A Cowboy's Secret Baby

by Savannah McCarthy

  Gold River would be busy. It was summer time and the schools were out. The newer ranch had attractions like petting farms, horseback riding, cave exploring and modern cabins that rivaled the best homes in Watford. Wyatt had personally decided to keep everything cheap and accessible so that the people of Watford could enjoy it as much as he would have liked to. The ranch ran almost entirely on his own funds. A few big donations trickled in here and there, but Wyatt had more than enough in his bank account to keep everything running for centuries on his own if need be.

  He had oil baron money.

  You would hardly believe it while you were there, but Stony Brook had made Wyatt a billionaire.

  The millions of dollars he made from playing pro hockey were peanuts compared to what bubbled out from within Stony Brook’s cavernous insides. He struck gold and oil all at the same time, and with that money, he founded the Gold River Ranch.

  At first, Wyatt and his parents just wanted a place where the family could spend their free time together. But after the accident, Wyatt opened it up to the public. It was too big to be alone in; the natural splendor too beautiful not to share.

  Wyatt tried not to think about the past as he got ready for the day. The more he allowed himself to forget, the better an idea it seemed to go back to Gold River. It would represent the next stage in his recovery. Plus, he could try to jog the distance. It’d be a good way to test how in-shape he really was.

  The training he could do at Gold River also far outshined what he could accomplish here. Gold River even had an indoor rink on site. He missed the ice and the escape it provided. The worst thing about Stony Brook was that there wasn’t much else to do but think. Wyatt had been dealing with enough physical pain that his emotional pain was kept at bay, but the more he healed, the closer he got to drudging up old memories.

  It was time to move on to Gold River, he decided as he stepped outside and was greeted by a glorious mid-afternoon sun. He stretched in the warmth, then tried to decide on the best way to get to Gold River.

  His finger rose up to his lips as he thought. Drive or run?

  Running would take him hours, but he knew what waited for him on the other side. Gold River was named after the water that bordered its property. The streams were famously clear and fresh and perfect for cooling off after a hard workout. Most of them would be busy, but Wyatt knew of a special, secret pond that would certainly be empty.

  That pond held both good and bad memories, but Wyatt knew that by the time he got there, he’d be too tired to care. That was exactly what he was looking for—too tired to care sounded like bliss.

  He pictured himself mindlessly sinking into the glistening water and made up his mind.

  He would run.

  Chapter 3

  Elizabeth

  The park was nearly empty.

  Liz had known what to expect—she had carefully planned their day out for maximum time spent together—but she could also tell Bindi was a little disappointed by the lack of peers to play with.

  “Everyone’s at Gold River,” she pouted as they left the ghostly jungle gym.

  “Aw, aren’t you glad to spend all this time with your mommy?” Liz almost immediately regretted her words. She was starting to sound like her mother. There was no need to lace her phrases with hints of guilt. She didn’t want to chain Bindi down.

  Shame began to grow inside her gut. I should be doing what’s best for my daughter not for me, she thought as the two of them packed their stuff back in the car.

  Still, she couldn’t help but feel like she needed to be a little selfish. These upcoming few summer months were the last before a cold year of being apart for more time than she could even bear to think right now. Liz wasn’t exactly a stranger to being torn away from those she loved, but this was too much—this was her daughter.

  “Let’s get lunch,” she smiled as she buckled Bindi into her car seat.

  “At Sanderella’s!?” the little girl blurted out. Liz couldn’t help but laugh at her clever daughter. Sanderella’s was their favourite restaurant at Gold River.

  “How about Pop’s Diner? We can have ice-cream sandwiches!” Liz drew out that last word tantalizingly, trying her best to get Bindi on board.

  Bindi was too much like her though. Stubborn as an ox. The little girl pushed out her bottom lip and pouted. Still, she was good enough not to complain any further. That somehow only made it worse though. By the time Liz pulled out of the parking lot, guilt was eating her alive. How could she deprive her daughter of such a beautiful place just because she wanted her all to herself? Bindi needed the socialization. The daycare at Liz’s school was mostly filled up with children far younger than her daughter and Bindi would be spending entire days with kids her own age in just a few months—it was Liz’s job as a mother to get her ready for that.

  She sighed and turned left instead of right on Main street. She heard Bindi perk up in the backseat. God, she’s so clever, thought Liz with a proud smile. She checked her rear-view mirror and watched for a second as the gears turned in Bindi’s head.

  “I don’t want any fuss about going to bed tonight,” Liz ordered.

  Bindi’s eyes went wide as it all connected. “Yes, mommy. I promise. I’ll go right to bed!”

  “Alright. Gold River it is.”

  That got a couple of shrieks out of the excited little girl. It was an hour drive to Gold River. They had played at the park, but with the nap Bindi would take on the ride there, she should be ready to spend an unforgettable day up at the ranch.

  As long as my baby’s happy, I’m happy, Liz thought as they merged onto the highway.

  The drive was soft and quiet. Bindi passed out almost immediately. Liz basked in the glow of how much fun her daughter was about to have. The Gold River Ranch was an amazing place. Endless acres of open fields, pretty hikes, gorgeous caves and the best swimming holes for miles around, it was pretty much a dreamworld. Still, the land held both good and bad memories for Liz, and sometimes she worried that her own bad memories might seep into her innocent daughter’s mind.

  Liz had long since gotten over the fact that it was Wyatt’s property. It had taken her years, but when she was finally forced there on a playdate, she had realized that she had to get over her own issues with the place for the sake of her daughter. Bindi loved it there.

  Little did the young girl know the secret that it held—and Liz wasn’t sure if she ever would.

  How do you tell such a thing to someone you love so much?

  Deep down inside, Liz knew that she would have to reveal the truth to her daughter someday. She dreaded the idea so much it sent chills down her spine.

  How would she answer all her questions? Bindi was a curious girl already and Liz knew the inquiries would only pick up when she started school. It wouldn’t take long for Bindi to realize that her little family was atypical. How long would it take her to really start asking about her dad? What would Liz tell her?

  Liz put all these thoughts aside as they pulled into the southwest parking lot of the ranch. She would deal with them when they came, and as far as she knew, that wouldn’t be for at least another few months.

  This time was precious, and she would do whatever it took to shelter Bindi from her own bad memories. There were places at Gold River Ranch where only happiness ever existed—and that’s where they’d go. But first, off to Sanderella’s!

  “I think the llama really liked you!”

  Bindi’s cheeks blushed as she wiped away any leftover slobber from her sleeves. They had gone to the petting zoo after lunch. It had been a blast but now they were all sweaty and covered in farm crud.

  “Because I kept feeding him!” giggled Bindi. She wasn’t lying. The lucky llama had been one of the first to munch the hay out of Bindi’s little hands. His tongue made her laugh and her heart was immediately his. Over the past couple of hours, she had snuck him extra bits of hay, despite the gaggle of other cute animals vying for her attention.

  Bindi was loyal, L
iz would give her that. Much like her mother, if you could make her laugh, she was yours... well, at least until you abandoned her...

  Liz shook her head. No bad thoughts today, she scolded herself.

  “We need to get cleaned up!” she announced. Liz licked her thumb and bent down to wipe some dirt from her daughter’s rosy cheeks. “Do you want to go for a swim? I’m pretty sure we have your bathing suit in the car...”

  Bindi didn’t let her mother finish. The idea alone was more than enough to send her off the walls. She began bouncing wildly around like a feral pogo stick. “Yes! Yes! Let’s go swimming!”

  The little girl loved the water, though she had a love-hate relationship with swimming. She was still too young and weak to keep herself above the surface for too long, so Liz always made her wear swim aids. For some reason or another, Bindi found the floaties embarrassing. Maybe she was just an independent firecracker like her mother, or maybe some older kid had cracked a joke about them, Liz wasn’t sure, all she knew was that it was quite the struggle to get her ready for a dip.

  Still, she knew the perfect place to go. There was a quiet, secret pond she was sure they could be alone at. Bindi would be in heaven, and, by extension, so would Liz.

  The two of them made their way back to the baking car. It sizzled under the blaring afternoon sun. Liz rummaged through the trunk until she found their bathing gear. A few minutes of packing and a small snack break later and they were off.

  As they walked, a small smile fell onto Liz’s lips. She might not have even realized it if Bindi hadn’t pointed it out.

  “Mommy’s happy!” the little girl laughed with joy. Liz squeezed her hand. It was true, she was happy, but the smile wasn’t just because of the wonderful day they were having.

  The pond they were heading to was filled with crystal clear water and wonderful memories—though maybe not ones that were particularly appropriate to share with her five-year-old daughter. Liz sighed as she led Bindi through the bushes and onto a hidden, winding path that led away from the well-beaten roads.

  “Where are we going, mommy?” asked Bindi, when she realized she didn’t recognize the way there.

  “A special, secret place,” Liz whispered, her voice full of wonder.

  Bindi’s eyes went wide with awe. Liz could see her imagination running wild. “Like Neverland?” whispered the young girl.

  Liz giggled. Bindi wasn’t so far off. The pond was a place where she’d feel forever young; a place where her innocence took up camp and a place where her future had once seemed so boundless. For some reason, the magical little pond seemed immune from everything bad that would eventually happen around it. Nothing bad ever happened directly within its borders. It was a safe place for Liz and now she wanted it to be a safe place for her daughter. No one would laugh at her floaties there.

  The two of them made the little trek bursting with barely contained excitement. Bindi picked up a walking stick along the way and for a while, Liz worried that it might be the only thing tethering her to the earth. The little girl looked like she was ready to jump into the atmosphere with anticipation.

  After a little while, Liz recognized a tree. It was bent at the base and its branches hung over the ground like a curtain. Bright green leaves fluttered in the gentle breeze and covered something special just behind their veil.

  “This way,” Liz whispered, leading her daughter behind the wall of foliage.

  The leaves tickled their cheeks and Bindi began to giggle. Her laughter was soon interrupted, though, by a wondrous gasp as the two of them came out on the other side.

  The little pond looked exactly as she remembered it. The ancient little cove was as young as ever. Liz led her daughter to the edge of the water and the two stared down into it. Liz could have sworn she saw her teenage-self looking back at her.

  “What’s it called?” asked Bindi. She had calmed down at the beauty of the place. Her eyes wandered over the shimmering surface; her hand fell from her mother’s.

  “What do you want to call it?” Liz asked. She knew it didn’t have an official name—well, actually, she wasn’t quite so sure about that. You wouldn’t find it on any maps, but the man who had named all the rest of the attractions here had also named this place.

  Liz would let her daughter have her own creation story—she could call the spot whatever she wanted—but the only other two people who knew of its existence both knew it by the same name:

  Lizzie’s pond.

  Chapter 4

  Wyatt

  Wyatt’s chest burned but his head felt as light as a cloud.

  The endorphin rush from the long run was in full effect. A big smile was plastered on the burly hockey player’s face. He did it.

  He had run the whole distance, from grey Stony Brook to green Gold River. The lush prairie fields and inviting distant hills welcomed him with open arms. Why didn’t I come here sooner? he thought through a grin.

  Wyatt used his shirt like a rag and washed the sweat from his brow. He was completely drenched. It had gotten hotter than he’d expected. There wasn’t enough cell phone service out at Stony Brook to look up the forecast on his phone, so he had just assumed it would stay mild—boy, was he wrong.

  The blaring sun pulsed above and made him feel like a boiling egg on a pan. He was sizzling, but he couldn’t have been happier. If he was an egg on a pan, he’d be in the shape of a smiley face—just like his mom used to make.

  Wyatt walked through Gold River’s southwest parking lot. It was packed with baking cars of all kinds. The ranch was busy today, but he knew there’d always be a spot he could go for some privacy.

  He’d emailed ahead to let the staff know he was on his way, but first thing was first: he wanted his reward—a cool dip in Lizzie’s pond.

  His heart was beating so fast that it didn’t have time to hurt at the memory of why he had bestowed that name upon the place. His brain floated in a pool of satisfaction, perfectly happy to just chill out and forget. Wyatt made the little hike in peace. He felt like a pilgrim returning to a holy site. This was the only other place in the world that gave him as much inner peace as a hockey rink.

  He was able to make his way to the bent tree without any distractions. The parking lot was void of people—most were still out enjoying the attractions—and the path to his sanctuary was little taken. The most attention he’d gotten on his way here were a few honks from passing truck drivers who recognized him as he ran along the side of the highway. He always tried to respond with a friendly wave, even if their honking threatened to relapse his concussion. Everything had gone relatively smoothly.

  The bent tree’s leaves tickled his face and body as he stepped through the lush veil.

  Suddenly, though, he stopped.

  ... Was that giggling he heard?

  A splash.... and then voices—soft angelic voices.

  Green leaves brushed against Wyatt’s head like an olive wreath. He stood completely still, trying to discern whether or not he was hallucinating. Had he pushed his body too hard too soon? Was he hearing things?

  His finger found its way to his lips. There was no way anyone could actually be on the other side of the bent tree, right? Lizzie’s pond was nearly impossible to find on foot. Wyatt had only originally discovered it from a helicopter, while he had first been scoping out his new property.

  He tented his eyebrows and took a deep breath. He felt physically fine but he was suddenly concerned. He’d been away from Gold River Ranch for so long, and now there was someone in his sanctuary. First his precious ice had been invaded by bad memories and now this.

  Adrenaline still coursed through his body but it was more reserved now. He knew he would find no peace here. He almost decided to turn back and just have a shower at his cabin, before another wave of giggles washed over him and he realized he was smiling.

  What sirens had invaded his pond? He had to find out. They sounded like they were having fun; he wanted to have fun too. It had been so long since he’d really enj
oyed himself.

  One deep breath later and Wyatt was on the other side of the bent tree’s veil. He was immediately greeted by a splash of water. He covered his face and chuckled instinctively, stumbling backwards a foot.

  The giggling didn’t stop, but as he looked up, a gasp sucked the air out of the area.

  “... Wyatt...?”

  Wyatt blinked into focus. That voice sounded familiar…

  His heart dropped.

  Bent over the rippling pond was Elizabeth Turk. The love of his life. His biggest regret. The namesake of this little sanctuary.

  “Lizzy...” he whispered back. Chills cooled his sizzling skin. His thighs shook. He suddenly realized how fallible of a man he really was. “... What are you doing here?”

  Liz didn’t respond right away. She looked like she was staring at a ghost. Wyatt imagined he looked the same way.

  The tense showdown was suddenly broken by a shout. “CANNONBALL!”

  Wyatt’s gaze shot to the rocks just beyond Liz. A little girl, decked out in bright orange floaties, jumped from a boulder about five feet off the ground. The turquoise water of the pond exploded as she broke the surface and drenched Liz in water. It sent her stumbling backwards onto her butt.

  A chuckle escaped Wyatt’s lips.

  He quickly came to and instinctively jogged over to his fallen friend.

  The little girl splashed happily in the pond as Wyatt reached down to Liz. “Need a little help?” he asked with a smile. He suddenly felt much more at ease than he had just a moment ago.

  Liz was here and she looked as beautiful as ever.