Pregnant by the Colton Cowboy

by Lara Lacombe

  A strange look crossed Thorne’s face, as if she had said something troubling. But before she could ask him if everything was all right, he smiled. “It’ll be a change for both of us,” he said.

  He polished off the last of his breakfast and nodded to her plate. “Is the toast sitting okay?”

  Maggie nodded. “I think it’s going to stay put.”

  “Excellent. Would you like more?”

  “No, thanks. I’m ready to get going if you are.” She was excited to see Rose and check on the horse after yesterday’s events, and she could tell Thorne was anxious to see her, as well. And it would be good for Thorne to get outside for a bit. Even though he was supposed to be resting, she had a feeling he wouldn’t be able to relax until he had seen for himself that Rose was all right.

  Maggie stood and gathered the plates, brushing aside Thorne’s protests. “You cooked. I’ll clean.”

  Thorne didn’t argue, which told her just how much he was still feeling the effects of the fire. He was trying to act like nothing was wrong, but she could tell he was tired, and she’d seen him wince slightly when taking a deep breath. His chest must ache from all the smoke, she realized.

  “I was thinking,” she said, trying to sound casual as she dried the pan. “I’m still feeling pretty tired from yesterday. Do you think we could come back here and rest for a bit after we check on Rose?” Thorne would never admit he needed a break, but perhaps she could trick him into taking one. If he could say he was only keeping her company, his male pride would be spared.

  “Are you sure you’re up for going now? I could go by myself if you want to stay here.”

  Stubborn man, she thought. If she wasn’t careful, her plan would backfire before it even got off the ground. “No,” she assured him quickly. “I want to see Rose. I have to give her a treat. It’s kind of our thing now.”

  Thorne chuckled. “Far be it from me to interrupt a new tradition.” He stood and gallantly offered his arm. Maggie walked over and slid her hand into the crook of his elbow. “Ready, my lady?”

  She smiled up at him, her heart expanding with love. “Let’s go.”

  * * *

  It was midmorning by the time Thorne and Maggie climbed out of the golf cart Mac kept on hand for traveling around the ranch. It was a testament to the ranch’s success that Mac had agreed to buy one—even as recently as a few years ago he’d insisted on walking or riding everywhere. But as the operation had expanded, Mac had been forced to admit he sometimes needed to go faster than his feet could carry him. He’d broken down and purchased a couple of golf carts. Thorne hadn’t ever thought he’d need to make use of them, but he was grateful to have the option now.

  The old barn was smaller than the one that had burned down yesterday, and while Mac would never let a building on his property fall into disrepair, the barn was showing a few signs of age. The paint was a little dull and there were a few cobwebs under the eaves. But it was structurally sound and it would keep the horses safe and dry while the other stable was being rebuilt.

  Rose let out a shrill neigh as soon as they walked inside. She shook her head as they approached her stall, snorting her displeasure at the change in accommodations.

  “I know, I know,” he said, trying not to laugh. “It’s just for a little while until we get the other place fixed.” In truth, he thought the barn was a total loss. It would probably be faster to rebuild the thing from the ground up, but he hadn’t had a chance to talk to Mac about it yet.

  “Good morning,” Maggie cooed softly. Rose settled down a bit when Maggie touched her nose, and she whinnied in pleasure as Maggie presented her with a shiny ripe apple. Thorne smiled as he watched their reunion. It seemed like Maggie and Rose had formed quite a bond in a short period of time. It was understandable—Rose was easy to love. But Thorne hoped this connection was a sign that Maggie might be willing to live on the ranch after their baby was born.

  Thorne opened the stall and stepped inside so he could touch Rose. He ran his hands over her body, checking for small injuries that may have gone overlooked in yesterday’s chaos. Even a little nick or burn could cause trouble if it got infected and began to fester. And with Rose so close to her due date, he wanted to make sure she didn’t have any issues that might harm her or the foal, or make her delivery more difficult.

  Fortunately, he didn’t find a mark on her. It was possible the smoke had irritated her nose or even her lungs, but her breathing didn’t sound labored and he didn’t see any gunk in her nose. He stepped back, a weight lifting off his shoulders as he realized Rose was most likely unaffected by yesterday’s adventures.

  “Is she okay?” There was a note of concern in Maggie’s voice, a testament to her affection for the horse.

  He smiled, happy to be able to deliver good news. “I think she’s fine. I didn’t find anything wrong, and she’s acting normal.” He ran his hand along her back and down her side. She felt a little warm, but that could be due to her restlessness and the new surroundings. Her belly had changed shape a bit, looking more pendulous than before. Both were signs of impending labor, but since this was Rose’s first foaling, he had no way to know if she would foal in a few hours or a few days. He’d just have to keep a close eye on her so he could be ready to assist if needed.

  Thorne gave Rose one final pat and stepped out of the stall. He’d just latched the door behind him when a startled shout drew his attention to the barn entrance.

  He started for the noise, pausing only to look over his shoulder. “Stay here,” he said. The last thing he wanted was for Maggie to leave the relative safety of the building, especially when he had no idea what was going on outside.

  He stepped into the yard to find a stable hand reaching for the reins of his father’s mount. But Mac was nowhere to be seen.

  “What happened?”

  The man shook his head. “No idea. Jericho just came running up, saddled and ready to ride. But I could have sworn his stall was empty when I went to do the morning feeds. I figured Mac had already taken him out.”

  Thorne walked over and placed his hand on the big gelding’s nose, stroking softly to calm him. “Where have you been?” he said quietly, worry rising in his chest. His father was an excellent rider. For Jericho to return without him meant something had happened.

  “Where’s your walkie-talkie?”

  The stable hand blinked at him, then nodded. “In my truck. I’ll go grab it.” He transferred the reins to Thorne and took off, returning a moment later with the device.

  “Thorne?” Maggie called to him from the shadows of the barn. “Is everything all right out here?”

  He nodded, not wanting to scare her. But his gut twisted in knots at the thought of Mac lying somewhere, injured and unable to ride.

  What if it’s more serious than that? Maybe his father hadn’t fallen or been thrown from Jericho. Maybe the same person who was trying to hurt him had decided to take a shot at Mac, as well.

  Thorne’s throat burned as bile rose from his stomach, his breakfast eggs threatening to make a reappearance. He swallowed hard, then switched on the walkie-talkie and held it to his mouth. “Mac? Can you read me?”

  Come on, Dad. Mac was a stickler for safety, and he’d bought several sets of portable radios, wanting each employee to carry one so they could call for help if necessary. He usually never left on a ride without one of his own, and Thorne hoped his father hadn’t forgotten it this morning.

  But as the seconds passed with no response, Thorne began to fear the worst. Surely Mac would have answered by now, if he was able.

  “Mac, come in, please. Where are you?”

  Static crackled across the line, but Thorne refused to give up.

  “We’re coming for you, Dad. I’m going to find you.”

  Chapter 21

  Wes Kingston squatted and pulled the wal
kie-talkie off Mac’s belt. He rose, examining it with a speculative look. It squawked to life in his hands.

  “We’re coming for you, Dad. I’m going to find you.”

  Mac’s heart clenched at the sound of Thorne’s voice. But he didn’t want his son anywhere near him right now. There was no telling what Wes would do if he saw Thorne.

  Wes tossed the radio to the ground near Mac’s head. “Answer him.”

  Mac shook his head, wincing as a lightning bolt of pain seared his brain. “No.”

  Wes squatted again and pushed the brim of his hat up with one finger. “Answer him,” he repeated, an edge to his voice.

  “Why? As soon as he hears my voice he’ll know something is wrong. Is that what you want?”

  “No. I want you to tell him where you are.”

  Fear washed over Mac in a cold wave as he realized the true goal of Wes’s plan. The man wasn’t afraid of getting caught. He wanted to lure Thorne out here, away from prying eyes and help. Mac eyed the pistol tucked into the holster on Wes’s belt. Would he shoot Thorne dead on sight, or merely injure him, playing with him the way a cat toyed with a mouse?

  Either way, Mac wasn’t going to let his son walk into a trap.

  “I won’t do it.”

  “Yes, you will,” Wes replied calmly. “Because if you don’t, I’m going to shoot you in the head. Then I’m going to head for the barn and strangle that pretty little thing your son has been spending so much time with. And once I’ve done that, I’m going to kill Thorne and anyone who tries to get in my way.” He paused, letting the horror of his words sink in for a moment. “So what’s it going to be? The three of us, out here away from innocent people? Or am I going to have to take a little trip to finish things? Either way, this is happening.”

  Mac didn’t doubt for a second that Wes was telling the truth. But there was no guarantee he wouldn’t go after Maggie once he had finished with Thorne. Still, it was a chance he had to take—he couldn’t risk Maggie’s safety, or that of his grandchild. Not to mention the ranch hands working in and around the barn. So many innocent lives...

  He reached for the walkie-talkie with a shaking hand and brought it to his mouth. “Thorne? Can you read me?”

  Thorne replied almost immediately. “Dad! Where are you? What happened?”

  Mac glanced up at Wes, who was watching him dispassionately. He debated telling Thorne the truth, but knew if he did Wes would simply kill him and head for the barn. And Maggie. So he scrambled to come up with a plausible lie.

  “I had a little accident. I’m out by the old well. Can you come?”

  “Of course. We’ll be there right away.”

  “No, son. Just you.” He couldn’t stand the thought of Thorne bringing an innocent employee into this mess. “I, uh, I’m kind of embarrassed and I don’t want anyone else to see me like this.”

  “Okay.” There was a note of confusion in Thorne’s voice, but he didn’t argue. “I’ll just bring Maggie then. She’s dying to see for herself that you’re okay.”

  “No,” Mac said forcefully. “Have her stay at the barn. I’ve noticed some snakes around here, and I don’t want to risk her getting bit.”

  There was a pause, and Mac hoped his real message had gotten through. It was bad enough he had to lure his son to certain danger. He wasn’t going to let Maggie and his unborn grandchild walk into a trap, as well.

  “I understand,” Thorne said. “Sit tight, Dad. I’ll be there soon.”

  Mac lowered his hand, letting the walkie-talkie roll out onto the ground. He stared up at Wes, squinting against the bright rays of the midmorning sun. “Now what?”

  “Now we wait.”

  * * *

  Thorne clipped the walkie-talkie to his belt and dug his cell phone out of his pocket. He dialed Knox, then turned to the ranch hand who was holding Jericho’s reins.

  “I need to borrow your truck.” Mac’s was still parked at his house, but it would take too long for Thorne to go back and get it. “Do you have a gun?”

  The man’s eyes widened. “There’s a pistol under the front seat in a holster.”

  “Thorne?” Maggie’s voice held a note of alarm. “What’s going on?”

  “Mac’s in trouble,” he said shortly. She opened her mouth to ask another question, but he held up his hand. “Knox? Yeah, I need you. Mac’s hurt, and I think it’s the same person who’s been targeting me. He’s out by the old well—you remember where that is?” At his brother’s affirmation, Thorne continued. “I need you to bring your rifle. I’ll call you when I’m on my way out there.” The beginnings of a plan were forming in his mind, but he needed a few more minutes of thought to work out the details.

  He hung up the phone and turned to Maggie. “I have to go help Mac. I need you to stay here and call the police.” He tossed her his phone, then turned to the ranch hand.

  “You can’t go by yourself,” she protested. “You don’t know what you’re walking into!”

  “I know my father needs me,” he said simply. Adrenaline, fear and anger were a potent swirl in his chest, driving him to do something. There was no way he could simply sit still and wait for the authorities to arrive. Besides, given Bud Jeffries’s incompetence and hatred of his family, he couldn’t even be sure the police would take his call seriously.

  “Thorne!”

  He held up a hand, stalling any further objections. “Just a minute, Maggie.”

  The ranch hand looked like a deer caught in the headlights of an oncoming semi. Thorne cursed silently. Where were the experienced people when he needed them? But he’d just have to make the best of it with this rookie. Maggie took a step back, her voice a low murmur in his ear as she called the police while he issued instructions to the young man.

  “Turn Jericho out to pasture. Don’t forget to close the gate behind you. Then run back to the old barn and gather as many hands as you can. I want you guys doing patrols of the inner perimeter of the ranch.”

  The man swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing like a fishing lure in his thin neck. “Yessir,” he said.

  “Everyone takes their walkie-talkies,” Thorne said. “And everyone who's licensed needs a pistol, just in case.” It was possible the situation with Mac was just a distraction, meant to lure people away so the real attack could take place. While Thorne didn’t like the thought of sending his people out on patrol armed and jumpy, he didn’t want them to be caught defenseless either.

  The hand moved to lead Jericho away, but paused when Thorne called after him. “Make sure everyone keeps the safety on.” Hopefully that would prevent any accidents.

  “Yessir,” he called back.

  Satisfied he’d done all he could on that front, Thorne turned back to Maggie. “I have to go,” he said softly.

  She frowned, worry etched on her brow. “Let me come,” she said. “I can help if Mac’s been hurt.”

  “No. He said there were snakes around. Now that might be true, but I think he was making a reference to the snakes in his office. He’s trying to warn me to keep you away.”

  Maggie sighed, sounding like the weight of the world was on her shoulders. “Fine. I’ll stay behind, but only because I’m pregnant. If I didn’t have this baby to worry about, I’d be going with you, no matter what Mac says.”

  A surge of relief made Thorne smile, despite the circumstances. “I know,” he said. “And I love you for it. But right now I need you to stay inside, out of sight. I don’t know if this is the opening move to a larger attack. Whatever happens, I don’t want you to be an easy target.”

  She nodded. “Please be careful.”

  “Always.” He leaned down and pressed a hard kiss to her mouth. “I’ll be coming back to you soon. I promise.”

  He took the phone from her hand and started for the truck, his heart feeling torn in two.
He couldn’t leave his father, but it gutted him to walk away from Maggie and the baby when he didn’t know what danger they faced.

  I hope I’m making the right choice. If he lost Maggie because he was trying to save Mac, it would kill him.

  The thought made him pause behind the wheel of the truck, indecision threatening to paralyze him. Was it right for him to risk two lives in the service of saving one? Or should he stay here with his future and trust that Knox would find Mac in time?

  The more he thought about it, the more his certainty waned. There was no good choice here—whatever he decided, he was damned. It was just a matter of figuring out what choice he could best live with...

  A sharp tap on the window made him jump. He turned to find Maggie standing there, her expression full of compassion. “Go,” she said, loudly enough that he could hear her through the glass. “We’ll be fine.”

  He nodded, tears stinging his eyes. “I love you,” he said, raising his voice so she could hear the words.

  “I love you, too,” she said.

  Thorne swallowed and put the truck in gear, dialing the phone with his free hand. He bounced down the road, his eyes glued to the image of Maggie in the rearview mirror, growing smaller with each passing second.

  I’m coming back, he promised silently. Please stay safe.

  * * *

  Maggie walked back into the barn, her emotions swirling like a summer storm. Worry for Mac and for Thorne were foremost in her mind, but she couldn’t ignore the bubbly feeling in her stomach thanks to Thorne’s confession of love. She hadn’t doubted his feelings for her, but it was nice to finally hear him say those three words.

  Too bad it was under such dire circumstances.

  She approached Rose’s stall slowly, not wanting to startle the horse. The animal seemed agitated this morning, probably due to the fire yesterday and her new surroundings. Maggie wanted to give her comfort, but since she and Rose were still getting to know each other, she didn’t know how her overtures would be received. And since Thorne wasn’t around to smooth the way, she thought it was best if she gave Rose a wide berth, at least until things settled down again.