The Cowboy and His Baby

by Jessica Clare

  Annie’s smile.

  “So you’re staying?” Eli asked.

  “For as long as you’ll have me and as long as Annie’s happy,” Dustin agreed.

  “Good.” He clapped a hand on Dustin’s shoulder. “Now that we’re done talking about the sappy stuff, let’s finish this fence.”

  Sounded good to Dustin.

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  Dustin might have the sexiest butt in this part of Wyoming, Annie reasoned, but he was also the most disorganized man ever. She shook her head in a mix of fondness and exasperation as she cleaned out drawer after drawer in his dressers. So far she’d found photos mixed with socks, underwear mixed with sheets, pillowcases under a packet of paperwork, and she still had no idea where he kept his shirts. In the closet, probably under his boots, she thought with a snort.

  This was a project she’d been wanting to tackle for a few days now, but she’d hesitated because it felt suspiciously like digging through his things and snooping. She’d asked Dustin about it last night as they’d lain in bed, snuggling, and he was fine with it. He told her she needed to make room for her own stuff, and he had no secrets from her, so she could clean and organize to her heart’s content. Then, he’d kissed the heck out of her and told her to do it tomorrow.

  So . . . here it was, tomorrow.

  She smiled absently to herself, still feeling the press of his lips against hers, the way his teeth had expertly nipped her ear, the way his mouth . . . well. Ahem. Now she was getting herself all worked up and he wouldn’t be home for hours. She forced herself to concentrate on the project at hand as she opened another dresser drawer and found it full of receipts. Oh dear. This man really was the worst at organizing. She threw all the papers in a box and then sat at the tiny table in the corner to go through them. She wasn’t sure what he needed to keep, but she could organize them by date, at least, and then go over them later. Picking through the paperwork, she smiled happily to herself. Was this nesting? She’d heard it was something pregnant women did when they wanted to prepare for the baby. Cass was a busy bee around the ranch despite her upcoming due date, but Cass was also on the payroll as the housekeeper. It made sense for her to dig into every chore possible. Annie helped, of course, because she couldn’t sit around and do nothing all day. She glanced around Dustin’s masculine room and pictured it with a few small things of her own here and there, intermingled with his items. She’d have to send for her things in Los Angeles . . . and she’d probably need to invite Kitty out for the birth, even if Kitty probably wouldn’t leave California. Idly she made a mental note to ask if there was room for her mother to stay at the ranch or if it would be better to have her in town.

  Probably town. Kitty liked to wear heels and she wouldn’t last five minutes outside in those. Annie pictured her glamorous mother in Wyoming and bit back a chuckle. She’d wither at the realization that there was no Starbucks for miles and miles. Still, it’d be good to see her. Despite her glamorous facade, Kitty liked children, but she might balk at being called “grandma.” There were a few years for that yet, at least.

  Annie’s searching hands slid over a pamphlet, and she idly picked it up and flipped through it.

  Her heart stopped in her chest.

  It was the usual sales brochure, advertising a high-priced item. This one in particular was for a boat. She flipped through the pages, gazing at the pictures. She didn’t know anything about watercraft or boating but this one seemed nice enough . . . and small. Very small. Room-enough-for-only-one person small. He’d kept this. But then again, he’d kept receipts for gas stations and drive-thrus so maybe he was just a receipt hoarder. It didn’t mean anything.

  She flipped to the back of the thick booklet and a printed piece of paper fell out even as she noticed there was scribbled writing in the back of the pamphlet. Annie recognized Dustin’s handwriting, and there was a phone number and a name scrawled on the booklet—Marcus S—along with a few words and prices. She picked up the piece of paper and saw it was an email, from the same person.

  Mr. Worthington,

  Your option selections won’t be a problem at all! I can send you the new quote, but if you won’t need financing, a cash payment in person will do just fine. I’ve talked with the dock manager at the marina of your choice and they can reserve a slip for you when you’re ready. The boat can be there to meet you the moment you step foot in Florida. Just let me know when you’re ready to pull the trigger and we’ll make this happen. Can’t wait for you to enjoy your new Islander!

  Marcus Salter

  Sales Manager

  Islander Dreams

  The knot in her throat felt enormous. Annie fought to swallow. Dustin had mentioned that the boat wasn’t serious. That it was just fine to give up that dream, but for some reason, she’d thought it was something he was talking about in the distant future. A “someday” sort of dream. A man that contacted a salesman and picked out options—who’d already discussed payment and boat slips—wasn’t a man that had a distant dream. That was a man working to make the dream happen. The email was dated two months ago, and her stomach plummeted.

  Two months ago, he didn’t know Annie was pregnant. Two months ago, his future was completely different.

  He was going to resent her for changing everything, she knew. He’d pitied his father so much that he’d left town, never to return, and here she was, about to turn him into the same man.

  How could she do this to Dustin if she loved him? Annie set down the brochure and wept.

  * * *

  • • •

  Annie couldn’t stop thinking about that damn boat.

  She didn’t say anything about it to Dustin, of course. He’d just reassure her that everything was fine, even if it wasn’t. He’d give her a laughing smile, tease her, and then kiss her until she was distracted and that would be the end of it. So she said nothing, even though she thought about it.

  And thought about it.

  And thought about it.

  It was on her mind all through the evening. Dustin commented that she was distracted, so she went out of her way to be attentive and loving. They watched a movie with the others in the living area, and she snuggled next to Dustin on the couch as he held her hand. She might have wept extra hard at the parting goodbye of the two characters at the end of the movie, but she blamed her sobbing on hormones. Hormones were an easy answer.

  That night, she told Dustin she was too tired for sex and so he just held her close and murmured in her ear how much he loved her and how he couldn’t wait to meet Morgan, and she wanted to cry all over again.

  The next day, she thought about the boat even though it was a busy day, full of preparations for the going-away party. She and Cass drove out to Casper to hit up the big grocery stores there and then a party supply store for paper plates and banners and decorations. They picked up an enormous cake at a bakery and then hauled it all to the private room in Wade’s bar so it would be ready for the party a few hours later. Cass seemed distracted, which was good, because then she didn’t ask about the fact that Annie was rather distracted, herself. They headed back to the ranch to change clothes, wait for the men to come in and wash up, and then everyone headed into Painted Barrel for the celebration.

  Everyone in town, it felt, had shown up for Jordy’s going away. The bar was more crowded than Annie had ever seen it, but it made her glad that Jordy was so loved. Drink after drink was bought for the young cowboy, and he was patted on the back and hugged by everyone. The decorations were nice, the food they’d brought was being gobbled down at a record pace, and it was a good party.

  She should have been happy.

  Instead, all she could think about was that stupid, stupid boat and Dustin’s tanned arms as he worked the ropes on the sails. How his eyes would light up as he went to each new location. How much he’d enjoy the adventure of it all.

  How the cabin wa
s built for one person only.

  “Speech!” someone called out as Jordy was handed another beer, and then the entire room picked up the chorus. “Speech!” more people called. “Speech! Speech!”

  Laughing, Jordy stood atop one of the round wooden tables. He was handed another full mug of beer, and he took a long drink—to much applause—before clearing his throat. “I want to say thank you to everyone here in Painted Barrel for making a greenhorn like me feel welcome.” At that, there were more cheers. “Just because I’m leaving doesn’t mean that it’ll be forever, or that I won’t miss each and every one of you. This town really made me feel like I belonged, and I thank you all for it. Now, if you don’t mind, I’ll be off to serve my country.” With that, he chugged the rest of his beer.

  Annie smiled, Dustin’s arm around her waist as she clapped. Jordy was a good guy and she’d miss seeing him around. He had the sunniest personality, as if nothing fazed him, and she wished she could be more like him. More carefree. Instead, she was wondering if she was ruining the life of the person she loved most in the world.

  As if he could hear her worried thoughts, Dustin glanced down at her and gave her hip a gentle squeeze, a silent question. She smiled up at him, and he leaned down and kissed her gently, and she felt her heart break all over again.

  Jordy put a hand up, still on his perch up on the table. “Wait, wait guys. Before I get down, I wanted to say that there are people here tonight that are very important to me. Their happiness is very important to me.” He was so drunk he was slurring, Annie noticed with a wry smile. He turned and pointed around the room. “Eli and Cass. They’ve been great to me. Like my own parents.”

  Eli wore a smile on his hard face, but Annie noted that Cass looked distracted, her face tight. She hoped Cass wasn’t feeling sick. Earlier she’d mentioned her back was hurting again. Annie made a mental note to go and talk to her once Jordy’s speech was done.

  Jordy turned again, pointing this time at Old Clyde. The weathered cowboy had his hat on, and his arm was around the gray-haired Constance, who ran the hotel. “This guy here,” Jordy continued. “This guy’s the best damn cowboy I ever met, even if he did make me stick my hand in the uterus of every cow from here to Oregon.”

  The room filled with titters.

  “And Dustin,” Jordy said. “Dustin’s a great, great, great, great guy.” At Annie’s side, Dustin snorted. “Great, great,” Jordy continued. “Unselfish and very caring. And good taste in women.” He gave Annie a drunken, obvious wink. “In fact, his taste is so great, Imma let him take the floor for a moment.”

  Annie’s smile grew a little confused. Take the floor? Were they all going to give speeches, then? Her social anxiety flared, just a little.

  “First, let’s get you down off that table,” Dustin said, letting go of Annie and stepping forward. He helped Jordy down, gave the other man a pat on the shoulder, and when Jordy flung his arms around Dustin, ended up bear-hugging the guy. Dustin watched with amusement as Jordy bear-hugged Eli and Clyde both, and then he turned back to Annie.

  The entire room was watching them now. Dustin smiled at her.

  Annie felt a cold sweat break out over her body.

  What was this?

  Dustin extended a hand toward Annie, and when she put her fingers in his grip, he tugged her out on the floor in front of everyone. Her nervous sweating intensified, and she wanted to run and hide. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to be with Dustin, but did it have to be practically a performance in front of the entire town? Everywhere she looked, people were smiling at them with knowing expressions, as if there was a secret they were all in on except her.

  And that made her stomach clench all over again.

  “Annie,” Dustin began, holding both her hands and gazing at her. “You and I met here at this very bar about eight and a half months ago. If I remember correctly, I hit on you and you were distinctly uninterested.” A few chuckles rose from the group. He just grinned down at her. “That was when I knew you were the one for me.” More laughter.

  Oh no. No, no no. This was wonderful and a nightmare both.

  “After that initial meeting, we connected right away and I fell in love with your generous spirit, your sense of self, and the way you always knew exactly what you wanted in life. I thought, now there’s a woman to fall in love with. She’s a keeper. And I made it my goal to win you over. I, ah, had a bit of a speedbump along the way, though, and we were apart for seven months.”

  More laughter rippled through the group.

  Annie smiled. She smiled, but it felt painful. She knew what was coming, and she wanted it even though she knew she shouldn’t. This loving, public confession could only lead up to one thing. She tried to pull her hand from his, shaking her head to signal him to stop.

  Dustin ignored it. He gave her hand a squeeze, mistaking her reluctance for shyness. “Since we’ve been together again, I’ve never been happier. I can see myself with you and our child, sharing adventures and enjoying life. I can see us growing old together, and that’s why I wanted to do this tonight.”

  He dropped to one knee.

  She burst into tears.

  “Annie Grissom,” Dustin continued, smiling. “I love you. I want to be with you for the rest of my life. Will you marry me?”

  Annie wanted to say yes. Oh, she wanted to say yes.

  But she kept thinking of that traitorous boat. Of Dustin telling her about his father.

  “Please, please get up,” she whispered, tugging at his hand again. “Let’s not do this here.”

  He got to his feet, a hint of a frown on his handsome face as he pulled her close to him. “Annie, I wanted to do this publicly so everyone in town would know how serious I am about you,” he whispered. “I want them to know that you’re it for me. That you’re my woman and I love you—”

  “I love you too, but we can’t do this right now,” she continued, panicked. “Please. Let’s go home and talk.”

  His eyes flared with hurt as the once-laughing room got deathly quiet.

  “Annie,” Dustin said quietly. “Do you not want to marry me?”

  His words sounded as loud as a shotgun in the stillness. She inwardly winced, and swiped at her cheeks with one hand that she managed to wrestle free from his grip. “I want to,” she admitted, voice teary. “But . . . Dustin, I can’t.”

  “Why? Why not?” The look on his face was intense. “Tell me—”

  A low groan echoed in the room and all heads suddenly turned toward Cass, who sagged against her husband.

  “Not to be a party pooper,” Cass panted, clutching at her stomach. Her skirt was suspiciously wet down the front. “But I think my water just broke.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  The nearest medical center was a good half hour away, so Cass was cleaned up, given towels to sit on, and then driven back to the ranch with Eli and Doc Parsons sandwiching her in the truck.

  Dustin and Annie rode back in Dustin’s truck, and it was utterly quiet between the two of them. Annie could tell Dustin was upset. She didn’t blame him. She just sat and cried and stole glances over at him as he drove, his jaw clenched and his gaze locked to the roads.

  “I guess I’m confused,” he said finally, and she looked over at him. His hands gripped the steering wheel so tightly she could see his white knuckles. “About what this is between us. I thought you loved me, Annie.”

  Oh god. She hated how much raw pain was in his voice, how much betrayal. “I do, Dustin. I really do love you. But . . . I think this is all wrong. We can’t get married.”

  “Why not? I thought that’s what people did when they loved each other?” He looked over at her. “When they have a baby on the way.”

  “I don’t want you to marry me just for the baby—”

  “I’m not and you know it.”

  She did. She tried again. “Dustin. You had pl
ans and dreams before I showed up pregnant on your doorstep. Those plans and dreams did not involve starting a family right away. Those dreams did not involve staying in one town for a long time with a family to support. Those aren’t your dreams, and I know it. Those are your nightmares.”

  He gave her a narrow-eyed look. “That’s not true.”

  “It is true!” Annie cried. “Dustin, when we first met, you told me all about your father and how you hated the choices he’d made. You didn’t see how he could give up his dreams to stay home and marry the woman he got pregnant. What do you think we’re doing? You wanted to go to Florida. You wanted to buy a boat. You wanted to sail the coast and explore new places. Last time I looked, this wasn’t it.” She spread her hands wide. “This is the same place you’ve been for the last few years, you got me pregnant, and now we’re settling down, and I keep thinking in my head that this is never what you wanted, and I keep waiting for the day that you start to hate me.”

  “Hate you?” This time the look he gave her was incredulous. “Are you insane? Annie, I love you. I’m thrilled you’re pregnant. I can’t wait for our life to start together. I would never hate you.”

  “You say that now,” she continued stubbornly. “It’s only been a few weeks. What about when work turns into the same old, same old and the baby needs his diaper changed at two in the morning? What about ten years from now when you’re in the exact same town doing the exact same job, except you have me and the baby holding you back? Are you still going to be thrilled? Or are you going to wish you’d made other choices?”

  “I won’t regret you and Morgan, if that’s what you’re asking.”

  Her heart squeezed painfully to hear him say the baby’s name, as if he—or she—were already part of the family. “Dustin,” she said softly. “I love you. I love you with all my heart and soul. But if the timing’s not right for us, it’s just not right. There’s nothing wrong in admitting that. It’s better than trying to make this something that it shouldn’t be.”