to the ranch with me.”
Chapter Two
He was taking Emma to the ranch? Over her dead body, Rachel thought. She’d wondered if this day could get any worse. Now she had her answer. Apparently the gods eagerly pounced on her negative challenge and made it so. She wanted to rephrase—could this day get any better?
Jake Fletcher better leave and take his sweeping pronouncements with him. She had given Holly a solemn promise to keep the child until she returned. Rachel knew how deeply a betrayal could cut. No way was this man taking Emma back to his ranch—or anywhere else for that matter.
Rachel closed her front door, then moved to block the hallway that led to the room where Emma was napping. Looking up at him, way up, she knew there was no way she could stop him if he decided to do this. But she was prepared to bluff him as best she could.
She folded her arms over her chest. “I’m not going to let you take Emma out of this apartment, Jake.”
“Oh?”
“Like I told you, Holly gave her to me for safekeeping.”
“I’m not going to hurt her.”
“That’s your interpretation.”
He shook his head. “You accused me of making judgments about you without information. Well, right back at you, Rachel. What kind of man do you think I am? I would never hurt a child, especially my own niece.”
“There are lots of ways you could hurt her. Like keeping her from her mother,” Rachel said.
She couldn’t see his eyes because the brim of his black hat shadowed them. But Jake’s mouth thinned.
“What makes you think I would do that?”
“What I think doesn’t matter. It’s what Holly believes. She made me promise not to give Emma to you. She thinks you’re planning to take the baby away from her.”
He put his hands on his hips and shook his head. “That’s the last thing I’d do.”
“Unfortunately I am not the person you have to convince,” Rachel pointed out. “But here’s the deal. I gave Holly my word that I would take care of Emma until she comes back. She made me specifically swear that I wouldn’t hand the baby over to you for any reason.”
“Why would she think I was planning to take Emma?” he asked.
“Because taking over is what you do, Jake.”
“And how do you know this?”
“I saw it for myself. You insisted on being at the childbirth classes. What was that about? And when Holly wouldn’t follow your command to get married, you tried to talk her into going to the ranch after she left the hospital with the baby, even though she made it clear she didn’t want to go anywhere with you. You questioned everything she did from the way she held the baby to how Emma was dressed. It’s plain as day you don’t trust her. Next you’ll probably check into the electronic surveillance ankle bracelets they make prisoners wear.”
“After this stunt they’ve pulled, it’s not a bad idea,” he said.
“The point is, you’re always there, not giving them a chance to breathe.”
“I’m supporting my brother,” he said, an edge to his voice.
“That’s commendable. But his actions speak volumes. He left with Holly. I think the two of them have had about all the support from you they can stand.”
“His actions leave a lot to be desired. He put his child in the care of an outsider,” he said.
“An outsider maybe. But it was his decision to make, not yours,” she pointed out. “That means I have permission from him as well as Holly to care for their baby until we have some word from them. And that’s what I intend to do.”
The muscle in his lean cheek contracted. “You’re interfering in a family situation.”
She chose to ignore the interfering remark. “You and Dan are family, but Holly hasn’t got anyone except me.”
Rachel promised herself she would never take in another person in need. Ever. But now that she was up to her eyes in alligators on Holly’s behalf, she would go to the mat on the issue of protecting Holly’s rights to her baby. Mother and child went together like home and hearth.
“What if she doesn’t come back?” he asked.
“Of course she’ll be back,” Rachel said automatically.
But she knew from firsthand experience that sometimes things happened. Sometimes mothers didn’t come back. Or fathers, either. Yearning for what could never be spasmed inside her, like a hunger that could never be satisfied.
“Come on, Rachel. Be realistic. There’s a story on the news almost every night about a baby abandoned, sometimes in a Dumpster.”
“Holly didn’t do that. She arranged for me to care for her baby until she comes back.”
“If she comes back.”
She would, Rachel thought. She was almost sure of it. “Holly didn’t just run off without a word. She was breastfeeding and waited to do this as long as she could—until the baby had received the benefits of breast milk.”
“If she’d stayed, Emma would still be receiving the benefits,” he said.
“I’m not saying it’s an ideal situation. But a lot of working mothers wean their infants because they have to return to work.”
Jake folded his arms over his chest. “Sugarcoat it all you want, Rachel. She’s irresponsible.”
“That’s your opinion.”
“And I’ve got another one. It’s weird for an attractive, single woman to turn her life upside down for a teenager’s baby.”
“So if I was an unattractive woman it would be okay?” She put her hands on her hips. “It’s not like I’m going to adopt Emma. This is just for a few weeks. So unless I hear differently, I intend to keep my promise. When Holly comes back, her baby will be here waiting for her.”
Something told Rachel that Jake would be waiting, too. He was Emma’s biological uncle and frustration seemed to be rolling off him in tangible waves. On the one hand, she understood Holly’s concerns about Jake’s tendency to take control. On the other, Rachel had to give him credit for getting involved. How many men would so aggressively seek out the burden of a newborn? She couldn’t decide if he was concerned, caring or just plain crazy.
But in this regard Jake was certainly different from the men she normally met. Rachel knew her fatal flaw was her inability to turn away from someone in need. She had no illusions. No good deed went unpunished.
“So we’re at an impasse,” he said.
“Unless you decide to muscle your way past me and forcibly take Emma.”
“I’m
