Always Dakota - Debbie Macomber [71]
“How long will it take before I get the results?” he asked. He had no doubt that Sheryl would be on his doorstep the minute the report came in. She was willing to put the baby at risk to prove that he was the father, just so she could drain every possible penny from him. He’d already received the bill for her test, which had been done at the Grand Forks hospital. Thank God he’d intercepted the mail that day!
“It shouldn’t be more than a week.”
So all he had to do was live with this threat hanging over his life—and his marriage. A few more days of repressed anger and pretended normalcy. Margaret couldn’t know.
When he was finished, Matt walked over to 3 OF A KIND, needing a stiff drink. To his surprise, the building was locked up tighter than a bank.
“What’s going on?” he asked Steve Baylor, who happened to be walking by.
“You didn’t hear?” Steve asked.
Obviously he hadn’t, or he wouldn’t be asking. “Hear what?”
“Buffalo Bob and Merrily are in California. They’re looking to adopt that kid.”
“They closed down completely?” Matt needed something to calm his nerves. That and some quiet to think about this situation.
“I understand they won’t be back for several days.”
He muttered a curse under his breath. “Anyplace else a man can get a drink?” He wasn’t aware of one, but Steve had lived in Buffalo Valley his entire life and would know better than he did.
Steve lifted the brim of his hat, frowning heavily. It shouldn’t be this difficult, Matt thought irritably.
“Hassie’s,” Steve said, after a moment.
“She serves beer?”
“Root beer,” Steve answered and laughed. “But she makes a mean chocolate soda. If you’re desperate you might check it out.”
Matt didn’t have much choice. Really, the drink wasn’t that important. What he needed most was a few minutes to compose himself before he returned to the ranch and Margaret.
Matt had lived in the vicinity of Buffalo Valley five years, and not once had he been inside Hassie’s place. No reason to before now. His ranch was equidistant from Buffalo Valley and Devils Lake. Most of the time he steered toward the larger of the two towns. Not so with the Clemenses. They seemed to have some link with Buffalo Valley.
“Hello there, Matt,” Hassie said in a friendly voice when he walked through the pharmacy’s glass door, past a couple on their way out. “What can I do for you?”
He ambled over to the soda fountain and sat down. “I heard you make an exceptional soda. I’ve been meaning to try it,” he said, hoping not to give himself away. He didn’t need Hassie reporting to Margaret that he’d come in looking drawn and worried.
“That I do,” she agreed, striding around the counter. “Business has been good the last few days with Bob gone.”
“Do you have anything stronger than root beer?” Might as well ask.
“Afraid not.” She reached for a tall glass. “So, you interested in one of my famous sodas?”
“Sure,” he agreed. Why not?
“You’re not such a bad guy,” she said casually, bending forward to scoop up the ice cream.
Matt could have asked her what she meant, but he wasn’t in a talkative mood. Not today. Once he had his soda, he’d make sure Hassie knew he was looking for privacy.
“A lot of us had our doubts when you married Margaret.”
Matt could well imagine. “She’s one helluva woman,” he said, wanting Hassie to know he appreciated his wife. Okay, so Margaret had her faults. He laid claim to a fair share of his own.
“Where is she?” Hassie asked.
Matt lowered his eyes, wishing he could come up with some plausible reason for being in town while Margaret was busy at the ranch, fighting the cold and wind as she and a couple of the hands rode across the north and east pastures, checking for early calves.
He stared up at Hassie and realized she was waiting for him to answer. “She’s home…I had to come into town for a doctor’s appointment.” That much was true. He’d told Margaret the same thing.
“Like I was saying,” Hassie continued as she assembled the soda. “I’m really pleased about the way things have turned out between you two.”
“I’m pleased myself,” Matt said, just to be conversational.