The Cowgirl Who Loved Horses, Queens of Montana Bonus Book

by Vanessa Bartal

Chapter 27

  One month to the day after their ultrasound Marcus let himself in much earlier than usual.

  Cecily knew by his footfalls that something was wrong. She hurried to the door as fast as her newly large size would allow.

  “What’s wrong?” she asked. She clutched her hand over her heart because his face was ashen.

  “Maggie Chapman returned home yesterday. She’s married.”

  “She…What?” Surely that couldn’t be correct. Maggie and Mathew had been together for years and she adored him. How could she have married someone else so soon after his death?

  Marcus nodded and ran a weary hand over his face. “It’s a long story. Anyway, when Mom heard about it she flipped out. I wasn’t there, but Dad sounded scared when he talked about it. I’ve never seen him scared of anything.” He paused and swallowed down the deep emotion that choked his throat. “Somehow in the struggle of Dad trying to calm her she fell down a few stairs. She broke her ankle.” He sat down heavily.

  She sat next to him and put her arms around him. “I’m sorry, Marcus. I know it’s hard to see her this way.”

  “I haven’t told you the worst part. She asked for Libby to come and stay with her while she recuperates. I tried to explain to her that Libby’s baby is due practically any minute, but she refused to accept the fact that Libby is even pregnant. It’s like she can’t see reality anymore at all.”

  Tears were her constant companion these days, and now was no exception. She hated to see him hurting, and hated even more that there was nothing she could do to fix it. She pulled him against her and cradled his head to her chest while she ran a soothing hand down his hair.

  “We’ll go,” she said.

  “What?” he asked. He didn’t move away. She smiled because she knew he liked to be held and comforted this way, even though he would probably never admit it.

  “Your mom is going to need someone to look after her and help around the house. I’m perfectly capable of housework. We’ll move back in there and I’ll help.”

  He did move away from her then. “Honey, the doctor said it was a bad break. It could take three months to heal. That would push you to your due date. I think we shouldn’t put that kind of stress on you so close to the baby.”

  “How relaxed do you think I’ll be knowing your mother needs help and we’re not helping?” she asked. “She’s our family and she’s sick, in more ways than one. I’ll be fine as long as you and I stick together.”

  Now he was the one to pull her close and cuddle her. “You’re a treasure,” he said lovingly. “I don’t know what I did before you, and I certainly have no wish to find out what I would do without you.”

  She let him cradle her and think the best of her, but on the inside she knew the reality of what she was thinking. She would rather be horsewhipped than willingly place herself in her mother-in-law’s reach again.

  Nonetheless she put on a brave and happy face as they loaded up their things and moved back to the Henshaw’s. They left the baby furniture, and when Marcus wasn’t looking, she gave it a sad, wistful glance. She knew of course that she was still going to have the baby, and moving back in with her in-laws wouldn’t change that, but things still felt like they were at an end, and that made her sad.

  When they arrived at the Henshaw’s ranch Lydia was sleeping. That was a relief to Cecily, but the house was still hushed the way it is when someone is seriously ill, or when there’s been a tragedy. For lack of something better to do, she made decaffeinated coffee and set out a plate of cookies for Marcus and Evan.

  They ate in silence and then Evan went to bed to check on Lydia.

  “Come on, little wife,” Marcus said after he helped her tidy up the kitchen. “Let’s get you and the kid to bed.”

  She had to steel herself when they entered Marcus’s old bedroom. Some bad times had taken place when they lived here, but some good times, too.

  “The radio’s still here,” she remarked.

  “Do you want me to turn it on?” He wagged his eyebrows at her.

  She nodded.

  He turned it on and she lay on her side facing him. She had always slept on her back and having to sleep on her side was uncomfortable. Marcus scooted down so his face was close to her stomach. An old country song played on the radio and he sang it softly to the baby.

  Cecily smiled and pressed a hand to his head. Whatever happened the next few months she could face it, she thought. As long as she had him she could face anything.

  She had no idea how quickly her thought was about to be tested.

  The next morning a reluctant and worried Marcus finally left her to go to work.

  “I’ll be fine,” she assured him. “She has a broken ankle. I can take her.”

  That made him laugh. “Like this?” He pointed to her protruding stomach.

  “The baby will fight with me. He’s very loyal.”

  He raised her eyebrows. “He?”

  “Wishful thinking,” she said.

  “Then I hope it’s a boy, just because that’s what you want, and I want you to be happy.” He kissed her and left the house.

  Cecily heaved herself up and exited the bedroom. She wasn’t sure what to expect, but when she met up with Lydia in the kitchen she was her same, surly self. She was also standing at the counter pouring herself a cup of coffee.

  “Lydia, please let me do that for you. I don’t think you’re supposed to be standing on your ankle.”

  Lydia stopped and turned to look at Cecily with a frown. “What are you doing here?”

  “I’m here to help you,” Cecily said hesitantly.

  “I don’t need your help,” Lydia said.

  “Evan and Marcus feel that you do. They’re worried about you and want you to stay off your broken ankle until it mends.”

  “What about your precious ranch?”

  “I can’t exactly wrangle horses in this condition,” Cecily said. “It’s either housework or boredom, and I choose housework.”

  Lydia glanced at Cecily’s protruding stomach and grimaced. “Fine, then. Whatever.”

  “Is there anything particular you would like me to do?” Cecily asked. She wasn’t sure where to begin, and she didn’t want to trespass.

  “Don’t you know how to clean?” Lydia asked.

  Cecily tried to bite back a retort, but couldn’t manage completely. “Fine, then, I’ll start at the top as if nothing has been done so I’ll know for sure I’m not missing anything. I’ll also start on supper, so don’t be surprised if you hear me rummaging through cupboards and the freezer while I make myself acquainted with your ingredients.”

  “We don’t have any shellfish,” Lydia said.

  “I’ll manage,” Cecily said tightly. She used her mother’s philosophy of cleaning, started at the top of the house, and worked her way down. She checked on Lydia frequently, but the older woman made no demands of her. Instead she watched television listlessly and without really seeing anything.

  She took a break to make lunch, but Lydia barely picked at her food before returning to sit in front of the television. Cecily sighed as she cleared the table. She started on supper and decided to keep it simple. She made a casserole she knew Marcus liked, along with a salad and bread pudding for dessert.

  The men ate heartily and complimented the food, but Lydia barely picked at it and didn’t say a word. Cecily had expected to feel hostile resentment toward her, but she didn’t. She felt sympathy. She was obviously sick and not just because of her broken ankle. Her mind was sick as well. Cecily remembered how downtrodden she’d felt when her father was arrested and the ranch was in such trouble. She had thought she was facing the worst sort of misery then, but it was nothing compared to losing a child.

  She would be patient with her mother-in-law, she determined. She needed love, care, and time. Eventually she hoped things would work out. Her hand went automatically to her stomach and she smiled faintly. Some people said babies were like magic. M
aybe their baby would work a little miracle in this family.