The Cowboy and the Angel

by Lietha Wards

  George’s expression grew fierce. “It is my damn business when my daughter is hurt, Alex. You seem to think women are disposable, but Angel isn’t. She’s special, and I’ll be damned if I let you near her again,” he seethed. “Stay away from Angel, or I swear to God, I’ll shoot you where you stand,” he added before storming out of the house.

  Alex let loose a string of curses after George left. He felt like hitting something.

  CHAPTER SIX

  Angel watched nervously as Seth flipped through her chart. Her fingers twisted in the material of her skirt. Doctor Jacobs was her regular doctor, but he was away for a couple of weeks. This couldn’t wait, even though she felt uncomfortable coming to Seth because he was Alex’s brother. He finally set the chart down and looked at her.

  “I think it’s just the flu,” she said quickly.

  He gave her a warm smile. “Diagnosing now?”

  “No, it just seems to fit,” she said apprehensively. Actually, she thought she might be lovesick, if there was such a thing. For the past few days, she’d been nauseous, and she had actually thrown up that morning. It all started around the same time that she’d found out Alex was marrying another woman. Maybe she was so upset that it had made her sick. She’d lost her appetite and seemed to cry all the time.

  “Actually, there are a few things that could fit, honey.” He stood up and walked around his desk, then leaned against the front of it. “I’m going to ask you a few questions as your doctor today, and as your friend. You can choose not to answer them if you want. Do you understand?”

  She nodded, not having the slightest clue what he was about to say. Even after knowing Seth all these years, she hadn’t realized how compassionate he was as a doctor. He’d always been a very nice man despite his movie-star looks, but the stark contrast to his brother’s personality was highly evident. Seth looked genuinely concerned, and she almost wept in relief. The past few weeks had been hell for her, and she couldn’t—hadn’t—talked to anyone.

  “First of all, I need to know when your last menstrual period was.”

  At first, she was too stunned to respond to what he’d asked her. Then reality set in about why he’d ask that question. “W-w-w-what?” Oh God, no! She could feel the blood drain from her face.

  Instantly, he crouched down in front of her and took her hands in his, worry etched on his handsome face. “Angel, breathe for me—just breathe, you’re turning white. Look at me, honey.”

  She did, her eyes wide. It seemed as though she was looking at him through a fog. She couldn’t possibly be pregnant. It was only one time!

  Seth began to relax a little when saw some color return to her cheeks. “Are you feeling better?”

  “No, yes—God, no!” She started weeping. “He hates me.”

  “Who?”

  She shook her head rapidly, and to her relief, Seth nodded and let it go.

  “Look, honey, I still need to do the test, so don’t panic yet. Okay?”

  “It’s been six weeks,” she blurted out after mentally counting the days in her head. She’d been too preoccupied and hurt to notice that she’d missed a cycle.

  “Are you sexually active?”

  How he could ask the question so casually floored her. He was her neighbor and her friend, and she felt very awkward discussing the subject with him. Thankfully, he recognized her confusion, probably from the way she started fidgeting in her chair.

  “Angel, listen to me. Today, I’m your doctor. I know we have a history, but let me assure you, nothing you can tell me is going to change my opinion of you. I know you’re not promiscuous. If something happened, I know you’d have to really care about the man. Now, if you want, we can wait until Doctor Jacobs returns, and—”

  She rapidly shook her head. “I don’t want anyone else to know, and I’ve already told you,” she said, managing to meet his gaze. “I’m scared, Seth.”

  He gave her a smile that would have melted any woman’s heart, but her heart already belonged to another. “All right, then. Let’s begin again. Are you sexually active?”

  “No—I mean, there was once. It was about three weeks ago.”

  “It only takes once. At least that gives us a specific due date.” He smiled reassuringly. “Did you use protection?”

  “There was no time...Oh God, that didn’t come out right.”

  “Its fine, Angel, you’re upset.” He squeezed her hands. “Before we start planning a nursery, let’s get that blood test, okay?” He stood up and picked up her chart. “I’ll keep your name off the lab test so it won’t leak out anywhere.”

  “Thanks.”

  She agonized over it for the rest of the afternoon, and then Seth called her at the office and told her to come over when she was done at work.

  “I am, aren’t I?”

  There was a long pause. “I don’t like to give results over the phone, but yes. There are some things we need to discuss about your health and the baby’s health, so I’ll expect you here. Tell Priscilla I’ll give you a ride home, okay?”

  “Sure.”

  A couple of hours later, she walked on unsteady feet over to Seth’s office. He was waiting just inside the door, and it looked like he’d closed the clinic early so no one would see her there. “Come in.” He pushed open the door for her.

  When she took a seat in the empty waiting room, he sat beside her. “I made out a few prescriptions I wanted to go over with you.” Angel nodded. “You need to start taking prenatal vitamins for the baby, or your fatigue will get worse as the little one grows.”

  Grows.

  “And this one is for morning sickness. We’ll stop and get them before I take you home, because I want you on them immediately.” He leaned back in his seat and took a deep breath. “Also, I need to ask you if you intend to tell Alex.”

  Her eyes shot to his.

  “It’s kind of obvious, honey. It has been for years.” He took her hand in his. “I’ve never seen him so raging mad as when someone is foolish enough to mention your name now. Mother mentioned how much you’ve changed after she saw you in town one day, and he nearly took the hinges off the door on the way out of the house.”

  “I’m so lost.” Angel bowed her head. “He’s marrying that other woman,” she sobbed. She felt his fingers under her chin, and she lifted her head to meet his concerned stare.

  “You have family that will be supportive, and as your baby’s future uncle, I’ll be supportive too—and so will my mother. I can’t comment on my brother’s behavior because we don’t share our personal lives.”

  “I don’t want to talk about him anyway.” She shuddered and hugged herself. “I have to tell my dad,” she choked out, averting her gaze and speaking to herself.

  “You have to tell Alex.”

  “I can’t.” Her eyes shot back to his, fear registering in them as clear as day.

  “Angel, I know you’ve always had difficulty standing up for yourself, but this isn’t about you anymore. Your baby has a right to know both parents.”

  “He hates me.”

  “No, he doesn’t. He’s just as stubborn as hell. I’m certain he’ll be shocked at first when you tell him, but he’ll come around. Alex loves children.”

  Angel shook her head. “I can’t, Seth, and isn’t there something about doctor-patient privilege?”

  Seth frowned. “Yes, there is.”

  “I don’t want him to know,” she said, raising her chin.

  “Angel, be reasonable—”

  “I am.” She stood up. “I have enough to worry about without him demanding to be part of this child’s life.” A tear fell, and she swiped at it angrily. “Besides, he has a son with that other woman.”

  “Who said that was Alex’s son?” Seth asked. He thought so too, but Alex loved children and behaved very differently around this one. It was true the child looked like him, but something struck him as odd about the whole situation. Alex didn’t treat the child indifferently or with disrespect, he was just cordial to
him. If the child was Alex’s son, he’d have expected him to spend every waking moment with the kid, whether they were out on the range gathering strays, roping, or branding.

  “Seth, that boy is the spitting image of him,” she said, perplexed. It hadn’t occurred to her that the child might not be his—not even for a moment.

  “Angel, I know you’re upset. Will you do me a favor? Just think about this for a few days.”

  “I will, but my mind is made up.”

  Seth had to leave it be. He knew she was hurting in ways he couldn’t imagine. He’d tried to speak to his brother about that other woman last week, but Alex didn’t explain anything. His mind flashed back to that conversation. It wasn’t often that he and Alex shared harsh words, so the memory stuck with him.

  It happened shortly after his brother had introduced Lucy to the family and announced his sudden engagement. Alex didn’t even give them time to absorb the news. He turned and gave Maria instructions to ready two rooms for Lucy and Max, and then walked out of the room. It seemed to Seth that the whole situation was uncomfortable for Alex, especially since he didn’t give any explanation as to why he’d chosen to marry Lucy. Seth and his mother exchanged a shocked look.

  “Seth,” she said with a tone and a speaking look he knew well, “go talk to him.”

  Seth wouldn’t have considered doing that on his own, but if his mother asked it of him, he would do it. It was rare for his mother to pull rank, but the boys respected her too much not to listen when she did. Alex was in his room, changing his clothes, when Seth found him.

  “What the hell do you want?” Alex snapped out while doing up the buttons on his shirt. His brother didn’t even look at him as he spoke. It was another indication of how agitated he was over his announcement.

  Anger seemed to be the emotion of choice for his brother lately. “An explanation about Lucy.”

  “I don’t owe you a damn thing,” he said coolly as his eyes settled on his brother.

  “You do not love that girl,” Seth stated. “She’s got dollar signs in her eyes.”

  “And your girlfriend doesn’t?” he countered, tilting his head at him.

  “I’m not marrying Melissa. I’m also no fool, Alex,” Seth answered abruptly. “You’re marrying this girl? What the hell are you thinking?” He threw up his arms. “And what about Angel?”

  Alex’s face contorted in rage. “I never promised her anything!” He paused and took a deep breath. “Lucy signed a prenup,” he said a little more quietly.

  That took Seth aback—it just didn’t make sense. If the woman wasn’t after Alex’s fortune, what the hell did she want from him? “Alex,” he said in a softer tone, trying to reason with him, “you’ll break Angel’s heart.” Seth didn’t miss the flash of emotion in his brother’s eyes. “You can’t tell me that you don’t feel anything for her. I’ve seen you two together.” Alex shook his head in denial. “Alex, tell me what this girl has over you.”

  “Nothing!” he gritted out. “I met her at Princeton and fell in love with her. She got pregnant and left me for another man, and now she wants me back. It’s her I want, not Angel. I’m glad that she came back into my life and stopped me from making a mistake with Angel. I was thinking of proposing to her, but now there’s Lucy.”

  He turned away from Seth so his brother couldn’t see his expression. Seth cursed and slammed the door behind him as he left the room.

  “Can you please take me home?”

  Angel’s voice brought him back to the present. “Sure.” He knew there had to be something besides the child that made Alex quickly jump into marriage with that other woman. She had nothing on Angel, and why Alex felt like he needed to marry her was beyond him. A child wasn’t a valid excuse these days. Money wasn’t in the equation either, so what else could it be?

  Seth helped Angel into his SUV before he walked around to the driver’s side of the vehicle. As luck would have it, Alex was driving by in one of the ranch trucks. Seth groaned as the truck did a U-turn in the middle of the street and pulled in front of the Navigator, bumper to bumper, so he couldn’t leave. He gave an apologetic look to a wide-eyed Angel before he walked over to the truck. His brother was just getting out of the oversized vehicle, his attention focused on Seth’s frightened passenger

  “Hold on,” he said, holding up his hand. “She doesn’t want to talk to you.”

  Alex stopped and looked at his brother, then sent another brief glance in her direction. “I just want to make sure she’s all right, Seth.”

  “Take my word for it. She’s coping.” Alex stared at him with a look that said he didn’t believe him. “Well,” he reneged slightly, moving in between Alex and Angel to block his brother’s line of sight, “she’s trying her best. You hurt her.” It wasn’t obvious to a lot of people, but it was to Seth. Alex was worried about her too, but if she saw that, it would probably make her hurt more.

  “Ah hell, I wasn’t—” He gave himself a mental shake and paused, trying to regain control. He wanted to haul her out of the truck and get her alone so he could talk to her, but he knew he couldn’t do it. “Why are you driving her home? Did that damn sister of hers forget her again?” He narrowed his eyes.

  “No,” Seth responded, drawing a stern glare from Alex. “She had an appointment.”

  “Is she sick?” His brows rose as he leaned past his brother and glanced at her again. George’s words from the previous week rang in his head. She’s not eating. She won’t talk to her mother, and she hasn’t been at dinner since you two had a falling out. He couldn’t see her clearly enough through the windshield to judge for himself. Involuntarily, he took a step forward, and Seth blocked him.

  Seth saw the worry in his eyes. “Just the flu,” he lied. “I told her I could give her a ride home after her appointment, so don’t worry, nothing’s wrong.” That seemed to satisfy Alex for the moment.

  “Let me just see her for a moment,” he said, casting another glance at Angel, who had apparently resigned herself to looking out the side window so she wouldn’t have to make eye contact with him. He wanted to make sure she was well and see for himself that he hadn’t damaged that sweet, trusting nature of hers too much. To think that he’d ruined that within her made his chest hurt. He’d had no intention of hurting her—Lucy’s arrival in his life was unexpected.

  Seth shook his head. “You know better. Leave her be. You made a choice, Alex. Let her go. You said Lucy was the one you want. Remember?”

  “Yeah, shit. I remember,” he said quietly.

  Alex looked down at his feet for a moment, and Seth could see a string of emotions play across his face. He finally mumbled a curse, and without another word, got back in the truck and tore out of there. Seth waited until the truck had disappeared from view before he went back to the Lincoln and got behind the wheel.

  “What did he say?” she asked softly.

  He started the engine and pulled away from the curb before he answered her. “He just wanted to make sure you were okay.”

  “Seth—you—I mean, you didn’t say anything, did you?”

  He shook his head and flicked her a glance before turning back to the road. “I told him you had the flu.”

  “I’m sorry you had to lie.”

  Seth glanced at her again and saw the streaks of tears on her cheeks. He felt a surge of anger at his brother. Of course Angel would be concerned about him when she was going through hell.

  “Don’t worry about that, Angel. You just take care of yourself and your little one.” He paused. “Did you want me to come in and help you tell your parents?”

  She finally looked at him, and he felt her hurt to the bone. He made a mental note to kick his brother’s ass.

  “I would really appreciate that, Seth. Thanks for everything.”

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  It had been three months since Angel had left Reidsville. She had enrolled in classes for September at the city college because she had to get out of town. It seemed like not one day coul
d go by without her hearing about Alex’s sudden engagement from someone. It wasn’t their fault that her heart shattered every time people brought it up. They didn’t know about her and Alex.

  She’d resigned herself to going back to her original career plan—well, her father’s career plan. Her family was very supportive and there was an unspoken rule between them about not mentioning Alex or anything to do with Alex when they called her. It worked well, except her heart still hurt as if it had happened yesterday. Consequently, she threw herself into her studies and ended up at the top of her class. It wasn’t a surprise—she at least knew she was smart and was confident in that area. Everything else was debatable. Alex had made her feel beautiful, but she didn’t feel it on her own.

  It was Friday afternoon, and Angel made her way across the courtyard toting her heavy book bag. Several whistles that she ignored followed her. A group of young men playing a friendly game of football close by had stopped to watch her. She was becoming used to it, although it didn’t affect her in the least because she hadn’t been interested in men or a relationship since she’d left Reidsville for college. She dove into her studies instead.

  She tossed her hair back over her shoulder and walked towards her dorm. Once her pregnancy really started to show, the whistling would stop. Right now, she looked like she’d gained a little weight, but it wasn’t very obvious. She’d resorted to her frumpy wardrobe, not because she was intent on hiding it—she was more and more elated that she was going to be a mother—but because she didn’t want to draw questions or unnecessary attention. She’d kept her hair the way Matthew had styled it. She didn’t have the heart to alter it. It sometimes made her feel pretty, even though college boys whistled at anything in a skirt.

  She went into her dorm building and rushed up the steps to the second floor. She had to pack a bag to go home for the week they had off between semesters. Her parents had made her promise to go to Bea’s birthday party on Saturday, and her father was supposed to pick her up. She suspected that he was already there. Unfortunately, she wasn’t ready to go because her class had run late the previous night, and she was up late doing homework the night before that. She hadn’t been able to get her packing done.