The Rancher's Surprise Baby

by Trish Milburn

  Mandy and Ben laughed along with everyone else. She knew in her heart this was just the beginning of many laughter-filled years to come.

  And to think it all started with a wayward pigeon. She’d never loved a bird so much in her life.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Mandy sang along with the pop song playing in the shop while she worked on a new display in the front window. She felt sort of like one of those impossibly perky cartoon heroines who spontaneously break out into song while going about normal everyday tasks.

  But there was good reason for that. She was happy, happier than she could have ever imagined possible. Her latest checkup revealed the baby was doing well, thankfully her morning sickness had been short-lived, and the shop was having its best fall season ever. Of course, that could be partly due to the fact that it seemed every knitter in a fifty-mile radius was making blankets and baby clothes for her as if she was having septuplets instead of one baby. She’d already received so many knitted and crocheted gifts that she’d announced she’d be organizing donations of extra items to charities that helped mothers with babies.

  Arden had helped her research various charities and pick a couple. When they’d visited a shelter in Austin and met some of the women and children there, Mandy was hit anew with just how lucky she was in her life. Sure, her dad had abandoned her and her mom, but he had never physically hurt them. And they’d never had to live on the street or run for their lives or wonder where their next meal was coming from. She knew then and there that even after she had her baby, she was going to keep the knitting program going and draft seamstresses, as well, to make items that could be used year-round. After all, the season when knitted items were comfortable to wear was shorter in Texas than most states.

  And then there was Ben. Her heart filled to bursting when she even thought of him. In the two weeks since he’d proposed, she’d watched him gradually become more comfortable with being a father. She could not wait to see their baby in his arms. Each day her love for him grew, and she had been accused of walking around with a perpetual smile on her face. She could live with that.

  She sprinkled the silk fall leaves on the floor of the display window, around the baskets of yarn skeins in both fall and Christmas colors. Well, that looked cozy and inviting, if she did say so herself.

  She turned to reorganize the chairs she’d moved out of her way while she worked, but the sound of the front door opening drew her attention. Expecting a customer, she was surprised to see Arden instead.

  “Hey, what brings you by? Writing an article on the scintillating world of knitting?”

  Arden smiled at that. “While tempting, I actually wondered if you had a few minutes to talk.”

  Curious, Mandy motioned toward the seating area frequented by the knitting ladies. “Sure. I could use a break anyway.”

  Once they were seated, Arden scooted to the edge of her chair. “I would like to run an idea by you, but I want you to feel completely free to say no. I will totally understand.”

  “Okay.”

  “What would you think of us having a double wedding? Neil said you and Ben are wanting to get married soon.”

  “Yes, before I’m the size of a houseboat.”

  Arden smiled at that. “Neil told me he’d wait however long I needed, but I’m ready now. I don’t want you to feel like I’m stealing your day, though. I just thought—”

  Mandy reached over and gripped Arden’s hand, halting her explanation. “I think that’s a great idea.”

  Even though she’d been the one to voice it, Arden looked surprised. “You do?”

  Mandy nodded. “I’m so happy for you and Neil. He worships the ground you walk on.”

  “I feel the same way about him.”

  “I know.”

  “You and Ben are the same.”

  Mandy smiled. “We are. That’s why this is so perfect. We’ve all been through so much. Celebrating our big days together—well, it just feels right.”

  “I’m so glad. I think Diane and Andrew will like it, too. But what about Neil and Ben?”

  Mandy thought about it for a moment. “You know, despite the fact those two tease each other unmercifully, they love each other, maybe even more than brothers who share blood. They’ll never say it, but I think they’ll like the symbolism of it. Another bond tying all these unrelated people together into a family.”

  “Now you sound like the writer.” Arden reached over and wrapped Mandy in a hug. “I’m so glad we’re going to be sisters. I always wanted sisters when I was growing up, and now I feel like I hit the sister lottery with you, Sloane and Angel.”

  Mandy’s crazy hormones got the better of her and tears pooled in her eyes. “Me, too.”

  “Oh, I didn’t mean to make you cry.”

  Mandy waved away Arden’s concern. “Puppy food commercials make me cry now. It’s like my hormones have developed a personality of their own, one that wants to keep tissue companies in business.”

  Arden laughed at that, and then they were both laughing as they began planning the biggest day of their lives.

  * * *

  “DUDE, BREATHE,” ADAM said as he leaned toward Ben at the front of the church. “If you don’t, you’re going to pass out before Mandy even walks down the aisle.”

  On Ben’s other side, Neil, dressed in a similar black tux, chuckled. Ben glanced over at his older brother.

  “How are you so calm?”

  “Oh, I’m nervous, but I’m more happy.”

  “I’m happy.” He was, really. He just felt like he might throw up, too.

  Neil looked at him. “You love Mandy, and she loves you. Don’t think about anything else.”

  Great advice. Now if he could just put it into practice. After years of thinking he’d go through life alone, of convincing himself he was okay with that, he was on the verge of being a married man. But instead of being nervous about that, he was more afraid that Mandy would suddenly change her mind and not show up at all.

  As the music changed, signaling it was time for Arden and Mandy to make their appearance in the church’s sanctuary, Ben took a deep breath. Adam, who was serving as his best man while their dad served as Neil’s, clasped Ben on the shoulder and squeezed.

  “Almost there, bro,” Adam said.

  The doors at the back of the church opened and there stood Arden dressed in white on the arm of her father, who couldn’t possibly look prouder. Beside Ben, Neil inhaled a quick breath at the sight of the woman he loved. Happiness welled up inside Ben. Neil and Arden deserved this.

  It felt like it took forever for Arden to reach Neil, for her father to lean over and kiss her on the cheek before taking his seat beside Arden’s mom on the front pew.

  The music changed slightly, and Ben was almost too scared to shift his gaze to the back of the church. But he slowly did and his breath caught. Mandy stood there looking like an angel, his angel. When she smiled, he felt it all the way to the deepest part of himself, to the frightened little boy he’d once been but was no more. He was a strong man who was going to do everything in his power to make the woman walking toward him on her mother’s arm happy. To keep her safe, to keep their child safe.

  Everyone else in the church might as well have disappeared because he had eyes for no one but Mandy. His heart beat faster and faster the closer she came to him. When she finally arrived, her mother touched his arm, drawing his attention.

  “Take care of my girl.”

  “I will.”

  Then Mandy’s mom shifted her gaze to her daughter. “And you take care of him.”

  Mandy’s gaze settled on him. “I will.”

  When Mandy took his hand, he felt a tremor that probably matched his own.

  “Nervous?” he whispered to her.

  “Yep. And I have to pee.�
�

  He couldn’t help it—he laughed out loud. It reminded him of the night of the movie in the park, the night of their first kiss, when he and Mandy had laughed so much that those sitting around them had shushed them like they were rowdy kids in a library.

  The laughter helped him relax as the ceremony progressed. Neil and Arden said their “I dos” and sealed their union with a kiss. Then it was Ben and Mandy’s turn. He somehow managed to repeat the vows, slide the ring on her finger without dropping it and keep their kiss PG-rated. Okay, maybe PG-13.

  “Stop trying to outdo me,” Neil said, and everyone in the church laughed.

  He knew wedding receptions went along with weddings, that the brides and their mothers loved them, but all Ben wanted to do through the entire thing was scoop his new wife off her feet and take her to bed.

  “Let them have this,” Neil said as he sank into a chair beside Ben. “We’ve got the rest of our lives with them.”

  But as he chatted with family members and friends, he couldn’t help wishing the rest of their lives would start just a little bit quicker.

  When it was finally time for the happy couples to make their departures, Ben couldn’t keep his hands off Mandy anymore. He pulled her close and kissed her as though they were outlawing kisses at midnight.

  “Get a room!”

  Of course it was Greg who’d said that, making everyone laugh again. Ben looked back at Mandy, who was blushing.

  “Watch this.” Still holding her hand, he searched the crowd for the perfect way to get back at Greg. He smiled when he spotted her. “Hey, Verona. I think you need to set your matchmaking talents to work on Greg.”

  “What a good idea,” Verona said. “I need a good challenge.”

  More laughter floated through the crowd assembled to see them off. Except from Greg, of course.

  “I almost feel sorry for Greg,” Mandy said.

  But then they stepped outside and saw Ben’s truck. In addition to the expected string of cans trailing behind it, the entire thing had been wrapped in pink streamers. Complete with a huge pink bow affixed to the front grille.

  “I take it back,” Mandy said.

  Ben just laughed. Nothing was going to ruin this day—not his past, not the doubts that had long plagued him, and certainly not having to drive through Blue Falls with his truck looking like he’d crashed it into a cotton-candy factory.

  He motioned toward the truck. “Shall we go on our honeymoon, Mrs. Hartley?”

  She smiled and lifted to her toes to plant a sweet kiss on his lips. “I thought you’d never ask.”

  Epilogue

  Mandy heard someone’s quiet voice murmuring as she woke up from what felt like the deepest sleep she’d ever experienced. Man, she was tired. She felt like she could sleep another week and still not be totally rested. She supposed that was what twenty hours of labor did to you.

  As she blinked away sleep, the voice took on a familiar deep rumble, though he was obviously trying not to disturb her. She slowly rolled onto her back so she could see Ben. When she saw him holding their daughter close and looking down at her with pure love and devotion, tears welled in her eyes. Until this moment, she’d evidently still harbored some level of worry that Ben’s doubts about being a father remained.

  Watching him gently boop Cassie’s tiny nose and say “Who’s Daddy’s perfect little girl?” put those fears to rest for good.

  She didn’t know how long she watched them, but it was obvious that both man and baby were totally in love with each other. Cassie waved her little hand in the air as if trying to touch Ben’s face, so he leaned down and let her. Cassie made one of those happy baby sounds, halfway between a coo and laugh, that was guaranteed to make people smile and forget all the bad in the world.

  Ben finally glanced toward Mandy and smiled. “Look, Cassie, Mommy’s awake.” He stood, holding Cassie close like he would protect her from entire armies single-handedly. And Mandy had thought she couldn’t love him more. How wrong she’d been.

  He carefully placed Cassie in her arms then brushed his hand back over Mandy’s forehead, smoothing her hair away from her face.

  “How are you feeling?” he asked.

  “Tired but happier than I’ve ever been.”

  “I’m so sorry you had to go through that.”

  She shook her head against the pillow then looked down into her daughter’s blue eyes, so like her father’s. “It was totally worth it for this little beauty.”

  Ben pulled the chair up next to the bed and clasped one of Mandy’s hands. “Thank you.”

  “For what?”

  “Making me the happiest man alive. For showing me that marriage and fatherhood are not things to be feared.” He brought her hand up to his lips and kissed her fingers. “I love you so much, Mandy. You and Cassie.”

  Her heart expanded with joy. “I love you, too.”

  More than any words in the universe could ever express.

  * * * * *

  If you loved this novel, don’t miss the next book in Trish Milburn’s BLUE FALLS, TEXAS series,

  coming September 2017

  from Harlequin Western Romance!

  Keep reading for an excerpt from A BABY ON HIS DOORSTEP by Roz Denny Fox.

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  A Baby on His Doorstep

  by Roz Denny Fox

  Chapter One

  Rio McNabb vaguely registered the sights, sounds and blended odors of hay, animals and concession stands at the regional rodeo in Abilene, Texas. Really he’d honed in more on the bronc rider who preceded him who’d failed to make the required time to be in money contention.

  Striding toward his chute, he smiled at the handlers preparing the mount that would be his last ride with the PRCA. He’d earned enough over his years on the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association circuit to buy the Lonesome Road Ranch from his folks. Like most ranchers they’d been land rich and cash-strapped. But after today he could cut back rodeos and concentrate on building his horse-breeding business. The ranch, situated well off any beaten path, was a secluded spot where he and his twin brother were third-generation McNabbs born and raised there. Not that Ryder cared, although maybe someday he’d change his mind. Championships meant far more to him than they ever had to Rio.

  Having traveled across the States since junior rod
eos, he’d be glad to get off the road. Several years ago his parents had sold all of their cattle to happily retire at a senior living complex in San Antonio. At the moment they were on their dream vacation in Australia.

  Bronc riding had been good to him, though. A win today would be a fine way to go out, plus give him more than enough funds to buy a palomino mare he’d had his eye on for a while.

  All at once he heard a commotion in the chute. The bronc he’d drawn to ride today, Diablo Colorado, Spanish for Red Devil, was new to the circuit. Rio had given him a cursory inspection earlier and noted the horse was a big, powerful sorrel gelding. Rio guessed the animal was living up to his name based on the difficulty handlers were having getting him into the chute.

  “Don’t envy you this one,” Colton Brooks called down to Rio.

  He smiled and acknowledged the warning, although feisty horses weren’t anything new to him. Over the years he’d suffered his share of hard knocks, bruises and even a few broken bones. Probably another reason at thirty-two to hang up his spurs and leave serious competition to the young dudes. Unlike his brother, a hypercompetitive bull rider who reveled in piling up points in his sport to be acclaimed in the professional standings, Rio had been content to seek out smaller venues with fair winnings. Rather than sticking with the PRCA, he figured after today to keep his hand in by joining the RHAA. The Ranch Horse Association of America showcased skills of true cowboys. His twin scoffed at those events, and at the notion of ever returning to the homeplace Ryder called Hicksville Ranch. Thinking about that had Rio grimacing. He loved the Lonesome Road and would be happy to live there until he couldn’t climb aboard a horse anymore.

  Tightening his gloves, he resettled his dove-gray Stetson before climbing up to join the handlers who’d finally gotten Diablo into the chute.

  Rio sank onto the saddle, then vaulted out again as the horse bucked inside the enclosure and wildly tossed his head. Rio considered asking for a tie line to run from the bit to the cinch. A head-tosser could easily break a rider’s nose, or blacken his eyes. But hearing the crowd cheer and chant his name, and because he alone knew this was his goodbye ride, he decided to ride this devil and give the fans their money’s worth.