The Texas Rancher's Vow: The Texas Rancher's VowFound: One Baby

by Cathy Gillen Thacker

* * *

  THREE DAYS LATER, Cy stopped by Jen’s worktable on his way out. “How long are you planning to stay tonight?”

  She glanced up from the clay images of Emmett and Margarite Briscoe. She was surrounded by pictures of them, to no avail. All looking at them did was remind her of Matt. How much she cared about him. How heartsick she felt.

  Jen bit her lip. “I don’t know.” She shook her head, not bothering to hide her frustration with this and everything else in her life. “I can’t get the expression on the faces right….”

  Cy gave her a friendly pat on the head. “Just don’t wear yourself out, okay? You’ve been burning the midnight oil for the past few days.”

  Jen knew it was the only way she could survive losing the man she loved. But unlike Emmett and Margarite, she and Matt would never have a marriage, a life together, or a child. They wouldn’t, she thought sadly, even have a continuing affair.

  Knowing if she talked about it, she’d cry, and that if she started to cry, she probably wouldn’t stop, Jen inhaled sharply and winked at Cy. “Save your newfound parenting skills for little Cassandra,” she teased.

  He smiled back at her, with concern in his eyes.

  “Seriously,” Jen continued. “Better go on home. I know baby Cassandra and Celia are waiting for you.”

  Cy turned away dutifully. “All right. Let me know if you need anything.”

  Already absorbed in her work again, Jen nodded. “Sure thing.”

  Why wouldn’t these figurines cooperate? Why were they—like happiness—so elusive?

  Cy headed down the stairs to the gallery on the first floor. The door opened and closed. Then footsteps came her way again. Jen looked up, expecting that Cy had forgotten something.

  Instead, Matt stood at the top of the stairs.

  He looked good. Handsome. He was dressed in his usual jeans, boots and a navy blue shirt. She could tell he had shaved that morning, but the shadow of an evening beard rimmed his jaw, and another, wary shadow appeared in his eyes.

  His lips formed a solemn smile. “Cy let me in.”

  Jen’s heart leaped in her chest. She had the urge to drop her sculpting tools, jump up recklessly and propel herself into his arms. However, the defensive side of her—the one that remembered all too well how he had thrown down an ultimatum just five days before—kept her firmly in place.

  Trying not to lose herself in his very serious gaze, she shrugged. “Obviously. The question is why.” She jerked in a breath and feigned serenity. “Cy’s usually pretty protective of me, you know.” She wiped her hands on a towel and stood. “My unofficial big brother.”

  Matt offered a slow, steady smile and slowly came toward her. “As your unofficial big brother, Cy wants you to be happy.”

  Well, at least some things never changed, Jen noted, shaking her head at Matt’s smug confidence. “And you’re the key to that,” she countered drily, wishing her legs would stop feeling so wobbly.

  “Cy seems to think so.” Matt lifted his hand and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “At least he said as much on the phone last night.” He wrapped his other arm around her.

  Jen stopped breathing as he pulled her close. “You talked to him?”

  Matt slid a hand down her spine, fitting her against him. “And Celia. My dad. Luz. Sully. A few more of the McCabes. And, of course, Emily and Dylan.”

  Jen stared at him, aware their hearts were beating in the same quick cadence. “Anyone else?”

  Matt tilted his head to one side. Obviously, he had to think about that. “Well, my horse.”

  Jen laughed. “You’re really funny, you know that?”

  His eyes darkened. “I’m trying.”

  So was she. To not fall back in lust with him, to not stay foolishly in love. To not put either of them in a position where they could be hurt. It had been hard enough losing Matt once. She couldn’t bear it if it happened again. She swallowed. Took a big step back. “Seriously, Matt. We said everything we had to say the last time we saw each other. Maybe it’s best we just leave it at that.”

  He guided her into a chair and pulled up another, so they were sitting, knee to knee. He clasped her hands firmly. “We didn’t begin to say everything we needed to, which is why I’m here.”

  Something in her softened. “I’m listening.”

  “I talked to my dad. I know what he’s been hiding.”

  Tears of relief stung Jen’s eyes.

  “He told me all about the symptoms he’s been hiding from me. Jen…” Matt gripped her fingers tightly. “I know what a hell of a position he put you in, asking you to keep that secret.”

  She leaned into Matt’s touch, so happy to at last be able to confide in him. “That’s the least of it. His refusal to get treatment—”

  “Is in the past,” Matt reassured her. “He’s at the Mayo Clinic as we speak, being evaluated. And I owe that all to you. Your talk with him made all the difference.”

  Jen looked down at their intertwined hands. “I’m sure you had something to do with his seeking treatment, too.”

  “The point is…” Matt tightened his grip on her possessively “…we both owe you a lot. The way you stood up to us made us see how wrong we were to put you in the middle of this. And I’m here to promise you, on both of our parts, that it will never happen again.”

  Relief poured over Jen. She basked in the warmth and strength of him. “That is so good to hear.”

  “We also want you to finish the commissioned work for my father, and oversee the Briscoe museum, as planned. It’s important work, Jen. We both want you to do it.”

  Suddenly, all her professional dreams were coming to fruition. Except… Jen extricated herself. Pushing back the chair, she moved a safe distance away. “I don’t know that I can.”

  Matt came after her, his eyes quiet and assessing. “Because of me.”

  Honesty is always the best policy. Don’t beat around the bush. Just tell him. Jen tilted her chin and looked him square in the eye. “Because I’m still in love with you. And that’s going to complicate things unnecessarily.”

  The words seemed to echo in the silent studio. Matt’s hands came up to cup her shoulders. “Say that again?” He searched her face as if he couldn’t quite believe what she’d said.

  Jen could hardly believe it, either. She had guarded her heart so carefully, tried everything she knew to keep from falling for another rich man. But it was true. And he might as well realize it.

  She shook her head helplessly. “I’m in love with you, Matt,” she blurted out, taking a huge risk. “I know, I know.” She splayed her hands across his hard chest. Felt his heartbeat drop into a slow, heavy beat. “We promised each other it would be a one-day-at-a-time, nice and easy, take-things-as-they-come arrangement, but—” she laughed, a little brokenly “—what can I say?”

  Jen rubbed her eyes with the heel of her hand, brushing the moisture away. “I’m a fool. I fell in love with you. And not just in love, but head over heels, forever-and-ever love. So—” she blinked away a fresh flood of tears “—the thought of being in a position where I have to see you and your dad all the time, and be reminded of everything we had, plus everything we’ll never have…” She gave a little hiccup, embarrassed to have so thoroughly laid bare her soul. “You can stop me anytime, you know?”

  His lips twitched; his eyes warmed. “Why would I want to do that?” he asked softly. “When I’m finally finding out what is in your heart?”

  “Well, now you know.” Afraid to even look at him, Jen turned away.

  Matt tugged her back. “Now I do.” He held her in his arms as if he would never let her go. Rubbed a thumb across her lower lip. “And now it’s time you found out what is in mine,” he said sincerely, his voice dropping to a husky timbre. “I love you, too, Jen, with every fiber of my being. And I have since—well, I don’t know when it started. All I can tell you is that it’s never going to end. Because my love for you is the forever-and-ever kind, too. The kind that gives you a
reason to get up in the morning and keeps you warm at night, the kind that is strong and all-encompassing, and wildly unpredictable.”

  He dragged in a breath. “And for me that was the problem. I don’t know if you’ve noticed,” he admitted, deadpan, “but I like having things under my control.”

  An understatement and a half! Jen chuckled. “Just a tad.”

  “I couldn’t control this, Jen, any more than I could control you, and that frustrated the living daylights out of me.”

  She wreathed her arms about his neck and rested her head on his chest. “But now you’re cool with me. With this love we’ve found?”

  He threaded his fingers through her hair, pressed a kiss to her temple. “I will be,” he promised in a shuddery breath. “As soon as you agree to give me the chance to make everything right.”

  Jen lifted her head and looked deep into his eyes. “It already is,” she vowed softly, hugging him closer still, finally ready for the kind of soul-deep commitment that would bring them both the happiness they sought. “You’re more than the love of my life, Matt, you’re my future.”

  “And you,” Matt promised, kissing her sweetly, evocatively, “are mine.”

  Epilogue

  Twenty months later…

  Matt took Jen’s hand in his, bringing her close to his side. He proudly surveyed the collection of his mother’s paintings of the Texas landscape, then locked gazes with her. “You were right about February 14 being the perfect time for the opening of the Briscoe Museum.”

  Jen had known there was no better way to introduce the featured exhibit, A Texas Love Remembered, than Valentine’s Day. She squeezed his hand and returned his affectionate smile. “Thanks for ceding control of that decision to me.”

  Matt shook his head at her as they moved into the next gallery. “Even though our little one is expected literally anytime now…”

  “Trust me.” Jen patted her ever expanding stomach. “This baby is not going to appear during the evening’s events.”

  Matt lifted Jen’s hand to his lips. “You’re sure about that.”

  Reveling in his tenderness, she nodded solemnly. “We’ve had some talks about it, and our baby understands the importance of art, as a commemorative venue.”

  Matt looked around at the twenty bronze statues handsomely displayed on white marble columns. “You certainly captured the love my mom and dad had for each other.”

  Emmett strolled up to join them, looking happy and robust. “I particularly like this statue.” Matt’s dad nodded at the depictment of himself, Matt, Jen and their new baby, gathered around one of Margarite’s paintings. “It brings together the past and the future in a way she would have really liked.”

  Basking in the praise, Jen squinted at Emmett playfully. “You’re not just saying that because you’re my father-in-law—and chief patron—are you?” Although he was also underwriting the works of other young artists Jen had discovered, whose works were also on display.

  Emmett grinned. “I’m saying it because it’s true. Although we do owe you, Jen.” He turned solemn. “If not for you and the push you gave me, I’d be off alone somewhere, thinking I had some terrible disease.”

  “When instead,” Jen remembered, “it was only a reaction to the cholesterol medication you were taking.” A swift change of prescriptions, and Emmett was fine.

  He grinned. “I’m very happy you married my son, and I’m really happy you’re blessing me with a grandchild. Although—” his silvery brow furrowed “—it sure would be nice if I knew whether the baby was going to be a boy or a girl.”

  “I told you, Dad,” Matt interrupted cheerfully. “Jen and I decided we wanted to be surprised.”

  As it turned out, they didn’t have long to wait.

  No sooner had Jen and Matt returned to the high-rise apartment they were keeping in Fort Worth for the times they had to be in the city, and undressed and got ready for bed, then Jen got right up again.

  Matt, who’d been all set to cuddle, switched on the bedside lamp. Immediately on full “daddy alert,” he demanded, “What’s wrong?”

  She stared at the liquid pooling around her feet, aware she was feeling very peculiar. “Either it’s raining in here or my water just broke.”

  Matt threw back the covers and vaulted to his feet. “Get your bag!” he commanded hurriedly. “I’ll call the hospital!”

  Aware she hadn’t even had her first contraction yet, Jen chuckled. Sedately, she headed for the bathroom to get a towel. “They don’t have my records, remember?” Thinking it might be a good idea to wash off the amniotic fluid, she turned on the shower. “I’m supposed to have the baby in Laramie.”

  “Well, that’s not happening now,” he said, frowning even more as she shucked her gown and stepped into the shower. “Lucky for us, Harris Methodist Hospital is just a few blocks away.”

  “Matt…” Finished, Jen stepped into the towel he held out. “We’ve got plenty of time….”

  And, as it turned out, they did.

  Eighteen hours and twenty-four minutes, to be exact.

  But when Maggie Lynn Briscoe entered the world, she let out a lusty, healthy cry that Jen and Matt were certain could be heard several city blocks away.

  Of course, both of them were crying, too. Happy, excited, bursting-with-love tears that commemorated their feelings for each other and their beautiful baby girl.

  The nurse wrapped Maggie in a blanket and handed her over to the two of them to soothe.

  As soon as their daughter heard their voices, she stopped, blinked and looked up at them in wonder.

  Matt leaned over and kissed his wife and baby. “No question,” he told Jen, in a husky voice laced with wonder. “This is the best day of my life. Bar none.”

  Jen nodded as the happiness she felt grew to unimaginable heights. “Mine, too,” she whispered emotionally, kissing Matt, and their baby, and then Matt again.

  Trembling, she took her husband’s hand in hers and squeezed tight. “But just so you know, we have plenty more of ’em to come,” she promised.

  And they did.

  * * * * *

  Watch for the next book in Cathy Gillen Thacker’s

  LEGENDS OF LARAMIE COUNTY miniseries,

  THE TEXAS RANCHER’S MARRIAGE

  coming November 2012, only from

  Harlequin American Romance.

  Found: One Baby

  Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Epilogue

  Chapter One

  It wasn’t the first time Michelle Anderson had noticed a “gift” left on Thad Garner’s front porch. In the three months she had lived across the street from the sexy E.R. doc, a parade of hopeful single women had presented the most eligible bachelor in Summit, Texas, with everything from baked goods and homemade casseroles to gift baskets and balloons. But this was the first time she’d seen an infant car seat, diaper bag and a Moses basket left there.

  Aware the latest offerings hadn’t been there when she’d left the house for her early-morning run, Michelle wondered if the baby gear was supposed to be some sort of message.

  If so, it was an interesting one, given that Thad Garner had the reputation of a player and the attention span of a gnat when it came to women.

  The handsome thirty-three-year-old doc said he wanted a wife and kids. Sooner, rather than later.

  But he rarely dated a woman more than two or three times before ducking out of her life as genially as he had eased in.

  “The chemistry just isn’t there—I’m hoping we can be friends” was what he reportedly said more often than not.

  But t
hat wasn’t what the women of Summit wanted.

  They wanted the passion Thad declared lacking from his side of the equation.

  They also wanted, Michelle thought with a sigh, what she wanted—when the time and the man were finally right. Marriage, a fulfilling life together, kids. As well as a career. Realistically, she didn’t know if it was ever going to happen for her.

  Professionally and financially, everything was in place. She was thirty-two. Partner in a law practice. Had her own home. She was even considering adopting a baby on her own and—

  Is that the sound of a baby crying?

  It couldn’t be, Michelle thought as the high-pitched sound sputtered, stopped and then resumed, now a frantic, all-out wail.

  She scanned Thad’s porch and yard, as well as the street. At seven on a Saturday morning, the area was usually quiet. Not today. Not with the unmistakable sound of a crying infant.

  Heart pounding, Michelle jogged across the street and onto Thad’s lawn. She hurried up the steps to the covered front porch of his Craftsman-style home.

  Sure enough, an infant, red-faced and upset, lay in the elaborately decked-out Moses basket. He—Michelle assumed it was a boy because he was swaddled in blue—couldn’t have been more than a few days old.

  Heart going out to the tiny thing, Michelle knelt down on the porch. She removed the soft blanket covering the squalling child and lifted him out of the portable baby bed and into her arms.

  And it was at that moment the front door jerked open.

  Her too-sexy-for-his-own-good neighbor stared down at her.

  And Michelle’s heart took another giant leap.

  * * *

  THAD RUBBED HIS FACE with the palm of his hand and tried to blink himself all the way awake. “What’s going on?” he demanded, sure now he had to be fantasizing. Otherwise, his gorgeous, ice princess of a neighbor would not be standing on his doorstep with a baby in her arms. “And why were you ringing the doorbell like there’s a house on fire?” he asked gruffly. He’d thought he dreamed it, and had gone back to sleep—until he heard the infant crying.

  Michelle Anderson’s glance trailed over his bare chest and low-slung pajama pants before returning to his face. A warm flush—at odds with the cool mountain air—spread across her pretty cheeks. “I didn’t ring the bell,” she said.