you’ll take the baby with you.”
“Yes, of course, but I still hope that he can get to know you and your family as he grows. If he does, you would be a good father figure for him, I’m sure. Kern would have been a wonderful one.”
“You could have gone on with your life and never told me,” Marek said, looking into her wide crystal-blue eyes. “There’s no way I would have found out. Now you’ll have to share Noah.”
She studied him intently. “It wouldn’t have been right. I couldn’t do it. I thought about doing that because it would have been infinitely easier, but I love Noah and want what’s best for him. The day will come when he’ll want to know his father. Since he can’t do that, he will want to know his father’s family. I truly think you’ll be a good influence. The ranching aspect has to be good for a growing boy. If he gets to know you and know ranching, I’ll feel as if he knows part of his father.”
“I agree with that, and I’m glad you made that decision,” Marek said in a tight voice, trying to control his emotional reaction to her statement. “Will you be in town if I want to get in touch with you?”
“Yes. In June I perform here in Dallas. Then in July I’ll go to Santa Fe for my August performance. After that I’ll go home to Saint Louis through September so I can be with my family. I have a voice teacher here in Dallas that I like very much, so I may be in Texas more often than I have been in the past.”
“You have a busy schedule. Thank you for calling me. You didn’t have to share with us at all,” he said again, still amazed she had done so.
“At first I was shocked by the news of my pregnancy. I thought it would end my career, and I was torn up over trying to figure out what to do. I felt uncertain about telling him. We only knew each other that one weekend. But the more I thought about it, the more I wanted Kern and the Rangels to be part of my baby’s life.”
As she walked to the door, Marek accompanied her. When she paused, he turned to face her, once again briefly caught in the blue of her eyes. She was a beautiful woman, and he understood why his brother had been attracted to her. “I’ll talk to my sister. Also, I’ll let my parents know. Thank you again for telling me,” Marek said.
“I’m sorry for both your losses, your brother and your fiancée.”
“Thank you,” he replied stiffly. “I’ll be in touch after I’ve talked to my sister.”
She nodded. “I’m glad to have finally met you and glad you know about Noah. I’m sure I’ll hear from you.”
He watched her walk away and turned to go back into his office with his thoughts swirling. How much had Kern had his mind on the fact that he was going to be a father instead of concentrating on his flying? Had that news been a factor in Kern’s crash?
And another baby in the family, and this time not only a little boy, but Kern’s baby. He thought how delightful his two little nieces were. Now they would have the girls and Kern’s little boy.
Marek canceled his appointments and called his pilot to fly back to the ranch to talk to the person he had been close to all his life.
Two hours later, Marek stood in the barn while his ranch foreman repaired a stall. Jess Grayson had pushed his battered, wide-brimmed brown hat back on his head and had his sleeves rolled high. While Jess drove in a nail, Marek held a board in place. “You can have a paternity test even with Kern gone.”
“I know I can and I will, but I don’t need to. That message is Kern’s. It sounds like him. The baby looks like him. I’ve asked for a paternity test just to be sure.”
“Good. So what are you going to do? Have you told Ginny?”
“Not yet. Wanted to talk to you first,” he said, looking at Jess’s weathered skin, which was the color of cowhide except for a pale band below his hairline where his hat shaded his skin from the sun.
“Ginny’s family. I’m not.”
“You might as well be. Your opinion still counts. I was all set to walk out of there and never look back when she pulled out Kern’s message. I want you to read it when you finish nailing this board.”
As soon as the board was in place, Marek fished the paper out of his pocket, unfolded it and handed it to Jess.
After a moment Jess looked up to meet Marek’s gaze. “Super-mega-duper,” Jess repeated. “That’s Kern.” He shook his head as he returned the paper. “An opera star.”
“A rising one. I don’t know if she’s a star yet. At this point, I don’t know anything about her. Except I’m sure she’s telling the truth about the baby.”
“You really think she’s not after money?” Jess asked, picking up another board and setting it in place below the first one. Marek stepped closer to help.
“She doesn’t act like she is. Doesn’t matter, really. Since I know this is Kern’s baby, I can’t walk away. He wouldn’t if this were my baby, and I can’t with Kern’s.”
“Even if he didn’t love the lady?”
“Even if. Besides, you read that message. I would bet the ranch Kern was running through his mind how he could get her to marry him.”
“Might be right. So you want this baby in the family?”
Watching Jess hammer, Marek thought a long time. “Yes, I do. Suppose he’s a lot like Kern or even a little like Kern? It would drive me nuts to think a little boy was out there, Kern’s son, who looked and acted like Kern and we didn’t know him and didn’t care. I can’t do that. She wants us in his life. She wants him to have an appreciation for ranching. I can’t argue against either of those.”
“Then you’ve made your decision. Tell Ginny.”
“I guess I have to.”
“Frankly, I’d kind of like to see the little fellow myself.”
“I’ll call Ginny and then I’ll call Camille and see if I can arrange to see her again, which will be easy to do. Per Kern’s usual taste, she’s a beauty,” he said, remembering his first impression of her. “Also, she said she’d like me to be a father figure for Noah.”
“That may be difficult if she doesn’t live around here.”
“True. She’s leaving Dallas in July and going to Santa Fe. She has a busy schedule. Until then, I’d like to know this child.”
“Have you called your parents?”
Marek nodded. “I’m going to call to tell them. I want this baby to know the Rangels and us to know him. I’ll go call Ginny. Thanks, Jess.”
“You might get a little bit of Kern back,” Jess said somberly.
“I’d like that, Jess, but I’m scared that’s too much to hope for. I’ll let you know what she says.” Marek jogged to the house and inside, letting the door swing shut behind him.
While he called his sister, he remembered Camille—her vivid looks, her energetic presence. Good
