He heard Alice
’
s high heels clicking on the wood floor in her room. He shook his head. Who in their right mind wears high heels at a ranch? Annie wore jeans and T-shirts. She
’
d wanted to work the ranch. She had wanted to be a partner with him. Why did she leave? She never even said good-bye, and that ate at him constantly.
Glancing at the phone, he wished he had the balls to call her. He needed to apologize to her, but he didn
’
t know what to say. She probably wouldn
’
t talk to him anyway. He knew that he deserved her anger; maybe time would make a difference. Maybe he could avoid her. Burke ran his hand through his thick brown hair and sighed heavily. Knowing that she was living so close to him was both comfort and torture.
It was a relief
to know where she was, but it was hell not seeing her. It was so hard knowing that she lived just on the other side of his fence and wouldn
’
t welcome him.
He
’
d confront Alice in the morning about the divorce papers. Something just wasn
’
t right and he wanted to hear her explanation as to why the papers were never filed. With heavy heart, Burke went to bed, though he knew it would be yet another sleepless night.
*
*
*
*
Alice looked surprised to see Burke sitting at the kitchen table drinking coffee. She hadn
’
t gotten up early since Annie had left
and he was usually gone by the time she woke.
She waltzed into the kitchen smiling at Burke.
“
Good morning, darling!
”
s
he rang out cheerfully.
“
We need to talk,
”
he said simply.
“
Of course, darling,
”
she drawled.
“
Anything you want, you know that,
”
she purred suggestively, giving him a come-hither look.
“
I talked to Ted. I wanted a copy of the divorce papers.
”
“
You know I didn
’
t use Ted.
”
“
Well,
darling
, it seems that he can
’
t find the papers on file anywhere.
”
“
Oh that.
”
She shrugged her shoulders.
“
I
’
m sure that it
’
s a clerical error somewhere
.
”
“
I want a copy of the papers
.
”
“
I don
’
t know why you want to bother yourself with such distasteful things. But if it
’
ll make you feel like a free man, I have a copy in the study. I
’
m surprised that you didn
’
t see them.
”
Burke
’
s eyes narrowed as he looked at her. How he
’
d ever found her lovely was beyond him. She was ugly inside and out. He knew that she had to be lying. He
’
d spent every evening going over the ranch books trying to find a way to save it. Surely, he
’
d have noticed the divorce papers if they were there.
If it hadn
’
t been so important, Burke would have laughed. Why hadn
’
t he seen right through her
to begin with
? She was making a nuisance of herself and he really didn
’
t even like her.
“
Maybe you can go get them for me,
”
he challenged.
Alice seemed unaffected by
his tone
.
To his surprise, s
he calmly left the room only to return shortly with a manila envelope in her hand.
“
Here you go, Burke.
”
She handed the envelope over to him.
“
I don
’
t know how you could have doubted me,
”
she pouted.
Burke didn
’
t even answer her. He immediately opened the envelope and looked at the papers. He
’
d seen similar papers before and these looked about the same, just what he expected. Maybe it was just a clerical error. He
’
d call Ted later.
Work
still had
to be done,
and all this waiting around for Alice to get up had been trying.
Burke shoved the papers back into the envelope. So it was over. He was divorced from Annie. He felt her loss keenly. He got up, grabbed his
Stetson
and walked out the door
,
letting the screen door slam loudly.
“
Day
’
s a
wastin
’,”
he said to himself miserably. Thank God, he still had his ranch to give him solace. Hard work would get him through. He did need to talk to Alice about her leaving, but that could wait. He just didn
’
t have the energy it would take to get her to leave. He got in his truck and slammed his hand against the steering wheel
, but i
t didn
’
t help to ease the wound to his heart. He drove off hoping to work himself hard enough that he could forget
the woman on the other side of the fence.
*
*
*
*
Burke ran into Ted a few days later and told him that he did have the divorce papers. Ted asked Burke to get the name of the lawyer that handled the divorce. The decree had to be on file for it to be legal
, so
h
e offered to look into it again
once Burke gave him the lawyer’s name
.
Burke had felt a bit uncomfortable with his childhood friend. He knew that he wasn
’
t pleased with the way his marriage had fallen apart, but Burke had a feeling it was more than that. He had probably heard about his row with Annie at the diner. Hell everyone seemed to know about it. In fact, this was the first time he had come into town since then. He needed to place an order for horse feed.
As awkward as it was, Burke was glad to see Ted. He thought about their friendship as he drove home
, and h
e knew that the uncomfortable feeling would go away. After all Ted was still looking out for him as far as the divorce was concerned. Burke dismissed it as his thoughts turned to whose money he had used to buy the feed. He was now grateful for Annie
’
s gift.
He couldn
’
t get her off his mind and it made him crazy. He was still bitter that she had left him. He had thought that everything was going well. She seemed a little standoffish after her fall
, but
he blamed it on the pain she was feeling. Something
didn’t add up
, but
he
’
d be damned if he knew what it was.
He drove his truck to the edge of his ranch and stared out at Annie
’
s land. He could make out her house, a barn and it looked like another house on
the property
. He admired what she had accomplished. If rumor
s were true
, she was on her way to having one of the top horse ranches around.
G
azing longingly at the other property,
he
wish
ed
that he had the right to go on it and knock on Annie
’
s front door
, but
he knew that he wouldn
’
t be welcome. His heart felt heavy, filled with sadness.
T
urn
ing
his truck around
, he
made his way home.
Chapter Eleven
Annie
snapped
out of her melancholy for a moment. She hadn
’
t even heard Mrs. Harvy come out of the house. She gave her a watered down smile.
“
I
’
m fine,
”
she answered automatically
,
not wanting to focus on how she felt. She still felt like she was mourning a death and she couldn
’
t help it.
“
All this moping around really isn
’
t good for the baby, you know.
”
Annie smiled at her
housekeeper and
friend.
“
I know
. Y
ou
’
re right.
”
She took in a deep breath of fresh country air and straightened up in her chair as she caressed her protruding stomach.
“
Why don
’
t you go and catch that new movie in town
?
”
Mrs .Harvy
suggested.
“
I don
’
t remember the name
, but
I heard that it
’
s really funny.
”
Annie hesitated. Going into town really didn
’
t appeal to her, but Mrs. Harvy was right. She needed to stop all her moping. Going to a comedy might be just the thing to shake her out of her present blues.
“
Thanks,
”
she said as she awkwardly got out of the rocking chair. Annie kissed Mrs. Harvy on the cheek.
“
I think I
’
ll do that.
”
Mrs. Harvy smiled
in return
.
“
It
’
ll do you good.
”
Annie was rethinking her decision as she crossed the town limit. Maybe this wasn
’
t such a good idea
after all
. Maybe she should have invited Mrs. Harvy along.
No.
She
’
d gone to movies alone before. She
’
d gone to Broadway plays alone
, so
she could do this. After all, she deserved to have some fun.
Annie parked her car on the street and walked over to the theater. It surprised her to see a line forming in front of the box office. Smiling
,
she nodded to people she knew. She really wasn
’
t in the mood to socialize; they were obviously looking at her belly. She
had
finally bought maternity clothes and was surprised to find that the current trend was shirts that clung to the belly instead of shirts that tented the stomach. There was no hiding her pregnancy. She had nothing to ashamed of
. H
er baby was conceived in a marriage and at the time, it was conceived in love.
Thankfully
no one tried to engage her in conversation. She felt a bit self-conscious
, but
she really was looking forward to the escape the movie could give her.
A cool breeze kicked up as the sun began to set. Fall was one of her favorite times of year and she was looking forward to harvesting her fall garden. Sherry promised to come over next week to help her.
Annie glanced at her watch. The person running the box office was a bit late. She shifted from one foot to the other, waiting. Then she heard someone behind her talking.
“
I heard she was back after up and leaving Burke.
She certainly has put on the pounds
.
”
Annie heard a familiar voice say. It was the same voice she had heard in the diner comparing her to Alice.
Annie felt her face grow red as everyone looked at her. Annie couldn
’
t stand the pitying looks anymore and turned to walk away.
Surprised to see Burke s
he glanced at
him,
but
walked away.
She almost tripped s
tepping off the curb. H
ands reach
ed
out to steady her and
she
was both surprised and relieved to see Ted. All he had to do was whisper her name and she fell into his arms
enjoying his hug
.
Ted smoothed her back as he whispered encouraging words to her. She pulled away from him and gave him a contrite smile.
“
I
’
m sorry; I don
’
t know what came over me.
”
“
I
’
ll drive you home,
”
he offered.
Annie gave him a weary smile.
“
Thanks
,
Ted
,
but enough is enough with that man and his girlfriend. I need to buck up and not be so sensitive. I
’
m so blessed with the people in my life and that
’
s all I need remember.
”
Both Alice and Burke were walking toward them. Ted turned both he and Annie away and started toward his car.
Burke grabbed Ted
’
s arm trying to get him to stop. He stood in front of Annie and looked at her very pregnant body. His eyes grew wide she could fe
e
l them on her big belly and her lush breasts.
“
Go away, Burke,
”
Annie said dully, not even bothering to look at him. She tried to walk around him. She knew that she was in no condition to spar with him.
Burke angled his body so that she couldn
’
t pass him.
“
My God! You
’
re pregnant!
”
Annie almost laughed.
“
Yes, you
’
ve known that for months now.
”
She finally looked at him and saw his confusion. She didn
’
t
know what to believe.
It was probably some act for all those who were still staring at them. It seemed that a lot of them had foregone the movie in place of reality.
“
I need to go home.
”
Ted put a protective arm around her shoulder and stared Burke down.
“
Now
’
s not the time, Burke. Buddy, from what I
’
ve heard you denied that the baby was yours.
”
Burke backed away from Annie, not taking his eyes from her face.
“
I didn
’
t know,
”
he insisted, staring at Annie.
“
I didn
’
t know.
”
Annie made no response. She turned her head into Ted
’
s shoulder and let him lead her to her car. She was so silent that Ted was worried.
“
You okay to drive?
”
“
Good night
,
Ted, thank you,
”
she said as she
gingerly climbed into the truck
.
Once s
he arrived at her home, her haven
,
s
he saw Mrs. Harvy rushing toward her and she put a hand up.
“
I just want to be left alone, please, I need to think.
”
Mrs. Harvy reluctantly nodded and gave Annie her space
.
Annie thought that as soon as she closed her bedroom door
that
she
’
d have a meltdown, but instead she sat on her bed dry eyed and
frustrated.
Either Burke was a great actor, or he
really
didn
’
t know. Arguments could be made for either. The picture of him in bed with Alice flashed before her and she decided that her well-being came first
, no matter what
. She had to grow up, face reality and put Burke behind her. She needed positive thinking. She wanted to evict the negative thoughts, for good.
Annie caressed her stomach as she thought of all she had accomplished. She had a wonderful home, her horse ranch was more than a
reality than a dream
. She had surrounded herself with people she could love and depend on. She had done this, not Sonny, not Burke, not some other man
she had
clung to. No, she did it. It was her accomplishment and she should feel proud of herself. Annie finally smiled a real smile. It had been a long time coming
, but
she finally felt good about herself. Whether or not Burke knew about the baby really didn
’
t matter anymore.
She was taking her pain and frustrations from the past and the present and giving them up to God, grasping on to a new wonderful future. Her baby was going to be a major part and it was already bringing her joy.
In her sorrow s
he had been denying herself joy. Not anymore
. S
he was loved, she was happy
,
and she deserved to be able to enjoy
her blessings
.
For the first time in months, Annie slept peacefully.
*
*
*
*
Burke drove like a maniac. Seeing Annie pregnant had really upset him. He gave Alice a sidelong glance. Something was stinking to high heaven and he was positive that it was Alice. He couldn
’
t wait to get her home and interrogate her. He wasn
’
t going to put up with her bullshit or any of her pleading and crying. He was going to get the truth and he was going to get it tonight. His heart twisted painfully as he remembered Ted saying that he had denied that the child was his. How? Why? Parking the truck haphazardly
.
he quickly got out. He couldn
’
t wait to hear what Alice had to say.
On the other hand, s
he followed Burke inside
,
acting as though nothing was wrong.
“
Too bad we didn
’
t get to see the movie,
”
she said petulantly.
Burke
’
s eyes almost bugged out of his head.
“
After everything that went on tonight, you
’
re sorry about not seeing the movie?
”
he asked in disgust. Burke stared sightlessly at the stone fireplace wondering where to start. What a mess and it was his mess. He should have never allowed her back into his life.
He turned toward Alice, pinning her into her chair with his angry glare.
“
How about we talk about this baby I didn
’
t know about but apparently denied?
”
he demanded, almost growling.
Alice licked her lips nervously.
“
I was just trying to protect you, darling. I don
’
t believe that the baby is yours. Annie is a whore; you need to face up to it,
”
she said flippantly.
Burke took a step toward Alice
,
his fists clenched tightly at his sides.
“
How dare you call Annie a whore? How dare you! She was a virgin when I married her for God
’
s sake.
”
“
How was I supposed to know that? After all, she takes off, goes to New
York
and comes back pregnant? I was watching your back.
”
Burke
’
s eyes narrowed.
“
How did you know where she went?
”
She looked
nervous.
“
I just know.
”
“
I
’
m going to find out all of your lies sooner or later so you might as well spill them.
”
Alice took a step back.
“
She kept calling and leaving messages for you and I erased them. Then she came out here to announce her pregnancy and I told her that you already knew and that you thought that she was a whore and the baby wasn
’
t yours,
”
she explained as if she had done him a huge favor.