Daredevil's Mistress

Chapter 25

Shocked, Samantha leaned back. “What?”

“Steven’s the father.”

“I don’t understand. You and Steven were…were over?”

“We’ve been meeting.” Deborah sighed. “Secretly.”

“You poor thing.” Samantha drew her close in a hug. “If you found out then, why didn’t you say something?” Now it all made sense. How many times had Deborah run special errands? Samantha picked up on her nervousness on more than one occasion, but Deborah refused to explain. Her special errands were secret meetings with Steven.

“I wasn’t sure. These home pregnancy tests are not a hundred percent accurate. And last night I did another. Obviously positive. What am I going to do?”

Sympathy tightened Samantha’s tummy muscles. “Does Steven know?”

“Yes. He’s over the moon and already planning our wedding. I didn’t have the heart to disappoint his happiness.” Deborah raked a weary hand through her thick locks and smiled. It didn’t quite reach her eyes.

“Then marry Steven and have the baby.” Deborah’s smile faded. “And what do I tell Cody? He’ll be mad as hell.”

“Listen, sweetheart.” Samantha took Deborah’s hand. “I don’t believe in abortion and I know you don’t either so you have a choice. Marry Steven and have the baby without Cody’s approval or you tell Cody, the sooner the better.”

Stiffly, Deborah stood and stepped away to stare at the mirror. “I couldn’t do it. I don’t have the energy.”

Her voice dipped an octave. Samantha strained to hear her words. “What, Debs? Keep the baby or tell Cody you’re pregnant.”

“No. I can’t have this baby. Cody may hate me for the rest of my life.” Shoulders slumped dejectedly; her friend dragged her feet back to the bed.

“What?” Samantha jumped up and paced the room in frustration while her friend merely stared at her in numb silence. Hands on her hips, she stopped and eyeballed Deborah. “You’re not serious. That is the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard in my entire life. C’mon, you wanna abort a baby ’cause your brother doesn’t like your boyfriend. You’re clearly not making sense.”

“And what do I do. Please tell me.”

“If your brother doesn’t like it then tough luck, he’ll survive. Destroy a precious life to please someone else? I think not. If you do, you’re bound to suffocate in regret. Is that what you want? And what about adoption, there’s that option. Given Steven wants the baby, I don’t think that’s likely though.”

“He wants to start a little ranch.”

“So then tell Cody what you just told me. It’s not like you’re alone. Steven’s all the assurance you need right now. I know it will be hard if Cody doesn’t accept it but please think about your happiness for once.”

“I don’t know if I have the strength to fight him.” Samantha sat down, took Deborah’s hand in hers, and offered a gentle smile. “Listen, the affection you possess for your brother is commendable and I admire you. But the love for a child is something else, especially by two people who love each other.”

Deborah bit her lower lip briefly. “You’re right. I should tell Cody and if he doesn’t like it then I’ll leave the ranch and go live with Steven.” Despite her strong words, she sounded pensive and Samantha’s heart cried out for her friend. “Maybe I should get Freda to tell him…or…” Her blue irises lit up. “Maybe, you could do it?”

“What? No, girl, it must come from you. You owe him that much.” Samantha squeezed Deborah’s hand. “If it’s any consolation, your brother’s in a much better mood of late. Maybe he’ll be more sympathetic.”

“Why? Who better than you, Sam? From where I sit, you’re in love.”

This revelation stumped Samantha momentarily. “C’mon, why the shock? It’s in your eyes, your smile?”

Samantha hesitated. “And when did this discussion become an analysis of my feelings.”

Deborah huffed. “Fine. Your feelings are off limits, for the moment at least. Please tell Cody about the baby.”

“I don’t know, Debs. It’s an important discussion which will prompt an abrupt change in emotions and lives forever. I’ll try. I’m not making any promises, but I’ll certainly try,” Samantha said on a sigh. “Are you going to be okay?”

“I’ll be fine.”

After a quick hug, she got up and made her way toward the door.

“Sam?” Deborah called out and Samantha turned. “Thank you. And when you’re ready to tell Cody how you feel, I’ll be there for you.” Smiling, Samantha left the room.

****

Emerging into the mid-morning brightness, Samantha nibbled the inside of her cheek. Her mother once told her that a strong possibility existed where two people who hated each other at the start, eventually fell in love. One so strong it surpassed insurmountable boundaries. Perhaps it rang true in her case.

Happy, she needed to tell someone…anyone, but whom? Deborah wasn’t in a state for the rants of subliminal love. Her problems were enough to contend with already. Reece’s childishness and Jace’s shyness weren’t ideal. Freda left on a visit with family for the next two days. Her reflections left her with one other person…Chance.

Their friendship had grown over the last few days and a certain comfort level existed between them. A discussion on the subject of love with Cody probably resembled a beginner on a tightrope. She needed to tread lightly. Chance understood Cody fairly well and may possibly be the only other person worth talking with.

Several minutes later, Samantha stuck her head in the doorway of the barn and found him forking stacks of straw into stalls. “Hey, Chance. Got a minute?”

“Sure thing, sweetheart. C’mon in to my humble abode.”

Entering the barn, she neared him then straddled the edge of the bale of straw he forked in a stall.

Chance leaned on the pitchfork and gave her his full attention. “So, what’s up?”

“I needed someone to talk with and well…”

“The honor is mine, ma’am.” He playfully tipped his hat.

“How long have you known Cody?”

“’bout ten years or so, I guess. When I arrived on the ranch, he was young and still learning the ropes. The man’s one tough bloke and sure as hell knows ranching like the back of his hand.”

“So you know him fairly well,” she said and Chance nodded. “What type of person is he?”

“Honest, hardworking, reasonable, hard at times, and I reckon a pure perfectionist.”

“What…” She hesitated. “What about the ladies?

How’s his attitude toward women?”

“Not much time for the opposite sex. Except for Deborah and Freda, no other woman’s come close, until he met you. And you, Sam, have proved too damn fiery for his liking. If you ask me, I reckon the man figured he sure as hellfire met his match with you.” Chance cocked a charming brow. “Why the twenty questions, sweetheart?”

“Nothing really. You’re the only other person who knows Cody.”

“You’re in love with him, aren’t you?”

Her head snapped up. Her face grew hot. Dammit? Not him too. “I…I” The words stuck miserably in her throat.

“Relax, sweetheart. No need to be shy with me. I ain’t Cody.” His lips curved in a gentle smile.

“Yes, Chance, funny as it sounds, I’m in love with a man I thought I detested.” Out loud, it sounded almost unreal.

“It’s been known to happen.”

“I’m not sure if I should tell him though. Honestly, it’s the first time I’ve experienced an emotional reaction for someone,” she said. “And Cody is…well he’s different. I’m half afraid he may reject me.”

“He likes honesty, Sam. Tell him exactly how you feel. What’s the worst that could happen? Cody will tell you how he feels? Hell, the whole damn ranch knows how he feels.” Chance winked.

“I wish I had half your optimism.” She puffed out a loud sigh. “Cody mentioned love wasn’t an overnight sentiment. It grows with time. He believes people don’t fall in love quickly. And we haven’t known each other long.”

“Maybe true, however, I reckon while some people take time to figure the true meaning of love, others jump right in heart first. I believe they call it love at first sight.” He threw her a lopsided grin. “No one, not even Cody, has control over the heart.”

“Is that a fact?”

“No. But from what I’ve heard the sexual tension between you two has sizzled enough to reheat the damn SP Crater and only a matter of time before one of you gave in.”

Samantha reddened. The talk of the ranch.

“Trust me, sweetheart, Cody is one heck of a guy and there’s a helluva change. We all see it. So I’d take the plunge if I were you.”

“You’re probably right. I should just tell him and hope for the best. Oh, Chance I—” The bale beneath her, tilted. “What the…” Her hands shot up to grasp his outstretched hand as she flailed and fell with the bale. Yanking hard, she pulled him on top of her. His weight squeezed the breath out of her lungs. Samantha burst out laughing and Chance joined her as they untangled themselves then sat up among the strewn straw.

“I love you, Chance.” Samantha leaned forward and hugged him tightly. Still breathless from laughter, she inhaled deeply. “Love you as a dear friend and I love Deborah for inviting me out here to find true love. If it weren’t for friends like you, I’d probably marry some dull old bloke chosen by my father. Thank you.”

“My pleasure, sweetheart. Glad I could help.” Jumping to his feet, he offered her a hand up.

“I’m going to find Cody right now and let him know exactly how I feel.”

“Yeah, I’m rootin’ for you.” Chance blew her a kiss.

“I’ll see you later.” Dusting the straw off her clothes, Samantha left the barn in high spirits.

Downing his scotch, Cody slammed the glass onto the counter top as the amber liquid burned fire down his throat. His entire world had come crumbling down. Pain, dense and crude, locked numb fingers round his heart and squeezed the air from his lungs. A second…a mere second was all it took to relive his agonized past.

On his way back from the stables, he’d walked past the barn and overheard Samantha’s voice. He wasn’t prepared for the sight which greeted him when he entered. Shock, equivalent to being pounded by a gallon of solid ice, rocked his body to the core. He stormed out, not interested in hearing another word. Yet the words, the smile, and the laugh Samantha shared with Chance in that single moment stuck to his head and heart like pinpricks of a needlepoint. Samantha couldn’t be in love with Chance? It wasn’t possible. She made love with him, not Chance.

Nausea gripped his throat. Sick to his stomach, he braved the pain. The last few days were a blur…a blur of happiness. Someone up there really hated him with a passion. He looked heavenward and grimaced. Does my life mean so little that I’m tricked into these positions so easily? The sudden tightening of his chest propelled his breath out in a strangled gasp.

Cody grabbed the banister tightly and took the stairs two at a time up to his room. Dammit. Usually he held a firm control over his emotions. He never allowed issues to cloud his judgment. Why then did it feel like he was losing control now? Devastation smothered him in swirls of anguish like a desert storm, stealing his breath.

Face it, you’re not relationship material. He couldn’t have been wrong. Not Samantha too, she’s different. He’d seen the difference. Then again, he hadn’t made any promises. They didn’t discuss their relationship, its confines, or its boundaries. Could he blame her? She owed him nothing. Surely it’s a matter of principal to sleep with one person at a time. The dating game was a thing of the past for him, by choice. Lord alone knew what the give and take in new relationships consisted of now.

Her presence bore a sense of liveliness to his usual coldness. She was good for him in the short time he spent in her company. Stop it, dammit. Don’t make excuses. You deserve better. Raw on the inside, every muscle blazed with irrational anger. Given his current state of mind, he didn’t want to see Samantha. Hot- headed, he didn’t trust the words he may spew out. So? Why do you care if you hurt her? Problem was he cared. A whole damn lot more than he should. Cody thrust a hand through his hair wearily. An incessant rage claimed his mind. He had to get away from the ranch…stay away, until she left. His legs refused to move.

Just go.

Forcing his body into action, he strode toward the bathroom. The light tap on his door halted him mid- stride. A mental debate to open the door or not, ensued. It opened. Samantha peeked in then entered.

Cody raked a glance over her jeans clad figure. He winced at the piece of dried straw stuck to a lock of her hair, evidence of her recent tumble in the hay with Chance. “Yes?” Adrenaline pumped harshly through his body as it grappled for calm.

“Hi.”

“What do you want?” Stay firm. Will she confess?

Her gaze wavered, and her smile faded. “Cody, what’s the matter? Are you okay?”

“And why shouldn’t I be?” It hurt just looking at her face. The urge to bolt mushroomed. He turned away and strode to the window. There he scanned the horizon seeing nothing.

“W—What’s wrong?” Hesitancy laced her voice. “Did you want somethin’ specific?” he asked, keeping his back to her for fear of being distracted. “Please, Cody.” She came up behind him and placed a hand on his shoulder.

Shrugging her hand off, he rotated. “Actually, Samantha, it’s me. I did somethin’ wrong,” he said, noting her bewilderment. “I made the mistake of getting involved with you.” Cody observed the play of emotions cross her face. Her expression of stunned confusion appeared ready to cry as her eyes glistened.

“I—I don’t understand. What did I do? Please tell me.” She blinked away the tears.

“When I vowed to stay away from the fairer sex, it was an intention with good reason and I should’ve stuck to my guns. Women are nothin’ but troublemakers who show their true colors, eventually. All of you are the same no matter how innocent you may appear.” Cody darted a disgusted glare at her, hoping his words sank in.

The green of her irises darkened, no longer with passion but raw anger. “What the hell is wrong with you? If I did something, then say so. I don’t need your unsolicited opinion of the opposite sex.”

Her anger surprised him, briefly. The words stuck in his throat.

“I’m waiting.” Samantha folded her arms across her chest and her booted foot tapped against the floor.

He jammed his hands in his back pockets and reined in the stream of impatience shooting through his body. “Why don’t you tell me how you honestly feel about me?” He fought for a calm which belied his inner turmoil. She held his gaze, yet Cody wasn’t sure what he read in her eyes except maybe conflicting sentiments.

She took a deep breath. “If you really must know, I love you. I love you with every fiber of my being.”

Her words hit him like a bucket of icy cold water.

He laughed more out of shock than mirth.