Pregnant by the Colton Cowboy

by Lara Lacombe

  “Sure thing.”

  Maggie tore her gaze away from Thorne’s face and offered Jade a smile. “It was great to see you.”

  “You, too.” Jade hugged her gently. “I’ll come visit you again soon, now that I know you’re here.” Her eyes darted over to Thorne and she grinned. “It’s important for us girls to stick together.”

  “Absolutely.”

  Jade gave Rose a farewell pat on the nose, then turned and started down the central aisle of the barn, headed for the big open doors at the opposite end. Maggie and Thorne watched her go, the silence building between them as Jade’s form grew smaller.

  What’s going on? she wondered. Did he have bad news for her? She instinctively reached for Rose, her nerves calming as soon as she touched the horse. Hopefully she could convince Thorne to talk here, so she could stay by Rose. She drew comfort from the horse’s presence, which was something Thorne, of all people, should understand.

  He waited until Jade had left the barn before turning back to face her. His broad shoulders rose and fell as he took a deep breath, and Maggie realized he was nervous. That was interesting; Thorne always seemed so unflappable. What could possibly be affecting him?

  “I need to say something to you, and I’d like for you to listen while I get it all out. Can you do that for me, please?”

  Maggie nodded mutely.

  “I heard you talking to Jade just now. I was working outside, and your voices carried through the open window.”

  Maggie’s body went cold, then flushed hot as she realized Thorne had overheard her confession to Jade. He’s here because he feels sorry for me, she realized, her stomach roiling with embarrassment. He’s going to try to let me down easy.

  She curled her fingers into Rose’s mane and looked down, unable to meet his gaze. She didn’t want to see the sympathy in his eyes, or else she would burst into tears and mortify herself further.

  Thorne’s touch was gentle as he placed his hand on her face, cupping her cheek. His skin smelled like earth and grass, like spring itself. He’s been working in the dirt, said a remote part of her brain, as if that mattered right now. “Maggie.” His voice was husky with emotion. “Oh, Maggie. I’ve been such an idiot.” He took a step closer, charging the air between them with the heat from his body. Maggie’s heart thumped hard as her body celebrated his proximity, even as her heart continued to break.

  “I know I’m not the best communicator,” he said wryly. “That’s something I’m trying to improve, especially where you’re concerned. But after hearing what you said to Jade, I realize I have a lot more work to do.”

  Thorne trailed his fingers along the curve of her jaw, down to her chin. He gently lifted her head until she met his eyes, and the emotion she saw in his light brown gaze made her catch her breath.

  “I am so sorry I ever made you feel like I only care about the baby. It breaks my heart to know you think you don’t matter to me. You do, Maggie. You’re the only woman I’ve ever felt so strongly about. And I know I made a mess of things earlier, but you have to know that wasn’t because I don’t care about you. It sounds crazy, but I screwed things up between us because I care about you too much.”

  His words washed over her, so unexpected that she struggled to keep up with what he was saying. It was almost too good to be true, but his expression was so sincere, so open, that Maggie couldn’t help but believe he was being honest.

  “I want you,” he said simply. “Not just because of the baby. I’ve wanted you ever since I first laid eyes on you. But I was too much of a coward to do anything, and then after we shared that night together, I let my fear get in the way. I’m not going to make that mistake again.”

  His hands were warm on her arms, his touch simultaneously urgent and gentle. She could feel the leashed energy in his grip, the power he was holding in check so as not to hurt her. “I want us to be a family. You and me, for now. And eventually, the three of us.” He reached out to touch the swell of her belly, hidden under the large shirt she wore. “I don’t deserve you, or this baby. But I swear to you, on everything I hold dear, I will do whatever it takes to prove my feelings for you.”

  Maggie blinked hard, trying to clear her eyes of the stinging tears that threatened to fall. Part of her couldn’t believe this was happening, that Thorne truly had feelings for her. She’d spent so much effort trying to convince her heart to get over him—she’d never expected this turn of events.

  Claudia was right after all, she thought, shaking her head at the way things had turned out.

  Thorne’s face fell, and Maggie realized he had mistaken her gesture for rejection. She grabbed his arm before he could withdraw. There had been too much miscommunication between them, too many missed signals. She wasn’t going to let it happen again.

  “Claudia told me she thought you cared for me,” she explained. “I didn’t believe her. I guess I should have.”

  He relaxed, the tension leaving his body with his breath. “Does this mean you’ll give me a chance?”

  Maggie nodded, unable to contain the smile spreading across her face. “Yes. We’ve wasted too much time already. I don’t want to waste any more.”

  “I was hoping you’d say that.” Thorne stepped closer, nudging her legs apart until he stood between them. He looked down at her face, his eyes flicking from her lips to her nose, her eyebrows to her cheekbones. It was as if he was trying to catalog her features, to imprint them in his mind. Maggie took the opportunity to study him in return, her gaze tracing the slope of his nose, the wind-roughened skin of his cheeks and the dark shadow of stubble along his jaw. He was so beautiful, so graceful. Just like the horses he loved.

  And he’s mine, she marveled. The urge to touch him rose in her chest, and she realized with a spurt of joy that she didn’t have to restrain herself. Thorne cared for her, the same way she did for him. She could touch him, kiss him, and he would welcome it.

  She lifted her hand and placed it flat on his chest, directly above his heart. It beat steady and sure against her palm, a visceral sensation that grounded her in this moment, to this man. The misery and heartache that had wrapped her in a cocoon of melancholy dissolved away, leaving her exposed and able to soak up Thorne’s presence and the pledge he’d made to her and their baby. In a way, this was a rebirth for them. A new start to their relationship, a chance to get it right. Not just for the baby, but for them, as well.

  The whinny of a horse drifted in through the open window, and Rose nickered softly in response. Her nose brushed against Maggie’s shoulder as she shook her head, nudging her closer to Thorne.

  The contact made Maggie wobble on the stool, but Thorne placed his hands on her shoulders, steadying her before she slipped off. “I forgot we have an audience,” he said wryly.

  “And a determined one at that,” Maggie said. Rose was hungry again, as evidenced by her insistent exploration of Maggie’s hair, her neck, back and any other part within reach.

  “Rose,” Thorne chided. It was obvious he was trying to be stern, but the affection in his tone ruined the effect.

  Maggie giggled and he turned to look at her, his expression quizzical. “What’s so funny?”

  “I just realized I’m probably going to be the disciplinarian when it comes to parenting.”

  He raised one eyebrow and tilted his head to the side. “What makes you say that?”

  “Please. You try to act tough, but you’re such a softie where she’s concerned.” Maggie nodded at Rose, who remained unfazed by Thorne’s admonishment. “Do you really think you’ll be able to tell your child no?”

  He rubbed his nose with his index finger, appearing to consider the question. “Well...” He shifted his weight and scuffed at the dirt with the toe of one boot. “Anything is possible, right?” His smile was pure masculine charm, and Maggie couldn’t help but laugh.

  Thorne
laid his hands on her hips and moved closer, his eyes warm with affection. “I love the sound of your laugh,” he said, his voice husky. “It’s been too long since I’ve heard it.”

  Maggie swallowed, suddenly very aware of his proximity. Goose bumps appeared on the exposed skin of her arms, and the fine hairs at the back of her neck stood on end with anticipation. The rustling of Rose’s movements faded to insignificance as Maggie’s senses blocked out everything that wasn’t related to the man in front of her.

  His breath was warm on her cheek and smelled faintly of mint, likely from some long-ago discarded piece of gum. He was so close she could see the flecks of gold in his light brown eyes and the beat of his pulse in the hollow of his neck. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed, and his tongue darted out to moisten his lips.

  “Maggie.” Her name was a whisper in the still air. “Please... I need to kiss you.”

  “Yes.”

  He dropped his head, his lips claiming hers while the word still hung between them. He explored her mouth with a leisurely finesse, as if he had all the time in the world to devote to the task at hand. Maggie gripped his shoulders as the world spun around her, the barn orbiting the pair of them with dizzying speed.

  A frisson of unease sparked in the recesses of her brain, cutting through the intoxicating feeling of Thorne’s embrace. Something was wrong, but she couldn’t quite put her finger on what...

  Rose neighed, and even Maggie could detect the note of alarm in her vocalization. Thorne jerked back, eyeing the horse with concern. Maggie tightened her grip on his arm, needing him to stay put. Vertigo clouded her senses, and she feared if he moved away she would fall off the tall stool.

  Thorne turned his focus back to her, and his eyes widened. “Are you okay?”

  Maggie took a deep breath to clear her head, but the air burned her nostrils. “Do you smell that?” Were the pregnancy hormones wreaking havoc with her sense of smell, or was that really—?

  “Smoke,” Thorne confirmed grimly. “I think the barn is on fire.”

  Chapter 16

  “Fire?” Maggie echoed blankly. “But how—?”

  Thorne gripped her arms and pulled her off the stool to stand in front of him. He shared her confusion, but now was not the time to worry about how the fire had started. He had to get Maggie and Rose to safety before the place burned down around them.

  Rose tossed her head and squealed. He had to get her out of here before she hurt herself; if she started to throw herself at the walls in a bid to escape, she might also lose the foal.

  Maggie reached for the horse, but Rose was too scared to respond. Thorne bent and scooped Maggie up, pulling her away from Rose’s bared teeth and sharp hooves.

  He headed down the main aisle of the barn, squinting to see through the growing haze of smoke.

  “Thorne!” Maggie twisted in his arms, reaching for the horse. “We can’t leave her!”

  “I’m not,” he replied. The smoke burned his throat, making it hard to talk. The light from the barn entrance was just a dull glow now, growing dimmer by the second. If he didn’t move fast, he wouldn’t be able to find his way out.

  Cries of alarm sounded outside as people began to notice the smoke pouring out of the barn. Thorne’s head spun and his vision grew dark around the edges, but he pushed on, ignoring the burning protest of his lungs. Maggie coughed in his arms, her body jerking spasmodically against his chest.

  Hang on, he thought.

  The yell of voices grew louder, and Thorne thought he heard his name. Then Mac was there, his hands sure and strong as he gripped Thorne’s shoulders. He lifted Maggie and yelled for Thorne to follow him out, then turned and made for the exit.

  Thorne took a step after his father, needing a breath of fresh air before he went back for Rose. But just then, the horse let out an ear-piercing scream and he heard the unmistakable thud of a body slamming into a stall door. Rose was panicking. He couldn’t leave her.

  He tried to shout after Mac, but his father had already disappeared behind the billows of thick gray smoke. Thorne headed back for the horse, hoping he wasn’t too late. Fortunately, all the other animals were out in the pasture. Rose was the only one left in the barn.

  The air was a little better by Rose’s stall, thanks to the cracked window high in the wall. Thorne reached up and pushed it all the way open, then stood on his tiptoes and pressed his face to the gap, sucking in a deep breath of fresh air. His head cleared a bit, the sickening swimming sensation receding just enough that he thought he might be able to function.

  With one last gasp, Thorne turned from the window and reached out for Rose. She tossed her head, the whites of her eyes visible even in the gloom of the smoke. She stamped at the ground and threw herself against the door of her stall. The boards creaked under the strain—if she kept this up, the door would splinter and she’d impale herself on the shards. He had to get her under control, and quickly.

  Thorne tugged off his shirt and draped it over Rose’s eyes. She stilled instantly, but he could feel the fine tremblings of her muscles and knew she wouldn’t remain calm for long. Keeping one hand on the ends of his shirt to hold it in place, Thorne fumbled with the latch on the stall door. The lack of visibility made the task harder than it should be—the smoke was chokingly thick, and tears flooded his eyes and streamed down his face, blurring what little he could see.

  Finally, he freed the latch and pulled the door open. As if sensing her imminent freedom, Rose jerked forward, very nearly knocking him down in her haste to get out of the stall. Thorne hung on to the ends of his shirt for dear life as Rose took off, apparently smelling the exit despite the overwhelming stench of fire.

  He was grateful for her urgency—it might be the only thing that got him out of there alive. It was becoming more difficult to breathe, and the air in the barn felt like an oven. He heard the sizzle and pop of wood and realized the whole place was melting around him.

  A shower of sparks fell from the ceiling, bits of bright heat that singed his hair and undershirt where they landed. Rose squealed in pain, and he heard the echoing answer of voices, straining to rise over the growing roar of the flames. The barn had never seemed so large before, but now it stretched out before him, an endless length he feared he might not be able to cross.

  He sensed, rather than saw, the approach of bodies in the gloom. Hands descended on him, coming from all sides. They gripped his shirt, his arms, even the back of his belt. Thorne surrendered to their grip and allowed himself to be carried, trusting they would see to Rose, as well.

  They burst into the courtyard and Thorne dropped his head, the sun blindingly bright after the thick, black smoke of the barn. He sucked in a breath, his chest so tight he felt like it must be about to burst open.

  Someone pushed him to the ground, urging him to lie flat. He tried to wave them off, but he couldn’t suck in enough oxygen to power his muscles.

  “Maggie.” He tried to say her name, but it came out as a croak. He cracked open his eyes, peering through the narrow slits of his swollen lids to search for her. From his vantage point on the ground he saw a sea of jean-clad legs milling around, ranch hands and employees darting here and there as they tried to clear space around the barn. The wail of sirens sounded above the din, steadily growing louder.

  “Thorne!”

  He turned in the direction of the voice, his heart thumping hard. “Maggie?” He sat up and reached out for her, his vision still too blurry to be trusted.

  She grabbed his hand and then she was in his arms, her body pressed against his, whole and safe. He felt the swell of her belly against his stomach and wrapped his arms around her, relief flooding him. She had made it out. They had made it out.

  “Rose?”

  “Mac has her. She’s fine,” Maggie said. Her hand felt cool on his cheek and he turned into her touch. “Ju
st rest now,” she said. “We’re all okay.” She moved out of his arms and knelt by him, smoothing her hand over his forehead in a soothing caress.

  Thorne nodded and lay back, the adrenaline draining from his muscles and anchoring him to the ground like the roots of a tree. The fire still raged behind him, and he realized with a sense of utter detachment that the supply building and his apartment were probably not going to survive. But he was too drained to care.

  Maggie and the baby were safe, along with Rose and her foal. It was enough for now.

  * * *

  The wooden surface of Mac’s kitchen table gleamed in the late afternoon sun, a homey, welcoming sight that was absurdly comforting after the destruction of the day. Maggie smoothed her hand across the top, feeling the small nicks and scratches that had accumulated over the years. How many times had Thorne or his siblings sat here, working on homework or eating an after school snack? She closed her eyes, picturing it all too well—the kids gathered round, laughing and talking, enjoying this oasis from the craziness of life with Livia. From everything she’d heard, Mac’s house had served as both respite and refuge for Thorne and his siblings.

  It was a role that continued to this day.

  “Are you sure you’re all right?” Knox bent at the waist to peer at Thorne, his expression skeptical as he considered his brother’s haggard appearance.

  Thorne regarded Knox with bloodshot eyes, his gaze steady despite his evident fatigue. “I’m fine.” A faint wheeze accompanied his words, a testament to all the smoke he’d inhaled in the barn.

  “You don’t sound fine,” Knox said.

  Maggie considered telling Knox not to bother—she’d already had this argument with Thorne, and he’d refused to go to the hospital, claiming it was unnecessary. He had allowed the paramedics to administer oxygen, but he’d brushed off their advice to go to the emergency room. He was determined to remain at the ranch, and no amount of talking from her or from Mac had changed his mind.

  “Please,” she’d said, practically begging him to go. His face was covered in soot, and there were raw patches on his skin where he’d been burned. But there was a fierce glint in his eyes and she’d realized that despite his injuries, Thorne remained unbroken.