Of The Cowboy's Own Accord (Double Dutch Ranch; Love At First Sight #3)

by Mary J. McCoy-Dressel

  “Tell me what she looks like again,” Jase said. “Maybe they have more than one wine steward. Really, maybe it isn’t her. We should’ve done more checking before getting you all hyped up. I admit I was a little excited…but I figured you already knew. I’m damn sorry.”

  “She’s probably around five foot six or eight, kind of like Chloe’s height. Brunette hair. Long, really long and straight most of the time. Cute bangs.” Like silk. He remembered wrapping it up into his fist. “Her eyes are…” Dane slapped his hand against his forehead. Her eyes. He’d never forget her eyes. Those gorgeous, sexy things closing in passion, were in his dreams. He longed for her. “For Pete’s sake, ask her name.”

  “Brenna just said when I went to the bathroom at the restaurant, they started talking about her pregnancy. It fits, Dane. You’re about to be a daddy. You need to call her.”

  “You don’t have to convince me it’s mine.” Dane closed his eyes and sighed mournfully. “It’s been this long…” At least she was still there.

  “Only if she doesn’t leave her job. A maternity leave, or whatever they call it.”

  “Good point, but it never helped when I tried calling before. No one would let me talk to her, or say whether she still worked there.” After a deep, lonesome exhale, he said, “I gotta go, Jase.” When they hung up Dane folded one arm behind his head and closed his eyes. He still wasn’t used to the deformity of his arm. Now what? “How the hell did this happen?” He hadn’t been that drunk. Had he forgotten the protection in the heat of passion?

  He hit himself in the forehead with the heel of his hand. His heart went out to her going through this alone and thinking he rejected her. It tore at his soul. He checked his watch. She probably hated him. Sitting up, he took his phone and held it. A baby? Why hadn’t she told him? Maybe she didn’t plan on keeping it. Instead of calling the restaurant, he called Jase back. “Hey, don’t say anything to the family. I should be the one.”

  “Sure, you know me better than that. Brenna and I can go there tomorrow if you want us to.”

  “No.” Dane fell back against the bed. “Listen, I gotta go. I’m thinking it’s best to contact her when I get home and go up there instead.” There was no choice if no one at the restaurant would let him talk to her, or tell him something. It pissed him off so much he swore he’d shoot the bastard who went with the voice on the phone.

  “Suit yourself.”

  “Jase, I don’t know. I gotta ask for a pain shot. My arm’s killing me. Hell, everything is today. My gut feels like it was ripped apart.” After telling Jase he’d talk later, he said good-bye. Again, he held his phone, looking at the screen and wishing to see her picture like before. He needed his own phone back. Everything hurt. Inside. Outside. He glanced up at the nurse as she prepared to give him a pain shot. “Thanks, hon.”

  The nurse laid her hand on his shoulder. “It’ll be okay. You’re doing fine. You’ll heal even more when you get home.” She moved around the bed and bunched up his pillows, then checked vitals to record in her chart. After the shot, she said, “It’ll work fast, Dane.” Crossing the room, she peered out the window. “It’s a hot one out there today.” She faced him. “You should go out tomorrow to get some fresh air. Tomorrow night you can watch the fireworks in the distance.”

  “Can I have a cigarette?” He expected her to say no and she did. “Any idea what happened to all my gear back at my FOB? I have important stuff I need. I don’t have my girl’s contact info.” His eyes closed when she became fuzzy, allowing him to drift away into the land of la-la. He’d ride that wave as long as he could until the pain returned. Then he’d start it all over again.

  Except for one thing. Tomorrow his pain shot regimen would be reduced before coming to a halt and plain old Acetaminophen would have to do the job. Doctor’s orders because he was going home not addicted to drugs. Maybe tomorrow he’d go outside. Walter Reed had a great patio area. He let the phone fall to the mattress and stretched out his legs.

  Chapter 8

  A week and a half after the phone call with Jase, Dane waited outside the airport in Phoenix for his brothers to pick him up. When Tristan pulled up, he and Jase both jumped out to hug him.

  “It’s great to see you two. Man, you guys look good. I’m finally home—out of hospitals.”

  “Aw, we were scared to death. Man, we love ya,” said Tristan. “You look so much better than you did the first week when we visited. Good to see you in a uniform. Mom thinks you’re still at the hospital.”

  Good in my uniform? Too bad it wouldn’t last. His soldiering days were numbered, but he put that aside. He hugged his brothers again. “Your muscles are bigger, Jase. Still planning on kicking my ass? You can probably do it now, anyway.”

  “I’m not kicking nobody’s ass. We’re all glad you’re home.”

  Dane got into the backseat. “I suppose you know the first place I want to stop. I have to.” He had better prepare himself for what was to come. If she was still there. What did she look like pregnant? He couldn’t picture it, yet he visualized her beautiful face… Get me there, guys.

  Jase turned back. “You don’t even know what shift she works or what days she’s off, Dane.”

  “Minor issues. I’ll look for her car. She sent me a picture of it when she bought it. Never saw a woman so happy to get her first sports car.” It was a two-seater. He had totally ruined her life. “She has to be there.” Dane squeezed his arm to ease the continuous ache.

  Tristan asked over his shoulder, “How ya gonna handle this if she isn’t keeping the baby? Have you considered that?”

  Dane shoved his brother Jase in the shoulder. “For one thing, I didn’t know the whole damn town knew about it.” He glared at the back of Jase’s head for giving it away. “I don’t want her giving up my child. But I have faith in her. I told you, you don’t know her.”

  “Well,” said Jase, “The whole damn town doesn’t know about it. Only Tristan who overheard me and Brenna talking.”

  The subject changed and Jase and Tristan had small talk about the ranch and horses the rest of the way. Nothing remained secret for long around the Double Dutch. Pretty soon the whole town would know. So what. He could care less.

  Jase nodded ahead twenty minutes later. “You’ll soon find out everything.” He sat forward while searching the rows in the parking lot. “Maybe we should come tonight instead. Night, you know, dark, so they can’t see us snooping around cars.”

  “You know what? A pearl white Miata convertible stands out. If it isn’t here we’ll come back. Will you kill the attitude? You have no idea what went on between she and I.” But now they know one thing that did. His gaze was unfocused. His limbs trembled. Brain spun like a top. Now that he was here, he experienced fight or flight. Dane clenched his hand that was now wet with sweat—not about to flee. He hadn’t imagined everything he had with this woman. “There it is. Maybe. It looks like it.” His stomach lurched—throat went dry. “One of you guys have any gum or water?”

  Tristan handed back his bottle of water. “Finish it.”

  Jase glanced over his shoulder. “How do you want to do this, Dane?”

  “I’ll walk in the door and take it from there.” He did a once over of his body. Everything looked normal with clothes. Gulping, he mumbled, “Most of me is okay.”

  “You look great. Aren’t you supposed to be in a sling?” Tristan asked with compassion.

  “Nope. It’ll tighten up without use. I have to use it.” Dane peered at his bandaged hand. Another thing that couldn’t be hidden forever.

  Tristan pulled into a parking spot and shifted the truck into park. “So, I’ll park here by the wedding chapel and you’ll have to walk the rest of the way.”

  Wedding chapel, thanks. “No problem. My legs still work, thank God, but now they feel like rubber bands.” He capped the bottle and opened the door.

  When Dane stepped out, so did Jase. “Hey, we have your back. We’re riding you right now. Our way of…you know.” />
  It’d only take one step at a time, but after forcing his feet to move, he sauntered up to the Miata to peek through the window. A familiar looking bag sat on the passenger side floor. This was it. Saliva thickened in his throat and he might puke. Dane gazed upward before taking another step. “Let it be what it is?”

  He removed his tan beret outside the door and put it into his pocket. With his hand on the handle, he inhaled and released a breath. The hostess came up almost immediately to seat him. Before he said anything, Gracelyn came around the corner, carrying a bottle of wine and two glasses on a tray. Their eyes connected and the bottle and glasses crashed to the floor. My God.

  Her arms dropped to her sides. She dipped her head toward her abdomen then her gaze flicked back to him. Dane rushed toward her in case she passed out. He took her arm to escort her away from the spilled wine and broken glass. “Can we talk somewhere?” Trying to remain serious and nonchalant, he had no idea how this would go down. It’d be better to play it safe so he didn’t get slapped in public.

  Her mouth remained open in a gasp. She fell into his arms. “Dane! I feared you were dead, or…or—gone for good.” Her voice went higher by octave but lowered in volume. “Dane.”

  All he wanted to do was comfort her now. He held her tight in his arms, and he was magically transformed—back into a man in love. Dane lifted her chin, rattling the words out as fast as he could get them for fear of her running off. “I was wounded an unable to contact you all this time.” He lowered his eyes to her stomach before gazing back to her face. “We have to talk.”

  “Um.” She glanced around the restaurant. Her hand pressed against her mouth as her fingers shook. She moved back a step’s distance. “I-I need to take care of t-this.” She brushed her hand toward the glass on the floor, but someone from the kitchen came out with a broom and mop.

  He walked her off to the side. “I have to talk to you. Gracelyn… Don’t turn me away.”

  “Of course. My God.” She clutched her chest. “I need to get the order to my customers first,” she cried out between sobs. She glanced to her legs. “I’m bleeding. I-I can’t serve them when I’m b-bleeding.”

  Tears fell to her cheeks while his heart slammed to the floor. “You’re pregnant.” He didn’t mean that to slip out. His gaze darted to the right, finding himself at a loss for words. “We need to talk.” She shook something awful. Dane escorted her to the hallway toward the restrooms. Taking the chance, he drew her against him, but her body tensed. God knows, Gracelyn, I love you.

  “Hold on.” He opened the men’s room door to grab a paper towel and wet it. When he came out, he knelt in front of her, dabbing at her cuts. “I told you wine bottles could be dangerous. It doesn’t look like any glass in there.” He peered up at her with ions of concern. The eyes he dreamed about stared back at him. Was it a dream? Would he wake? Be real. He closed his eyes for a second before opening them again. Taking a big breath, he managed to speak. “I’m so sorry, Gracelyn.” He stood. “Your phone number, address, everything was gone when I was transported to the hospital in Germany.”

  “Dane, are you all right?” She glanced down and ran her gaze back up his body. “Your hand?”

  Am I all right? She’s the one having a baby. He took hold of her hand. “It’s not just my hand, darlin’. I’ll explain later. Take care of what you have to.” He paused. “Get a Band-Aid on those cuts.” Their gaze held. She really stood in front of him—pregnant.

  Gracelyn took his arm and he winced so she drew her hand back. “I’m sorry.” She covered her face with her hands.

  He removed them, not knowing if she meant sorry for touching the arm, or for not telling him about the baby. “About?” He didn’t mean to, but he glanced at her abdomen and this time he lowered his palm to her belly. My child.

  “Whatever I did to hurt you. Your arm…too?”

  “Yes.” He became lost in her amethyst orbs the same as he had the very first time of seeing them. “My brothers are waiting in the parking lot, but I don’t want to leave you. I just got off the plane and haven’t been home yet.” How could he leave now? “Can you go with me?”

  “I understand, but…no, I can’t.” She paused after taking a breath and waited until the host seated another couple. “I’ll try to leave as soon as possible.” Gracelyn laid her hand over his on her belly. “You didn’t get my letter? I told you in a letter. I thought you—”

  The heat of her skin penetrated his and lit him up inside. “No. I didn’t. Damn— You...” She thought I didn’t want her or the baby? “When can I come back?” Dane clasped her hand and held it against his chest. “There’s so much to explain.”

  “I need to explain, too.” Her words came out in an emotion-choked voice. “Come at nine o’clock unless I can get off sooner. I’ll be waiting.” She took a quick peek at her watch.

  “All right.” He squeezed her hand, ignoring the consistent chatter and inquisitive stares around them. “Everything will be all right. I’ll be back.” An audible stress sounded in his voice. “Please be here.”

  Her thick lashes rested against her pinked cheeks while she looked downward. “I will.” She sniffled as she slowly met his gaze. “The baby is yours.”

  For Pete’s sake… “I didn’t have a doubt.” Closing his eyes, he dropped his head back for a moment. “Let me give you my phone number.” He took her hand as he headed for the desk, afraid she’d get away and he’d never see her again.

  “Wait.” She asked one of the waiters for a pen and order pad.

  Lifting the phone, he had to scan for the number and shrugged. “You’ll have to write it down. This isn’t my regular phone. Like I said, I don’t know where it ended up.” God knew how much he wanted to hold her again—never let her go, but she had tensed earlier. Don’t overstep your bounds, dude. He handed over the phone. Her hand brushed his when she took it. Her skin is so warm…real.

  She wrote the number down and attached it beneath a clip on her wine list. Gracelyn set the wine list down on the table in the hallway then handed his phone back. Without warning, she wrapped her arms around his neck. “You look so handsome. It seemed like a ghost walked through the door.” She tenderly laid her palm against the side of his face. Smiled. “You’re home.”

  The memory of their nights that seemed so long ago came back to him in that one smile. He took her hand from his face to press his lips against her folded fingers. Their gaze held and neither said anything until she broke the mood by pulling back. Whatever they had found that first night, and the following days, remained. He saw it in her eyes, felt it in the way her fingers curled around his.

  “I have to get back to work before someone says something.” She picked up her wine list and clenched it against her chest. “I don’t want to go.”

  Grasping her shoulders, he pulled her in and placed a kiss on her forehead, his lips lingering longer than he had intended. “I’ll see you soon. Not soon enough.” Under duress, he turned to go but glanced back. She still stared after him. Whether out of habit by now or not, her hand rested on her baby bump.

  Outside, he tried to quell the celebratory party going on inside his body. Yet, he was conflicted over what the future held for them. On the way to the truck he exhaled a long and slow breath then forced it out all at once. As he made himself take one step at a time to go inside a few minutes ago, he now found the same need to make himself leave—one foot in front of the other…

  ***

  Judy reluctantly unpacked her suitcase. The boys tried talking her out of going to see Dane at Walter Reed Medical Center, but she needed to visit again to make her own observation. Then, the hospital told her no. Figuring she’d say enough four letter words to fill the cussin’ jar herself, she settled down when they told her he’d be discharged from the hospital soon. She damned the Army her son so loved. Knocking on the back door distracted her. Jase’s personal knock.

  “I’m coming,” she hollered on the way to the kitchen. The boys insisted she keep the
back door locked now that she lived alone most of the time. She opened it with a smile. “Hello, Jase, honey. Is your family with you?” She turned toward the stove to put water on for tea.

  He leaned against the doorjamb with a smirk on his face. “Some of them are, Ma.”

  “What?” She turned to question him. “Dane!” She grabbed hold of the table edge to keep from falling over. Tears burned behind her eyes. Thank you, dear God. “Hallelujah.” She ran to Dane for a hug, but he winced and leaned to the side away from her. Her hands folded beneath her chin. “I’m sorry, sweetheart.” Her gaze ran over him, up and down twice. “I hurt you. It won’t happen again.”

  “Hi there. You didn’t hurt me.” Dane wrapped his arms around her. “It’s okay, I can hug. I’m still healing is all.”

  Judy hugged him back. “I’m so glad you’re home.” She pulled back some and glanced at his hand, nodding. “You’ll be okay, son. You’ll be okay.” She turned to Jase and Tristan. “Y’all had to keep this secret. Darn you three. Here I nearly went anyway.”

  “We asked you not to.” Tristan dismissed her statement with a flip of the hand. “I see where we get our stubbornness from.”

  “I don’t care, I had to go see him. Come into the great room, boys. Get comfortable.” She brushed her hand forward for them to lead the way. “And your stubbornness comes from your dad.”

  “No, I won’t be staying. Time to get home.” Tristan stopped near the kitchen table. “I still have work to do before dinner.”

  “So do I, Ma. I got horses waiting to be fed and watered.” Jase poked Dane in the good shoulder. “We’ll let you spend time with your baby boy.” His mom smacked his arm. “Ouch, why you hitting me?”

  “It’s time you stop saying that. We nearly lost your brother.” Judy burst into tears, and covered her face with both hands, the reality of her statement encompassing her. All three boys hugged her. She did her best to get it under control but seeing him was shocking.