An Honorable Texan. Victoria Chancellor

hear that little goodie. “That might have been irresponsible of us, but I don’t regret what came out of that weekend for anything. I’ve never been happier than the moment Peter was born.”

      “Yeah, I would have liked to be there, too,” he said. “But happiness isn’t everything. There’s a right and a wrong way to approach things, and I—”

      “I’m not going to listen to this. We are not getting married for the sake of the baby, and if you keep this up, I will not even consider moving to your ranch.”

      “Are you threatening me?”

      “I’m telling you that I won’t be bullied into marriage or making a decision. Back off the cave-man tactics or I’ll leave Brody’s Crossing so fast I’ll make your head spin.”

      “I have a right to see my son.”

      She shifted the baby to her other shoulder. “Only when and if a court gives you that right. And believe me, Cal, you don’t want to continue with the threats. I have excellent attorneys.” She turned and walked away before he noticed how truly angry and upset she was.

      Why had she thought telling this man about their child would be easy?

      Because you don’t really know him, a little voice inside her head answered. Because the only thing you know about him is that he kissed you like you were the only woman in the world, and you didn’t want to know anything about him because he was leaving. You just wanted that weekend. Really wanted it.

      Shaking, she handed Peter to Toni. Without a word, she grabbed a card from her purse and wrote her cell-phone number on it. Cal was still standing inside the conference room, breathing deeply as if he were trying to control his anger.

      “Here,” she said, handing him the card. “That’s my cell phone if you feel the need to call me before I make a decision. I’m not trying to threaten you, Cal, but I won’t be bullied. I don’t know what type of woman you’re used to, but I’m not weak-minded or easily intimidated.”

      Her father had been a master of manipulation, and she’d learned all the tricks.

      “You dropped a damned bombshell on me. I’m sorry if I’m not reacting well.”

      “You were fine at the restaurant. Let’s try to go back to that attitude if we can.”

      “I’ll try.”

      “Then I’ll talk to you tomorrow. Please don’t follow me.”

      “I wasn’t following you! I just went into the hardware store for some damned plumber’s putty!”

      “Okay, and while we’re at it, you might consider cutting down on your cussing. It’s not going to be cute when Peter starts talking and learning words we’d rather he didn’t use.”

      Cal’s eyes narrowed. “Any more instructions?”

      “No, I think that just about covers it. For now.”

      “I’ll talk to you tomorrow.” It was a demand, but she let it go. He was angry, and jealous, although he wouldn’t admit it.

      “Yes, tomorrow. I have a lot of things to consider. Believe me, most of all, I’ll think about what’s best for Peter.”

      “What’s best is for a son to know his father and to live in a family with both parents.”

      Not always. Especially not if the father was acting like an ass. “There are many ways for Peter to get to know you. Living at your ranch, married or not, is only one of the options.”

      “It’s best for everyone.”

      “No, I think you believe it’s best for you, but you have to ask yourself if you really want to live in the same house with a woman you don’t seem to like very much, much less be married to her.”

      “I liked you just fine in Fort Worth!”

      “I liked you that weekend, too. Right now, however, I’m not so sure.”

      His eyes narrowed again. “I’m only trying to be responsible. We made that baby together.”

      “Yes, but I carried him for nine months and went through fourteen hours of labor. Don’t tell me it’s the same.”

      “I didn’t say it was equal, just that we’re in it together.”

      “I’ll get back to you on that,” she said, before turning and walking into Toni’s office.

      CAL RESISTED THE URGE to slam the door as he left Toni’s office. He looked up and realized he was just across the street from his attorney’s office. What better time to find out his legal rights?

      “Oh, hello, Cal,” Caroline Brody said as she gathered her purse and closed her desk drawer. “Welcome home.”

      “Thanks, Mrs. Brody. Is James in?”

      “He is. He has an appointment at three o’clock, though.”

      “I just need a few minutes.”

      “Hey, Cal,” James said, coming out of his office. “Come on in. Mom, I’ll see you tomorrow.”

      “Bye now.” Caroline smiled and waved on her way out.

      Cal let out a deep breath. “I need some information.”

      “Okay. Have a seat,” James said, motioning to the chairs in his office.

      Cal knew next to nothing about parental rights. And he’d better think about prenup agreements, too. He didn’t want Christie to think he was after her money, but most of all, he didn’t want her to have any rights to the Rocking C, in case their relationship didn’t work out.

      His father and mother hadn’t made their marriage work, even with two children and a ranch to consider. Christie still had her place in Fort Worth, so who knew when she might take off with the baby. She didn’t have a good reason to stay. Not yet, anyway. Marriage would bind them together…at least long enough for him to get to know his son.

      Seeing her talking to Leo Casale on the sidewalk in front of Toni’s office had caused something to snap inside him. She’d called it jealousy, but he didn’t think that was it. He was simply clear on what he wanted for the mother of his son. She shouldn’t be subject to the advances of some good-looking guy who was attracted to a classy blonde.

      And what would happen if she left? Would he have any rights to the baby? The idea of not being a part of his son’s life gave Cal a hollow feeling inside that couldn’t be filled by anything—his ranch, friends, family or community.

      “Tell me about what you need,” James said, snapping Cal back to the present. And his most pressing problem.

      “I need to know if I have legal rights to my son.”

      WHEN CAL ARRIVED at the ranch later in the afternoon, Troy and Raven were in the master bedroom, packing for their move to New Hampshire. Cal stood in the middle of the kitchen and looked at the boxes and bags around the perimeter of the room. Apparently, they’d collected a lot of things in the past year and a half. There were also going-away gifts of hand-labeled jars of jelly and fruit, crocheted scarves and fresh vegetables from friends and neighbors.

      Troy had told him that Raven had driven to Texas in her aging Volvo wagon, Pickles, which had been filled with everything from goat cheese to organic flea shampoo for dogs. Apparently Troy had tried to resist her vegetarian lifestyle and antiranching views, but he hadn’t been able to help himself and had fallen in love with the Yankee farmer. Raven had been hired to restore a heritage garden, and Troy had been anticipating the arrival of an expert on traditional ranching that Cal had requested from the Cattleman’s Association. Somehow, through a merged database mix-up, Troy had gotten the vegetarian and the ranch expert had never shown up.

      How his brother could even consider moving to New England was a complete mystery. Troy had obviously lost his mind when