Ridden Hard: A Surprise Baby Romance (Ryker Ranch Book 3)

by Kim Loraine

  “Excuse me one goddamned minute?” The shock in his question made my heart lurch. “You want me to give up the right to my kid?”

  “What?” Sandra’s surprise from where she’d come up behind Tristan nearly broke my heart. “That…that’s your baby, Tristan?”

  “Shit,” he muttered.

  I locked eyes with him for an instant before he turned around and faced his mother.

  “Mama, I can explain.”

  She cocked a brow. “Explain what? That you got this girl pregnant and didn’t want to tell me?”

  His mouth fell open. I could see his mind working as he searched for something to say.

  “Mrs. Ryker, I promise he wasn’t keeping this from you. He didn’t know.”

  “Oh, no, you call me Mama from here on out.” She rushed up to me and pulled me in a tight hug. “You’re having my first grandbaby.”

  I glanced at Tristan as she crushed me to her, and all he had to offer was an apologetic shrug.

  “Okay, Mama, let her go. We’ve got a lot to talk about.” Tristan took my hand and the connection of our bodies, even that slight bit of contact, sent a thrill skittering across my spine.

  “You’ll come for supper tomorrow, Hazel. Bring your sister too.” Mama wasn’t asking. She demanded exactly what she wanted. All I could do was nod.

  “Mama, I really need to have a conversation with Hazel.” Tristan didn’t release my hand, but his jaw was tense as he waited for her response.

  “All right. I’ll see you tomorrow, Hazel?”

  Taking a deep breath, I nodded. “Of course.” She left, and I turned my focus to Tristan. “I’m sorry, I purposely didn’t say anything until we were out of earshot.”

  “Why?”

  “Because I guess I didn’t want you to feel forced into anything.”

  “Well, if you think I’m not going to be a father to my kid, you’re dead wrong. So you can go ahead and burn those fuckin’ papers right now.”

  “How are we going to make this work? I live six hours away.”

  He shrugged. “You could marry me.”

  It was the most ridiculous thing he could’ve said. “Excuse me?”

  “I want to do the right thing. If you want to, we could get married. You could move here. I’ll support my family.”

  I shook my head. “I didn’t realize you were a misogynist.”

  “What? I’m not.”

  “You expect me to just drop everything because I got knocked up? Marry a man I’ve spent all of twelve hours with so you can do the right thing?”

  “I don’t see what’s wrong with me wanting to take care of you.”

  “Exactly.”

  He shoved his hands into his pockets and grunted in displeasure. “Women are so frustrating.”

  “The same could be said for men.” This had been a mistake. I should have just called or sent an email. Hell, I could have looked him up on social media. Not shown up to stay for a week.

  Turning away from him, I strode to the car where Erin was waiting. “Where are you goin’?” he called after me.

  “To move some cows.”

  I yanked open the door and got into the car. As soon as Erin looked at me, I shook my head. “Just drive.”

  She backed away from the house, and I watched Tristan jog around the side of the main lodge until he was out of sight.

  “So, he’s a douchebag then?” Erin asked.

  “He wants me to marry him.”

  She laughed so hard I worried she was going to drive off the road. “Oh, he’s a sweet summer child.”

  “I don’t know, Erin. I think this is a bad idea. Maybe we should find somewhere else to stay? Or we can just go home.”

  Taking the long road toward the private cabin we’d booked, she nodded. “I can’t spend another six hours in the car today, but if you want, we can leave in the morning, okay?”

  After a few deep, calming breaths, I shook my head. “No. You need this for your channel too. It’s not just about me and the baby.”

  Worrying her lower lip between her teeth, she sighed. “It would be really great to get their permission to film some stuff for an episode.”

  I could make this work. For her. She was on the edge of really breaking out as an influencer. I couldn’t take that from her because the man who’d impregnated me wasn’t…what? Who I’d thought he was? Who I’d fantasized about? I didn’t know the answer. Tristan and I didn’t know each other at all. I don’t know what I’d hoped to achieve here today. I’d told myself it was a means to an end. A way for me and this baby to move on with a clean slate. Instead, Tristan wanted to be there for us. Hell, he wanted to marry me.

  “At least we won’t be without eye candy.” Erin whistled low as Tristan and another man rode up on horseback just before the bend in the road.

  The cows stood exactly where they’d been when we attempted to get to our cabin earlier. Big and slow with large gentle eyes, they lumbered along while the two cowboys rode up to them.

  Tristan brought his horse around and came toward where we waited. I rolled down my window as the man approached, a frown on his face. “You two wait until they start movin’, then as soon as there’s room I’ll lead you up to the cabin.”

  I nodded and tried not to make eye contact with the handsome cowboy. “Are they going to be a regular problem?”

  He chuckled. “Cows do what they do, darlin’. You have an issue, call down to the lodge, and me and Buck’ll come rescue you again.”

  I gritted my teeth as Erin chuckled next to me. Rolling up my window, I watched Tristan and Buck get the cows moving. I had to admit, he looked like he was made to ride that horse. His hips moved right along with the saddle, and there wasn’t a trace of unease in his posture. A far cry from the contestants on the show.

  “So, Buck is the one who’s engaged to the massage therapist. Apparently they had a very public break up on the show.” Erin moved the car forward as Tristan led us down the road. “Clint married the network exec who came to pitch the show.”

  “Did you binge the whole season last night after I went to bed?”

  Laughing, she said, “No. I Googled them. The baby of the family is Sera. She just graduated college and is running the riding lessons side of the business. Tristan is twenty-five, chronically single, and he’s the resident horse whisperer. Oh! I bet the guy who was with him at the bar that night was Sam.”

  “Sam?”

  “He’s the elusive one. Sam’s a champion bull rider. He refuses to be on camera. I guess it was a huge deal that he showed up for the wedding special.”

  I wondered what his story was, but I didn’t blame him for wanting privacy. I was thankful we weren’t going to be here during filming. I had no idea how I would handle something like that.

  “So you didn’t look him up?”

  “Sam? I mean, of course I did. Do you know me at all?” She pouted. “His photos were all on bulls, aside from one publicity picture from years ago. He’s just as handsome as the rest of them. Damn genetically blessed ranchers.”

  Tristan dismounted from his horse as we parked in front of our private cabin and got out of the car. After tying the steed to a hitching post at the side of the house, he strode toward us. I didn’t want to talk to him right now. I had experienced just about enough of him at the moment.

  “You two gonna be all right way out here? It’s a long way back to the bunkhouse.” His gaze lowered to my belly and his brows furrowed. “I don’t like the idea of you roaming the ranch in such a delicate condition.”

  “I’m pregnant, not porcelain.”

  “I just mean if you need something, it might take a while for someone to help.”

  “I’m fine.”

  He narrowed his gaze at me. “You might be fine, but you’re my responsibility now.”

  Erin winced. “Oh, you pretty, foolish man. You’ve gone and stepped right in it.”

  Dragging a hand over the back of his neck, he glanced from her to me. “I don’t see what
’s so wrong with wanting to take care of her.”

  She sighed. “Of course you don’t.”

  I moved to grab my suitcase, but Tristan stopped me with a gentle hand on my elbow. “Let me get that. Please?”

  I let him. It was heavy.

  Following him up the stairs that led into the cabin, I tried really hard not to look at his ass in those tight jeans, but I was losing the battle with my hormones. I almost crashed into him when he stopped in front of me.

  “Wow, this is prettier than in the pictures.” Erin ran her hand along the back of a cozy-looking sofa in the living room.

  She was right. The all-wood cabin was warm and inviting. A small kitchenette sat nestled into the right corner of the space, and a stone fireplace was the centerpiece of the back wall. There was a bed on the wall opposite the kitchen, with a bathroom to the left. Everything we’d need was here. Maybe I wouldn’t have to leave the cabin and deal with him again for a while.

  He hung his hat on the rack by the door and took my bag over to the chest at the foot of the bed. Then he proceeded to load the fireplace with wood. “It’s startin’ to get cold at nights now. You’ll be needing this tonight.” Bright blue eyes locked on mine. “Supper is at six. Just head back the way you came. I’ll be looking out for you.”

  My belly fluttered with nerves at the rough tone of his voice. “Thank you.”

  Standing, he brushed off his hands and assessed the space once more. Then with a curt nod, he said, “I suppose I’ll be letting you two ladies get settled in. If you need anything, just call.”

  As he passed me, he stopped and leaned close. His lips brushed my ear, and I had to fight a shiver of desire at the memory of what those lips did to my body months ago. “We’ll be havin’ a talk about our situation, Hazel.”

  Tristan

  What was I doing? I didn't know what to say to her. Hazel had haunted my dreams over the last few months, sure. But being in front of her, facing her, facing an entire future I hadn’t planned on—it was a lot to handle.

  Women never left an impression on me the way Hazel did. I’d always been able to move on without much more than a passing thought. But she was different. And now, she was carrying my child. I couldn't just let her get away. By the look on her face when I proposed marriage—the clumsy ass I am—she really wasn’t here for more than to let me know about her situation. She didn't want anything from me, and I had no idea what the best option would be. Would I even be a good father? Would it be better to let her raise the child without me?

  I've never thought of myself as the kind of guy who’d have a kid and not be part of its life. That wasn’t who I had been raised to be. But, if I was being honest. I really didn't think I’d have a kid at all until I was good and ready to settle down. Hell, I was barely twenty-five.

  I rode back down to the main house, the lodge as we now called it, and saw Mama waiting for me. She was seated in one of the old rocking chairs our dad built for her when she was expecting Clint. But her face was anything but serene and relaxed.

  Shit. I was in so much trouble.

  Hitching Ranger to the post near the house, I stood in front of her, hat in my hands, ready for her to let me have it.

  "Those girls all settled?"

  "Yes, ma'am."

  "So, you mean to tell me you had no idea that girl was pregnant?"

  God, I felt like a little kid caught doing something I shouldn't. "Mama, I hope you know I wouldn't leave a girl in a situation like that."

  Her eyebrows rose nearly into her dark hair streaked with gray. "Do I know that, Tristan? Because you do a lot of things that I never thought you’d do. And one of those is treat women like they are interchangeable."

  That stung. She was right, but that didn't mean it didn’t hurt. Maybe it felt worse because she was right. "It's been months since I've been with anybody, not that I need to tell you."

  “Don’t you lie to me, Tristan Nicholas Ryker. Well just this morning, you were hungover after saying goodbye to Travis again. I know your cousin doesn't come for a visit very often, but you two going out together is always a recipe for disaster.”

  "I said I didn't take anyone home. And I didn’t go home with a girl. My boots stayed squarely under my bed where they belong.”

  She huffed out of breath, as if she was trying to figure out how to deal with me. She rolled her eyes to the sky and whispered, "George, if you’re listenin’, help me out."

  I wondered how many times she spoke to my dad each day.

  “Well," she said, locking eyes with me. I knew this look. This was her don’t-fuck-with-me look that I had feared my entire life. "What are you gonna do?"

  I shrugged. “Marry her.”

  A laugh so loud it spooked my horse escaped her, and it took her a full minute to recover before she collected herself enough to talk. "Marry her? You don't even know her. She'd be insane to marry you."

  "Well, thanks for the vote of confidence, Mama."

  Her gaze softened, that gentle, loving expression I was so used to from her appearing on her face. "Honey, don't ask her that. All that's gonna do is pour salt in the wound."

  The space between my shoulder blades began to itch. "I already did."

  "And how did that go?"

  "She shot me down. I think she hates me." I fiddled with the brim of my hat. It was almost time to trade in this old straw one for my winter hat. "She called me a misogynist."

  Mama smiled. "I already like her."

  “You’re supposed to be on my side, remember?”

  Shaking her head, she sighed. “I’m always on your side, and sometimes that means telling you things you don’t like.”

  “I don’t understand why wanting to take care of them makes me an ass—” I tried to stop myself before swearing in front of Mama, but the damage had been done. She gave me the death glare.

  “You watch your mouth, Tristan Ryker. I won’t have you talking like that in my house.”

  “Technically, we’re outside of the—”

  “Don’t you try to be cute on me. That stopped working when you were four, and you know it.”

  Frustration worked its way through my chest. What in the hell was I gonna do?

  “Please don’t let her go away with that baby. Your baby. I don’t want to go the rest of my life without knowing my grandchild because you’re too stubborn to compromise.”

  The plea in her words made my chest ache. I didn’t want to hurt her. But I didn’t have any control over what Hazel did. “I’ll try, Mama. I promise.”

  “What baby?” Buck asked, coming around the corner toward the house.

  “Mine.”

  His eyes widened. “No shit?”

  “Carlton,” Mama chastised.

  “Sorry, Mama.” Buck’s cheeks went a light pink, and then he caught my eye. “Could use your help with a bit of fence on pasture two. You free?”

  I nodded, and the two of us made our way to the horses. We rode out to pasture two, where the fence was absolutely perfect. “Buck, you got something you need to say to me? You never bring me out for bullshit reasons.”

  “Are you really having a baby with some girl?” His voice was hard and cold.

  “Yeah.”

  “Of course you are. I bet you don’t even remember her name.”

  That stung, but there had to be more going on with him than his desire to tell me, ‘I told you so.’ Buck wasn’t the kind of guy who’d throw my choices back in my face.

  “Her name is Hazel. She’s here with her sister right now, and yes, she’s having my baby.”

  He didn’t say another word. Instead, his jaw went tight, and he nudged his horse with his heels. They took off like a shot and I gave chase, letting the wind whip my face as we caught up easily. I followed him into the trails, the two of us working up to the crest of a hill where we could look over the ranch.

  We stopped there, looking down at the place our family built. It had grown so much since our sister-in-law showed up with her big ideas to
make us into the next hit reality show.

  “Penny’s not pregnant. It was a false positive.”

  My heart lurched with guilt. I hadn’t even asked since he told me she thought she was gonna have a baby. “I’m sorry, man. But, you guys can try again, can’t you?”

  “She said it’s a good thing because it’s too soon anyway.” His brow furrowed. “What if she’s changed her mind about everything?”

  “Why would you think that?”

  “She ain’t even sad. She’s relieved.”

  Our horses were at a walk as we slowly rode the trails back toward the pastures. Buck and I had hashed out more than one issue this way, but I didn’t know how to deal with this one. “Maybe she’s just not ready.”

  “Are you ready?”

  “Not even close.”

  Hazel

  My stomach rumbled, hunger making itself known. I needed to eat a lot more frequently than usual. Pregnancy will do that, girl. Hefting myself off the bed where I’d been laying down for a nap, I looked at Erin, hard at work on her computer, taking notes for all the questions she wanted to ask them.

  "It's almost six.” I stated it as though I wasn't desperate for food, but she closed her computer so quickly I knew she felt the same.

  "I wonder if we can just grab ours to go and bring it back here?" she asked.

  I laughed. “Unlikely. Remember, this is the full guest ranch experience. We are supposed to participate. Get to know the ranch. Learn what it means to be a rancher.”

  She sighed. "I don't have a problem with that, but I know it's not going to be easy for you. Maybe you should tell Tristan to keep it on the down low. Nobody has to know he’s the father.”

  Placing my hand protectively over my belly, I knew I’d never be able to hide it. But, there would be less speculation about who the father was. Unless Tristan had already told them? From everything I learned about this family through my sister, they were tightly knit.

  “They probably already know. I mean, it’s pretty weird for a pregnant girl to show up on a dude ranch.”

  “True, and Tristan offering to do the right thing probably didn’t help keep anything under wraps.”