Chapter Two
This babysitting business wasn’t so hard.
Okay, so he’d fumbled the first two diapers and ruined the sticky tabs, but the kid had one on his backside and was dry, right? The baby laid in the middle of the floor on one of the blankets, cooing to himself and practicing flipping back and forth and shaking his toy keys.
Justus leaned back on the couch and sipped his sweet tea. Yep, easy. He didn’t want to do it again anytime soon, but—
The kid squawked, and Justus stared at him. “What’s the matter?” he asked, as if the child could answer.
His face crumpled and he started to whimper. Then full out cry.
Sighing, Justus set aside his tea on a coaster so his aunt wouldn’t kill him for leaving a water ring on the shiny wood. Then he got on the floor to look at the baby. His face was getting red and he was kicking faster.
Finally, it seemed the time had come to heat a bottle of milk and feed him.
When he was a young teen, one of the horses had died after foaling and they’d had to take turns getting up in the night to feed the newborn. This couldn’t be much different.
Scooping up the babe, he grabbed the bag and went to the kitchen. Working with one hand, he managed to find a saucepan and fill it with water while bouncing the crying child in one arm. Then he placed the pot on the stove burner and rested the bottle in the water.
He held the baby up to look out the window. “See that garden? Good things out there for you if you’d stop drinking milk and have some real food. Corn and carrots and beets. Well, maybe not beets.”
The baby’s face was twisted in anger.
“I don’t blame ya. Sucks having to wait on a bottle.” He pulled it from the pan and gave it a shake. It still felt cool. Too cool for the kid to drink? He didn’t want to risk it getting too hot then waiting for it to cool, which would only tick the baby off more.
“Here goes.” He held the nipple over the baby’s mouth and he opened like a baby bird. Justus stuffed it in and he began to gulp.
Justus drifted back to the living room to sit and feed him. Just then, the front door opened. Relief walloped him, and he shot to his feet, infant still cradled in his arm, mouth plugged with the nipple.
“Thank God,” he said when he spotted his sister-in-law Lilah.
Her eyes popped. “What are you doing with a baby?”
The next woman in the door was his cousin Beck’s wife Sabrina, carrying one of their kids. “Oh jeez, Justus, we didn’t know you’d come. Is that Joshua James?”
He looked from the women down to the baby in his hold. He shrugged.
“You don’t know?” Sabrina asked, gaping.
“Some crazy woman knocked on the door, said she was late and thrust this baby at me. I don’t know his name or his mother’s.”
Sabrina set down her child and walked over to look at the baby. She nodded. “That’s Joshua James.” She turned to look at Lilah.
“Tuesday must have gotten into a bind and none of us were here to help out.”
Tuesday. The mother’s name was Tuesday.
“Did she say when she’ll be back?”
He shook his head. The baby turned his head, breaking the suction on the bottle and began to squirm again.
“He needs burped,” Sabrina said, reaching for him.
Justus gladly relinquished the baby—Joshua James—to a more equipped female and stepped back. Just then, Aunt Maggie came through the door, a little one in tow. She spotted him and her mouth spread into a grin.
“Justus, we didn’t know you were coming!” She released the child’s hand and came to embrace him. But before she reached him, she saw the baby. “Who’s this?”
“Joshua James, Tuesday’s son.” Sabrina had him over her shoulder, patting his back with a thumping that made Justus wonder if she was being too rough.
What was he thinking? He didn’t know a damn thing about babies.
Except now he did, after Tuesday’s crash course. When he’d decided to come to the ranch, he never would have guessed his first job duty would be feeding and diapering.
Sabrina explained the situation, and Aunt Maggie smirked. “Your first brush with a baby, I’m sure.”
He tugged his hat down lower. “Don’t rightly want to do it again anytime soon.”
She chuckled. “Come along, Arianna. We’ll get you that drink you asked for in the car. Cousin Justus has come to visit us, isn’t that nice?” She led the girl into the kitchen, leaving Justus to watch Sabrina get a burp from the baby and then pass him back and forth with the other women, smiling and fussing over him.
Sabrina looked at him. “You’ve managed to keep both of you alive. That’s half the battle won.”
He snorted. “Thanks.”
She patted his shoulder. “You’ve done great, Justus. But you can go on outside. I know you’re dying to. We’ll take care of Joshua James.”
He didn’t need asked twice and strode for the door. The instant he hit the porch, he let out a huge sigh of relief. Man, that had been a tense hour.
He jumped the porch steps and walked to the barn, following male voices. Thank God for familiar territory. Hanging with the guys and talkin’ ranchin’ was more his speed.
His brother, Easton, turned at his approach. His eyes widened. “Look who’s here. We were just unloading feed before coming in for some lunch.”
“Good—I’ll help.” He relished the physical labor of unloading heavy sacks and stacking them in a dry area. Uncle Ted clapped him on the shoulder.
“Nice surprise. What brought you today?”
He wasn’t quite ready to discuss this morning he’d spent with the new manager of the Double J and being let go. He hadn’t processed it fully.
“Had some free time and thought I’d have a visit. If you’ve got the room for me.”
Uncle Ted laughed. “You know we do, son. Big house sitting empty with all the boys gone off to their own homes.”
“I hope there’s some work I can do too. Just for a few days,” he added, but his uncle’s sharp gaze, so like Justus’s own father’s, registered the situation.
He studied Justus for a moment before giving a single nod. “Always work around here. Let’s get to it.”
He, Easton and his uncle carried the rest of the feed into the barn. When they were finished, they headed inside. Aunt Maggie was getting too much help from the grandchildren in making lunch. Little Arianna had a knife stuck deep in a jar of mayonnaise and was licking off her messy fingers while her little brother Carter was busy pulling slices of bread from a bag for sandwiches.
At their entrance, Aunt Maggie nodded to the sink. “Wash up. It’s just sandwiches for lunch today.”
“Roast beef I hope,” Easton said, planting a kiss on Lilah’s cheek as he passed her on his way to the sink.
“You spoiled men always get what you want for meals.” Lilah shoved at his shoulder, and he laughed.
Justus waited his turn with the soap and water, and his gaze floated to the baby Sabrina was holding.
“Whose kid?” Easton asked.
“It’s Tuesday’s,” Lilah answered.
“Do I know a Tuesday?” he asked, lathering up.
“The new woman in town, just moved into that apartment above the hardware store.”
“Oh yeah. Saw her up at Witt and Shelby’s coupla weeks ago.”
Justus followed this exchange but didn’t ask questions.
Such as whether or not the woman was off her meds.
He washed up and dried his hands. When he passed Sabrina on the way to a seat at the table, the baby looked up, saw him and reached out.
He stopped.
“Awww, Justus, he wants you.” Sabrina held him up.
He gave a shake of his head. “I’m good.”
The guys stared at him. Easton wore that crooked grin that always irritated Justus, because he knew his brother was about to have a go at him.
“How are you acquainted with Tuesday’s baby?” Easton asked, sitting and reaching for one of the sandwiches that had somehow made it to the platter on the table.
“She knocked on the door and tossed the kid at me. Said something about hair and being late.”
Sabrina was nodding. “Yes, she’s a hairstylist. A well-known one too, for being here such a short time.”
“I heard she’s been hired by Kelsey Kramer,” Lilah added.
Everyone looked at her.
“Who’s that?” Justus asked.
“The reining Miss Texas. Jeez, don’t you guys see any newspapers or watch the news?”
“Unless it’s got to do with the price of cattle, they don’t pay attention, dear,” Aunt Maggie added, patting her husband’s arm with a gentle smile.
“You know,” Justus drawled, shooting a glance their way, “it’s a wonder you still love each other so much. You’ve been married since Adam and Eve walked the Earth.”
“Oh, you naughty nephew!” Aunt Maggie cried.
Uncle Ted pointed his sandwich at him. “Watch who you’re calling old. Someday you’ll be sitting at your own table being told you’ve been married since the beginning of time.” He smiled at his wife. “At least I got me a good one. Fifty year anniversary comin’ up.”
Justus bit into his sandwich. Around a mouthful, he said, “Yep, forever.”
Aunt Maggie threw a pickle at him, which he plucked off the table and bit into. The little kids giggled at their behavior, and next Carter threw his pickle.
“See what you’ve started?” Sabrina admonished Justus with a pointed look.
He shook his head. “It wasn’t me. I was cleaning up Aunt Maggie’s mess.”
The kids laughed some more, and then the baby began to cry.
“I think he needs a diaper change,” Sabrina said. “Justus, why don’t you do the honors since you’re causing problems?”
He arched a brow. “I thought my duties were done. Besides, you’ve gotta be faster at it than I am. I don’t know how you deal with those sticky tabs and the kid’s squirming.”
Grinning, she got up, jiggling the upset boy in her arms. “I’ll be right back then. Men!” she said on the way past him.
“When will Tuesday be back for the baby?” Aunt Maggie asked.
He lifted his shoulder in a shrug. “Dunno. I wasn’t here five minutes before she pulled in, gave me the kid and left in a trail of dust.”
“Must have been in a hurry. Poor girl is struggling to find childcare, from what I hear.” Aunt Maggie poured herself another glass of sweet tea from the pitcher. Ice cubes jingled against the glass. “How long will you be with us, Justus?”
Her question, though casual, felt like a smack in the face. He pressed his lips together, the bread suddenly dry in his throat.
His philosophy had always been the truth was best and it was better to get it over with fast.
He swallowed and chased the bite with a swallow of tea. “The Double J let me go this morning.”
Easton’s gaze shot to him. Of anyone, his brother would know the difficult time he was having, since he’d been put on probation once at the oil rig after making a mistake.
Justus cleared his throat. “New buyer came in, let most of the crew go.”
Uncle Ted set down his glass. “Why would they do that? Workers know that ranch inside and out. Makes no sense to me.”
“Me either, Uncle Ted. I guess they wanted loyalty and figured those of us who’d been there a long time wouldn’t give it.”
“Still a damn shame. Well, there’s always work here, as I said.”
“’Preciate it.”
Sabrina returned toting the happy baby. Talk turned from Justus’s job—or lack of—and onto the day’s work. Justus looked at the faces around the table, grateful to be out of the spotlight but at the same time so happy to have the old familiar comfort of the ranch. He’d made the right decision in coming here.
They headed out into the field on horseback and there he met up with his other brother Ford and some more of his cousins. The feeling of camaraderie, of belonging, continued throughout the afternoon. By the time he put up his horse at the end of the day and walked out of the barn, he felt far less stressed than he had been upon coming to the ranch.
But the minute he spotted the older model car parked out front, he straightened. Joshua James’s mother was back, and he had a few words for her about leaving her child with a stranger.
* * * * *
Seated at the big table with women around her who knew all about babies made Tuesday grateful she knew such kind and good people. Sabrina had spotted Joshua James’s diaper rash and given her the name of a cream to clear it up. And they’d all oohed and aahed over how big he was, which felt like a compliment to her that he was thriving. Maggie Dalton had also kindly told her that the baby didn’t need blankets, especially in the heat of Texas. Embarrassed, Tuesday had thought of all the books she’d read on infants and realized she couldn’t take everything as gospel.
“Has he gotten his latest round of shots? Sometimes those are hard and they get fevers,” Sabrina asked.
Tuesday kissed the top of the baby’s head, his hair soft against her lips. “Oh yes, he’s all up to date. He wasn’t troubled at all from the last batch, but I do hear horror stories from my clients.”
“How was the hair job? A wedding?” Lilah was a pretty woman with big eyes and short hair that framed her face perfectly.
“Yes, not a big wedding, but it was a close call, me getting there late.”
“We’re sorry nobody was home to take the baby. At least you had Justus.”
She stared at Mrs. Dalton. “Justus? The man I left Joshua James with?”
She gave a laugh, eyes dancing with amusement. “Didn’t you even ask his name, honey?”
“Well, I knew he was a Dalton and eventually someone would be home to help him.”
“Did just fine on my own.” The deep voice had her turning in her seat to set eyes on the man she’d left her son with.
Justus.
The name fit him. Tall and broad-shouldered, he looked as if he could deliver justice to anybody who got in his way. His dark brows were drawn down as he settled his stare on her.
She clutched Joshua James closer to her chest. “Uhh…” She should thank him. “Thank you for keeping my son. I was in such a hurry that I didn’t think to even tell you who I am.”
“Didn’t tell me your name, his either.” He gestured toward the baby. “In fact, you didn’t even know mine, yet you left him with me.”
“Justus, it’s all right now,” Mrs. Dalton soothed.
He grunted and walked to the sink, where he presented his back as he washed his hands.
Feeling she’d gotten on his bad side, she shot glances at that broad back. But it was easy to slip her gaze down over the carved muscles beneath his T-shirt all the way to the hard planes of his backside. There was a tiny hole in the corner of one of his jeans pockets, as if he’d caught it on something.
When he turned, he caught her looking. Their gazes connected, and he gave a flick of his head. “Talk to you outside?”
She tried for one of the casual smiles she pasted on for a client she didn’t particularly like and got up, carrying the baby to the kitchen door, which he held open for her. Once the screen banged shut, he moved out into the garden, careful to stick to the paths between plants and not trample any.
She watched him, nerves surfacing. “Again, I’m sorry for not telling you who I am. My name’s—”
“Tuesday,” he finished.
The hair on her nape prickled. The way her name rolled off his lips…
She stared at his mouth. It was entirely too hard, but he bore smile lines and small creases around each brilliant blue eye that made her think he wasn’t always a jerk.
He was just being a jerk to her.
Maybe she deserved it a bit, given the circumstances. But still, it’d all worked out, right?
She shifted the baby, her annoyance taking the place of the shivery feelings a woman felt upon standing before a very handsome cowboy.
“Look, I said I’m sorry. No reason to go on being grumpy about what happened. I heartily thank you for keeping my son. You did a good job, from what the women said.”
His angular jaw jutted to the side, creating a bulge in the crease. “You weren’t worried at all, leaving him with a stranger?”
“Um… Maybe I’m a bit too trusting, but no. I know the Daltons and I knew you were one just by looking at you.”
He dipped his head, hat concealing his eyes for a moment. “You really need better childcare.”
Okay, the annoyance was replaced by something stronger. She tilted her hip outward and stared him in the eyes. “Who are you to tell me how to handle my business?”
“My women-folk said you’re always floundering to find a sitter. I’d say if you keep driving up to houses and dumping your son on people you don’t know, eventually something bad could happen and you’ll regret it.”
Now she was pissed. No other word for it. She dragged in a deep breath, which was a mistake, because she caught a whiff of the soap he’d used and his clean, masculine scent—a hint of washed cotton dried in the sun.
Also, he bore a line of tattoos up his forearm that intrigued her far too much. The shapes looked American Indian to her. What meaning did they have?
She bit down on her resolve and spoke her mind. “I don’t appreciate you suggesting I’m irresponsible and reckless with my son. Thanks again for taking care of him, and if you ever need a haircut, just come to me and I’ll do it free for your trouble.”
“Don’t need a haircut.”
Her gaze shot to the strands of hair falling across his forehead. “Looks a bit on the long side to me, but fine. Come to me or don’t. I live—”
“Above the hardware store. I know.”
Her jaw dropped. Clearly he’d learned all about her.
She turned her gaze down to the baby in her arms. He was so precious, and maybe she had been careless, leaving him with a stranger. When she looked up, she saw confusion on Justus’s face and something soft in the depths of his eyes.
“Well, you still did a fine job and I appreciate it,” she said quietly.
“I didn’t know a thing about babies. Never even held one before today.”
She blinked. “Oh. I didn’t realize. I just figured with a big family like this…” She trailed off, feeling more foolish. Yes, she really needed to find reliable help so this situation never cropped up again.
Even if she wouldn’t mind seeing this big cowboy.
She brushed a kiss over Joshua James’s head. “Seems like you’re a quick learner.”
He didn’t respond.
“Okay, I’m finished with this conversation. Clearly you believe I’m a terrible mother and enjoy pointing out my shortcomings. Thanks again, but I’m going inside now.”
With that, she walked away, leaving him in the garden. She stopped at the table to smile at the ladies. “Thank you for your hospitality and helping out. We’re going to be heading home now.” She grabbed the diaper bag and looped it over her shoulder.
They said their goodbyes and took a moment to do baby talk to Joshua James, who ate up the attention. Then she walked through the house and went outside. She didn’t make it halfway to her car before the weight on her shoulder lightened.
She spun to see Justus had caught up to her and was holding her bag. “Uh, I got it, thanks.”
He didn’t say a thing, just walked to her car and opened the back door for her to put the baby in his car seat. When she stepped back, he set the bag on the floor behind the driver’s seat.
They faced each other.
“See you later, Tuesday.”
Again, her name rolling off those sexy lips in that deep rumble of his had her thinking thoughts that were so far from feedings and diaper changes and babysitters, it was shocking.
She didn’t move or speak.
He reached around her and opened her door for her. She slid behind the wheel.
“Bye, Justus.”
He closed the door and walked off back to the house. She watched him for a minute, her emotions rioting.
What was that about?
Between the long day and the stress of having to leave her boy with a “stranger,” as he’d said, she was worn out. But heap on the fact she was completely and insanely attracted to the cowboy in a way she’d never known with anyone before and her mind was spinning like one of her son’s toys.