Randall Wedding (4 page)

He wished he knew who Isabella was planning on visiting. No one he knew had mentioned relatives in New York. Nor had they had any visits from relatives from there. Was she all alone in New York? He didn’t think so. The way she’d avoided his gaze when she said she’d had the baby alone made him think someone was around. And she was running from whoever that was.

He checked on Isabella. She was still sleeping, her face almost as innocent and young as Angel’s.

He fixed himself a sandwich and turned on the television. He had a satellite dish and got the latest in weather. His family had been right. The snow was supposed to taper off this afternoon. Come to think of it, he didn’t hear any wind now. He stepped to the window and opened the drapes.

It was a winter wonderland. There was the occasional little gust that stirred up snow crystals, but most of the snow had settled on the ground. He crossed to his front door, which looked down on Main Street, and saw several individuals outside, clearing off the sidewalks. He waved and went back inside.

Then he heard steps on the outside stairs. He opened the door just as Jon and Tori reached it.

“May we come in?” Tori asked, not waiting for an answer. She ducked under his arm and darted into the warmth.

“Hi, Jon.” Russ said. “I hope you didn’t have any trouble getting here. I think we’re doing all right.”

“No, no trouble. Except I tried to leave Tori at home with the baby. But Rosa will take care of him.” Rosa was their housekeeper.

“Oh, Jon, come look. She’s beautiful. Look at those curls!” Tori exclaimed.

Jon joined his wife at Angel’s carrier. “Is she all right? Do I need to check her?”

“I don’t think so. I think she’s about a month old and she’s eating every four hours. She has incredibly healthy lungs,” Russ said.

“I know. So does Jonny. If anything, they get louder. Jonny is almost nine months old,” Tori informed him. “I thought you might not know since you’ve avoided all the babies.”

“I know.”

Jon changed the subject. “Where’s her mother?”

“In my bed.”

Tori gasped.

Russ turned bright red. “I slept out here! On my air mattress, Tori. That’s the only bed I had available.”

“Oh. Of course. I’d break it to your mother in a
different way, Russ. She’ll have you married before you know it.”

“Tori, behave yourself,” Jon ordered. “That’s none of our business.”

Russ said nothing.

“I’m serious, Jon! Janie wants Russ to remarry. She’ll use any excuse she can find!”

For a minute Russ didn’t even object. That meant he could keep Angel with him if he married Isabella. But marrying Isabella, even for Angel’s sake, was a lot more complicated. She was a warm, passionate woman. He had withdrawn from life. They couldn’t possibly live together unless one of them changed. And he couldn’t change, so he returned to sanity. “Don’t be ridiculous!”

Isabella struggled up from a deep sleep to find three people staring at her. One she recognized.

“What?” she asked.

“Isabella, this is my cousin Tori and her husband, Dr. Jon Wilson. He’d like to examine you and ask a few questions. Tori thought you might feel more comfortable if she accompanied him.”

“What kind of doctor?” she demanded. She noticed her voice was a little stronger, which encouraged her.

“A general practitioner,” the doctor said. “I understand you’ve been running a fever.”

“Yes…I think so, but according to him, I’ve been here three days. I don’t remember them.”

“What’s the last thing you remember?” Jon asked as he moved to the bed and opened his black bag. Isabella let him check her temperature and pulse before she answered him. “I remember being in a hotel room in…in Chicago, I think.”

“You don’t remember driving to where Russ
found you?” Tori asked, horror in her voice. “It’s a wonder you didn’t have an accident.”

“But her instincts were good,” Russ reminded his cousin. “She kept herself and Angel safe until I came along to save them.”

“Probably the fever you had helped keep your baby warm.”

“Am I running a fever now?”

“A very slight one. I think an antibiotic would be a good thing just in case. Russ said he fed you breakfast this morning. Any difficulty keeping it down?”

“No.”

“Okay, I’ve got some samples here so Russ won’t have to dig his way clear to the drugstore. Why don’t we see if that will get you back on your feet again? Is that okay with you?”

She nodded.

“Not a big talker, are you?”

She shook her head. “Thank you.”

“She has good manners,” Russ muttered.

A knock sounded on the front door. Isabella glanced at Russ, seeing a worried look on his face. The other two seemed amused.

When Russ didn’t move, Tori said, “I think you have more company, Russ. Want me to open the door?”

“No, I’ll get it.”

In no time he returned to the bedroom with two women. “Isabella, this is my mother, Janie Randall, and my aunt, Anna Randall. She’s a nurse.”

Isabella nodded to the two women, but she didn’t say anything.

Janie sat on the side of the bed and patted Isabella’s arm as if they were old friends. “Who are you visiting in Rawhide, dear? Maybe we know her.”

“She doesn’t live in town, so probably not,” Isabella said quickly. She wasn’t sure her great-aunt would keep her arrival a secret, and secrecy was essential. She knew that once she explained everything to her great-aunt, she would. But she wasn’t sure she’d get the chance before her father called.

“None of us live in town, but we’re a tight-knit community,” Anna said.

“My aunt is elderly. I don’t want anyone to surprise her.”

Anna’s eyes grew large, worrying Isabella. “Don’t tell me you’re Maria Paloni’s great-niece? Of course, I should have remembered.” Anna turned to Janie. “Remember, Janie? I told you about her wanting to talk to her great-niece that last time.”

“She wanted to talk to me?”

“Yes,” Anna said, turning to face Isabella, “but—” She stopped abruptly. “I’m sorry to have to tell you, Isabella. Maria died two weeks ago.”

R
USS HADN’T REALIZED
Maria Paloni had died. She was a charming old lady who’d lived near Rawhide for almost sixty years. She’d participated in community events for as long as he could remember.
Taken food to those in need. Offered to take care of children in times of stress.

Lately she hadn’t been well, and his mother and the other Randall women had taken her food. Maybe that was why Isabella had heard the Randall name.

He convinced his mother and Anna to leave Isabella to mourn. She’d certainly looked stricken at the news. As they were leaving, pointing out the prepared food they’d left in his kitchen, Anna whispered that Nick was handling her estate.

“Okay. I’ll check with him this afternoon.”

“You’ll be all right taking care of the baby?” Janie asked.

“I’ll be fine. Angel is an easy baby.”

“That’s what people always say. If you get in trouble, call.”

“Right, Mom.”

Jon and Tori moved to leave, too. “Isabella seems to be getting well quickly, but make sure she takes all the antibiotics. Her fever should be completely gone in a couple of days,” Jon said.

“Thanks for coming. I’ll make sure she does.”

“I can come stay with her if you need to go out,” Tori said.

“How? Aren’t you coming in to work this week?”

“Oh, yeah,” Tori said with a grin. “I’ll be in in the morning. Shall I stop by and say hi?”

“Up to you. I can’t guarantee she’ll be glad to see anyone.”

“Okay. See you then.”

Obviously he hadn’t convinced Tori to stay away.

Russ walked back to check on Isabella. She’d fallen asleep. She still had a couple of tears on her pale cheeks. He moved closer and gently wiped them away with his thumb.

He decided he’d better call Nick right away. Nick was a cousin who hadn’t known he was a Randall until last summer. He was, in fact, Gabe Randall’s twin. But they’d separated at birth and Nick had been adopted. Now the two were reunited. And Nick was a lawyer.

As the only lawyer in Rawhide, he handled everything.

“Nick? It’s Russ. Are you handling Mrs. Paloni’s estate?”

“Well, I’m trying. I sent a letter to her beneficiary asking her to contact me, but I haven’t heard from her.”

“Is the beneficiary named Isabella? Um, I think she said her last name was Walker?”

“No, it’s Isabella Paloni.”

“Ah. I think she married and her aunt didn’t know.”

“Great-aunt. Are you sure we have the right woman?”

“I don’t know. I found her on the road during the blizzard. She was sick and I brought her back to my place.

“I didn’t find out Maria Paloni was the person
she came to visit until today. And I didn’t know Mrs. Paloni had died.”

“Hmm. Maybe I should come talk to her. Or she can come here if she wants.”

“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.

“D
ON’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.”