The Cowboy’s Baby Read online

  “I’ll be around Monday.”

  Those big brown eyes widened. “Really? Oh, Trace.”

  She jumped out of her chair, threw her arms around his neck and hugged him. Trace reached for her, gripping her by the waist so they both wouldn’t topple over.

  Kira ended up on his lap and when she pulled back there were tears in her eyes. “Thank you,” she whispered.

  He couldn’t resist, and brushed away a tear off her cheek. Seeing her rich brown eyes staring back at his caused his blood to stir. It always had, but he couldn’t let it happen, not after all the pain they’d caused each other.

  He stood her on her feet. He got up, too, then backed away but ran into the counter. “You don’t have to thank me. We’d always planned on children. I haven’t agree to everything.”

  She refused to look away. “Under the circumstances…and reasons you’ve agreed to do this, I still thank you.”

  The hard ache in his body told him he was crazy to be this close to Kira. “Like you said it’s a long waiting list.” He drew a breath and inhaled that soft, womanly scent that was only her.

  “Well, you’ve made me very happy.” She leaned forward and placed a tender kiss on his mouth. He sucked in a breath as another jolt of desire shot through him. “And I promise I’ll give you what you want.”

  “That’d be a first time in a long time,” he murmured, trying to guard against his weakness for her.

  “You know what I mean,” she added. “You’re doing this for me, I promise when it’s over, I won’t contest anything.”

  What had happened to them? At one time, he’d wanted to give her everything. They’d planned a lifetime together. Now, she wanted nothing from him, especially not his love.

  “I should go,” he told her, not wanting the conversation to go sour if they brought up any more of the past hurt. “I need to go check on that bad section of fence. I don’t want Rocky to wander off,” he rambled on. He stole another look at her and his pulse accelerated, weighing down each step he took.

  “We still have things to talk about,” Kira called to him. “Maybe after I’m home from school tomorrow.”

  Trace nodded, then headed for the back door, praying she wouldn’t stop him. He worked to remember the misery they’d caused each other during their last months together. He hurried out into the cool night, and it felt good against his heated skin, but even jumping into a pool of ice water wouldn’t cool off his need for Kira. He doubted anything would, ever. That still didn’t give him any hope that they were meant to be together.

  The next morning, Kira had renewed hope that things were going to work out. She knew she needed to take things slow with Trace. He never rushed into anything.

  She walked into her office to find Jody waiting for her. When Kira had driven the girl to her job yesterday, there wasn’t much time to talk about anything except plans for the senior roundup. That was why Kira had set up this morning’s meeting.

  Jody stood. “Hello, Mrs. McKane.”

  “Good morning, Jody.” Kira unlocked her office, went inside and set her things on her desk. After putting her purse in the bottom drawer, she motioned to Jody to take a seat, then she did the same.

  “Okay, Jody, there are no distractions now.” She worked up a smile. “It’s just you and me.” She took the file from her in-box and opened it. “I’ve talked with your teachers, Mr. Franklin and Miss Meehan, who informed me your grades have dropped considerably as of late. Jody, is there something going on, has something happened?”

  The young girl looked pale, almost sickly. Her blond hair was long, but it looked unkempt today. She wasn’t wearing any makeup, not even lip gloss. So different from the impeccably groomed girl Kira had known. Jody looked tired, no exhausted. Then it started adding up, the bad grades, and the sudden breakup with her boyfriend. Could Jody be pregnant?

  Kira’s heart sank as she worked hard not to look down at the girl’s waistline. “I know I’m your guidance counselor, but I hope after our four years together, I’m your friend, too.”

  The student glanced away and shrugged. “I know you’ve helped me so much.” She hesitated. “It’s just…it’s hard to talk about.”

  Jody Campbell lived with her single mother, and money was always tight. With Jody’s high grade point average, Kira had been working tirelessly to help her get scholarships and financial aid for college.

  “Jody, two months ago you were excited about going away to college. Has something changed that?”

  She drew an unsteady breath and nodded. “Ben and I broke up.” Tears filled her eyes. “He signed up to go into the Army.”

  “I’m sorry, Jody.” Ben Kerrigan was another senior. The two had been dating for the past few months. She could see the girl’s heartbreak. “When does he have to leave?”

  A tear rolled down the girl’s cheek. “The end of June. He said he won’t have time for me, and doesn’t even want to write me, or anything. He said it’s better this way.” The girl broke down and sobbed.

  Kira reached for Jody and hugged her close. “I’m so sorry.”

  She knew too well how much teenage romance hurt. And in some cases you never lost the scars. Her thoughts went back nearly sixteen years earlier to her first love, Mike Purcell. Mike had broken more than her heart—he’d nearly destroyed her when he hadn’t stood by her. That painful time still lingered in her memory. She had never shared it with anyone, not even Trace.

  She blinked away her own tears and pulled back. “Jody. Listen to me. If you need me, for anything, I’m here.”

  The girl nodded, taking the tissue from Kira. “It’s too late,” she whispered.

  “No, it’s not. Unless you’re changing your mind about college?”

  The girl glanced away. “It would be hard for my mom if I go away. She depends on me.”

  Mrs. Campbell had depended on her daughter, and wasn’t eager to see her go off to college. “Yes, but having a degree would make it so you could make more money. And what of your dream to be a nurse?”

  “Maybe some dreams never come true.”

  Kira took the girl’s hand and felt her tremble. “I know it seems hard right now, but you can do it. You are so talented.”

  She didn’t look convinced.

  “Okay, I won’t push for now. Just don’t blow off your finals.”

  “It’s too late, I can’t catch up.”

  “No, it’s not too late. I’ve talked with both teachers. They’ll give you makeup work, and if you do well on the final, you’ll be okay. So you’ve got three days.”

  “But, I can’t—”

  “You can, because I’m going to help you,” Kira insisted. “I want you back here after lunch.”

  Jody looked surprised. “Why? Why are you doing this?”

  “Because I care about you, Jody. Right now you need to know that someone has faith in you. Someone cares.”

  Something Kira never had, until Trace. She just hadn’t realized it soon enough. Now it was too late.

  Trace paced the main room of the four room bunkhouse, but stopped to glance out the window. Kira was well-past due being home and there was a storm brewing. A big one. He checked his watch—it was after five o’clock.

  “Why don’t you just call her?” Cal said.

  It was silly to act as if he didn’t know who the foreman meant. “She’s probably busy with graduation stuff. It’s just she never pays attention to the weather.”

  “Then warn her.” The wind picked up and lightning flashed in the dark sky.

  Trace pulled out his phone and punched in Kira’s number. When she didn’t answer, he cursed his stubborn, independent wife and headed outside. The rain began falling in big drops and just as he reached his truck, her Jeep Cherokee pulled up next to the house. Anger mixed with relief as he ran toward her. Seeing her frightened look, he remained silent. He took her by the arm, rushed her up the steps and through the back door.

  “Where the hell have you been?” he demanded as he forced the doo
r shut against the strong wind.

  Inside the mudroom, she put her briefcase down on the washing machine, then wiped the rain from her face. “I was helping a student, Jody Campbell, then I took her home.”

  “There’s a severe storm warning. Didn’t you hear it?”

  “Not until I got into the car.” She glanced out the window. “It’s bad, isn’t it?”

  Another flash of lightning and the electricity went out. “I guess that answers your question.”

  He went to the pantry and pulled out the flashlight and a box of candles. No matter how brave Kira acted, he knew she hated storms. He hurried back into the kitchen and shined the light toward her. “You okay?”

  “Ask me after this storm passes.”

  “I don’t think there’s any chance of that for a while. There’s a series of them across the area. It could go on all night.” He called Cal on his cell. “How are things down there?”

  “I’m heading over to the barn to check the horses. If there’s any problems, I’ll let you know.”

  He turned back to see Kira, lighting the half-used candles. The threatening clouds make it darker than normal at this time of day. They had a generator, but he didn’t feel it was necessary right now.

  The rain pelted against the roof, and Kira jumped at another flash of lightning, followed by the booming sound of thunder. “I should buy some new ones.”

  “Do you want to start up the generator?”

  Kira sat down in the kitchen chair. “Not unless we have to go down to the basement.”

  Trace glanced out the window, but couldn’t see anything with the blowing rain. “I’ll check the forecast.” He walked into the den they’d used as an office, and she followed. He had a battery-powered radio and flipped it on to the local weather channel.

  “No tornados sighted in the area, so far. But the warnings won’t be lifted for the area until after midnight.”

  She sighed. “I was afraid of that.”

  Even in the shadows, he could see her hand pressed against her stomach. Something he’d seen her doing many times during their marriage. It helped ease the cramps that came with her monthly period. It also gave them the sad news that once again they’d failed, failed to conceive a child.

  He released a breath. There had been far too many of those times. And it had only gotten worse after the fertility treatments. In the end he could hardly bear to continue to try for a baby, or watch her heartbreak when the same result had been repeated with no pregnancy.

  Trace swallowed his own pain. “Come on, I’ll fix you a cup of tea.” He waited for her to stand, then led her back into the kitchen. He turned on the gas stove, then went to the cupboard and took out a mug and tea bags.

  Waiting for the water to heat, Trace leaned against the counter and studied Kira. She was dressed for summer, in her bright blue T-shirt and a long, flowered skirt, covered mostly by a bulky sweater.

  It wouldn’t be sexy to anyone else, but he knew what lay underneath. Long smooth legs, and a cute bottom and curves that drove a man wild.

  She looked up at him, and her sweater opened. He didn’t stop his open examination of her breasts. Her nipples quickly hardened under the thin material. He felt his own body respond and he looked up at her dark eyes. He didn’t have to ask her if she wanted him, he could see it in her heated gaze. God, she was easy to read. It was one of the many things he loved about her. She didn’t play games when it came to sex. If she wanted him, she let him know. And she was definitely letting him know now.

  Suddenly the teapot whistled and he shook away any thoughts about carrying this any further. He removed the kettle, poured the water into the cup and placed it in front of her.

  “You hungry?”

  She shook her head. “My stomach is a little unsettled.”

  Seeing the stress in her face, he asked, “Cramps?”

  She nodded as if embarrassed.

  “You should be in bed.”

  The rain pelted against the windows. “I’m not going upstairs in this storm.”

  “Did you at least take your medication?” He knew she hated to resort to the painkillers, but sometimes she didn’t have a choice.

  She didn’t respond.

  “Where is it?”

  “The bathroom, upstairs.”

  Trace grabbed the flashlight and headed out toward the stairs. He went into the room they’d shared for the past five years. He felt like the intruder now. Lightning suddenly illuminated the space, showing the neatly made bed. Kira never would go off and forget to make it. Something he knew she’d learned early on in foster care.

  He liked it messy. He liked her messy after making love in the early mornings. When the sun wasn’t up just yet, and all was fresh and new, the problems were pushed aside and they were lost only in each other. He shook away the thought as a crash of thunder rumbled through the house.

  He went into the medicine cabinet and grabbed her pills, then went to the closet and took out a pair of sweatpants and a sweatshirt, along with a pair of tennis shoes. He hurried back downstairs and handed her the bundle. “I thought you might be more comfortable in these.”

  She looked surprised and pleased. “Thank you.”

  He went to the sink and got her a glass of water. On his return she was already removing her skirt. He went to the refrigerator, making himself busy, trying to think about food, and not his wife stripping off her clothes.

  She stopped and took the medicine with a drink of water.

  “Lie down and try to relax.”

  He walked back to the refrigerator and took out some bread, lettuce and sliced ham. Then he grabbed a plate from the cupboard and prepared the tray, wishing that a pill could make the problems between them disappear.

  Ever since the moment he’d fallen in love with Kira, he’d known there was something she’d kept back. A tiny part of her that she’d never shared with him. He figured it had something to do with her parents’ death and her years in foster care.

  Her one living relative was a grandmother, Beth Hyatt, but as far as he knew, Kira hadn’t been in touch with her since their marriage. Whenever he asked about her family, Kira clammed up, only saying her parents had died when she was young.

  Sometimes her eyes showed such sadness and no matter how much he’d reassured her, he couldn’t make it go away. Could a child do what he never could?

  Trace walked to the sofa and found Kira lying on her side, her legs pulled up, indicating she was still in pain.

  He placed the tray on the coffee table and sat down at one end. Without a word, he placed Kira’s head on his lap. He reached under her sweatshirt and touched her warm skin. He began a slow, circular motion over her back and down her spine. In the past, this helped relax her and ease her suffering.

  Kira shifted a little and released a soft moan. He continued to stroke her skin, feeling his own need surfacing, but he didn’t have to touch Kira to want her. He could stand across a room and she’d just have to glance at him and he wanted her. Hell, he’d been sleeping in the bunkhouse these past weeks and it hadn’t changed anything.

  She groaned again, then started to roll over.

  “Stay still,” he said.

  “I can’t. My stomach hurts.” She managed to turn over on her back. Without hesitation, he placed his hand on her abdomen and continued the gentle motion.

  “Is this helping any?”

  “Oh, yeah,” she murmured. “You can stop in about an hour.”

  It killed him to see her in pain. With the progressive disease, her periods seemed to have gotten more and more painful. And no one could do much to help her.

  “I expected you to be asleep before this.” He ached to stretch out beside her, to hold her close.

  She smiled sleepily. “The pills are doing a good job. Just don’t tell my students I’m a druggie.”

  “Your secret is safe with me.”

  For a few moments, it seemed like old times. But it wasn’t and he had better remember that. Playful words
didn’t make a marriage work.

  But he sure as hell would like to know what did.

  Kira was in heaven. She didn’t know if it was the pain medication or the fact that Trace was there holding her. She liked this dream. She fought the drugging sleep because she didn’t want to wake up and find him gone again.

  She felt him get up, then before she could protest, he lifted her into his arms. “Trace?” She couldn’t even open her eyes.

  “Shh, darlin’, the worst of the storm is over and I’m taking you up to bed.”

  She smiled and curled in closer to his warmth. “Oh, I like the sound of that.” But suddenly she felt the soft mattress as he laid her down and pulled away.

  “Don’t go,” she whispered as she reached for him. “Please, Trace, don’t leave me.”

  She felt his weight on the mattress, then his reassuring words. “I won’t, Kira. I’m here.”

  With his comforting words, she let herself drift off to sleep. She felt his kiss against her hair. For the first time in weeks she allowed herself to think that maybe everything would be all right.

  Kira’s comfort was gone by morning when she woke up and found herself alone. There was no sign of Trace, or that he’d been there during the night. Even though she wanted to stay in bed, she got up, into the shower, then dressed for work.

  Downstairs, she found coffee already made and poured herself a cup. She went to the window and glanced at the sunny morning and a deserted bunkhouse. Trace’s truck was gone, too.

  Disappointed, she knew he and Cal were probably out checking the herd. She wondered if there was any damage to the outer buildings. Would Trace even tell her if there were? He’d always been pretty closemouthed about the running of the ranch.

  She’d shown more interest in the first couple of years after they were married. Once they’d started concentrating on a baby, she’d stopped horseback riding.

  Looking back, she realized how much she’d pulled away from him with her self-absorbed guilt about not being able to conceive a baby. Trace had only been loving and supportive, never saying anything about the cost of medical procedures their insurance didn’t pay for. That had been thousand of dollars.