Black Hills Angel (Black Hills Series) (29 page)

"
You bastard!
" Andy felt the white hot heat flash up her cheeks and her anger skyrocketed. Matt was doubled over, laughing so hard that he couldn't breathe. His shoulders shook in his mirth and Andy watched him for a couple of minutes. Trying desperately to hang onto her shame and anger, Andy couldn't deny that this was rather funny seeing Matt so tickled by the evil doings of a barb.

"God, I'm sorry, Andy, but I can't stop laughing! I have never seen that happen." Matt's face was bright red with his exertions and Andy just shook her head, feeling her anger soften.

"It really isn't that funny, Matt." She pretended to pout her lips, but even that pretense was hard to keep up. She knew Matt wasn't making fun of her and she was big enough to admit that this was rather comical if not poor timing.

"You'll laugh about this later after you've had time to think about it." Matt stepped forward, pulling her into his arms. She went with some reticence, if only to make him think she was still upset. He hugged her. She relaxed and sighed.

"Can we go back now? There seems to be a draft." Andy raised her chin up to see a glint in his eyes.

"Draft?" Matt grinned devilishly and Andy swatted his cheek playfully. Rolling her eyes, she started back towards the fence. She thought if she could survive this gross embarrassment, then she could survive just about anything. Andy grimaced as she took note of the deep chuckling come from behind her. Less than lady-like, she scrambled back over the fence, narrowly missing another bout with the dreaded barbed wire. Climbing unassisted onto Miss Sioux, Andy turned the horse for home. She noted with some satisfaction that the laughter had stopped and Matt was hurrying to catch up with her.

Chapter Twenty Five

Matt still couldn't keep from chuckling at Andy's misfortune involving the seat of her pants and the barbed wire fence. He thought he had gained brownie points by sneaking her past his sister's notice before she had a chance to change her ripped jeans. It had been something to see her left cheek exposed to the chill in the air. The sight of that soft, pale skin nearly shredded all self-control. He wanted Andy so much that she was on his mind both in waking and in sleep. He was in deep enough to know that he had fallen head over heels for her and her daughter. There was no alternative, but to make his future with them.

Wrenching his glove from his hand, Matt looked at the ever increasing stack of ninety pound hay bales. His dad wanted them stacked up in the horse barn to keep it dry in the winter. It also made it easier to feed the horses like Miss Sioux, Quinter Pete, and Raven that were kept at the house all year around. Using his sleeve of his shirt to wipe the beads of sweat from his brow, Matt tugged his leather glove back on and began again. The twine creaked in protest when he grabbed ahold and slung it up three tiers. Once there was several up there, he would climb up and stack them neatly in a cross pattern on top. He had done this since he was big enough to throw a bale. It could probably be done in his sleep, but only experimentally, of course.

"Looks nice. Sure glad I don't have to do it." Travis, Matt's dad, slid the barn door closed behind him and grinned at his son. Similar in nature, Matt chuckled.

"Yeah, it was always about free labor, wasn't it?" Matt gripped another bale and heaved it up.

"Free? You have got to be kidding me, Son. Feeding you kids was hardly free! Especially the way you boys ate!" Travis clucked his tongue and patted Quinter Pete's red nose. Matt had to give his dad that one. He remembered times coming home from school and eating as if it was all he had eaten that day.

"Well work makes you hungry, I guess." Matt conceded, pulling a spiny sticker from his glove. His dad chuckled and offer Miss Sioux a piece of sugar, which gained him an irritated snort from old Pete.

"Just wait until you have kids. You won't think their labor is free, but I will admit every little bit helps." Travis leaned his arm on the stall rail and look his youngest child up and down. Matt took a breath, heaved another hay bale and turned back to find his dad still assessing him.

"I don't mind coming back and helping. Just let me know when you need me and I can come back from Rapid City. It isn't that far." Matt said, brushing more sweat from his eyes. It was starting to get a bit warm and stuffy in the horse barn. He contemplated opening the door for some fresh air.

"Ah, you're growing up and soon you'll have a life of your own. I can manage most everything here. I might not be as young as I once was, but I can get it done." Travis pulled a pair of leather gloves from his back pocket and popped them on his thigh. Matt grinned.

"What if I told you I might have some plans that brings me home? Well, back around Hot Springs, anyhow." Matt felt Travis's stunned silence and he watched his dad taking his time putting his gloves on. Both horses stomped and shuffled in their stalls.

"What kind of plans?" His dad walked around the stack, indicating Matt should go up to the top and stack the bales he'd thrown from the bottom. Then his dad would throw some up and they'd continue on in that pattern. It was effective and less strenuous.

"I was talking to Andy about what I wanted to do in the future. I've always wanted to open some sort of equestrian therapy school for wounded soldiers who come back from service after some tragic event. I really think we could help so many people. It would be a way of giving back to them." Matt was bursting with ideas about the horse therapy school since he'd talked to Andy last night. It was a great fountain and it just wouldn't be contained any longer. The more he thought about it, the more he was certain that was what he wanted to do.

"A noble venture, Matt. You know your mom and I will help any way we can. Maybe you could take over that old homestead that we tore down last fall. It's flat enough to build what you need and maybe even put down a foundation for a nice home for you and your family." Travis grunted as he slung another bale. Matt caught it before it tumbled back down.

"Well that is something else I wanted to talk to you about, Dad. I'm going to ask Andy to marry me and I want to adopt Harper as my daughter." Matt felt his heart race as he said the words out loud. They had been taking up space in his mind for several days now. His dad didn't stop from throwing the bales, but he did nod his head.

"I suspected as much. I think Andy is a wonderful girl and that baby, well, she's an angel." Travis wiped his nose, the sweat dripping from it. He sniffed and then looked back up at Matt on the hay pile.

"I'm worried about what Mom might say. I know she isn't crazy about Andy, but I love that girl so much. I just couldn't stand the fighting." Matt finished scooting the bale into the last spot and jumped down the three tiers to the barn floor. His dad looked at him thoughtfully.

"You need to talk to your mom. She will understand and once she sees how much you love Andy, she'll fall in line. First thing you gotta do is be open and honest. She'll dig her heels in even more if she thinks you are dancing around the subject." Travis took his gloves off and jerked his head for the door. "Go ask your mother for something cold to drink. I could use a soda or something."

Matt grinned, not failing to see his dad pushing him in the right direction. It was poor code to go talk to Lacey about his plans and he needed to clear the air after the less than warm welcome his mom had given Andy.

Matt exited the gloomy shadow of the horse barn and stepped into the warm morning sunshine. All the cottonwood trees had all but lost their leaves. Some of the older ones were slow to turn. The pines stood tall and majestic against the bright blue sky. Taking a deep breath, he let the value and meaning of home wrap around his senses. He belonged here. He was tied here by his roots and they ran deep. He hoped that he could provide that stability for Andy, Harper and any other children they were blessed to have someday. It might seem like such an odd gift to want for someone, but it was a start to a very firm foundation.

"Hey Matt! I saw Garrett hooking up the flatbed trailer." His mother was sitting on the front porch, coffee cup in hand and a curl of steam wafting in the air. He could have sworn the woman never aged. He could still remember her sitting out here, heavy wool sweatshirt, jeans, lace-up boots and her hair in a twist. It was always the same and the familiarity settled soothingly around his nerves.
How do you begin something like this with your mother? How do you tell her that the way she feels about your girlfriend won't change the fact that you are going to propose to her?

"Dad sent me for a soda." Matt pulled open the door and his mom's words went unheard. He opened the fridge, selected three sodas and headed back outside. He wished he knew what to say. Maybe he would do it later when he had time to think about it some more. Lacey didn't let him get that far. She stood up, setting her coffee cup on the wide wood railing and spoke behind him.

"I love that you have such a caring heart, Matt." Her words stopped him and he turned around. "It has never led you wrong." His mother's eyes dimmed, her attempt at a smile faltering. Walking back towards her and stopping at the edge of the stairs, Matt leaned on his hip, brushing absently at the dirt on his jeans.

"But...," he interjected when his mom paused but didn't continue. She pursed her lips and sighed.

"But what if that little thing starts calling you
daddy
? A baby; a child is no easy thing."

Matt swallowed his frustration. He knew his family, mostly his mother, would have a million questions. He hoped she wasn't questioning his ability to be a father.
Damn.
It wasn't the first time he had thought of Harper as
his
daughter.

"Mom, I know that. It is something to consider, but I need you to be in my corner here." He set the soda cans down on the railing and took his hat off. Spearing his fingers through his hair, Matt blew out a breath and prayed for the right thing to say.

"I understand, Matt. A wife and baby are just, well, a big commitment; especially when that daughter isn't your own blood." She put her hand on his arm and Matt fought the urge to withdraw it.

"One hell of a commitment, but I don't think you do understand. I'm in love with Andy and I want Harper as my daughter. That little girl will never wonder if I love her any differently than my own children. She will be mine." Matt let the words go in a stream, but he meant every one of them. Harper would know when the time was right that her real father was a hero and loved her in his own way. In the meantime and even after she knew about her biological father, Matt would never let her think that he didn't love her just as much as any father could. Hanging his hat on the banister spindle, he couldn't miss the awestruck look on his mother's face.

"Oh dear." Lacey's eyes welled up with tears and she blinked furiously to dispel them before they fell. Her hand still resting on her son's arm, she squeezed. Matt didn't miss the pride in her eyes.

"I'm going to ask Andy to marry me. I need you to give her a chance and help me welcome her into our family. I need you to accept that Harper will be my daughter. I can do this without you, but I don't want to, Mom." Matt's words were measured carefully and he noted her tears as they fell down. She swallowed hard and her breath hitched for a second before she mustered some control.

"Yes, of course. Honey, I will do whatever you wish." Lacey offered a weak smile and Matt couldn't do anything but pull her into his arms. He hugged his mother tightly, brushing his lips against her cheek. Stepping back, Matt decided to push things a bit further.

"I want to take her out tonight, just us. Could you help Nora watch Harper? It will probably be overnight if all goes well." He offered a grin and his mother chuckled. She shook her head at him.

"Of course. Tell Nora she can come stay here tonight and that way you will have the cottage to yourselves." She touched his cheek, brushing her thumb of his stubble. "I don't know how I raised such a wonderful young man. I do have something for you, if you are serious about marrying Andy." His mom went back into the house before he could reply and he wondered if he should follow. Making his way up the stairs onto the porch was as far as he got before she came out the screen door. It banged behind her. Opening her hand, there was a small velvet satchel resting in her palm.

"What is it?" Matt asked as he took it from her and undid the draw strings.

"It was your grandmother's engagement ring. I've been saving it for something, someone special." Lacey smiled as he withdrew a beautiful star sapphire winking in the sunlight. It was set in white gold. He knew instinctively that Andy would cherish it.

"Thank you, Mom." He stared one more moment at the ring and tucked it away in the satchel again. "I guess I should get back to Dad and Garrett." He handed the ring back to her for safe keeping until he got back. She smiled at him and nodded. Reclaiming his hat, Matt picked up the sodas and walked back towards the barn.
Had the sun gotten bright?
He thought it might have.

***

The sand stone buildings of Hot Springs, South Dakota were old and equally impressive. Andy marveled at the scenic beauty of North River Street as it ran along the meandering stream that flowed through town. Nora pointed out the waterfall that seemed to come straight out of the stone and cascaded to the stream below. There was a sidewalk that followed the water and when asked, Nora said it was called the Freedom Trail. Andy hoped she'd get to do a bit more sightseeing in this amazingly little town, but Harper was working up quite a fuss. It really was time for her nap.

They walked along the sidewalk and Andy thought she spent more time looking up than watching where exactly she was going. The vintage signage and directories offered a nostalgic flair. There were lots of little shops that had wide glass windows for browsing. Some of the owners were even out front passing the time with friends and random strangers. Despite this being her first time here, Andy felt very welcome and oddly at home. It must have been why Nora kept sneaking little glances at her.

Matt's sister had convinced her to get dressed and pack Harper some diapers for their trip into Hot Springs. As promised, Nora had emailed some of Andy's photos of the Buffalo Roundup to her friends, who just happened to manage art galleries in town. Just thinking about it wound her stomach up in knots. It was one thing to take pictures and quite another to be featured in a gallery as an artist. Selling any prints would be icing on the cake! Once upon a time this would have been the epitome of success; now she just wondered what they could possibly see in her work.

"All right, we are here." Nora said as they stopped walking and the glass front door boldly stated, "Freedom Trail Gallery of the Arts". Harper kicked her feet in her present tantrum and Andy fished for her pacifier.
Wonder what Nora would do if I asked to go home now?
Andy didn't know if she had the courage to walk through the door. Nora didn't let her think much longer.

"Andy, I wouldn't bring you here to let you fail. Good things await inside, but you have to go through that door." She indicated the glass with the impressive signage again and Andy swallowed hard. Nora had an uncanny way of reading her mind. Harper accepted the pacifier for the moment and they were left in silence out front of the gallery.