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“I don’t think she’s strong enough for that, Nick, even if it is only across the street. She’s doing good to get to the bathroom on her own.”
“Sounds bad. I’ll be glad to come there. Is now all right? I’ve been worried about this.”
“Sure. I’ll get her sitting up so maybe you can talk.”
He hung up the phone and realized that the sound in the background was the shower. She was taking a shower?
He hurried into the bedroom to confirm his realization. The bed was empty and her suitcase was open. He waited until the water stopped. “Isabella?”
“Yes?”
“Nick is coming over to see you.”
“Who’s Nick?”
“He’s handling your great-aunt’s estate.”
“Let me guess. He’s another member of your huge family.”
Russ chuckled softly. He recognized the irritation in her voice. “I’m afraid so. Are you ready for some new pajamas? I’ve got some clean ones.”
“I’m getting dressed.”
“Are you sure you’re up to it?” he asked, concern filling him.
“Yes. I feel much stronger after eating breakfast.”
“All right. Come out when you’re ready.”
His mother had left one of Red’s famous chocolate cakes on the kitchen counter. He thought that might give Isabella some energy. And he knew Nick loved Red’s cakes. Besides, he wanted a piece, too.
When Nick got there, he found Russ happily chowing down on a huge piece of chocolate cake. “Is that Red’s chocolate cake?”
“Yep. And your piece is right there.”
Nick picked it up with a grin and settled on the sofa. He’d just taken a big bite when he looked down and saw Angel asleep in the carrier.
“What the hell?” he managed.
“DON’T HURT MY BABY!” Isabella shrieked from the door to the bedroom. She rushed forward, but Russ was already holding Angel.
“Hey! I wouldn’t hurt a baby. But no one told me there was a baby,” the stranger said, glaring at Russ.
“Sorry, Nick. I didn’t think it would be such a surprise.” Russ turned to Isabella. He opened his mouth to speak. Then he closed it again, his gaze going from her head to her toes. She’d put on a navy pantsuit with a striped knit top under the jacket and navy shoes. She wore makeup and had forced her wayward curls into a French knot, all sleek and sophisticated.
“Wow. That’s a big change, Isabella.”
She stiffened. “I don’t do lawyer interviews in my pajamas.” She held out her arms for her baby.
“Look, she’s still asleep. Let’s put her back in the carrier and put it in the bedroom. That way she won’t wake up.”
Reluctantly she nodded.
After he came back to the living room, he pointed out her cake and a glass of milk. “Thought you might need a little energy.”
Surprisingly, she felt hungry for the cake. Maybe because it was chocolate. “Did you make it?” she asked the stranger.
“No, Red did.”
“Another member of your family?” she asked as she looked at Russ.
“Sort of. Now, do you want me to go in the bedroom and leave you alone with Nick?”
She cast Nick a look. He was an attractive man, but she didn’t feel as confident of him as she did Russ. “No, you can stay.”
Russ and Nick exchanged a look, but Russ sat back down and continued eating his chocolate cake. When she took her first bite, she understood his enthusiasm.
“Do you mind if I record our meeting?” Nick asked, putting a small tape recorder on the coffee table.
“No. That will be fine.”
Nick picked up the tape recorder, announcing into it the date and time and the participants. Then he looked at Isabella. “Are you Isabella Paloni, great-niece of Maria Paloni, deceased resident of Rawhide?”
“Yes, I am. I got married about eleven months ago, but after my husband’s death, I took back my maiden name.”
“Were you aware that you are the beneficiary to Mrs. Paloni’s estate?”
“She wrote me that she was leaving me everything.”
“Is that why you came here?”
“No! I came because I didn’t even know she existed. When I received her letter, I called her. She invited me to come.”
Isabella’s eyes filled with tears.
“Have a drink of milk,” Russ said softly, leaning toward her. When she did so, he said, “Good girl. Now eat some more cake.”
Nick turned off the tape recorder. “Want to wait a few minutes?”
“Please.”
“How old is your baby?” Nick asked. To her surprise, he looked interested.
“She’s six weeks.”
“Her father passed away before she was born?”
“Yes,” she said, glancing at Russ.
“My wife is expecting in seven and a half months. We just found out at Thanksgiving.”
Russ looked surprised. “I didn’t know. Congratulations, Nick.”
“Thanks. I don’t exactly know what to expect. I’ve never been around babies.”
“You’ll learn quickly,” Isabella said, relaxing a little.
“Well, my twin and his wife, my wife’s sister, just had twin babies about a month ago, so I’m learning a little.”
“Twins?” she asked in horror. “I don’t know how anyone manages. I got punch-drunk waking up every four hours with Angel.”
“That’s her name?” Nick asked.
“Actually, her name is Angela, but I call her Angel most of the time.”
“Ready to start again?” Nick asked. “Maybe after we finish I can see Angel. I’d like to bring my wife over to see her, too.”
“I think Mom and Anna brought enough food for dinner tonight,” Russ said. “Why don’t the two of you join us?”
“That would be great,” Nick replied. “Sarah is tired of my company after the blizzard. Is that okay with you, Isabella?”
“Yes, of course.” She didn’t feel she had a choice. It wasn’t her house.
Nick turned the tape recorder on again. “Now, Miss Paloni, are you aware of the extent of your great-aunt’s estate?”
“No. It doesn’t matter.”
Nick looked surprised. “But—”
“She offered me something more important to me than money. She offered me a home, family. But it was too late.” Again her eyes filled with tears. Her teeth settled in her bottom lip, trying to prevent a major meltdown.
Russ leaned forward. “You don’t have any family?”
She kept her head bent, not wanting to face him. “I do, but I don’t want anything to do with them.”
“Why?” Russ demanded.
“I really don’t see the need to talk about this. I was going to live with my great-aunt, me and Angel, but now we can’t.”
Nick intervened in what had become a very personal conversation. “But you can live in her house, because it’s yours now.”
She hadn’t thought of that. But even if she lived there, she wouldn’t have what she wanted for Angel. “I was hoping to have a family for Angel.”
Nick said calmly, “You might marry and provide Angel with brothers and sisters.”
“No!” She didn’t bother to explain, but her answer was firm. Very firm.
Both men stared at her. She clarified. “I never intend to marry again. I won’t give some man control over me or my daughter.”
After a moment of silence, Nick said, “I gather your marriage was not a happy one. Um, how did your husband die?”
She looked him in the eye. “I didn’t kill him. I consider my father to be the killer, though my husband died in a car accident.” Dark thoughts filled her as she added, “But it was my father’s fault.”
“Finish your cake and milk, honey. You’re going to wear yourself out with all this emotion.” Russ watched her to make sure she did what he’d said.
“Fine. You’re always urging me to eat.” She took a bite of cake. “It’s very good cake.”
“Red is famous for it.”
“You didn’t say who Red is,” she reminded him.
“He’s my grandmother.”
Nick protested even more than Isabella. “You’re just confusing her. That’s not fair.”
“No, it’s not,” Isabella said, relaxing against the sofa.
“Why not? It got you to smile, didn’t it?” Russ asked.
“Yes, it did, but now give me the real answer.”
“Okay. When my dad and his brothers were little, their mom died giving birth to my youngest uncle, Chad. Red was a crippled cowboy who did odd jobs for our grandfather. He asked him to move into the house and help him raise the boys. My grandfather died, but Red stayed on and took care of the house. Then Uncle Jake, the oldest brother, realized that if his brothers didn’t marry, they’d have no kids to leave the ranch to.”
Isabella frowned. “Wait a minute. Why did you say if the others didn’t marry? What was wrong with Jake?”
“He was divorced and thought marriage wasn’t for him,” Russ said with a grin. “But once he managed to marry the other three off, his new sisters-in-law decided he deserved the same treatment.”
“Smart ladies,” Isabella said.
“You met two of them today. Janie and Anna.”
Her eyebrows went up and she nodded.
“That’s how matchmaking became a tradition in the Randall family. We’re known for it throughout the county.”
“They don’t get crazy about it,” Nick put in. “But if they can give a match a nudge, they help it along.”
“Did they bring about your marriage?” she asked Nick.
“I didn’t need any help. Once I got out of the big city, Denver, that is, I could tell the glitter from the real gold. When you meet Sarah, you’ll realize how perfect she is.”
Russ smiled. “He’s not prejudiced at all.”
“Of course not.”
“You weren’t prejudiced about Abby, either, were you?” Nick said. Then he immediately apologized. “Sorry, Russ.”
Isabella looked from one to the other, but both men were silent. “What? What happened?”
