“He’s terrific. A great guy,” Rosie said. “But he’s always held himself apart from the rest of us. I won’t divulge his past. That’s for him to reveal if he chooses to. But I won’t kid you...he has issues. Even though I don’t approve of his decision not to call you, I understand why he might not. His bum shoulder has turned him into an injured bear hiding in a cave.”
“I can see him doing that. He’s so independent. I’ll bet not being able to work drives him nuts.”
“I’m sure it does. But I taught my boys manners. He should have given you the courtesy of contacting you and listening to whatever it is you have to say.”
Tess smiled. She really liked this woman. “But you could have insisted he call me back instead of inviting me up here.”
“Wouldn’t you rather see him in person?”
“Yes. Yes, I would.”
Rosie laid a hand on hers. “Zeke won’t be here for another hour. Maybe you’d like to have a little rest before he gets here.”
She knows. Tess could see it in her eyes. “Is he close by?”
“In Wyoming terms, we’re neighbors. He’s agreed to be the caretaker at his brother’s ranch while he’s healing his shoulder.”
Tess pushed back her chair and picked up her empty lemonade glass. “I’m going to take you up on that suggestion of resting before dinner. Unless you need help?”
“Thank you, but I have it covered. The students are in charge of making their own dinner tonight and I have meat loaf and scalloped potatoes ready to pop in the oven for the family.”
Tess’s mouth watered. Food was one of her obsessions these days, and eating someone else’s cooking would be a treat. “That sounds delicious.”
“I’ll tap on your door when he gets here.”
“All right.” A surge of anxiety canceled her hunger. “Thank you.”
Tess escaped to her bedroom, which was decorated in soothing tones of green. Kicking off her shoes, she stretched out on the bed and launched into the deep breathing exercises she’d been practicing.
That helped. Starting at the top of her head, she gradually relaxed her entire body. Outside her window a bird sang a cheerful little song, but otherwise the house was quiet. Peaceful. It was, she could tell, a good house. A refuge.
Chapter Two
After what seemed like five minutes, Rosie tapped on her door. “Tess, he’s here.”
Heart pounding and palms sweating, Tess brushed her hair, refreshed her makeup and smoothed the wrinkles from her blouse and slacks. As she was about to open the door, she heard Zeke’s deep laugh. She hadn’t thought she’d remember it, but the sound awakened feelings she’d hoped she’d buried. She didn’t want to be attracted to him—not anymore—but her libido seemed to have other ideas.
She heard another man chuckle. That must be Herb, Rosie’s husband. Rosie had mentioned he would be the only other person there for dinner. Sometimes there was a crowd, she’d said, but not tonight. Tess figured that was on purpose.
When she walked into the living room, Zeke was sitting on one end of the sofa, holding a bottle of beer. A wiry older man, undoubtedly Herb, had taken the opposite end and Rosie was in a comfy-looking armchair. Both men popped up immediately.
Herb smiled in welcome, but Zeke’s face, what she could see of it since he now had a full beard and wore his Stetson, was brick-red with either anger or embarrassment. Maybe both.
He gave Rosie a quick what-the-hell glance before turning back to her. “Hello, Tess.” He cleared his throat. “Wasn’t expecting you.”
“I invited her.” Rosie stood. “Tess, this is my husband, Herb.”
“Nice meeting you.” Herb walked over and shook her hand. “Glad you could pay us a visit.” He, too, had kind eyes.
“Thank you.” She managed a smile. “So am I. Your place is charming.”
“Dinner will be ready in about fifteen minutes,” Rosie said, “but I can let it simmer a little longer if you two need more time to talk. Herb, let’s go whip up a salad.”
“I’m on it.” He left the room.
Tess wished she could follow them both into the kitchen. She’d rather do almost anything than stay there with the smoldering volcano that was Zeke. But Rosie was right. Telling him in person was the way to go, no matter how awkward it might turn out to be.
He let out a breath and met her gaze. “Guess I should have called you.”
“Maybe this is better.”
Gradually the color drained from his face. “Why?”
“I’m pregnant.”
He stared at her. Then he shook his head. “You can’t be.”
“I didn’t think it was possible, either, so I put off going to the doctor. Frankly, I thought I might have some serious health issues and I didn’t want to deal with them until school was out.”
His breathing accelerated. “How can you be pregnant? We used condoms!”
“I can’t answer that for sure. The doctor said it could be for any number of reasons, but she said it happens.”
“So much for modern science.” He grimaced. “Look, this feels like a lousy thing to say, but I have to ask. Are you sure it was me?”
“That’s a fair question. But you were my first lover after my divorce, which was a year ago, and there’s been nobody since. I don’t have any proof, though, so you’ll have to take my word for it.”
“I will.”
“Thank you.” That was one ugly discussion they could skip. “Look, I know this is a shock, but let me put your mind to rest. I’m here to inform you because I don’t believe in keeping a pregnancy a secret from the father, but I don’t expect anything from you.”
“But you’re pregnant with my kid!”
She shrugged. “So what? You didn’t intend for this to happen and, judging from our discussions in April, you never planned to have children, so I’ll handle everything. I absolve you of any responsibility.”
“That’s crazy. You can’t just—”
“Sure I can. I’ll have a lawyer draw up something legal for us to sign if you’d prefer that. I know you don’t want him, but the thing is, I do. I love children, but I was told I had about a five percent chance of ever conceiving. This is a miracle baby and I can’t wait to be a mother.”
“You said him.”
“Yes. I’m having a boy.”
“I thought you couldn’t tell at three months.”
“They have a blood test now. It’s very accurate.”
He rubbed a hand over his face. “A boy. Wow.” Then he glanced toward the kitchen. “Did you tell Rosie you were pregnant? Is that why she set up this meeting?”
“No, you’re the first person I’ve told.”
“Really? What about your folks? What about your friend, the one you came to Texas with?”
“Nobody knows. I wanted a plan before I broke the news. But I think Rosie suspects. When I called back a second time and told her it was very important that I get in touch with you, she probably guessed why.”
“I should have called. I apologize for that. I thought—well, it doesn’t matter. I still should’ve called.”
“You thought I was out of school and looking for a way to spice up my summer?”
“Yes, ma’am, I did.” His hazel eyes gleamed for a moment but then the twinkle was gone. “And I’m not feeling up to that.”
The temporary gleam of desire got to her. She hated to admit it, but the longer they talked, the more she wanted to touch him. “I’m sorry about your shoulder. I thought you might show up here in a sling.” She didn’t know which shoulder was injured, either.
“I have one but I don’t like wearing it.”
“Does your bad shoulder make it hard to shave?”
“Shave? No, I’m right-handed. Oh.” He stroked his beard. “You mean this.
I decided to grow it since I’m not doing public appearances.”
“Mmm.” She wondered if it would be prickly or soft.
“You don’t like it.”
“It makes you look different.” Like a pirate or a mountain man, both intimidating images of rugged men who couldn’t be bothered with changing diapers and warming bottles.
“You don’t look different.” His gaze drifted to her stomach. “This is so hard to believe. I feel like this is a dream and any minute I’ll wake up.”
“Trust me, I felt the same when I got the news. The difference is, I was thrilled. I don’t expect you to be.”
“I don’t know what I’m feeling, Tess.” He looked into her eyes. “I’m pretty disoriented right now.”
“That’s understandable.”
Rosie appeared in the doorway. “Dinner’s ready. But you don’t have to come right away if you need more time.”
“I do need some time.” Zeke glanced her way. “I wouldn’t be fit company right now, anyway. If you’ll excuse me, I’ll take a rain check on dinner.”
“Your decision, but I made another rhubarb pie.”
“Thanks, Rosie. At least I know you’re not too mad at me for not returning Tess’s call.”
“I wasn’t mad, son. Just a little disappointed. If you feel the need to head on back, I’ll save some of the pie for another time.”
“That would be great.” Crossing the room in three long strides, he gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. “And thanks for setting me straight on this deal.”
“You’re welcome.”
He turned back to Tess. “I’d like to ask a favor, if I may?”
“What’s that?”
“I’d appreciate it if you’d stick around for another day or so. Give me a chance to get my bearings before you go back to Casper.”
“I don’t want to impose on your foster parents.”
“It’s not an imposition,” Rosie said. “Stay as long as you like.”
Zeke nodded. “Good, then. It’s settled. I’ll be back tomorrow. Ladies.” Touching the brim of his hat, he walked out the front door.
* * *
Zeke made the trip back to Matt’s ranch on autopilot. He couldn’t have said how he got there but, sure enough, there he was parked in front of the house. He sat in the truck for a while, unable to summon the energy to go inside.
Against all odds, he’d created a child, something he’d vowed never to do. Worse yet, the kid was a boy. He’d decided years ago that girls were more resilient. They bonded with each other in some mysterious way that strengthened them against disaster.
But a boy—specifically his boy—could end up battling demons alone. That had certainly been Zeke’s experience. And when this as-yet-unnamed boy figured out that his father had abandoned all parental responsibility? Guaranteed he’d have demons.
Eventually, Zeke climbed out of his truck, went into the house and stripped off his good shirt so he could do his exercises. And because he lost track of his repetitions, he ended up in more pain than usual. He bypassed his prescription pain medication in favor of a beer.
Sitting on the front porch on one of the folding chairs, he drank the beer and contemplated his options. He didn’t have a lot of them, and none were part of the life he’d imagined. But as the beer mellowed him out, he allowed his thoughts to dwell on Tess.
She was beautiful, way prettier than he’d remembered. He’d heard that pregnancy gave women a special glow. It might be true because she’d seemed lit from within. Her eagerness to have this baby was appealing. Hell, it was more than that. Her enthusiasm about bringing a new life into this world turned him on.
Yeah, there it was. The naked truth. Tess had been a great lover, and he had fond memories of their time in that Texas hotel room. But Tess as the mother of his child transformed her into a woman of irresistible appeal. If the attraction he’d felt back in April could be compared to a backyard fountain, this new emotion was more like Niagara Falls.
He wondered if his reaction was connected to some primitive urge to claim the female who’d successfully welcomed his bid for immortality. He hadn’t realized at the time how unlikely this mating had been. Knowing that he’d overcome the condom barrier plus her apparent infertility made him feel...okay, it made him feel like one heck of a stud.
But when he wasn’t mentally strutting around like the prize rooster in the henhouse, he was scared spit-less. He’d had reasons for avoiding fatherhood and none of them had changed just because he’d accidentally gotten a woman pregnant. He had skeletons in his closet, and Tess had every right to know what they were.
On the other hand, maybe he didn’t have to drag out those skeletons in the next twenty-four hours.
* * *
During dinner, Tess broke the news of her pregnancy to Rosie and Herb. That’s when she learned that Rosie considered the unborn baby her future grandchild.
“I realize that’s slightly unconventional.” She passed Tess a basket of warm yeast rolls. “But most of those boys call us Mom and Dad, so why not? Babies need grandparents to spoil them rotten.”
Tess laughed, charmed by the prospect of Rosie and Herb as her son’s grandparents. “I suppose they do. Mine treated me like a princess. I came along after they’d given up on having any, so I really did get spoiled. I’m sad that they’re gone now. They would have loved fussing over another baby.”
“Of course they would! Sophie—that’s Damon and Phil’s daughter—is the light of my life. She’ll be a year by the time your little guy is born. That’s old enough for her to understand that she has a new baby cousin. I can’t wait to see them together. It’ll be adorable.”
“Yes, well...” Tess had allowed herself to get carried away by Rosie’s enthusiasm. “I’m not sure how often I’ll get over here. I’ll do my best but...”
“Oh.” Rosie shared a quick glance with Herb. “You’ll have to excuse me, Tess. I was so focused on the baby that I didn’t think about anything else. Zeke will be back on the circuit by then, not living next door. I shouldn’t make assumptions about how the two of you will work everything out. For all I know, you’re going to travel with him.”
She shuddered at the thought. “I plan to raise the baby on my own.”
Rosie gave a little gasp of surprise. “Does Zeke know?”
“I told him tonight.”
Herb frowned. “And what did he say?”
“Not much. But when we met he told me he didn’t want kids. In my opinion, a reluctant father is worse than no father at all.”
Herb’s frown deepened. “But Zeke has a financial obligation to his son.”
She met Herb’s worried gaze. “Legally, yes, but I’m relieving him of that. I’m financially capable of raising this child and, despite my right to child support, I couldn’t in good conscience take money from a man who won’t be participating in the process.”
Rosie and Herb greeted that statement with a long silence. Tess wished circumstances could be different for these two wonderful people. But this baby was a gift and she refused to let him become an obligation to anyone, least of all the man who’d unintentionally fathered him.
Finally, Rosie took a deep breath. “I can understand why you feel that way. But we’d love to be part of the process, so I hope you’ll bring that sweet baby over to see us now and then.”
“I will.” She reached over and squeezed Rosie’s arm. “I promise.”
After that, Rosie demonstrated her conversational skills, because the baby and Zeke weren’t mentioned again. Tess’s admiration for Rosie’s social abilities grew as they spent the rest of the meal discussing various teaching methods. They talked about the differences and similarities between Tess’s primary students and the teens that Rosie and Herb had worked with, both as foster parents and founders of Thunder Mountain
Academy.
Immersed in her favorite subject, Tess lost track of time as they lingered over dessert. Rosie had made two pies: rhubarb and cherry. Herb was the only one eating the cherry pie as Tess and Rosie each enjoyed a generous slice of the rhubarb topped with vanilla ice cream. Judging from Rosie’s comment to Zeke before he left, he was a fan of this particular flavor, too. But Rosie never brought it up.
Tess helped with the dishes before bidding Rosie and Herb good-night. She was touched by their willingness to accept whatever plan she had for this baby. Her own parents weren’t likely to react the same way and she dreaded the confrontation when she told them. But she didn’t have to worry about that tonight.
After a satisfying meal with two people who made her feel at home, she was more than ready for a good night’s sleep. Her last thought was of Zeke’s full beard. In a way, it helped that he’d grown one because he looked so different from the man she’d tumbled into bed with back in April. She could more easily pretend he was a stranger, one she would never see again after tomorrow.
Chapter Three
Zeke woke at dawn. Early morning light filtered through the leaves of a tree outside the window and he enjoyed watching the patterns created on the west wall. Once Damon and Phil had installed new flooring in the two smaller bedrooms, he’d move into one of them. He’d be sorry to leave the master bedroom, though.
Climbing out of bed, he headed into the bathroom. He rummaged in his shaving kit for a pair of manicure scissors and clipped off most of his beard. Then he took a razor to what was left.
A hot shower relieved some of the tension in his neck and shoulders, but it came back the minute he dried off. He dressed in his nicest shirt and jeans, and polished his boots. His hat got a good brushing, too. He’d let it get dusty and that wouldn’t do for what he had in mind.
Damon and Phil would arrive in a couple of hours with little Sophie, but they’d have to manage the baby without his help. He wrote them a quick note explaining that he had an errand to run at Thunder Mountain and couldn’t be sure when he’d be back. If all went well, he might be gone all day.
Say Yes to the Cowboy Page 2
