The Cowboy's Surprise Baby (Cowboy Country Book 3) (17 page)

“Go away, Cole,” she said raggedly. “I don’t want to talk to you right now.”

“This isn’t about me—about us,” Cole said, feeling winded not because of the pace Tessa had set for them but because his pulse was hammering double time in worry over Kaylie. “It’s Kaylie Johnson.”

Tessa skidded to a halt on the gravel road. Dust flew up around her feet. She swiveled to meet his gaze. “What about her?”

“She’s disappeared from the barbecue. Apparently a couple of the kids saw her leave earlier, slipping out while we were singing our duet.”

“And no one has seen her since?” Any personal awkwardness between them vanished as Tessa switched into full counselor mode.

“Not that I know of.”

“Any guesses where she might be?”

“Not really. I’d hoped maybe I’d see her on this road, heading back to the ranch like you were.”

“Maybe she is. You said she left while we were still singing. That would put her ahead of us somewhere, assuming this is the direction she took.”

“My truck will be faster,” Cole said gravely.

Tessa nodded and allowed him to hold the door open while she climbed in. Cole hopped into the driver’s side and gripped the steering wheel with both hands as he maneuvered the truck down the road. His mind wasn’t on where he was going. It was time to come clean with Tessa, and he didn’t know where to begin. She was probably going to hate him after this, and he wouldn’t blame her if she did.

“What’s wrong?” she asked, glancing his direction. “You know something, don’t you? About why Kaylie took off today?”

He nodded. “Maybe. Yes.”

“Which is it? Maybe or yes?”

“Yes.” There was no easy way to break this news to her, so he just clenched his jaw and forced the words from his lips. “She’s pregnant.”

“She’s
what
?” Tessa’s voice rose an octave. “How did I not know this?”

Cole was stunned. He’d just admitted to a major failure on his part and she was already blaming herself for her perceived oversight.

She turned until she was staring straight at him. “Cole—how do
you
know she is pregnant?”

There it was, then. The blame, shifting to his shoulders, as it should be.

“She—er—told me.” They reached the ranch without having found Kaylie, and Cole parked the truck in front of the house. He stared at his hands still clenched on the wheel rather than meeting her gaze. “I was out riding a couple of weeks ago, and I found her in one of the pastures, sobbing her eyes out. It took a little bit of convincing on my part, but she eventually told me why she was so upset.”

“And it didn’t occur to you to tell me any of this?”

“Of course it occurred to me!” He removed his hat and roughly jammed his fingers through his hair. “But I couldn’t.”

“Why is that?” She sounded hurt more than angry. Cole cringed.

“Because she asked me not to.”

“And you seriously didn’t think that maybe her desire for privacy was not in her best interest?”

“She made me promise not to tell anyone and I agreed. But that was before I knew she was seven months pregnant. I thought she was going to tell me about a fight with her boyfriend or something.”

“Seven months.” Tessa groaned. “Oh, Cole. That poor little girl is as skinny as a rail. How could she possibly be that far along?”

“I thought the same thing,” he said as they exited the truck. Even though they hadn’t discussed it, they both headed straight for the girls’ bunkhouse. “Dr. Delia said the baby is okay. Kaylie is underweight, but not dangerously so.”

“How could I have not seen this?” The self-recrimination in her tone made Cole want to pull her into his arms and reassure her that none of this was her fault.

She had to know he was the one to blame.

“I convinced her to see Delia only because I could guarantee her doctor-patient confidentiality.”

“You took her there yourself?”

Cole set his jaw. “I did. And I tried to convince her to share her burden with you and Alexis, but she didn’t even want to talk about it.”

“Except to you.”

“And now she’s taken off, so you can see all the good I did for her.”

Neither one of them was thinking only of Kaylie’s situation. Cole knew full well Tessa’s thoughts, like his, had traveled back to the tragedy with Savannah.

He reached for her shoulders and turned her to face him. “Kaylie’s not gone, Red. For all we know, she just went for a long walk to clear her head. Even if she is trying to leave town, she can’t have gotten very far. We’ll find her. I promise.”

He allowed himself one moment just to pull her into his embrace, to let her rest her head on his shoulder. He stroked her hair, a motion as soothing to him as he hoped it was to her. She relaxed in his arms for a moment but then quickly collected herself.

“Come on,” she said, reaching for his hand. “Let’s check the bunkhouse.”

Chapter Nine

T
essa didn’t know whether to be angry or relieved when she and Cole discovered Kaylie in the bunkhouse. Tears were pouring down Kaylie’s cheeks, and she appeared oblivious to them. She was packing all of her clothes into her lime-green suitcase.

“Are you planning to go somewhere?” Cole asked, leaning his shoulder against the door frame.

Kaylie jumped in surprise at the sound of his voice. “I’m leaving.” She sniffled. “You can’t stop me.”

The expression on the teenager’s face was a mixture of determination and despair. Clearly the poor child’s emotions had been stretched as far as they could go.

“I wouldn’t count on that,” Cole countered mildly.

Tessa flashed him a desperate look. The last thing Kaylie needed right now was for someone to come down hard on her. Cole’s tone had been gentle, but his words were too harsh for the situation.

Tessa knew how Cole felt. She was experiencing many of the same emotions, among them anger and fear. But now was not the time to give in to those feelings.

“You’re going to be here for only one more day. Why do you think you need to leave now?” she asked.

“That’s just it. My dad is going to be there to meet the van when we get back to Houston. I—” Fresh tears streamed down Kaylie’s cheeks.

Tessa’s immediate response was to reach out to Kaylie, but before the thought had firmly formed in her mind, Cole was already kneeling in front of the teenager, opening his arms to her and offering his strong, broad shoulder for her to cry on.

“Come here, sweetheart,” he coaxed, the very picture of a father figure. A mentor. “Everything is going to be okay.”

Tessa sat down on the bed beside Kaylie and put an arm around her. Cole met Tessa’s gaze over the top of Kaylie’s head. His eyes registered the same fear she held in her heart.

Would Kaylie be okay?

Tessa more than anyone knew there was no way of predicting what would happen, no possible way of making that kind of guarantee. Only God knew Kaylie’s future—or any of their futures.

“We’re not going to let you face this alone, Kaylie,” Cole assured her, reaching for Tessa’s hand to bring the three of them together in a circle. “You may be leaving Redemption Ranch tomorrow, but Tessa and I will stay in touch with you for as long as you need us, okay? We’ll be there for you
and
your baby.”

Tessa knew the words were meant to reassure Kaylie, but they worked on her heart, as well. He was supporting her as she worked through her own fear. When he squeezed her hand, she felt enveloped in his warmth and strength.

Kaylie pulled back, wiping her tears away with the sleeve of her shirt. “I’m scared,” she admitted softly.

“We know you are, darlin’,” Cole said. “But running away isn’t going to solve your problem. It’ll only give you new ones. You have to think of your sweet little baby waiting to be born.”

“But my dad—what if he hates me?”

Tessa wanted with all her heart to assure Kaylie that there was no way her father could ever hate her. But how could she say those words when she didn’t believe them herself?

“I know you’ve seen my little baby boy, Grayson,” Cole said gently. “He’s the light of my life, just like you are to your father. Now granted, my little tyke can’t even crawl yet, but I can’t imagine that there’s anything he could ever do that would make me love him less than I do right now.”

Tessa’s heart welled so full she thought it might burst right out of her chest.

She loved this man. Really
loved
him. It was likely that she always had, but never so much as she did at this moment.

“Your father might be shocked by the news at first. Angry, even. But you are his daughter, and the child you are carrying is his grandchild. I don’t know your dad, but I do know what it is to be a father.”

“I never thought of that,” Kaylie admitted, pressing both hands over her belly. “This is his grandchild.”

Tessa could see it now, the artful way Kaylie had disguised her growing midsection with loose shirts. She couldn’t imagine how she ever missed it. She’d been blind, in more ways than one.

“We’re both going to support you through this,” Tessa said, echoing Cole’s sentiments. “I know Cole took you to see Dr. Delia. Have you thought about where you want to give birth? Do you have anyone you trust to be your birthing coach?”

Kaylie seemed to brighten when they talked about her baby.

“No. I’d like— That is, I wish I could stay here in Serendipity. At least until the baby is born. I like Dr. Delia. She delivers babies, right?”

“Yes, she does, at a hospital in San Antonio. I’m not sure how that would work out for you, since you live in Houston.”

Immediately the light left Kaylie’s eyes.

“You said your father is a professor, didn’t you?” Cole asked, leaning back on his heels and bracing his hands on his thighs.

“Yes. He teaches philosophy at Rice.”

“Does he teach summer classes?”

“No. He spends his summers reading and fishing.”

“We’ve got quite a few good streams and lakes around here. I wonder if we could tempt your father to spend a couple of months in Serendipity. There’s a nice bed-and-breakfast here in town, and I’m sure if I talked to the Howells, I could get a good deal for you and your dad.”

“Tessa could be my birthing coach.” Excitement filled Kaylie’s voice. “I mean—Tessa, would you be my birthing coach? I trust you more than anybody. Well, except for Cole. You know what I mean.”

The plan sounded perfect. Too perfect. Tessa wasn’t sure Cole should be filling Kaylie’s head with all of these ideas. What if her father struck them down?

Kaylie was apparently thinking the same thing. Her face fell. “I don’t know...”

“I’ll call and speak to your father tonight.” Cole’s attitude and his voice were brimming with confidence. Either he wasn’t aware of Tessa’s and Kaylie’s reluctance or he was ignoring it. “It may be better if he hears of your pregnancy from me. I can explain the situation to him. That way he’ll have a little time to digest the news and get used to the idea before you have to see him tomorrow. In fact, if he agrees to come out here, you won’t even have to leave with the other kids.”

“You’d do that?”

Tessa’s heart acknowledged the answer to that question.

Of course he would. Because he was Cole Bishop, Righter of Wrongs, Slayer of Dragons. And Tessa didn’t care one bit that she was getting all mushy and teary-eyed over it.

“I think you should hang out here with Tessa and try to relax, maybe play a game of cards or something. We don’t want to upset your little baby now, do we?”

“But why are you doing this? No one has ever been this nice to me before.”

“Why?” Cole grinned, setting Kaylie’s world to right and Tessa’s heart to fluttering. “It’s simple, really. Because I’m a
mentor
.”

* * *

Kaylie stood between Cole and Tessa and waved at the other kids as the van drove away. Tessa laid a hand on the girl’s shoulder.

“Alexis promised she’d feed us lunch before your dad gets here this afternoon. Why don’t you go wash up and we’ll meet you inside?”

Kaylie smiled and nodded, looking as happy and carefree as she had since she’d arrived at Redemption Ranch a month ago. Things were definitely looking up for her, and Cole was glad of it.

Together, he and Tessa had made a difference in one girl’s life. And that, he realized, was how a man changed the world. One life at a time.

The phone call to Kaylie’s father hadn’t been as difficult as he’d anticipated. After David Johnson got over the initial shock of finding out his teenage daughter was pregnant, his only concern was for Kaylie and her baby. He was understandably hurt that she hadn’t come to him sooner, but he admitted that he’d probably made that difficult for her.

He was determined to change their relationship now, starting with moving to Serendipity for the summer so Kaylie could have her baby where she felt comfortable and loved.

Cole shifted his mind back to the present. Tessa was staring down the road where the van had disappeared, her expression pensive.

Cole threaded his fingers through hers. “All’s well that ends well, right?”

Tessa gazed up at him, and he was surprised to discover she had tears in her eyes.

“Thank you,” she murmured.

“For what?”

“You know for what.”

“Kaylie? Honey, that was a tag-team effort. We did it together. And if I had had the sense of a billy goat, I would have told you about Kaylie’s pregnancy long before I did. Then maybe things wouldn’t have come to a head in such a dramatic way.”

“Like you said—it ended well for Kaylie. But that’s not what I was talking about. I meant about me.”

She squeezed his hand and stared up at him with such emotion brimming in her gaze that his throat closed up. He felt like a million bucks when she looked at him that way.

As if he was a hero. Her hero. And that’s all he had ever wanted to be.

“Are you and Grayson still meeting me at Cup O’ Jo’s for dinner tonight? We have a lot to celebrate.”

They
did
have a lot to celebrate, but Cole was hoping there’d be one more very important item to add to that list of happy events.

He cleared his throat so he could speak. “Can we walk for a bit?”

Tessa glanced at her watch and smiled at him. “Sure. We have a couple of minutes before Alexis expects us for lunch.”

Alexis was expecting them, all right—expecting them to be late for lunch, if they showed up at all. Cole had wanted to keep his plans a secret from everyone, but with Kaylie in the picture, he needed to make sure he’d squared things away with Alexis so she wouldn’t wonder where they were.

At least if Tessa rejected him a second time, he’d have to endure the humiliation of only Alexis and Griff knowing about the proposal, rather than the whole town.

Of course, he was hoping he’d be celebrating, not slinking away in defeat. But this time he was going into it with his eyes and heart wide-open.

“When I came back to Serendipity, I never imagined the way God would work in my life. Every day I’m amazed at all the new blessings He’s given me. My son. My job.” He paused and reached for her other hand, pulling her close and touching his forehead to hers. “You.”

“Cole,” she murmured. She might have been meaning to say more, but he covered her lips with his. Then he fetched the ring box from his pocket and dropped to one knee.

She gasped and put a hand over her mouth.

He didn’t know whether that was a good reaction or a bad one. But he was in too far to back out now, and he wouldn’t have even if he could. His heart was pounding as he struggled to find the words to tell her what she meant to him.

“I botched this up the last time. I don’t want to make that same mistake again. I love you. I’ve always loved you, but I didn’t put your needs ahead of mine. I’m a changed man, Tessa. I hope you can see that. I want us to be together. You, me and Grayson. I want to take care of you both, and any other children we might add to our family.”

“Please.” Her voice was hoarse with strain. “Cole.”

He jumped in before she could continue, afraid she might be turning him down before he’d even had the chance to ask the question.

“I’m getting ahead of myself again, aren’t I? I want to do this right. Will you marry me, Tessa, and make me the happiest man in the world? I know that sounds cliché, but it’s the truth. There is nothing in the world I want more than to be with you.”

“Oh, Cole,” she said, her beautiful emerald eyes brimming with tears.

This time he didn’t interrupt her. It was time for him to stop talking and start listening. He just hoped she’d put him out of his misery soon, because he couldn’t breathe until she answered him.

She smiled through her tears and pulled him to his feet, offering him her left hand so he could slip the glittering diamond solitaire on her finger.

“I love you, too. I want to be your wife more than anything in the world, and you know I love Grayson. I wasn’t sure you would ask me again.”

“I guess we have more to celebrate tonight,” he said, kissing her once, and then again. He would never tire of holding her in his arms.

“Alexis!” she exclaimed, drawing in a breath. “We’re late for lunch.”

Cole laughed. “Don’t worry about a thing, Red. I’ve got you covered. Every second of every day. Now and forever.”

She wrapped her arms around his waist and tucked her head on his shoulder, sighing deeply. “Now and forever.”

* * * * *

Keep reading for an excerpt from
RANCHER DADDY
by Lois Richer.