Authors: Cathy McDavid

Having the Rancher's Baby (15 page)

BOOK: Having the Rancher's Baby

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Vi, it seemed, was right. Cole had options other than rodeoing and returning to California. He'd simply been too stubborn to see.

Speaking of stubborn, he should have called her, if only to check on her health. Instead, he'd relied on getting news of her secondhand from Raquel, who couldn't hide her displeasure when she'd reported that Vi's morning sickness had returned.

She wanted Cole to reconcile with Vi. He wanted it, too. At least, he wanted theirs to be an amicable relationship. How could they successfully parent their child if they didn't get along? Except he was clueless when it came to patching up their differences, having never done it before, and having no example in his family to follow. The Dempseys didn't mend bridges. Rather, they let them burn to the ground.

There were also all Vi's quick turns in the opposite direction and obvious attempts at avoiding him to consider. He might want to attempt a reconciliation, but she obviously didn't. He fully expected her to slam the door in his face if he attempted to see her.

Give her more time, he told himself. She hadn't had much of an example to follow, either, between her parents and her marriage to Denny.

Waiting would be hard, however. Cole needed Vi. Was lost without her. Looking back, he realized theirs had been the kind of relationship he'd thought wasn't possible. One he'd made impossible by royally screwing up. He should have shown her how much she meant to him. Got down on his knees like Josh had said. Instead, he'd walked away.

Letting his thoughts drift, he listened to the rhythmic clip-clop of Hotshot's hoofs. It suddenly occurred to him how much he'd come to enjoy life on a cattle ranch. With the remainder of his dad's medical bills soon to be paid off, he might actually be able to carve out a decent living. Especially with the occasional horse-training client. He might even talk to the Powells about those roping clinics.

What would his father say to hear that Cole liked ranching and had decided to stay on? The old man was probably right now having himself a good laugh, if such a thing were possible in the afterlife.

Raising his arm, Cole shaded his eyes from the blistering sun and squinted into the distance. Was that a truck on the rise? As he watched, the speck grew steadily larger.

He jerked back on the reins. Were his eyes playing tricks on him? Could that possibly be Vi's pickup?

His heart jammed to a halt before starting up again in triple time. It
was
Vi's truck! What was she doing, driving all the way out here?

He cautioned himself to remain calm and waited in the middle of the road, Hotshot bobbing his head. She stopped about ten feet in front of him. The next moment, the door opened and she emerged. Standing there, she looked straight at him. Surprise, surprise, no averting her eyes or ducking behind corners.

“Hi,” she said.

Cole stayed in the saddle. “If you're here to check on meâ”

“I'm not.”

“Really.”

“No need. I'm sure the stray steers have been rounded up.”

“For the record, they have.”

“You're doing a good job, Cole. I should have told you that before.”

He nodded, her praise meaning more to him than he cared to admit. “Thanks.”

“I'm glad, because it looks like I'm going to continue at half days for the rest of my pregnancy. I'll also be taking off a few months when the baby's born. Dos Estrellas is going to need a dependable and competent livestock manager to cover for me.”

“You don't have to worry, Vi. I'm not leaving.”

“That's what I heard. And I'm not worried. You're a fine rancher, Cole. But then, you come by it honestly.”

He climbed off Hotshot, uncertain about his next move until he saw the flash of hope in her eyes. Dropping the reins, he strode toward her. Hotshot meandered off, going only so far as the closest clump of grass.

“I'm curious.” She studied him intently. “You're giving up the things you've wanted since you got here. Money and your freedom. I'd like to know why. I think I'm entitled.”

God, was he really once that callous and shallow? “Don't forget sticking it to my late father and Gabe. That was highest on my list.”

A tiny glint of humor lit her features. “What's important is that you didn't stick it to them.”

Emotions warred inside him, and he wondered if he'd ever find peace. “I still think my dad was wrong. He made a lot of bad decisions. When he had the chance to rectify them, he chose not to. That's hard to forgive.”

“I understand.”

“But I can and will put it behind me, Vi.” He smiled, though he still felt sad. “I'm tired of anger and resentment directing the course of my life. I'm ready for a change. To quit being like my mom. I didn't realize how much I resembled her until last week. It was a rude awakening, let me tell you.”

Vi tilted her head at an appealing angle. “I know I've said this before, but you're far more like your dad. He was confident in himself, whether or not he was right.”

“I'm right in this case. My future is in Mustang Valley.”

“That makes me happy.”

He wished he could be sure. He was anything but confident when it came to Vi's feelings for him.

“I have a new client.” He hadn't told anyone yet.

“You do?” She beamed.

“The De Marcoses. Blake Nolan recommended me to them, if you can believe it.”

“I know them.” She gave him a curious look. “They have small children.”

“Right.” He grinned wryly. “It appears I'm gaining a reputation in the area as a trainer of kids' horses. Not exactly what I envisioned for myself.”

“I'm sorry,” she said, laughing behind her hand. “It's not funny.”

“It is. I'd laugh, too, if not for the money.”

“I'm glad you aren't limiting yourself.”

He sobered. “I'll do it, Vi. I'll support our child and be there for him or her. Always. I'm going to be a better father than my dad was.”

“I can't ask for more.”

“Yes, you can. You should.” He shortened the distance between them. “I promise you I'm going to work my tail off to be worthy of our child and you. I was wrong the other day. And if you kick me to the curb, I wouldn't blame you. I'd hate it, but I'dâ”

He didn't finish because she came to him then, ending his torture. He held her tight, hoping she sensed the depth of his love.

“I'm sorry, Vi. For everything.”

“I'm the one who should be apologizing. The way I talked to you, I'm no better than my parents. I guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.”

He hoisted her up onto her toes, reveling in the contact of her soft body and how exquisitely she fit against him. “It does fall very far. We're proof of that.”

“I wouldn't want anyone else for the father of my baby.”

Nothing had ever touched him more. “Be careful. That almost sounds like you love me.”

“Iâ”

He brought his mouth close to hers, stopping her before she could finish. “Let me be the first to say it. I love you. On some level, I think I knew the second I walked into the bar that night I'd met the woman I was meant to spend the rest of my life with.”

“I'm glad you feel that way, because we're really going to have this baby.”

“I can't wait.”

She pulled back in order to search his face. What she saw must have satisfied her. “I love you, too, Cole. I didn't think it was possible. These past few months have been incredible.”

“Speaking of incredible...” He kissed her then, since holding her had ceased to be enough.

At the touch of her lips on his, everything that was wrong became instantly right. Every mistake, every regret forgotten.

“Are you free tonight?” he asked, when they broke apart, his mouth poised close to hers. “I could cook dinner. We can talk.”

“I thought you couldn't cook.

“I didn't say it would be good.”

“I'm not busy,” she said shyly. “But let's eat at my house. So we can be alone.

He kissed her again. How could he not? When she returned his passion in equal measure, he began to believe in a future he'd always thought beyond his reach.

Eventually, he had to let her go, but he fully intended on resuming later tonight.

“I'm going to court you, Vi,” he said. “The way I should have from the start. And after a while, not long, mind you, I'm going to ask you to marry me. I think a week should do it. Two at the most.”

“And I'm going to accept, Cole Dempsey.” Her smile outshone the sun. “Just so you know.”

“Good. Otherwise, I'd have to pester you until you came to your senses.”

They tied Hotshot to the back of her truck and very slowly drove home, both to accommodate the horse and because they didn't want their time together to end.

Cole couldn't help thinking that he'd come full circle. Only by returning to Dos Estrellas, the place where his life had started, was he able to find everything he needed to complete it. Home, happiness, a family and the love of his life.

* * * * *

Watch for the next book in
Cathy McDavid's
MUSTANG VALLEY
miniseries,
RESCUING THE COWBOY,
available October 2016.

Keep reading for an excerpt from
THE SEAL'S SECOND CHANCE BABY
by Laura Marie Altom.

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