Rodeo Family

by Shannon Taylor Vannatter

  Brant scuffed the toe of his boot against the floor, approached her bed and dug each item out of the McDonald’s bag. “Think it’ll make you sick?”

  “No. I’ve finally gotten to where smells don’t bother me.” Suddenly famished, she opened the sandwich. “It actually smells great. Want to pray?”

  Still without looking at her, Brant took her hand in his and bowed his head. “Dear Lord, thank you for keeping Tori and her baby safe. Thank you for letting Russ end up where he belongs. Thank you for Texas Rangers. And bless this food. Help Tori to have a healthy, happy and safe baby. Amen.”

  “You think it’s okay with God for us to be relieved Russ is in the hospital?”

  “No. He wants us to forgive Russ. But that’s gonna take some time. At least for me. And I think God understands that.” Finally, his gaze met hers, drowning her in jade intensity.

  “I guess I shouldn’t pray for him to die.”

  “Probably not.” Brant scanned the lace and satin-decked room. “Wow, it’s really flowery and girly in here.”

  She chuckled and took a bite of the Filet-O-Fish. “Oh that’s good. How did you know just what I needed?”

  “Figured we could all use some comfort about now. I don’t know what I’d have done if he’d hurt you. Or the baby.”

  Her heart thundered. “Maybe that chapter of my life is over. If Russ lives, he’ll go to prison. Last time I checked, you can’t shoot at Texas Rangers and get away with it.”

  “You gonna keep the baby?”

  “I don’t know.” She took a swig of her shake. “The only way I could do that is if I felt like Russ would never bother us. Ever. Again.”

  “Big decision.”

  “Yeah. And not much time to make it.” She patted her bulging stomach.

  They fell into silence as she polished off her sandwich and fries, then drained her shake.

  “Speaking of decisions, I finally got my rodeo break.”

  Her heart sank. “Really?”

  “A record producer from Nashville saw me perform at the Stockyards. He wants me to meet with him in Nashville.”

  “To offer you a contract?” Her heart sank further—all the way down to her toes.

  “Probably.”

  “That’s awesome.” She tried to infuse excitement into her tone.

  “It’s not what I dreamed of, but it could lead into Christian music like with Garrett. I’d given up on that dream.”

  “You should never give up on your dreams.” Just don’t cry. Hold it together until he leaves. She had no right to hold on to him or interfere with his dream. Her gaze dropped to her stomach.

  “I’ve been really torn. I don’t want to sing Country music, but can I afford to pass up this chance? And maybe I gave up that dream because I have a new one.”

  “A megachurch.”

  “You.”

  Her gaze flew to his. “Me?”

  “I’ve fallen in love with you, Tori.”

  Something in her chest exploded into thousands of butterflies. “Me?”

  “Yes—you. From your strawberry blond hair to your pregnant belly to your perseverance and strength all packed in a tiny wisp of beauty. The main reason I couldn’t decide about Nashville was that I didn’t want to leave you.”

  She wanted to tell him she loved him. With all her heart. But she couldn’t keep him from his dream. Besides, he deserved better than her.

  “Tori, do you have any feelings for me? I mean other than friendship?” His jade eyes reflected all the love he felt for her. How had she missed his feelings so clearly displayed?

  If he’d stop looking at her like that, she could tell a lie. Release him to pursue his dream, to find a woman worthy of him and to never worry about Russ again.

  “You passed friendly feelings about the third time you brought me a Filet-O-Fish.”

  “Really?” Brant pulled her into his arms. “Oh, Tori, I want to marry you and raise your baby as my own. I want to have more babies with you.”

  “Whoa. Wait a minute.” She pushed against his chest.

  He released her—just enough to look at her. “What?”

  “What about Nashville?”

  “Today convinced me, I can’t leave you. And Nashville was never really my dream. But you are. We’ll get married and stay right here. Maybe someday a megachurch will call me and we’ll achieve my dream together. That is if it’s not far enough away to interfere with your business.”

  “I think we need to slow down, Brant. I’ve got a lot of baggage.”

  “And I love all of it.” He kissed the tip of her nose. “Except for Russ, of course. But even if he survives, goes to prison and one day gets out, I can protect you and the baby.”

  His tender gesture tugged her heart toward surrender.

  “But you shouldn’t have to. You should end up with some virgin preacher’s daughter with no baggage. Not a woman pregnant by an abusive criminal who doesn’t even know if she’s keeping the baby or not.”

  He winced and let go of her. “I never claimed to be perfect. And trust me, sadly there are a lot fewer virgin preacher’s daughters than you’d think. So you’ve made some mistakes in the past. So have I. Some of your mistakes have haunted you.” He pressed his hand against her belly. “But some turned into blessings. I love you, Tori. I love your baby.”

  “I think we should slow down and think about things. I need to at least see what happens with Russ. And decide what to do about the baby before I can even begin to entertain the idea of us.”

  He nodded and drew close again. His gaze latched onto her lips.

  She pressed a fingertip against his mouth and shivered. “That’s not a good way to keep a clear head and think about things.”

  “No. But it’s fun and it might sway my case.” He mumbled against her finger.

  And she shivered again. Strength. It would take a lot of strength to resist him. And she was suddenly too tired to be strong. “I’m tired.”

  “You look tired. Beautiful, but tired.” He cupped her cheek and kissed her forehead. “Sweet dreams and don’t forget to think about me. You should probably start planning our wedding.” Brant settled in the recliner by her bed. “Mind if I stay a while?”

  “Why?”

  “Because a maniac stole something I love today and I’m still pretty shaken. I’d like to just sit and look at you for a while.”

  Her face warmed. “I’m fine. But you can stay. If...”

  “If?”

  “If you won’t make fun of me for snoring or drooling.”

  “I’d like to watch you snore and drool for the rest of my life.”

  Pushing pillows aside, she sank into the bed and closed her eyes. How could she relax with Brant staring at her? But all the emotions and physical turmoil had caught up with her. She was exhausted. A heaviness seemed to drag her down and her head went fuzzy.

  The “Bridal Chorus,” pink roses and satin filled the church. But whose wedding? She looked down. Skinny again—no pregnant stomach. Her flat belly sheathed in white satin. A man in a tuxedo stood at the front of the church with his back toward her. She tried to run to him, but her feet dragged as if in quicksand. Seeming hours passed as she slogged down the aisle. Finally, she made it to the groom and touched his shoulder.

  Brant turned to face her, smiling and happy. Safe. And he was holding their baby.

  She drowned in his green eyes, but then they turned brown, his hair became blond and his handsome smile turned into Russ’s sneer.

  “Give me my baby!” she screamed. But Russ only laughed at her. Still holding the baby, he picked Tori up with his other arm and slung her over his shoulder. She beat against his back with both fists and pleaded for someone to help her. But the strangers in the church only laughed.

 
“Tori.” Someone grabbed her shoulder. “Tori. Wake up.”

  She opened her eyes.

  “You were dreaming.” Brant hovered close. “Are you okay?”

  “Yeah. I’m fine.”

  “Russ can’t hurt you anymore.”

  For now. But now that he knew she had his baby and she had money—she’d never be free of him. Not even with him in prison. And she couldn’t drag Brant into her nightmare.

  She had to settle things with Russ before she could even think about a future with Brant.

  * * *

  A lemon. Or a lemon-colored beach ball. Tori smoothed the yellow sundress over the mound of her stomach. She turned from the mirror, grabbed her purse and went to find Jenna.

  Garrett and Jenna were in an intense embrace in the great room. Yeah, she definitely needed to get out of here and give the newlyweds their privacy. She tiptoed, trying not to make any noise.

  “Ahem.” Jenna cleared her throat.

  “Sorry about that.” Garrett actually blushed. “Just giving my wife a goodbye kiss before she heads off to the store.”

  “It’s your house.” Tori shrugged. “You can plaster yourselves together wherever you want. Sorry I interrupted.”

  “Actually, it’s a good thing you did. I need to get going.” Jenna grinned that happily-married-living-in-bliss smile of hers. “Where are you going looking so sunshiny? Aren’t you supposed to be resting?”

  “I’ve rested for three days.” Tori rolled her eyes. “Besides, I’ve got a meeting with my lawyer and Dad’s attorney, then I’m going house hunting.” And she was going to see Russ. But they didn’t need to know that.

  “Oh yeah, I forgot about the attorney. But a house? You can stay in the guesthouse indefinitely.”

  “I know. Believe me, I so appreciate everything y’all have done. But I need to spread my wings.”

  “Understandable. And you’re safe now.” Garrett gave her a stiff hug. “But let us know if we can do anything to help.”

  “I’ll miss you around here.” Jenna shrugged. “And at the store.”

  “How’s the new employee?”

  “Brittany’s great. I’ve known her forever from church and Natalie helped her out a few years ago. But she’s not you.”

  “That’s probably a good thing.” Tori laughed at the irony.

  “You’re an awesome person, Tori.” Jenna hugged her. “And I’m proud of you for the turnaround you’ve made.”

  “Thanks.”

  “I’ll walk you out.”

  “Can you give me a ride to my car?”

  “Actually, Garrett had one of the ranch hands drive it over here.”

  “Thanks.” She and Jenna trekked to their separate cars.

  Today, she’d settle things with Russ once and for all. Then she’d think about Brant. Was it really possible for her and Brant to have the kind of happily-ever-after Jenna shared with Garrett?

  * * *

  Tori’s heels clicked down the corridor of the hospital. Wow. She was free—financially. How had her father amassed such a fortune without blowing it all on booze, drugs and women?

  She scanned the numbers by each door and found Russ’s room. Her feet stalled and she drew in a big breath, then tapped on the slightly ajar door.

  No answer. She tentatively stepped into the room.

  Wires and monitors surrounded Russ. He was asleep, his face battered and bruised. Small and helpless. Despite everything, she felt sorry for him.

  The antiseptic smell of the hospital turned her stomach. Thank goodness she’d finally gotten past getting sick at every little scent.

  His eyes opened and his sneer was weaker than usual. “Come to gloat since I’ll never walk again?”

  “I didn’t know and I’m truly sorry. But I came to get you to sign these.”

  “What is it?” He pushed the button that raised him into a sitting position.

  “I had my lawyer draw it up. It’s an agreement to relinquish custody rights of our child to me.”

  “I ain’t signing that. Why would I?”

  “Look around, Russ, what can you offer a child?” She hated to be so cruel, but she needed to be free of him. Once and for all.

  He visibly shrank. “Nothing, I guess, but that baby’s still mine. And there’s nothing you can do to deny it.” He frowned. “Unless you cheated on me.”

  “No. I’ll have a paternity test if you want.” She’d slept around in the past, but she’d been monogamous in each relationship. If they could be called relationships. She shuddered. How had she lived that way?

  “Well, I ain’t signing nothing.”

  “How much will this cost you, Russ? How will you pay your hospital bills? I imagine you’ll get disability to live on. But what about all of this?” She scanned all the medical equipment surrounding him.

  “I’ll think of something.”

  “Maybe we could come to an understanding.”

  “Like what?” he spat.

  “I’ll pay your hospital bills and you sign this.”

  He glared at her. And even though he was in a hospital bed with no use of his legs, a chill crept up her spine.

  No, he wouldn’t intimidate her. She’d intimidate him. She had the upper hand this time.

  She didn’t shrink from his glare, but held eye contact, and jiggled the papers at him.

  He jerked them out of her hand.

  Expecting him to rip the document to shreds, she held her breath.

  “Got a pen?” Defeat and desperation echoed in his tone.

  She handed him the pen and a heavy burden slipped from her shoulders as she watched him sign the papers.

  The baby was hers. She could stop calling her child the baby. My baby. And she was keeping her baby.

  He handed her the signed document.

  “Thank you for doing the right thing, Russ.”

  “I figured you’d say something like, That’s a first.”

  “I didn’t come here to hurt you or rub your situation in. I just want the freedom to raise my baby.”

  “Good luck, Tori.”

  The rare tender side of him—it didn’t show often and it didn’t last long.

  “You too, Russ. I’ll pray for you.”

  A confused frown furrowed his brow. “I don’t need no prayers.”

  Oh yes, he did. “Goodbye then.” She hurried out the door.

  On autopilot, she trekked the long corridor, took the elevator to the ground floor and exited the hospital.

  Thank you, Lord. My baby is mine.

  She’d call and make arrangements for Russ’s bill later.

  “Tori?” a woman called as she walked toward the parking lot.

  Tori turned around. Raquel, Brant’s sister. “Hey.”

  “I’m glad to see you looking so well after your ordeal. You’re not here because of any complications, are you?”

  “No. Just visiting someone. Is everything okay with you?” Brant. Was Brant okay?

  “Fine. One of the students at school broke his arm on the playground. I thought the friendly face of a nurse he knows might make him feel more at ease.”

  “That’s sweet.”

  “You know, Brant won’t tell me anything about what’s going on with y’all. But he’s crazy about you, I can tell.”

  Her insides fluttered. “Really?”

  “I’ll have to admit—I was leery at first. I mean how many guys fall in love with a woman pregnant with another man’s child twice in one lifetime?”

  Chapter 15

  What? Tori tried not to look as confused as she felt, so Raquel would continue.

  “At first I thought he might be trying to make up for what happened with Tiffany—like it was his fa
ult or something. But he really loves you.”

  Tiffany? Tori’s mind reeled.

  “But you know, I finally realized he was a kid back then. He’d been in puppy love with Tiffany for years, but she was his best friend’s girl. And Brant’s not the kind of guy to mess with that. But once Davis got her pregnant and dumped her, Brant felt sorry for her and saw his chance to be her hero.”

  Raquel shrugged. “Maybe if she hadn’t been the preacher’s daughter, she wouldn’t have been so ashamed. If she hadn’t snuck off to have that abortion and she’d lived, I still don’t think they’d have made it. Tiffany didn’t love him.”

  “She didn’t?”

  “Shocking, I know. What kind of girl wouldn’t fall in love with my brother?” Raquel waved her hand through the air, as if sweeping the revelation away. “But all of that is past history. It has nothing to do with the way he feels about you. He’d love you whether you were pregnant or not. In fact, he mentioned you might give the baby up—so that’s proof—it’s not only the baby he loves—it’s you.”

  No. Brant was following his past history. He’d proposed to her because he felt sorry for her. Just like he had Tiffany. But Tiffany had died.

  And Tori wouldn’t be his stand-in Tiffany.

  “Anyway, I better go see my student. It was nice bumping into you.”

  “You, too.” Tori hugged herself. Blinking back tears, she hurried to her car.

  She’d still keep her baby. But she didn’t need Brant or any other man. She’d raise her child on her own and be the best mom she could be.

  * * *

  Brant slid into his favorite booth at Moms on Main and fiddled with the velvety ring box in his pocket. The early September sun bathed the front windows in light. Tori wanted to meet with him. Surely that meant she had an answer for him. Two painfully slow weeks had passed since he’d told her how he felt and he’d barely seen her since. As if she were avoiding him.

  Would she give him the answer he wanted?

  If she loved him, would she really have to think about her answer? For two weeks? Maybe she’d asked for time because he’d popped the question right after the ordeal with Russ.

  Great romantic timing there, McConnell.