The Rancher's Best Gift

by Stella Bagwell

  “Matthew Waggoner, no man is going to tell me I’m going to marry him. And that includes you! As far as I’m concerned, you can forget about me and this baby. You can go right back to Three Rivers and stay there—it’s where you belong!”

  Her outburst momentarily stunned him and then his face turned colder than a piece of granite. Was this the same man who’d held her so tenderly in his arms? The man who’d brushed her hair and whispered sweet words in her ear? It couldn’t be, she thought sickly.

  His jaw tight, he said, “In case you’ve forgotten, I was sent down here to do a job. And I’m not leaving until it’s done. So until then, you’ll just have to put up with me.” He jerked on his hat and gloves and stalked to the door. “Maybe you’re the one who ought to run back to Three Rivers, Camille. That’s what you want to do when trouble pops up, isn’t it? Run and hide?”

  She glanced around for something to throw at him and realized there wasn’t anything close enough to get her hands on. “I must have been out of my mind to think you could deal with this in a sensitive way!”

  His brows arched in sardonic fashion. “Sensitive? If that’s what you want you should’ve tried to hold on to Graham Danby. Not go to bed with a cowboy!”

  Her teeth clamped together. “I can tell you what I don’t want, Matthew, and that’s you!”

  * * *

  Late that afternoon as Matthew and TooTall rode their horses back to the ranch, fat flakes of snow began to fall from the high ceiling of gray clouds. The sight of the ominous weather didn’t surprise him. It seemed everything today was supposed to go from bad to worse.

  “Look, Yellow Hair, the ground is already turning white,” TooTall exclaimed as he turned up the collar of his old plaid coat and hunched down in the saddle. “I hope those mama cows in the south pastures have sense enough to take their babies to the bluff. That’s the only decent shelter on that range.”

  “Hope is the best we can do for now. It’s so far to that section of the ranch, it would be dark by the time we reached the herd. First thing in the morning we’ll head down there.”

  Tugging the brim of his hat lower on his forehead, Matthew peered through the falling snow toward the ranch yard and the house beyond. Whether Camille would be home whenever he got there was questionable, but one way or the other they had to talk tonight. And not like a pair of sparring birds, warily circling each other, but like two adults with a baby to consider.

  He’d never been so blindsided in his life when she’d told him she was pregnant. And now that he’d had several hours to think about it, he had to admit that a huge part of him was thrilled to the very core of his being. He’d never thought he would be a father, and to think the woman he loved more than anything was going to bear his child was incredible. Even if she didn’t want him as a husband, the connection to her was more profound than anything he’d ever expected to have.

  “How was Camille this morning?” TooTall asked. “You never said.”

  It had taken Matthew most of the day to absorb the news about the baby, much less talk to anyone else about it.

  “She was kinda sickly.”

  TooTall grunted. “That’s the way it is for a woman. She goes through a lot for a man.”

  Matthew’s head jerked over to the cowboy riding by his side. “How did you—”

  “I had a—”

  “Vision,” Matthew finished before TooTall could get the last word out. “Sometimes, TooTall, I wish you’d keep these things to yourself!”

  The other man didn’t bother to look in Matthew’s direction. “And sometimes I wish I didn’t see them,” he retorted, then cast Matthew a wry look. “Don’t fret. It’s all going to be good, Matthew.”

  Good, hell! Camille was carrying his child and she didn’t want to marry him. Just mentioning the word marriage to her had sent her into a furious frenzy. But then, he should’ve expected that. He was a Waggoner and she was a Hollister. Such things didn’t happen. Not in his world.

  * * *

  Camille rapidly counted the stack of bills in her hand and placed them on the desk along with the remainder of the money the diner had taken in for the day. Because of the worsening weather, she’d decided to close up an hour early to give Peggy and Gideon plenty of time to drive home before dark. As for herself, she was dreading the idea of going to Red Bluff and facing Matthew tonight.

  “Everything is shut down,” Peggy announced as she stuck her head in the open door to the office. “And Gideon has already left. He wanted me to remind you to drive carefully on the way to the ranch.”

  Camille glanced over to see Peggy had already pulled on her coat and tugged a sock cap over her black hair.

  “I would be more than grateful, Peg, if you’d let me bunk in your spare bedroom for the next few days. Just until Matthew leaves.”

  Frowning, Peggy stepped into the room that looked spacious and neat since Camille had cleaned out Norman’s clutter. “Of course you’re welcome to stay at my place. You didn’t even have to ask. But don’t you think you’re being a little hasty? And a bit stubborn?”

  Camille whirled the swivel chair around so that she was facing her friend. “No! The man doesn’t want a wife. All he wants is to give the baby two parents—legally bound by a piece of paper!”

  Peggy made a palms-up gesture. “Isn’t that what married people are?”

  “Yes, but that’s not enough. Not for me. The man demanded that I marry him! Demanded! How do you think that would make you feel?”

  Peggy looked at her for a moment and then rolled with laughter. “Listen, Camille, if a man like Matthew ever demanded that I marry him, I’d think I was dreaming. And I probably would be. But one way or the other, I’d be standing in front of the altar letting him slip a ring on my finger.”

  Camille groaned with frustration, then dropped her face into both hands. “I don’t want him that way.”

  “I thought you’d gotten over all that wounded pride business you were suffering from when you first came down here. What are you going to do? Let it take over again and ruin everything with Matthew? Okay, so he didn’t approach the matter in a romantic way, but give him time. He’s probably still in shock.”

  Dropping her hands from her face, Camille began to stuff the counted bills into a money bag. “Nothing shocks Matthew. That’s what my father understood about him all those years ago. He realized that Matthew had the cool demeanor that would stand well as foreman of Three Rivers. And that hasn’t changed—he’s cool under the worst of conditions.”

  “You’re talking about work now,” Peggy reasoned. “I have a feeling this matter with you and the baby is very different for him.”

  The lump in her throat made it nearly impossible to speak. “Oh, Peg, maybe I am behaving childishly, but I—I don’t think it’s wrong for me to want real love from Matthew. Yet that’s only a part of it. I’m very afraid that he might think I purposely got pregnant to trap him.”

  “Oh, Camille, that old ruse doesn’t fit you at all. Matthew should be able to see that.”

  Maybe, Camille thought drearily. But she was the one who’d assured him that a pregnancy couldn’t happen and he’d trusted her. Now she felt as though she’d betrayed him in some way. Which was even more stupid of her. No matter how much protection was being used, any time a man had sex with a woman he was running the risk of creating a child.

  “I don’t know anything anymore,” she said miserably.

  Peggy patted her shoulder. “You’re not going to figure everything out about the baby and Matthew sitting here in this office. Let’s get out of here and go home before the roads get too slick to travel.”

  Pushing herself up from the desk chair, Camille grabbed up her handbag, the day’s take and her coat.

  Peggy was right. She needed to get home to Red Bluff. She needed to face Matthew all over again. And this time she was going to make it clear to him
that she wanted a marriage proposal spoken from his heart. She wanted his love. Nothing less would do.

  Chapter Fourteen

  When Matthew finally returned to the ranch house, it was dark and snow had covered everything in the courtyard, including the lounge chairs sitting under the branches of a Joshua tree.

  It seemed like months had passed since he and Camille had lain together on one of the loungers. The stars had been bright that night and her kisses had been as hot as a red pepper baked in the sun. And later that evening, when he’d taken her to bed, she’d not hesitated to show him how much she’d wanted him.

  But those times were over, he thought ruefully. This morning, she’d made it perfectly clear that she wanted nothing to do with him. Is that what having a baby did to a woman? Caused her feelings, her whole personality to take a one-hundred-eighty-degree turn? If so, Matthew didn’t know how the Hollister men had endured their pregnant wives.

  Except for a night-light over the gas range, the kitchen was dark. There were no delicious smells of cooking food or a smiling Camille setting the table for two. There was no kiss to greet him or promises of loving him through the night.

  That idyllic time in his life had ended the morning he’d driven back to Three Rivers. And understanding that he’d never have the chance to regain those days again had made the long trip even more devastating for Matthew. But that didn’t mean he was going to let her move completely move out of his life. Not with his baby. No, it was his child, too, and he wasn’t going to be bashful about reminding her of the fact.

  Still bundled in his hat and coat, he walked through to the living room, only to find Camille wasn’t there, either. One small lamp illuminated a portion of the large space, and as his gaze took in the Christmas decorations and pine tree loaded with ornaments, a heavy weight of regret fell over him. They should be spending the holiday together, he thought, and celebrating the news that she was pregnant. Instead, she didn’t want him near her.

  Deciding she had to be in her bedroom, he climbed the stairs and entered through the partially opened door. After three steps into the room, he stopped and looked over to where she was standing at the side of the bed. An open suitcase was lying in front of her and one by one, she was folding pieces of clothing and stacking them carefully inside the case. The sight angered and sickened him at the same time.

  Striding to her side, he asked, “What are you doing?”

  She didn’t make the effort to look at him. Instead, she stared at the inside of the suitcase and spoke stiffly, “That question is rather irrelevant, isn’t it? I’m packing more of my things to go with what’s already loaded in the car. I’m not going to stay another night in this house. I thought I could—I thought I could force myself. But you’ve ruined everything I ever loved about Red Bluff!”

  Her last words snapped something inside him and before he could stop himself, he closed the lid on the suitcase and shoved it aside. Then, wrapping a hand around her upper arm, he turned her toward him.

  “Forget the packing,” he ordered gruffly. “You’re not going anywhere! Snow is still falling out there and I’m not about to let you get on the highway and put yourself and our baby in danger! Just because you’ve decided you don’t want me around anymore!”

  Her mouth fell open and for long moments she studied him with wide, wondrous eyes. And then suddenly, as if a switch had been flipped, her features softened and her hands were clutching his forearms.

  Lifting her chin to a challenging angle, she asked, “Why should my driving on a snowy road worry you, Matthew?”

  He muttered an impatient curse under his breath. “That’s a stupid question. It should be obvious to you!”

  “There’s nothing stupid about it. Or obvious. You wouldn’t order anyone else to stay off the road. So why order me?” she persisted, while her fingers tightened their hold on his arms. “You have a mouth. Tell me.”

  If he’d been standing there naked he wouldn’t have felt any more exposed than he did at this moment. Something inside of him was crumbling away like a weathered brick wall. And as it fell, it was revealing every emotion, every fear and doubt he’d carried around in his heart.

  “I don’t—damn it, Camille, if something happened to you or our baby I couldn’t bear it—because I love you. I’ve loved you for a long, long time. I just didn’t recognize it until these past few weeks. Or maybe I did recognize it, but I didn’t have the courage to really face my feelings head on.”

  She closed her eyes, but tears leaked onto her cheeks anyway. “Oh, Matthew, why didn’t you tell me? That’s all I needed to know. That’s all I’ve ever wanted from you.”

  He pulled her close and buried his face in the curve of her neck. She smelled like lily of the valley and the scent evoked all the tender moments they’d shared in the past and would hopefully share in the future.

  “You were right this morning when you called me a coward, Camille. All this time—all these years I’ve been afraid to admit my feelings for you—even to myself.”

  She eased his head back and smiled into his eyes. “But why, Matthew? If I’d only known I—”

  He cradled her face between his hands. “You’re a Hollister, Camille. I’ve never been good enough for you. I’m not sure I am now. But I have to believe that I am—because I can’t let you go. Not now, or ever.”

  Shaking her head, she slipped her arms around his waist and drew herself closer. “I thought—for a long time I had this idea that you didn’t like me. That you considered me nothing more than a shallow, spoiled brat. But that didn’t stop me from thinking you were the grandest thing to ever walk on Three Rivers soil.”

  The sound coming out of him was something between a groan and a laugh. “If I’d only known.”

  More tears rolled down her cheeks, only this time they were a sign of great relief. “We’ve both been fools, Matthew! If we’d had the courage to be honest with each other, just think of all the misery we would’ve been spared. You with Renee and me with Graham.” She pressed her cheek to his. “But that’s all in the past. And I don’t ever intend to let you go, either.”

  He eased her head back and slowly searched her face. “This morning you made it pretty damned clear you didn’t want to marry me.”

  Laughing now, she kissed his cheeks and chin and finally his lips. “I was mad as fire at you, Matthew. I wanted you to ask me to marry you, not demand it. I wanted to hear you say that you loved me and wanted me to be your wife—that you’d love me for as long as you lived.”

  He swept off his hat and tossed it onto the bed, then went down on one knee in front of her. “I love you, Camille, more than anything. Will you be my wife? Will you give me this baby, and more babies, and stick by my side until the end of our days?”

  She went down on her knees in front of him and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Yes, Matthew! Yes, to all those things! But first there’s something I need to know.”

  Still uncertain, he asked, “What’s that? About Three Rivers? The Lost Antelope?”

  Shaking her head, she smiled at him. “No. We’ll figure all that out later. I just need to know what you think about the baby and if you think I deliberately got pregnant to snare you.”

  A puzzled frown pulled his brows together. “Deliberate? It never crossed my mind, Camille. Not once.”

  Her eyes were suddenly glowing with so much love it practically took his breath away. “Oh, Matthew, I can’t explain it. And the doctor told me a baby can’t always be explained—it just happens.”

  “Yeah, if you’re lucky,” he said softly. “And right now I have to say I’m the luckiest guy on earth.”

  She pressed several kisses upon his lips, then hastily began to shove off his coat that was damp from the melting snowflakes.

  After she’d tossed it aside, he took her by the hands and drew the both of them to a standing position.

  As
he began to undress her, she kissed him fervently, her lips conveying how much she’d missed him and how much she loved and wanted him. Now that he knew the feelings that were cradled in her heart, it made everything different for Matthew. And when they were finally on the bed and he was inside her, he thought he would die from the incredible pleasure pouring through him.

  * * *

  A long while later, Camille and Matthew lay cuddled together beneath the warm covers and watched the snow falling beyond the bedroom window.

  “I hate to think of the little calves out in this weather,” she said wistfully. “But I always try to remember what Daddy used to say—Mother Nature has a way of protecting them.”

  “Joel was right. And I don’t believe the snow will get all that deep. Tomorrow we’ll spend the day making sure none of them are stuck in drifts.” He rubbed his chin against the top of her head. “This evening, while we were riding back to the ranch, TooTall told me that everything with me and you was going to turn out good. I didn’t believe him.”

  “Really? How did he know?”

  “He always knows. He’s Yavapai and very mystical. He knew about our baby even before I did.”

  Completely bemused, she raised up on her elbow and smiled down at him. “Seriously?”

  Matthew nodded. “Sometimes he has visions. His mother died when he was just a little boy. Like me. I guess you could say there’s a bond between us that’s different from what I have with the other men.”

  “That’s understandable.” She gently pushed her fingers through his tousled curls. “Did TooTall happen to mention what the baby’s sex was?”

  Matthew chuckled softly, then lifted his gaze up to her face. “No. But he did talk about Red Bluff and how I would be staying here. He even made me promise to make him my ramrod. I went along just to ease his mind. But all the while I was thinking this guy is slipping off the beam.”