Taboo Cowboy: A Secret Baby Ranch Western Romance

by Crowne, KC

  Her mouth opened in surprise, and I didn’t let her say a word. I kissed her without thinking, and she kissed me back. I couldn’t explain it, but I wanted her by my side, always. It was too soon to call it love, maybe, but I already loved the child growing inside of her.

  Our child.

  So why couldn’t I feel strongly for its mother as well?

  I didn’t care if it made no sense.

  Molly pulled away and blushed. “Silas, we still need to talk about Christopher.”

  Those words could pull me from the fantasy world in a second. She was right. My son and I were as close as we’d ever been, and this wouldn’t go over well.

  “We’ll tell him,” I said. “But first, I need to know if you’ll stay. That way we can tell him everything at once. No more secrets or surprises.”

  “I can’t— I don’t know, Silas. Like I said, even if I did want this, I couldn’t take it.”

  “You can, Molly. And you will. Whether you move here or not, this place is yours. It’s in your name, to do with as you please.”

  The paperwork still needed to be drafted, but that was the plan. I was giving it to Molly. If she decided to turn around and sell it, it was her prerogative - but I was hoping she wouldn’t.

  I saw the look on her face when she stepped into it and started imagining the possibilities. It excited her, and the way her eyes lit up, it was like all her dreams had been realized.

  If she stayed with me, I’d make sure every last one of them came true.

  I’d give her anything. All she had to do was ask.

  Molly

  As soon as I walked into the space, something clicked inside of me.

  All this time, I was so focused on going big - starting out in the center of Manhattan, doing things that would cost a fortune, and not the least bit likely for someone new in the industry. It had always been a dream to work for myself.

  But when I’d walked into that storefront, it felt like coming home.

  I could see the racks of my clothes, picture people coming in off the street. My style was more classic with a hint of modern, and it would fit into a city like Houston - or almost anywhere. So why did I think the only way to success was starting out at the top already?

  I laid in bed, ruminating. It was still just a dream for me - I wasn’t about to take something like that from Silas. It was far too generous. It felt selfish.

  And there was the whole Christopher thing to consider as well.

  We had always talked about going into business together, and I wasn’t sure he’d want to do that in Texas. I wasn’t sure if he’d ever want to speak to me again after he found out I was carrying his half-brother or sister either.

  That emptiness inside of me came back - I yearned to talk to my best friend, to tell him everything. But Silas and I had to come together and decided the best way to tell him. I couldn’t do it on my own.

  But I had no one to talk to, and the shitty hotel room walls felt like they were closing in on me.

  My phone buzzed and I frowned when I saw that it was Silas. I almost didn’t answer - we’d seen each other only hours before. I hadn’t made any decisions yet. I needed time for all that. But I was also lonely.

  I picked up. “Yes?” I said dryly.

  “Hey, are you hungry by chance?”

  My stomach growled at the mere mention of food. “I could eat, but I can’t come over there, Silas. Not until we tell Christopher.”

  “I wasn’t talking about you comin’ over here.”

  “Well, I don’t have a kitchen here.”

  “I’m askin’ if you’d like to grab a bite to eat.”

  “Oh.” For some reason, the very idea of going out to dinner with Silas was the last thing on my mind.

  “The options aren’t that great, but the local bar in town serves food, as you’re well aware. And it’s right by your hotel.”

  “What if someone sees us?” I asked, biting my lip.

  “Well, eventually we’ll be tellin’ everyone the news, so what’s it matter?”

  He had a point.

  “And,” he continued, “we can discuss how we’re gonna tell Christopher and everyone else. We need to do that soon, Molly. I think we both know it.”

  “Everything else is off-limits, though,” I said. “I’m not ready to talk about whether I should move here or what we’re going to do. I still need time to process everything and so do you.”

  “Fine,” he agreed. “We’ll table that discussion for now, but we need to tell people. And the sooner, the better.”

  “You’re right,” I sighed.

  “So I’ll pick you up in half an hour.”

  I started to argue, but I didn’t have it in me. I didn’t want to stop this. I wanted to see him, and I wanted to tell Christopher everything. So the sooner the better.

  “Okay,” I said before hanging up the phone.

  I’m not sure he would have taken no for an answer anyway. That seemed to be the way with Silas. I told him I had no intention of staying in Texas, and he bought me a store. Christopher was right about his dad. He was stubborn as hell.

  I found myself smiling, though. It wasn’t a bad stubbornness. I could actually appreciate it. I knew he was just trying to show that he cared for me and the baby.

  I quickly changed out of my pajamas and into a nice pair of jeans and a sweater. I stared in the mirror, cupping my belly. It was too soon to notice any roundness, but soon, it would become obvious. I couldn’t keep this secret from people forever.

  The idea of my belly growing brought an even bigger smile to my face. All my life, I’d wanted a family, but I always assumed it would happen someday. You know, after the career and all that. I was doing things a bit backwards, sure, but I couldn’t be sad.

  I’d have a baby in eight months.

  There was a knock on the door, and I checked the clock.

  “Right on time,” I said to myself with a laugh. I grabbed my purse and headed for the door. When I pulled it open, my breath caught in my throat.

  Silas was wearing his usual tight jeans, boots, and cowboy hat, but I still couldn’t get over how tight his body was, how large he was compared to me. And most of all, how incredibly gorgeous he was.

  He cracked a smile and gave me an appreciative gaze, looking me up and down. He obviously liked what he saw.

  “You look great,” he said.

  “I’m just in jeans and a sweater,” I said, my cheeks burning.

  “Doesn’t matter what you’re wearin’. You’d look amazing wearin’ a burlap sack, Molly.”

  I had to hide the smile on my face by averting my gaze, focusing on the ugly carpet at my feet instead. “Thank you.”

  “Anytime, beautiful. Ready to head out?” He offered me his arm. At first, I just stared at it, trying to decide my next move, but then I took it.

  We walked arm-in-arm to the bar next door, and for a moment, I actually thought things might work out between us.

  Ooo000ooo

  “Just a water for me, please.” The waitress had just listed off the specials - all of them alcoholic and therefore off-limits.

  “A beer for me,” Silas said. “Whatever you have on tap. And a burger, medium-rare.”

  He handed the waitress his menu. I was still trying to decide between the flavorless chicken sandwich I’d had last time or something different. I craved Mama G’s roast and potatoes, but there was nothing comparable on the menu, and even if there were, the quality wouldn’t be the same.

  “I guess I’ll have the chicken sandwich with fries,” I sighed. Better the devil you know, I thought to myself as I handed over the menu.

  The waitress, a bored-looking woman named Connie, took my menu and left, leaving me alone with Silas.

  I’d been quiet on the quick walk over. It was hard putting my words into thoughts, and I wasn’t sure what Silas was thinking. He was a hard person to read, and sometimes even harder to open up.

  “So what are your thoughts? How are we going to te
ll everyone?” I asked.

  Connie brought over the drinks, and Silas didn’t say anything for a while. I thought perhaps he hadn’t heard me over the shitty country music on the jukebox.

  But then he started speaking. Leaning back in his chair, crossing his arms in front of his chest, he stared at me intently as he said, “I think we should just do it. Rip off the band-aid. Be up front and honest, tell him we know we shouldn’t have - but that it’s too late for wishin’.”

  “Well, that’s certainly one way to do it,” I said, taking a sip from my water. “But I think we need to take a better approach. Christopher is going to be so hurt.”

  “But wouldn’t he appreciate our honesty?”

  “Eventually, maybe,” I hedged, tossing my head back and forth. “But your son isn’t like you, Silas. He’s likely going to feel betrayed and hurt. A gentler approach might be better.”

  “Gentler? How so?”

  “I don’t know. I’m still thinking this over, but—”

  Silas’s eyes widened, stopping me, his eyes on the door. “Shit,” he muttered, standing up before I could turn around to see what he was staring at. “He’s here.”

  “Who is?” I expected one of his brothers, but as I turned in my seat, my heart dropped into my stomach.

  Christopher was near the door. It looked as if he’d walked inside and changed his mind, turning quickly to exit - but then our eyes met and he stopped.

  “Molly? What are you doing here?”

  He wasn’t alone. He was with a tall man with blonde hair and blue eyes and a quarterback’s build. I assumed it was Tyler.

  I stood up and walked to Christopher. “I can explain everything, Christopher—”

  “What are you doing with my dad?” he asked, looking past me at Silas. “Is something going on? Is something wrong?”

  “Nothin’s wrong,” Silas said, stepping up beside me. “But Molly and I do have somethin’ to tell you.”

  I cringed and muttered, “Not here, Silas.”

  “Not here?” Christopher asked, crossing his arms in front of his chest. He looked between his dad and me. “What in the hell is going on?”

  “Let’s rip off the band-aid, Molly.”

  “Rip off the band-aid?” Christopher asked. “Someone better tell me what the hell is going on.”

  “Son, Molly and I spent some time together while y’all were here,” Silas started.

  Christopher’s eyes nearly bugged out of his head as he put two and two together. His eyes jerked to mine. “You slept with my dad, Molly?” His voice rose high enough that everyone in the bar could hear. No amount of shitty music could cover it up. “He’s the one who took your virginity? That’s why you couldn’t tell me?”

  “Let me continue,” Silas insisted.

  “There’s more?” Christopher’s eyes were on me the entire time.

  “Yes,” I whispered, feeling about as tiny as an ant. I couldn’t even look my best friend in the eyes. “I’m pregnant.”

  “You’re what?”

  “She’s pregnant,” Silas repeated, speaking louder than I could in the moment. “With your little brother or sister.”

  Christopher was stunned. He stood there with wide eyes, as if trying to figure out if this were all some kind of sick joke.

  “How could you keep this from me? How could you let this happen?” He threw his hands up in the air. “You know what, I can’t deal with this right now.” He turned toward the man he was with and pushed past him out the door.

  I couldn’t let him leave like that; I had to talk to him. Silas grabbed my arm, trying to hold me back. “Give him time,” he told me.

  “No, I need to talk to him. This wasn’t the way to tell him, Silas,” I said, tears falling down my cheeks. “I need to apologize and try to make things right.”

  I pulled free from Silas’s grasp and hurried out the door, just as Christopher was getting into the passenger side of a car.

  “Christopher, wait!”

  He jerked around to glare at me. “Why didn’t you tell me sooner, Molly? You’ve been holding this in for how long now, five weeks?”

  “I wanted to tell you, but—”

  “But what?” he interrupted, his voice shaking. I’d never seen him so mad, and my heart broke. I’d destroyed everything we had because I couldn’t control myself around his father.

  “I—” I didn’t really have an explanation that didn’t sound selfish.

  “Yeah, I thought so,” Christopher growled, getting into the car and slamming the door.

  “Christopher, wait!”

  But the car sped out of the parking lot. Silas had appeared by my side, taking my hand in his. I ripped my hand free and faced him.

  “That was not the way to do it, Silas. I told you.”

  “Just give him time,” he repeated.

  “No, he’s not like you. I know my best friend, and I need to go after him,” I insisted.

  “Molly, you can’t—”

  I ran to the hotel parking lot, my keys out. Silas was on my heels, calling my name. I had no time to stop and explain myself to him - I had to get to Christopher.

  I had to explain myself.

  I couldn’t lose my best friend.

  I climbed in the driver’s side of my rental car and started the engine.

  “Dammit, Molly!” I heard Silas call out as I pulled out of the parking lot.

  I took off in the direction I saw them headed, my foot to the floor, going as fast as my rental Honda would take me.

  Silas

  Dammit, Molly.

  She was right - the way I went about telling Christopher was all wrong. I’d fucked up again, and this time might be the last time. I wasn’t sure my son would ever forgive me.

  I knew how Molly was feeling, but I didn’t like the way she peeled out of here. She was driving way too fucking fast for someone who wasn’t used to the winding country roads. With my heart racing, I hopped into my truck and took off in the direction they had gone.

  I had to catch up to her, and if possible, Christopher as well.

  Somehow, I had to make it right.

  I also had to make sure the mother of my child was safe.

  I sped down the road, taking the switchback turns like a pro. I’d grown up out here; I knew these roads like the back of my hand. But Molly? No way she could maneuver some of the curves at the speed she was going.

  In the distance, I saw her rental car. She was still speeding but going slower than before. It made me feel just a bit better. I came up behind her just as she accelerated on a straight stretch. I knew this stretch well. It was deceptive and headed right into a switchback.

  “Fuck, Molly. Slow down,” I growled aloud.

  I sped up and could see her car as it headed into the curve. My heart nearly stopped, and I felt like I couldn’t breathe. Everything from that moment happened in slow motion.

  Molly’s little Honda made the first, smaller curve, but then it went straight into a switchback. The road was narrow, just enough room for two cars but barely. Another car came from the other direction, the headlights blinding, just as Molly’s car veered into the other lane. I laid on the horn and Molly overcorrected.

  Her Honda went off the side of the road.

  Down into a deep ravine.

  I hit the brakes, nearly running off the side of the road myself. I was screaming her name as I watched the car roll down the ravine.

  I was out of the car and running toward her when the Honda smashed into a tree, the only thing stopping it from going down even further into a stream. It was both a blessing and a curse. Her tiny car crumpled in on itself.

  The smell of gas was in the air as I approached the car.

  I had to get her out of there, and fast.

  I had some medical training from my days in the Army, but not much. I knew that you weren’t supposed to move someone after an accident in case of a broken neck, but the smell of gasoline was strong. I feared a fire, or worse.

  “Molly!
” I wrapped my hand in my shirt and smashed the passenger side window, calling her name.

  She didn’t answer, and what I saw once inside the car broke my heart into a million pieces.

  Blood poured down her face, dripping into her eyes, which were open and staring straight ahead. At first, I thought she was dead, and I felt the bile rising in my throat.

  But then she blinked and began to tremble.

  “Molly, it’s me,” I said, trying to keep my voice calm. “Are you alright?”

  “I—Silas?”

  Her voice was slurred, like she was drunk. I leaned in through the window and removed her seat belt. Molly stared at me with a blank look on her face. She was in shock.

  “Come on, darlin’, I need to know if you can move. Can you move your fingers for me?”

  It took a moment, but she wiggled the fingers of her right hand.

  “Good girl. Can you move anything else?”

  I knew that her neck and spine could still be damaged. I needed to call for help, but I also needed to get her out of there before the car went up in flames.

  I pulled out my phone and dialed 9-1-1.

  I gave them my location and told them we needed an ambulance. I explained as best I could but kept it short. My focus was on Molly as the fumes grew strong enough to choke both of us. Molly began coughing.

  “Alright, this is what we’re gonna do - I’m gonna get you out of here.”

  Molly nodded. That was a good sign at least. She was with me. She could move.

  I wrapped my arms around her and gradually moved her, little by little, toward the passenger side window. Once I climbed out, I reached inside and picked her up, carrying her from the car.

  “Talk to me, baby,” I said. “Are you with me?”

  “I am,” she said, her voice sounding weaker than I would have liked.

  In the distance, I heard sirens. What a sweet sound that was.

  “You’re gonna be okay, Molly.”

  “Silas, the baby…”

  Her words cut right through my core, and I could see the tears welling in her eyes. Through all of this, she was more worried about the baby than she was herself.