Her Baby Dreams (5 page)

“Ash, I think we both know you're not being honest. Go out with me.” His voice grew husky. “Or at least have lunch with me. What could it hurt?”

Ashby's resolve faltered. She stiffened her back and squared her jaw. “My name is Ashby and I'm not interested in having lunch with a playboy.” It sounded ugly, but it was as much for her own ears as for his.

His jaw tensed, but surprisingly he said nothing as she strode past him across the threshold, all too aware that he was watching her. All too mad at herself for losing control. The door closed with a refined click, as if to chide her.

The man took nothing seriously.

And she would do well to remember that bit of important information. She was looking for a husband. God's man for her. Dan Dawson…

She watched him saunter toward Sam's Diner, then turned her back to the window, putting the carefree flirtation out of her thoughts. Dan wasn't that kind of man.

Not when she knew he'd probably stopped thinking about her the moment he'd stepped off the sidewalk and walked away.

“M
orning, Applegate and Stanley,” Dan said as he entered Sam's Diner. It was midmorning, so the only customers were the two old-timers huddled over their perpetual game of checkers.

“So, did she turn ya down agin?” Applegate almost shouted, his wrinkled frown lifting into a craggy grin.

Dan slid onto a worn buckskin stool. “You know she did.”

The two old men stared at him.

Last night after dropping her off at her place, Dan vowed to back off, yet one look at her this morning and there he went…. “I guess either I'm a glutton for punishment, or I just like needling her.” He pushed his hat off his forehead. “What do you boys think?”

Sam came out from the kitchen, a small, wiry man with a brisk walk. Lifting the pot of coffee, he filled a cup for Dan without even asking. “It's both,” he said as he poured. “I gotta warn ya, though, you better be watching yor back.”

“Look, fellas,” Dan said, not at all concerned with Sam's unvoiced fears. “I'm well aware that the matchmakers have their eyes on me. Why do you think that is?” They'd seemed happy to leave him alone all this time.

“Why?” Stanley's jovial expression changed to a smirk. “'Cause now that they've got the hang of this matchmaking, it's like they can't stop.”

Applegate nodded solemnly. “It is kinda enjoyable. I done got into it myself. But I ain't so sure they're gonna have thar way with Dan here.”

Sam slapped the towel he'd been wiping the counter with over his shoulder. “I told my Adela that very thang. I told her Dan was a born bachelor if ever thar was one.”

Dan nursed his coffee and listened to the boys. He probably did look like a born bachelor to them, and he was, to an extent. But he planned to get married someday. He wasn't sure about having children…but marriage was something he hoped for, when the time was right. Despite what most people saw on the outside, he was a very cautious man. Marriage wasn't something to rush. He was only twenty-eight and had a lot to accomplish before taking on that kind of responsibility. When he offered his name to a lady, there would be nothing more serious in all of his life. Though for the time being, the matchmaking ladies of Mule Hollow would have to be content fixing up others.

He wouldn't hold it against the ladies for trying. They would realize the futility of their efforts soon enough. In the meantime, he didn't mind in the least being their entertainment.

Of course, he didn't think Ashby felt the same way.

Dan took a swig of coffee, savoring the flavor. Life needed to be savored, every moment enjoyed and celebrated. Ash needed to learn that, which was why he teased her so much.

Although it rankled him just a bit that she continued to refuse to go out with him. He had to admit that she'd tried his patience more than he'd thought possible. Like refusing to ride the bike. He was still baffled about that. Even if her friends had set her up, she should have been cooperative.

Her recent efforts in the pig scramble had impressed him. He grinned, thinking about the way she'd stood out from the crowd last night.

“You sure do have a smile on yor face about something,” Sam said, breaking into his thoughts.

Dan set the cup down. “I was just thinking about that pig scramble last night.”

Sam's face crinkled. “I never figured such a prim and proper lady like Ashby ta get out thar with a pig. Wonder what made her decide ta do that?”

Dan kept his lips sealed, steering the conversation on to other things as he ate his lunch.

“Well, fellas,” he said when he was done, “it's been nice talking to you, but I've got a load of cattle waiting patiently on me to haul them to San Antonio.” He headed toward the door.

“Didn't you carry a load up there last week?” Applegate asked, halting his red checker in midair.

“That was a load to the ranch this side of Georgetown, not that far.”

“You sure been keeping busy,” Stanley said, scowling when Applegate removed one of his checkers.

“There isn't any other way to be, is there?” Dan said. “See y'all later.”

Leaving the diner, he headed for his truck and trailer parked in the vacant lot at the end of Main Street. He could hear the cattle bawling as he approached. It was a nice load that would earn him a tidy profit. Always a good thing. His small ranch was almost paid for, and if he kept up the pace of his earnings, it'd be all his before the year was out. Part of that came from having no responsibilities to anyone but himself and the good Lord. Being single had its advantages.

Climbing into the truck, he started it up and glanced toward Ashby's shop. She didn't think much of him. As he drove away, he knew that particular failure bothered him more than he wanted to admit. And he wasn't sure why.

Turning off Main Street, he headed toward the crossroads that would take him the fifty miles to the highway. He couldn't help thinking about the way she'd looked the night before, sitting on the ground in the middle of that arena.

Dazed, confused and totally out of her element.

He should have felt guilty for having goaded her into taking on the pig scramble, but he didn't. It was for her own good, beyond trying to make those dimwitted cowboys take notice of her.

All the other gals who'd been in that arena had had a ball letting their hair down for a good cause. Ashby Templeton had just been there for the good cause.

Sad thing was she didn't even know there was a difference.

 

Ashby loved Sunday mornings. She always made it a point to go by the nursery and hold all the little ones before she went into Sunday school. The ladies took turns in the nursery on a rotating basis. Her morning or not, Ashby went by to say hello to the toddlers. Up until a few months ago, Mule Hollow had only had a one-year-old baby boy to fill the church nursery. But when Dottie and Brady Cannon had opened the women's shelter, the nursery was blessed with the addition of a darling set of three-year-old twins and a fifteen-month-old toddler. The more the merrier, Ashby thought, and she fully expected that with all the weddings that had been happening around town recently, there were bound to be more soon.

Oh, that she could be one of those parents.

Rose, who worked part-time at the dress store for Ashby and was also a resident of the women's shelter, waved her inside. “I've been expecting you.”

Smiling, she handed over fifteen-month-old Bryce. His mother, Stacy, had come to the shelter with Rose when it relocated to Mule Hollow. Abused by her father and later the man she'd married to escape him, Stacy was very fragile. She'd only found the courage to escape from the abuse after she'd given birth to her beautiful baby boy, and had had a chance encounter with Rose. A God-given encounter that led Rose to tell her about a way out of the abuse. Rose and Ashby had become good friends over the past few months, and Ashby had great respect for her.

Looking into the eyes of this child, and knowing that he was going to grow up in such a loving community, Ashby felt her heart rejoice.

“I was running late,” she said. “But you know I had to come by and see my favorite people in all the world.” She tickled Bryce in the tummy and he rewarded her with a cackling laugh. He was a darling with dark hair, sleepy eyes and a smile that sent shafts of sunshine to her heart.

“That's okay. Saying hello to these babies is just as important as getting to class on time. You're their favorite babysitter, after all. When you come out to the shelter and watch the boys while we go to workshops or counseling sessions, their moms rest easy. It's a great blessing.”

“I love helping out, babysitting these fellas especially,” she said, as two sets of tiny arms hugged her knees. “How are my little men?” She stooped to accept hugs from the three-year-old twins.

Rose laughed. “You need some of your own.”

Ashby sighed, looking up from her little group. Unwittingly, Rose had voiced Ashby's heart's desire.

“Tell me about it. I'm so ready, but I'm afraid I might have to admit defeat before long.”

The boys had spied the animal crackers Rose was setting out, and were now intent on getting to chairs at the table. Ashby cuddled Bryce as Rose bent to say a brief prayer over the snack. It was a touching scene. Ashby joined Rose's prayers silently, giving the Lord thanks for the children's safety.

“I guess that means you didn't get any invitations to dinner from participating in the pig scramble?” Rose asked.

“Well,” she hedged, “almost two days and no calls but…I did get one for lunch yesterday.”

“Let me guess. Dan.”

She nodded. “Not that I count it as a real invitation. The man asks everyone out. He's probably already taken every new face in town out to dinner.”

“Are you jealous?” Rose asked.

“Don't be ridiculous. Why would you suggest such a thing?”

“Ashby, everyone can see the way the two of you spark off each other like flint rocks.”

“It's a common phenomenon with him.” She gave Bryce one last kiss on the head and handed him over, missing having him in her arms immediately. “I mean, really, don't you feel electricity when the man enters a room? He's just like that.”

Rose's dark eyes flared. “Actually, no. The guy is good-looking, but he's not my type. That doesn't seem to be your opinion.”

“Yes, it is. He and I are such opposites we make a complete circle on the compatibility chart.”

Rose frowned. “Isn't that a good thing? That's how two people complement each other. You know, like the colors of a color wheel.”

“Hate to say it, but I don't put much stock in all that kind of stuff. Trust me. The man and I do not match.”

Rose smiled. “You might not match, but you sure do make for good entertainment.”

Not certain what to say to that, Ashby just waved goodbye as she headed down the hall toward the singles class. Pausing outside the door, she smoothed her ice-blue silk skirt and straightened her necklace where Bryce had twisted it with his chubby little hand. The sweet baby loved all things that glittered. She'd learned from experience not to wear dangling earrings to the nursery.

As she opened the door and stepped inside, all eyes turned toward her. Her heart sank when she saw that there was only one empty chair in the room. Next to Dan.

He patted the chair. “Miss Templeton, I saved a seat just for you, darlin'.”

Her eyes narrowed. “Thank you so much,
Mr. Dawson.
And to think I was afraid I'd have to stand in the corner for being late.” She was all too aware of the smiles that ricocheted around the room. Lance Yates was sitting at the back, and she wondered why a nice man like him couldn't have saved her a chair. He was the kind of man she could fall in love with. Nice and steady.

Grudgingly, she took the seat, almost jumping when Dan leaned toward her.

“Not a chance of that happening on my watch. My mamma taught me to always let a lady have my chair.” His breath tickled the sensitive skin of her neck, effectively ruining her chance at a convincing comeback.

Sheriff Brady drew the class back to where he'd been when she'd interrupted. He was a stickler for detail and preparation, always well-equipped with insightful takes on the scripture. He was a born teacher. And the men respected him. Because of him, more and more cowboys were starting to turn up on Sunday mornings. Of course, rumor had it he was changing some community service fines into Sunday school time. It was the only explanation for a few of the rougher cowboys showing up at irregular intervals.

Ashby had wondered if that was why Dan came each week. But even she didn't really believe that. There was absolutely nothing childlike about his familiarity with God's word. Knowledge such as he possessed came from time spent reading and studying scripture.

It made her feel a little guilty that she'd called him a playboy the day before. That niggled at her all through class as she listened to his participation in the discussions. To her dismay, she found herself feeling convicted that she needed to clarify her statement of the day before. Maybe other instances, too. She was taking frustrations out on Dan that weren't completely his fault. He was a flirt and he got under her skin on a regular basis, but the real issue was larger than that. He symbolized everything she wasn't looking for.

She made excuses all through class as to why she didn't need to apologize, but the conviction that she should wouldn't ease up. It must be done.

When class was over, Brady asked Dan to hang back to discuss a work-related problem. Something about horseshoes and hay. Ashby was relieved, because it gave everyone else time to head over to the sanctuary for the main service. She'd agreed she needed to make amends to Dan, but the whole world didn't need to hear it. She waited patiently in the hall as everyone filed past her.

“Hello, Ashby,” Lance said, halting beside her. “Nice day.”

“Yes, it is,” she said, looking up at him. He really was a good-looking man, with his sandy-blond hair and brown eyes. Out of the blue she found herself comparing his mild eyes with Dan's intense ones. She pushed those startling thoughts away and smiled at him. “Brady taught a nice lesson, didn't he?”