Read Online The Baby Truth by Stella Bagwell - Free Book Online Page B

dourly. The damned old man. Instead of letting his outburst hurt her feelings, she should be angry.
    “So you were eventually adopted after that,” Clancy said. “Did your adoptive parents know anything about the circumstances of your birth?”
    The question had Sassy reflecting on her parents, the two people who’d chosen to love and raise her as their own. She’d trusted them implicitly, but now she was faced with the fact that they hadn’t been exactly what they’d seemed. The revelation had left her feeling betrayed, confused and wondering who she was.
    The touch of Jett’s hand on her arm brought her out of her thoughts and encouraged her to share her past with these men. No matter how wretched it sounded.
    “A couple from Ruidoso, New Mexico, adopted me. They both died in a house fire when I seventeen, and up until a few weeks ago, I’d always believed I was their biological daughter. Then I applied for a birth certificate to replace the one that had been destroyed in the fire, and that’s when all of this about the adoption came to light.”
    Frowning thoughtfully, Rafe walked over to the fireplace and turned his back to the flames. “Maybe we’ve been looking at things all wrong,” he said to no one in particular. “Could it be that Sassy might be related to Mom in some way?”
    “That would be a logical deduction, brother,” Evan said. “But you’re forgetting that Sassy looks like a Calhoun. She wouldn’t have inherited that from Mom.”
    Rafe let out a good-natured groan. “It’s pretty evident why you’re the detective and I’m the ranch foreman.”
    Orin turned a smile on Sassy. “One thing is very clear, Sassy, we’re glad you came and we hope you enjoy your stay in Carson City.”
    “Thank you, Mr. Calhoun,” Sassy replied, while thinking she’d traveled all this way to Nevada hoping she’d learn something about her real parents. Instead, she’d learned she was going to be a parent. Her life had taken a wild U-turn since she’d left the Chaparral and she had the odd feeling that the ride wasn’t over yet.
    During the next hour, the subject of her being related was dropped and the conversation moved on to lighter things. The men entertained her with stories relating to the ranch and even included some of Evan’s experiences as a deputy. It didn’t take Sassy long to figure out that each of the Calhoun men had his own personality, and it was very easy to like them all. Especially since each man seemed genuinely glad to have her company.
    Eventually, it was Jett who put an end to the evening, by rising to his feet and announcing that it was getting late and the two of them needed to be leaving.
    After exchanging goodbyes with the Calhouns and assuring them they could find their way to the door, they were walking through the huge house when Jett said, “I hope you’re not annoyed with me for ending the visit. But you’ve had a long day. I don’t want you to overdo it and faint again.”
    “I’m not about to faint,” she assured him. “But I am getting a bit tired.”
    “I expect you’re disappointed, too.”
    She glanced up at him. “You mean because they couldn’t tell me anything about my parents?”
    He nodded. “I understand you considered it a long shot, but you must have held out a tiny glimmer of hope that they might have some good clues as to where you might start looking.”
    She shrugged. “A glimmer, nothing more. You said you were a realist, Jett. Well, so am I. And the fact is, I might never find my biological parents.”
    “I wouldn’t give up on the notion.”
    She squared her shoulders. “I don’t give up on anything.”
    “That’s good to know. Because after this evening...I’m not so sure we can cross the Calhouns off your family list.”
    By now they had reached the entrance to the foyer. As Jett opened a small closet to retrieve their coats, Sassy asked curiously, “What do you mean?”
    Easing out of the closet with the coats tossed over