The Cowboy's Return. Linda Warren

sounded lame to his own ears, but he found he couldn’t say anything that would hurt this young girl. He’d have to sort this out with Camila, but at the moment, her dark eyes were about to sear him into a pile of ashes.

      Jilly reached down and picked up her dog, who was making soft noises at her feet. “No. I’m fine.”

      Tripp nodded. “Good.”

      He headed for the door.

      “Mr. Daniels?” Jilly asked.

      He looked back. “Yes.”

      “Are Mr. and Mrs. Daniels okay?”

      Tripp was taken aback for a second. “Their health’s not very good but they’re okay.”

      “Do they need anything?”

      This time he didn’t know what to say. He’d never met anyone like Jilly before, except… For a moment he was shaken by the thought.

      “Because I run errands for a lot of people,” Jilly informed him. “And if they need anything, I can pedal it out there. It doesn’t take long.”

      Don’t do this, Jilly. Baby, don’t do this. Camila’s heart broke at the entreaty in her daughter’s voice. Jilly wanted to help the Danielses. It was very evident Jilly wanted to know her father’s family and Camila had to let it happen. But she would fiercely guard her daughter’s feelings.

      “I’ll remember that,” Tripp said and placed his hat on his head. At the door, he spoke to Camila. “I’m sorry if my visit has disturbed you. I didn’t mean to do that.”

      “Goodbye.” She closed the door, unable to deal with anything else right now but her daughter.

      “I’m sorry, Mama,” Jilly said as Camila walked into the living room.

      Camila sat on the sofa, bracing herself to tell Jilly about Patrick. She looked at her daughter. “Never be afraid to talk to me.”

      “I’m not, Mama.”

      “But you’re curious about your father and his family, so let’s talk about it.” She patted the spot beside her.

      “Okay.” Jilly nestled into Camila’s side and Camila wrapped an arm around her. Button curled into a ball on her lap.

      “Did my daddy look like Mr. Daniels?”

      “Some.” Camila ran her fingers through Jilly’s dark tresses. “They have the same blond hair and blue eyes, but Tripp was the handsome older brother. Girls noticed him and he was popular. Patrick, on the other hand, was very shy and always felt overshadowed by his big brother. They lived on a ranch, but Patrick was never interested in horses or cows. He always had his head in a book and when he got his first computer, well, he found his joy. He was going to be a computer engineer.”

      “But he got killed?”

      “Yes.” Camila’s hand stopped. She could still feel that pain of long ago when she’d been told of Patrick’s death.

      “And you and he were in love?”

      She chose her words carefully. “Patrick and I were very good friends. We had been since kindergarten. Patrick was my protector. When kids said bad things about me or Benita, he’d always take up for me. He had a very big heart and I loved him for that.” She hadn’t been in love with Patrick, though—that’s what had caused the problem. She’d cared for him a great deal and had been so grateful for his support. But Patrick had wanted more.

      “Why do the Danielses think you’re so bad?”

      Her hand curled into a fist and she dreaded this part, but she wasn’t going to lie to Jilly.

      Before she could find the words, Jilly asked, “Is it because Benita’s been married so many times?”

      “That’s part of it.”

      “Is it because she worked in a bar and danced when men asked her to?”

      “Partly.”

      “But that’s not fair. Benita’s a fun person and she’s always happy. She’s not a bad woman.”

      Camila tucked hair behind Jilly’s ear. “That’s because you love her. Other people don’t see her that way.” She swallowed. “And some don’t see me that way either.”

      Jilly raised her head. “Why, Mama? You didn’t sleep with other guys. I know you didn’t.”

      She kissed the tip of Jilly’s nose. “Thank you for your faith in me. You get that soft heart from Patrick. He was the same way.”

      “So why don’t they believe that Patrick is my father?”

      How did she explain this to her? “Remember last year when that new girl was transferred to your class from Temple?”

      “Yes. Stephanie.”

      “Her father was in prison for murder and her mother was on drugs and I didn’t want you playing with her. I didn’t know anything about her. I just knew the type of family she came from, and the nose ring didn’t help. Of course, I realized how unfair that was to Stephanie and she came to the house several times. She’d had a hard life and needed a lot of understanding.”

      “She now lives in Kansas with her grandmother. I got a card from her at Christmas.”

      “Yes. Stephanie is doing better now that she’s out of that environment.” She stroked Jilly’s hair. “That’s how people thought of me when I was her age. Benita worked in a bar and her dating habits were well known. People thought I was the same. So when I got pregnant, everyone said I probably didn’t know who the father was. Like mother, like daughter.” Those rumors still had the power to hurt, but she tried not to let it show.

      “But you did, didn’t you?”

      “Yes.” Patrick had been her only lover, and they’d only been together once.

      “Everyone in Bramble loves you now, Mama, because they know you as the nice person you are.” Jilly sat up. “How could they think anything else? You don’t even date. All you do is work and take care of me. You’re probably a saint.”

      “You need very little taking care of—just a watchful eye and some guidance.”

      Jilly curled into her. “I love you, Mama,” she murmured sleepily.

      “I love you, too.” She reached for the Southern belle quilt on the back of the sofa and pulled it over Jilly. She’d wake her in a moment. For now she just wanted to hold her baby.

      From an early age, Camila had realized Jilly was special. She cared about people and they responded to her. Jilly was the reason the people in Bramble now accepted Camila, the main reason they saw her in a different way—as a mother, businesswoman and friend. But there were those like the Boggses who looked down their noses at her. They were the influential people in Bramble who judged and condemned her for having a child out of wedlock.

      That didn’t matter to Camila. She’d matured and gotten beyond that—somewhat. At times it still hurt, like today.

      She’d told Jilly the basics of the story. No one knew the real story but her…and Patrick. Young and insecure about herself, her life, she’d clung to her friendship with him. In school, he was known as the nerd and she was the tramp’s daughter. They were kindred spirits who found comfort in each other.

      Patrick’s feelings changed in high school. He started to hold her hand and she’d told him to stop. But he wouldn’t. He seemed to want everyone to believe they were a couple. She wanted just the opposite.

      Years of being embarrassed by her mother’s reputation caused Camila to avoid all contact with boys. It didn’t keep boys from seeking her out, though, wanting her to go for a ride to the lake or to Lover’s Point, the usual necking spots. They only wanted one thing—sex. They assumed she was easy and she never accepted any of their invitations.