The Pregnant Proposition

When she reached the study, she paused, leaning her shoulder against the doorjamb. Seated behind their father’s big carved desk, her oldest brother was staring unseeingly out the window at the same view she’d admired a few minutes earlier. Although evening had edged in, the light filtering through the wavy glass was still bright enough to highlight the faint lines etched beside his eyes, the creases in his lean, tanned cheeks and the stern set of his mouth.

He wasn’t smiling; he rarely smiled anymore, Ally realized. He’d always been rather serious, but at least he used to be more approachable. It had been big brother Cole whom Ally had run to after their mother had suddenly died in a horseback riding accident when Ally was only four. And twenty-year-old Cole who’d comforted her when their father, after a long heartrending battle, finally succumbed to lung cancer when she was fourteen.

Remembering those dark times, Ally sighed, and Cole glanced at her. His blue eyes softened as he saw the plate in her hands.

“Come to fatten me up, Al?” he asked as she walked toward him.

“I noticed you didn’t have dessert earlier.” She set the plate on a pile of papers littering the big desk. “And you might as well enjoy some while you can, because when we start the kitchen remodeling—”

“Actually,” Cole interrupted her, “I wanted to talk to you about that. We’re going to have to wait with the kitchen.”

Ally sank in the chair in front of the desk to stare at him in dismay. “Why?”

“Because we just don’t have the money right now to start a major project on the house.” Reading the disappointment in her expression, he added apologetically, “I was going to discuss it with you, but I just couldn’t seem to find the right time.”

Her lips tightened. “You mean you couldn’t find the right way to tell me that the new kitchen that was so all-fired important when you were planning on bringing a wife home became considerably less so when it came to your sister.”

“That’s not the way it was at all,” he said, deep voice sharpening defensively. “I knew we had to have a new computer—” he nodded at the machine that sat center stage, glowing softly on the broad oak desk “—but I didn’t expect to have to replace the engine on the pickup this year as well as get another baler. You know we can’t do without either of those, and the new computer will make charting the breeding records, as well as doing the books, a hundred times faster and easier.”

“And buying a new stove and dishwasher would make my work a hundred times faster and easier, too.” Ally shook her head in frustration. “For goodness’ sake, Cole, the oven door falls off every time I open it too far. Do you know how hard it is to pull out a pan of hot biscuits with one hand, while trying to keep the oven door on with the other?”

“Okay, I’m sorry.” He sighed, running a hand through his thick dark hair. “I’ll get Luke or Linc to weld a new hinge on it. And as soon as we can afford it, I’ll buy you a new stove. I promise.”

Ally wasn’t impressed with his assurance. “If you let Vorquez go, we could afford the stove right now.”

Ally knew that George Vorquez, the land claims man Cole had hired to prospect for oil, was one of the most respected geologists in the county. But if their father, who had the Circle C tested years ago, hadn’t met with success, she doubted they’d have any now.

But Cole’s jaw tightened. He picked up his fork and moodily stabbed at the crust of the cobbler. “Oil’s there, Al. I know it is.

It just takes time and a bit of money to find it. And then we’ll be richer than we ever dreamed of being.”

“So instead of putting in a new kitchen, you’re taking a gamble that we’ll find oil.”

“It isn’t a gamble, Ally,” Cole said firmly. “It’s an investment.”

“Fine. Whatever.” Ally refused to argue with him on a subject she knew he wouldn’t budge on. “The point is, Cole, you’re not being fair to me.”

“I said we’ll fix the stove—”

“Yeah, when someone gets around to it.” Her lips compressed. “Besides, it’s not just that. It’s other things, too.”

“Like what?”

“Like.” She tried to think of a recent example. “Like when you got the cell phones. You gave one to Kyle, one to each of the twins and kept the other one for yourself. Without discussing it with me at all.”

“I wasn’t trying to slight you, Al. The plan just came with four, so I handed them out to the boys, and figured you could share with me.”

“I don’t want to share with you. I want my own.”

“But why? Who are you planning on calling?”

“No one,” she admitted, giving up on the battle. “And there’s no one planning to call me.”

His face softened. “Sure there is. Tell you what—you can have the cell. I’ll share with Kyle.”

She looked at him helplessly. He just didn’t get it. The problem was, she didn’t want to always feel like Cole—or the others—were doing her a favor. She wanted them to recognize that she worked just as hard as they did. That she’d earned her share.

“It’s not the phone, Cole. It’s that you don’t treat me like an equal. You don’t discuss anything with me. Not anything concerning the ranch or the house. Not even Bride’s Price.”

Cole’s frowning eyes lifted to meet hers. “What about it?”

“Don’t you think you should have consulted me before refusing Troy’s offer?”

Cole shifted his gaze back to the cobbler. He gave it another poke. “No.”

“That’s my land, Cole.”

Setting his fork aside, he lifted his dark eyebrows as he met her eyes once again. “No one says it isn’t. But I’m the one Eileen put in charge to look out for your best interests.”

Ally folded her arms across her chest. “And that’s what you were doing today? Protecting my interests?”

“Of course. What else would I be doing? We need that grass for the herd.”

“Don’t give me that. We have more than enough range for the herd we’re running now. You know and I know that if anyone else had wanted to lease that land, you would have agreed in a red-hot minute. The only reason you refused is because it was Troy O’Malley.”

Cole’s stern mouth curled in a grim smile. “Seems like a good enough reason to me.”

“Well, not to me.”

His smile faded and his blue gaze narrowed on her face. “Since when have you become so concerned about Troy O’Malley?”

She gave a short laugh, waving a dismissing hand at the thought of mocking green eyes. “I’m not concerned with him at all. What I want—what I need—is that money he offered. To put my own plans into action.”

“What plans?”

“To move into Eileen’s house.”

Cole snorted. “You’re kidding me. Why would you want to move out there?”

“To be able to do what I want.”

Genuinely perplexed, Cole frowned at her. “That’s ridiculous. What can you do at Eileen’s house that you can’t do here?”

I could paint the place pink, hang lace curtains at all the windows if I decide to, without anyone groaning about it. I wouldn’t have to clean up constantly after four messy men. I could put on lipstick and eye shadow—experiment with makeup—without being teased that I look like a rodeo clown. I could take hour-long baths without an irritable male pounding on the door asking “Have you died in there?” And I could go out on dates, stay out all night if I choose to, without one or all of my four brothers intimidating the hell out of the poor guy I’d gone out with.

She was fed up with being the fifth, inferior Cabrerra brother, Ally realized tiredly. She just wanted to be by herself—run her own life, make her own decisions—without any bossy men telling her what she should and shouldn’t do.

But Cole wouldn’t understand any of that; he’d simply dismiss it as female nonsense. So Ally gave him a reason he could understand. “I want to start my own business. Breeding and training horses.”

Cole’s expression tightened. “That’s a dream, Ally. There’s no money in that.” Impatiently, he shook his head. “Cattle is our concern.”

“Our major concern. I want to start a side business, breeding and training Peruvian Pasos for working herds and pleasure riding.”

“Peruvian Pasos,” he repeated flatly. “What’s wrong with good old American quarter horses?”

She shrugged. “Nothing. But I want to develop Peruvians.”

He took a deep breath, clearly summoning patience. “Fine. But we can’t afford to support two households right now, or invest in more horses. Maybe in a few years—”

“I don’t want to wait a few years, any more than you want to wait years to find out if there’s oil on our land. Not if I don’t have to. And leasing to Troy means that I don’t have to.”

“I’m not leasing Bride’s Price to Troy O’Malley.”

Ally’s spine stiffened, and her gaze narrowed on her brother’s stubborn face. “No?” she asked softly. “Is that because he’s an O’Malley? Or because he stole Misty from you?”

She shouldn’t have said it; Ally regretted the comment as soon as it left her lips. Cole jerked as if she’d slapped him and his expression turned to stone.

When he finally replied, he didn’t answer her questions but stated in a flat, hard voice he’d never used to her before, “O’Malley is not getting that lease. And there’s nothing you can do about it.”

Not waiting for her reply, he stood and strode from the room, slamming the door behind him.

Ally sat for a moment, frozen in place by the force of his anger, hurt constricting her throat and causing a prickly burning behind her eyes.

Then an answering anger rose up inside her. Blinking the pain away, she glared at the closed door.

“Oh, yes, there is something I can do, brother dear,” she said softly. “I can get married.”

Chapter Two

“During the breeding season, it is wise to observe the cattle from a distance, using field glasses if necessary, to remain unseen and thus avoid influencing their natural behavior.

“Don’t hesitate to enlist the aid of other experts in this endeavor. They may have knowledge that you lack…. ”

—Successful Breeding: A Guide for the Cattleman

Resolving to marry was one thing; finding a husband quite another. Especially if all the single men in town were intimidated by your four older brothers.

Well, she simply had to overcome that obstacle, Ally decided, lying in bed that night, pondering the problem. What she needed to do was get close enough to her prospect—once she had a prospect—to explain her proposition of a temporary marriage before her brothers could chase him off. Getting dressed up would help her get close. Every woman over the age of five knew that men—like bulls—were easily distracted and attracted by clothing. Flutter a red cape—or a sexy red dress—in front of them, and they almost couldn’t help chasing it.

The trouble was, she didn’t have a red dress—or any sexy clothes—nor the money to buy some. The only decent dress she owned was her bridesmaid dress from Cole’s canceled wedding … a dress she’d never worn.

Yes, that was the answer, she decided, settling down to get some sleep. She’d return the dress and get something new.

Her brothers headed out at dawn the next morning. After they left, Ally hurried to clean up the breakfast dishes, feed the chickens and start a load of laundry—sparing a few extra moments to flush the cigarettes she found in Kyle’s pocket. Bad enough that he risked his life riding bulls; he didn’t need to risk cancer, too.

Anxious to reach Tangleweed when the stores opened, she was on the road at nine. By ten, she was arguing with Tammy Pitts, owner of Tamara’s Treasures.

“I’m sorry, I can’t refund your money,” Tammy said.

“But I’ve never worn it,” Ally told her. “It’s like new.”

“Doesn’t matter,” Tammy insisted. “Not only has it been six months since you purchased the garment, it was altered. It can’t be returned.” She pushed the dress across the store counter, adding with patently false regret, “Store policy, you know. One my regular customers completely understand.”

The condescending glance she swept over Ally’s worn jeans and John Deere T-shirt—clean and green and bought on sale at the feed store—made Ally lift her chin. Ally had known Tammy Pitts (née Peale) all her life. After trapping William Pitts, a man twice her age, into marriage, Tammy had convinced her henpecked husband to let her open a boutique which—since most of the town refused to pay the prices Tammy charged—primarily served as a front for Tammy’s shopping addiction.

But when planning her wedding to Cole, Misty’d been determined to give her hometown as much business as possible. So she’d herded her bridesmaids to Tamara’s Treasures. Although the others had been dismayed by Tammy’s “hick-town slim pickin’s,” as one anorexic redhead had put it, Ally’s only dismay had been the cost of the final selection. Emptying her small savings account for a dress she’d probably wear once had scandalized her thrifty soul. But she’d bitten back her protests, not wanting to embarrass either herself or Cole in front of the other women, for whom price was obviously not a consideration at all.

Serves me right for not speaking up then, Ally thought bitterly. Because sure as stink on a cross-eyed skunk I’m going to be embarrassed, anyway, once Tammy tells everyone in town that I tried to return the dress.

Before she could grab the dress and escape, the bell above the door to the shop chimed.

Tammy directed a broad smile at the person entering. “Hello, Misty,” Tammy said, then glanced at Ally with speculative interest.

Ally turned to see Misty Sanderson hovering in the doorway, looking as startled to see Ally, as Ally was to see her. Although they were the same age, Ally had never known the petite blonde very well, since rather than the public school in Tangleweed Ally had attended, Raymond Sanderson had sent his only daughter to a private boarding school in the east.

During Misty’s engagement to Cole, the two women had become friends but Ally loved her brother—warts and all—and she couldn’t forgive the blonde for the pain she’d caused him. So neither woman had seen the other since the breakup.

For a fleeting second, Ally thought Misty would ignore her now. But after the barest hesitation, Misty smiled briefly at Ally, then returned Tammy’s greeting with a casual hello.

“I’ve come to pick up that jacket I ordered. Has it come in yet?” Misty asked Tammy as she walked toward the counter.

“Oh, yes. It’s in the rear.” Tammy’s inquisitive gaze flicked from Misty’s face to Ally’s, before she added with obvious reluctance, “I’ll go get it.”

As soon as the sharp tippety-tip-tap of Tammy’s high heels faded in the back room, Misty turned to Ally, asking politely, “How are you, Ally?”

“I’m fine,” Ally responded in the same tone. “And you?”

“Doing great,” Misty said emphatically, widening her lips in a smile that didn’t quite reach her dark brown eyes. “I’ve been busy, what with—” Her smile faltered as she recognized the dress on the counter. “Oh! It’s your bridesmaid dress.” She looked at Ally, tilting her head questioningly. “Why did you bring it here?”

“I’m returning it,” Ally said bluntly, as she started to bundle the blue froth of material into her arms. Not bothering to soften her tone she added, “I don’t need it, after all, since there’s never going to be a wedding. Not between you and Cole, anyway.”

Misty stared at her while the tippety-tip-tap signaling Tammy’s return grew louder. Then suddenly her face crumpled. She whirled toward the door.

Shaken by the raw anguish in Misty’s eyes, Ally dropped her dress to chase after her. Misty sped outside and Ally reached the door just as Tammy called out, “Wait! Where y’all going?”

“To get coffee.”

She caught up with Misty in front of Virgil’s Hardware two stores away, and grasped the other girl’s arm to stop her, aghast at the sight of the tears on Misty’s cheeks. Misty had always appeared so sophisticated and in control to Ally. And smiling— Ally couldn’t remember a time when perky Misty had been sad or upset. But Misty was definitely upset now. Sobs shook her slender shoulders as she leaned against the hardware’s brick siding, tears seeping from beneath the trembling hand she’d lifted to cover her eyes.

Ally felt terrible. “I’m sorry, Misty,” she said softly. Not knowing what else to do and afraid Tammy would appear at any moment, she added, “Look, can we go someplace and talk? Have coffee?”

Misty hesitated, then nodded.

Breathing a sigh of relief, Ally steered the smaller girl toward the truck she’d parked a few yards away. Ally unlocked the passenger door for Misty to climb in, then went around to the driver’s side. Once inside, Ally rolled down her window to relieve some of the relentless heat, and Misty listlessly followed suit as Ally started the motor and put the truck in gear. They traveled the four blocks up Main Street to Daisy’s Diner, passing the Deer Processing Plant and the bank without exchanging a word.

When they reached the diner, Ally parked beneath a withered pecan growing by the curb. The shade of the tree was welcome, easing the heat, and for a minute or two after Ally cut the motor, the two sat while a hot breeze drifted through the cab, Misty cried, and Ally tried to decide what to do.

She glanced over as Misty sat up a little straighter to open the handbag in her lap. The blonde fumbled around inside, then pulled out a tissue to stem the tears still trickling from her eyes. It didn’t help; the tears kept coming, and the sight of her obvious distress finally shattered the reserve Ally’d been determined to maintain.

“If you still care so much, Misty,” she blurted out, “then why did you break up with him?”

“Is that what he said?” Misty whipped around to face her so fiercely that Ally shrank involuntarily against the door. “That I broke up with him? Because if he did, your brother is nothing but a liar!“

The door handle was gouging Ally’s back but she stayed put, alarmed by the hot flare of anger in Misty’s eyes. “Yes—well, no. Cole never talked about it. I just assumed—”

“You just assumed I was the kind of woman who would dump a man on a whim weeks before the wedding.” Misty’s lips quivered and she pressed them firmly together. “Well, I didn’t. I love—loved Cole with all my heart. There was nothing I wanted in this world more than to be his wife.”

The sorrow in Misty’s voice, the hopeless yearning in her face, was unmistakable.

Ally said helplessly, “But I know Cole loves you….”

“Apparently not.” Bitterness tainted Misty’s sweet Texas twang as she added, “Or at least, not enough to marry me.”

“But he does, I know he does,” Ally insisted. “I just don’t understand why he broke up with you.”

“Oh, don’t you? Well, his excuse was Troy O’Malley.” Misty blew her little nose defiantly. “He refused to believe me when I assured him there’s nothing at all romantic between Troy and me.”

She must have seen the doubt on Ally’s face because she added impatiently, “Yes, there’s a bond between us. After all, Troy’s father was killed in the same car accident as my mother, and that’s always been a tragedy we shared. And he had to go away to boarding school, too. In some respects Troy’s been—been like a brother to me. But there is nothing, never has been and never will be, anything romantic between us,” she said fiercely, meeting Ally’s glance with a burning brown gaze that refused to waver. “Believe me, because I’ve never meant anything more.”

“I believe you.” Ally did—concerning Misty’s feelings, anyway. But as to how Troy might feel about Misty.

“Thank you, Ally.” Misty smiled at her and, reaching over, gave Ally’s hand an impulsive squeeze. “I just wish that stubborn brother of yours had believed in me, too.”

“Maybe if you try again—”

“I refuse to take the blame for something I didn’t do. He refused to even listen to me. He’d made up his mind and that was that.” Determined pride lifted Misty’s chin, but hurt was clear in her eyes as she added, “Besides, like I said, Troy was just an excuse. What Cole really can’t tolerate is the fact that my daddy is rich.”

Ally drew a troubled breath, unable to deny that Misty was probably right. “Cole can be stubborn,” she admitted.

“No kidding.” Misty gave an unamused laugh and swiped rather savagely at the dampness lingering on her cheeks. “I don’t know why I’m even crying over the mule-headed male. What’s past is past, and heaven knows, I have more important things to worry about like—-” Impulsively she turned to face Ally, her eyes glimmering with tears once more. “Oh, Ally, my daddy is sick. Really sick.”

Ally’s throat tightened in sympathy. “Is it his heart again?”

Misty nodded. “The doctors aren’t saying much, but—” She choked back a sob and gave Ally an apologetic look. “I didn’t mean to blurt all this out. No one knows. It would hurt his business badly—our stock would plummet even more than it has. You know how it is …”

Ally nodded. She did know. Raymond Sanderson was his company. Without him, Sanderson Technology would most likely cease to exist. “I’m sorry.”

Misty forced a smile. “No, I’m sorry—about crying and all. It’s just, since I can’t talk to anyone about it, I guess I get scared sometimes and feel kind of alone—but Daddy will be fine,” she said stoutly. “I know he will.”

“I’m sure he will, too,” Ally agreed, with more certainty than she felt. “And you can talk to me anytime. Really. I promise I won’t say a word, not to anyone. But, Misty, if Cole knew you’re having trouble—”

“No!” Misty turned fierce again, her petite figure immediately stiffening. “If he didn’t want me before, I certainly don’t want his pity now.”

Ally understood how Misty felt. If Cole loved Misty—and Ally was sure he did—then it was up to him to reach out to her.

But she felt sorry for Misty. Losing a parent was hard at any time, but Misty was all alone. At least Ally had had her brothers. Especially Cole.

“I just don’t know what’s gotten into Cole lately,” she said, worrying aloud.

“What do you mean?” Misty asked, her dark eyes still bright from her tears.

Ally hadn’t intended to tell anyone about her plans to gain control of Bride’s Price. But her remorse at hurting Misty, her sympathy about Misty’s father and the knowledge that the other woman cared about Cole and had confided in her, had Ally explaining her own dilemma in return.

By the time she finished, Misty was wide-eyed with amazement. “You really intend to do it? Ask some guy to marry you?”

“What other choice do I have?”

“None, if Cole won’t budge—and I doubt that he will. But still … how long do you need to stay married?”

“I’m not sure,” Ally admitted. “Not long at all if Cole gives in, I suppose. If he doesn’t, then at least long enough for him to legally be removed as trustee for Bride’s Price. Whether that happens immediately upon the marriage, I don’t know. Do you?”

“Haven’t a clue,” Misty admitted.

Ally sighed. “I guess I’ll have to find out from a lawyer.

Before I do that, I want to line up some guy to help me out. Maybe, if he sees I’m serious, Cole will back down and I can save the lawyer’s fee.”

“Or Cole’ll convince the guy to back down,” Misty prophesied dryly. “Or one of your other brothers will. You have to admit, they can be formidable.”

“Yeah, but I’m hoping money might make the difference. I thought I’d offer some of the lease money Troy’s willing to pay as incentive to my prospective groom.”

Misty looked impressed. “That’s a good idea. Who are you thinking of asking?”

“I’m not sure yet. Maybe Dave Sarten.”

Misty shook her head. “He just got engaged to Pam Watkins. What about Jack Ryder?”

“He got a job managing a ranch up in South Dakota. Left last week. I was thinking maybe Travis Wesley …”

“Nope. He’s got a steady girlfriend in Abilene. Buck Boulter might do it, except—”

“He’s good friends with Cole,” Ally finished for her.