Free Having His Baby by Beverly Barton

Harding would find a way to dismiss her. She could lose her job!
    But was she willing to marry Jake, even briefly, to keep her position here at the college? Did she dare risk living with Jake, sharing his bed and falling in love with him?
    Just as she was pondering her dilemma the phone rang. Lifting the receiver, she sighed. "Hello. Donna Fields's office."
    "Oh, Donna, I'm so glad you're there," Mrs. Winthrop said. "I just received some upsetting news."
    "What is it? What's wrong?"
    "My sister has suffered a heart attack. They're going to have to do a triple bypass. Eugenia lives alone in Chattanooga. I'm afraid I'll have to fly out this afternoon and it looks like I'll be gone for at least six weeks, perhaps longer. There's no one else to take care of my sister during her recovery."
    "I'm so sorry," Donna said. "I'll leave immediately and come straight home."
    "I hate to leave you so abruptly. I hope you understand."
    "Yes, of course, I understand. Family comes first. Make your plans. I should be home in about fifteen minutes."
    "Thank you."
    Donna eased the receiver onto the telephone, slumped down in her swivel chair, crossed her hands behind her head and groaned. Great. Just great. This was all she needed. She had hired Mrs. Winthrop to be Louisa's nanny because she had a reputation for being the best in the area. Several acquaintances had used her before their children were old enough for play school. Where was she going to find a replacement with even half the qualifications? She absolutely refused to leave her child with someone who wasn't personally known to her.
    After a moment she pulled open a bottom desk drawer, removed her purse and retrieved her keys from an inside zippered compartment. No use sitting here stewing! She got up, left her office, locked the door and headed outside to the parking lot. So much for well-laid plans. But then, what should she expect? Her life had been out of control, in one way or another, ever since she'd spent an irresponsible, passionate weekend with Jake Bishop, nine and a half months ago. All the more reason not to give in to the temptation to marry him!
    Jake parked his Jeep in front of Caleb's baseball card shop in downtown Crooked Oak. He hadn't intended to stop, but when he noticed Hank's car, he decided to drop in to tell his brothers the good news. When he entered the building, he found his younger siblings in the eight-by-eight-foot office at the back. Hank sat on the edge of the desk, a coffee cup in his hand. Caleb, sitting in a leather swivel chair, had his feet propped up on the desk.
    "Hey, bro." Caleb motioned for Jake to join them. "What brings you by?"
    "I'm on my way over to Marshallton to see Sugar Baby," Jake said. "I go over and stay a couple of hours every night. Y'all ought to see my girl. She's growing by leaps and bounds." He smiled at the thought of his daughter. He looked forward to those two hours every evening. "I noticed your car out front, Hank, so I thought I'd stop and tell y'all that old Wayland Henry and I have made a deal for me to buy his ranch. He's retiring and moving to Birmingham to live with his daughter and son-in-law."
    "How old is Mr. Henry, anyway? He must be close to a hundred," Caleb said.
    "He told me he turns eighty-five next month. He wants to stay on until then, but he's instructed his lawyer to have the papers drawn up as soon as possible. The ranch should be mine within a month's time."
    Hank slid off the desk, stood, and slapped Jake on the back. "Congratulations, big brother. I never thought I'd see the day you settled down."
    "Yeah, well, I suppose it's past time. Besides, becoming a father changes a man's priorities. You should know that. I want to be around to see Sugar Baby grow up. I want to hear her call me Daddy. I want her to know who her old man is."
    "I understand," Hank said. "Caleb and I both do. Our own father did a real number on us, didn't he? We've all been afraid of fatherhood and commitment because he was such