Ryelee's Cowboy (12 page)

Immediately, Clint bounded out of the
house and raced toward her.

Ryelee chided him. “You should have
put your coat on.”

“Damn it, Ryelee. Are you hurt? What
were you thinking?”

“I’m sorry, Clint.”

“Where does it hurt? Is it the baby?”
he asked anxiously.

“I don’t think it’s the baby. I ended
up getting kicked in the side and it hurts.”

“I’m going to lift you and bring you
inside. Hold on to me.”

Clint carefully lifted her into his
arms and stalked to the house. Rheenie was waiting there holding
the door open. Clint gently put Ryelee on the couch and began to
take of her boots, mittens, and finally her coat.

“Go get Grandma’s quilt,” he told
Rheenie.

“Clint—”

“Save it. Where are you
hurt?”

“My side.”

Clint lifted up her sweater. “You have
the beginnings of a nasty bruise. I’m going to call the
doctor.”

Ryelee started to protest, but she
could tell by the strained turn of his mouth that it would be
useless.

Ryelee felt stupid when he called the
doctor. She could hear Clint’s voice but couldn’t make out what he
was saying. Rheenie raced toward her and tucked her in with a warm
quilt. “Thanks, Rheenie, you’re a big help.”

Rheenie put her hand under her chin
and looked Ryelee up and down. “Hmm, not good.” She put her face
closer to Ryelee’s. “Well, well,” She shook her head, her hand
still under her chin. “You need a nurse, young lady.”

“I don’t think that will be
necessary,” Ryelee replied, hoping it to be true.

Clint walked back into the room. “The
doctor doesn't think it’s an emergency, but he wants to see you
tomorrow.”

Ryelee nodded her head. Once again,
Clint had to come to her rescue. He looked angry and she didn't
know what to say to him. He had a right to his anger. She was
hopeless.

“Daddy, do you think I need to bandage
her up?” Rheenie asked hopefully.

“It would serve her right, but I think
that she just needs some rest.”

The anger in his voice shook Ryelee.
He was right. Why was she always so foolish? Rheenie could have
gotten hurt. What did she know about raising a five-year-old? What
about the baby? What about her relationship with Clint? She was a
fraud. She wasn’t equipped for any of this. Overwhelmed, she didn't
even know she was crying until Rheenie handed her a tissue. She
thanked her and turned her head away. She couldn’t face either of
them.

Someone knocked at the front door, and
Clint answered it. She surmised from the murmuring of voices they
were probably talking about her.

Rheenie ran to her and kissed her
cheek. “Burke is here and I’m going to a slumper!”

“What?” Ryelee turned over.

“A slumper silly. I get to stay up and
eat popcorn.”

“A slumber party.”

“That’s what I said. Bye.” Rheenie ran
out of the room.

Ryelee turned facing the back of the
couch. She heard the front door close and then silence. The silence
was deafening and stretched on for an unusually long
time.

Finally, unable to take the wondering
anymore, Ryelee turned her head. Clint sat on a chair across from
her, studying her. She knew he found her lacking. Who wouldn’t? He
probably was trying to figure out a way to let her down easy. He
couldn’t possible trust her with Rheenie again, and that was why
she was here—to take care of his daughter.

The twisting of her heart became
painful. She wanted to say something, but she didn't know what she
could possibly say to him with his face shuttered. She took a deep
breath and swallowed hard. She had to break the silence, it was too
much for her nerves.

“Clint, I’m sorry,” she said, her
voice shaking.

His face remained impassive, his stare
unyielding.

Ryelee braced herself for whatever he
had to say. It didn't look good.

“You know what, Ryelee, sometimes
sorry isn’t good enough. What were you thinking, sledding on a
plastic bin cover? Didn't it occur to you that it might be
dangerous?”

“Truthfully, no. I know I put Rheenie
in jeopardy with my impulsive action. I’d never hurt her for the
world,” she said, her eyes pleading for understanding.

“You just don’t get it at all, Ryelee.
You have no understanding of what I’m feeling. You didn't only put
Rheenie in danger, but you put yourself and the baby in danger.”
Clint got up and walked to the window.

“I know you care about me, but the
baby isn’t even yours.”

Clint turned around and stared at her.
“That’s true but I love you, which includes the baby. I’ve already
lost one wife. I can’t lose anyone else, especially
you.”

“Oh.”

“Is that all you have to
say?”

“Clint, I’m no good at any of this.
What do I know about being a nanny to Rheenie or a mother to my
baby or whatever I am to you? I’m just not what you
need.”

“Whatever you are to me? I love you.
You are the person I want to go to bed with every night and wake up
to every morning. How could you not know that unless you really
don’t feel the same?”

Even the hurt in his eyes was her
fault. “I do feel the same, Clint, but I’m not good enough for you.
Today proved it,” she said, hiccupping from crying.

Clint crossed the room and sat on the
edge of the couch. He took Ryelee into his arms and rocked her as
he stroked her back. He kissed the side of her wet neck and
whispered words of reassurance to her. Slowly she calmed and he
pulled away to look at her.

“Don’t doubt yourself, Ryelee. I
believe in you. Rheenie loves you. You are wonderful with her. She
was never as close to Jill as she is to you. Jill could be cold and
distant at times. You are kind and loving. That’s why I love you.”
His expression changed from hurt, to compassion, then to love.
Clint reached into his pocket and pulled out a ring. “I was going
to wait until tonight, but I think that now is the right time.
Ryelee Snyder will you marry me and be a mother to Rheenie and
allow me to be the father to your baby?”

Ryelee’s eyes grew wide as she stared
at the ring. She searched Clint’s face, and she saw the love that
he had for her in his eyes. Her heart beat faster and it felt full
of love. Her emotions were going wild. Part of her was in disbelief
and the other part was overjoyed.

“Yes!” She hugged him. “I thought you
hated me.”

“Ryelee, I was upset at your lack of
care for yourself and the baby. You scared the hell out of
me.”

“I’m so lucky to have you and Rheenie.
I love you both so much.”

“Good,” Clint said, smiling. “I do
want you to understand that I want to be the father of the baby
you’re carrying. I know he or she was conceived in violence, and
I’m sorry about that, but the child is blameless. You are
blameless. I want to make the best of it. Babies are a blessing,
Ryelee.”

Ryelee hesitated. She couldn’t believe
she had found a man with such a generous heart. It was all so
foreign to her. “You are the blessing, Clint. You and
Rheenie.”

Ryelee laughed when Clint picked her
up and headed upstairs to her bedroom. Every time he lifted her,
she was acutely aware of his brawny arms and wide shoulders and
shuddered in want. After the rape, she thought she would never want
any man to touch her. Her response to Clint came as a very pleasant
surprise. She actually craved his touch, if such a thing was
possible. He made her feel so many things—loved, womanly, pretty,
and sexy. He also gave her hope for a happy future. As Clint put
her on her feet, she reached up and stroked his face. She loved the
feel of his five-o’clock shadow. She ran her fingers over his
prominent cheekbones then along his firm chin and finally to his
wonderful lips. She stood up on her tiptoes and kissed him, and his
arms curled around her, drawing her closer. Her heart beat faster
in anticipation.

Clint suddenly pulled away, leaving
her bereft and confused. He walked over to her window and stood
there staring out. He was so quiet and Ryelee wondered if he’d
changed his mind..

“Clint?” She bit her bottom lip
waiting for an answer.

Clint turned and stared at her, his
eyes full of concern. “It’s me, honey. We shouldn’t get too worked
up until we get you to the doctor tomorrow. I don’t know what I was
thinking. First I yell at you for not thinking about the baby, and
just now I did the same thing.”

Ryelee closed the gap between them and
laid her head on his chest. She wrapped her arms around his waist
and held on. “No, Clint, don’t think that way. I felt it too. I
felt the magic between us.”

Clint finally grinned. “We do make
magic don’t we?”

“You are a wonder, Mr.
Maloney.”

“Let’s check that bruise and get you
to bed. Why don’t you go and put your nightgown on, and I’ll tuck
you in.”

Ryelee liked the sound of that. He
made her feel so safe and valued. She rushed into the bathroom and
got ready for bed. She hesitated before opening the door. She only
wore a nightgown. She glanced at her reflection in the mirror and
almost laughed at her concern. She wore what amounted to a granny
nightgown, with its high neck and long sleeves.

“Okay, let’s see the
bruise.”

Ryelee blushed at the thought of
raising her gown. However, she did so slowly, trying to lift just
the right side without showing too much.

He gently touched her side and heard
her quick intake of air. “I’m glad you have a doctor’s appointment
for tomorrow. It looks painful.”

Ryelee nodded. She was surprised when
Clint placed his hand on her belly. He gently stroked her
roundness. When he kissed her there, her eyes misted.

Suddenly he released her and let her
gown drop into place. “Let’s get you into bed.”

Clint turned back the covers and led
her to the bed. Once in bed she had expected a kiss, but she was
treated to the sight of Clint taking off his shirt. His hairy
muscular chest did things to her insides that she had never
experienced before. She wanted to reach out and touch him, but she
restrained herself.

Clint didn't have an ounce of fat on
him. He slowly took off his jeans and socks, leaving on his boxers.
Ryelee couldn’t seem to take her eyes off his boxers. Her eyes grew
wide due to his bulging erection that even the boxers couldn’t
disguise.

Ryelee realized what she had been
staring at and her face flamed as she quickly turned her gaze to
his face. The huge grin on his face made her laugh. “Now
what?”

“I’m sleeping with you. I’m not
wasting a night alone with you,” he said, climbing in the
bed.

“But…”

“I just want to hold you, Ryelee.
Don’t panic.”

“I’m not panicking. I just wondered
what you expected from me. I was thinking about the
baby.”

“As you should.” Clint gathered her in
his arms.

Ryelee snuggled against him, putting
her head on his broad shoulder. She was beyond tempted to run her
fingers over his chest. Instead, she put one hand on his chest and
didn't move it, enjoying the soft hair under her fingers and the
strong steady heartbeat under her palm. She wanted to lift up and
give him a soul-searing kiss, but she knew she shouldn’t start
anything.

Finally, he suggested that they spoon.
He rested his hand over the baby.

Ryelee cherished the moment. It'd been
what she'd dreamed of her whole life.

* * * *

Laughter and “oh mys” filled Ryelee’s
consciousness, waking her. Clint sat up abruptly next to her. She
opened her eyes and found Rheenie, Burke, and Annie staring at
them. Annie tried to whisk Rheenie away, but Rheenie was determined
to stay.

Ryelee sat up next to Clint, her face
flaming. Then she smiled and held up her left hand. “We’re getting
married,” she said joyously. She looked at Rheenie. “If Rheenie
will have me for a mother, that is.”

Rheenie whooped in delight. She ran
toward the bed and tried to launch herself straight at Ryelee.
Somehow, Clint managed to intercept her. “Careful of the baby,” he
reminded her.

Rheenie’s wide smile made Ryelee tear
up.

Rheenie hugged her. “Look, Daddy,
she’s crying.” She turned to Burke and Annie. “That means she’s
happy,” she informed them.

“I’m so happy for the both of you,”
Annie said.

“You caught yourself one pretty
filly,” Burke said to Clint.

Annie jabbed him in the side. “Must
you always equate women with horses?”

Burke chuckled. “You better believe
it, darlin’.” He walked over to the bed and kissed Ryelee’s cheek.
“Be good to this man. Any trouble with him, let me
know.”

Ryelee just knew Rheenie was about to
open her mouth and say something inappropriate. She hugged Rheenie
extra-long and thanked Burke and Annie.