Toni’s boot heels clicked on the hardwood flooring. “I’ll be so glad when I can have regular coffee again.”
Me, too, Cassie thought to herself as she heard Toni dump her purse and satchel on the desk in her office. After Cassie’s appointment with the doctor, she’d decided to limit her caffeine and artificial sweetener intake. No coffee, Diet Coke or unlimited glasses of iced tea.
The doctor had mentioned that she might want to wait until she was at least three months’ pregnant before telling everyone the news. The chance of miscarriage decreased dramatically then. It was probably good advice, but she couldn’t wait any longer to tell Toni. Her boss deserved to know, to plan for the business, and besides, there was a chance that the news could get back to her from Charlie, Colby, or a slipup by Darla.
She poured two cups, added sugar and cream, and carried both mugs into Toni’s office. “Do you have a few minutes?” she asked, setting the cup down on the coaster.
“I do. I don’t have any appointments until after lunch. What’s on your mind?” Toni took a sip of her coffee.
Cassie waited until she’d swallowed, then slid the photo of her “tadpole” across the desk. “I’m pregnant.”
She thought Toni might choke anyway. At least she hadn’t spewed coffee across the desk, although she did make a slight gurgling sound. “Um, well, congratulations.”
“It’s not as if I planned to get pregnant,” Cassie said, running her hands around the warm mug. “As a matter of fact, it was a real shock because I thought we were careful.”
“Do I know… Not that you need to tell me, but is the father from around here?”
“He is. It’s Charlie Yates’s baby. You know I was with him at Amanda and Leo’s reception.”
“Well, yes, but I didn’t know you’d been with him with him,” Toni said bluntly, narrowing her eyes a little. “Did he take advantage of you?”
“No! Nothing like that. It just…happened.”
“If he took advantage of you, I’m going to have Leo—”
“No! He didn’t. If anything, I flirted with him, getting him to ask me to dance.” Cassie shrugged. “One thing led to another.”
“These things do just happen, but Charlie is…well, he’s just Charlie. He’s gone more than he’s here.” Toni took another sip of her coffee, then asked, “How do you feel about this…the baby?”
“I’m a little overwhelmed. A little scared. I sure never expected to become a mother this soon, not when I was just…well, having a good time. Kicking up my heels, you might say.”
Toni smiled. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone enjoy learning to be a Texan as much as you.”
Cassie smiled, but then tears built up when she remembered how quickly her fun, carefree days had come to an end. Growing up, she’d been serious and responsible. Now she was going to have to be a good example for a new little person. She wasn’t sure if Charlie was really dependable, even though he’d said he might stay in town for the sake of their child.
But maybe he wouldn’t.
“I’m sorry,” Cassie said, dabbing at her eyes. “I’m a little emotional sometimes.”
Toni reached over and patted her hand. “I understand. I’m still having some ups and downs, mostly during sappy commercials. I made the mistake of watching a chic flick on Lifetime the other day when Wyatt was out running around and he came home to find me sobbing. It happens when you’re pregnant.”
“I’ve also found out that I can get angry faster.”
Toni nodded. “That’s the other side of the coin, but it’s easier for me to count to ten and tell myself to calm down than it is to stop the waterworks.”
Cassie smiled. “It’s so great having a boss who understands these things.”
Toni laughed. “Unlike when you worked for Wyatt. Until the past few months, I’m pretty sure he would have run out the door if you tried to tell him how you were feeling.”
“You’re right. Thanks.”
“You’re welcome. Now, if you don’t mind me asking, what are you going to do?”
Cassie took a deep breath and shrugged. “I don’t know yet. Charlie asked me if I wanted to get married, but I think marrying just because you’re pregnant isn’t the best solution. I have a job, and friends, and lots of support. If I need to, I can raise this baby alone.”
“Of course you can, if that’s what’s best.”
“I don’t know what I want to do yet.”
“Is he ready to settle down now that the TV show is over?”
“I guess so. At least he’s here, staying at the ranch. He’s coming in later to take me to lunch.”
“Remind me not to give him grief, okay?”
Cassie smiled. “Okay.”
Toni’s forehead wrinkled in thought, then she said, “Maybe we should set up a nursery right here. When will your baby be born?”
“February, but please, don’t do it just on my account.”
“I like the idea. We could move our samples to storage, or the second floor of Leo’s hardware store, or expand. We’d just need to trim out the drywall, put down some different flooring, and paint.”
“That’s true. That would be very convenient, but we should check zoning and insurance to make sure we don’t need a permit or extra coverage.”
“Good thinking. I believe we’d be okay as long as we didn’t charge for day care or take in other children.”
“I’ll make some calls,” Cassie offered.
She and her boss would have their babies about two months apart, so hopefully the business wouldn’t be negatively impacted by them being gone at the same time. Knowing Toni, she’d probably have her baby right on schedule and be back to work in no time flat. Cassie hoped she could be that lucky.
“We’ll work this out. A baby is always a blessing, right?”
“Right.” Cassie hoped her aunt and uncle would remember that sentiment when they eventually discovered the child they’d raised had been a sinner with a good-looking, smooth-talking, quick-stepping cowboy.
“YOU’VE DONE SOME NICE things to this ol’ buildin’,” Charlie said, smiling at Toni. The offices looked modern and professional, but still retained the charm of the turn-of-the-century brick buildings along Main Street.
“Thanks. We like it.” Toni looked a little less friendly than she had at her brother’s wedding reception a couple of months ago. One of the first things Cassie had told him when he arrived a few minutes ago was that she’d told Toni about the baby.
“Toni and I are looking into the possibility of putting in a nursery,” Cassie said, coming back into the wide hallway with her purse.
“Yeah?” He hadn’t thought about what Cassie would do with the baby during the day. He wasn’t sure if Brody’s Crossing had a day-care facility or if she would try to get a sitter. Either way, he’d heard that child care was expensive.
“That way, Cassie and I can keep our babies near us during the day,” Toni said.
He noticed that she was sending him a message that the babies were their mothers’ children, but he wasn’t going to argue with Leo’s big sister right now. She was probably feeling protective of Cassie. He could understand. She was so darn sweet, who wouldn’t want to make sure she was happy?
“Where would you like to go, darlin’?” he asked, turning to Cassie.
“I think the café has chicken and dumplings as their daily special. That sounds good to me.”
“Then chicken and dumplin’s it is.” He briefly considered giving her a kiss just to show Toni that Cassie was his girl, and this was his child.
“Nice to see you, Toni,” he said, opening the door.
“Have a good lunch, Cassie,” her boss called as Charlie escorted her into the noontime sunshine.
He realized not everyone was going to be thrilled with the news that he’d gotten Cassie pregnant. Maybe the best thing he could do was let her handle the situation, decide who to tell and who not to tell at the moment. This was their baby, but it was her body.
So far, the list of those who knew was growing: Darla Maxwell, Toni McCall and Colby, plus anyone at the doctor’s office in Graham where Cassie had gone. Darla might tell her parents, Bobbi Jean and Burl, and Toni would no doubt share the news with her husband, Wyatt. He doubted she would tell Leo and Amanda, which was a relief because Leo was about the most social person in town. Colby would keep quiet, but Charlie knew the pregnancy wouldn’t remain a secret with so many other folks knowing about it.
“What’s wrong?” Cassie asked as they crossed Main Street at the corner.
“Oh, nothin’ much, darlin’,” he said with a smile. “I just want to make sure nobody gives you any trouble over your…condition.”
“Everyone has been great, but thanks for being concerned.”
“It’s the least I can do,” he said, helping her up the concrete step to the sidewalk on the other side of the street. A few more yards, and he opened the door to the café, stepping back for Cassie to enter.
“Oh, that smells so good,” she said, pausing to inhale. With her eyes closed and a slight smile on her parted lips, she looked as if she was experiencing a lot more than the smell of chicken and dumplings.
He went from concerned to turned on in about one second flat. Was it too late to hurry Cassie out of there for a little noontime delight at her apartment?
But hell, he couldn’t do that. She was really looking forward to lunch, and so far, she hadn’t seemed in a hurry to get naked with him anytime soon.
“Sure does,” he muttered. He spotted several ladies who knew Cassie and would probably call her over to chat. He saw a few people he knew as well. They would want to ask what stars he’d met in Hollywood.
“There’s a booth on the other side.” Maybe if he got her away from the front door and the main traffic flow of the café, they’d have more of a chance to eat in private.
He’d forgotten that dating in a small town was often a group event. Friends and neighbors felt free to come by and chat awhile, share stories from your youth, and warn your date what your true intentions were.
Cassie slid onto the seat facing the window. He took the other side and avoided making eye contact with the lunch patrons. He thought about taking out a menu from the pocket behind the salt and pepper shakers and staring at it, but he already knew what he wanted.
The lunch special and a side of Cassie McMann, to go.
He’d like the chance to remind her in private that they’d done more than dance, drink and eat at the reception, and with just a smile from her soft pink lips and a wink from her pretty hazel eyes, they could be doing those things again.
The waitress came over with pad and pencil in hand. She must be new to town, because he didn’t recognize her. “What can I get you today?”
“I’ll have the chicken and dumplings,” Cassie said, “and just water to drink. Thanks.”
“Same for me, but I’ll have sweet tea,” Charlie added.
“I’ll have it right out.” The waitress turned and walked quickly behind the counter, ripping off the paper ticket and sticking it with the other orders in the window. How many times had he seen that same scenario? Brody’s Crossing was one of those places where things didn’t change much. There was a certain stability in knowing that, but at the same time, he felt restless when life was too predictable.
He turned his attention back to Cassie, who was looking at him with a slight frown.
“Is the waitress that interesting?”
“No! I was just thinking…remembering how many times I’ve eaten at the café.”
Cassie looked down at the cheap metal silverware and lined it up on the paper placemat. “Okay.”
“Really. Are you jealous?” Surely not. The no-non-sense waitress wasn’t nearly as appealing as Cassie.
“Of course not. It just looked as if you were staring at her.”
“I wasn’t. Hey, I’m here with you. I want to have lunch with you. I’m not interested in meeting other women.”
“If you say so,” Cassie replied, still not looking at him. “It’s just that you’re always so…social. You’re the life of the party. And you’re a star to everyone around here.”
Charlie shook his head. “I’m not a star. I’m a cowboy at heart. I’ve, uh, been thinkin’ about what I’d like to do now.”
“What do you mean?”
“Colby and I have been talkin’ about this for a while. We already raise some Corriente cattle for ropin’ events, and I’m thinkin’ I’ll open a school for cowboys who want to compete.”
“That sounds like a good fit for you,” she said, appearing to relax. At least she was looking at him now instead of staring at the table.
“Colby and I will have to work out the details, but there should be plenty of room on the ranch. You remember the bunkhouse? The cowboys could stay there.”
The waitress brought Cassie’s water and his tea, then left. Cassie squeezed a lemon slice in her glass and sipped.
“I really miss tea,” she said, looking across the table as he took a long drink.
“Is that because of…you know?” he asked, glancing down at her lap.
“Yes. I’m cutting back on everything fun. Iced tea, real coffee, Cokes and beer.”
“Hey, you can still dance and ride, can’t you?”
“I could dance, but since I get sick every night, that kind of ruins the mood. I usually go riding a couple of afternoons during the week and I’ve been taking lessons on Saturday.”
“Where’s your horse?”
“Castleview Stables. They have lessons there.”
“You could move your horse to the ranch to save some money,” he offered. “We’ve got room and you could come out whenever you wanted.”
“That would save money. I guess I’m going to need it for baby things—furniture, clothes, child care.” She sighed.
“Don’t you worry about that.” He wasn’t going to let his child do without. He wasn’t rich enough to hire a full-time nanny like Cal and Christie Crawford, but he’d put enough of his winnings aside that he could afford what a baby needed.
“I appreciate that, I really do, but I have to make sure I budget so I know I can take care of my child.”
“Our child,” he whispered fiercely, leaning forward. “Don’t even think about going through this alone.”
“I DON’T WANT TO GO through this alone, but what if something happens to you or…well, you might change your mind.” Cassie had to be realistic. “Maybe something will come up in Hollywood again and you’ll leave Texas.”
“Don’t worry about me,” he said with a stubborn set of his jaw.
“I’m not worried. I’m just considering the possibility.”
“You can’t anticipate everything that might happen. We’re going to be fine.” He leaned closer and lowered his voice. “The baby is going to be fine.”
Charlie thought he could simply will things to happen, but Cassie knew better. Results were what counted, and without a goal, a plan and a solid execution of the plan, results were as unpredictable as the path of a feather in the wind. She picked up a menu and studied the list of desserts, which she already knew by heart.
“I’ll take care of the baby,” he said. “If something happens to me, you’ll have enough money to raise him.”
“Or her.” Next sonogram, maybe they could find out the sex of the child if they wanted to know. “Do you care if it’s a boy or a girl?”
He shrugged. “I haven’t thought about it much. I guess I’d know how to raise a boy more than a girl. Teach a boy to ranch, ride and rope. I’ve never been around little girls much.”
“You could teach a girl the same things.”
“I suppose, but in the rodeo, girls’ events are barrel racing, pole bending and the like.”
“There are some rodeos with bronc riding and other traditionally male events, aren’t there?” She’d read about a female bronc rider who rode while she was pregnant. That didn’t sound like a good idea.
&n
bsp; He shrugged again. “I’m not sure I’d want to see my little girl rope a calf, jump out of the saddle with a piggin’ string between her teeth, and throw the animal to the ground.”
Cassie swallowed at the image of a little girl in pink cowboy boots doing exactly that. “I see what you mean.”
“I’d teach her to ride and ranch, though.”
“So, do you want to find out the sex of the baby?”
“Do you?”
“I don’t know.” She had to start thinking about getting her own apartment with a space for the baby. Or maybe even a little house with a yard. If she knew whether she was having a boy or a girl, she could decorate accordingly. Would the baby’s room be pink and lavender or blue and brown?
“You decide. I’ll go along with whatever you want.”
“Oh, that reminds me,” she said, reaching for her purse. “Here’s the copy of the sonogram. You can’t see much. The nurse had to show me where the baby was.”
She handed the image to Charlie and watched his face. He held it, frowned, studied it, and eventually smiled as he looked up at her. “It’s like one of those drawings you have to stare at awhile in order to see the image, isn’t it?”
Cassie smiled. “I guess so.”
Lunch arrived just then and he tucked the copy into his shirt pocket before the waitress could see. Cassie dug into the big bowl of chicken and dumplings, served with a side of corn bread. She should have ordered a salad or a vegetable, but she’d had a fierce craving and hadn’t thought ahead.
She had to start thinking ahead, though. About her diet, her health and her future. Charlie said he would be there for her, but there was no guarantee he wouldn’t find something more interesting to do. He could be gone in a minute and she’d be left by herself with a baby she hadn’t planned.
No, she had to get her act together. Financially, physically and emotionally, she had to be strong and independent. At least for the next eighteen years or so.
Chapter Seven
That afternoon at the office Cassie did her best to put all thoughts of baby and daddy aside and concentrate on work. She checked the progress of the two jobs they had going on right now, placed an order for tile that would be needed next week, and resisted the urge to look up rental units in the area. She wasn’t ready to move yet.
The Texan and the Cowgirl Page 7