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Adopted: Outback Baby
Barbara Hannay
Their parenthood surprise.Single, independent Nell Ruthven thought she’d missed her chance to be a mum when, aged nineteen, she was forced to give up her baby for adoption. Now, Nell’s discovered she has a tiny grandson in need of care. And the baby’s grandfather, cattleman Jacob Tucker, is in town… At thirty-nine, this couple never thought they’d be parents, let alone grandparents! They never even thought they’d see each other again.But taking care of baby Sam together gives them a second chance – maybe even a second chance to fall in love? Baby on Board From bump to baby and beyond…
‘A month? You’re asking me to stay for a whole month?’
‘You’d enjoy it.’
‘I—I—’ Nell took another huge gulp of wine and tried to think straight. ‘You’re not serious, are you?’
‘Why not?’
‘You can’t just drop out of the sky and into my life and say: Hey, come live with me—as if the past twenty years haven’t happened.’
‘I realise that.’
‘What are you saying, then?’
Jacob’s smile did wicked things to Nell’s stomach. ‘I’m saying that we’re grandparents of a baby boy who needs us. We’re both very keen to be a significant part of his life, and it’ll be damned difficult to do that if we’re living thousands of kilometres apart. So my invitation makes good sense.’
Barbara Hannay was born in Sydney, educated in Brisbane, and has spent most of her adult life living in tropical North Queensland, where she and her husband have raised four children. While she has enjoyed many happy times camping and canoeing in the bush, she also delights in an urban lifestyle—chamber music, contemporary dance, movies and dining out. An English teacher, she has always loved writing, and now, by having her stories published, she is living her most cherished fantasy.
In 2007 Barbara won the Romance Writers’ of America RITA® Award for Best Traditional Romance with CLAIMING HIS FAMILY.
To catch up on all Barbara’s latest news visit www.barbarahannay.com
Dear Reader
I eventually married the lovely man who was my boyfriend when I was nineteen. But most young people of that age move on to form new relationships, and the old boyfriends disappear, never to be heard of or seen again.
In many cases, that’s probably a good thing. But I’m sure there are occasional wistful moments when some women wonder What if…?
What if I saw him again after all these years? Would he recognise me? Would he have changed? Would there still be a spark?
What if…? is the question writers ask all the time. It’s how we come up with stories. So I guess it’s hardly surprising that we love reunions. They’re so brimming with tension and questions and romantic potential.
When I first started on this plot possibility, I never dreamed I’d end up writing about Nell and Jacob being brought together by a twist of fate to care for their baby grandson! But the temptation to try something quite different is very alluring, and I was delighted that my editor loved the idea, too.
I hope you enjoy Nell and Jacob’s journey to happiness.
Warmest wishes
Barbara
BABY ON BOARD
From bump to baby and beyond…
Whether she’s expecting or they’re adopting—
a special arrival is on its way!
Follow the tears and triumphs as these couples find
their lives blessed with the magic of parenthood…
Look out for more bumps and babies
coming soon to Mills & Boon® Romance
ADOPTED: OUTBACK BABY
BY
BARBARA HANNAY
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
PROLOGUE
A SUMMER’S morning at dawn.
Nell and Jacob met at their secret place on the sheltered river bank, the only safe place for the boss’s daughter and the hired help.
Arriving by separate tracks, they tethered their horses at opposite ends of the clearing. Nell was nervous and Jacob was on tenterhooks waiting for her news, but he came towards her proudly, striding through the misty morning light with his shoulders back and his head high, as if he owned the earth.
A metre from her, he stopped and she read the silent question in his serious grey eyes.
Too anxious to speak, she simply shook her head, watched the movement in his throat as he swallowed.
‘You’re pregnant then,’ he said quietly.
Nell dropped her gaze to her clasped hands. ‘I’m almost certain.’ She heard his sharp indrawn breath and whispered, ‘I’m sorry.’ And she realised for the first time that she was a little afraid of this tall and ruggedly divine young man.
Suddenly, she felt as if she didn’t really know him, in spite of the many stolen hours she’d spent with him here during the long, hot weeks of her summer holiday. Pregnancy changed everything, changed something precious and perfect into a shameful mistake. And it forced the two of them to consider a future they weren’t prepared for.
More than anything, Nell was scared of what her father would do when he found out. His bad temper was beyond volcanic. He would never forgive her for this and she was certain that he would offer her only one option.
She trembled at the thought, drew a hasty breath for courage. ‘My parents will want me to have an abortion.’
Jacob’s frown was fierce. ‘You don’t want that, do you?’
No. She couldn’t bear the thought of terminating a baby they had made. She shook her head.
‘You mustn’t do it then, Nell. Don’t even think about it.’ He reached for her hands, threaded his strong, work-toughened fingers through hers and she felt the familiar rasp of the callus on his right palm.
Beside them, the river chattered carelessly and the scent of eucalypts and sheoaks hung heavy in the air.
‘I’m sorry,’ she whispered again.
‘Don’t be.’ Jacob gave her hands a gentle shake. ‘Don’t apologise.’
Tears stung her eyes. She knew apologies shouldn’t be necessary. From the moment she and Jacob had met on that first afternoon, when she’d returned to Half Moon from university, the blame had been equally shared.
She’d seen him tending her father’s horses and Cupid had started firing those dangerous little arrows. Their over-the-top attraction had blinded them to anything else, especially to common sense. They hadn’t taken precautions that first time.
Now, Jacob gathered Nell in to him and his big hand cradled her head against his shoulder. She adored the smell of him—musky and warm and clean—and something very masculine that she couldn’t identify.
He kissed her brow. ‘Will you marry me, Nell?’
She gasped, feeling hot and cold with excitement. This was what she’d been longing for, the words from Jacob she’d been silently praying for, secretly clinging to the hope that Jacob would want her and his baby. It was the only way she could possibly face up to her parents.
With trembling fingers, Jacob traced the curve of her cheek. ‘I’ll look after you, I promise. We’ll be all right.’
Oh, yes. They’d be all right. Nell had no doubts. Jacob was an excellent stockman, brilliant on horseback, with a deep love of the land. He would find work anywhere in the Outback. She wouldn’t mind too much about giving up her studies and she wouldn’t mind about being poor, not if she was with him.
Her parents were the only problem.
They were such painful, painful snobs. They’d only sent her to university to snare a rich husband and World War Three would erupt if Nell announced she was marrying their cook’s son.
She needed to consider Jacob too, needed to be sure that he was being completely honest. He’d told her about his long-term plans to have his own cattle empire, but that was in the distant future. An early marriage hadn’t figured in his scheme.
‘Are you sure about this, Jacob?’
With his arms about her waist, he leaned back to look at her and he frowned as if this were a matter of life and death. ‘I’ve never been surer, Nell. I know I don’t have much to offer you. You deserve an educated husband, someone rich.’
It was exactly what her parents might say but, coming from him, it sounded wrong. She opened her mouth to protest, but Jacob hurried on.
‘I love you, Nell, I swear. And I promise I’ll look after you. I’ll work hard. I’ll get two jobs. I’ll make enough money for you and the baby and one of these days we’ll have our own place. A big property like Half Moon.’
He was so determined and defiant and Greek god gorgeous he banished her fears as easily as the sun scattered mist.
He said again, ‘I love you. You must know that.’
‘Yes.’ Smiling through happy tears, she wrapped her arms tightly around him. ‘And I love you so much it hurts.’
Nell lifted her lips to meet his and they kissed deeply, hungrily. She clung to Jacob, confident that his hard, lean strength would protect her for ever.
‘Everything’s going to be wonderful,’ she said and his face broke into a beautiful grin.
‘So you’ll marry me?’
‘Oh, yes, please. Absolutely.’
‘Yes!’
His sudden, joyful whoop startled a flock of finches in a nearby wattle. With another loud shout of triumph, he hoisted Nell high and their laughter mingled with the birds’ cries as he spun her around and around in happy circles.
They were going to be married. With their baby, they would be a little family. No one would stop them. All was right with their world.
Jacob slowed before Nell got too dizzy and he let her back to earth, let her body ride slowly…slowly down his muscled length till she reached where he was hard and she almost burst into flames.
Again their mouths met, hungrier than ever. Nell poured her heart and soul into the kiss, wanting him to be certain of how intensely, wildly, completely she loved him.
His hands slipped under her shirt and skimmed lightly over her skin, giving her exquisite shivers.
Abruptly, the stillness of the summer morning was broken by the sound of a cold metallic click.
They froze.
Nell felt Jacob’s heart leap against hers as they turned.
Her father stood in the shadows, his face flushed with red fury as he shouldered a shotgun and took aim.
CHAPTER ONE
THE service was over.
Nell knew she must get up and walk outside, but she wasn’t sure she could trust her legs to carry her. She had never felt so bereft, didn’t know how to cope with the sense of loss.
It was so much worse today than twenty years ago, when they’d taken Tegan away from her. She had been in hospital then, too ill and medicated to fully understand what was happening. This week, a highway smash that rated a thirty-second mention on the six o’clock news had taken her daughter away from her for ever. Today there was nothing to deaden Nell’s pain.
Her memories of Tegan were so few. And so cruel. The newborn bundle in her arms, the strong little limbs kicking against the tightly wrapped blanket, just as they had kicked in her womb. The little face and bright, dark eyes. The soft cap of dark hair, the tiny red mouth. The unique, newborn smell of her.
The memories cut into Nell and she wished she could gather her pain around her and disappear completely. It was a blessing, at least, that everyone’s sympathy had been showered on Jean and Bill Browne, the couple who had adopted Tegan. Nell knew she must go and speak to them, just as soon as she regained her composure.
‘Nell?’
Nell turned stiffly and saw Jean approaching the end of her pew, twisting a damp handkerchief as she peered at her anxiously.
‘Jean.’ With a hand on the back of the pew for support, Nell struggled to her feet. ‘I’m sorry I haven’t spoken to you yet.’
The two women—adoptive mother and birth mother—stood, facing each other. Jean Browne looked exhausted, her pale blue eyes rimmed with red, her short grey hair flat and lifeless.
‘Please—’ The women had met before, on the day after the accident, but now, unable to think clearly, to find the right words, Nell clung to formalities. ‘Please accept my condolences.’
Jean’s pale eyes swam with tears. ‘This is hard for you, too.’
‘Yes.’ Fighting a dull headache, Nell gathered up her handbag and continued along the pew on unsteady legs. ‘I’ve mentioned this to you before, but I want you to know that I’m very, very grateful to you and Bill. You gave Tegan a wonderfully happy home and—and everything she needed.’
Jean nodded, sent Nell a fleeting, watery smile, then her face crumpled. ‘You were such a help the other day. I’ve been hoping to speak to you. About the baby.’
Nell pressed shaking fingers to her mouth. She’d broken down completely during the eulogy, when the speaker had mentioned Tegan’s little son, born just a few short weeks ago.
‘I had to leave Sam with a sitter today,’ Jean said. ‘But I knew that you would like to see him again, especially as Mr Tucker’s here as well.’
‘Mr Tucker?’
‘Tegan’s father.’
