Military Daddy. Patricia Davids
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was over and she could stop worrying about it. Now it was time to look ahead and make a plan.
She managed to reach her car. A soldier stood on the other side of her beat-up peacock-blue hatchback, chatting through the rolled-down window with her roommate in the passenger seat. Crystal was laughing at something the man said. Annie glanced back. Shane stood just outside the building, watching her. His face wore a puzzled frown. Who could blame him?
The sudden clop-clop of hooves startled her as a soldier walked past, leading two brown horses with black manes and tails. She had heard a lot about Shane’s unit from him during their one evening together. At first she had thought he had been teasing about being in the cavalry, but it had soon become apparent that he and his friends really did ride horses in a modern army.
Shane had spoken with quiet pride about his participation in the inaugural parade in Washington, D.C. She could still see his shy smile and the sparkle in his blue eyes when he spoke about it. He hadn’t been the best-looking guy in the bar that night, but there had been something about him. In him she thought she had seen someone like herself. Someone without anyone.
Yeah, and look where that got me.
Opening the car door, she climbed in and slammed it shut. If only she could shut out her memories as easily.
Crystal leaned toward her. “How did it go?”
“I’ll tell you later.”
“Did you see those horses?”
“I saw them.” Annie tried twice to get the key in the ignition before it finally slid into place. Her hands wouldn’t stop shaking. Please, please let it start.
“Private Avery was just telling me that we can have a tour of the stable and even pet some of the horses.”
“We don’t have time. We’re going to be late as it is.”
“Come back someday when you can stay longer,” Avery suggested. “I’d be happy to give you a private tour.”
“I’d like that,” Crystal gushed.
The car’s temperamental engine turned over. Annie breathed a silent prayer of thanks, then backed out of the parking space.
“’Bye,” Crystal called, waving as they drove off.
“Roll up the window,” Annie snapped. “It’s freezing in here and you know my heater doesn’t work.”
Crystal did as she was told. “You didn’t have to be rude to Avery. He only wanted to let me see his horses.”
“It was just another pickup line.”
“It was not. Sometimes I think you don’t like men.”
“I don’t dislike them. It’s that I don’t trust them—and neither should you.” If Crystal couldn’t see that, Annie wasn’t going to waste her breath trying to convince her.
Shane turned away from the sight of Annie’s car disappearing down the street. He knew he’d never hear from her again. She had already decided he had no business being a father.
Avery came over to stand beside him. “What did the lady want?”
“I thought I told you to grease the wagon wheels.”
“Lee had already taken care of it. Obviously your friend didn’t bring you good news.”
“She told me I’m going to be a daddy and then she told me to get lost.”
“What?”
“Do I have a sign over my head that says Rotten Parent Material? Do I have Loser written on my forehead?” Shane began walking toward the farrier shed so quickly that Avery had to run to keep up.
“I don’t think you really want me to answer that.”
“You’re right, I don’t. Now, go away.”
It seemed that Avery couldn’t take a hint. He followed Shane inside the building and asked, “What are you going to do about your pregnant friend?”
Tossing his jacket aside, Shane slipped the strap of his leather apron over his head and tied it at his waist. “Annie Delmar wants nothing to do with me. In light of that fact, I’m going to respect her wishes.”
Moving back to Jasper’s side, Shane bent over and picked up the horse’s hind leg. “This shoe needs to be replaced, too. Hand me the clinch cutter and the pull-offs.”
Avery walked to the workbench at the back of the room and returned with the requested tools. Handing them to Shane, he said, “You can’t drop your responsibilities like a hot rock.”
“It’s not my call.”
“I beg to differ. It certainly is.”
“Not according to Annie.”
“You have the same rights that she does.”
Shane tilted his head to see his friend better. “What do you mean?”
“The law is plain on this. A father has the same rights that a mother does. Well, almost the same. You do have to prove that the child is yours.”
Jasper tried to pull his foot away and Shane let him put it down. Ordinarily the big gelding didn’t mind having his hooves worked on, but he seemed to sense Shane’s emotional turmoil. Patting the horse’s side to reassure him, Shane drew a calming breath.
He knew what it was like to be the child waiting for a father that never showed up. “The law doesn’t matter. I’m not going to fight Annie so I can force her to let me see my kid every other weekend—or less. That’s not what a family is.”
Avery said, “This doesn’t sound like you. You’ve always been Mr. Responsible.”
“I guess you don’t know me as well as you think.” Shane picked up Jasper’s hoof again and began straightening the tips of the last few nails holding the worn shoe in place.
Maybe never knowing this child would be better than loving him and then having to watch some other man step in and take him away. Only…this was his child. How could he pretend it didn’t matter? It might matter, but what choice did he have?
“When I start a family, I’ll be married and I’ll have a job that lets me come home every night. My kids are going to know who their daddy is.”
Crossing his arms over his chest, Avery said, “Your plan is good except for one small detail. You’ve already started your family.”
Struggling to keep his frustration and disappointment from showing, Shane said, “Look, I’m not even sure she’s keeping the baby.”
“If she plans to give it up for adoption, she’ll need your consent or it won’t be legal now that she’s admitted it’s your kid.”
“I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it.” Picking up the long-handled tool that looked like an oversize pair of curved pliers, Shane positioned the tips under the heel of the horseshoe and began carefully rocking it back and forth to pry out the nails without damaging Jasper’s hoof.
“I think you’re making a mistake, but it’s your life.”
“Thanks for noticing. Be sure and shut the door on your way out.”
He didn’t want to talk about it anymore. If he didn’t know how he felt about the situation, he sure couldn’t explain it to someone else. He needed time alone to think about what he should do, if anything. When Avery didn’t move and didn’t reply, Shane tugged the horseshoe loose, let go of the horse’s foot and straightened to face him.
“Even if I want to take some level of responsibility for this baby, Annie made it very plain that she doesn’t want that. I don’t even know where she lives or how to contact her to discuss it.”
“I don’t know where she lives, but