The Accidental Bride

by Denise Hunter

“You look good.” The deep tone of his voice roused something in the pit of her stomach.

  She could feel his gaze on her face, and her skin heated under his perusal. Why had he come here? It wasn’t fair that he could stir her up this way. She was just beginning to forget, and now he was here making her remember what she was missing. She felt the sting of tears and swallowed hard.

  “I’ve missed you,” he said.

  She’d bet he had. A wry laugh escaped. Her feet itched to run. Only her swollen belly, pressed against the wooden gate, kept her still.

  “Don’t believe me?” he asked.

  He had no idea what missing was. Missing was lying in the dampness of your tears night after night. Missing was a constant hollow spot in the center of your chest. Missing was a yawning ache that was never satisfied.

  “Go away, Travis. Please.”

  He moved beside her, and she heard a crackling sound. He handed her an envelope. She stared at it, frowning.

  “Go ahead.” He pushed it toward her. “Open it.”

  He wasn’t going away until she did. Sighing hard, she took the envelope, slid her finger under the flap, and removed the folded paper.

  It was an official document. A deed of some kind. She scanned the paper and found her ranch’s address.

  “What is this, Travis?”

  “The deed to your ranch.”

  She studied the paper, confused. “I don’t understand. Your parents bought my place.”

  “Actually, I did.”

  She looked at him then, frowning. The flecks in his gray eyes sparkled. He’d bought her home? For what purpose? And why’d he hide behind his folks?

  “They were my nominees,” he said. “Perfectly legal.” He looked rather pleased with himself, his chin tucked, a tiny smile playing at his lips.

  He was taking her property away? Kicking her out the way she’d kicked him out? What was this . . . revenge? The flesh under her arms heated, prickling. She felt angry tears gathering in her eyes. She had to get away, was not going to crumble to pieces in front of him.

  She shoved the envelope into his chest. “Congratulations.”

  She darted away, her feet moving quickly. How could he have done this? He of all people knew what this place meant to her. It was her home. Their home. She could barely stand the thought of strangers living here, much less Travis.

  “Shay . . .”

  She left the barn and passed Buck. The drizzle cooled her skin, but not her temper. He’d said he loved her, but she knew better, didn’t she? Last time he’d loved her, he’d deserted her. This time he’d taken away her home.

  “Wait, Shay.” He sounded close behind.

  She had to make it to the house. She’d slam the door in his face and lock him out. But it wasn’t even her house now. It was his.

  His footsteps pounded the dirt behind her. He was catching up.

  “Shay.”

  So close.

  She grabbed her jacket from the hood of her truck just as he took her arm and whipped her around. She clutched the damp coat to her belly, breathing fire.

  “You don’t understand,” he said. He no longer looked pleased. A flicker of fear flashed in his eyes. He held out the folded paper. “It’s yours. I bought it for you—it’s all paid for.”

  All hers? She was afraid to believe it. Why would he—

  “Take it.” He thrust it at her.

  She clutched the coat against her belly. Why was he doing this? Guilt for all the pain he’d put her through? She didn’t want his charity. Besides, she couldn’t run the ranch now, not like this and not after the baby was born.

  “It’s yours,” he said.

  “I don’t want it.”

  His eyes narrowed thoughtfully. His hair was plastered to his head. A drop of rain ran down the crease between his brows. His eyes had gone the color of a summer storm.

  “No strings attached—it’s yours free and clear. But I came back to see . . . I’ve missed you, Shay. I love—”

  She whipped around and jogged for the house.

  “Shay, blast it, why do you have to be so stubborn?”

  She had a childish urge to put her hands over her ears. But her hands were full of coat, and running was easier. She didn’t want to hear his declarations of love. She didn’t believe him, refused to believe him, and if she stood there for a second more, she’d be tempted. Tempted to believe him, tempted to fall right back into his arms like a fool.

  She was so close, nearly to the porch, almost to the first step.

  He tore the coat from her arms, spinning her around.

  Her arms were empty, her belly exposed. Her shirt was wet, no doubt plastered to her form. She folded her arms.

  Too late. Travis’s eyes had fallen to her swollen belly and fastened there. His brows knotted, a crease between them.

  She froze, couldn’t move if she wanted. Her breath caught in her lungs and held there, thick and heavy.

  Travis’s eyes widened as they fastened on hers. He searched her face for answers. She could see the wheels turning and wondered where they’d stop.

  He opened his mouth to speak, then closed it again. His head tilted. His eyes filled with wonder. And then moisture. He ran his hand across his jaw.

  She wanted him to say something. Anything. What was he thinking? What had moved him to tears? Was he sorry? Did he feel trapped? It was the last thing she wanted.

  A look of hurt passed across his face. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  So he could feel torn between what he wanted and what he was obliged to do?

  “I don’t want to be an obligation, Travis.” She raised her chin and gathered her strength. “You’re off the hook.”

  “Off the—for crying out loud, Shay, how can you say that? Didn’t I just tell you how I feel?”

  She didn’t want to go there, but he was giving her no choice. “I know about Ella, Travis. Do you tell her how you feel too?”

  The crease was back, doubled. “Ella . . . Ella Reynolds?”

  She wiped the rain from her face. “I saw the text, Travis. I know you were meeting her in Vegas. I know there’s something between the two of you, so you can just go back to Texas and take that deed with you. Clearly, I’m in no shape to run this place.”

  His eyes looked slate gray under the storm clouds. “What text? There’s nothing between me and Ella. We dated a few times, before I came back here. That’s all. Yes, she was interested, but I told her I was married.”

  Shay crossed her arms over her chest as if to prevent any of his words from sinking into her heart. It was lies, all lies. She lifted her chin. “You communicated with her while you were here. You met up with her in Vegas. You’ve probably been with her since then.”

  “I texted her from here, but only to tell her I was married—that I loved my wife. And once to congratulate her on finaling. That’s it, Shay.” He pulled his phone from his pocket and held it out. “Check for yourself. I probably haven’t deleted any texts since then. I never think of it.”

  Shay took the phone and held it against herself, shielding it from the rain.

  What if it was true? He wouldn’t hand over his phone if he had something to hide, would he? And if she’d been wrong about Ella, what else had she been wrong about?

  He took a step closer and reached out, framing her face. His palms were warm against her damp skin.

  He looked deep into her eyes. “I know I let you down before. I know I hurt you, and I’ll have to earn back your trust. I’ll be as patient as I need to be, only please let me prove it to you. Let me prove that I’m here to stay. I’ve never wanted anything so badly in my whole life.”

  His voice, his words, reached deep into her heart. She still had one reservation—his first love, the thing that had taken him from her before.

  “What about the rodeo, Travis?”

  His thumb glided over her the corner of her mouth. “I’m done with the rodeo. Haven’t ridden competitively since the finals, and I don’t miss it, Shay. W
hat I miss is you. I miss us. I miss Olivia.”

  He reached into his pocket again and pulled out a velvet box. “This isn’t the way I planned this last fall when I bought it.” He opened the box, and a gold wedding band sparkled in the center.

  The jewelry package. It had been for her after all.

  He met her eyes. “I love you so much, Shay Brandenberger. I want you to be my wife because you choose to be, not because of some cockamamie accident. I want to love you the rest of your life. I want to be a father for Olivia . . .” He reached out and palmed the side of her belly, a tiny smile hitching up his lips. “A father for our child.”

  Her eyes burned, her heart thundered in her chest. She swallowed past the lump in her throat. She wanted to believe it.

  Can I trust him to stay this time, God?

  “I bought my parents’ place too.”

  She frowned. “Why?”

  “I’m here for good this time, Shay. Please don’t make me settle for being your neighbor.” He pulled the ring from its velvet nest and held it in his fingers. “I want so much more.”

  He looked on her with love, his eyes promising more than his words. “I’ll earn your trust back, every bit of it. But the first step is yours.”

  She looked down at the band, circular and perfect, a droplet of rain glistening on its surface. She wanted nothing more than to be his forever wife. She’d never wanted anything but that. All she had to do was take this one step and trust God to carry her through. He’d never left her side. Hadn’t He led Travis straight back to her—twice?

  She uncrossed her arms, held out her hand. It trembled in the air before he caught it in his own.

  Gazing into her eyes, Travis slid the ring into place. The metal was warm against her skin. The weight of it familiar and right.

  He cupped her chin, lifting. “I love you.” The warmth of his breath was a whisper on her lips.

  “I love you too. So much.”

  His eyes softened. She drank in the look, savoring it. She’d missed it, the way he could love her with a look. The way he could send chills down her spine with a touch.

  He pulled her close and took possession of her lips, softly at first, then more urgently when she wrapped her arms around him and pressed closer. He was Travis, her first love, her husband, the father of the baby that nestled in her womb.

  He pulled away and pressed kisses to her closed eyes, then folded her into his arms. “Forever and ever,” he whispered. “As long as we both shall live.”

  Her eyes stung at his tender words, and her heart was near to exploding from her chest. His promise rang true in her ears. A smile tugged her lips as she pressed into the warmth of his embrace.

  As long as we both shall live.

  Epilogue

  Shay pulled the rake, piling the old straw at her feet. When the stall was clean, she set the rake down and rubbed her back, catching her breath. The backache she’d woken with had only gotten worse.

  Of course, the chores weren’t helping. If Travis knew she was working out here in the August heat, he’d come home, sweep her off her feet, and carry her right back into the house. But she couldn’t stand seeing him work so hard while she sat on the sofa with her swollen feet propped on the ottoman, watching her belly grow larger.

  As if that were possible. She looked down and eyed the protrusion. It seemed impossible she had another week to go. She was already big as a barn.

  Abigail hadn’t gotten nearly this big. Her friend had delivered a healthy baby boy three weeks earlier, following a long, difficult labor. Shay had brought Olivia to the hospital and watched rugged cowboy Wade blink back tears as he held his newborn son. Maddy was positively gaga over her baby brother.

  A spasm seized Shay’s back, and she froze until it passed. Yeeow. Maybe Travis was right. She shouldn’t be raking out stalls in her condition. She took the rake back to the tack room and replaced a couple tools that had been left out.

  The last four months had been busy ones and full of change. After a lot of conversation, they’d decided to move into Travis’s house at the Barr M. With a baby on the way, they needed the extra room. Besides, Shay reminded herself, a house was just a house. Her home was where her family was. Olivia had claimed Travis’s boyhood room, and they’d made it girly with lavender paint and floral rugs. The nursery, adjacent to the master bedroom, had been readied as well.

  Soon after Travis’s return, Shay’d had her last name changed to McCoy. Last month Travis had told her he’d like to formally adopt Olivia. When they’d told her, she’d whooped with excitement. The adoption process was now in motion and would be completed soon.

  Shay was smiling as she started from the tack room. When she reached the doorway, another spasm arced through her back, wrapping around her abdomen.

  Oh.

  Her legs wavered under her, and she braced herself against the door frame, her stubby fingernails digging into the splintered wood.

  How long had it been since the last pain? Two minutes? Three? Was she in labor?

  With Olivia, her water had broken—it was nothing like this. The pain subsided, but she was afraid to move. She reached for her cell and found her pocket empty. She’d left it charging on her nightstand. Olivia had gone with Travis to make his circle, and Travis had only agreed because Shay had promised to stay close to the phone.

  Well, I am close. It was only a few hundred yards away. But the distance to the house had never seemed so far.

  She was fine now, though. Her legs, though wobbly, could support her weight. She started for the house, making plans to prepare. Her bag was already packed, and Miss Lucy was on alert to expect Olivia overnight if necessary.

  She was halfway to the house when another spasm buckled her legs. She sank down to the grass on all fours, gritting her teeth against the pain until she remembered to breathe. She pulled in one shaky breath after another.

  Finally the spasm began to recede. It was nearly gone when she heard the clopping of horses’ hooves. Travis was bearing down hard, Olivia a ways behind. He dismounted before Buck reached a full stop.

  “Shay!” His face was tense.

  Shay pulled her hands from the dry grass, sitting back on her haunches, and gave a dry smile. “I think the baby’s coming.”

  “Olivia,” he called over his shoulder. “Run in the house and get my keys.”

  “And my overnight bag,” Shay said.

  Olivia dismounted nearby. “The baby’s coming?”

  “Ready or not.” Shay wiped the sweat from her forehead while her daughter ran into the house.

  Travis called Wade and asked him to take care of their horses, then put in a quick call to Miss Lucy.

  “What were you doing out here?” he asked when he turned off the phone. “I couldn’t reach you.”

  “I was in the barn. The stalls needed—”

  His glower stopped her. She put her hands down, preparing to stand, but he swooped her up in his arms and stood.

  “I can walk just fine.”

  “Yeah, I see that.” He carried her to the truck. As he deposited her gently on the seat, another contraction overtook her.

  Pain ripped through her abdomen. Her breath caught in her lungs, the pain stealing all voluntary function.

  Travis took her hand. “Breathe, baby. Breathe.”

  She sucked in a tremulous breath and blew it out.

  “Again,” he said. “That’s it, you’re doing great.” He pushed the hair off her face and crooned gently until the spasm passed.

  Shay took a cleansing breath and opened her eyes. “They’re getting closer.”

  Olivia arrived with the keys and bag. “Here, Daddy.”

  “Hop in, kiddo,” Travis said. “Your baby brother or sister is in a hurry to meet you.”

  Shay sagged against the hospital bed, her muscles still quivering. The nurse had their baby boy in the bassinet and was doing all the newborn procedures.

  Travis pocketed his phone and perched on the bed, facing her. “My pa
rents said to tell you congratulations. Dad got all choked up when I told him the name. He was honored.”

  They’d decided on Austin Wyatt McCoy, Wyatt after his dad. “Think they’ll come back soon for a visit?”

  “Mom said they’ll come next month one way or another. It’s killing her that she can’t be here.” Travis brushed Shay’s hair back from her damp forehead. “You did so great, sweetness.” He kissed her, his lips lingering for a long second. “You amaze me.”

  She choked back a laugh. “Sorry about, you know, all the yelling. I didn’t mean a word of it.” Truth be told, she didn’t remember much of what she’d said.

  Travis smiled. “I sure hope he doesn’t have your temper.”

  As if on cue, their baby boy let out a screech.

  “Uh-oh,” she said.

  One of the nurses raised her bed while another bundled their baby in a hospital blanket and brought him over.

  He was light as a feather in Shay’s arms. She cradled him against her, shushing him.

  Travis leaned in, smiling at Austin’s red, wrinkled face.

  “It’s okay, little guy,” Shay said. “Mama and Daddy are here.”

  The infant hushed his crying, searched for the voice, and fastened his glassy blue eyes on Shay. He had a healthy patch of Travis’s dark hair, but the shape of his eyes was all Shay. He was beautiful. A wonderful mixture of the two of them. Love for this tiny being filled her to overflowing, making her eyes burn.

  Travis touched the baby’s hand with his finger. “He’s so perfect. Look at his tiny hands, his paper-thin nails . . . his little nose . . .” The baby’s eyes swung toward his dad, and Travis smiled. “He knows my voice.”

  Shay moved the bundle toward him. “Your turn, Daddy.”

  Travis took Austin with utmost care, his eyes never leaving his son’s face. His eyes filled. “I can’t believe I have a son,” he said, blinking back the moisture.

  Shay set her arm on Travis’s and squeezed. The labor had been hard, but worth the reward. So worth it.

  “Knock knock,” the nurse said, peeking in. “Big Sister’s out here, eager to meet her little brother.”

  “Oh, send her in,” Shay said.