The Texan's Contract Marriage (2 page)

Kern

Marek felt weak in the knees. This was Kern’s message. Marek looked up at Camille, who gazed back steadily. He was certain now that she had given birth to Kern’s baby. There was another Rangel in the world. Until this moment, Marek hadn’t fully believed the baby was Kern’s. Now he couldn’t doubt it.

Marek felt another tight squeeze to his chest, this time as if his heart had been grabbed by a giant fist. He missed Kern terribly, and this brought back all the incredible pain of his loss. With thoughts of Kern came remembrance of Jillian. He hated the knot in his throat. Making an effort, he struggled to get his emotions under control before he looked up or spoke. Finally, he raised his head and handed back the letter.

“That definitely sounds like my brother. Super-mega-duper—one of his favorite expressions. Thank you for showing me the message.”

“That’s fine. That’s a copy. If you want it, keep it.”

“Thanks,” he said, dropping the paper on his desk. “I’ll take it to show my sister. I would like a paternity test just to settle any questions that would ever arise. This is Kern’s baby. That message is Kern talking. There’s no mistake.”

Smiling, looking happier, she nodded. “We can do a paternity test. I expected you to request one.”

“This has been almost as big a shock as if you told me I have a son. My brother and I were close. I assume you haven’t contacted my sister because I would have heard from her.”

“No, I didn’t because in what little time we were together, your brother talked far more about you.”

“She’s seven years older than I am. Kern and I were closer, but she’ll want to know about Noah.”

“If you and your sister decide you want to see him, we can arrange that.”

He nodded. He felt as if his breath had been knocked out of him. He needed to think about the baby and make decisions about what he wanted to do.

“You won’t always live in Dallas, will you?” he asked.

“I’ve only been in Texas three times in my life. I’ll leave here the end of June. I’ll be singing in New Mexico in August, so I’ll stay there.”

“And you’ll take the baby with you.”

“Yes, of course, but I still hope that he can get to know you and your family as he grows. If he does, you would be a good father figure for him, I’m sure. Kern would have been a wonderful one.”

“You could have gone on with your life and never told me,” Marek said, looking into her wide crystal-blue eyes. “There’s no way I would have found out. Now you’ll have to share Noah.”

She studied him intently. “It wouldn’t have been right. I couldn’t do it. I thought about doing that because it would have been infinitely easier, but I love Noah and want what’s best for him. The day will come when he’ll want to know his father. Since he can’t do that, he will want to know his father’s family. I truly think you’ll be a good influence. The ranching aspect has to be good for a growing boy. If he gets to know you and know ranching, I’ll feel as if he knows part of his father.”

“I agree with that, and I’m glad you made that decision,” Marek said in a tight voice, trying to control his emotional reaction to her statement. “Will you be in town if I want to get in touch with you?”

“Yes. In June I perform here in Dallas. Then in July I’ll go to Santa Fe for my August performance. After that I’ll go home to Saint Louis through September so I can be with my family. I have a voice teacher here in Dallas that I like very much, so I may be in Texas more often than I have been in the past.”

“You have a busy schedule. Thank you for calling me. You didn’t have to share with us at all,” he said again, still amazed she had done so.

“At first I was shocked by the news of my pregnancy. I thought it would end my career, and I was torn up over trying to figure out what to do. I felt uncertain about telling him. We only knew each other that one weekend. But the more I thought about it, the more I wanted Kern and the Rangels to be part of my baby’s life.”

As she walked to the door, Marek accompanied her. When she paused, he turned to face her, once again briefly caught in the blue of her eyes. She was a beautiful woman, and he understood why his brother had been attracted to her. “I’ll talk to my sister. Also, I’ll let my parents know. Thank you again for telling me,” Marek said.

“I’m sorry for both your losses, your brother and your fiancée.”

“Thank you,” he replied stiffly. “I’ll be in touch after I’ve talked to my sister.”

She nodded. “I’m glad to have finally met you and glad you know about Noah. I’m sure I’ll hear from you.”

He watched her walk away and turned to go back into his office with his thoughts swirling. How much had Kern had his mind on the fact that he was going to be a father instead of concentrating on his flying? Had that news been a factor in Kern’s crash?

And another baby in the family, and this time not only a little boy, but Kern’s baby. He thought how delightful his two little nieces were. Now they would have the girls and Kern’s little boy.

Marek canceled his appointments and called his pilot to fly back to the ranch to talk to the person he had been close to all his life.

*

Two hours later, Marek stood in the barn while his ranch foreman repaired a stall. Jess Grayson had pushed his battered, wide-brimmed brown hat back on his head and had his sleeves rolled high. While Jess drove in a nail, Marek held a board in place. “You can have a paternity test even with Kern gone.”

“I know I can and I will, but I don’t need to. That message is Kern’s. It sounds like him. The baby looks like him. I’ve asked for a paternity test just to be sure.”

“Good. So what are you going to do? Have you told Ginny?”

“Not yet. Wanted to talk to you first,” he said, looking at Jess’s weathered skin, which was the color of cowhide except for a pale band below his hairline where his hat shaded his skin from the sun.

“Ginny’s family. I’m not.”

“You might as well be. Your opinion still counts. I was all set to walk out of there and never look back when she pulled out Kern’s message. I want you to read it when you finish nailing this board.”

As soon as the board was in place, Marek fished the paper out of his pocket, unfolded it and handed it to Jess.

After a moment Jess looked up to meet Marek’s gaze. “Super-mega-duper,” Jess repeated. “That’s Kern.” He shook his head as he returned the paper. “An opera star.”

“A rising one. I don’t know if she’s a star yet. At this point, I don’t know anything about her. Except I’m sure she’s telling the truth about the baby.”

“You really think she’s not after money?” Jess asked, picking up another board and setting it in place below the first one. Marek stepped closer to help.

“She doesn’t act like she is. Doesn’t matter, really. Since I know this is Kern’s baby, I can’t walk away. He wouldn’t if this were my baby, and I can’t with Kern’s.”

“Even if he didn’t love the lady?”

“Even if. Besides, you read that message. I would bet the ranch Kern was running through his mind how he could get her to marry him.”

“Might be right. So you want this baby in the family?”

Watching Jess hammer, Marek thought a long time. “Yes, I do. Suppose he’s a lot like Kern or even a little like Kern? It would drive me nuts to think a little boy was out there, Kern’s son, who looked and acted like Kern and we didn’t know him and didn’t care. I can’t do that. She wants us in his life. She wants him to have an appreciation for ranching. I can’t argue against either of those.”

“Then you’ve made your decision. Tell Ginny.”

“I guess I have to.”

“Frankly, I’d kind of like to see the little fellow myself.”

“I’ll call Ginny and then I’ll call Camille and see if I can arrange to see her again, which will be easy to do. Per Kern’s usual taste, she’s a beauty,” he said, remembering his first impression of her. “Also, she said she’d like me to be a father figure for Noah.”

“That may be difficult if she doesn’t live around here.”

“True. She’s leaving Dallas in July and going to Santa Fe. She has a busy schedule. Until then, I’d like to know this child.”

“Have you called your parents?”

Marek nodded. “I’m going to call to tell them. I want this baby to know the Rangels and us to know him. I’ll go call Ginny. Thanks, Jess.”

“You might get a little bit of Kern back,” Jess said somberly.

“I’d like that, Jess, but I’m scared that’s too much to hope for. I’ll let you know what she says.” Marek jogged to the house and inside, letting the door swing shut behind him.

While he called his sister, he remembered Camille—her vivid looks, her energetic presence. Good genes with Kern’s genes. Should be a good combination. He talked for ten minutes, chatting briefly with each of his little nieces before his sister returned to the phone.

“Ginny, I have some news that will shock you. I can come back to Dallas to tell you or I can tell you on the phone, but you’re in for a giant shock.”

“You have to tell me now, Marek. Good grief, after that I can’t wait for you to get to Dallas. What is it?”

“Do you know who Camille Avanole is?”

There was a moment’s silence. “I don’t think so. I can’t think of a single Camille I know.”

“Do you recognize the name?”

“If you don’t tell me what you’re getting at, Marek, I’m going to reach through this phone and grab you.”

“Ginny, she called me and said she wanted to talk to me,” he said, recalling the sparks he’d felt when they had touched while shaking hands—something he hadn’t felt with a woman since the loss of Jillian. “She knew Kern,” he continued. “Camille and Kern went out on a weekend over a year and a half ago. She got pregnant with Kern’s baby.”

“Kern had a baby?” Ginny’s voice sounded faint and breathless.

“Yes, he did. He found out she was pregnant the day before he flew to Denver.”

“Oh, my word. Do you suppose that’s why he lost control and crashed? Was he thinking about the baby? Is it really Kern’s? Maybe it’s not and this is one of those women who try to take advantage—”

“Ginny,” Marek stated firmly. “Listen to me. She has a note Kern sent her right before the flight. It’s Kern’s message. It sounds like him. She gave me a copy of it, and I’ll show it to you.”

“Marek, I do need to sit. This is a shock. A baby.”

“A little boy named Noah. He’s six months old. I have dinner with Camille tomorrow night to talk about the future,” he said, realizing he was looking forward to seeing her again. Another first since losing Jillian. Maybe the numbness was wearing away. Or maybe it was Camille’s beauty and captivating presence that had stirred his reactions. “I can’t turn my back on that baby. I know he’s Kern’s son. She had a picture, and he looks like Kern.”

“We have to know this little boy. Will she let us? Is she famous? You asked if I know her.”

“She’s in opera. I’ve looked her up. She’s young. Only twenty-five. Her résumé is impressive to me,” he said, thinking her looks were just as impressive.

“Opera? How did she get with Kern?”

“A New Year’s Eve party where they had mutual friends.”

“No wonder I didn’t recognize the name. I’m country. What are you going to do?”

“I don’t know. I’m thinking about options. I’ll let you know.”

“We have to keep this baby in our lives. If he’s Kern’s baby, we can’t cut him out. Does she live in Texas?”

“No. She’ll leave in July and take him with her.”

“Have you told Jess?”

“Yes. He’d like to see the baby, too. I guess we’re all hoping for a bit of Kern in our lives again.”

“Wouldn’t that be wonderful? You’ve given me a shock. You better break it gently to Mom and Dad.”

“I will. I’ll call Camille and see what I can set up to see him. I’ll let you know. We’ll both see him, I promise you.”

He told her goodbye and called his parents, spending the next half hour breaking the news to them and catching up on their news.

Finished with family calls, he phoned Camille. In minutes he had plans to pick Camille up the next day and take her to Houston for dinner.

*

“You’re not going out with him,” Stephanie Avanole said, glaring at her sister.

“Yes, I am. I’ve given this a lot of thought. We’ve talked about it. He’s Noah’s relative,” Camille replied, wiping her forehead and the back of her neck as she walked away from the treadmill. “I know you don’t feel the way I do about this, but I think the Rangels have a right to see their nephew.”

“They’ll want to take him from you or tell you what to do with him. They’re not going to ignore him. These are wealthy, powerful people, accustomed to getting their way. You said Kern said his older brother ran the family after he was grown. That he was much more serious than Kern.”

“Tomorrow night Marek Rangel can talk and I’ll listen. Stephanie, he’s had a terrible loss and this is a shock.”

“I still say you’ll be sorry. You should never have told them about Noah, much less have agreed to go out with Marek Rangel tomorrow night. He’s a tough cowboy and tougher businessman. I’ve heard a few people talk. He’s had big losses—his fiancée as well as his only brother. He doesn’t sound like the lighthearted, I-don’t-care type.”

“I had to tell him.”

“I’m warning you,” Stephanie said, frowning and placing her hands on her hips, “you’ll regret this day. Marek Rangel will want to be part of Noah’s life.”

“I think he’s entitled to be. I don’t think he’s any threat to me at all.”

“You’ll never convince me that this is good.”

“Then you have a closed mind about it. He’s not an ogre,” Camille replied, remembering a handsome man with troubled brown eyes, a man who appeared hard, closed in a shell, inscrutable and preoccupied. A man who was nothing like his charming, devil-may-care brother.

*

Late afternoon Wednesday she dressed carefully in a deep blue dress with a vee neckline and long sleeves. Hoping to look successful, attractive and poised, she twisted and combed her hair to one side of her head, fastening it with a blue scarf. She had butterflies in the pit of her stomach and she didn’t know why, unless deep down, she was more worried about what Marek might want than she had told her sister.

The moment he arrived at her house, dressed in a navy suit, a white Stetson and boots, he looked like the successful Texas rancher that he was. He also appeared powerful, commanding and threatening to her future. Stephanie’s warnings haunted her.