“But you don’t want kids.”
“Why do you say that?” he asked.
She looked up and the breeze blew a strand of hair across her face, into her eyes. She brushed it away and met his gaze. “The other day you seemed a little exasperated and said you don’t know how your brother does it. That didn’t sound like you were in favor of having the experience yourself.”
“The truth is, I don’t know if I’d be a very good father.”
“I guess it would be hard to go for it if you have doubts.” She slid her hands into the pockets of her jacket. “It was easy for me. There was no question in my mind about wanting to be a mom.”
And she made it look good, he thought. But she was right. With his brother, the pregnancy happened and Holt manned up. He was all in when Robby was born, and Morgan would have done the same. But if he had a choice, it would be a tough call for him to make.
But that reminded him. “You had a doctor’s appointment. How did that go?”
“Good.”
Morgan hadn’t known her long, but he felt as if he knew her well enough to see when something was bothering her. And that was now. He was certain of it.
“Did you like the doctor?”
“Yes. Very much.” That might have been a little too enthusiastic. Compensating for something?
“Did someone give you a hard time? Was the office a dirty, windowless shack without running water and electricity?”
“It was fine.”
He’d been going for the absurd to make her laugh. That was an epic fail and convinced him not to let up until she came clean about what was going on. “Tell me what’s wrong, Erica. Please don’t say nothing, because I can see different.”
“Everything is good.”
“I’m not buying that. Come on, this is me. Give it up.” He met her gaze and saw in hers when she stopped pretending.
She left the dirt path and leaned against a tree. “I want to take a childbirth class. The doctor says it’s not too late to do it.”
“That’s a good thing. No?”
“Yes and no.” Her frown deepened. “I could use someone to go with me. A coach.”
“Okay. So who’s it going to be?” The baby’s father? This wasn’t the first time he’d wondered where the guy was. He was still curious, but it wasn’t his place to push for information.
“That’s just it. I don’t know.” She caught her top lip between her teeth.
“What about your mom?” he suggested.
She shook her head. “I can’t ask her. As much as my parents nagged me about making them grandparents, their plan included marriage before motherhood. I need someone who is one hundred percent in my corner without making a judgment.”
“You grew up here.” From his perspective, that was the family background someone needed to be accepted in Bronco Heights. “How about a friend?”
“I was gone so long I’ve lost touch with my friends. Or they’ve moved away.” Her shoulders slumped and the sunshine in her face was all clouded over.
“What about Daphne Taylor?”
She shook her head. “We didn’t stay in touch, and it seems presumptuous to ask. And Mel travels for her job. Even if that’s only once or twice a month it could be inconvenient to rearrange her schedule, not to mention when I go into labor.”
“There must be someone,” he said.
“I don’t know anyone I’d feel comfortable asking.”
“You know me.” Morgan couldn’t hold back the words. Seeing her like this made him want to put the sparkle back in her eyes.
“You?” It wasn’t quite a sparkle, but something jumped into her expression. “You do know this is a childbirth class?”
“Yeah.”
“This inclination of yours to volunteer to help me out is getting to be a habit. It’s very sweet, but I won’t hold you to it.”
Morgan wasn’t sure why he felt so strongly about this. He was willing to admit that it was more than bonding over being outsiders. Mostly he just really liked her and couldn’t help wanting to fix her problems.
“It’s all right,” he said. “You can hold me to it.”
“Surely you’re joking.” She was incredulous.
“Nope. Dead serious.”
“Why would you do it?”
“We’re friends.” And thrown into the mix was just a little bit of in-your-face to her brother for warning him off. “It’s what friends do.”
“But kids aren’t your thing,” she protested.
“You’re doing the work. I’m being the support.” He shrugged.
“But what if this baby is born in the middle of the night?” she challenged.
“It happens all the time with cows. I’m always on call.”
“You didn’t really just compare me to a cow,” she teased. “Maybe I’m starting to look like one—”
“No way.” He thought she was beautiful. “I didn’t—I mean, I was just saying—”
“It’s okay. I know what you meant. And I wouldn’t ask you to be there for the labor—”
“What kind of friend would I be to abandon you? A coach doesn’t train his players, then not show up for the game.” Morgan shook his head.
“I’m completely blown away that you’d offer to do this for me. I just can’t believe you would—”
“Well, believe it,” he said firmly.
“I don’t know what to say.”
“For Pete’s sake, just say yes and thank you.”
“Okay. If you’re absolutely sure... Yes.” She laughed and looked as if a great weight was lifted from her shoulders. “I don’t know why you would do this. And I’m not sure why it feels right, but it does. I’m very grateful to you. Thank you, Morgan.”
When she looked at him the way she was now, as if he’d hung the moon, he would do anything for her. And it’s not like this was forever. In a matter of weeks the baby would be here and his job would be done and their paths would take them in different directions. Probably he wouldn’t see her and would miss that beautiful smile more than he wanted to admit.
* * *
A few days later Erica insisted on picking Morgan up for the birthing class. She knew where Dalton’s Grange was and easily found his house on the property. She was early, which was a chronic thing with her because it had been drilled into her growing up that being late was rude. Now punctuality was a habit. As big as the baby was getting, she hoped this child would take after her and at least arrive on time.
Still, she wouldn’t turn down the chance to check out his house. And she couldn’t help being curious, especially when she noticed smoke curling out of the rock chimney and light pouring out of the windows making his home seem really warm and cozy and inviting.
She walked up to the wooden porch with the railing that spanned the front. The style was the same as the main house she’d passed, with a rock and log facade and peaked roof.
Her boots sounded on the porch as she walked up to the door and knocked. Moments later an older woman answered it. She had a blond bob hairdo, blue eyes and a welcoming smile.
“You must be Erica Abernathy. I’m Deborah, Morgan’s mom.”
Erica shook the hand she held out. “Nice to meet you.”
It was. And it wasn’t. Since he lived in his own house on the ranch, it hadn’t occurred to her that she’d meet any of his relatives and have to explain her reason for being here. Especially when she hadn’t told her own family about Morgan being her birthing coach.
“You are just the most adorable pregnant lady I’ve ever seen.” The other woman beamed at her. It was the sort of look she’d hoped for from her own mother.
“I feel just the opposite of adorable,” she said ruefully.
“Some women are lucky enough to barely look pregnant right up until giving birth. I have a feeling you’re goi
ng to be like that.” She shook her head. “This is the honest truth. I’ve had five babies and never looked as radiant as you.”
“I’m not going to try and talk you out of that impression.”
Deborah laughed. “Just to set the record straight, no matter what it looks like, my son does not live with his mother.”
“What a relief. That would be weird,” she teased back.
“He was working on a project with his father and got back late, then had to feed and water the animals.” She angled her head toward the hallway off the great room. “I brought him some dinner, which he wolfed down. He just went to shower and clean up.”
Erica glanced around the room with a cheerful fire crackling in the hearth. Braided rugs were scattered over the wooden floor. A leather sofa and chairs were arranged on one big enough to accommodate the overstuffed furniture.
“I hope it’s not a problem that I’m early.” Another habit of hers was to prattle on and say too much when she was nervous. Like now. She made herself stop talking.
“Not at all. Morgan told me he’s going to be your labor coach.”
She felt the woman was only being chatty and nice, not fishing for gossip. To not give her a little information felt impolite. “Yes, he is. Your son is a kind, sympathetic and thoughtful man. It was the first thing I noticed about him when we met.” Right after she’d rated him a solid fifteen on a one to ten hotness scale.
“He’s always been that way. A sweet and sensitive little boy and a good man.”
“I’ll be a single mom, and I’m grateful he’ll be my coach.”
“He’ll be a good one.” The next obvious comment or question would be about the baby’s father, but Deborah didn’t bring it up.
Erica felt compelled to. “The baby’s father isn’t involved. Just so you know, there’s no bad breakup or hard feelings in any way.”
“Good to know.” Deborah slid her hands into the pockets of her jeans.
This wasn’t awkward at all. “Morgan tells me that you and your family have lived here for a year. How do you like it?”
“It’s great.” There was a little too much enthusiasm in her voice. “We came from a pretty small town in northern Montana. This is bigger. More civilization, I guess. Shopping, if you know what I mean.”
“I do.” She nodded, also with too much enthusiasm.
“My son said that you just returned to Bronco Heights.”
“That’s right. I went to college in Colorado and I ended up with a job there. But now I’m back home. My parents would be thrilled if I wasn’t...” She looked down at her belly.
“Why do I get the feeling this homecoming wasn’t planned?” Deborah asked. Then she waved her hand and said, “Never mind. It was rude of me to ask.”
“No, actually, I think you’re psychic.”
The woman laughed. “It’s a mom thing. Gives a woman a sixth sense.”
“Well, you’re right. My company let me go. Coming home was plan B.” Erica didn’t want Morgan’s mother to believe her a screwup, and gave her an abbreviated version of what happened. She wasn’t exactly sure why she spilled her guts to this woman. The best thing she could come up with was that her son got his kindness and empathy genes from his mother. “In the end, my only option was to come back home.”
“So your parents aren’t thrilled about having their daughter back?”
“If they are, they’re hiding it pretty well. They’re old-fashioned.”
“I’m sorry to hear that, Erica.” She made an understanding sound.
“My family has expectations and I keep not meeting them.”
“I’m sure they love you and just want what’s best. For you to be happy.”
“They absolutely do. I know that. And I want to make them proud, but I keep letting them down.” Erica smiled sheepishly. “I’m sorry to dump all that on you. You’re just easy to talk to.”
“Your parents will come around, honey. Don’t give up.”
Just then Morgan walked into the room bringing with him the wonderful, masculine scents of soap and some spicy cologne. His hair was still damp from the shower and he was freshly shaved. In his plaid, snap-front shirt, jeans and boots he looked every inch the sexy cowboy he was. Erica felt that familiar flutter in her stomach, but this time her heartbeat kicked up, too.
“Sorry I’m running late,” he said.
“No. I’m early.” She hoped her voice wasn’t as breathless as it sounded to her. And if it was, she prayed neither of the Daltons noticed. “Your mom and I have been talking. She assured me you aren’t one of those men in his thirties who still lives with his mother. Although, she brings you food and that makes one wonder.”
He simply grinned at the teasing. Erica got a little weak-kneed but chalked it up to simple appreciation for a good-looking man. Who was also being an exceptional friend.
“My mom is a good cook,” he said. “It would be stupid to turn down a meal from her and she didn’t raise any fools. It’s one of her many talents. And it should be said that my brothers and I are all a little afraid of her.”
Deborah laughed. “I always knew how to keep five unruly boys in line. Still do.”
“I’d love to know your secret,” Erica said.
She wasn’t kidding. Obviously Morgan had a great relationship with his mother, and it was heartwarming to see. She wanted that with her child. It was also revealing to see him with the woman who’d raised him. She’d heard you could tell a lot about a man by the way he treated his mother. From what she could see, Morgan treated his mom with love and respect. He wasn’t just a pretty face. He was a very good man.
“Please don’t get her started on stories of the Dalton boys,” he warned. “The naked baby pictures won’t be far behind.”
“I so want to make a pun out of what you just said.” Erica laughed when he groaned.
“I think it’s time for us to go. Now,” he told her.
“Okay.” She looked at his mom. “Can I drop you at the main house?”
“No, honey. I could use the walk. But thank you. I’ll just gather up the dishes I brought.” Deborah smiled and waved before walking into the kitchen.
Erica shivered when they went outside, and she told herself it was the chilly October evening not the nearness of Morgan. Inside her car, he was even closer, because he was tall and broad and built for a truck. Her heart did that bumping inside her chest thing again.
That made her hands shake a little and fumble as she inserted her key into the ignition. Eventually she managed and off they went, headed back the way she’d come. Past the main house with its log walls and big windows all lit up. Maybe the silence wasn’t awkward, but it felt that way to her.
“Your mom is nice. Easy to talk to.” Not nosy, Erica thought to herself. A good listener.
“Yeah, she’s pretty great.”
“I can’t imagine raising five boys.”
“Me either, but she made it look easy. She probably had the hang of it by the time my youngest brother came along.”
“So, you told her about being my childbirth coach,” Erica said casually.
“Yeah. When work ran late, she pitched in because I mentioned being late to the first class wasn’t an option. Should I not have said anything?” There was a frown in his voice.
“No. Not at all. She was great about it. And didn’t once share that you birth baby cows all the time.”
He laughed. “Yeah. She’s pretty cool about things. Always been there for me even when—”
His tone had turned sort of introspective, almost as if he’d forgotten she was there. Then he suddenly clammed up. There was a story, a personal one. Erica tried to be like his mom and not ask questions, but she was too darn curious.
“When what?” she prodded. “Something happened. Just so you know, I don’t plan on letting this go. Friends talk to ea
ch other.”
He was quiet for so long it appeared he wasn’t going to answer. But finally he said, “I fell in love once. When I’d just turned twenty-one. I met a girl and felt the lightning strike.”
That actually wasn’t exactly what Erica had expected to hear. “Okay. And? There must be more.”
“Unfortunately.” He looked out the car window at the darkness going by. “I bought a ring, proposed, and she accepted. We set a date.”
“But? I can hear one coming.” She wished very much that there wasn’t.
“About a week before the wedding I found out she was pregnant with another guy’s baby. And she wasn’t the one who told me.”
“She was going to pass it off as yours?”
“She denied it, but I didn’t believe her, what with not telling me and all.” There was a trace of bitterness still in his voice.
That took her breath away. She shouldn’t feel a parallel, because he wasn’t in love with her, hadn’t proposed, given her a ring or set a date. But, even though she hadn’t slept with her baby’s father, it surely was another man’s child.
She managed to keep emotion out of her voice when she said, “So I guess you called off the wedding.”
“Good guess.” There was irony in his tone. “She made a fool out of me.”
“Oh, Morgan, you were young and she was the fool.” To do that to a great guy like him was just really and truly stupid. “I gather from your tone that it put you off the whole notion of marriage.”
“It’s not high on my list,” he agreed. “And that’s not the only reason. My father is not anyone’s example of the perfect husband.”
“But your parents have overcome obstacles in their relationship and your mom seems happy. No regrets. She’s given your dad a chance. Maybe you should, too.”
“And maybe you should give your family a chance,” he shot back.
Touché. She didn’t say anything more but her mind was spinning. Such a personal and profound betrayal could explain why he was still not some lucky girl’s husband and a father. That was a shame because he would be so good at both. As chances went, she would give him one in a heartbeat.
The Cowboy's Promise Page 7