Her Surprise Cowboy--A Clean Romance

by Claire McEwen

  “Do you feel more confident?” Monique asked. “Ready to spend some time with the father of your baby?”

  “I guess so.”

  “I hope so, because he’s sitting in his truck outside.”

  Trisha followed Monique to the front window and there was Liam, sitting on the tailgate of his truck, with Ranger at his side. He was rubbing the dog’s ears, staring absently into space.

  “Girl, you sure do know how to pick a baby daddy. That is one handsome cowboy.”

  Trisha smiled ruefully. “He is that. Good genes.”

  “Any chance you’ll rekindle the fire that caused all this?”

  “What? No! That was just too much alcohol. And he probably had his beer goggles on.” But she remembered what he’d said last night. That he liked her. Her skin felt warm every time she pondered those words.

  “He looks lost, sitting out there.”

  Trisha agreed. “Maybe I should go out and talk to him.”

  “I’ll do it. I’ve got to get going anyway.” Monique bustled back to the table to collect her scissors and other supplies. “Let me talk a little sense into him on the way out?”

  “Sure. Maybe he needs a little Monique therapy.”

  “Oh, trust me, honey, everyone does.” Monique stooped down to kiss Henry on the head and then blew another kiss to Trisha. “You look gorgeous. Shoulders back, keep your confidence up—you’ve got this.” And then she was out the front door and gone.

  Trisha watched by the window as Monique approached Liam at his truck. Liam scooted over as the hair-stylist-slash-therapist sat right down on the tailgate beside him. Trisha smiled. “Poor Liam won’t know what hit him,” she told Henry, and went to get the broom.

  * * *

  LIAM WAS PETTING Ranger’s head and pondering a tree when the unfamiliar woman sat herself right down on his tailgate.

  “That’s a pretty nice tree,” the bleached-blonde lady said as she sat down. “A coast live oak. I love their twisting silver trunks. This one must be a few hundred years old.”

  Startled by her presence, Liam scooted over to make more space for her. “I was just thinking that. How much it’s seen. All the weather and people’s lives...” Liam realized he was revealing his inner thoughts to a total stranger. “I’m sorry, I guess you caught me in a strange mood. What can I do for you?”

  “I’m Monique. A friend of Trisha’s. I was just leaving her house and I saw you sitting out here.”

  Liam tipped his hat and turned his body to see her a little better. It was weird sitting in such close proximity to someone he didn’t know. “Nice to meet you, Monique.” His mama, rest her soul, would be proud that her boy was keeping up the manners he’d been taught, even when his mind was reeling.

  “I’m sure it’s a shock to find out you have a child.” Monique’s voice was matter-of-fact, as if they were still chatting about the tree.

  “Yes. No disrespect intended, ma’am, but that’s kind of personal.”

  “I’m one of Henry’s honorary aunties, so it’s personal to me, too.”

  “Ah. Okay.” This town had more meddling ladies per square foot than any place he’d ever been.

  “I want Trisha and Henry to be happy. I want Henry to know his father. As long as his father is a good man.” She gave Liam a long, assessing glance. “You look like a good man.”

  “Looks are deceptive.” As soon as he said it, he regretted it. What was it with this woman, getting him to be so honest? Maybe because she was so blunt, it made him that way, too.

  “So that’s why you’re not inside with your son right now.”

  “It might have something to do with it.” He’d woken up this morning thinking about his addiction. All that he’d done wrong as a result. What type of father did that make him?

  “Did you kill anyone? Injure them? Commit any other major crimes?”

  “Not really, no.”

  “Are you a danger to women or children?”

  “No!” This lady was one of a kind. Perfectly dressed and made up on a Sunday morning, like she was going to some fancy event, yet here she was, getting her white slacks dirty sitting on his tailgate, giving him the third degree.

  “And clearly animals like you. That dog seems devoted and I even heard that a horse aptly named Wild Bill has taken a liking to you.”

  “How do you know about that?” Liam had a weird feeling that Monique was some kind of fairy godmother, descending on him to put everything to rights.

  “News travels fast in this town.”

  “I guess so.”

  “Anyway, Liam. You seem like a nice guy. I think you should go inside and share whatever is weighing on your mind with Trisha. She’s the mother of your child and a great one at that. She has the right to know your secrets. You two will figure it out from there.”

  She slid off the tailgate and waited expectantly.

  “You’re saying I should go in there right now.” It was hard to understand his own reluctance. His son was in there. He should be eager to go in. But to walk in that door was to assume a level of responsibility he hadn’t thought to take on for years. He wasn’t sure he was ready.

  “No time like the present.” She smiled brightly.

  Liam stood up and closed the tailgate behind him. “Stay,” he told Ranger. The good dog flopped down on the old horse blanket. Knowing Ranger, Liam figured he’d be snoozing in moments, oblivious to the life changes swirling around his owner.

  “Thanks for the kick in the pants,” he told Monique.

  “Anytime you need one, cowboy, you just stop by my salon. Monique’s Miracles. You’re always welcome.”

  “I appreciate that.”

  “She turned on her high heels and walked quickly toward her little red sports car. Her pants were covered with dust, but she didn’t seem to care one bit. She had class and guts, and she was demanding that he have that, too.

  Brushing off the seat of his jeans, Liam squared his shoulders and walked toward Trisha’s neat Victorian cottage. It was painted pale blue with white trim. A porch ran along two sides, with old ornate carved columns and a bunch of decorative trim along the roofline. There were flowers in pots and one of those hanging wooden porch swings with lots of pillows. A great place for a nap, and boy could Liam use one. He’d been up most of the night, trying to take it all in.

  But tired or not, he’d heard Monique loud and clear. It was time to step up to his new life. He was a dad, and everything was different now.

  CHAPTER TEN

  TRISHA THOUGHT SHE was prepared for the knock on her door, but it rattled her down to her bones.

  She’d almost hoped Liam wouldn’t come by today. That maybe holding Henry last night had scared him off. Then her own world, so safe and cozy with just her and her baby and all of her friends for support, would stay intact.

  His enthusiasm last night was lovely and she should welcome it. But instead it reminded her of the spot where a rock had struck the windshield of her car last week. The cracks were slowly spreading, breaking her view apart. With Liam in the picture, she couldn’t see her way forward anymore. She took a deep breath and let it out.

  “Okay, Henry. Your dad is here.” Her voice sounded foreign—not just the words, but the tone, everything. Henry was too busy with his teething ring to pay much attention. She picked him up, needing the comfort of his solid little body against hers.

  She opened the door and there was Liam—hazel eyes, tentative crooked smile. His hat was in his hand, the old brown felt and braided leather band worn with years of use. He had a few freckles on his tanned skin. She hadn’t noticed that before.

  He wiped a palm on his faded jeans. “Morning.” He looked young. She’d never really considered his age, but now she did. “How old are you?”

  He looked startled, and rightly so. She’d just blurted out her question. “I’m t
wenty-six.”

  Twenty-six? She almost slammed the door in his face right there and then. Her shock must have shown on her face, because he leaned an arm on the doorframe and gave her a nervous smile. “Let me guess. You’re a very young-looking forty?”

  “No! I’m twenty-eight.”

  There was a touch of relief in his eyes. “You’ve got two years on me. That’s nothing.”

  “But twenty-six seems too young to have a baby.”

  “I think you’re holding evidence to the contrary.” He smiled at Henry, a gentle smile without his usual swagger behind it. “Good morning, little guy.”

  Henry regarded him solemnly, still gnawing on his icy toy.

  “He’s teething.” Trisha pulled a tissue out of her pocket and dabbed at Henry’s chin. “I need to put a bib on him. He’s like a fountain of drool.”

  “He takes after his daddy.”

  At Trisha’s surprised look, his smile went sheepish. “Sorry, dumb joke. I don’t really drool much, that I know of. Maybe while I’m sleeping.” Liam put a hand over his eyes for a brief instant. “Okay, can we start again, here? I think I’m off my game.”

  She couldn’t believe he had her smiling despite all her anxiety. “I suspect we’re both off our game today.”

  “Are babbling idiots like myself allowed inside?”

  Oh gosh, she was just leaving him there, standing on her doorstep. “Of course. Please come in.”

  He leaned on the outside wall and yanked off his cowboy boots. He had gray wool socks underneath and seemed oddly vulnerable without his hat and boots. Or maybe it was his age. Twenty-six. Why was it bugging her? Had she been hoping somewhere deep down inside that he was older, and more established? That he’d jump in and take charge and make everything okay for her and Henry? That was ridiculous. She didn’t need a man to take care of her. But she sure didn’t need a boy hanging around either.

  She led the way inside. “Do you want to sit down?” She motioned toward the sofa in her small living room.

  “Sure. Thanks.” He set his hat on the arm of the sofa and sat down.

  “Can I get you some water?” This was so awkward. They weren’t even friends. They barely knew each other.

  “That would be great.”

  She kept Henry with her as she went to the kitchen. She put his teething ring back in the freezer and filled a glass of water for Liam. She grabbed Henry’s green sippy cup as well. Back in the living room, she set Liam’s glass on a coaster on the coffee table and sat on the floor with Henry next to her. The little guy took a few sips from his cup, then threw it down, so it rolled.

  “We put the cup down like this.” Trisha demonstrated by setting it upright.

  “Teaching him manners already.” Liam’s tone held that teasing Texas charm she’d found so irresistible the night they met.

  “Trying. I suspect it will take some time.”

  Henry waved his arms in delight and knocked the cup down again.

  “Okay, you scamp.” Trisha set the cup on the coffee table. “Let’s get you blocks to knock down.” She opened the drawer of the coffee table and pulled out the box of old wooden ABC blocks that had belonged to her when she was young. She set them up in a stack and Henry squealed in delight as he demolished her creation.

  Trisha tried to think of something to talk about besides Henry. She wasn’t ready to talk much about her son, even though he was the whole reason for Liam’s visit. “How is your work going with Jace?”

  “Good.” He nodded. “I thought I knew pretty much everything about ranching, but he’s got a different take on it. He’s showing me how to make sure everything on the ranch is organic. There are lots of rules about that. And did you know he’s getting this thing called a digester? It turns manure into methane gas and he’s going to use that gas to power the ranch.” He grinned and gave her a wink. “Sorry, I probably shouldn’t be talking about manure here in your nice house.”

  Trisha smiled, surprised that he was so funny. “I work with animals—I know all about manure.”

  “That’s right—you’re Emily’s veterinary assistant and you work at the wildlife center.”

  She nodded. “It keeps me busy, but I love both jobs.”

  “How are the coyote pups doing?”

  “Great.” Trisha brightened just thinking about them. “They’re all really healthy, as far as we can tell. They’re eating a ton and even practicing some hunting behavior in their pen. We watch them on the video camera so they don’t get used to us at all.”

  “I go up to that pasture every day and take a look around for the mom.”

  She didn’t want to say it, but someone should. “Liam, it’s very possible that she’s dead. You know that, right?”

  He sighed. “Yeah, I know. But I just keep thinking that I only nicked her. If that’s possible, and she’s out there somewhere, I need to make it right. I believe in righting any wrongs I did, Trisha. That’s why I’m going to show up for you and Henry.”

  She stilled, wishing she could un-hear his words. “We are not a wrong, Liam. If you regret getting me pregnant, then please just leave. We don’t need you to show up for us. This little boy is the best thing that’s ever happened to me. There’s nothing wrong about him.”

  He put his hands out, palms up, to stop her. “I just meant that I accept my responsibility. Henry’s my son and I mean to do right by him.”

  If she had fur like the mama bear she was, it would be standing straight up right now. Instead, she stood up. “Maybe you should go. I’m not willing to be your responsibility, or some obligation you have to do right by. You should be here simply because you want to be. We were fine before you got to Shelter Creek and we’ll be fine after you’re gone. We don’t need anything from you.”

  He stood, too. “Hang on. You’re as prickly as a patch of nettles. Maybe it’s coming out all wrong, but I don’t mean anything bad. Remember, I’m still trying to get my head around all of this. Give me a chance to do it right.”

  Every muscle in her body ached to push him right out the door. But that wouldn’t be fair to him or to Henry. She sat back down. “Okay, you’re right. I’m sorry. But I won’t be your burden.” She’d felt like such a burden, all those years when her parents had to care for her, until she could walk on her leg again. Years when she could feel their resentment in every tight-lipped smile and heavy sigh. As soon as she’d been well enough, they’d been on that plane to Italy, to follow the dreams her car accident had postponed.

  Pulling in a deep breath, she tried to calm her instincts and be rational. “Okay. Stay. Why don’t you come sit on the floor with Henry? If you play with him, you two can get used to each other a little.”

  “Thanks.” Liam folded his big frame to sit cross-legged. He seemed to take up most of the space in the living room. He set up some of Henry’s blocks close to him. Henry crawled over and waved a pudgy arm to knock them down. Then the baby took a block and put it in his mouth. “I’m not sure that’s for eating, big guy.”

  “It’s okay for now. I’ll get his teething ring back out of the freezer in a few minutes.”

  Liam glanced at her ruefully. “I didn’t even know they got teeth this young. I have a lot to learn.”

  “You didn’t have any younger brothers or sisters?”

  “I’ve got three brothers. Boone is younger than me, but just by a year. I don’t remember much about him as a baby. Guess I was too busy being a baby myself.”

  “I didn’t have brothers or sisters. I read a lot of books while I was pregnant, trying to get up to speed.”

  “You got any you can lend me?”

  She looked at him in surprise. “You want to read baby books?”

  “I’ve got a baby now. I figure I’d better.” His smile had a lopsided, shy twist that tugged at her conscience. She wasn’t the only one struggling here.

 
Henry was clearly enjoying knocking over the blocks, but the real attraction seemed to be Liam himself. Henry gazed up at him with an adoring expression, as if he could sense some connection on a deep genetic level. More likely, Liam was the first man who had really sat down on the floor to play with him. Caleb and Jace were always kind and supportive, but they couldn’t substitute for a father.

  Trisha went to the bookshelf and pulled out a couple baby books. “These ones are pretty good.” She set them on the coffee table and sat back down on the floor.

  “Thanks. I’ll return them as soon as I’m finished.”

  “There will be a quiz.” She was only half joking. If he wanted to be around Henry, he had a lot of catching up to do. No way would she let her baby get hurt because Liam had suddenly decided to play daddy for a while. Still, there was something really sweet about the big cowboy wanting to read about babies.

  Liam reached under the coffee table for Henry’s red rubber ball. He rolled it to Henry, making a funny face while he did it. Henry squealed with delight and crawled after the ball. It was adorable, except Liam, making faces at Henry, looked like a big overgrown kid. Which he practically was.

  Maybe she was only a couple years older, but she felt a lot older than her age. The accident, Julie’s death, the guilt, the years of rehabilitation—it had all grown her up fast.

  “Henry,” Liam was saying. “Can you roll the ball back?”

  “He doesn’t know how to roll it back yet.”

  “That’s okay. I’ll teach him.”

  “He isn’t a dog, Liam. You don’t need to teach him to fetch.”

  She saw annoyance in the sharp look he gave her. “I know he’s not a dog, Trisha.”

  She was messing this up. What was wrong with her? Every nerve ending seemed to be raw and irritated. “I’m sorry. I just think that my job...our job...is to let him explore. If he wants to bang on the ball, it’s because he’s learning from it.”

  “I get it. You had Henry on your own. You’ve raised him on your own. But by some crazy coincidence, I’m here. Maybe I don’t know anything about babies right now, but I can learn. It’s fine to tell me when I’m doing something wrong, but I’d appreciate it if you didn’t bite my head off.”