Cattle Baron: Nanny Needed (11 page)

No one answered her. Cal strode through to the adjoining
room where the baby was screaming his tiny head off, as well he might. He was back within seconds, making for Amber and handing her the baby. “Boy, I bet he’s glad to see you again,” he muttered.

“Amber, I’m so sorry,” Eliot MacFarlane said. “Much to our relief, Marcus had been sleeping. Then he woke up.”

“Screaming his head off as usual, just as I had fallen asleep,” Janis MacFarlane complained bitterly, her delicate features drawn tight. “Doesn’t
anyone
sympathize with me? It’s always the
baby
. What about
me
? Don’t I matter?”

Again no one answered. Janis MacFarlane’s main concern seemed to be herself. Even then, Amber was reluctant to lay blame. Was she using anger as an antidote to thwarted passion?

“Eliot, doesn’t Janis have a tranquilliser?” Cal turned to his uncle, trying very hard to curb his impatience. “She sounds like she’s in need of one.”

“She’s already downed a couple of pills,” Eliot told his nephew unhappily.

“Here, let me help you, Janis.” Amber settled the baby over her shoulder, swaying gently. “I’ll take him outside until he settles down again. I might go down to my bedroom, if that’s okay.” Exhausted, little Marcus snuggled in to Amber’s warm receptive body, the piteous cries banking down to shuddery whimpers and hiccups.

“What
are
you?” Janis was fuelled by an overriding jealousy that had nothing to do with the baby. “A bloody earth mother? I wonder how good you’d be if you had a little monster like this one.”

“Ever wonder if it’s because you’re rejecting him,” Cal retorted curtly, unable to help himself. He turned to join Amber. “I’ll stay with Marcus if I have to, Eliot. You look terrible. I’m worried about you. Both of you go back to bed. We have to find a solution to this. It’s gone on far too long.
The best professional help has been made available to you, Janis, but you’ve driven everyone away. You have no choice now. I won’t abide it.”

“God, what a mess!” Cal followed Amber, baby over her shoulder, into her bedroom. “I shouldn’t have brought you out here. I apologise a million times. You’ve been the best!”

“Hush!” she whispered.

Very quietly he approached. The baby’s tiny body was rising and falling very gently. His little hand was caught into the glittering mass of Amber’s hair. Her robe had fallen open—the satin sash had come loose, dangling in its loops. He could see the exquisite curves of her naked breasts. Never had the sight of a woman and baby moved him so profoundly. No wonder the great artists of the Renaissance had produced masterpiece after masterpiece of Madonna and child. He couldn’t help himself. He imagined her nursing
their
child. The thought shocked him, not only with its element of eroticism. It was all he could do not to pull the three of them into bed.

“So what now?” he whispered. “Do you want me to take him?” He was fully prepared to. It struck him how much sympathy he had for this poor little unloved scrap. Unloved by his mother. At least at this point. Would it ever change? Eliot loved his son but it seemed that he had come to fatherhood too late. He certainly couldn’t control his wife.

“I think he needs to be close to me for a while,” Amber said. “I felt very sorry for Janis and your uncle but Janis does need help. I couldn’t help noticing at dinner she hardly ate a bite, as if food was irrelevant. She could be missing out on essential vitamins and minerals.”

“All this has been pointed out to her, Amber,” he said testily.

“I guess. Why don’t you advise them to go away for a while until she’s feeling more able to cope? Take a trip.”

“And leave Marcus behind?” His black eyebrows shot up.

“Yes,” she answered, matching whisper for whisper. “We can get things organised.”

“We? God, Amber, there aren’t enough hours in the day for me. I have a big station to run. Outstations to visit.”

“Don’t think I don’t admire the level of your dedication.”

“So you surely don’t expect me to babysit the little chap?”

“Who’s asking you to?” She stared into his face, his handsome features drawn tight. There was a pulse throbbing away in his temple. She realised that, one way and another, he had put up with a good deal. This wasn’t
his
problem. “Though you might be expected to babysit at some time in the future. Modern dads have to pull their weight.”

“Whoa!” He held up his hands. “I take it you mean if and when
I
become a dad?”

She gave him a smile full of unconscious allure. “Come on, you know you want to.”

Of course he would! With
her
as his child’s mother. The thought just surfaced. “No wonder you’re a journalist,” he said. “Winkling information out of people.”

“I’m taking your measure, Cal MacFarlane.”

“And I’m taking yours.”

“Don’t think I haven’t noticed.” They were indeed evaluating one another. To what purpose? Forming an intimate bond? Crazy as it was, she was more than willing to give it a go. “If your uncle and Janis are agreeable, Dee and I and young Mina will get baby Marcus into a routine. Janis’s unhappiness has been contagious. For the time being, Marcus might settle better without her.”

“Have you any idea what you’re taking on?” He cast an eye on the child. Marcus had fallen off to sleep again. How had
that
happened? It had to be woman magic.
This
woman’s magic. What a God-given asset!

“Of course I do, silly man.”

“Silly man?” He gave her a look of pure disbelief. “Excuse me, Ms Wyatt.”

“You’re a big boy. You can take it. Why don’t you go back to bed? Marcus can stay with me for the night.”

“Maybe it would be a good idea if I slept on the other side?” There was a sudden sparkle in his green eyes.

“You’re joking, of course?”

“Actually, I wouldn’t mind.” He pinned her with a beautiful wry smile. “I wouldn’t mind at all. The bed is big enough to make us all comfortable.”

“I’m not going to let you tempt me.” And he definitely was. “There’s no need to stay. Go now. We’ll be fine.”

“Why don’t I sit down and wait until you’re both in bed?” he suggested, not happy at the thought of leaving her alone to cope.

“No, I’m kicking you out now. You’re too much of a distraction. See, Marcus is breathing quietly. I’m quiet. He’s quiet. I can manage. I’m a babysitter from way back.”

“Okay,” he agreed reluctantly. “You know I’m building up a big debt to you?”

“Don’t worry. I’ll see to it you pay up.”

“The sooner the better,” he said.

It sounded lovely. “Night, night, Cal,” she softly called. “Pleasant dreams.”

He walked to the door—tall, dark, terrific. “I have a sneaking feeling they’ll be about
you
. You’re a rare woman, Amber Wyatt.”

“Hardly!”

“You’re too modest. I, for one, am ready to elevate you to that status.”

C
AL
thought he wouldn’t sleep a wink, body and mind so aroused, but he didn’t stir until dawn.

One glance at the bedside clock and he leapt out of bed, raced into the shower, afterwards throwing on his everyday gear, all the while his mind filled with the sight of a beautiful copper-haired woman cradling a baby to her breast. What had he been thinking of, inviting her out here with things being what they were? Janis running off the rails, little Marcus crying and wailing non-stop, although
he
didn’t have to listen to the crying all day, his uncle rendered near impotent in the face of his wife’s total inability to cope—worse, her rejection of all help. Good, caring women had been driven away with Jan screaming after them that she just wanted to be left alone. Yet Amber Wyatt with her beauty, her humour, her grace and compassion had reached out to little Marcus and miraculously found a connection.

But it was only a temporary solution to a big problem. Not all women were nurturers. His own mother had cleared off, but at least she had seen him through a lot of years of his childhood. This post-natal depression thing was a mystery to him. In the beginning everyone had shown the greatest tolerance to the baby’s crying and Jan’s displays of anger and bitter resentment, but she had rejected all help. It was more like she
felt
trapped
. Trapped by motherhood? Trapped by her marriage? He would have said Jan wanted
out
of the whole caboodle. He knew Amber was watching him closely, gauging his reactions, concerned he wasn’t showing enough sympathy. Maybe he wasn’t. His sympathy lay with Marcus and his uncle. Jan’s behaviour was just plain bizarre.

No sound from either wing of the house. Peace reigned. He walked very softly down the corridor, making sure he kept to the Persian runner. He would take the little fellow down to Dee, who was always up early. He would feed the baby himself if he had to. Hell, it couldn’t be that hard. And, as Amber had reminded him, he had better get in some practice. Of course he wanted kids. He had planned to have his own happy family for most of his life. Brooke had failed him. He shunned the idea of infidelity. Why wouldn’t he? His mother had betrayed him and his father. Were his veins clogged up with mistrust? They had been up to date.

Amber too had had a painful lesson. But she was one gutsy lady. And she was his guest. Not the new nanny. He was seriously embarrassed. Very gently, he tapped on the door, waited. No sound from within. His hand on the brass knob, his body tense, he turned it slowly, opening back the door a fraction, listening all the while.

Dawn was casting a soft pearl-grey light over the room. A single bedside lamp was still burning. Amber lay sleeping with the baby cradled in her arms. Just as in his vision, Marcus lay cuddled up contentedly against her breast, his light cap of dark hair contrasting with this vision in pink, copper, cream and vanilla.

The image was so powerful, so beautiful, he stood transfixed. She hadn’t made it into bed. The day bed had made a comfortable resting place for both of them, a light rug serving as a blanket. He had a tremendous urge to kiss Amber’s sleeping mouth. It was gently parted on the lightest exhalations.

“Amber?” Unable to stop himself, he bent low over her, brushing her mouth with his own. Even that light pressure made his head swim. Despite his every reservation, he had connected with this woman. He had from the moment he’d laid eyes on her. Something had happened. He knew she felt it too. Something that had confounded them both. Could he allow himself to believe she was the woman to bring him lasting happiness? For that matter, could she believe it of him? Both of them had been hurt by infidelity. Since Amber had moved into his life, he had come to see that Brooke’s defection hadn’t left lasting scars. They had all but healed up.

She must have been dreaming because she thought Cal had kissed her. A butterfly kiss that nevertheless flew deep inside her. “Oh, my goodness, it’s morning,” she said, blinking.

“Dawn.” He was unsettled by the rush of emotions he was fighting. A mere leaf in a storm. “Let me take him. I can put him down on the bed. Bolster him with pillows.”

“I was afraid I’d fall off to sleep and maybe roll on him.” She was speaking so softly he barely heard her. “He’s so
tiny
.”

Very gently, Cal took the sleeping child from her, holding him a while. He was a dear little fellow really. He could see a family resemblance. The eyes were blue, not Jan’s dark brown. Why should there be such trauma in life?

Amber stretched her arms first, next her legs. Then she wiggled her toes, trying to get the circulation back into her body. Truth be told, she felt quite groggy. Even on her feet she swayed.

“You okay?” Cal wanted to go to her. The effect she was having on him was gaining an awesome momentum. He had already started to fantasize about her. So what was he going to do about it? Was he ready for another serious commitment? Was she? There were big barriers in the way. He couldn’t give up his heritage. It was the woman who would
have to come to him. Could Amber turn her back on a glamorous city lifestyle?

The higher a man flies, the bigger the crash
, said the voice in his head.

He had built a lot of defensive strategies. She was making rubble of them.

Amber began to plait her hair. “I’m fine. Don’t worry. The day bed was quite comfortable. What are you going to do with Marc? I’d like to take a shower to wake myself up.”

“Go ahead.” God, if only there were no restraints! He’d give anything to join her. Soap his trembling hands. Run them over that beautiful woman’s body. Instead, he lay the sleeping baby on the canopied bed. “I’ll wait here with him. When you’re ready we can go downstairs.”

She gave him another one of those smiles that wrapped him like a cloud. With this woman he was going some place he had never been before.

“I’m sure he’ll be ready for a bottle by then.” Amber grabbed up a few clothes, making for the en-suite bathroom.

“Well, for cryin’ out loud!” Dee exclaimed when she caught sight of them. “This is borderin’ on a miracle.”

“And good morning to you too, Dee,” Cal said. “Any chance of breakfast?”

“Don’t I always get you breakfast?” She gave him an indulgent smile before glancing quickly at Amber, carrying the baby. “How are
you
, love?”

“Fine, Dee.” Amber returned the smile. “Our little man had a good night. As you can see, he’s awake now and I’m guessing he wants his bottle.”

“Breakfast and a bottle comin’ up!” Dee bustled away.

Breakfast over, the Cattle Baron was on his feet to go. “The vet will be flying in around eleven,” he informed Dee,
throwing his linen napkin down on the table. “We’ll give him lunch, Dee, as usual.”

“No problem,” Dee said, busy stacking plates.

He turned quickly to Amber, who was giving the baby a bottle. Miracle of miracles, Marcus was feeding contentedly. How different was one human being from another? Cal marvelled. “When I’ve got a minute I’ll take you around to the stables and let you pick out a horse,” he told her. “I didn’t bring you here to—”

“Forget it,” she broke in, knowing he was embarrassed by his family situation. “I’m enjoying this. Maybe baby Marcus is getting over his problem. It does happen.”

Eliot came down not long after, anxious to give his nephew a hand. Cal was handling far more than could be asked of one man and he had been for some time. Eliot knew it and felt bad. “Fitz” Fitzgerald, the vet, was flying in to make a spot check of the herd. He and Fitz went back a long way. He wanted to be on hand. He and Fitz could make their tour while Cal got on with more pressing matters. The big muster was on before Christmas. Back-breaking, often dangerous work.

Janis didn’t appear until around ten and what a world of difference there was between husband and wife! Eliot MacFarlane couldn’t have been more courteous, courtly, Amber thought, but Janis freaked out when she saw who was sitting happily minding a wide awake, tranquil baby.

“Get up. Get out of here.” Janis zoomed in on the hapless Mina, waving her arms as one might wave at a wallaby that had invaded the home gardens.

“Miss Amber…Miss Amber…” Mina stood cross-legged, looking as if she was about to wet her pants with fright.

“Miss Amber is
no one
around here,” Janis exploded furiously. “Is that understood? Haven’t I told you never to go near the baby?”

“Yes, Missus.” Mina was now in floods of tears.

“Yet you’ve disobeyed me. I’ll see to it you lose your place in the house.”

Mina, deeply distressed and frightened, hit herself in the head with both hands.

Amber and Dee, a room away, heard the uproar. “Oh, my God, I’ll have to get in there,” Amber cried.

“My fault again.” Dee hung her head.

“Don’t be silly.” Amber rushed away, desperate to ease the situation. Janis had no hesitation in taking all the help that was offered while still reserving the right to abuse whomever she liked. Everyone wanted to help her. Didn’t she know that? Or was she too self-involved to care?

Mina looked as though she was about to break into a run. The lovely peace had been shattered. Marcus had passed from contentment to distress, his wails gathering strength.

“Is this your doing?” Janis swung on Amber, her cheeks red with rage. “Exactly
who
declared you in charge? How dare you override my orders?”

The articulate Amber swallowed the retort that came to mind. For the moment she had to placate this ill-tempered woman. “Mina, I’d like you to go into the kitchen,” she said to the shaking girl. “You’ve done nothing wrong. Dee will have a cup of tea for you.”

“May I ask if you’re crazy?” Janis stared at Amber as if she’d taken leave of her senses.

“You may
ask
certainly.” Amber recovered her equilibrium fast. She waited calmly for Mina to disappear.

“You come in here, a visitor, and defy me?” Janis was shuddering all over with outrage.

Amber kept her tone low. “Spare me, Mrs MacFarlane. Have you noticed your baby? Are you going to pick up your little son or shall I? Didn’t you see when you came in he was quite content. Now he’s screaming his head off. Look at him. Really
look
. He’s every bit as distressed as you are.”

Janis didn’t even glance down. “You interfering bitch,” she said with great venom. “Wait until I tell Cal about this.”

“Why tell Cal anything?” Amber gave the other woman a straight look. “You have your
husband
. Now, are you going to try to settle your little son? Please look at him. He’s yours. You brought him into the world.”

“And a sorry mistake that was.” Janis turned on her heel. “I’m going to find Cal.”

Poor deluded woman! “I don’t think you’ll get a good reception,” Amber warned. “You heard him last night. The household is at the end of its tether. Please make an effort to calm down, Mrs MacFarlane. I know it’s easier said than done, but
please
try. I’ll take Marcus, shall I?” Amber didn’t wait for a reply, though none appeared to be forthcoming. She settled the baby over her shoulder, patting his heaving little back, while he sicked up on her cotton shirt. Well, she could change it. “Wait here, will you, Mrs MacFarlane?” she begged. “I’ll take Marcus through to Dee. She’ll take care of him. I’m sure you don’t want his crying to continue.”

“And I’m supposed to be
grateful
to you?” Janis’s dark eyes flashed.

Definitely, Amber thought. “Mrs MacFarlane, I don’t need or expect gratitude but you might learn from me about calming a distressed baby. I’ll go now, but I’ll be back. Please stay. I want to help you, in case you haven’t noticed.”

“You think you could?” Janis gave a dry smile.

“I’d like to try.”

Although Amber fully expected to find the room empty, Janis MacFarlane was standing rigid, as though cemented in place.

“Why don’t we sit down?” Amber suggested as pleasantly as she could. This was one difficult woman. She wondered what a happy Janis would look like.
Was
there a happy Janis? She appeared to be highly strung by nature. Had pregnancy and giving birth exacerbated an underlying psychological
problem? Eating might help. Thinking that, she said, “You haven’t had anything to eat. What would you like for breakfast? It won’t take me a minute to tell Dee.”

“Don’t bother. I’m not hungry.” Janis flopped into an armchair.

“You mightn’t feel hungry but it’s difficult to function without food. What about fruit juice and cereal or maybe scrambled eggs?”

“Do shut up,” Janis said rudely. “When I need your help I’ll ask for it. And I
don’t
need it. I pegged you for an opportunist the moment I laid eyes on you. What’s your connection to Cal?”

Amber wasn’t in the least surprised this particular question had surfaced. “None of your business, Mrs MacFarlane.”

“Are you sleeping together?” Janis’s dark eyes ran all over Amber’s body. She looked as though she would have liked to use a cattle prod instead.

“Again, none of your business. You might consider I was fully occupied looking after your baby son, though I didn’t catch a thank you. Why do you treat him as though he’s not yours? I know a little about post-natal depression. I have great sympathy for women who have to confront and deal with it. It would be extremely difficult to handle without help and support. Why did you send those two nannies away? Had you allowed them to help you, you might be feeling a whole lot better by now.”

‘That’s your half baked opinion, is it?” Janis mocked. “No one can fix me.” She said it as if it were the end of the world.

“What’s so unfixable?” Amber asked with real sympathy, though she could darn near taste the answer. “You have a child—a son, a priceless gift. You have a husband, a lovely man. Perhaps you’d be happier in your own home?”