Baby-Daddy Cowboy
The Buckskin Brotherhood
Vicki Lewis Thompson
BABY-DADDY COWBOY
Copyright © 2020 by Vicki Lewis Thompson
ISBN: 978-1-946759-86-3
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Ocean Dance Press, PO Box 69901, Oro Valley AZ 85737
Cover art by Sylvia Frost
Visit the author’s website: VickiLewisThompson.com
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
But Wait, There’s More!
Also by Vicki Lewis Thompson
About the Author
Chapter One
“It doesn’t get any better’n this, Jake.” CJ Andrews sliced up an onion and dumped it in a bowl before picking up a second one. “Beautiful summer day and your chuck-wagon stew for dinner. Thanks for making it.”
“My pleasure.” Cubed beef sizzled in the frying pan as Jake browned the meat.
“I was afraid you’d give up on the Friday night tradition.” Soon after Matt and Lucy’s wedding two months ago, Jake and Millie had paired up, further reducing the number of single men in the Buckskin Brotherhood.
“I was tempted to ditch you guys.” Jake grinned. “But I hate to see grown men cry.”
“I would’ve cried for sure. I wait all week for this night.”
“CJ, you seriously need to get a life.”
“Don’t I know it, bro.” He quartered the potatoes. “But for now, having you and Matt join the Brotherhood for dinner once a week is the highlight of my existence. When we’re all sitting around the table, it’s like you two never left.”
Jake laughed. “You see us every blessed day.”
“You know what I mean.”
“Yeah, I do. I need our Friday night routine as much as anyone. Millie likes it, too. Gives her a chance to hang out with Kate and Lucy.”
CJ’s phone chimed. “See, I have a life. People call me.” He grabbed a towel and quickly dried his hands before tugging his phone from his pocket. “Probably Nick wanting to know if the stew’s ready.” He glanced at the screen and sucked in air.
“CJ?” Jake peered at him. “You okay?”
“It’s Isabel.” The one woman he’d never expected to hear from again. “’Scuse me.” He tapped the screen, put the phone to his ear and managed a jaunty greeting.
“Hey, CJ.” She sounded weird. Strained. Not like the bubbly Isabel Ricchetti who’d been one of the bridesmaids for Matt and Lucy’s wedding.
The last night of her stay, she’d invited him to share her bed and he’d accepted. One night of carefree sex. That was all he’d counted on and all she’d been willing to give.
“What’s wrong, Iz?”
“I’m pregnant.”
He gripped the phone as he fought for breath. “But... we used—”
“I know.”
“Are you sure?”
“Just got back from the doctor.”
He gulped. Think, man. Say something. “I want to see you.”
She let out a gusty sigh. “I was hoping you’d suggest that.”
He closed his eyes. He’d said the right thing. “We’ll talk, figure this out.” He dragged in a breath. “I’ll come there.” A last-minute ticket to Seattle would be pricey. Didn’t matter.
“No, let me come to you. I have frequent flier miles. And I’d like to talk with Lucy, too.”
“You’ve told her?”
“Not yet. I wanted to call you first. She’ll be next. Then my… folks.” Her voice quivered.
“Izzy, it’ll be okay. We’ll handle this together.”
She sniffed. “You’re a kind man, CJ. I knew that, but I… anyway, I’d better hang up before I get weepy. I’ll text you when I have a ticket. Bye.” The line went dead.
He stared at the phone. A baby. His baby. His gut clenched.
“I got the gist of that.” Jake’s voice penetrated the fog. “Sounds like she’s pregnant.”
CJ nodded, opened his mouth to comment and closed it again. He must have used all his words while talking with Isabel.
“Go grab yourself a cold one. I’ll finish this up.”
“No, I can—”
“Forget it. You’ll slice off your pinky. You need a bottle of hard cider and you need it now. Get one and have a seat at the table. Once the stew’s in the pot, I’ll join you.” He paused. “Don’t worry, bro. You’ve got this.”
“Not even close.”
“Get your cider.”
“Okay.” He tucked his phone in his pocket, headed for the fridge and opened the door. Jake was right about the cider. Wrapping his hand around a chilled bottle was a familiar sensation that steadied him. He twisted off the cap and took a long swallow of the tangy brew. Better.
“Stew done yet?” Nick’s voice boomed out as he came through the front door of the bunkhouse. “I’m starving.”
Another dose of normal. Nick ate like a horse and could probably bench-press one. The guy lifted weights a lot.
“You’re always starving!” Jake called back. “Stew will be ready when it’s ready.”
“What kind of answer is—” Nick broke off as he walked into the kitchen. “Whoa, CJ. Did somebody die?”
“Just the opposite.” CJ lifted his bottle in salute. “In seven months, somebody will be born.”
“Who?”
“My kid.”
Nick’s eyes widened. “No shit.” He nudged back his hat. “Isabel?”
“Yep.” CJ took another fortifying gulp of his cider.
“Anything I can do?”
“What do you know about pregnant ladies?”
“They have weird food cravings. Gertie at the sandwich shop told me that.”
Jake turned from the stove. “What a shock that your intel concerns food. Hey, since you’re here, how about washing up and then chopping some cabbage for coleslaw?”
“Sure, but CJ usually—”
“CJ’s not allowed to risk dismembering himself right now.”
“Oh. Got it.” Nick rolled back his sleeves and cleaned up at the sink. “I must say I’m surprised at this turn of events, CJ. I pegged you as a condom-wearing man.”
“I am. I did. Purchased that weekend.”
“Then maybe you slipped up on the withdraw.” Nick dried his hands and picked up the head of cabbage on the counter. “Get a little careless on that maneuver and—”
“I was careful, and this discussion is over. Isabel is pregnant and we’re not going to dissect why and how.”
“Understood.” Nick
glanced over at him as he picked up a large knife. “Didn’t mean to intrude. In your shoes, I wouldn’t want that, either.” Focusing on the cutting board, he began whacking at the head of cabbage. “Hey, this is more fun than I expected!”
“Easy, Nick.” Jake laid a hand on his arm. “Chop, don’t pulverize.”
“Oh. Then this is good enough?”
“Perfect.” Jake rescued the mangled remains of the cabbage. “Appreciate the help.”
“Anytime. I didn’t realize cooking was so physically rewarding. I need to do more of it.” He headed for the fridge. “Cider, Jake?”
“Sure. I’ll be done here in a minute.”
“CJ?”
“Thanks, but I’m still working on this one.” Much as he’d love to get toasted, he needed all his brain cells for this crisis.
Nick brought two bottles to the table and twisted the cap off one. Pulling out a chair, he spun it around and straddled it. “What’s the plan, bro? How can we help?”
“Don’t know, yet.” He’d never been so glad to be a part of the Brotherhood. No matter what, they’d have his back. “Isabel’s coming here so we can talk face-to-face.”
“That’s good. When?”
“As soon as she can book a flight. Which reminds me. I need to call Henri and see what she has in the way of cabins.”
Jake turned from the stove. “Better do that now. We’re pretty full.”
“Right.” CJ took out his phone to call Henri Fox, the woman who’d started out as his boss ten years ago and had gradually become the mother figure who’d seen him through some tough times. This was shaping up to be another one.
Nick picked up his cider. “Gonna tell her why Isabel’s coming?”
“Not on the phone.” He sat up straighter and put the phone to his ear. “Hi, Henri. It’s me.”
“How’re you doing, son?”
“I’m okay. Listen, Isabel’s coming for a visit. Do you have a cabin available?”
“Lucy called five minutes ago. I’ve already reserved a one-bedroom. Last one we had.”
“Thank you.”
“Lucy said Isabel’s in the family way.”
He gulped. “Henri, I swear that I—”
“You don’t have to say a word. My boys aren’t careless about such things. Stuff happens. You’ll be fine, CJ. Isabel and the baby will be, too. It’ll work out.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He wasn’t nearly that confident, but he appreciated the sentiment. “I’ll cover the cabin rental. You can take it out of my paycheck.”
“I won’t be doing that.”
“But it’s my—”
“Not exactly. You aren’t the only one affected by this change in circumstances.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’m claiming grandmother rights to this child.”
He blinked. “I did not see that coming.”
“I never wanted to put pressure on any of you, but I’ve been hoping for babies eventually. Seth and Zoe gave me a taste when they brought little Hamish up for the wedding. Isabel’s part of the family, now. I don’t charge family members rent.”
His throat tightened. “Thank you.”
“Give yourself time, CJ. I predict before too long you’ll start getting excited about this news.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Nope. He’d never been this terrified, not even when he’d been lost in a blizzard with no cell phone.
“Do I have your permission to tell the Babes?” Her closest friends had formed a barrel-racing group called Babes on Buckskins. She made it sound like they’d be thrilled, too.
“Uh… I guess so.”
“Great. Then I’ll let you get on with whatever you were doing.”
“You mean quietly freaking out?”
She chuckled. “Like I said, give yourself time. Let me know when you have Isabel’s ETA. ’Bye, son.”
“’Bye, Henri.” He disconnected and checked the phone for a text. Nothing yet. He laid it on the table where he could see the screen.
Jake came over and took a seat. “She already knew, didn’t she?”
He nodded. “Isabel called Lucy after talking to me. Lucy contacted Henri.” He glanced at Jake and Nick. “She’s claiming grandmother rights and wants to tell the Babes.”
Both guys smiled.
“See?” Jake raised his bottle in a salute. “Somebody thinks this is good news.”
Nick laughed. “She’ll make a helluva granny.”
“Wish I could say the same about my chances of being a decent father.”
Nick’s gaze was sympathetic. “We’ll all be here for you, bro.”
“I appreciate the moral support. But the only one with actual experience in fatherhood isn’t available.”
“Sure he is.” Nick held up his phone. “We can have a virtual Seth in no time.”
“A virtual Seth. That’s funny.”
“It is funny. People don’t look quite right in those video chats.” Nick shrugged. “But it’s still better than not seeing him at all.”
“We can hold off on that. This baby is seven months away.” He swallowed. “And likely will be born in Seattle. I probably won’t get much chance to—”
“Whoa, there, partner,” Jake said. “Back up the negativity bus. You don’t know how much contact you’ll have with the little tyke. Point of fact, you don’t know anything.”
“I know Isabel’s pregnant with our baby. And I also know I’m not ready for fatherhood.”
“Understandable reaction,” Nick said. “Most guys would feel as if they—”
“I’m serious. I have no clue how a dad is supposed to behave. I never knew mine. Sure, I had Charley. We all did, but we were practically grown when he and Henri took us on. It’s not the same as being responsible for a tiny, vulnerable human.”
“I suppose not.” Nick picked at the label on his bottle. “I didn’t know my dad, either.” He glanced up. “He cut out before I was born.”
“I wish mine had.” Jake took a gulp of his cider.
“That’s what I’m saying, Jake. If any of us had been lucky enough to have a wonderful, supportive dad, we wouldn’t have ended up at the Buckskin Ranch.”
Jake’s gaze was steady. “And that’s our reward for being survivors. We’ve learned to roll with the punches. Like I said, you’ve got this.”
Chapter Two
CJ. Isabel’s breath caught. He hadn’t seen her yet, which gave her a moment to admire the father of her unborn child. He stood straight and tall, his broad shoulders thrust back, his hat clutched in one hand, his sleeves rolled to his elbows in deference to the summer heat. He scanned the crowd, his brow furrowed in concentration. The overhead lights added a glow to his sun-streaked hair. Almost a halo.
But CJ Andrews was no angel. He’d proven that several times over during their lusty night together. One glimpse of him and her body tightened, eager for more of the same. But that wasn’t her goal on this trip. Making love to him would only complicate an already dicey situation.
When he spotted her, he replaced his frown with a wide smile and started forward. Evidently her arrival made him happy, even under difficult circumstances. Thank God for that.
They’d liked each other from the moment they’d met. She wanted to maintain that positive vibe as they worked out the details of long-distance co-parenting. Hooking the strap of her small carryon over her shoulder, she went to meet him.
His ground-eating strides dissolved the space between them and he drew her into his arms without the slightest hesitation. “You look great.”
“Thanks. You, too.” She rested her hands on his muscled chest and looked up. The expression in his warm gray eyes tugged on her heart, just like the last time they’d stood in this terminal saying goodbye. “I’ve missed you.” Where had that come from?
“I’ve missed you, too.” Lowering his head, he brushed his lips over hers before pulling back to gaze at her. “Told myself I didn’t.”
“Same here.” She took a shaky breath
and resisted the urge to nestle closer to his warm body. “I’m so glad to see you, but… I’ve decided we’ll be better off if we… if we don’t make love while I’m here.”
He blinked. “Really? Is it bad for the baby?”
“No. But it could be bad for us.”
He gave her a crooked grin. “That’s not how I remember it.”
Her skin tingled as a flush spread from head to toe. “Not bad in that sense. Bad for our future.”
“How so?”
“In the long run, this situation will work out better if we’re just friends.”
His gaze searched hers. “If that’s what you believe is best.” He swallowed. “But I won’t lie. I still want you. That hasn’t changed.”
The air between them sizzled and popped as the heat in his eyes turned her insides to molten lava. Two months ago, she’d tossed aside her better judgment because of that look. She’d had the freedom to do that.
Resisting him wouldn’t be easy. “Not for me, either, but more is on the line this time, and I can’t think clearly when I’m… when we’re involved in—”
“Let’s table this discussion.” He gave her a quick hug and let her go. “We’ll fetch your luggage and head to the ranch. I have a million questions about the baby.”
She abandoned the topic of sex with relief. Once they were on the road, he immediately began asking questions about the baby’s current stage of development and how pregnancy was affecting her. She was up on all of it. She’d had a long chat with her doctor and her sister Naomi had gathered a ton of info online.
“No morning sickness, then?”
“Not so far, thank goodness. My mom didn’t have it with me or Naomi, so maybe I’ll dodge that bullet. Mom said the women in her family tend to take childbirth in stride.”
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