ROMANCE: MC BIKER ROMANCE: Bad Boy Biker's Baby (Bad Boy Alpha Male Motorcycle Club Romance) (Contemporary MC Biker Pregnancy Romance) (122 page)

“Please,” I held out my hand. “Just hear me out.”

I took a deep breath.

“I know I’m just the bad guy in this scenario,” I let out an awkward chuckle. “Apparently I’m really good at screwing up your wedding day.”

He didn’t respond.

“When I ran that day,” I continued, seriously. “I was terrified. I thought that I was settling, that I was just going to end up like my mom who never left the county. Then, as the years passed, I felt that it was just too late each month and year that went by--there was no way I could ever come home. And then--”

              I began to feel the tears come, but I held back. My hands shook, and my words all fell out clumsily and quick.

              “And then I did come home. And I found you--and you weren’t at all like I remembered--and neither was I, for that matter. But then in these past several weeks, I realized that the one thing hasn’t changed. I always loved you, but I was scared of loving you. I know now that...you’re the only adventure I want in life and--and even if you never even think of me again after this day--I wanted, for once in my life, to not run away.”

              There were feet coming down the hallway, and a few shouts.

              “So, there. I suck at romantic speeches,” I tucked a curl behind my ear. “And weddings.”

              The feet grew closer. Matty’s back was turned away from mine now, his broad shoulders slumped as if carrying a great weight.

              “You should go,” he said.

              And my heart dropped.

Chapter 6

              The canyon below looked endless that day. I felt I could descend down into the deep ravine without ever hitting its bottom. The tops of the trees lined below. A spring breeze lifted, and along with it, a cooing flock of geese overhead.

              It was the place that Matty and I fell in love. Well, I suppose we fell in love over a long period of time, slowly and surely. But it was our special place. An open field dotted with spring flowers, overlooking a canyon tucked beside the valley, with the river snaking below. I curled my knees to my chest in the tall grasses, the scent of the wildflowers filling my senses.

              It’s kind of funny--I’d always been the one to run. I always ran when I was afraid. When I couldn’t take a step forward, I took the clumsy, off-road path that wound its way round and round. And here I was again. But this time, I wasn’t running because I was afraid. In a sense, it was comforting to know I had finally gotten to a place where I wouldn’t run. No. This time, I was simply too late.

              “You never learn, do you Erin McGarity?”

             
That voice.

              I stood up, startled.

              “What are you doing here, Matty?” I called.

              Higher up the hill, Matty made his way down, his suit coat fallen in the grass, his white shirt sleeves rolled up his arms. He ran down to me, holding his finger out as if for me to wait, and stopped a few yards before meeting me, undoing the bow tie around his collar.

              He let it sling over his shoulders and took a deep breath as he looked down, and then his eyes met mine, bright and piercing as the sky.

              “You’re not running this time,” he said.

              I folded my arms across my chest and looked away.

              “What do you mean? I’m not--”

              “I’m running.”

              I looked at Matty. He stepped toward me.

              “What?” My eyes grew wide.

              “It’s my turn to run,” he brushed his hand through his golden-brown hair. “And, apparently, it turns out that Allison and Steven--”

              “The lawyer?”

              He sighed and nodded, with a smirk.

              “I’m
really
unlucky at weddings.”

              I almost let out a laugh, but so many emotions were swirling around.

              I didn’t know how to respond. I knew this scenario all too well. It was nothing like I planned. Matty stood in front of me, his golden hair whisking in the wind. He looked at me softly, his eyes saying everything.

A wetness began falling across my cheek, and before I knew it, I was already crying.

              “No, no,” Matty’s strong, warm hand caressed my face. “Please don’t cry now, I only just started. I didn’t even get to profess my love to you yet--”

              He cupped my chin with his hands and brought his forehead to rest on mine.

              “I can’t believe you ran,” I said.

              “I think that makes us basically even,” he said, wiping at a tear.

              I pushed away from him and wiped my sleeve against my face, tucking my curly hair behind my ear. My cheeks grew warm and I began to laugh.

              “Basically?” I said.

              Matty came and brought me back into his arms once again, and this time, my cheek rested against his broad chest, his strong arms enveloping me. And I welcomed it.

              “Well, you did keep my son from me for five years.”

              “Oh,” my voice muffled against his shirt. “That. How did you know?”

              “I can do basic math, Erin. It’s really not that hard to figure out.”

              I squeezed him tightly.

              “I was going to tell you--”

              “But?”

              “I needed to know if you really loved
me.
I didn’t want to make you feel obligated.”

              “I’m always obliged to you, Erin McGarity,” Matty laughed and then brought his hand to my chin, and guided my face to look up at his. “How else am I going to keep you out of trouble?”

              My heart felt as if it was going to leap out of my chest.

“I promise not to run anymore,” he said. “If you promise to stay.”

              I never intended life to be the way it was, but I guess that’s what makes it life. I had spent a long time looking for adventure, when the greatest adventure of life was always right home. In that moment, I only really remembered the smell of wildflowers and the golden-green grasses swaying against our legs.

He stroked at my cheek, and gazed at me with his endless blue-gray eyes. When our lips met, I felt like I might burst, feeling him warm and soft against me.

“I love you, Erin McGarity. I always have.”

Then he held me close as he whispered, “I always will.”

And we danced with the fireflies.

****

THE END

Here is a FREE bonus 10.000 word romance story by Margaret Milburn, “Gold in Texas”

Three months and I was finally hitting my stride.  I could feel my hands starting to grow tougher, and my legs were growing stronger.  The best part of the whole thing was being able to ride a horse almost as much as I ever wanted.

“Hey Jennie,” Larry shouted from the barn, “Buck said it would be a good time to get the livestock into the barn.  Said there’s a storm comin’ up, and he don’t wanna see nothin’ bad happen.”

“I’m on it,” I shouted back.  It wasn’t hard, herding in the few animals they kept on the ranch.  Just a couple milking cows, some chickens, and a few horses.  I didn’t mind herding them in, either.

Larry already had the door open for all the animals as I shooed them in.  Only took about fifteen minutes or so. 

I could already see the storm off the plains, a crack of thunder lit the sky in the distance and the blackened clouds rolled slowly in our direction.  I never liked storms where I grew up, but out here it was like watching a masterpiece unfold.

I can’t say I ever really believed in a greater power until I got the chance to look out along the horizon and view the perfect simplicity of the landscape. 

“Jennie, you gonna to get inside?  I bet Mike is already lookin’ for ya,” said Larry, peeking over my shoulder.

“Don’t know why he’d be lookin’ for me, not like I have any chores left for the day,” I said as I wheeled around toward the house.

It was a small house, barely two stories. The white walls displayed their age as though rings on a tree and the windows were still a bit dirtied from the harsh winds that swept up dust from all over. 

I walked proudly toward the home while pulling off my work gloves.  I flexed my hand and could feel the ache of a hard day’s work in them. 

The screen door screeched open as I tugged on it, and walked inside with my boots clattering on the hard wood floor.  The inside was much different from the outside, the wood flooring was clean, and most of it was covered in rugs.  The furniture was in good repair and was some of the most comfortable I’d ever slept on.  The kitchen was a bit older, but nothing was broken, so there was no need to change it out.

“Mike, what you want now?” I asked, parading toward the kitchen.

Mike was sitting behind the round table in the corner, with papers sprawled out all over.  He had a small pair of reading glasses perched on the tip of his nose.  I would have laughed if I hadn’t known how much he hated being made fun of for his poor near-sightedness.

“Jennie, what’s this I hear about you gettin’ all riled up about the neighbors?” he asked calmly.

I pulled out a chair and plopped myself down in it.

“Listen, the Cobb’s keep on grazin’ their cattle on your land.  I can’t help it if a shotgun goes off in my vicinity that scares them all off.”

Buck leaned against the door frame behind me, all six and a half feet of him.  If I didn’t know him, then I would’ve made sure to steer clear of his path whenever possible.  But, knowing that he was about as quick to anger as a rock was to flying, I always like having him around.

Mike stifled a laugh, but Buck uttered a raucous.

“Did you really scare the Cobb’s ‘stock off with a shotgun, Jennie?” Buck asked.

“All I know is a loud shot rang out from my vicinity, as I said.  Nothin’ wrong with loud noises,” I followed up with calmly.

I kicked my boots up onto the table and leaned back in my chair.  It didn’t look like Mike was having any of it tonight.  He reached over and smacked my boots off the table.

“Geez, Jennie, didn’t yer ma raise ya right?  Keep yer feet off the table,” he started. “Now look, Cobb says he’s getting’ sour milk now.  Wants me to buy him a new cow, ya know how much money I have to afford something like that?”

I paused to think about it.

“You don’t have to think that hard, I got nothing, Jennie.  Hell, I’m barely scraping by as it is with this.  If I don’t get really lucky here soon enough, then I’m going to have to sell off the whole thing.”

I sighed.

“Listen, I’m sorry Mike.  I won’t do nothin’ like that again.  Maybe I can go over and ease things with the Cobb’s as well.  That is, if you want me to.”

Mike nodded and waved his hand, trying to get me to leave.

I took the hint and clomped my way out of the kitchen.  Buck followed close behind.

I sat myself down on the porch of the house; a swinging bench was tied up along one of the rafters and was by far the best seat for watching passing storms. 

Buck must’ve had the same idea because he took a seat right next to me.

“You know he likes you,” Buck said.

I rolled my eyes like always.

“Buck, that man would like a 600-pound gorilla if it could solve all his financial trouble.  I’m neither.  I might be the only woman on the ranch, but proximity is no excuse.”

Buck started rocking slowly; I took a moment to kick off my boots.  I thought of the first time I put those things on, and they killed my feet, but now it was like wearing a cloud if a cloud weighed my feet down like a brick.

Mike bought those for me the day I started working here.  I don’t think he approved of my hiking boots; he wanted me in real solid leather that wouldn’t wear out after a couple of weeks of real labor.  He was right, and I knew it.  My old hiking boots wouldn’t have lasted past the first week with the amount of walking he had me doing.

“Hey Buck, why does Mike keep going out to that old drill in the yard?  Does he really think he’s goin’ to strike oil out here?”

Buck thought for a moment.

“I think Mike has a lot of hope.  Fella came through here about five years ago, telling him his land might be ripe for the picking.  I think they were trying to buy the plot off him for cheap, so they could bring in some big equipment and get it out themselves.

“Hell, the neighbors to the north sold off their plot.  For a while we saw truck after truck of heavy equipment driving through, dropping off drills and all that junk for digging.  They must’ve dug up every inch of that land and didn’t find a dang thing.”

“So Mike just keeps thinking he might get lucky, and the professionals missed something?”

“Well, from what I hear, it’s a bit of a tricky business.  People miss things all the time around here.  I always bet on Mike, he’s a good guy, knows what he wants.  That’s better than most.”

“As long as he doesn’t ask me to work the thing, I won’t get in his way.”

I sat for a while and watched the storms pass.  The twilight turned to darkness, and the only light that could be seen was that distant light of the barn. 

Rain came down in pellets, soaking everything that wasn’t covered in seconds.  I listened to the rain pelt against the old wood siding on the house, and the thunder that roared its way over the plain.  It was a peaceful raucous.  

As the rain settled into a constant drizzle we were all called in for supper, Buck and I met up with a drenched Larry and filed in around the table.

Mike pulled a couple steaks off the stove top and served them up.  He knew how to cook them well, and it tasted like I could still hear the cow mooing.  I can’t say I liked it at first; he always made me try something a few times before giving up on me.  I would usually cave in and give it a try, and then hate it for a while.  That was just how life was on the ranch.  Larry and Buck felt like the brothers I always wanted, and Mike was always the responsible caretaker. 

It brought up memories from the city; nasty old thoughts that would consume me for a while before fading away.  I started thinking about my sister and wondered what she might be up to.  It was too soon to call, though.  I needed more time to leave the old life behind before letting them know where I was.

“Alright, tomorrow is a big day.  Jennie and I gotta head into town and fix a few things with the bank.  Buck, you and Larry check the fields and make sure this storm hasn’t destroyed anything we need.  We should be back before noon.”

I nodded and finished up supper, being careful to leave a little behind for Rusty.  I set my plate to the floor, and Rusty jumped up like she was a puppy, and the old dog lapped on the plate, being careful not to spill a thing.

“Rusty, why can’t you just eat the food I buy for you?” Mike sighed.

I pulled the plate off the floor when the pooch was done with it and tossed it in the country basin that had dishes already piling up inside.

“I’m goin’ to get a shower before bed, G’night guys,” I said.

“Night, Jennie,” they all replied.

I stripped off my dirty shirt while walking up the stairs; I doubted any of them would be staring at me from the kitchen.  My muscles were tender, so I rubbed them as I walked to my room. 

It was smaller than I was used to, but plenty of space for a dresser and a bed.  Although, that’s about all I had, I barely had use for the dresser to be honest. 

I grabbed my towel and headed off to the bathroom.  The room was a bit cramped, with the ceiling angling low and at places, you had to duck under a beam.  But, the claw footed tub was perfect for showers and soaking.  Granted, I had to work my hardest to avoid it becoming a peep show for the boys downstairs. 

I always gave a quick look for any new holes that may have popped up in the walls since I’d last been in.  For the most part, they stopped, but it never hurt to double check.

The water warmed me to the bone.  And, I took a little extra time for myself in the shower.  I could feel my muscles were getting stronger in all the right places, my skin seemed firmer than when I first moved out this way.  I maybe have been a bit curvier than most women, but I don’t think anyone ever minded a little extra curve. 

I wasn’t overweight by any means, though, just rounder.  I liked my body, though, even though I always found a new bruise that would need nursing or a new cut that needed bandaging. 

I tugged at my towel on the nearby hook while shutting off the water.  It was quite steamy in the bathroom, so I took my time drying off.  I heard a knock at the door.

“Jennie, you almost done,” I heard Buck ask.

“Gimme one second, Buck,” I replied.

I wrapped my towel around me as best I could, and gathering up my things, exited the bathroom.  I swear Buck’s eyes grew three sizes while he stared. 

I couldn’t help but giggle.  I tip-toed quickly back to my room, trying to keep my feet from freezing on the cool wood floors. 

Once back in my room I clicked the lock, and threw off my towel, collapsing into my comfy bed.  I wasn’t in the mood to do anything else, I was relaxed, and the sound of the rain pattering against the roof of my bedroom was like a melodic choir, drumming me off to sleep.

2.

“Alright Larry, you’re in charge of the ranch for the day.  We’ll be back before noon.”

We rode out in Mike’s old pickup.  I was amazed the thing still ran as well as it did; it looked like it had been put through its fair share of paces. 

About an hour trip from the ranch was a small town, maybe a couple of hundred people in total lived inside and most only lived there to take care of their shops. 

I enjoyed the charm of the small town, nothing of note really happened, so it was relaxing.  It was nothing compared to home. 

Mike parked beside the road, and we walked for the most part.  The first stop was the bank, and I didn’t want to go in at first, but Mike said it’d be better than waiting around outside.  So I followed him to meet with the manager.

Mr. Grant was quite lenient when it came to paying back loans and was always looking to make things right, rather than make money.  I took a seat next to Mike, opposite Mr. Grant.

“Mike, I’m not seeing much in the way of revenue here, ya got three extra hands doing the work of one, and they’re bleeding ya dry.”

Mr. Grant still liked to tell it how it is.

“They’re family; I can’t let ‘em go.  Besides, it’s almost time for harvest, and I’ll need the extra people.”

“Ya don’t need three people to work your farm, Mike.”

“Okay listen, how much do I owe you.”

Mr. Grant went quiet; he was still a shrewd businessman.

“Mike, I’ve been lookin’ over your accounts.  I don’t think you’ll be able to handle the fee this month if you still want to be able to eat.”

Mike let out a sigh and leaned back in his chair.  I could see he was forcing back a headache.

“Can you give me a little more time to get the money together then,” Mike asked.

“I can see what I can do, but at this rate, you have about two months before someone is going to send you a notice.”

“They’re going to foreclose on the farm?”

“They’ll do just that, Mike.  It’s everything you got anyway.”

“Then I’ll just have to find a way to come up with the money.  Don’t suppose you know any rich ladies lookin’ to pay for a poke, would you?”

“Ugh, you’re as incorrigible as ever, Mike.  Get outta here.”

With that, he ushered us out.  I kept my mouth shut as best I could, but I doubt it really helped anything.

“What else are we in town for, Mike,” I asked.