The Cowboy and His Baby

by Jessica Clare

  “Ah. The boat conversation?” Cass chuckled. “I swear he talked about that thing for months to anyone that would listen. So is that still on for the spring, then? I have no idea how you guys will work that with a newborn, but I know he’s been looking forward to it for a really long time.”

  “Boat?” Annie asked, her stomach giving a little clench of fear. “What boat?”

  Cass stopped, her smile fading. “I . . . oh. I just thought . . . never mind. I’m sure it’s nothing.”

  “Please tell me about the boat,” Annie said quietly, touching Cass’s arm. “It’s probably nothing but if it’s something I should talk with Dustin about, I want to know. We’re in a good place, but we’re also still figuring each other out.”

  Hesitant, Cass bit her lip. “I feel terrible that I brought it up. I just . . .” She sighed, spreading her hands. “Eli and Dustin talk, you know? And Dustin told him a while back that he was probably going to move on in the spring. That he’d always dreamed of having a boat and sailing up the coast and going to new places. You know that man has restless feet.”

  “I know,” Annie murmured, thinking about Dustin and how he’d left home because he couldn’t stand to be his father. Her heart gave a painful squeeze.

  “He always talked about that stupid boat.” Cass shook her head. “Didn’t matter that he’d never had a sailing lesson. He said he wanted to learn. You know how Dustin is—there’s no mountain he thinks he can’t conquer with sheer will.”

  Annie laughed, hoping it sounded more lighthearted than she felt. “That sounds like him, all right.” And she made a mental note to ask about boats and springtime.

  Just because she was changing her life to suit the baby didn’t mean that she would demand it of him. He needed to be free to make his own choices, even if they conflicted with hers.

  * * *

  • • •

  After the kitchen was clean, the two women went out and fed Cass’s chickens, and then Cass showed her the stables. The chickens made her laugh, especially when Spidey stared at them through the wire mesh of their run, utterly fascinated. Even funnier were Cass’s names for the chickens themselves—this one was Jerkface, that one was Creep, there was Pecker and Bossy and Meanie. Every chicken had a ridiculous name that made Annie snicker, even more so when Cass just shook her head and solemnly said the chickens were assholes.

  The interior of the barn was mostly empty because the men (and the horses) were out in the field, Cass explained. Even so, there were two horses in their stalls that the women stopped by to pet and feed carrots to, and to Annie’s surprise, Moose sat in the hay, watching them with a cautious thump of his tail. A moment later, Dustin appeared, sweaty and shirtless, a pitchfork in his hands as he mucked out one of the empty stalls. He was filthy and covered in sawdust and was up to his ankles in poopy straw and . . . she still wanted to kiss the heck out of him. Annie blushed and blushed until they went inside, her red cheeks only exacerbated by the knowing smile her man sent in her direction.

  When Cass headed inside to do laundry—there were always dirty clothes with four cowboys, she explained with a grimace—Annie headed to her room to make a few calls. First to her agent, and when she got voicemail, she sent an email, instead, to let her know that Annie planned on staying in Wyoming for a while and wouldn’t be looking for any jobs until further notice. She knew her agent wouldn’t be thrilled, but that was all right. She’d known a call like this was coming anyhow the moment she’d realized that Annie was too pregnant to travel much.

  Change was inevitable, and she wouldn’t feel guilty about it.

  The next call was to her mother. Kitty picked up on the second ring and without a greeting, immediately said, “How much weight have you gained?”

  “Why does that matter?” Annie asked, confused.

  “There’s a role for ‘miserable pregnant lady two’ in the movie I’m shooting.” As if it was her movie and she wasn’t just a bit part. “The lady that had the role delivered early and so now they need someone else to fill it in. They got another lady to come in but she had preeclampsia and was on bed rest. I think she should have come in for the shoot, but whatever. I told them my daughter was pregnant but that you were really fat and not watching your figure.”

  “Mom.”

  “Kitty. And it’s Hollywood, darling. You know how it is. They want you to be pregnant but also still gorgeously attractive. Still, the role does say ‘miserable’ so I thought it might suit you. If you drive back today they can shoot the scene this weekend and you can get paid. How does that sound?”

  “I’m going to pass.” She shook her head. “I’ve told you before, I really don’t want to be on screen. That’s why I work with animals.”

  “Well, I know. But I just thought it’d be money for the baby. Speaking of, how are you doing, darling? Still not sick all day I hope.”

  That was her mother—obsessed with appearances even as she turned affectionate to her daughter. It was a confusing sort of relationship, but then again, Kitty was a complex person. “No, I’m doing fine. The mountain air is pretty nice here. It’s very cold and I think that’s helping things.”

  “Bundle up that little rat you call a dog. You know he shivers at the slightest breeze.”

  Annie chuckled. “Spidey is at my feet as we speak and wearing a very obnoxious red coat. How are you doing?” She was stalling, she knew it, but sometimes it was easier to ease into the “bad” news. “How’s the movie going?”

  “Other than the fact that our pregnant ladies are selfishly dropping like flies? It’s not bad. The director remembered my name. I’m hoping that’ll mean I get a few more lines.”

  “Are you sure it wasn’t just because you were hitting on him?” she teased. She knew how her mother worked. “Is he young and cute?”

  “Please, darling. If he was even slightly hetero you know I’d be all over that. But he’s a very good director. Very straightforward. I swear we’ve only had to reshoot half a dozen scenes. You sure you don’t want to drive down here? Easy paycheck and your movie should be wrapping soon, right?”

  “Actually, it wrapped yesterday,” Annie confessed. “But I think I’m going to stay up here for a few more days and spend some time with Dustin.”

  Her mother made an unladylike sound on the other end. “That cowboy? So he’s decided that now that you’re knocked up with his baby he should change his ways? Did he dump the other woman for you then? You know how you get them is how you lose them, darling.”

  Hoo boy. Annie didn’t know whether to be annoyed or amused. Her mother didn’t know the truth about Dustin, though. “He didn’t cheat, it turns out.”

  “Mmhmm.” Kitty didn’t sound impressed.

  “No, really. There was this woman in town who said that to scare me off and it wasn’t true.” Saying it aloud made it seem . . . flimsy, though. She trusted Dustin, she did. But she also realized she needed to talk to this Theresa person herself and settle her mind once and for all. “He’s really been great, Kitty. I promise that there’s nothing to worry about.”

  “You’re my daughter. There’s always something to worry about.” Kitty sighed. “I just want you to be happy. I don’t want you to feel as if you’re making the wrong decisions because you have to. He might be a perfectly nice man, but that doesn’t mean you have to stay with him, darling. I raised you all by myself and look at how wonderful you turned out.”

  That might have been the sweetest thing that Kitty had ever said to her. “Thanks, Mom.”

  “Even if you are terribly fat right now.”

  Annie giggled through her tears. “It’s called pregnancy.”

  “Oh, I know. I’m just giving you a hard time. I suppose you can’t help porking up. So what are the plans, then?”

  “Plans?”

  “Short term? Long term? Ease your mother’s mind. Tell me what you two have in mind. Are yo
u going to raise the baby here? There in that podunk town? Who’s going to be your doctor? Does he have money put aside? You know babies aren’t cheap, even in the wilds of Montana.”

  “Wyoming,” Annie corrected, and for some reason, she thought of Dustin and the boat, and she felt a little niggle of worry in her belly. “And we haven’t gotten that far yet. We’re still figuring out where we’re at in this relationship.”

  “Well, don’t you think you should talk about it, darling? Babies come early all the time. Though hopefully not too early, because I’ve got a bit part on a TV show next month that needs an ‘aging go-go dancer’ and I need to make sure I’m available. You hold that little nugget in for as long as you can,” Kitty said affectionately. “Squeeze those thighs tightly together.”

  Annie smiled into the phone absently. “You’re crazy, Kitty. You know that?”

  “It’s Hollywood. It fries your brain and makes you impossible for normal people to understand. But these are serious questions.”

  “I know, Mom. I’ll get some answers, I promise. We’re just taking things carefully. One step at a time and all that.”

  “I suppose this is the point where I should say that if he was so careful, you wouldn’t be fat and pregnant, but that might be uncharitable of me.”

  Annie just rolled her eyes.

  “I can hear you rolling your eyes at me, darling. I’m a mother. We have a sixth sense when it comes to our children.”

  Despite the conversation, Annie found herself smiling. Some things changed, but Kitty Grissom never did. She’d toss a backhanded compliment at you in one breath and make you realize just how much she cared (in her own way) in the next. “I love you, Mom. I’m going to stay here for a while longer and I’ll let you know what my plans are as soon as I figure them out, okay?”

  “Love you too, darling. And remember, you have options. You’re pregnant, not trapped in his basement. You can come home at any time.”

  Annie giggled again. “Thanks, Kitty.”

  * * *

  • • •

  Even though her mother was a little loopy at times, she did have a good point, Annie realized. She and Dustin might be good right now, but they needed to talk about the future and what it meant for them. It was a conversation they hadn’t had yet, and with the baby on the way, they definitely needed to talk it out.

  Plus, there was that worrisome conversation with Cass about boats and leaving the ranch.

  Not that Annie cared if they stayed or left. She liked the ranch; she liked the dogs, the people, the animals, the scenery. It felt serene here, and safe. She’d be happy here . . . but she’d also be happy going back to Los Angeles and spending time with her mother and friends. Annie had a life there, and it didn’t make sense for her to give it up if Dustin was planning on disappearing off onto a boat in the next few months.

  Boats were nice, but Annie was pretty sure they were no place to raise a newborn . . . not that she’d been invited.

  She was determined not to panic or stress too much, though. Just because they hadn’t had the conversation yet didn’t mean it would be a bad one.

  Annie was determined not to make herself anxious over nothing at all. Not yet. She’d already panicked once and it had sent her back to LA an emotional mess . . . and she’d been wrong. She needed to trust him right now. He’d given her no reason not to.

  So to distract herself, Annie spent the afternoon working with the dogs that were at the house still. Most of the ranch dogs headed out with the men every day, but Joy and Frannie, Eli’s dog, were at the house with Cass. The dogs didn’t pay much attention to Annie, though, no matter how much she tried to bribe them. They followed Cass’s footsteps and watched her carefully, and Annie wondered if they knew something she didn’t. “You feeling okay, Cass?”

  The other woman gave Annie a smile. “Just a backache today that won’t let up.”

  “Is it—”

  “No, I don’t think so. No contractions.” Cass rubbed her belly. “And this is supposed to drop a few days ahead of time, right? I’ve been checking in the mirror every day to see if anything’s shifted, but it all looks the same to me.” She made a face. “So it’s just another thrilling pregnancy ache.”

  “Why don’t you let me help with your chores, instead? I can clean up and do laundry.” She got to her feet and pulled a towel out of Cass’s hands. “You can relax, you know.”

  “I can, but I’m also paid to be the housekeeper here.” Cass snagged the towel back from Annie’s hands, smiling. “You’re just the guest. And we need more towels. I’d blame the towel situation on Jordy or Clyde but the truth is, Eli uses more dang towels than anyone I’ve ever met.” She shook her head. “It’s like if it grazes a bead of water, it goes into the laundry.”

  Annie chuckled. “Fine, I’ll help with other stuff, then. Maybe the chickens? Or lunch?”

  Cass beamed a grateful smile at her. “I love having another woman around, just so you know. It’s not the chore thing. If I left every single thing in the house undone, Eli would never complain. He’d just do it all once he came in for the night. I love having you here, though. I never thought I was lonely before, but having someone else to talk babies and girl stuff with all day? It’s just wonderful.”

  “I feel the same way,” Annie admitted shyly. Her social awkwardness flared and she fidgeted. It was awkward to hear such things, but it was also nice, too. “I hope you’d let me know if I ever overstayed my welcome.”

  “I don’t think such a thing’s possible. You’ve met Jordy, right?” Cass arched an eyebrow at her.

  Annie just giggled again.

  They spent the afternoon doing laundry and then mending socks. Cass joked that she felt like a pioneer every time she sewed up holes in the socks, but every time the dogs found a stray sock, they chewed on it, and it ended up being cheaper to try and mend things than to just buy new socks all the time. Annie worked in the kitchen, making food that would be easy to reheat for dinner in case Cass wasn’t feeling up to snuff, though she’d probably deny any aches and pains. Annie made muffins and banana bread, then threw a roast into the oven and chopped up some potatoes. Pot roast was one of those things that tasted better reheated anyhow.

  Cass laid down for a nap shortly after lunch, and Joy and Frannie trailed after her. Annie made a mental note to mention it to Dustin when he got in, and she sat down on the couch to watch some of the news in a quiet moment.

  The next thing she knew, a hand was gently shaking her awake. “Sweetheart?”

  Annie jerked upright with an ungraceful snort, swiping at her mouth. “Oh no, did I fall asleep? The roast—” The house smelled wonderful, like simmering meat, and her mouth watered.

  “Not burned. Definitely cooked, but not burned.” Dustin hovered over her, concern in his handsome face as he tipped back his hat and studied her. “You all right?”

  “Just tired.” She smiled at him and extended a hand. “Help me up?”

  He did, and instead of letting her go, he pulled her against him and slid his hands up and down her back. “How was your day?”

  “It was great, but I didn’t get much work with the dogs done.” She told him how they were following Cass, and he nodded. “I might have to do most of the training of the dogs at night after they’re in for the day. I don’t want to pull them away from their ranch duties.”

  “There’s no rush on any of it,” Dustin told her. “Just relax and take care of yourself.”

  “But I want to do it,” Annie insisted, doing her best to keep the stubborn note out of her voice. “I need to feel like I’m contributing more than just a womb here.”

  He grinned at her. “Fair enough. I’m not trying to make you all barefoot and pregnant in the kitchen. I just know you’re tired and the movie was stressful. You’re allowed to take a few days to rest.”

  Mollified, she slipped her arms
around his waist and buried her face against his chest. He was warm and hard against her, his clothes smelling like sweat and the outdoors. It was a rather pleasant combination, and she wanted to snuggle up against him forever, especially when he put his hand in her hair and stroked it. “Can we talk after dinner?” she asked him eventually.

  “We don’t need to wait for dinner to talk,” he teased.

  “It’s a serious conversation,” Annie told him. “A private one.”

  She felt him stiffen. “Do I need to worry? Is something wrong?”

  “Nothing’s wrong. We just have stuff we need to talk about, that’s all.” When he hesitated, she looked up at him and smiled. “I promise I’m not doing another runner. It’s just conversation, nothing more.”

  Dustin relaxed and then impulsively kissed her. “Good, because I don’t want you leaving me behind ever again.”

  And really, how could a girl get mad over that?

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  Dustin watched Annie carefully through dinner, looking for signs. Signs that she was unhappy, that something was lurking behind her eyes, that she was hiding something from him. But she smiled and chatted with Old Clyde, listening to stories about ranch dogs in the past, and how he’d first gotten started ranching after the war. His Annie was a fantastic listener and so pretty and thoughtful that it made his chest hurt. Dustin suspected that if she wasn’t claimed by him, he’d have to fight Jordy and Clyde both for her affection.

  She fit in so easily with everyone at the ranch that it made him feel a sense of both pride and pleasure when he would glance over and see her laughing with the others. It made the long, hard day worth it. It made coming home to her a joy.

  It made him wonder how he’d ever survived the last eight months without her.

  Impossible to think about, but after only a few short days, Annie had worked her way under his skin once more. He’d somehow always pictured himself as a loner, able to enjoy the company of others but never settling down in one place or with one person. Somehow, though, that was slowly changing. The thought of Annie leaving him again was like a knife in the gut; he’d do anything to prevent that from happening. Her happiness was his priority now, her smile his focus.