Aidan: Loyal Cowboy: Aidan: Loyal CowboyThe Family Plan

by Cathy McDavid

No, wait! There was a shadowy oblong shape in the center of the screen and within it, a small spot pulsated.

  “That’s your baby’s heart.” The tech smiled.

  The shape slowly took form. A head. Body. The beginnings of arms and legs.

  “Look here.” The tech moved the probe, and a small ghostlike face suddenly appeared amid the swirl.

  Flynn said something. Ace couldn’t hear her over the roaring in his ears.

  This tiny human being was his child. Alive and thriving. Soon he’d be holding his son or daughter in his arms, picking a name, showing him or her off to his family, walking ten feet off the ground.

  “It’s too early to determine the sex,” the doctor said.

  “I don’t care,” Ace blurted, unable to tear his gaze away from the monitor.

  “So, you won’t mind if I hope for a boy?” Flynn asked.

  He reached for her hand and gripped it tightly. “Boy, girl, one of each, it doesn’t matter.”

  “One of each!” Flynn stared at the monitor. “There is only one baby, right?”

  The tech moved the probe. “Just one. The right size for nine weeks and the right stage of development. Congratulations.”

  Flynn sighed happily.

  “Baby’s first pictures,” the tech said, pressing buttons on the ultrasound machine. A moment later an image slid out, the thin paper curling. Then another, and another. “Here you are.” He handed the images to Flynn.

  Ace leaned in close for a better look. They were the most amazing pictures he’d ever seen.

  He and Flynn were still staring when the tech left and the doctor returned. She recited a list of instructions to which Flynn nodded and mumbled a reply. When they were alone again, Ace laid his palm lovingly on Flynn’s stomach.

  “It’s real, isn’t it? We’re having a baby.”

  She covered his hand with hers, her eyes misting. “Yes, we are.”

  “I won’t let you down. I’ll be a good father.” He’d be a good husband, too, if she’d accept his proposal.

  Nodding and swallowing, she gave Ace the images and sat up.

  “Can we get copies of these on the way home?” he asked.

  “Sure.”

  This time Ace didn’t have to glance away while Flynn dressed, he was still transfixed by the images. How could something this tiny grow into a baby? Into a full grown person?

  “Would you be upset if we had a girl?” he asked.

  Flynn finished dressing and came over. “All I want is a healthy baby.”

  “I’ll be better during the next doctor appointment.”

  “You don’t have to come every time.”

  He stood. “Yes, I do. I promised I’d be here for you.”

  “As long as you don’t faint in the delivery room.”

  “Thanks for the vote of confidence.”

  “Want me to take those?” She held out her hand.

  Ace was hesitant to relinquish the images. He did, and she slipped them into her oversize purse.

  When she started toward the door, he reached for her. “Flynn, wait.”

  “What is it?” She gazed at him, her expression curious.

  “I meant what I said. I love our baby and can’t wait to be a dad.”

  Her vivid blue eyes dimmed. “Ace…”

  “Don’t bring up that you’re moving. That nothing’s changed. Not today.”

  “All right, I won’t,” she answered quietly.

  Ace watched her closely as she stopped at the front desk and set her next appointment, waited for the elevator, walked across the parking lot.

  He was determined as ever not to give up, on her or them.

  Now that he’d seen his child’s face, watched its speck of a heart beating wildly, he had more reason than ever to fight for Flynn and the life they could have if she’d just give them a chance.

  * * *

  FLYNN SAT ON THE CORNER of her bed, staring at her copies of the ultrasound images. She and Ace had visited the one-hour photo shop on the way home from the doctor’s office and got copies made—for him, his mother and Flynn’s sister.

  Ace was so excited, like a kid with his first puppy. He’d described the images to the store clerk, a middle-aged man who listened with surprising patience. The man had gone on to tell her and Ace about his own experiences with his wife during her pregnancies.

  Flynn had to admit, Ace was cute and his reaction touching.

  It made hurting him all the worse.

  And she would hurt him, terribly, when she moved. There had to be some way she could minimize the blow.

  Yeah, right. All the pictures in the world couldn’t replace being with your child.

  “Anybody home?” Her father’s greeting echoed through the house a scant second after Flynn heard the kitchen door open and close. He’d been gone the entire morning, meeting with a potential buyer for their remaining bucking stock.

  “Hey, Dad,” Flynn called, taking the ultrasound images with her to show him.

  He was in the kitchen, fixing himself a plate of leftover lasagna. “Aren’t you working today?”

  “Evening shift. I go in at four.” She held out the images. “I went to the doctor today. Ace came with me.”

  Her father tilted the various sheets toward the overhead light to see better. “Well, well. This is…what is this? A baby?”

  “Here.” She pointed to the head.

  He uttered, “Ah!” in that tone people used when they pretended to understand what the other person was talking about.

  “The picture’s a little fuzzy.”

  “No, I can see.” He grinned but, like frequently of late, it faltered. “My newest grandchild.”

  “Ace says he wants a girl. I’d like a boy.”

  “One of you is going to get your wish.” Her father sat down at the table with his reheated lunch.

  “How’d your meeting go?” she asked.

  “He’s interested. We have to agree on a price.”

  His lackluster smile faded completely.

  Flynn’s concern escalated. “Are you really ready to retire? You can still change your mind.”

  “I’m tired of running rodeo stock, of maintaining this place. It’s a demanding life. One fit for someone younger than me.”

  “I agree it’s hard. What else are you going to do?” Her father was only fifty-seven. Hardly old enough to don a cardigan sweater, plunk down in a rocking chair on her sister’s front porch and while away the hours.

  “Play with my new grandchild.”

  “Much as I know you’d both enjoy that, it’s not enough to keep you busy.”

  “I’ll probably look for a job.” He pushed aside his half-eaten lunch. “There has to be something in Billings I can do. Hardware store or one of those home improvement warehouse stores. I’m pretty handy when it comes to tools and remodeling.”

  Funny, she hadn’t thought about it before. Both she and her father were about to embark on career and lifestyle changes, hers infinitely more exciting.

  “Any more nibbles on the ranch?” she asked.

  “A couple’s supposed to come by this weekend.”

  “You don’t sound too enthused.”

  “The real estate agent already told me they can’t afford to pay what I’m asking.”

  “Then why are you bothering with showing them the ranch?”

  “No harm in it. And we can always negotiate on the price if they’re serious.” He scraped his plate clean and loaded it into the dishwasher along with his fork.

  Flynn noticed the slump of his shoulders, heard the dejection in his voice. “You okay, Dad?”

  “I’m tired is all. Didn’t sleep good last night.”

  She suspected his wearine
ss stemmed from more than insomnia. The selling of the ranch, the getting out of the business started by her grandfather, the economic recession, were having an effect on him and his frame of mind. She was no expert on depression, but she’d recently begun suspecting her father might be suffering from it.

  Convincing him to see a doctor or counselor would be next to impossible. He’d insist he was fine and dandy and didn’t need any headshrinker.

  “You know,” she said in a cheerful voice, “there is something you could do in Billings.”

  “What’s that?”

  “Date.”

  At least she got a chuckle out of him.

  “Can’t imagine any woman interested in going out with me.”

  “Why not? You’re handsome. In good shape. Have all your hair—mostly—and all your teeth.”

  This time his chuckle rang with genuine mirth.

  “It’s not that far-fetched, Dad.”

  “Just where would I meet these women interested in a man with all his own hair and teeth?”

  “An online dating website?”

  That earned her a belly laugh.

  “Why not? Lots of people do it. I read somewhere that a third of couples in long-term relationships these days met online.”

  “I think I’ll leave the dating to you and Ace.”

  She went to the fridge and raided it. Carrying an armful of fresh vegetables to the counter, she started separating and washing them. “I’m fixing myself a salad to take to work. Want one for later?”

  “You’re ignoring me.”

  “I’m not. Ace and I aren’t dating.”

  “What would you call it? And, yes, I will have a salad for later if you’re offering.”

  Flynn broke off a large chunk from the head of lettuce. “We’re trying to get along so that when the baby comes we’ll have a strong and healthy relationship.”

  “Since when is going to dinner and the movies and helping him with his vet practice necessary for getting along?”

  Since when was kissing in the rain necessary?

  What would her father say if he knew about that?

  “He’s going to be brokenhearted when you leave,” her father said, giving voice to her earlier thoughts.

  She stopped chopping lettuce. “You’re right. Maybe I should quit seeing him. Seeing him as much, anyway. I’d hate giving him false hopes.”

  “He’s courting you, you know.”

  “What? No!”

  “Trying to win you over.”

  “Where did you get such a crazy idea?”

  “It’s obvious.”

  She began slicing the tomatoes, rather forcefully.

  Ace courting her? Oh, God, he was. She’d been blind not to see it.

  “You gonna dice those tomatoes or pulverize them?”

  “Huh?” She looked down at the mess on the cutting board.

  This courting thing couldn’t continue. She had to put an end to it.

  The problem was, she liked spending time with Ace, liked helping in his office, liked going on patient calls with him. If she were to examine her own motives, they would probably fall considerably short of innocent.

  “He might not be the only one brokenhearted when you leave.”

  Was her father a mind reader?

  More reason than ever to quit seeing Ace so much.

  “Want some chicken in your salad?”

  “Flynn, honey, I think you should reconsider moving. And Ace’s proposal.”

  She set the knife down.

  “You could do considerably worse than him.”

  “That’s no reason to get married, Dad.”

  “You have a good job here.”

  “I have a job I like but pays mediocre and has zero potential for advancement. Not unless I return to college and earn my bachelor’s degree.”

  “You have friends here.”

  “I’ll have you and Nora in Billings.”

  “What are you afraid of?”

  “Nothing.” I’m afraid of being married to a man who doesn’t love me as much as I love him.

  “Being a single parent isn’t easy. Believe me.” Her father returned to the table, dropped tiredly into a chair. “As little trouble as you and Nora gave me, I had a lot of rough years after your mom left.”

  “Why did she leave?” Flynn had asked that question before, of both her parents, though not for a very long time. Her dad’s answer always came across as rehearsed and censored. As if he was afraid she couldn’t handle the truth.

  Her mother’s answer, however, was painfully honest. She hadn’t been ready for marriage or a family.

  Did not being ready make it okay to discard your children like an old pair of shoes that went out of fashion?

  Ace may be a little bossy and pushy, but at least he’d stepped up and assumed responsibility.

  “I’d say she fell out of love,” her father replied, “except I’m not sure she ever was in love to begin with. Not with me.”

  “Are you saying there was another man?” Flynn abhorred the idea of her mother being unfaithful. It would, however, explain a lot.

  “You should ask her why she left.”

  The answer must be yes.

  “If you’re worried about affecting my relationship with her, don’t be.” Flynn put both salads in plastic storage containers and placed them in the refrigerator. “There isn’t much of a relationship to affect.”

  “I’d change that if I could. Your mother has her faults, but she’s always loved—”

  “If you’re going to say she always loved me and Nora, save your breath. It’s not true.”

  “She loves you the best she knows how.”

  Big deal.

  “I’m thankful to Mom,” Flynn said. “She’s taught me a lot. About what kind of parent not to be, about what kind of marriage not to have.”

  “The success of a marriage doesn’t depend entirely on one person. I made mistakes, too.”

  “Like letting her go?”

  “I’m sorry to say this, but I don’t think that was a mistake. For any of us.”

  “Oh, Dad.” Flynn went over and hugged him, then sat down beside him. What courage it must have taken for him to admit that.

  “I didn’t make it easy for her to love me. She always wanted more than Roundup could offer. I wasn’t about to leave the ranch or my parents or my hometown.”

  “Why did you two get married?” Flynn knew from the date of her parents’ wedding and her sister’s birthday, it hadn’t been a necessity.

  “I pleaded with her. Made promises. Tried the best I could to sweep her off her feet.”

  “Kind of like Ace is doing with me.”

  “He’s trying to show you the good life you and he can have. I bought your mother’s affections with exorbitant gifts and trips I couldn’t afford. She said yes, thinking it would be like that always. And, of course, it wasn’t.”

  He turned away. Not before Flynn caught the sorrow in his eyes.

  More than twenty years had passed and her mother’s abandonment still haunted him.

  “You loved her.”

  “I did, even if I wasn’t quite sure of the commitment involved.”

  “Exactly my point, Dad. Ace doesn’t love me. I couldn’t bear ending up like you and Mom. And I certainly don’t want to repeat my own mistake with Paul. Having two people walk out on me is more than enough, thank you.”

  “Just because he hasn’t said the words? Ace isn’t demonstrative.”

  “I need to hear them. I’m not going through my life, always doubting my husband’s feelings for me.”

  “I’m sorry.” Her father patted her cheek. “I never realized how much your mom and I messed you up. I’d
say being with her was a mistake, but then I wouldn’t have you and Nora. Nothing is more important to me than my daughters.”

  “I feel exactly the same about my baby.”

  “Tell that to Ace.”

  “I can’t.” Flynn rose. “You should have seen his face during the ultrasound. He said he loved our baby. Not me, our baby. And the look on his face…Ace is demonstrative. And the man I marry will look at me like I’m the sun and the moon, and he’ll tell me every day how much I mean to him. I won’t settle for less.”

  Chapter Eleven

  Ace had yet to meet a horse that didn’t love grain. He’d barely closed the pasture gate behind him when the mares started the long walk toward him, recognizing the buckets he carried and anticipating the treat contained within. He dumped the cracked corn into the feed trough, the swishing sound it made prompting several of the mares to break into a trot.

  Fancy Gal might love Midnight, but she wasn’t adverse to leaving him in the dust for a few mouthfuls of corn.

  Ace took a moment to examine the mares, circling them as they ate. To his vast relief, none showed any signs of injury as a result of breeding with Midnight. The stallion was behaving himself.

  Speaking of which…Midnight stomped his front hoof in protest at being ignored. His harem paid him no heed.

  “Haven’t you learned by now how fickle females can be?” Ace asked.

  Midnight snorted and tossed his head.

  He wanted some corn, too, but wouldn’t venture near Ace. Not without incentive—which Ace removed from his shirt pocket.

  The carrot gleamed brightly in the afternoon sunlight.

  “You got ahold of the mares?” Ace said to Gracie.

  She’d followed him into the pasture, slipping halters on the five mares while they polished off the corn.

  “We’re good to go.”

  And they did go, back toward the gate. Gracie resembled the Pied Piper, only she led horses instead of mice, first three and then two. She was met by Royce, who helped her tie the mares to the fence railing outside the pasture.

  There would be no distractions for Midnight.

  “It’s just you and me, boy.” Ace held out the carrot. There were several more in his shirt pocket. “No need to be shy.”

  Eventually the horse approached, his steps plodding. Indeed, the condition of his hooves was one reason Ace had committed himself to making progress today. Midnight needed his old shoes removed and his overgrown hooves trimmed.