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

by Kim Loraine

  “I’m glad I could help. Mama is one of the most wonderful people I’ve ever met.”

  She removed her hand from my arm and fiddled with the edge of her coat. I wished she hadn’t taken away the contact.

  “Doc McKallister said she wouldn’t be alive if you hadn’t done what you did. That’s twice now you’ve been given credit for saving her. You can’t brush that under the rug again. You saved her life.”

  “Tristan, stop.” Her cheeks burned pink.

  “Why can’t you just let someone give credit where it’s due?”

  “Because I don’t do it for recognition. I do this job because I can, because I’m good at it, and because if I don’t, who will help?”

  “Exactly.”

  She stayed quiet and glanced at the road, which led to the cabin she and Erin had been staying in. “I think I should go back to the cabin. Mama is independent. Sera is there too. I can come help during the day for another week or so, but I don’t want her to get too reliant on me. I have to go back home soon.”

  “Or you could stay.”

  She sighed. “Tristan, we talked about this.”

  “No, not since the first time. Stay in the cabin until the baby comes. Or better yet, move in with me. I bet I can get Sam to swap with you. He can take the cabin, and you can have his room.” I took her hands and bared every hope I had as I spoke. “Let me take care of you for once. Doc McKallister delivered most of the kids in this town, and he hasn’t dropped one yet. We can work on getting to know each other on a deeper level, figure out where we go from here. And it’d make me feel better if Mama had you close.”

  “Are you serious? You want a pregnant lady living at your house?”

  I grinned. “Well, I did help you make that baby. Seems to me I should get the added benefit of going through all stages of your pregnancy right alongside you.” Threading our fingers, I dropped the teasing act and stared deep into her eyes. “I don’t want to miss it. The kicks, the ultrasounds, picking out names. I want all of it with you, Hazel. And I sure as shit don’t want you finding some other guy to share that with.”

  She shook her head. “There’s no one.”

  “I know. And I’m just lucky that hasn’t happened yet.” My heart beating so hard I thought for sure she could hear it, I licked my bottom lip and said, “What do you think? Can you ride it out here with me? I’ll take care of you, I promise. Once the baby comes, we’ll get you back on your feet.”

  Sighing, she stared down at our joined hands. “This is probably a terrible decision, but I suppose there are worse things I could agree to.”

  I let out a whoop of excitement and pulled her into my arms, her bump pressing against me. “Thank God you said yes. I already talked to Erin, and your stuff is on its way here.”

  “You called my sister?”

  “I might’ve.”

  A little smile turned up the corners of her lips. “Fine. I’ll stay, but I’m not moving in. I’m a grown woman. I can live on my own as long as the cabin is still available.”

  In that moment, I wished we weren’t closed for the season, so the cabin would be booked out. I wanted her with me, not so far out and away from the main house. “Are you sure?”

  “Yes.”

  I didn’t like it, but I had originally suggested that very thing, so I let it go. At least she wasn’t leaving me. Not yet.

  Hazel

  The air was bitter cold as winter began curling its icy fingers around the mornings on the ranch. Just because there were no guests, that didn’t mean there wasn’t work to do, and Mama didn’t understand the meaning of take it easy. I started the old Jeep Tristan had given me to use after Erin left and went back inside the cabin. Having a vehicle to use was great, aside from the fact that it took double the time I needed to drive to the main lodge just to warm up.

  By the time I made it to the house, my teeth were still chattering, and bone-deep shivers wracked my body. Even with my own little built-in space heater, I couldn’t keep from trembling this morning. I opened the kitchen door and peeked inside. Two handsome cowboys leaned against the counter, serious expressions on their similar faces, coffee in hand.

  “I think you should go be where you wanna be,” Tristan said as Sam stared down into his mug.

  “It’s not that simple. There’s a lot more involved in something like this.”

  “You want to be happy? Get what makes you happy. We’ve only got a limited number of days, Sam. Why spend them miserable?”

  My heart lurched at those words coming from Tristan. He was so much more than I’d given him credit for. And that scared me.

  “Morning, fellas,” I called, trying not to make it seem like I’d overheard what was clearly a private conversation. “Where’s Mama?”

  Tristan’s entire face lit up in a heart-stopping smile. “Mornin’, darlin’. How’re you two doing?”

  I swear, I blushed to the roots of my hair. “Cold. Temperature really took a nosedive overnight.”

  He strode toward me, gripping my biceps as soon as he could before pulling me against him. Oh, his warm chest and strong arms made me feel so much better. The baby kicked and pushed out, the sensation sending flutters through my belly.

  “What the fuck was that?” he asked, backing away.

  “I’m pretty sure she’s pregnant,” Sam said sarcastically.

  “I know she’s pregnant, asshole. I felt somethin’.”

  My heart leapt. “You did?”

  Eyes wide, he nodded. “Was it…did she?”

  “She?” I asked.

  He shrugged. “I have a feeling we’re having a girl.”

  “God help you if you are,” Sam muttered.

  The baby shifted again, and on instinct, my hand shot out to grip his. “Wait. Here.”

  I pressed his palm to my belly, and we waited, and waited, and waited. Then as though the baby knew we were about to give up, a kick. Tristan’s gaze locked with mine, absolute delight in his blue irises. “That is the most amazing thing. That’s our kid?”

  I nodded. “And there’s going to be a lot more movement over the next few weeks.”

  God, the smile on his face had me weak in the knees. He stared at me in wonder. “Does it feel weird?”

  Sam gave me a slight nod of acknowledgment before leaving the two of us alone.

  “It did at first. But now that she’s stronger, it kind of tickles.”

  Both of his hands cradled my bump now, holding the place our child grew with a reverent gentleness that melted my heart. “When can we find out what we’re havin’? Do you need to see a doctor or something? I didn’t even think of that when you agreed to stay.”

  “I made an appointment with Doctor McKallister last week, as soon as I decided to take you up on your offer. I was going to ask you if you wanted to come, actually. He’s going to do the twenty-week anatomy scan. We’ll get a really good look at the baby.”

  “Yeah? You want me there?”

  “Of course. I don’t really want to do this alone. Not if I don’t have to.”

  His eyes flashed with tenderness. “You acted like you did when you first came here.”

  “I was prepared to have you reject us. I’ve never had a man prove he could be there for me like you have already. It’s been me and Erin pretty much on our own since birth.”

  He cupped my chin and turned my face up toward his. “Not anymore. Whether or not you and I are a pair, you’re part of this family. You, this baby, your sister too. We take care of each other, and we’re gonna take care of you.”

  I wrapped my arms around him, hugging him tight and pressing my cheek against his broad chest. The scent of him cloaked me in the safety of a warm blanket on a cold night. Just a touch of spice mixed with the leather and grit of him. It was quickly becoming my favorite combination. Though smelling it on any other man wouldn’t have the same effect. It was pure Tristan.

  “So, when’s this appointment?” he asked as his fingers trailed the length of my back.

>   “Friday. Nine-thirty.”

  “Consider me there, darlin’.”

  I already knew he was a charmer, but at the rate I was falling, I almost wished I had a parachute to slow my descent. He could catch me, but if he didn’t, my heart wouldn’t survive.

  14

  Tristan

  My heart thumped hard against my chest as we waited in the doctor’s office. A few women from town looked at the two of us, whispering under their breath. Yeah, so everyone had been right, and Tristan Ryker knocked some girl up. Except Hazel wasn’t some girl. She was mine. She still hadn’t admitted it yet, but there was no denying the connection we shared.

  Hazel linked our fingers and gave my hand a squeeze before placing her other hand on my bouncing knee. “Hey, it’s okay. This’ll be a breeze.”

  Worry shot through me. “Do you know how many things could be wrong? The heart could be underdeveloped, she could be missing organs or limbs. She could have a congenital birth defect and need surgery while she’s still inside you.”

  Her eyes widened. “What have you been up to, cowboy?”

  Embarrassment rushed through me. “I may have Googled.”

  Shaking her head, she chuckled. “Rule one. Never Google unsupervised. I can tell you from experience, those are all rare things. Yes, sometimes it does happen, but we can’t control that. All we can do is hope. Worrying about something we don’t have any say over isn’t going to help us.”

  “How are you so calm?”

  She shrugged. “Nurse. I’ve had a lot of practice.”

  Something in me eased. She was going to be a great mom. She was strong and smart, fierce and protective. This kid was going to grow up with a warrior by her side.

  “Hazel?” A woman in pink scrubs stood inside an open doorway, a chart in her hand and a gentle smile on her face.

  Hazel stood and I followed, hat in hand, heart racing once again. I placed my palm on her lower back as the nurse led us to a small room with a sterile paper-covered exam table and a few chairs. To the left, there was a machine with a monitor on a rolling cart. I assumed that was the ultrasound. God, this was too fucking real.

  “The doctor will be in shortly. Hazel, have a seat on the table. He’ll want to chat before he gets started.”

  Hazel nodded and did as she was told. In minutes Doc McKallister knocked on the door before entering.

  “Hey there, Hazel, how are you? Good to meet you officially. I’m Doctor McKallister. Sandy has told me you’re caring for her back on the ranch. It’s good to have a nurse practitioner out here.” He held out a hand and shook hers. The man was in his late sixties now, the only doctor we’ve had since before I was born. He delivered Buck, me, and Sera early in his career. Now he’d be delivering my kid.

  “Tristan,” he said. “How you feeling about impending fatherhood?”

  I smiled like a loon. “I can’t wait, sir. I absolutely can’t wait.”

  He gripped my shoulder and grinned. “That’s the answer I hoped to hear from you.” Then he turned his focus back to Hazel. “All right, I just want to get some measurements from you before we get to the fun part.”

  After he examined her, Hazel laid back on the table and pulled up her top, exposing the dome of her belly. My chest felt like it might burst from excitement as Doc squirted some blue jelly onto her abdomen and flicked off the lights with a remote control. Then he placed a handheld wand on her belly, and the screen lit up with a black and white image I couldn’t make heads or tails of at first. Until I saw it. A baby. A real live baby with arms and legs.

  “Here we go,” he said before pushing a button and filling the room with the sound of a rapidly beating heart.

  “Is that…”

  “The heartbeat. Nice and strong.”

  Tears sprang to my goddamned eyes before I knew what was happening, and Hazel grabbed my hand. “Is… Is everything okay? I mean, does she have all her parts?”

  Hazel laughed gently.

  “So, you’ve been on Google?” Doc teased.

  An hour of measurements, pictures, and assurances that everything looked perfect later, Hazel and I walked out of the office, both light on our feet. We had no idea if the baby was a boy or a girl, but I couldn’t have cared less. I just wanted them. Whoever they were.

  With Hazel nestled into my side, we strolled along downtown, getting some fresh air before stopping for a snack at a local coffee shop. The crisp air made her cheeks rosy and eyes bright.

  “I’m real glad you stayed.”

  She smiled and sighed. “Me too. Mama needed some help.”

  “She did. I’ll never forget what you did for her. And me.”

  “But I think I needed you all too. I was looking for something when I came here. I just didn’t know what.”

  A smirk twisted my lips before I could stop myself. “Pretty sure you were looking for your baby daddy.”

  A soft smack on my chest was her response as she chuckled. “Sure, that’s what I was looking for at first. But once I met everyone, fell for you all, I realized this family was what I needed.”

  “You’re what I need.”

  Shaking her head, she stiffened and pulled herself out of my hold. “Don’t say that. I can’t take it if you change your mind.”

  “I’m not gonna change my mind, darlin’. I’ve been thinking about you since the night we met. No one but you.”

  Her brows drew together, and she crossed her arms atop her swollen middle, hidden by her coat. She’d been hurt before. Of course she wasn’t ready for me and what I wanted. If I wasn’t careful with the forever talk, I’d scare her away.

  “Hey, I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t apologize. I just don’t want to make another mistake, Tristan. I don’t want us to get carried away by everything that’s going on, by the fact that we’re having a baby, and then realize we don’t really want to be together.”

  How could she think I wouldn’t want her? “Not gonna happen.”

  “I’ve heard that before. I thought I had my forever, but I was wrong. He never stopped looking for someone better.”

  I stopped us right then and there, grabbing her shoulders gently as I turned her to face me. “There’s no one better than you, Hazel. You hear me? That asshole you married didn’t deserve you, and I hate that he hurt you, but I can’t say I’m sorry you’re not with him anymore.” Her eyes were shiny with tears she wouldn’t let fall.

  “Tristan…”

  With my thumb, I wiped away one stray tear, and then I pressed a soft kiss to her forehead. “Cmon. Let’s grab a bite before heading back to the ranch. Mama will want to see her grandbaby’s first pictures.”

  She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and nodded.

  The scent of freshly brewed coffee and pastries filled the air as we approached One Horse Coffee Traders. The warm air of the shop enveloped us as we walked inside, old cowboy country music played, and the rustic environment was exactly what tourists expected when they came here.

  “Tristan Ryker, how are you, boy?” Tracy Hartman beamed over the counter, her long dark hair braided over one shoulder. “How’s your mama?”

  I removed my hat and smiled at her. “She’s doing much better. Wanted me to make sure I thanked you for the basket of pastries you sent. That was awful nice of you.”

  “Of course. I wish she’d let me do more to help.”

  Wrapping an arm around Hazel, I pulled her close. “We’re taking good care of her. My Hazel’s a nurse. She’s keeping Mama healthy.”

  Tracy cocked a brow. “Your Hazel, huh? I didn’t know Doc hired a new nurse.”

  “He didn’t. I’m staying at the ranch.” Hazel didn’t pull away from me, but she had to clear her throat before speaking.

  “Oh, well, that’s lucky. It’s good to meet you. I’m Tracy. What can I get you two?”

  After ordering two coffees, decaf with cream for Hazel, black for me, and one of Tracy’s fresh-baked cinnamon buns to share, we headed to a table. I helped her with he
r coat and knew it the moment every customer in the shop saw her bump. It went silent except for the sound of music playing.

  Hazel’s eyes went wide as she looked around the space and locked gazes with me. I could see the need to bolt rising in her. They were staring, making assumptions. It didn’t bother me that they were clearly all thinking that my behavior had finally caught up with me. But it killed me to know they were judging her.

  “It’s all right, darlin’. We have nothing to hide,” I said under my breath. I pulled out her chair and waited as she sat down. Then I took up my seat across from her and raised my voice. “Let ‘em look. I couldn’t be prouder that you’re havin’ my baby.”

  The crowd went back to their food and drinks, but Hazel’s cheeks were a deep pink. Tracy arrived at the table and placed our coffees in front of us and the warm, gooey cinnamon roll between us, along with two forks.

  “You two are having a baby? Tristan, why didn’t you say anything? This is wonderful,” she said, genuine excitement in her voice. “When are you due, Hazel?”

  “February.”

  “I’ll be sure to get in touch with Sandy about the baby shower.” She grabbed my hand and squeezed. “It’s good to see you happy and settling down. The wild ones always end up being the ones who fall hardest. Trust me, Hazel. I married one.”

  “Oh, we’re not together,” Hazel said quickly.

  Tracy’s face couldn’t hide her shock. “Well, you could have fooled me.”

  “Thanks, Tracy. We’ll let you know about the shower. I’m sure that’d be great, and Mama would love the help.” I looked at Hazel’s concerned expression. “Mind if we took this all to-go?”

  Tracy grabbed our cups and the cinnamon bun, nodded with a sweet smile, and left, returning quickly with paper cups and a box filled with a dozen of her award-winning treats. “I packed up some extra for the rest of you. Give your mama a hug for me, you understand?”

  “Sure do. Thanks, Tracy.”

  We stood, but Tracy took Hazel’s hand. “You couldn’t find a better family than this one, Hazel. Or a better man than Tristan.”