
Lighten up. Enjoy. Have fun. These past few months, he’d heard those very same words from his parents and brothers. Deep down, he understood they were well-meaning and even right. But how was he supposed to feel joy while his mind and heart were riddled with guilt?
The time has come. Ever since Winona had sat her down and plied her with prophetic quips, Callie had wondered what they could possibly mean. Now, after meeting Tyler Abernathy, she’d figured out one of them. The time had come for her to make a big fool of herself.
Callie had always been on the shy side, but not enough to make her sound tongue-tied or loopy. Yet the moment she’d looked into Tyler’s blue eyes, something had gone haywire. Not one coherent thought had been able to form in her head. And then when his baby had taken one look at her and burst into tears, she’d felt so embarrassed she’d wanted to run and hide.
That had been ten minutes ago and she’d come to the conclusion that she wasn’t going to see this party to the end. Callie had driven Vanessa out here to the ranch, but she figured her roommate wouldn’t have any trouble catching a ride back into town with some of their other friends.
With that thought in mind, Callie stood on tiptoes and began searching the crowd for Vanessa.
“Lost something?”
The question came in the form of a male voice that sounded vaguely familiar. Callie’s heart thumped wildly as she slowly turned to see Tyler standing directly behind her. A faint smile was on his face, while the baby girl in his arms looked at Callie and let out a happy shriek.
Don’t make a fool of yourself again, Callie. Just keep your cool and don’t let him guess that something about him makes your pulse skyrocket.
“Not exactly. I was looking for my roommate,” she told him. “To tell her I was thinking of going home.”
“Oh. Looks like things here are still going strong,” he said. “You might miss something.”
Like seeing Melanie open more kitchen appliances or fancy linens to go on the bride and groom’s bed, Callie thought wryly. For some reason she couldn’t quite explain, the thought made her feel even more lonely and sad.
“Believe me, Mel will never miss me.”
He smiled and Callie could feel her heart make a weird lurch beneath her breast.
“She or Gabe wouldn’t miss me, either. But Erica insists I need to stay and enjoy myself.”
“Are you? Uh, going to stay longer?” she asked.
He shrugged. “Only for a few more minutes. I wanted to find you—to apologize for Maeve upsetting you with her crying.”
“Oh no. I should be apologizing to you for making her cry. Until I walked up, she appeared perfectly happy.”
He grunted with amusement. “Believe me, you didn’t cause all that bawling. She does that quite often and I never know what triggers it.”
“Really? I thought it was me. I’m glad it wasn’t.”
He smiled again and the expression made his features even more handsome.
“See, neither one of us has anything to apologize for,” he said.
She smiled back at him then glanced tentatively at the baby. The little girl was truly adorable with the few light brownish-blond curls covering the top of her head and wisps around her angelic face. Her blue eyes were like her father’s. So were the dimples denting both cheeks. But other than that, Callie didn’t see a lot of resemblance between the two.
“I guess not,” she said to him. Spotting Vanessa across the room, she added, “I see my friend. I’d better go catch up with her. Nice talking with you, Tyler.”
He inclined his head toward her. “Good night, Callie. Be sure and drive home safely.”
“Of course.”
As he turned and disappeared into the crowd, it dawned on Callie that his advice must have stemmed from the loss of his wife. Obviously, he was still grieving for the woman he’d loved, she thought sadly. And any woman who attempted to step into Tyler Abernathy’s life at this point would end up competing with a ghost.
One more reason Callie needed to forget the sexy rancher.
