novelraw Chapter 3
Chapter 3
Sunday.
Colten Turner's favourite.
Sunday meant quiet, calm and the soft sound of kids running out back kept him content and happy. It made him excited for the day Ella would be outback running, maybe even his own kids, but that thought might have been more a hope than ever a reality.
But Sundays, at the start of Summer, that's exactly what he lived at that moment.
He looked up from his magazine to the kitchen counters, where Sarah was baking cookies because the pie, the night before, just hadn't been enough.
Ella squeaked in the playpen across the room and he got up, walking over to her.
“What you complaining about, beautiful?” He picked her up and she curled into his shoulder, hugging her uncle.
Sarah sighed, watching him with the baby, “You're too cute, Colten.”
“Cute?” He echoed, walking over to her, “I like ruggedly-handsome.”
Sarah laughed, “You can be that to.”
He rubbed Ella's back as she started to doze on him.
Sarah turned up the radio and the country music filled the hot-aired kitchen. She turned away from her baking and kissed him on the cheek.
He picked up her hand and twirled her, making her laugh.
“Colten.”
He came up in front of her, “You don't like my dancing skills? You'll have a lot more of that to endure next weekend at the rodeo. Torture is in your future.”
“You're full of it.” She batted her eyes at the Alpha.
He smiled about to kiss her, when a soft knock at the front door caused him to pause.
Sarah turned the radio down, “Who would that be?”
Colten took a whiff of the air around him, surprised the intruder had gotten past his senses to the front door.
“Not sure.” He grumbled and walked out of the kitchen, Ella resting on his shoulder.
With another soft knock, the sound of boots scrapping the paint on the front porch, he smelt her.
Stopping at the front of the door, he prayed he was just dreaming, though that dream the night before had not ended well and the metallic taste of blood in his mouth had seemed all too real.
But he opened the door and there she stood; all golden locks, pink flushed cheeks, tucked in plaid shirt and cut off jeans.
She smiled her innocent smile, which made her eyes squint, “Hi, Colten. I brought you some cookies for helping with Fiesta yesterday.”
He paused, “Uh-”
“I hope that's alright.” She breathed, her chin dropping with her hesitation.
He stared at her, realizing he'd yet to say anything. Getting himself together, the scorching pain of their mating-bond were the least of his problems.
“Well, you didn't have to do that.” He rumbled off.
Abigail shifted with the tin of cookies in her grip, “I baked them last night. Fiesta is doing so much better. Oh, who's this!” She gushed at Ella.
“Oh-er... This is Ella.” There she was inside his house, cooing over his little niece – driving his instinct to want her deeper.
Abigail hesitated in the door frame, “She's so cute.”
Realizing how rude he'd been being, “Come in.” He shot the door open and she stepped inside, reaching in to touch the cheek of the baby girl.
“She's precious.” She smiled at Ella, “It's too bad, I think you're too young for cookies, baby girl.”
Ella's hand reached out she cupped her cheek.
His heart warmed, she approved of his niece, his niece approved of her – he liked that.
Abigail gripped his bicep with her other hand as Ella reached out for her, taking a lock of her golden hair.
Colten watched them, his eyes wandering down her lean neck to her perfect collar bone where he fantasized about things he should not have been.
Ella pushed off her uncle, almost into Abigail's arms and Colten scrambled to grab her.
“She likes you.”
“Awe!” Abigail giggled, “Can I hold her?”
He passed the child off, taking the tin of his cookies and then, it was just the image of Abigail Redding and his tiny niece in front of him. Perfect life couldn't have screamed in his head any louder.
Ella curled up into her and Abigail smiled, hugging the little girl.
“Oh, she's so cute!”
Colten looked down to the cookies, “You really didn't have to bring the cookies...”
“I wanted to.” She cemented, her eyes meeting his.
He smirked, out of nerves, “Alright. Thank you.”
“You're-”
“Who was it, Colt?” Sarah walked from the kitchen, interrupting Abigail.
He glanced up as the brunette approached them, “Abi came by.” He glanced down at the tin, “Cookies as a thank you.”
Sarah paused and crossed her arms across her chest, looking Abigail Redding up and down, “Hello.”
“Hi, I'm Abi!” Abigail stretched out her arm in a hello.
“Yeah, the Redding's daughter right?” Sarah shook her hand.
Abigail nodded, “Yep, that's me.”
Giving her a last glance, she turned to Colten, “Supper's almost ready, hun.”
Colten paused at the nickname but chose to ignore it, “Okay.” He looked back to Abigail as the blonde rocked Ella back and forth, “Want to stay for supper, Abigail?”
Sarah did a double take, blinking at him, “Uh.”
Colten turned to Sarah, “We're not going to be able to eat all that chicken.”
Abigail paused, “I guess I could, I am a bit hungry.”
“Great!” He clasped the cookie tin, “Come on down!”
Abigail giggled and followed him down the hall.
Sarah walked to the oven, snapping it off as Sally ran in the back door.
The girl stopped dead, “Oh, hello!” She smiled at Abigail.
“Hi!” Abigail returned the warm gestures.
“I'm Sally.”
The young blonde walked over to her, “Nice to meet you, I'm Abigail.”
Sally studied her, “You're so pretty.”
Colten smiled and walked to the fridge – pretending for one moment, she was his.
“Sally, set another place setting, we have another mouth to feed.” Sarah pulled the chicken out and dropped it to the oven top.
Sally did as told, “Did Colten save your horse yesterday?”
He grabbed a beer from the fridge and sat, “I wouldn't call it saving.”
Abigail sat down with Ella at the table, “Well, Colten sure helped.”
Sally walked over to him and looped her arms around his bicep, hanging off him, “Momma, Colten should be our new dad.”
Colten stopped, “What?”
Sarah turned to her daughter, “Sally.” She scolded.
Sally shrugged and let go of Colten.
“Go get Jake.” Sarah pointed to the back door.
Sally left and all of a sudden, things were awkward.
Abigail shifted in her seat and met the gaze of distant Colten, who felt like he'd taken a bullet.
He took a sip of beer and stood, walking over to Sarah. The woman wiped her tears, her husband was a sore and tough subject, that often tipped her off.
Raising his hand to her back, Sarah crushed herself into him, clinging to his chest.
Abigail stayed turned away, and he watched her try to busy herself with Ella.
He shifted, still trying to comfort the widow but shifting back to put a barrier between them.
Sarah felt his disconnect and jerked away, “I'm sorry.”
He wanted to reassure her but he couldn't. Torn in two, he kissed her on the cheek and walked back to the table to pull up Ella's highchair.
“Time for supper.” Colten took the baby from Abigail with a soft smile.
Abigail glanced at him, her carefree face gone, “I can go, Colt.”
He swallowed and looked at Sarah, who still sniffled.
Sarah brought over the chicken and dropped the plate into the middle of the table, “Dig in, Abi.”
Abigail hesitated but Colten urged her and it wasn't long before they were all eating.
Sarah's barbeque chicken was good, he couldn't deny the woman could cook. Though that thought stayed in his mind, he spent most of his time watching Abigail. Particular, neat and engaged in conversation, especially with the children, she consumed him.
“I think she likes you.” He boast.
Sarah huffed, “She loves any woman that pays attention to her. Look how attached she is to Alma.”
Abigail paused, “Oh, who's Alma?”
“The nanny.” Colten grumbled and ate some more chicken.
“Well it's nice Ella likes her so much. I remember, I always hated my nanny, she was a mean old thing. I want to raise my kids myself, if I can.”
“Not everyone has the option.” Sarah stuffed.
Abigail agreed, “Yes, like poor Colten. At least, Ella has this cute house to grow up in.”
She liked his house? He stared across the table at her as she looked to him, smiling.
His sharp intake of breath pulled him back to reality, “My mare is going to foal any day.”
“Oh,” Abigail got excited, “That's your nice cow horse, right?”
Colten swallowed what was in his mouth, “Yeah Honey.”
“I know,” She smiled, “You talk about her so much, Colt.”
Sarah nodded, “He's obsessed with that mare.”
Abigail giggled, “I think it's cute you're so devoted to a horse.”
He was cute now too? He wanted to slam his forehead to the table, the emotion becoming very familiar around Abigail Redding.
Colten grumbled, “She's my favourite.”
Abigail agreed, “She's so pretty.”
Shoving food in his mouth, he nodded, trying to ignore every single ounce of want for Abigail Redding. He finished his supper quick and washed his food down with another beer as the sun started to set, filtering in the dusty kitchen windows.
Abigail had moved out back, sitting on the crunchy lawn, playing with Ella as she crawled across the ground. He watched her out the screen door, leaning back in his chair as she laughed, throwing her head back and letting the kids jump on her shoulders.
Sarah's shuffling in the main hall indicated she was packing up the kids' belongings to make the twenty-five minute Sunday drive home.
He took another long look at Abigail before he got up and walked towards her, “Sarah.”
She glanced up from the duffel bags as she shoved one of Jake's toys in it.
“Are you okay?”
She nodded, tucking her hair behind her ears, “I'm just tired.”
He nodded and stopped in front of her, “Are you upset with me?”
“No.” She smiled, “Why would I be upset?”
He thought it obvious, “That I invited Abi to dinner?”
“No.” She shook her head, brushing him off, “It's just the kids. They're getting attached to you, they ask for you during the week.”
He sighed, “This is why I was nervous to start this, Sarah. This weekend thing.”
“Colten, it's fine.” She looked up to him, “They're fine.”
“You just said that they're asking for me during the week.”
“Colten, it's been six months-”
He cut her off, “Sally asked if I could be her new dad. I can't do that for you, Sarah, you know that.”
“I know.” She breathed, “But what if you never find her, Colten? Then what?”
He sighed and stepped back from her, “Sarah, that's...”
She stepped up to him, “You need someone, Colten. You're so lonely.”
He shook his head, “It's easier if we don't get attached. Maybe you shouldn't come every weekend, not if it's going to hurt the kids.”
Sarah stared at him, blinking, “Colten! Do you not like me coming here?”
“That's not it, Sarah, you know it.” He felt his alpha side itching.
She crossed her arms, “I'm lonely. We can do a lot for each other in that regards. I can help you with Ella, we can-”
“Sarah!” He snapped in his panic, “I can't do that. I just can't. I've told you this before. I'm trying to raise a baby, deal with Savannah's death still, working like five jobs, this house is falling apart and on top of it, I'm in charge of Fornone and,” He glanced over his shoulder to make sure the house was still empty, “I'm not mated.”
Sarah sighed, “That's what I'm saying, Colten, what if you never find her!”
He stopped and stared at her, “Sarah, please, just stop.”
“It's been years, do you expect to find her? You'll be twenty-eight soon.”
Colten grunted, annoyed, “Sarah, I can't, okay?”
After a long pause, she moved into him, “The weekends give me something to look forward to. My kids love you. Just think about what we could have, it might not be ideal but it's something.”
Colten sighed, not replying.
She leaned on her tip toes and kissed him, “I've got to get going, they need to go to bed for school tomorrow.”
Relief washing over him, he followed her to the back of the house as she called her kids in, who were now sitting around Abigail as they played a hand clapping game.
They laughed but that broke with sighs and made their way back inside the house.
Abigail walked over with Ella and passed her off to Colten, “If you need a baby-sitter, I'll make sure I'm free for this cutie.”
He smiled, “I'll keep you in mind.”
“I better get going to.” She noticed Jake and Sally as Sarah took them inside.
They walked back into the house – he wished he could have had Abigail staying later but that would be – for lack of better words, inappropriate.
Sarah walked up to Colten and kissed him on the lips, quite obnoxiously too so he actually had to pull back. It had made him mad but he only grumbled and waved them off as they headed out towards their truck.
Abigail made her way onto the porch, “Enjoy the cookies.”
“I'm sure I will.” He admitted, “Have a good night.”
Smiling, she jogged the front steps, away from him.
His heart did a sorry little ping and he wallowed in it.
Sally and Jakes screeching good-byes could be heard over the dusty gravel drive as Sarah pulled away.
He watched Abigail head over to her old white pickup and stop.
“Oh, I forgot my cardigan out back!” She jogged back towards the house.
“Oh.” He hesitated, Ella in his grip but as soon as she saw Abigail, she reached for her.
Abigail smiled, “I'm sorry, I forgot to say bye to you too. I'll come back, sweetie. I'll just go grab my sweater.” She slipped past him but he followed, as they got to the back of the house, Abigail began to chatter.
He smiled at her ability to ramble, trying to keep up to her at the same time.
She walked outback and found her little white cardigan in the grass as Honey nickered.
“She wants her grain.” Colten walked down the back steps.
Abigail took Ella from him before he could think twice, “Go feed her, I can watch her.”
He smiled, “Ella needs to go to bed. I'll feed the horses later.”
Abigail snuggled the little girl, “Go feed the horses, I can figure it out.”
His heart picked up and so did his adrenaline. She wanted to stay, even making it clear to him and he couldn't protest it.
“There's a bottle in the fridge made, I'll be five minutes and I can put her to bed.”
“It's fine.” Abigail turned back to the house, not saying another word to him but he could hear her soft words to his niece.
Walking to the barn, he fed Honey, talking to himself and the horses to distract himself, looking over his pregnant mare.
He smiled at the palomino as she ate her grain, “Get that baby out so I can see what else trouble I got on my hands.” He patted Honey and headed out of her pen, double checking his gates before he went back to the house.
Abigail Redding's soft, lusty pheromones were all over his property, it interrupted his sense to predict danger and protect his pack, which could have come off irresponsible but he couldn't turn her away.
The house was silent, besides Boomer's snoring in the living room. He listened and could hear Abigail lulling up the stairs.
Seeking her out, he found the sweet blonde putting Ella down in her crib and the child, to his surprise, sleeping already.
She looked up to him as he stopped in the door frame. A small smile crept her lips and he couldn't help but smile back, the bond between them now ten times worse. Magnetizing, he forgot about his morale and values on human life, which left him wondering, if she felt it too.
She walked over on the pads of her feet and slipped past him as he closed the door.
“You're hired.” He joked.
She let out a giggle, “I wouldn't want to take your Nanny's job from her.”
He let out a grunt, “Alma might just give it up willingly.”
“Really?” She prodded, smirking, “Are you that hard of a boss?”
“Too nice, actually.” He corrected.
“I figured, yeah.”
Their eyes met and their words failed.
He shifted, not knowing what else to say to that.
“So, how's Honey?” Abigail bustled, brushing a lock of her hair behind her ear.
“She's bagging up.” Excited to share the news with her.
“Oh!” Abigail stopped at the top of the stairs, “That's so exciting, Colt. Really, exciting. I can't wait to see what she has.”
He blinked, memorized by her enthusiasm, “Me too.”
“Did you try the cookies?” She smiled, “You were gone a long time.”
He liked her teasing, “Not yet.”
“They're perfect with milk. That's what Daddy says anyway.” She began to ramble, “Mama just thinks I put too much butter in em'.”
He followed her, slowing his step as she descended the steep staircase. He stayed quiet, letting her chat, only catching a glance at her narrow waist once.
She reached the hall and turned to him as he stepped off the last step, almost face first to his chest.
He stepped back up on the stairs,“Sorry.”
“Oh.” She smiled, “You have to work tomorrow?”
“Yeah, umm... I'm just working some cows tomorrow.”
She nodded, “I should go, let you rest.” She stepped away and grabbed her cardigan off the near bench she'd thrown it on before.
“Thank you for the cookies.” He swallowed the lump in his throat.
“Yep, don't you forget milk now.” She slipped the cream knit over her tanned freckled shoulders, “And you have to eat them after supper, on your porch or they're no good.”
Again with her teasing, his stomach flipped, “Well, you can always come over and help me with that.”
Abigail paused, her lips parting as she took in a soft breath of warm air, “Oh.”
Embarrassment got the best of him and he started to itch the back of his head, “Uh, well, have a good night.”
Awkward and uneasy around them, she shifted towards the front door.
“Here.” He pulled the door quick from the frame, making her jump back, “Sorry.”
She blushed, “It's fine. Have a good night.”
As she turned to leave, he panicked, “I didn't mean to sound weird about the cookies.”
She paused her step, “You seemed so quiet yesterday, maybe a bit lonely, so I thought I'd come see you but then again, you said you didn't have a girlfriend, so I was being a bit presumptuous.”
He didn't quite know what she meant, “Uh.”
“I'm sorry.” She continued, “I mean, I get it, maybe you're not official yet, right?”
Swallowing the truth, he grumbled, “I guess.”
“I hope you like the cookies.” She said once more, leaving him on his dusty, old porch.