Hidden Away, page 5
part #2 of Hearts of Montana Series
Her chest filled with a love so huge that it almost hurt, and she knew she would do anything for him. If Reed and Olivia thought they were taking Sam away from her, they were dead wrong.
She was never letting him go again.
The whoosh of the door sounded, and Taylor walked in.
He held two Styrofoam cups of coffee and smiled down at her. A smile that held a hint of promise. Of caring, at least.
How could Taylor Johnson be standing in this room with her? How could he be back in her life?
Nine years ago, she’d lost the two things she’d loved the most in the world. And now both of them were in the same room with her, back in her life, and she didn’t know what she was going to do with either one of them.
But she knew she didn’t want to let them go.
“You’re awake.” Taylor held out one of the cups. “It’s not very good coffee, but it’s hot.”
She took the coffee and held the warm cup in her hands. Speaking of hot. Taylor had been good-looking as a boy, but he was ridiculously hot as a man.
How had he not been snatched up already? She tilted her head up at him. “Why are you here?”
He shrugged. “I knew you wouldn’t want to go back to the hotel, and I didn’t want to leave you.”
But you did leave me.
“Not here, in the hospital,” she said. “Here in Montana. Why did you come back?”
A look of pain crossed his face. “I had some unfinished business to take care of. Besides, I’m from here. Dad’s not as young as he used to be, and he’s been bugging me for years to come back and help with the ranch. When Sheriff Flanagan decided to retire, and the town council offered me the job, it just seemed like the right time to come home.” He raised an eyebrow at her. “Are you glad I’m back?”
“I haven’t decided yet.” She offered him a small smile. “I’m grateful for your help, though. I don’t know what’s going to happen with my family. How long we’re going to have to pretend to be engaged.”
The rest of the family had all filed in the night before, hugging Sam and telling him how sorry they were about his parents.
Her Aunt Susan was a sobbing mess, laying her head on Sam’s small chest as she wept.
Cherry’s heart broke at the simple gesture of comfort Sam offered his grandmother as he stroked her hair and assured her that everything would be all right.
Aunt Bea had strode into the room and eyed Sam as if he were a piece of meat in the grocery store. She pronounced that he looked fine and was sure he would be back on his feet in no time.
Olivia fawned all over Sam, straightening his pillows and filling his glass with water. She probably had the best of intentions, but her very presence irked Cherry. She was glad when Aunt Bea asked Reed and Olivia to take her home.
Sam had fallen asleep shortly after.
Cherry and Taylor had sat quietly in the room, the silence more comforting than uncomfortable.
Taylor smiled down at her. “We’ll pretend as long as we have to.” He looked over at the little boy. “As long as it takes to help him.”
Sam must have heard them talking. His blue eyes fluttered open, and he struggled to sit up.
Cherry leaped to her feet to help him. “Here, let me get that.” She raised the bed so the boy was more comfortable. “Is that better?”
He nodded and offered her a weak smile.
The first rays of the morning sun shone across his face as dawn broke, and she swore he looked like an angel. His blond hair was tousled around his head, and she just wanted to pick him up and hold him in her lap.
Did eight-year-old boys still sit in laps? She didn’t know.
There was so much she didn’t know.
She and Stacy were close and had both made efforts to keep Cherry in Sam’s life. She’d never missed a birthday party, and they’d tried to get together every month or so.
So Cherry knew that he liked pizza and macaroni-and-cheese. She knew his favorite super-hero was Batman and that he loved dinosaurs. But the day-in and day-out stuff like what kind of shampoo she should buy and what size his shoes were, she had no clue.
She didn’t know how many fruit and vegetable servings he was supposed to have in a day. Four? Or was it five? She didn’t know how many books he liked to be read before he went to sleep or if he still even listened to books.
She didn’t know what kind of laundry detergent to use to make his clothes smell like home, and she didn’t know how she would ever be able to take Stacy’s place.
Stacy had it all figured out. Being a mom came so naturally to her. The only thing that came naturally to Cherry was misfortune and bad luck.
Everything else she had to work for. Sometimes she felt like she had to work twice as hard to achieve what came so easily to others.
She looked down at the boy lying in the hospital bed, and she knew it didn’t matter how hard she had to work. She’d do whatever it took to make a home for Sam. To make a life for the two of them.
Even if that meant pretending to be engaged to Taylor Johnson.
“My head doesn’t hurt as much today,” Sam said, drawing her out of her musings.
“That’s good. Are you hungry? Or thirsty? Do you want me to get you something to drink?” Cherry fell back on her instinct to feed people.
That was one thing she could do right.
The boy nodded. “Yeah, I’m kinda thirsty.”
She poured a cup of water and inserted a straw before passing it to him.
He took a few sips then eyed Taylor. “Do you think I could see your badge?”
“Sure.” Taylor grinned and unclipped the badge from his belt. He handed it to Sam, who held it with reverence.
He traced his fingers around the five points of the gold star then offered Taylor a lopsided grin as he handed the badge back. “It’s pretty cool.”
“Yeah it is.” Taylor clipped the badge back in place.
“What’s a ‘fee-on-say’?” Sam asked, carefully pronouncing the word.
Cherry almost choked on the sip of coffee she had just taken. “Where did you hear that word?”
Sam shrugged. “Last night. When all the family was here. Uncle Reed said he didn’t know if he believed that Taylor was a real ‘fee-on-say’.”
Oh great.
If Reed and Olivia doubted that Taylor was her real fiancé, then that would give them more ammunition for trying to take Sam away from her.
“Is it like a kind of policeman?” Sam asked. “’Cause that badge looks pretty real to me.”
Cherry smiled. “No, it’s not like that. It doesn’t have to do with him being a sheriff. It just means that Taylor and I—um—it means that Taylor and I are going to get married.”
“Oh.” Sam looked a little disappointed.
Taylor chuckled. “Not as exciting as you thought, huh? A fiancé is just the name for the person you’re engaged to be married to.” He looked down at her, and her chest tightened at the thought of having to keep up this charade.
She was starting to feel comfortable around Taylor, starting to count on him. But she knew from experience that she couldn’t count on Taylor Johnson. She’d done that before, and he’d left. But this was different.
This wasn’t just about her. This was about Sam, too. Her son.
Her and Taylor’s son.
The ball of panic she felt tightening in her chest grew another inch.
What would happen if Taylor found out?
There was no way he could. She and Stacy had taken every precaution to keep the adoption a secret.
She couldn’t think about that now. She needed to focus on Sam.
She hated lying to Sam. But it was worth it if it meant she could keep him.
And being engaged didn’t mean they actually had to get married. Some people stayed engaged for years.
Taylor leaned down and spoke softly to her, his breath tickling the inside of her ear. “He’s smart. I’m not used to a little kid sounding so much like an adult.”
“Yeah, he is.” She smiled down at Sam and tried to keep the pride from her voice. Even though she gave Stacy the credit for his advanced vocabulary, he was still her boy. “It’s because he’s the only child of educated parents, and all he has to talk to are adults. He’s always been one of the brightest kids in his class. But sometimes he still surprises me with how deep his thought process is and the big words he uses.”
“Do you think I’ll get to go home today?” Sam asked. Thank goodness he’d moved on from the fiancé subject.
She wished she could move on as easily.
“We have to wait for the doctor to clear you,” Taylor said, “but they told us last night that if everything looked okay today, you should be able to go home this afternoon.”
Sam picked at the hem of the sheet, avoiding Taylor’s eyes. “Where am I going to go? Back to my house?”
Oh no. She’d been so focused on Sam being okay that she hadn’t really thought about what would happen once they let him out of the hospital.
Because of all the fire damage, she couldn’t take him back to her apartment. Taking him back to his own house wouldn’t work either. He lived here in Great Falls, and it would be impossible to make the forty-five minute commute without a reliable car. Or depending on what was wrong with it this time, no car at all.
Plus, she couldn’t just leave the restaurant. She needed to be in Broken Falls to oversee the repairs and get the diner back up and running.
“You’re both coming home with me,” Taylor said.
Her eyes snapped to his.
Coming home with him? What was he talking about? “Taylor—”
He ignored her protest, his gaze focused on Sam. “I live on a ranch in Broken Falls. It’s called the Lazy J Ranch, for the Johnson family. There’s plenty of room and lots of things for an eight-year old boy to do. We have horses and cows and even a few pigs. How does that sound? Would you be okay coming back to the Lazy J with us?”
Sam’s small shoulders shrugged. “I guess so.” He looked at her. “Is that okay with you, Cherry?”
She sighed. What choice did she have?
She couldn’t afford for them to stay in a hotel, and she sure as hell didn’t want to ask anyone in her family for help. If she showed any sign that she couldn’t take care of Sam, they’d swoop in and snatch him from her faster than she could blink.
“Yeah, Sam. That’s okay with me.” It had to be okay.
What other choice did she have?
Chapter Six
Taylor pulled the truck to a stop in front of the house. He’d had one of his deputies bring his truck to Great Falls that morning so he wouldn’t have to bring Sam and Cherry back in his cruiser. He didn’t want Sam’s first ride with him to be in the back of a police car.
After Sam was released from the hospital, they’d gone by Stacy’s house and picked up some of his things. They’d filled a couple of duffel bags with clothes, toiletries, books, and some of Sam’s favorite toys.
Taylor’s heart broke as he’d watched Cherry move slowly around the living room, softly touching knick-knacks and photographs. He could almost see the memories flashing across her face as she smiled or grinned at each picture. She’d chosen a few and tucked them into a bag to bring along.
He’d tried to think like a sheriff and reminded her to grab some of the important paperwork from Greg’s den. They’d found a file containing Sam’s social security card and health insurance documents.
It had taken less than an hour to pack the most critical things and head for the ranch in Broken Falls. The drive had been quiet as Taylor watched the familiar scenery go by.
Now he stepped from the truck and walked around to get the door for Cherry.
Sam had fallen asleep on the way home but now sat up in the seat, taking in the farm.
Taylor looked around the ranch, viewing it from the eyes of the eight-year-old boy.
The house itself was a sprawling ranch-style home that looked like a big log cabin. The front porch held two rocking chairs, and a swing swayed lazily in the summer breeze. The barn had been repainted a few years back, so the red color seemed bold against the deep blue of the Montana sky.
A fenced-in corral hooked to one side of the barn, and four horses casually munched at a bale of hay in a trough. Large fields lay on the other side, and several hundred cattle grazed on the green grass of the pasture.
The sun was just setting, and the dim light of dusk gave the ranch an idyllic look, almost as if it were lifted from the pages of a book.
He took Cherry’s hand and helped her from the truck, then lifted the boy out and set him on the ground. “Welcome to the Lazy J. What do you think?”
A black-and-white striped cat streaked across the yard and pressed itself against Sam’s legs.
The boy looked up at Taylor, a lopsided grin on his face. “I like it. It’s cool.”
The screen door slammed, and his dad stepped onto the front porch.
Taylor had called him earlier and told him he was bringing home a couple of friends to stay the night. He’d asked his father to make up the guest room and pull something together for supper and said he’d explain everything when they got there.
Taylor herded the group up the steps and onto the porch.
Cherry offered a small wave as she walked up the steps. “Hi, Russ.”
“Hey there, Cherry.” Russ wrapped her in a hug. “I heard about the fire at the diner. You doing all right?”
Cherry sunk into his dad’s arms, and Taylor had a moment of envy that she couldn’t get that comfort from him.
She held up her bandaged arm. “Only a slight casualty. But I’ll be okay.”
His dad had always adored Cherry, and Taylor knew that he still saw her every week at the diner. Russ had wanted them to stay together.
It seemed odd to Taylor that he had left Cherry behind, yet his dad still had a relationship with her. Still saw her and talked to her.
Small towns.
Russ looked down at Sam, his arm still wrapped around Cherry’s shoulder. “And who is this young man?”
“This is Sam. He’s my cousin’s son. He’s—” Her voice choked with emotion, and she swallowed, unable to continue.
“Sam and his parents were in a pretty bad car accident, and he’s going to be living with Cherry now,” Taylor said, reverting to his official sheriff voice. It was easier to say the words if he voiced them in an official capacity.
“My mom and dad died,” Sam said, his voice hoarse.
“Well, I am truly sorry to hear that, son. That’s a pretty rough deal for a guy to go through.” Russ held out his hand and carefully shook the boy’s casted hand. “I’m Russ, Taylor’s dad. Looks like you busted up your arm there. That’s a pretty cool cast though.”
Sam held up the cast, now wrapped in orange and blue gauze.
The technician had let him pick the colors, and he’d blurted out his color choices without a moment’s hesitation. “Thanks. It’s orange and blue, for the Denver Broncos. That’s my dad and I’s favorite team.” He looked up at Russ, sincerity in his eyes. “Do you think they have football in Heaven?”
Russ smiled down at the boy and gave him a reassuring nod. “I’m counting on it, son.”
A ball of emotion clogged Taylor’s throat, and his heart ached for this parentless boy. He thought he couldn’t love his dad more. He was the kind of man that Taylor aspired to be.
He wanted to say thanks but worried he wouldn’t be able to get the words out. Instead he just nodded at his father. Universal man-code for “I love you, Dad.”
Russ winked at him and held open the screen door. “So, I’ve got a big pot of sauce simmering on the stove. Are you a fan of spaghetti, Sam?”
Sam nodded. “Yeah, sure. I love spaghetti.”
“Taylor, I made up the guest room. Why don’t you bring in their stuff, and I’ll get the noodles to boiling. We’ll eat in fifteen.”
Fifteen minutes later, they were sitting at the table, a huge plate of spaghetti steaming in front of them.
Taylor took Sam’s small hand in his and bowed his head as his father said grace.
Russ took the lid from the pot of sauce, and a heavenly scent of tomato and garlic filled the room.
Taylor’s stomach growled, and Sam grinned up at him. He shrugged. “Sorry, dude. I’m hungry.”
He was rewarded with a wide-toothed grin. “Me, too.”
Russ filled a plate for Sam then passed it to him, and Taylor was happy to see the boy dig in.
Now if only his dad could get Cherry to eat something.
He’d brought up a sandwich and chips from the hospital cafeteria at lunch and had convinced her to eat some of it only by telling her he was full and going to throw the rest away. He was glad to see her eat but hated that the only reason she took the sandwich he offered was to save it from being tossed in the trash.
His dad spooned a heaping helping of spaghetti and sauce onto a plate then passed it to her, and Taylor was pleased to see her twist her fork into the noodles and scoop a bite into her mouth.
She closed her eyes in bliss as she chewed, and the temperature of the room suddenly went up a notch as he imagined other ways to create the same look of bliss on her face.
Get a grip, man.
They were eating supper. Now was not the time to be fantasizing about the woman sitting across from him. The woman whose red hair spilled from a loose top knot on her head, the strawberry strands resting softly against the cream-colored skin of her neck.
Memories of kissing that neck filled his mind, and he flashed on the last night they’d been together. He’d taken her out to the lake, and he remembered the way the moon and the stars had reflected off the glassy water.
He’d had that old blue pickup, and he could envision Cherry’s hair spread out on the bench seat as she lay under him. It had been close to nine years ago, and yet the memory was as vivid as if it had happened yesterday.
He could almost hear the sounds of the bullfrogs through the open windows of the truck. Almost smell the plumeria-scented lotion that she loved to wear. Almost feel the rough fabric of the seat covers as it scratched his bare hip with every stroke as he moved in rhythm with the woman beneath him.
