Her Cowboy Billionaire Best Man

by Liz Isaacson

  She giggled as the toddler squirmed out of her arms and started to climb the steps too. It would take Ronnie much longer to get up them, and he’d likely find the door closed to the room where Stockton and Bailey were playing.

  Graham came into the living room, clearly looking for Ronnie. “He thinks he’s going to play with Stockton and Bailey,” Celia said, entering the house fully with Zach behind her.

  “Come play with Chrissy,” Graham said to his son. “Hey, Celia.” He gave her a smile and swept a kiss across her forehead as if she were his mother. Sometimes she felt like she was, though she could never replace Amanda.

  “Good to have you here, Zach,” Graham added, looking back and forth between the two of them, obviously making some sort of connection. “You were Finn’s best man.”

  “That’s right,” Zach said, smiling. He was a pure gentleman, and in that white shirt and tie and charcoal dress hat, he was cowboy perfection. Warmth moved through Celia as she walked through the living room and into the kitchen, where a couple of the Everett sisters stood in the kitchen.

  Rose had an apple in her hand, and Celia grinned at her. “Starving?”

  “These babies eat so much,” she said, lifting the apple to her lips. “Three more weeks.”

  “If you last that long,” Vi said, eyeing Rose’s very pregnant belly. “You look like you’re going to pop.”

  “Rose is carrying triplets,” Celia said to Zach, who stood on the fringes of the kitchen, staring at the blonde women.

  “And Vi just had twins,” he said. “Right? Flower names. Daisy, I think. Mary.”

  Vi faced him, her face shining with surprise and happiness. “That’s right.” She looked at Celia, who buried herself in getting out the hamburger buns so she wouldn’t have to meet Vi’s inquisitive expression. “He’s a keeper, Celia.”

  “You think so?” She laughed as she opened a bag and plucked a knife from the drawer to slice the buns. “You’ve known him for five minutes.”

  “And he remembered the names of my children, which means he actually listens to you.” At that moment, Todd entered the kitchen carrying both babies.

  “They need you,” he said, passing one to Vi and keeping the other for himself.

  “Excuse me,” she said, smiling around at everyone before following her husband out of the kitchen.

  Rose finished her apple and threw the core in the garbage can. “Zach, I need your help.”

  “What can I do?” he asked, stepping forward.

  “There’s a big swing in the backyard. I need you to get me there safely.” She beamed up at him, slipped her hand through his arm, and led him toward the back door. Celia watched them go, a smile stuck on her face.

  She’d already been to the lodge today, and she pulled out the cubed watermelon, the potato salad, and the lettuce salad she’d prepared. She sliced tomatoes and tore lettuce leaves while onions caramelized on the stovetop.

  Beau came into the kitchen, and she said, “Beau, will you go start the grill, and we’ll get the meat on?”

  “Sure thing,” he said, opening a couple of drawers before he found the lighter stick. “Want me to take out the meat?”

  “Yes, please. And send Eli and Andrew or someone to start bringing out everything else.”

  “On it.”

  A minute later, Zach entered the kitchen. “Beau said you needed help.”

  “Everything goes out,” she said as more people arrived to help. “Amanda, get all the serving utensils we need.”

  Celia felt very in control of herself as she worked in the kitchen, and soon enough, everything and everyone was outside. Beau and Lily had commissioned someone to build a picnic table long enough to hold them all, with three umbrellas above to shade everyone.

  The food had been set on another table, this one almost as long as the picnic table, and Beau stood at the grill with Graham as they talked about something.

  Celia paused and took in the scene, joy and peace filling her from top to bottom. Tears pricked her eyes, and she couldn’t imagine being anywhere else, with anyone else. Especially when her eyes landed on Zach and how easily he conversed with Fran and Jack Everett, who stood with Finn and Amanda.

  “Ready,” Beau said, and everyone gathered over near the food table for a prayer. With that done, the chaos erupted as parents helped their kids get food. Celia usually went last through the line, but today, she stepped in front of Zach and started filling her plate.

  They sat right in the middle of the picnic table, others filling in around them as they brought their food over. Zach touched her arm, and she turned to look at him. Everything else fell away.

  “You’re incredible,” he whispered, those dark eyes somehow so bright.

  She leaned her forehead against his, and said, “I think I’m falling for you.”

  He’d used those words a few weeks ago when they’d been in Cheyenne for Reagan’s graduation. She hadn’t repeated them then. But she certainly felt like she was falling, and it wouldn’t be long before she was all the way in love with him.

  He’d own her heart then, and she couldn’t imagine what she’d do if he squeezed it too hard. Or if Owen came and trampled on it.

  Putting her doubts and fears out of her mind, she turned back to her food, back to the conversations around her, back to this place where she’d always belonged.

  The afternoon slipped away with good conversation and the sound of children’s laughter. Several people went horseback riding, but Celia stayed on the back patio with Zach, Eli’s new baby in her arms.

  She was aware Zach had watched her quite a few times, and she’d offered Isaiah to him a couple of times. He hadn’t taken the baby from her yet, but she really wanted him to.

  Rose and Liam had stayed in the swing on the patio for almost the whole afternoon, and she yelped as she put both hands on her pregnant belly.

  Celia’s heartbeat raced as adrenaline poured through her. As Liam asked, “Baby, are you all right?”

  A groan came out of Rose’s mouth that didn’t sound entirely human. “Something’s…wrong….” She panted and tried to stand but couldn’t.

  “I’m calling an ambulance,” Beau said.

  “My water broke,” Rose said, her voice full of pain. She turned to look at Liam, pure panic on her face. “I can’t have the babies here, Liam.” In the next moment, her face crumpled with pain again, and Liam put his hand on her back.

  “Baby,” he said calmly. “I think you’re going to have to be flexible.” He looked at Beau, who was still on the phone. “Tell them bring incubators and heat lamps. Three babies.”

  “I’m going to call her doctor,” Lily said.

  Celia stood up and handed baby Isaiah to Zach, whether he wanted him or not. “Liam, what should I do? Where do you need her?”

  “Let’s see if we can get her inside,” Liam said, still so calm. “One of the bedrooms down by Lily’s.”

  “I’m not having the babies here,” Rose said, standing as both Celia and Liam helped her on either side. She looked fierce and determined, but absolutely terrified. Celia understood the feeling. She’d been in situations she couldn’t control and couldn’t even think about.

  When she’d lost Brandon…her denial had been strong for quite a while. Almost like she believed he would return to her by some miracle.

  “It’s okay, love,” Liam said. “Let’s just get inside anyway, okay?”

  Rose took a tentative step, her breathing labored, and both hands still holding her belly as if she could keep the babies inside that way.

  “Celia, as soon as we get her settled, could you start heating some towels?” Liam asked.

  “Liam,” Rose said, tears splashing down her face. “We can’t have the babies here. What if—?”

  “Sh,” he said, cutting her off though he wore a bit of anxiety in his expression now. “Lily’s getting Doctor Simmons. Beau’s called the paramedics. I’m a doctor, baby. Everything will be fine.”

  Celia cast a glan
ce at Zach, who had also stood, that baby cradled perfectly in his arms. She couldn’t help the strong attraction to him in that moment, though she was in the midst of another crisis.

  She couldn’t walk side-by-side with Rose and Liam once they reached the hall, but she followed, her hand still on Rose’s elbow. Every step seemed to take a lifetime, but Liam finally got her situated in the bedroom in the corner. She cried openly now, panting through a contraction while Liam stripped the bed and Celia ran to grab towels.

  He laid them over the mattress and helped his wife climb into bed. Another contraction came, and Celia wasn’t timing, but it seemed like only a couple of minutes had passed since the last one.

  “I’ll go get the towels heating,” she said, hurrying out of the room again. She brought the door almost all the way closed as Lily rounded the corner.

  “He’ll be here in thirty minutes.”

  “I don’t know if she has that long,” Celia said. “She’s contracting every few minutes.”

  Pure fear crossed Lily’s face as she’d had a premature baby—in the hospital. Beau joined them in the hall. “Twenty minutes. They’re bringing incubators and heat lamps and everything for a delivery.”

  “Maybe we should get her in the car and go down,” Celia said. “Meet them, even.”

  “No,” Lily said, shaking her head. “Rose won’t want to have her babies on the side of the road. She’s already upset she might have to have them here.”

  Beau put his arm around her. “It’ll be okay.”

  But Lily didn’t say anything. She moved over to the door and pushed it open gently. “Rose, honey? The ambulance is going to be here real soon.”

  “We need water,” Liam said from within the room. “Maybe I should’ve put her in the tub.”

  “I am not having my babies in a tub,” Rose practically screeched, and Celia smiled.

  “I’ll get the water and the towels warming,” she said. “Come get me if there’s anything else you need.”

  Beau nodded and let her go, frozen to the spot close to the door but not close enough to see in.

  Celia pulled as many towels from the linen closet as she could find and went into the kitchen. The dryer probably wouldn’t be hot enough to warm them properly, so she pulled baking sheets from the cupboards in the kitchen and stacked them into piles before sliding them into the oven.

  She adjusted the heat on that and turned to find Zach standing there holding that baby. “Hey, how is she?”

  “She’s going to have those babies in about fifteen minutes,” Celia said, worry needling through her.

  Zach looked down at the baby in his arms. “He’s so perfect.”

  Celia stepped over to him. “He is, isn’t he?” She gazed at the baby too, and then up at Zach. Careful not to smash Isaiah, she tipped up onto her toes and kissed Zach. “Can you hold him while I deal with the towels?” she whispered against his lips.

  “Of course,” he said, touching his forehead to hers. “Yell at me if you need something.” And with that, he took Isaiah into the living room to the rocking recliner where she’d held him weeks ago.

  “Celia,” Beau called from down the hall, and she turned that way, hoping one of the babies hadn’t come quite yet.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Zach rocked with the baby, glad he could help in some small way as many others scurried around the lodge, trying to help Rose Murphy. He’d delivered animals on the farm before, but he couldn’t imagine having three babies at home.

  Rose didn’t seem too happy about it either, but Zach knew some things couldn’t be helped.

  “Thank you so much,” Meg said, pausing with a stack of towels in her hand. “He’s okay?”

  “He’s fine.” Zach grinned up at her. “If there’s something else I should be doing, let me know.”

  “You’re helping a ton,” she said. “I’ve sent Eli to get the car seats. The paramedics should be here soon.” She glanced toward the front door like she might be able to see through it and determine where the ambulance was.

  “No babies yet?”

  “Not yet,” she said. “I should go. Liam needs help, and I have some nursing training.” She smiled at him and hurried away.

  Zach listened to the chaos, content to just watch it. Only a minute later, two heavy fists knocked on the front door and said, “Paramedics.”

  “Oh, thank goodness,” Celia said, rushing past him and toward the door. She pulled it open and added, “Come in. Through the living room, down the hall to the left. Go.”

  “She’s in labor?” the man asked.

  “Yes,” Celia said, standing back out of the way. “Pregnant with triplets.”

  The man and woman entered, laden with medical equipment and bags. A third paramedic entered, carrying infant incubators and more equipment. “Ma’am,” he said. “How far along is she?”

  “Her husband’s a doctor,” Celia said, following them. “He says she’s almost fully dilated, but she hasn’t started pushing yet.”

  “Good,” he said. “Sounds like we won’t be transporting, Bobby.”

  “Nope,” the man up front said, turning to go down the hall. They moved with absolute confidence, no panic or tension in them at all.

  “Her husband’s a doctor?” the woman asked.

  “Yes,” Celia said from behind. “He runs the clinic at the hospital. He’s not an OBGYN. That doctor should be here soon, though.” Her voice faded as she rounded the corner with them, and Zach marveled at all she could do.

  Rose’s regular obstetrician arrived a few minutes later, and Zach had only hummed his way through two nursery rhymes before he heard a brand-new baby crying from down the hall.

  His chest squeezed, and he smiled a wobbly grin down at Isaiah. “A cousin was just born,” he whispered to the baby, the thought of a new life in this world wonderful and beautiful.

  Babies were such a blessing, and he once again couldn’t wait to become a grandfather. Holding this baby brought him absolute joy.

  Several seconds later, Lily joined him in the living room, the newborn swaddled in a pale blue blanket. Tears streamed down her face, but she gave him a happy smile nonetheless.

  “Everything okay?” he asked.

  “Other than Rose having the babies at home, yes.” She sat on the couch. “And not even her home. But it’s okay. Everything is okay.” She gazed down at the baby. “This one is a boy. Rose and Liam didn’t find out if they were having boys or girls.”

  “Has she named him?”

  “Not yet.” Lily stroked the baby’s head. “But he has so much hair.”

  Peace existed in the room, and several minutes later, Vi entered the room too. “Another boy.” The baby in her arms fussed, and she adjusted the yellow blanket with teddy bears on it to be tighter around him.

  “Where are your babies?” Lily asked.

  “Todd got them to sleep upstairs,” Vi whispered.

  The third baby didn’t come out, and Zach assumed Rose had kept it with her. Celia entered the living room, her eyes wet. “The last baby is a girl,” she said. “Rose and Liam are naming them now, and they would like all the babies back in the bedroom.”

  Vi and Lily stood and went down the hall. Celia met Zach’s eyes, and she looked absolutely radiant though she was crying.

  “Come take this one,” he said, scooting to the edge of the recliner. She did, and he stood. “I have to get back to my farm.” He placed a kiss on her forehead. “You can get a ride back home?”

  “Of course.” She tipped her head back and kissed him, the sweetest union he’d ever experienced. “Three babies, Zach. Born right here.”

  “Crazy,” he murmured against her lips. “Call me later, okay?”

  She nodded and turned toward Rose’s mother when she said, “Celia? Rose would like to see you.”

  Zach watched her bustle away again, absolute love for her filling his heart.

  Dread replaced that love the moment his farmhouse came into view. Owen’s truck sat in
the driveway, its owner sitting on the tailgate, whittling. He’d clearly been there for a while, if the pile of shavings on the ground testified of anything.

  “Hey,” Zach said easily as he pulled up. “What’s going on?” His brother rarely came to Saltgrass Farm—usually only if Zach called him to come help with something extreme.

  “Are Mom and Dad okay?” he asked with Owen still hadn’t so much as acknowledged that Zach had arrived.

  Owen finally lifted his head and looked at Zach. “I told Dad about you and Celia.”

  Zach pressed his teeth together and looked out the windshield. He wanted to go back in time and rip this feud out of their history. He wanted to challenge his brother and his lifelong hatred. How was that Christlike? Shouldn’t he have forgiven the Abbotts by now?

  “Did you know that Lennox Abbott has been bringing you gifts for years?” he asked instead, unsure of why that question had come out.

  “Lee deals with him,” Owen said darkly.

  “Why can’t you let it go?” Zach asked. “It’s been almost one hundred years. You have water rights now. Let it go.”

  “They wronged our family,” Owen said. “And she will never be welcome with us.”

  Zach nodded, his anger rising with every second Owen stayed. “I have to go,” he said. “I have chores and then Abby’s calling.”

  “I’ll help with the chores.”

  “I don’t need your help,” Zach said, pushing the button to open his garage so he could pull in.

  Owen didn’t care what Zach said, because he joined him in the garage and then the house. Zach greeted his dogs, but they couldn’t truly comfort him, especially with Owen’s presence in the house.

  “Really, Owen. Just go.”

  Owen simply opened the back door and went outside to the farm. Zach sighed, unsure of what to do. Owen really was the most stubborn man on the planet, and if he wanted to help with the chores, he would.

  Zach didn’t speak to him, and his brother didn’t need instructions for how to feed chickens or water goats. The chores got done quickly, and Zach headed for the house, hoping his brother would leave now.