The Baby Truth by Stella Bagwell Read Free Book Online Page B

trying to build it back into the ranch it was when my grandparents lived here.”
    “What about your dad? He’s not interested in ranching?”
    Jett laughed, but the sound held little humor. “I learned all I know about cattle and ranching from my grandparents. Dad wouldn’t know one end of a cow from the other. And he wouldn’t want to learn. More than likely, he’s playing rhythm guitar with some hole-in-the-wall band and finding gigs wherever he can.”
    The stilted tone in his voice should have put her off, but Sassy had never been one to contain her curiosity. Besides, she’d already told him so much about herself, it would hardly hurt him to reveal a few facts about his personal life.
    “So, he doesn’t live around here?”
    The road crested over a hill and took a steep dive straight down into a narrow gully. Jett shifted the truck into a lower gear to slow their descent.
    After a moment, he answered, “No one in the family has seen Gary Sundell in several years. He and Mom divorced about fifteen years ago, when I graduated from high school. After that, he left the area.”
    “And doesn’t keep in touch.” She murmured her thoughts out loud. “That’s odd.”
    A mocking expression twisted his features. “Not for my dad. He’s one of those free spirits who don’t believe in ties of any kind. Looking back, I’m surprised Mom and us kids kept him around as long as we did.”
    “Do you hate him for leaving?”
    He shrugged. “Hate him? No. What’s the good of having someone hang around out of obligation? I’m a realist, Sassy. I don’t need that.”
    “Hmm. I guess my parents, whoever they were, didn’t want to hang around for me, either. But so far I’ve survived. And so have you.”
    “Yeah,” he replied. “So have I.”
    At the bottom of the gully, the road curved around a high bank, then climbed to another flat range. When they reached the crest, Sassy spotted a large herd of mixed-breed cows gathered around several wooden feed troughs. Upon seeing the truck, the red and brown animals began to run and buck with excitement.
    “They must be very hungry,” Sassy observed. “On the Chaparral the winter feeding starts early. We have so much snow in the mountains it buries the grass.”
    “Winter has put a hold on most of the grasses here, too. My cattle depend on me for a nice meal.”
    “There the cowboys put molasses licks out to supplement the alfalfa. Do you do that, too?”
    “No. But I’ve considered it.” He cast a curious glance at her. “I thought you were a maid. How do you know about feeding cattle?”
    “I’ve worked on the Chaparral for seven years. On my time off I watch and learn. I love the animals and being outdoors. It’s a dream of mine to be able to ranch for myself one day. That probably sounds far-fetched to you. But a person has to have dreams. And I want to raise my child in a country setting—with those basic values.”
    “You surprise me, Sassy. I would’ve taken you for a girl who liked the lights of town.”
    She shrugged. “Visiting town is fun. But a person can’t play all the time.”
    He braked to a stop. “Speaking of town, since Bella is gone I’ve decided you and I are going out to eat later on.”
    “Out? But why? As far as I’m concerned, another salami sandwich would be just dandy.”
    About to open the door, he paused to look at her. “Forget the salami. Even though it’s Saturday, I managed to snag reservations at my favorite restaurant. Only because I’m friends with the owner. We might be sitting in the broom closet, but I promise the food will be delicious. Then, after we eat, we’ll drive on over to the Silver Horn.”
    “There’s no need for you to go to all this trouble just for my benefit.”
    As he jerked open the door, he said, “Sassy, you’re giving me an excuse to do something I’ve not done in a long time. So don’t spoil it for me.”
    She hardly knew what he meant by that, but it didn’t matter. Spending time