Her Last Chance Cowboy

by Tina Radcliffe

  Hannah gestured with her fork. “You know, not many people understand the language of food.”

  “Never thought of it that way, but you’re right,” Tripp said.

  “And clearly,” she continued, “red velvet cake is the language of love.”

  He looked at her. Really looked at her, realizing he’d underestimated the little baker.

  “More cake?” Hannah asked.

  “Oh, yeah.”

  Hannah crinkled her nose and flinched as she put another slice on his plate.

  “Sunburn?” Tripp peered at the pink skin across the bridge of her nose.

  “Yes. That was a long parade yesterday.”

  “Every year the Fourth of July parade gets a little longer. But it was a good time, wasn’t it?”

  Hannah offered a musing smile. “The best. I took a dozen pictures of Clementine on your shoulders waving her flag and laughing so hard she was near tears.”

  Tripp grinned. Hannah and Clementine made it fun. Once or twice he’d grabbed Hannah’s hand to pull her through the crowd of tourists visiting for the holidays and she’d laugh as the three of them jockeyed for a better viewing spot along the sidewalk. A tiny place in Tripp’s heart that had been closed for a long time seemed to open up yesterday.

  Despite the side glances and meaningful smiles of those that he’d known for a long time, Tripp realized that there were a lot worse things in life than folks thinking he had a ready-made family.

  Chapter Nine

  “Why are you mucking? Aren’t you supposed to be off this morning?” Tripp asked.

  Hannah jumped at the words, surprised to hear Tripp outside the stall. She yanked the bandana covering her mouth and nose down and turned around. “Yes. Just like you’re supposed to be on a conference call.”

  “I’m done. Took less time than I figured.”

  “Have you ever noticed that you always seem to show up when I least expect it?” she asked.

  “That’s my job.” He frowned. “But you didn’t answer my question.”

  “I had to cancel my doctor appointment.” She picked through the shavings with the rake and dumped the unwanted stuff into the wheelbarrow. “I checked the schedule and one of the kids assigned to muck is out sick with poison ivy.”

  “Why?” He pointedly looked at her.

  “I told you why. Poison ivy. Apparently, it’s all over him.” She glanced up at the row of ceiling fans. Though they continued a nonstop rhythm, the air seemed without movement in the huge facility. “Whew. Hot today, isn’t it?”

  “Hannah, why did you cancel your appointment? If you needed a ride, why didn’t you just say so?” He swatted at a fly, growing more annoyed by the minute.

  “Tripp, you’ve got back-to-back conference calls this morning.” She swiped at her forehead with a sleeve.

  “I can easily reschedule the rest of them if you need a ride.”

  “No way.” She grabbed the wheelbarrow and backed out of the stall, nearly running Tripp over in the process.

  “Hey, careful there, and I am trying to talk to you,” he protested.

  “Keep talking. I can hear you,” she said over her shoulder. “I just need to dump this load. Did you forget that I’m supposed to be freeing up your time so you can work with Jane?”

  “Hannah, we’re six weeks from Fort Worth. Jane and I are doing just fine.”

  She stopped for a moment and looked at him. “July has absolutely flown by, hasn’t it?”

  Tripp’s long strides had him moving ahead of the wheelbarrow and standing between her and the path to the mulch pile. “Call and un-cancel your appointment. I’ll meet you at the truck in ten minutes.”

  Hannah released the handles and let the wheelbarrow go, then stared him down. “Ten minutes?” She grimaced and glanced down at herself. “I have to shower. I stink.”

  “Okay. Fifteen.”

  Thirty minutes later, Tripp guided the pickup truck past the sign announcing that they were entering the city limits of Pawhuska. “So where are we going?” he asked.

  “The clinic off Main Street. You can drop me off.” She pulled her still-damp hair into a ponytail and fastened it high on her head.

  He shrugged. “I don’t have anything else to do and I’ve recently been upgraded to your significant other by the new teller at the Timber Bank, so I may as well go with you.”

  Hannah whirled around in her seat. “Significant other? What did you say to that?”

  “Not a thing. Sometimes the best response is no response.” He shrugged. “I’m kind of getting used to it. Besides, I don’t mind being significant and I guess I’m already other.”

  “The only significant other I’ve ever had in my life turned out to be insignificant.”

  “Clementine’s father?” he asked.

  “Exactly.”

  “He’s not in the picture?”

  “Only when he smells money.”

  When Tripp raised his brows in question, she took a deep breath. Sharing was never easy, but Tripp deserved to know.

  “He disappeared before Clementine was born as soon as he realized that I didn’t have a penny to my name. After seven years of random drive-bys, he showed up again a few months ago. I’d always let him know where I was, in case he wanted to man up and be a father. I thought he deserved a second chance because of Clementine. It turned out that he had somehow found out about my grandmother’s failing health, something I was not aware of, and determined that my financial situation would change. He was wrong.” She let out a breath. “I did the best thing for all concerned and cut him loose.”

  “I’m sorry, Hannah.”

  “There’s nothing to be sorry about. I hung on all those years because I didn’t want to admit my grandmother had been right. But she was. The man gladly relinquished parental rights in return for not having to pay back child support.”

  He met her gaze, and she knew what was coming. “Are you still in love with him?” Tripp asked.

  “When we met, I was in love with love.” Hannah paused. “I’m no longer a woman who believes in happy endings and that love conquers all.”

  She shook her head. “Enough fairy-tale talk. The doctor awaits.”

  Tripp came around to the passenger side and offered a hand to assist her as she stepped from the truck. His touch was gentle as he held her arm.

  A gal could get used to being treated like she was special, but Hannah knew better than to read more into it than the fact that Tripp Walker was always a cowboy gentleman.

  “Maybe you should go grab a cup of coffee. There’s that place on Kihekah Avenue,” she said.

  “Nope. I’m coming with you. You shouldn’t have to do everything all by yourself. Friends support each other.”

  “Okay,” she murmured. “But don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

  He held the door of the office to the large obstetrical practice open and let her lead the way. Inside the spacious waiting room, no less than fifteen pregnant women sat on the padded chairs in various stages of discomfort.

  Tripp’s eyes rounded and he did a very genuine deer-in-headlights impression. “Why are there so many pregnant women here?” he whispered.

  “Think of this as a cattle station for expectant women.”

  “I guess so.”

  Every eye in the room was on the tall, lean cowboy who entered and stood awkwardly behind Hannah as she checked in. By the time she turned to find a seat, they were blatantly staring at the only man in the room.

  “Ladies,” Tripp said with a nod as he took off his hat.

  He sat down next to Hannah and casually picked up a magazine. Flipping through the glossy pages, his eyes rounded and he blinked with surprise.

  Hannah glanced over to see what he was reading. Modern Childbirth magazine. She bit back a laugh when he grimaced and quickly closed the p
eriodical, placing it back on the table.

  “Mrs. Vincent?” A nurse in pink scrubs with a clipboard called Hannah’s name.

  Tripp glanced around the room as if looking for Mrs. Vincent.

  Hannah gathered her purse and stood. “Tripp, that’s me. I have to go in now.”

  “You’re Mrs. Vincent?”

  “Yes,” she whispered. “You knew that.”

  He chuckled. “I never put two and two together before. Mrs. Vincent sounds like your grandmother.”

  “No. Her name was Bryant.”

  “Sir, do you want to come in with Hannah?” the nurse asked.

  “Sure,” he said with an enthusiastic grin.

  “I don’t know if that’s a good idea, Tripp,” Hannah said quietly.

  He took her arm. “Hey, we’re buddies, right? I got this, Hannah.”

  “If you say so.”

  “First door on the left, sir. I’m going to weigh our patient first.”

  Hannah waited until Tripp was out of sight before she took off her shoes, removed her earrings and watch and gingerly approached the industrial scale. The device clanged rudely as she stepped onto the black pad. She frowned as she got off the scales and entered the examination room.

  “How’d it go?” Tripp asked.

  “How do you think it went?” Hannah grumbled. “I’m the size of two hippos and a small elephant.”

  “Aw, you are not.”

  “I am, too. Stop being nice.”

  “Whoa. I’ve heard about those hormones from Jack Harris,” he muttered. Tripp stood and walked around the room, inspecting the framed medical certificates on the wall. When he got to the wall behind him, he jerked his head back. “What is that?”

  Hannah turned to see what he was referring to. “Those are a series of photos depicting the birthing process.”

  “With no warning label? That’s just wrong. At least National Geographic warns the reader.”

  “This is a medical office.” She looked at him and narrowed her gaze. “Are you okay?”

  Tripp’s color had paled. “I, um...”

  The nurse came back in the room and grabbed the blood pressure cuff. Her gazed moved from Tripp to Hannah. “Is he okay?”

  “No, he’s not.” Hannah placed a hand on his arm. “He’s leaving to grab a cup of coffee.” She squeezed his bicep. “Right now.”

  “That sounds like a very good idea,” the nurse said. “Should I get him a wheelchair?”

  Tripp held up a hand. “Not necessary. I got this.”

  “At least he tried,” the nurse said. “Most of them don’t even try.” She smiled wistfully at Tripp’s retreating form. “He’s one of the good guys.”

  Hannah stared at the nurse. She was right. Tripp was one of the good guys.

  After her appointment, Hannah found Tripp pacing back and forth across the lobby with his hat in his hands. As if sensing her presence, he looked up.

  “I don’t know what happened to me,” he said. A pained expression crossed his face. “I deliver cattle and horses all the time. But this was different. I just sort of lost it.”

  “It’s okay, Tripp. Here, I brought you a present.” She handed him a small snapshot.

  “What is this?”

  “My ultrasound photo. This is the baby.”

  “Ultrasound. We do those for horses, you know.”

  “Yes, I do know. Babies are different. They grow up and want an allowance and eventually ask for the keys to your car.”

  Tripp was oblivious to her joking words. He continued to stare, mesmerized, at the photo, turning it around to different angles. “Look at that. You can see the little fingers and toes and all.”

  Hannah grimaced. “Ooh, ouch. The baby just kicked me.”

  “What?”

  Hannah took his palm and placed it on her abdomen. “Feel that?” She had his full attention now.

  Tripp’s gaze met hers and the blue eyes widened. “I felt that. The baby kicked. Unbelievable.”

  “Oh, it’s believable at 3:00 a.m. Trust me.” She hooked her arm through his. “Now, do you mind if I pick up my prenatal vitamins at the drugstore before we head back to Timber?”

  “Not a problem. I canceled everything for the morning.”

  “That means tomorrow will be even busier.”

  “It’s fine. I never take any time off and you haven’t since you arrived on Big Heart Ranch.”

  They pushed through the glass doors of the clinic and started down the street.

  “Look,” Hannah said. She nodded to the left. They stood in front of a small infant and children’s shop. A white crib with pink polka-dot decor had been set up in the window. Small bubbles of joy released in Hannah’s heart. For the first time in a long time, she was excited instead of worried about her upcoming delivery.

  “Pink polka dots?” Tripp scoffed. “What if you have a dirt-loving cowboy?”

  Hannah leaned close. “I’ll let you in on a secret. I’m having a little cowgirl and she’s going to love pink and dirt.”

  “I thought you didn’t want to know.”

  “No one told me. I just know.”

  “You just know, huh? Have you thought about names?”

  “Yes. Anne. After my mother.”

  “That’s really nice, Hannah.” A soft smile crossed his face. “Really nice.” He glanced at the sign on the shop’s door. “Do you want to go in?”

  “Could we?”

  “Sure, why not?”

  “You really don’t mind going in there?”

  “This looks a whole lot easier than that doctor’s office.” He reached for the door. Musical chimes sang a nursery rhyme as they entered the shop.

  “Hello there. How may I assist you?” the young clerk asked.

  “Oh, we’re only looking,” Hannah said.

  “When is your baby due?” The woman’s gaze went from Tripp to Hannah.

  “December,” Hannah said.

  “Your first?”

  “This is number two,” Tripp answered. “Pretty exciting, huh?”

  “Yes. Congratulations.” The clerk smiled and handed them pink-and-blue lollipops with the store name on a clear cellophane wrapper. “Let me know if I can help with anything.”

  When she walked away, Hannah dared to look up at Tripp.

  He shrugged and offered a sheepish grin. “Sorry. I opened my mouth and it came out, and then I got carried away.”

  Hannah laughed. “Don’t apologize to me. I’m fine with it, as long as you don’t mind being accused of being the baby daddy.”

  “I’ve been accused of worse.” He glanced at a neat stack of blankets. “These are kind of thin—what are they for?”

  “Receiving blankets. You swaddle the baby with them.”

  “Swaddle?”

  “Wrap them tightly. It’s comforting for the baby.”

  “Swaddle. Got it.” He nodded to another item on the shelf. “And this?”

  “Thermal carrier.”

  “To keep the baby warm? Seems a little small.”

  Hannah broke out in giggles, which brought a look from the clerk. “No, it’s to keep the baby’s bottle warm.”

  “Right. That makes sense.” He turned and inspected a shelf of infant T-shirts. “What have you gotten for the new baby?”

  “Nothing. Not yet. I don’t even know where I’ll be in December.”

  “What do you mean, nothing? Your baby is coming, Hannah.” Tripp seemed genuinely distressed with her answer.

  “I have plenty of time. The only thing I’m certain of is that I’ll be at Big Heart Ranch until the 100-Day Mustang Challenge is completed.”

  “And then what? You don’t have to leave the ranch, you know.”

  “I can’t live in a bunkhouse with a baby and a five-year-ol
d forever. I need a place of my own. I don’t want to have to move twice.”

  “Clementine will have started first grade by early September,” he said. “That’s coming right up.”

  “I know, Tripp. I know. Try to understand that a part of me just doesn’t want to think about all the decisions I have to make just yet.” She tugged on his arm. “Come on. Let’s go. I have to get my prescription.”

  He held the door for her as they left the shop and stepped out onto the sidewalk. “Mind if I run an errand while you get your vitamins?” he asked.

  “Of course not.”

  He handed over his key fob. “I’ll meet you at the truck.”

  “You can meet me all you want, but I’m never going to be able to get into that truck.” She patted her abdomen. “At least not without help.”

  He chuckled. “There’s a bench on the sidewalk where we parked. I’ll meet you there.”

  “Okay.”

  Hannah stood in line to pick up her prescription. On the way out, she heard her name called and looked around. Standing next to the candy aisle was AJ Maxwell.

  “AJ! What are you up to?”

  “Ogling chocolate I’m not supposed to have while my husband is bringing the truck around.”

  “You’re due any day now, right?”

  “Yes. Travis is helping me run errands. I’m no longer allowed to drive.”

  “The doctor won’t let you drive?”

  “No. Travis won’t let me drive.”

  Hannah chuckled at the words.

  AJ rubbed a hand over her stomach. “I sure hope this baby is punctual. I’m ready to have my body back.”

  “I hear you.” Hannah laughed.

  “What are you doing?”

  “My car died, so Tripp took me to the doctor.”

  “Oh, my. That is so sweet. Someone told me you two were close.”

  Hannah held up a hand and shook her head. “No, it’s not like that. I know there’s sort of a rumor going around about us, but we’re just friends.”

  “Oh, yes. I understand. Tripp and I are friends, too. He was one of the most welcoming and supportive people at the ranch when I showed up.” AJ smiled. “But he looks at you a tad bit different than he looks at his other friends.”