The Cowboy's Return Read Online Free PDF

Jilly’s ear. “That’s because you love her. Other people don’t see her that way.” She swallowed. “And some don’t see me that way either.”
    Jilly raised her head. “Why, Mama? You didn’t sleep with other guys. I know you didn’t.”
    She kissed the tip of Jilly’s nose. “Thank you for your faith in me. You get that soft heart from Patrick. He was the same way.”
    “So why don’t they believe that Patrick is my father?”
    How did she explain this to her? “Remember last year when that new girl was transferred to your class from Temple?”
    “Yes. Stephanie.”
    “Her father was in prison for murder and her mother was on drugs and I didn’t want you playing with her. I didn’t know anything about her. I just knew the type of family she came from, and the nose ring didn’t help. Of course, I realized how unfair that was to Stephanie and she came to the house several times. She’d had a hard life and needed a lot of understanding.”
    “She now lives in Kansas with her grandmother. I got a card from her at Christmas.”
    “Yes. Stephanie is doing better now that she’s out of that environment.” She stroked Jilly’s hair. “That’s how people thought of me when I was her age. Benita worked in a bar and her dating habits were well known. People thought I was the same. So when I got pregnant, everyone said I probably didn’t know who the father was. Like mother, like daughter.” Those rumors still had the power to hurt, but she tried not to let it show.
    “But you did, didn’t you?”
    “Yes.” Patrick had been her only lover, and they’d only been together once.
    “Everyone in Bramble loves you now, Mama, because they know you as the nice person you are.” Jilly sat up. “How could they think anything else? You don’t even date. All you do is work and take care of me. You’re probably a saint.”
    “You need very little taking care of—just a watchful eye and some guidance.”
    Jilly curled into her. “I love you, Mama,” she murmured sleepily.
    “I love you, too.” She reached for the Southern belle quilt on the back of the sofa and pulled it over Jilly. She’d wake her in a moment. For now she just wanted to hold her baby.
    From an early age, Camila had realized Jilly was special. She cared about people and they responded to her. Jilly was the reason the people in Bramble now accepted Camila, the main reason they saw her in a different way—as a mother, businesswoman and friend. But there were those like the Boggses who looked down their noses at her. They were the influential people in Bramble who judged and condemned her for having a child out of wedlock.
    That didn’t matter to Camila. She’d matured and gotten beyond that—somewhat. At times it still hurt, like today.
    She’d told Jilly the basics of the story. No one knew the real story but her…and Patrick. Young and insecure about herself, her life, she’d clung to her friendship with him. In school, he was known as the nerd and she was the tramp’s daughter. They were kindred spirits who found comfort in each other.
    Patrick’s feelings changed in high school. He started to hold her hand and she’d told him to stop. But he wouldn’t. He seemed to want everyone to believe they were a couple. She wanted just the opposite.
    Years of being embarrassed by her mother’s reputation caused Camila to avoid all contact with boys. It didn’t keep boys from seeking her out, though, wanting her to go for a ride to the lake or to Lover’s Point, the usual necking spots. They only wanted one thing—sex. They assumed she was easy and she never accepted any of their invitations.
    Patrick was different. Until the one event that was the beginning of her nightmare. The Daniels were giving Patrick a big graduation party at the ranch. Camila didn’t get an invitation in the mail like the other kids, but Patrick asked her to come.
    The moment she arrived, she knew the Danielses didn’t want her there. She wanted to