Big Sky Baby. Judy Duarte

in love, getting married and having a baby—in that order. Guilt assaulted her, and she hated the idea of parenting a child with a man who wasn’t the white knight she’d once thought.

      But worse, she dreaded raising a child in a single-parent home.

      Usually able to don a tough exterior, she broke down in blubbery tears.

      Jeff couldn’t stand to hear Jilly cry. She was such a tough cookie on the outside, but inside she was delicate, a tenderhearted softy.

      He gave her time to cry, which is what he would have done had he been there to hold her. Still, her tears always did a number on him, and he needed time to think things through, plan his words of support.

      Her call had taken him aback, not just because he was busy at the makeshift fire-fighting headquarters, but because he hadn’t liked Cain in the first place.

      He supposed he could understand her attraction to the cocky fireman. Jilly had never been entirely convinced that she amounted to much—a result of her mother’s criticism and the community gossip, he’d always suspected. No wonder she’d fallen for a line of bull when good-looking, fast-talking Cain paid attention to her.

      Jeff suddenly felt an overwhelming compulsion to slam a fist into the macho fireman’s face.

      Maybe he was jealous of the guy, in a strange sort of way. The guy who married Jilly was going to be a hell of a lucky man. And Jeff hated to think that man would be Cain.

      “Are you okay?” he asked, when he figured Jilly had gotten her tears and sobs under control.

      She sniffled. “Yes. I guess so. Don’t worry about me. I’ll be all right.”

      Yeah, that’s what she always told him when she got into trouble. But this was different. More serious. She was pregnant, for cripe’s sake.

      “I know it’ll be tough for you to do, but you’ve got to tell him about the baby, honey.”

      The term of endearment had slipped out, through no intention of his own. But it felt right. Jilly was a sweetheart, and she didn’t deserve any of the crap Cain had dealt her.

      “Okay,” she said, her voice shaking and laced with tears she would probably continue to shed long after they hung up the phone. It killed him to see her brokenhearted, worried, alone.

      “I’ll tell him tomorrow,” she said.

      “It’s the right thing to do, Jilly.”

      She blew out a sigh. “I guess that’s why I called you. I knew you’d see things more clearly than me. And maybe Cain will react differently than I expect.”

      Jeff doubted Cain would be man enough to step up to the plate and do right by her and the baby, but she owed him the truth.

      Again Jeff was struck with the urge to batter Cain senseless, but that wouldn’t help Jilly.

      Jeff had been looking after her for years and would continue to do so. That’s what friends were for. “I’ll stop by and see you as soon as we get this fire under control.”

      She sniffled. “I’d like that.”

      “You’ll make a good mom, Jilly.”

      “Thanks.”

      “Listen, honey—” Oops, the endearment slipped out again, but he continued anyway, desperately wanting to say something sensible and helpful “—everything is going to work out fine. Just wait and see.”

      Somehow Jeff would make sure of it.

      When Jilly hung up the telephone, she stroked the little dog that had curled up on her lap.

      “What do you think, Posey?”

      The mutt stood up and licked her chin.

      “What would I do without you or Jeff?”

      Posey whimpered, then gave a little bark.

      Jilly glanced at the phone, wishing she had the kind of news that didn’t need to be delivered to Cain in person.

      What a coward.

      Still, she didn’t want to show up on his doorstep and find he was on duty at the fire station.

      What the heck. Why not call and see if he answered? She could always hang up.

      And that’s what she decided to do. Fortunately, she got his answering machine. “I’m out and about. Leave a message and I’ll call you when I feel like it.”

      Most people found his recording humorous. But they didn’t know him like Jilly did. The fact was Cain only called a person back when he felt like it.

      How many times had she waited for a return call? How many times had she wondered where he was and why he was late?

      She thought about the last time she’d seen him. He’d been out with another fireman, a buddy, he’d said. But a telltale smear of fire-engine-red lipstick on his collar suggested otherwise.

      “While ol’ Frank and I were tossing down a few brews at Joe’s bar, the waitress slipped on a lemon wedge someone had dropped on the floor. I caught her, just before she fell.” He’d winked at Jilly, then added, “Once a hero, always a hero.”

      That poor waitress must have fallen hard, because Cain bore a small bruise on his neck. The fact that it looked suspiciously like a love bite didn’t do his questionable credibility any good.

      What an idiot she’d been, a definite slow learner in the relationship department.

      Like the sand in an hourglass, Jeff’s friendly advice finally began to sink in. The good-looking fireman had been taking her for a ride, stringing her along. Playing tetherball with her heart.

      Cain had never been there when she needed him. And she really didn’t expect him to do things any differently now.

      But Jeff was right. He deserved to know about the baby.

      She hung up the phone and sighed. Chances were Cain was on duty and at the station tonight. That meant he would be home tomorrow morning. Like it or not, it was best she got this over with.

      Jilly would be on Cain’s front porch after he got home from work and before he could leave.

      Then she would lay her pride on the line.

      Chapter Three

      Jilly parked her ten-year-old, white Ford Taurus along the curb in front of Cain’s apartment building and struggled to find the courage to face him.

      What would she say?

      Telling a man he was going to be a father, that they were going to be parents, should be an exciting and happy time. So why did she feel as though she were stepping onto the long green mile?

      Because a relationship with Cain—even one in which they only shared a child—seemed like a death sentence. Things hadn’t ended well, and she’d made it clear in both tone and volume that she’d rather die than see or talk to him again.

      She glanced into the rearview mirror and, catching a glimpse of the dark circles under her eyes that revealed she hadn’t slept worth a darn last night, blew out a ragged sigh. She’d best get this over with.

      Cain’s living-room blinds were open, indicating he was indeed home. But she couldn’t see inside. Had he seen her pull up?

      She could still turn the Taurus around and drive away. Go home with her secret and pride in tact. It certainly felt like the right thing to do. But instead, with Jeff’s advice ringing in her ears, she jerked open the car door and slipped from her vehicle.

      Another wave of apprehension assaulted her. What was she doing here? Their relationship was over, and she’d never wanted to see Cain again. Of course, small-town life made completely avoiding him impossible. But this was different. Jilly was actually seeking him out and providing information that would complicate things.