Taboo Cowboy: A Secret Baby Ranch Western Romance

by Crowne, KC

  God, I loved that smile.

  “Follow me,” I said, stepping away and hoping the physical distance would help with the erection pressing against the front of my pants.

  She followed me over to the feed. I didn’t think she’d want to just merely fill the troughs, so I grabbed a treat for her to give one of the horses instead - an apple. There was a table in the stable and I whipped out my knife to carve off a few pieces.

  I handed them to her. “Here you go,” I said. “Traveler will eat these right out of your hand.”

  We walked back over to the horse we’d rode together. Molly held out the piece of apple, her hand shaking a bit. I feared she might jerk back when the horse got near, but she didn’t. Traveler took the apple from her hand, chomping happily as she grinned from ear-to-ear.

  “Amazing,” she sighed, her happiness beautiful on her face. “I never thought I’d get to feed a horse.”

  “You’re welcome to anytime. Just ask,” I offered. “I’m happy for the help.”

  I winked at her and she giggled. God, she was so adorable. I stroked Traveller as she finished feeding him, my gaze never leaving Molly. It had been a long time since anything had captured my attention the way she had.

  She fed him the rest of the apple and stroked his neck. I got the feeling she never wanted to leave - and truth be told, I didn’t want her to either. She moved to the animal’s flank, once again standing closer to me.

  “I really can’t thank you enough,” she said. She stared up at me with those beautiful blue eyes, batting her lashes at me. The way she nibbled her lower lip was practically begging for a kiss, but I knew I was imagining it - I was seeing what I wanted to see. No way was a girl as young as her hitting on an old man like me.

  Yet I found myself leaning closer to her, as if there were a magnet between us, pulling us together. I couldn’t stop it.

  I wanted to feel her lips against mine.

  I wanted her pressed against me.

  I wanted her with every inch of my body.

  “There you are!” Christopher’s voice broke the silence, shattering the moment. I jumped back, as did Molly. He walked around the corner of the stable, his hands on his hips and a scowl on his face.

  “About time you got back.”

  “Sorry,” Molly said, smiling at him. “We’ve been back a little bit. I was just feeding the horses.”

  “We have a date, remember?”

  “We do?” Molly asked, blinking at him. Then it hit her, and her eyes widened as if she was suddenly pulled from a daze. “Oh yes, lunch. I’m sorry.”

  “Yeah, I’m starving. And I told a few friends we’d meet them at noon,” he said. “Think you can go like that?”

  “Uh yeah, I think so,” Molly said, giving herself a once over. She turned to me with a sweet smile. “Maybe your dad would like to join us?”

  I caught a glimpse of Christopher’s face. He flinched as if she’d smacked him. “Nah, I got stuff to do around here. You kids have fun.”

  “You sure?” Molly asked, her persistence surprising me.

  “Yeah, go. You don’t want an old man hangin’ about.”

  “Okay,” she said, her smile faltering a bit as if she didn’t like the answer. “But thank you again. I really appreciate the ride, Silas.”

  “Anytime,” I said. Then I cringed when I realized I’d offered her another shot at riding - something I probably shouldn’t have. My poor body wouldn’t be able to resist a second time. I was lucky Christopher had interrupted us when he did.

  “Alright, let’s get going, Molly. We’re running late.”

  Molly didn’t seem eager to leave the stables. She patted Traveler one last time before following Christopher, and my gaze lingered on her ass. She glanced back at me, and I hoped I’d looked away before she caught me.

  She offered a sweet smile, and I had to steady myself against the horse

  Damn, son, I asked myself again. Where on God’s green earth did you find this one?

  Molly

  “This place is such a drag,” Christopher commented, leaning back in his chair.

  I looked around the small dive bar. It was empty. Just the two of us.

  “I thought you said your friends were meeting us?”

  Christopher rolled his eyes. “I only said that to get us out of there faster.”

  “Oh, okay,” I said. I picked up the menu, and after a second’s perusal, I realized it was extremely limited. Mama G had mentioned making lunch, and her food was amazing - it was hard to imagine any reason to come to a place like this with home cooked food at the ranch, but perhaps I’d be surprised.

  “So what’s good here?” I asked.

  “Nothing. It’s all shit,” Christopher said, sounding like a petulant child.

  “Then why are we here again?”

  Christopher had sprung this whole “date” thing on me on a whim in front of Silas. I’d pretended like I knew about it, for his sake, but it had been news to me.

  “Because I had to get out of there and talk to you. I think we should leave a day or two early. I looked, and we can reschedule our flights. It’ll only cost a small change fee, and the price difference—”

  “Wait, you want to pay to leave earlier?” I didn’t want to tell him, but I was having fun. Leaving early was the last thing on my mind.

  “I can’t take it here any longer.”

  “Christopher, I don’t have that kind of money, and unless something has changed, I don’t think you do either. I doubt your father would appreciate paying for the difference to cut the trip short after he was kind enough to pay for us to get here in the first place.”

  Christopher scowled, but I could tell he was thinking about what I’d just said. He let out an audible sigh. “You’re right. I’m sorry. I can handle a few more days.”

  “Damn right you can,” I encouraged. “Besides, what about Tyler? We both know he’s the real reason you came all this way.”

  Christopher offered me a sly grin. “You caught on, huh?”

  “I did,” I said with a nod. “Not that I’m complaining, but I wish you’d have been honest with me.”

  “I was. My dad was pushing for me to bring my girlfriend out.”

  “But he said he always tries to get you out here. This isn’t much different.”

  Christopher shrugged. “Maybe not. I just know that he wouldn’t give up until I agreed.”

  “Maybe because he wanted to see you,” I suggested.

  Christopher rolled his eyes. “If he wanted to see me that badly, he could come to New York City.”

  “Have you ever asked him to? Maybe he doesn’t feel like you’d want him to.”

  “Why are you defending my dad all of a sudden? You’re supposed to be on my side, remember?”

  “I am on your side, Christopher,” I defended. “I’m just trying to help.”

  “Well, if it means defending my dad, please stop. I know him better than you do. You’ve spent a few hours with him compared to my years,” he said.

  I cringed. “You’re right. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t discount your feelings like that. I’m only trying to help.” I sighed and added, “I think your father might be more openminded than you think, but I can’t say for certain.”

  “No, you can’t,” Christopher agreed hotly. He picked up the menu and perused it like it was the most interesting thing in the world. When the waitress came, he ordered a cheeseburger.

  “I’ll have the same,” I said, not really in the mood to eat anymore. I hated fighting with Christopher, but I also knew him well enough to know that sometimes I just had to give him space.

  “Listen,” he said. “Sorry to get so snappy with you, but being around my family…I don’t know. It puts me in a weird head space.”

  “I get it. Not like you have the most normal family situation in the world.”

  There was a moment of silence, and I could tell he wanted to say something.

  “Tyler wants to go out after lunch,” Christop
her announced suddenly. “Is it okay if I drop you off back home and head out?”

  Unlike the night before, it was still early. The sun was still out, and I couldn’t imagine staying cooped up in Christopher’s room the entire time.

  Maybe I wouldn’t.

  There was a lot of space to walk and explore, a chance to clear my head. I could visit the horses in the stables. That sort of afternoon sounded lovely to me. Unlike Christopher, I was enjoying my time at the ranch and wasn’t eager for it to end.

  “Sure,” I agreed amicably. “I just want you to be happy, Christopher.”

  “Thank you.” His face and voice softened a bit as he grabbed my hand and gave it a squeeze.

  Ooo000ooo

  Mama G was in the kitchen when we returned to the house. Christopher was running up to get changed, but I stopped to talk to her. She was humming to herself when she saw me from the corner of her eye.

  “Well hello, dear. You have fun riding today?”

  “I did,” I said, beaming happily. “It was amazing.”

  Mama G was kneading some dough, and she caught me watching - wondering what she was making. She answered my unspoken question. “Making some dinner rolls for tonight. I don’t always get a chance to make them from scratch anymore, but when we have guests, well, I like to do what I can.”

  The kitchen was a lovely little place, small and cozy like the rest of the house. The sunlight caught motes of flour in the air, the scents of spices all around me. Through the windows over the sink the ranch spread out before us. I imagined Mama G cooking in this room over the years, taking satisfaction in making meals that’d get her kids growing up big and strong.

  A well-worn cookbook was on one of the kitchen counters, opened up to a dog-eared page. Ingredients were scattered around next to it, all arrayed in what appeared to be a chaotic placement. But Mama G struck me as someone who had a method to her chaos. And the food was good enough to make that case.

  “Do you need some help?”

  “Sure, if you don’t mind kneading a bit. My old hands get tired pretty darn quick these days.”

  I washed my hands at the sink beside her. She stepped away from the counter, and I took her place. I kneaded the dough, trying to imitate what she’d been doing.

  “So, how did you really meet my grandson?” she asked, surprising me with her question.

  “We met at college orientation, just like we talked about.”

  “Really?” She seemed to study me, waiting to catch me in a lie. I realized it wasn’t just Silas who had doubts about us being together.

  “Really,” I laughed. “That’s the God’s honest truth. He sat down beside me and commented on my sweater, and he knew more about wool than any one person should know.”

  Oops. If she was suspecting something, that might’ve been more evidence.

  Mama G chuckled to herself. “Okay, that does sound like him. It just seems so strange that it took you two this long to, you know, get together.”

  My smile fell, and I knew she was watching me. I’d given myself away.

  “You don’t have to lie to me, dear,” Mama G murmured softly, her voice gentle.

  “I—” I couldn’t lie to her, and I didn’t want to. But I also couldn’t betray my best friend’s trust. “I think you need to talk to Christopher. I really can’t speak for him about this.”

  Mama G patted my shoulder. “That’s fine,” she said, nodding. “And you can stop kneading. The bread is ready to go in the fridge now.”

  “Oh, okay,” I said, staring down at the dough. Kneading the dough had been satisfying. Feeling it underneath my hands, smashing it and knowing I was making something from it. Something that others would enjoy. I honestly had no idea that people still lived this way, that people made their own bread and rolls except for something fun to do. I always just picked up bread at the store, but this gave me a new appreciation. “Is there anything else I can help you with?”

  “I think we’re done for now dear, but I appreciate your help.”

  “Of course, Mrs. Walker—”

  “Please, call me Mama G,” she reminded me with one of the warmest smiles I’d ever seen. “Even Christopher calls me that, so you can too. I prefer it to grandma anyway.”

  “Okay, Mama G. Thank you.”

  “You’re a good girl,” she observed. “I can see it in your eyes.”

  So good that I was lying to all of them, sure. I smiled and averted my gaze. “Thank you.” Christopher came down the stairs, calling my name. “I’m in here.”

  He rounded the corner, dressed in designer jeans and a tight, black top that showed off his fit body. He looked like he was heading out for a night on the town - not just hanging around the ranch.

  “Oh, and where are you going? You just got back,” Mama G said, eyeing his outfit.

  “Uh, nowhere,” Christopher lied, averting his gaze.

  Mama G stepped up to her grandson and lifted his chin. He was at least a foot taller than her, but in that moment, he seemed more like a little boy. She made him look her in the eyes.

  “You’re lying Christopher. Don’t lie to me.”

  “Fine. I’m going out to meet a friend.”

  Mama G glanced at me. “Are you going too?”

  I opened my mouth to speak but didn’t know what Christopher wanted to tell her. I closed my mouth and let him talk. I really didn’t want to find myself under Grandma Mama G’s scrutiny.

  “No, she wanted to stay here and relax.” He looked at me pleadingly. “Isn’t that right, Molly?”

  “Yes, I’m enjoying it here.” That was the truth. “I think I’ll take a walk around the ranch and visit the horses some more, if that’s okay.”

  “That’s more than okay. Our home is your home,” Mama G said, dropping Christopher’s chin. “I just want to make sure that my grandson is treating you well and you’re comfortable here.”

  “Oh yes, everything is good,” I assured her. And again, it was the truth. I didn’t mind Christopher running off. I liked the serenity of having some time to myself at the ranch. He didn’t appreciate his home and always had something negative to say about it. It was his right to feel however he wanted, but I didn’t see things the way he did.

  And part of me was eager for him to leave because I wanted to spend more time with his father. Something I couldn’t do with him around.

  Something I shouldn’t do regardless.

  “I should be back in a couple hours,” Christopher told us.

  “For dinner?” Mama G asked with a raised eyebrow. “Because I’m making your favorite tonight.”

  “Yes, I’ll be back for dinner,” Christopher said, and he smiled a true smile for the first time since we’d gotten to the ranch.

  “Good. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m in the middle of a book and it’s not going to read itself,” she said.

  Mama G headed toward the stairs, and I walked Christopher to the front door. I guessed there was no sneaking out now that Mama G knew what was happening. Hopefully they bought his story that he was just visiting a friend and not someone more, though I was starting to suspect they were smarter than Christopher gave them credit for.

  I watched as he drove off. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes, the clean air filling my lungs.

  In the city, it was constantly go, go, go. I always had something to do. Social obligations. Interviews. Internships. Networking events. Always something.

  But here, I was free to do as I pleased. I could take a walk without having a destination in mind or a train to catch.

  And I was going to enjoy it.

  I walked the path behind the house. In the distance, I could see the guest houses and guest stables. The beautiful, sun-drenched prairie was behind all of that. I didn’t walk in that direction. Instead, I found myself walking toward the stables I’d been in earlier.

  I had a hankering to spend some more time with the horses. And if Silas was still there, well, that would be a bonus, right? The thought of my pull to
ward him left me feeling guilty.

  But it didn’t stop my feet from moving, taking me in the direction I saw him last.

  Silas

  “There you go, sweet girl,” I murmured, handing Martha a piece of apple. “You’re a good girl, you know that?”

  She’d let me brush her and clean her hooves without a fight. Which was no surprise considering it was Martha, as gentle a horse as they came.

  I thought about watching Molly with her. Often, a person gets on a horse clumsily, not intending to do harm. But they can put too much pressure on their back with their hands or kick them too hard to get them moving.

  Not Molly.

  She was as gentle with Martha as Martha was with her.

  Molly thought about the horse, not just about the experience of riding her. She took great care with her, and watching her ride, even briefly, was a sight I wouldn’t soon forget. It was both sweet and beautiful.

  She was beautiful.

  Thinking of Molly brought back memories of almost kissing her. How dangerous that would have been. I hadn’t kissed a woman in so long, I wasn’t sure where it would stop. I couldn’t let myself lose control with her.

  I walked over to Traveler and began brushing his coat. I spoke to him in soothing tones. Some days, I only spoke to the horses - I found them better company than most humans. There were some things you couldn’t talk to your siblings or mother about, no matter how close you were to them. Some things a man had to keep to himself.

  I heard footsteps behind me and turned, expecting to see one of my brothers. My breath caught in my throat as I saw Molly standing at the entrance to the stable, the sunlight like a halo around her, highlighting her shape, making her look like an angel.

  Her blonde hair fell over her shoulders, loose and free. Her smile was genuine and warm. Her eyes looked straight at me.

  “You’re so good with them,” she said softly.

  “They’re good to me too.”

  The blood rushed south the moment I’d seen here in the doorway, and I couldn’t help but wonder what that sweet voice would sound like screaming my name in ecstasy. Don’t come over here, I thought to myself. Don’t come any closer.