A Randall Returns (17 page)

Caroline closed her eyes and turned away. After a few silent moments she faced him again, her face contorted with emotion. “And that’s it? She just asks and we hand that fragile child to her?”

Mike heard the rising mixture of temper and tears. “Of course that’s not how it is. But I believe I should help her. I’m going to ask Nick to provide her legal aid. One of my deputies is getting her clothes. She has nothing, but she loves her baby more than life itself. The man beat her, but she got away and hitchhiked back to Rawhide.”

“And how will she take care of her baby? Does she have any resources? Any way of supporting herself and her child?”

Mike shook his head. “No, but—”

“And what about what I can offer her? A stable, safe, secure life.”

As much as it hurt him, Mike had to say it. “It’s not about that, Caroline. She’s the baby’s mother. Look, if you want to fight her, you go ahead. But I don’t think that’s the way to proceed.”

“I’d hoped—” She broke off and bit her bottom lip. As if a dam opened, the tears she’d fought off so valiantly now slid down her face.

“I know, sweetheart.” She’d hoped to make them a family, with Rosa. He knew. “I promise I’ll help you get children, but I can’t take Mary’s baby away from her.”

More than anything, he wanted to reach out to Caroline, take her in his arms and comfort her. But he feared she’d lose control if he moved. He stood stock-still, letting his words touch her with the depth of his feeling.

“Caroline, I’ll understand if you don’t want to marry me anymore.”

Saying nothing, she put her head down and stepped back.

Mike had dealt with his share of tough-guy criminals in his career, but none of them scared him like this woman in front of him. He held his breath and awaited her answer.

“Do you think that’s how I love you, Mike? Only if I get my own way?”

“Caro, I just want you to be happy.”

“I know. So you must believe this Mary deserves to have her baby.”

“Yes, I do.”

Caroline nodded, still not giving him a clue what she’d say about their future. The tears still fell, though silently now, making tracks on her cheeks, but her breathing had evened.

“Well, Mike,” she said finally, “then you’d better tell me what I can do to help her.”

Mike couldn’t believe his ears. He needed clarification. “Caroline, does that mean you still want to marry me?”

“Of course,” Caroline said with a big smile. “If you’ll still have me.”

Mike couldn’t speak, couldn’t think. He could only kiss her.

C
ASEY UNWRAPPED
the big book. When he saw it was the picture book of Michael Jordan’s career, he let out a whoop. Caroline told him to open it, and he saw the autograph. “Is this real?”

“Yes. Mike asked him for it.”

“In person? You actually spoke to Michael Jordan?” Casey demanded in awe.

“Yeah. Sometimes I did security at the Bulls games. He was nice about signing things.”

“Oh, man! Wait till I show the guys!” The teenager began to slowly turn the pages, all the laughter and conversation going on around him completely ignored.

Pete leaned over his shoulder, and Casey showed his dad his gift.

Mike watched the family celebrating Christmas. He had bought a couple of other things for Caroline, and hostess gifts for the Randalls. He’d even found several packages for himself under the tree.

He opened a new cowboy hat—one of the most expensive brands—from Jake and B.J. He decided at once he’d save it to wear on Sundays. Then there was a leather vest from “Santa.”

“I didn’t know Santa had such good taste,” he whispered to Caroline.

“Oh, yes, Santa has the best taste of all.”

He opened a smaller package and found a beautiful knife engraved with his name. He looked at Caroline. “This is great!”

“I’m glad you like it,” she said with a big smile.

When all the presents had been opened, Caroline asked for a minute of everyone’s time. “Mike had to go to town last night because the mother of baby Rosa came back. She’s young and scared. The man she was with beat her up. She hitchhiked from Salt Lake City to Rawhide. She loves her baby very much.

“I want to ask if you can help her in any way—with old clothes, a job, a place to live. She needs everything.” She looked at her father and her uncle. “I know you always give a gift to the town each Christmas, and I think helping her would be a great gift.”

“Where is she now?” her uncle Chad asked.

Mike spoke up. “I lent her my apartment last night, since I was coming back out here. Her mother is dead and her father told her not to come back if she went off with the father of her baby. She’s afraid to go home,
but she has nowhere else to go.” Mike sighed. “She’s made some poor choices, but she loves her baby.”

“Of course we’ll help,” Jake said.

Suddenly all the family was making offers of gifts and donations. But Caroline’s aunt Anna had the best offer of all. “I know someone who would welcome Mary and her baby. Mrs. Alexander wants to remain at home, but she needs someone to do light housework and cooking.”

“That would be great, Anna,” Mike said with a pleased smile. “You Randalls have the biggest hearts in the whole state of Wyoming. I’m pleased to become a member of the family.”

“And we’re pleased to have you,” Jake assured him. “How long before the wedding?”

“As soon as possible,” Mike said. “As long as it’s okay with Caroline.”

She leaned against him. “I think we should join Bill and Margie in their New Year’s Eve wedding.”

A large cheer went up, led by Bill Metzger.

“Can you get ready that soon?” Mike asked Caroline.

“Of course. We Randalls are experts at planning weddings.”

When they were given a few minutes alone, Mike asked for one promise. “I want you to let Jon check you out and make sure you’re all right. Okay?”

“All right.”

When they took Jon aside to ask him, he promptly agreed. “If you hadn’t told me you can’t have children, I’d ask if you could be pregnant. Tori says you remind her of herself when she had our first child.”

Caroline stared at her partner. Then she stared at Mike.

“Well, Doctor? What do you think?” Mike asked, smiling.

“It couldn’t be…could it?”

“Let’s go to the office and find out,” Mike suggested.

By the time they started to the clinic, half the family knew what was going on. Jake and B.J. followed them in their vehicle.

The other adults started gathering items for the baby’s mother, promising to bring things in later. Anna, with Brett, went to town to meet the young woman.

The Randall family was once again playing Santa Claus.

I
T DIDN’T TAKE LONG
to determine that Caroline was indeed pregnant. She started crying and Mike rocked her against him.

“Don’t cry, sweetheart. It’s just another special Christmas present from Santa.”

She laughed through her tears. “I never thought—I’m so blessed. And you! Don’t you get a big head because you managed to get me pregnant.”

“Hey, I’m going to brag about it all over town.” Then he laughed. “Good thing we’re planning a quick wedding. Otherwise, I might be thrown out of town.”

She hugged him tightly. “I wouldn’t let them do that. Oh, Mike, I’m so happy!”

“Your parents are waiting. Want to go tell them?”

“Oh, yes.” She grabbed Mike’s arm and Jon’s, too, and the three of them went to the waiting room. Her
parents didn’t have to ask the question. The answer was all over Caroline’s face.

When they stopped hugging her, B.J. told them they’d already made plans for the wedding to be held in the arena at the ranch. Mike looked surprised, but Caroline assured him it would be lovely. Toby and Elizabeth had been married there.

Mike put his arms around her again. “Honey, I’ll take you any way I can get you. You’re my life. And our baby makes everything perfect.”

“I’ll remind you of that when the two-o’clock feeding comes around,” she told him, delight in her eyes.

“That’s a deal,” he agreed.