“Just like old times,” Rick smirked. He leaned against the bathroom sink. “It’s good seeing you back here. This place missed you.”
“I missed it too,” Wyatt thought out loud.
“Hey, I’m sorry about your concussion. That was a brutal hit. It seems like you’re doing a lot better though. Looking forward to next season?” Rick inquired.
Wyatt leaned against the sink beside him and looked up at the steady fluorescent lights above. He was surprised they didn’t make his head hurt. He really did feel better than he had in a long time. Still, he wasn’t so sure if he actually was looking forward to next season just yet. It was a strange thought, one that he hadn’t experienced since he first started playing hockey as a kid. Something else had grabbed his attention, something so strong it almost worried him. Hockey could wait, for now.
He couldn’t let that thought get out though. No one could know about his waning passion for the sport. The press would eat him alive. So, he just nodded.
“Honestly, didn’t think we’d see you back here this offseason,” Rick continued. “What with the news and all.”
“About my concussion?” asked Wyatt, a little confused by Rick’s wording.
“No,” Rick replied, turning to face Wyatt. “About Alec Garland.”
Wyatt froze in place. He had not been expecting to hear that. The name made his blood run cold. “What about him?” he finally managed to ask. His throat had dried up and his head was starting to hurt again.
“He’s out,” said Rick.
“Out!?” Wyatt could hardly believe what he was hearing.
“Yeah. I’m surprised you hadn’t heard. Thought you’d have a security detail on that or something.”
Wyatt’s stomach clenched and his forehead started to burn. He felt queasy. “When did he get out?”
Rick shrugged, “Sometime back in February, I think. I only heard about it in the past few months though. I just figured you’d have stayed in Canada, since he can’t get over the border, what with his criminal record and all.”
Wyatt felt heavy. The bathroom started to spin. His head hurt again.
“Hey, you alright, boss?” asked Rick.
Wyatt just nodded. He turned around and turned on a tap, then splashed some water on his face. It didn’t help much. He felt Rick pat him on the back.
“I’m sorry, I thought you already knew,” the trusty old worker mumbled.
Wyatt shook his head. “No. Thank you for telling me though. I need to know these things.” He gathered himself enough to give Rick a reassuring pat on the shoulder. “I should get going. It was nice seeing you.”
“I’ll see you around.”
Wyatt stumbled out of the bathroom in a daze. Oh, how quickly things could change.
Alec Garland was out of prison, and the little fairy tale Wyatt had felt his life turning into was instantly shattered into a million pieces.
How did he not know about this? Sure, Wyatt had been in a self-imposed isolation for the past few months, but If Alec had gotten out in February, that meant he had been a free man a whole month even before Wyatt’s concussion.
What was going on? Was he in danger?
Wyatt’s eyes suddenly went wide with realization. Was Liz in danger!? Bindi!?
Was he putting them in harm’s way by trying to rekindle his relationship with Liz? His stomach twisted and turned and his head swam as he leaned against a wall for support.
He felt like his whole world had suddenly been turned upside down for the second straight time in two days.
What was he going to do?
Chapter 9
Elizabeth
Bindi went down easy enough.
The caretakers said they’d take her for the next hour. Liz kissed her sleepy daughter on the forehead and went to find Wyatt.
That proved a harder task than she had expected.
He wasn’t waiting outside the daycare and he wasn’t out back where they’d had lunch. Liz asked an employee where the bathrooms were and followed the directions to a side hallway. It was there, turning a sharp corner, that she nearly ran into the burly cowboy.
“Woah!” she giggled, using the unexpected contact as an excuse to touch his muscular chest. Wyatt’s chiseled arms brushed against her, sending a tingle over her skin. “We just keep running into each other,” Liz joked.
As she took a step back from Wyatt, though, she saw that he didn’t look to be in a particularly joking mood. His steely gaze was intense and unfocused on her, a strange change from earlier. “What’s wrong, Wyatt?” she asked. She felt a knot slowly tying in her gut. Bad things always seemed to happen when they were together, what had happened this time?
Wyatt looked to consider that question for a moment, before shaking his head and replacing his frown with a fragile smile. “Nothing, just still getting over the concussion you know.”
“Poor thing,” Liz took the opportunity to rest her hand on his strong arm again. “Do you still want to go on that walk, or should we find some place quiet to sit down?”
Wyatt didn’t hesitate this time. “Let’s go on our walk,” he smiled. “How was Bindi?”
“Out like a light,” she chuckled, letting her hand fall from his arm. They walked close enough that she could feel the heat of his body, but not quite close enough to touch. They weren’t there just yet.
They made their way out of the building in silence. Wyatt was clearly preoccupied with something. He kept typing on his phone, sending out texts to God-knows-who.
“Are you sure you’re alright?” Liz questioned. She didn’t want to prod too deeply—she knew how prone Wyatt was to turn inwards—but she was concerned.
Wyatt took a deep breath and stuffed his phone back into his Wranglers. He looked at Liz and his eyes lightened. She almost felt like she could see dark clouds lift from his mind as he gazed at her. It made her feel so special. “I’m good,” he said, a real smile finally forming on his lips. “Let’s go for our walk.”
The two of them made their way down a familiar pathway into the hills. The land was gorgeous out here. Wild grass swayed gently in the wind, short cliffs jutted out of the earth and basked in the sunlight, invisible birds sung happy songs all around the two wanderers.
Liz and Wyatt walked together in and out of silence. Conversations waxed and waned, but Liz never felt uncomfortable. She did, however, feel that something was troubling Wyatt. He was doing his best to hide it, but she had known him long enough to know when he was struggling.
She wanted to know what he was thinking, but she also knew she was in no position to prod. She had her own giant secret that she was hiding from him. She was not ready to reveal herself completely to him yet, and so she didn’t expect him to do the same for her.
She left the unspoken tension unspoken and tried to focus on what was in front of them: beauty.
“How long has it been since you walked this trail?” she asked, as they descended a grassy mound.
The cowboy beside her sighed and admired the land. “Too long. What about you?”
“Same,” answered Liz. “Bindi and I have been out to Gold River a few times—she loves that restaurant, Sanderalla’s, you guys have near the stables—but we’ve never wandered too far from the main attractions. She’s just a little too young to make a trek like this.”
“Not too young to make it to your pond though?” smiled Wyatt.
“My pond...” that made Liz blush. Old memories of love and heat flooded her mind. “That was a special occasion. By the way, you should know to be very flattered at that first meeting with my little girl.”
Wyatt raised his eyebrow in curiosity. “How so?”
“Bindi has this weird insecurity about her floaties. I don’t know where it came from, but I didn’t see a hint of it when you showed up. That’s impressive. Usually, I’m the only one she’s comfortable wearing embarrassing stuff around.”
“Well, I say,” smiled Wyatt, taking his Stetson off and bringing it to his heart. “That
does make me feel good. I’m honoured. She’s a sweet girl, that daughter of yours.”
Liz bit her tongue. She wanted so badly to spill her guts, but she knew now wasn’t the time. They had barely been reconnected for a full day, she couldn’t drop that sledgehammer on him, especially not with whatever else was clearly bothering him.
“She is,” she settled on saying.
Wyatt wiped the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve and the two continued walking. They made short work of the trail and soon enough, Liz’s phone alarm was ringing—Bindi’s nap time would be over soon.
“We should head back,” she mentioned.
Wyatt nodded and they both turned and started retracing their steps.
“You think you might want to stay for dinner tonight” Wyatt asked.
His broad shoulder gently bumped against her. His touch was intoxicating. Liz struggled to concentrate. “What about Bindi?” she responded.
“She’s always invited,” Wyatt clarified.
“I don’t know. She barely even had dinner yesterday, she was so tired from our full day out here. I have leftovers in the fridge I don’t want to waste. I know she loves it out here, but I don’t want to overload her.”
“Sounds like a mighty barrel of excuses you’ve got there,” Wyatt chuckled. His voice was so earthy and pure. Despite all the money he had come into, he was still that same rough and tumble cowboy who used to ride the rodeo in his spare time. Liz remembered the texture of his rough hands, somehow both so graceful and so hard. She longed to sink into his grip again.
“You know me,” she joked back. “Always playing it safe.”
“What’s safer than being at Gold River?” Wyatt quickly responded. “We’ve got security, acres of land and a bunch of German shepherds, who, by the way, I’m sure Bindi would love to meet.”
“I didn’t mean that kind of safety, silly,” Liz giggled. She let her hand wander a little further from her hip than was natural. Her knuckles grazed against the back of Wyatt’s hand. “I mean like big decisions. Like moving back home after university, or getting a job at the same school you grew up going to, or not letting your daughter get too attached to a man who has already left you twice before...”
“I didn’t leave you,” Wyatt blurted out.
Liz pursed her lips. Her freewheeling hand swung back to her hips. “Wyatt...”
“Okay, maybe I left, but it’s not like you were knocking down doors to follow me,” he confessed.
“What part about playing it safe don’t you understand? I had to start my own life, Wyatt. I couldn’t just count on you. Who knows where I’d be if I had...?”
Wyatt sighed. “I know,” he admitted. “I haven’t been the best boyfriend in the past. I could have done so much more to keep you. I’ve learned my lessons though, and this time feels different.”
He stopped in his tracks and turned to Liz. She stopped and looked up at the handsome cowboy she had known so well for so long. He was the same as always, just a little older and a little more rugged. How did that bode for her?
“Can you feel it?” he asked.
“Feel what?”
Wyatt reached for her hands. Liz let him take her.
“This time feels different. It feels final. Whether that means we ride off happily into the sunset or we truly never see each other again, I don’t know. All I know is that my feelings for you haven’t changed. I was fragile and immature back then, both times, but I’ve changed, even if only enough to see what’s really important.”
Wyatt’s big hands dwarfed Liz’s palms. His rough fingers rubbed gently against her skin. She just wanted to give in.
“And what’s really important?” she asked.
Wyatt didn’t hesitate. “You.”
Liz didn’t hesitate either. “What about Bindi?”
“You and Bindi are a packaged deal. I have no delusions. I’m in for the whole thing. I want to be there with you. Will you let me in?”
Now it was Liz’s turn to hesitate. She melted in his grip but shut her eyes and tried to focus. This was all moving so fast. It had barely been a day since they reunited and Wyatt already seemed ready to take the plunge.
Truth was, Liz wanted him back—there was never any doubt about that—but there were so many variables... including that one huge secret; the one that could implode their whole relationship and tear them apart for good and forever.
She couldn’t rush things. What she had with Wyatt was too fragile right now for that. But she could give him a chance.
Liz opened her eyes and looked up at the glimmering cowboy. His steely eyes wandered deep into her soul. She knew if she only ever had one chance at a true family, it was with Wyatt. She had barely been on a date in 5 years. This hand holding was the extent of her depravity. She wanted more. She wanted him.
She squeezed his big fingers and smiled.
“You have the summer,” she said.
A big grin came across Wyatt’s lips. His stunning cheekbones pushed up, exposing his dimples and making Liz’s knees weak.
She hoped to God that she was making the right decision, for herself and for her daughter.
“You won’t regret it,” Wyatt said through his giant grin.
They gazed into each other’s eyes for what seemed like an eternity before another alarm from Liz’s phone interrupted the moment. It was time to pick up Bindi.
The two of them made the trip back to Gold River Ranch, hand in hand.
Chapter 10
Wyatt
Bindi didn’t want to leave. She was having the time of her life at the Gold River Ranch daycare center.
“I’ve made...” the little girl lifted her hands up to her face for help. She counted on her fingers like they were fragile flowers. “... 1... 2... 3 friends!”
“Wow!” Liz gasped, impressed with her daughter. “What are their names?”
“Uh...” Bindi’s finger rose to her lips. “Cindy, Liam and... umm,” she turned around and gazed at the other children still playing behind her. Suddenly, she jumped off her feet and whipped around with a big smile on her face. “Oh yeah, and Annie!”
“Very good,” Liz had a big grin on her face. Wyatt sensed this was a big deal for the two of them, though he couldn’t figure out why. Did Bindi have trouble making friends?
“We should get their parents’ contact information so we can set up playdates,” Liz told her daughter.
That’s when Wyatt stepped in. “I can do that. I don’t see any non-employee adults around right now, but if Bindi points out her new friends, I can get their contact info from one of my workers.”
“... Or maybe we can wait around until the parents show up. I have no problem playing some more. The ball pit was fun and...” Liz started.
“Mom...” Bindi interrupted. Her little cheeks went pink. She held her hands together and looked downwards. “I want to play with my new friends,” she hinted.
“I can play with you—,” Liz stopped, suddenly realizing what her daughter meant. Wyatt was quick to catch on too. Bindi wanted a little independence. She wanted to play with kids her own age—without her mother.
Wyatt looked at Liz. He could see the young mother was reeling a little bit internally. This must have been a big moment for her. He decided to show a little support. He stepped towards her and warmly splayed his hand out against the ridge of her back. “That means we can go for a nice dinner...” he whispered, mischievously in her ear.
Liz sighed. “If you want to stay here and play some more with your new friends, then that’s okay with me. Is that what you want?”
Bindi nodded emphatically.
“Alright then,” Liz nodded. She was speaking softly to her daughter but Wyatt could tell that inside she was conflicted. He gently rubbed her back and motioned to one of the daycare employees to approach him. He bent down so that he was eye-level with Bindi and asked her to point out her three new friends. Bindi did so and soon enough, Wyatt was saving their parents’ contact info in his phone.
Liz was lost in a light daze during the whole process, but when Bindi waved goodbye and rushed back to play with a big smile on her face, Wyatt took her hand and led her back outside.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, as they were once again greeted by the glorious afternoon sun.
“Nothing...” Liz whispered, clearly not telling the truth.
“Lizzy...”
The beautiful woman sighed. Wyatt hadn’t truly realized how tense her shoulders had been until she let them relax and they drooped like the branches of a willow tree.
“It’s just hard watching your daughter grow up so quickly,” she finally confessed. “I mean, it’s good—she actually needs the socialization before she starts school in the fall—but the reality of my little girl not needing me 24/7 is just going to take a little getting used to. That’s all.”
Wyatt reached down and took Liz’s hand. He stroked her thumb and let his shoulder wash against hers.
“Bindi’s an amazing little girl,” he started, “And I’m sure, one day, she’ll go off and do great things, but she’ll always need her mother. Believe me, that love never goes away...”
They walked down the quiet back paths of the ranch that were largely devoid of visitors; Liz rested her head on Wyatt’s shoulder.
“I know,” she sighed. “It’s just tough, you know? It’s been only the two of us for so long and now suddenly I can see her pulling apart; becoming her own person... I don’t know if I’m ready to be alone again.”
Wyatt stopped. Two employees passed by and gave him a respectful head nod. Everyone had been informed of his presence on the ranch, so he wouldn’t be surprising anybody in uniform. He appreciated their discretion.
He had also been texting with security about Alec...
He shook that troubling thought from his mind.
He let his hand fall from Liz’s and then he wrapped his arm around her shoulder, bringing her under his weight. She was so warm. Even with all the blooming flowers and fresh grass, he could smell her lilac and cinnamon scent—it made him weak; it always had and he imagined it always would.
A Cowboy's Secret Baby Page 5