Chapter Thirteen
Aidan had no idea what made him say that to Maura. That wasn't quite true. It was his conversation with Tommy that made him suspicious of the woman now sitting on his family’s porch making friends with his loyal companion. His suspicions ran deep. Could Maura already be pregnant with someone else's child? He stole a glance at her flat belly. If she was, it had to be a recent revelation. Was that the reason for Harvey’s arrangement? Had he known his daughter was a soon-to-be unwed mother and was trying to avoid shame on the family while hooking his plow to the Langleys?
The surprised look on his new bride's face was genuine. She didn't have any clue what he was talking about. That didn't mean it was any less true. He passed over his comment and focused on the reason he had come to the original homestead in the first place. Willow.
"I've been looking all over for you, girl. Where have you been?" He sat down on the edge of the wooden porch and petted the Australian Shepherd, scratching her behind both ears.
"She was with me," Maura offered, secretly pleased Aidan's dog accepted her so soon.
"You? That's not possible. Willow doesn't trust people. Just me. She won't even go to my parents, although she will approach Nola if she has a piece of food close by."
Maura shrugged. "I don't know what to say. I walked home, and she…just followed. She wouldn't come close or let me pet her, but she followed me all the way there and back. I was offering her some water when you startled me."
He didn't miss the reference to home.
"This is supposed to be your home now, Maura. Is that a problem for you?" he challenged. Would she pretend to like it here for the sake of her illegitimate child? He wondered. Tommy reminded him she was the daughter of Harvey Jackson and that meant she couldn’t be trusted.
He watched her struggle with her answer. "It's not home. Yet. I’ll admit that. But I've only been on The Legacy for twenty-four hours. It is going to take a little longer than that to make me feel at home here.”
Aidan could tell she was speaking the truth. She wasn't trying to ingratiate herself to him and his family by trying to convince them she was happy here. But time would tell. And, for the next month, he would watch her closely and wait for her next monthly flow. That would negate any possibility she was carrying another man's child.
"Aidan, I was wondering—could I talk to you about something?"
His heart hiccupped underneath his ribs. Was she feeling remorse about her deception and she was ready to come clean? He suddenly realized how much he hoped not.
If Maura admitted she was pregnant with another man's child, he would have no choice but to have their marriage annulled. Not only would his family lose their legacy of the last four generations, he would no longer be allowed to experience Maura's…playfulness.
"Sure. What is it?" He braced himself for the truth. A truth that would destroy his family.
"Well—" She hesitated.
The longer she waited, the more agitated he became. Finally, what tiny bit of patience he possessed evaporated into the air.
"Damn it, Maura. Just say whatever it is you obviously are trying not to say." he spat.
He watched her stiffen her spine and square her shoulders. It was a sign he was coming to recognize when Maura was preparing to do battle.
"Why would I ask you if I can talk to you about something and then not talk to you about it? That doesn't make any sense, Aidan. I am just not certain how to bring up this subject. Your father and mine have devised a plan to combine our two lands into one joint venture. I was just wondering if there was room for one more. Venture, I mean."
That was not at all what he was expecting her to say. "Venture? What kind of venture?"
"Dried herbs."
She was looking at him in earnest. So, she was serious? Dried herbs? Caught completely off guard by this declaration, he sat on the porch and faced her. "Okay, so tell me what you mean about dried herbs."
For the next half hour, Maura outlined how hard her mother worked growing herbs of all types and varieties. And how each one has a special ability to heal or relieve illnesses or pain. Some just taste good. When she was done, Aidan sat in quiet contemplation.
"So, what do you think?"
He realized she was talking to him.
"I have to admit this idea of yours could have some merit, on a small scale of course. This idea of yours…has potential."
Maura smiled. “I can’t take the credit. This is my momma’s passion. As far back as I can remember, she has always grown and used herbs for a wide variety of things. I would like to see her have something of her own to be proud of.”
Aidan’s emotions softened toward this young woman who was now his wife. But, could he allow his guard down where she was concerned until he knew if she and her father had perpetrated a con on the Langley family?
His conscious twinged just a bit to remind him he had his own con going. He brushed it aside. He was simply making sure his family was protected from the underhanded dealings of a Jackson who already had a reputation for being dishonest.
"I'll talk to my dad about your idea. Even if he doesn’t think this sort of thing will work on a large scale, I don't see the harm in letting your momma try it."
"Thank you, Aidan." She reached over and kissed him on his cheek. A spark of something ignited in her eyes. Her closeness kicked him in the gut and all parts south. God, she smells good.
He needed to get to work. He stood abruptly. "I gotta go."