His Secret Child (8 page)

"My goodness, what's all the commotion about?" Susan Redman turned around in the bleachers and craned her neck to look over the crowd that had formed near the entrance to the Little League park.

"I have no idea," Sheila said. "But you'd think the president had arrived."

"It wouldn't be Peyton, would it? I just talked to Tallie yesterday and she didn't mention anything about them making a trip home this weekend."

"Guess I'd better go check it out." Sheriff Lowell Redman rose from his padded stadium seat and made his way down the bleachers, being careful not to step on anyone. By the time he headed toward the mob scene at the ballpark entrance, a man burst through the horde that was following close on his heels.

"Hey, it's Caleb!" Lowell called out to his wife and Sheila. "That's even better than a visit from the president or the governor."

"I should have known," Sheila mumbled.

"What's wrong with you?" Susan asked, then glanced around at the people sitting nearby. Leaning closer, she whispered in Sheila's ear, "Are you worried about Caleb staying in Crooked Oak long enough to start wondering about Danny?"

Sheila glared at her friend and snapped, "Will you hush! Someone's liable to hear you."

"Gossip being what it is in this town, I think you should know that Gwyn Baker's—"

"I know he's been seeing her!"

"Don't bite my head off," Susan said. "They've had two dates, but Gwyn couldn't seduce him, if you know what I mean."

"Susan, how on earth would you know something like that?"

"Seems Gwyn's been sharing tidbits of her love life with the customers over at Amber's. Kay Struthers told Becky McKinney, who told me, that Gwyn thinks there's another woman in Caleb's life. Some woman right here in Crooked Oak." Susan paused for effect, then smiled and asked coyly, "Got any idea who this other woman might be?"

"You shouldn't listen to gossip."

"Probably not, but when it's about Caleb Bishop and one of my best friends, then I listen."

Sheila glanced around at the parents, friends and other Little League supporters surrounding them. "Well, if you keep talking, some of these people are going to be listening to every word you say."

"Look, here comes Lowell," Susan said. "And he's bringing Caleb with him."

Sheila cringed. Caleb was coming straight toward her, making his way upward, through the crowd of friendly, curious townspeople, who kept delaying him to say hello, to shake his hand, to offer him a warm welcome home.

Lowell sat beside his wife, who scooted over to make room between her and Sheila. "I told Caleb that the next time he decides to show up at a game, he might want to call me first so I can arrange for one of my deputies to act as a bodyguard." Lowell chuckled.

"Hello, Caleb. It's good to see you," Susan said. "What do you think of our new Little League field?"

"It's a great improvement over the one where we played as boys, huh, Lowell?" Caleb sat between the two women, then turned to the one on his left. "How are you tonight, Sheila?"

Forcing a smile, she replied. "Fine, thank you."

"What prompted you to come out to a Little League game?" Lowell asked. "Susan and I try to catch as many of Danny's games as possible. You know Susan is Danny's godmother."

"I came to the game for the same reason y'all did," Caleb said. "I came to see Danny play."

Sheila bit down on her bottom lip and prayed Susan would keep her mouth shut. Other than Mike, Susan was the only person on earth who knew Daniel Vance wasn't Danny's real father.

"So, Danny got to you," Susan said. "I'll bet he invited you and you couldn't resist watching a young pitcher who probably reminds you of yourself at that age."

Sheila's stomach knotted painfully. A tense ache spread across her head. She wanted to tell Susan to shut up, to leave well enough alone, but protesting would only worsen the matter.

"Yeah, I suppose you're right," Caleb said. "I watched him at practice the other day and he's good. Maybe better than I was at his age."

"I told Sheila she should have let him move to another team, that Pat's Bulldogs haven't ever won a championship," Lowell said. "But she and Danny are loyal to the team he's played on since his first year."

"I think Sheila did the right thing. She's obviously taught Danny what's really important in life." When Caleb laid his hand over Sheila's where it rested on the bleacher seat between them, he looked directly at her. "I'm just beginning to learn that valuable lesson."

Sheila didn't remove her hand nor look away. Instead she smiled at him, foolishly touched by his compliment and too easily seduced by the look in his dark eyes.

As the ball game progressed, Caleb became aware of some mistakes Pat was allowing the boys to make—mistakes that probably would cost them the game, despite Danny's brilliant pitching. The more he watched Sheila's son, the more amazed he was at the boy's natural talent. And there was something else, some odd, nagging little feeling in the pit of his stomach. Watching Danny was like turning back the clock and observing himself as a kid. Tall, skinny, perfectly coordinated. Passionate about the game. Blessed with a God-given ability far superior to the average player.

A twinge of regret, a fleeting moment of sadness and the realization that he'd missed out on something truly important, moved through him. Fatherhood.
But it's not too late,
a voice inside him said.
You're only thirty. You've got plenty of time.
But he wasn't worried about running out of time. What concerned him was finding the right woman to be the mother of his child. His track record with the fairer sex wasn't exactly great. Most of his relationships didn't last longer than a year, if that. When the time came, what he needed was a special lady. Someone like Sheila Vance.

He shook his head. Hell! Where had that notion come from anyway? He wasn't the marrying kind and didn't intend to be for many years. Maybe never. It wasn't like him to get sentimental over some kid, even a boy who reminded him of himself.

"Hey, Caleb, you ought to go down there and give Pat a few pointers," Lowell suggested. "Our team needs some help or we're going to lose this game."

"Pat might not appreciate any unsolicited advice," Caleb said.

"Heck, not Pat. He'd welcome your advice," Lowell said. "As a matter of fact, I've seen him looking up here in the stands directly at you a couple of times. I think he'd like for you to help coach from the sidelines."

"Go ahead, Caleb." Susan poked him with her elbow. "Danny can't win this game all by himself."

"What do you think?" Caleb asked Sheila.

"If you want to help Danny's team, then go down there and give Pat all the advice you can. He's a dear, sweet man, but that doesn't necessarily make him a great coach."