Slade's Secret Son (11 page)

Overson smiled encouragingly. “I’ll have men guarding you constantly from the moment you leave here. And I’ll have Mrs. Blout and Mrs. Morgan under surveillance twenty-four hours a day.”

“I’ve always lived such a quiet life. I can’t believe I got myself mixed up in this,” Dorothy groaned.

Overson turned his attention to Slade and Lisa. “Now that we know who we’re after, I’d suggest that you two leave town. Get out of the line of fire. Wouldn’t want these amateurs to get lucky just when we’re closing in on them.”

“We’ll be out of here on the next plane,” Slade vowed.

Lisa thanked Dorothy for coming forward. Slade added his thanks and they left.

Driving to the airport, Lisa couldn’t help thinking that living in a bad marriage could have had as much to do with these middle-aged women going over the edge as greed. And she wondered what living in Claudette’s shadow would do to her. Would she become bitter and resentful? She didn’t like picturing herself turning into a frustrated shrew.

“Penny for your thoughts,” Slade said.

She glanced toward him. They were stopped at a light and he was studying her with concern.

“You look like a woman with a heavy load on her mind,” he elaborated.

“I am,” she conceded. “But it’s my load to bear and for now, I’m going to bear it alone.”

Slade reached over and gently caressed her cheek. “I want you to understand that I’ll always be here for you. You don’t have to bear any load on your own.”

His touch wove through her like a current of warmth and she knew the resistance she’d been attempting to keep in place was useless. He held her heart in his hands. He always had. But reading his face, she saw only friendship there.

L
isa shifted uneasily in her seat as they neared the Logan ranch. During the flight to Lubbock, the worry that Slade’s mother and other members of his family might think she was a gold digger who had gotten pregnant on purpose so that she could bind Slade to her and as a consequence benefit from his family’s wealth came back to haunt her.

Again she argued that going off on her own and not contacting him until she realized that Andy might be orphaned should convince them that was not her intention. By the time she and Slade turned off the main road onto the long driveway leading to the ranch house, she’d come close to convincing herself that this was a needless worry. Still, she remained tense. His family had to know that Slade would never have married her if it hadn’t been for Andy’s existence.

As they pulled up in front of the ranch house her worries about how his family would receive her were pushed to the back of her mind by the sight of her son. He was
sitting on the front porch with her mother, her aunt and an ancient-looking Native American woman who she guessed was Slade’s great-grandmother. Seeing her climbing out of the car, Andy headed to the porch steps. Her mother caught up with him and helped him down the short flight. They reached the bottom at the same time Lisa did. Squatting, she wrapped her arms around Andy and nuzzled his neck. “I missed you,” she said.

He giggled and hugged her back. Excitement gleaming in his eyes, he lifted his face so that they were nose to nose. “Mee. Coowbooy.”

The thought of him on his pony, brought its usual rush of panic. Trying to not let this natural fear of a mother for her son show, she smiled back. “I know.”

Slade waited until Lisa had had a couple of minutes to reunite with their child, then said, “Howdy, son.”

Andy turned to him, frowned for a second as if trying to place the man, then smiled and allowed Slade to pick him up.

That brief second when Andy hadn’t recognized him cut through Slade like a knife and he vowed his son would never not know him again.

Lisa, too, had seen the momentary hesitation on her son’s face and the tensing of Slade’s jaw that told her he hadn’t liked it. Slade, she knew now for certain, would do anything to be a father to his child…anything but open his heart to her.

“It’s good to have you home, big brother,” a younger version of Slade called, coming around the house from the direction of the barns and stables. Without waiting for a response, Jess gave Slade a slap on the shoulder and extended his hand to Lisa. “And it’s good to meet you. You’ve got a mighty fine son there.”

The friendliness on his face was genuine and Lisa
smiled as she accepted the handshake. “Thanks, I think so.”

“Going to make one hell of a cowboy. Sits that pony as if he was born to it,” Jess added, ruffling Andy’s hair.

“I’ve been so worried about you,” Helen said, giving her daughter a welcoming hug.

Past her mother’s shoulder, Lisa saw Ester helping the elderly Apache woman down the porch steps. And, as her mother released her, she noticed that both Slade and Jess had become wary.

“You have given this family a child to be proud of,” the old woman said when she reached Lisa. With a loving expression on her face, she patted Andy on the arm, then returned her attention to Lisa. “I am Morning Hawk. And I have something for you. It is to keep you safe.” From the pocket of the fringed doeskin tunic dress she wore, she extracted a single strand of beads with a small carved wooden bear dangling from them. “Bend down,” she ordered. When Lisa obeyed, she slipped the beads around her neck. This task completed, she turned and walked back to the porch.

The lack of even a hint of a smile on the elderly woman’s face told Lisa that although she didn’t want any harm to come to her, she was reserving judgment on her.

“You have to get used to her,” Helen whispered into her daughter’s ear. “When we got here, Slade’s mother and grandmother warned us that she could be difficult at times, but so far she’s behaved herself. She hasn’t said much to Ester and me but she watches over Andy like a protective hen. Actually, they all do.”

Lisa wasn’t surprised by this news. She’d known how strongly Slade’s people felt about family ties. She also knew how protective they were of one another.

“So you’re finally here.” A woman’s voice rang out from the direction of the house.

Lisa saw two women come out the front door and head toward them.

Reaching the group, the women gave Slade hugs, then turned to Lisa. The younger spoke. “I’m Slade’s mother, White Moon.”

Lisa noted that there was a guardedness about her friendliness as there was the older woman with her. Clearly, as Slade’s great-grandmother, they, too, were reserving judgment.

“And this is my mother, Evening Flower.” White Moon introduced the woman beside her.

Andy, who had been perched comfortably on Slade’s arm, suddenly held his arms out to Lisa. “Mommy,” he demanded.

Realizing that the boy has sensed the tension in the women toward Lisa, Slade cast his mother a reproving look. She merely shrugged as if to say she was his mother and it was her duty to protect him.

Lisa was glad to take possession of her son. Just holding his hand with him standing by her side gave her courage. “I’m pleased to meet you.” Mentally she congratulated herself for managing to keep any stiffness out of her voice. Then with genuine gratitude, she added, “And I want to thank you for providing a haven for my family.”

“It is my understanding that we are all family now,” White Moon said, continuing to study her narrowly. “Slade told us that the two of you are married.”

“Yes,” Lisa confirmed.

“As it should be.” White Moon made it sound as if there had been no other choice. She turned her gaze to Slade. “The papers you requested me to have our lawyer
draw up to make you legally Andy’s father and have his name changed to Logan are in the study. When you have looked them over, you are to call him and make arrangements for them to be signed. Lisa will have to be present. Her signature will be needed on the documents, as well.”

Lisa mentally scoffed at herself for being even the tiniest bit surprised that Slade had already made arrangements for the legalities to be completed. He’d always been a man of action. What bothered her was the way White Moon continued to regard her with suspicion. “Do you have any doubts about Slade being Andy’s father?” she asked bluntly.

“No. I am simply worried about your intentions for the future. It is obvious this marriage between you and my son was done merely for the child’s sake. That is not a good basis for any marriage and certainly not for a happy one.”

“Our marriage and what happens in it, is between Lisa and me,” Slade interjected, his tone warning his mother that she was treading where she was not welcome.

“I am merely concerned about you and about Andy.” Her gaze turned on Lisa. “Since we are speaking bluntly…I don’t want to see my son trapped in an unhappy marriage or Andy caught in a struggle between the two of you.”

Lisa couldn’t blame her. She was Slade’s mother. It was only natural for her to be protective of him. And she was glad the woman showed honest concern for Andy. At least he had been fully welcomed into the Logan clan.

“My daughter is a good and decent woman. You don’t have to worry about her doing anything to harm your son,” Helen cut in tersely. “And she most certainly would never cause Andy harm or grief.”

Evening Flower moved next to her daughter in a show
of support for White Moon while Helen moved closer to Lisa and Ester took a stance on the other side of her niece. A sense of war filled the air. That was not what Lisa wanted.

“I understand your concern,” she said, meeting White Moon’s gaze levelly, then casting glances at both her aunt and her mother that ordered them to cease and desist. “But I assure you, I have no intention of causing anyone any harm. I never wanted to foist myself on Slade. I would have continued to raise Andy on my own if I hadn’t realized that one day he could find himself alone in this world.”

“I didn’t mean to imply that I am sorry you told my son about his child. Andy should know his father and his father’s family.”

What she hadn’t said caused Lisa’s shoulders to straighten with pride. “I know Slade would never have married me if it wasn’t for Andy and I have no intention of making his life miserable by forcing him to continue in a union that he does not want.”

Slade glowered at his mother. “I’m the one who insisted on the marriage and I’m the one who wants it to continue.”

White Moon faced him without flinching. “Do you love her?”

“I care for her and I respect her. Now, it’s been a long day. We’d like to go inside and freshen up.”

“I think we’ll just take Lisa and Andy and go to a motel,” Helen said, wrapping an arm around her daughter’s shoulders.

Evening Flower placed an arm around White Moon’s shoulders. “I apologize for my daughter. She is very protective of all of her sons, but especially of Slade. He’s
been deeply wounded. She only wishes him happiness, the kind that can only be found with a true love.”

“I warned you that they were being too polite, too sweet,” Ester hissed at Helen. “And all those questions about Lisa. They were looking for something to discredit her.”

“I just don’t want to see my son hurt,” White Moon snapped.

“I can take care of myself.” Slade scowled at his mother. He’d known it would be an uphill battle to convince Lisa to stay with him. His mother’s overly protective attitude was not helping.

“Enough!” It was Morning Hawk who spoke, her voice carrying sharp authority. She turned to her daughter and granddaughter. “You don’t want to see Slade hurt.” She turned to Helen and Ester. “And you don’t want to see Lisa hurt.” Her gaze swept all four women. “I know my daughter and granddaughter and I have been observing Lisa’s aunt and mother for the past days. You are all good people with righteous intentions. But Slade and Lisa are adults. They will make their own decisions and their own mistakes.” She made a sweeping gesture toward the house. “We should all go inside. Dinner will be ready soon.”

Helen and Ester stiffened their stance, remaining immobile. As for her part, Lisa was uncertain. She was in no mood to spend time in an enemy camp. Even more, she didn’t want Andy to feel caught in the midst of a battle.

Jess shook his head at his mother. “I thought we’d agreed to honor Slade’s wishes and trust his judgment.”

“I told you I knew what I was doing.” Slade fought hard to control his temper. He knew his mother had his
best interests at heart but he’d thought he’d made it clear to her that Lisa could be trusted.

White Moon took a deep breath and exhaled. “I am sorry,” she said stiffly to the entire gathering, then directed her attention to Lisa and her family. “Please stay.”

“Mommy?”

Lisa looked at her son to see confusion on his face and tears of fear brimming in his eyes. “It’s all right, sweetheart,” she soothed. “We’re just clearing the air.”

“I still vote we leave,” Ester insisted.

Morning Hawk laid a hand on her arm. “If you were standing in my granddaughter’s shoes would you not be concerned?”

“Well, she doesn’t have anything to worry about when it comes to Lisa. Anyone should be proud to have her as a daughter-in-law,” Ester returned.

“And are you without reservations about having Slade as a son-in-law?” Morning Hawk countered.

Ester shifted uneasily. “I don’t know him well enough to be certain about him.”

“So it would seem we must all get to know each other better,” the elderly woman said.

Ester remained mute, continuing to look unconvinced.

Lisa’s jaw firmed. For Andy’s sake she had to try to develop a comfortable or at least polite relationship with Slade’s mother and grandmother. “We’ll stay the night and see how things go.”

“Thank you,” White Moon said with honest gratitude.

It was clear to Lisa that the woman did regret coming very close to chasing her off. Well, maybe not her as much as Andy. White Moon motioned for the others to precede her into the house. “Please, come inside. The meal is almost ready.”

Ester looked disgruntled and Helen uncertain of what was the right thing to do, but when Lisa started toward the door with Andy, they accompanied her.

Slade hung back and Jess stayed with him. “Is the perimeter secured?” he asked in lowered tones.

“I’ve got men posted in a full circle around us. Nothing is going to get through.”

“We’ll keep them there until we get word that those lunatic women are under lock and key,” Slade said.

Jess nodded his agreement.

Slade watched grimly as the women disappeared into the house. “Do you think Mother will behave or do we need to post guards inside, as well?”

Jess placed an arm around his brother’s shoulder. “She’s just worried about you. For ten years you’ve been nursing a wounded heart and she knows the wound is still festering. She was hoping you’d find a woman who could heal it. Instead you’ve been forced into a marriage for the sake of your son.”

“I wasn’t forced,” Slade growled.

Jess held up his hands in surrender. “Hey, I’m on your side. I just want you to be happy. You’re living proof that being too much in love can be harmful. So maybe being married to a woman you’re merely fond of will work a whole lot better.”

“That’s my way of thinking,” Slade replied, feeling confident in his ability to keep his emotions toward Lisa just that…fond of but not in love with.