Having The Rancher's Baby

Gabe, too, was working his tail off. He divided his days between Dos Estrellas and their nearest neighbors, the Small Change Ranch. There, he helped his fiancée’s Parkinson’s-stricken father manage their large cattle operation. Gabe would be moving to the Small Change soon and assuming even more responsibilities. His marriage to Reese was scheduled to take place this spring, and they were already steeped in preparations.

Cole did his best to help out, filling in for both brothers when and where he could. Though he was a poor substitute for Raquel, he even babysat his niece and nephew on occasion.

Speak of the devil!

Rounding the corner, Cole caught sight of his three-year-old nephew not thirty feet in front of him, and hit the brakes hard. Dirt rose in a cloud as the tires skidded to a stop, and the heavily loaded flatbed trailer lurched, threatening to jackknife.

“What the...” Cole pushed his hat back and wiped his damp brow.

The boy walked alone, leading a small horse named Hurry Up. Like Hotshot, the mustang was a rehabilitated rescue from Cara’s sanctuary. Tagging after them was a five-month-old Australian shepherd pup, a recent addition to the Dempsey household.

Cole cut the tractor engine, climbed down and jogged over to his nephew. “Hey, cowboy. What are you doing?”

Nathan stopped to gaze up at him. “Hi, Uncle Cole.” He’d recently celebrated a birthday and since then had been talking up a storm, his vocabulary expanding daily. “I walking Hurry Up.”

The horse and pup dutifully waited, the horse sniffing the dry ground, the pup chewing on a bent stick. Cole and Josh had once owned a horse and pup like these two when they were young. In Cole’s opinion, there were no better playmates.

Hold on a minute. When did he start having opinions about kids’ playmates? Maybe since he’d found out he might be a parent soon.

“Where’s your dad?” he asked.

“Dunno.”

Cole glanced around, not spotting his brother anywhere. Had Nathan wandered off? It wouldn’t be the first time. The boy was mischievous with a capital M, a quality he definitely inherited from his father’s side of the family. Both Josh and Cole had been notorious troublemakers in their day.

What if he had a son? Would the boy be a Dempsey through and through or more like Vi? Come to think of it, she’d probably been a bit of a troublemaker, too.

Perhaps the better question was what kind of father would Cole be? His few times babysitting hardly qualified him.

He could no doubt learn a lot from his older brother. Josh hadn’t started out as the best of dads. Like Cole, he’d been a professional cowboy and away more than he was home. But after gaining sole custody of his two kids, Josh had stepped up, filling the role of single parent as if born to it.

Cole patted Nathan on the head. The boy wore a tattered cowboy hat not unlike his own, though Cole’s fit better. “I think we should find your dad.”

Nathan insisted on leading Hurry Up. They got about fifty feet before Josh came running out of the horse stable, his year-old daughter, Kimberly, bouncing in his arms, his expression panicked. Spotting them, he drew up short.

Cole could see his brother struggling not to curse. He also saw the intense relief coursing through him. “Nathan! Criminy, son. How many times have I told you not to walk off like that?”

Nathan didn’t appear the least bit remorseful. “Hi, Daddy. I walking Hurry Up.”

The pup, thinking it was playtime, loped awkwardly over to Josh on gangly legs, the stick clenched in its mouth.

Cole waited for his brother to catch up. As they neared, his pretty little niece reached out her arms and babbled unintelligibly.

“You mind?” Josh handed over his daughter before Cole had a chance to reply.

“Hello, gorgeous.” Cole balanced the little girl against his chest as he’d seen Josh do.

She babbled some more and patted his cheeks. It was cute. Maybe he wouldn’t mind having a daughter.

Josh went down on one knee in front of his son. “Nathan, you can’t leave without telling me. Do you understand?”

Nathan stared at his father, then slowly nodded. Cole suspected the boy didn’t understand at all and was simply placating his dad.

Cole kept his niece busy and let father and son talk for several minutes. Eventually, Josh stood, emitting a long, low groan of frustration. “Kids,” he said, as if that explained everything.

Before today, Cole might have answered, “I wouldn’t know.” Now, he kept his mouth shut.

After lifting Nathan onto the horse’s back, Josh took Kimberly from Cole and plunked her in front of her brother. The two often went for rides, though lately Nathan had been less inclined to share, wanting Hurry Up for himself.

Josh gathered the lead rope in his hands. “What do you think the meeting’s about today?”

“Guess we’ll find out.”

“Gabe figures she’s going to ask for some time off, what with her parents divorcing.”

“He could be right.”

Josh studied Cole intently. “You know.”

“Why do you say that?” Now would probably be a good time to return to feeding.

“You’re hedging. You don’t hedge.”

“I promised Vi I wouldn’t say anything. Violet,” he quickly amended. Using a nickname implied intimacy.

His brother wasn’t fooled. “You two have gotten friendly lately.”

“We get along.”

“Get along or get along?”

“What are you implying?”

“Leroy said he saw you and Violet at the Poco Dinero a couple months back.”

“We danced some and shared a ride home.”

“Must have been a long ride. You didn’t come back till morning. I didn’t think much of it till Leroy said something.”

Cole thought he might have to find the talkative ranch hand and tell him to mind his own business, then decided bringing up that night would only make things worse.

“Want to go, Daddy,” Nathan whined impatiently. He didn’t like waiting.

“In a minute, son. I’m talking to Uncle Cole.”

“Don’t stay on my account,” Cole said, seeing an opportunity to escape further scrutiny.

“Come on. Walk with me.”

“I’m in the middle of feeding.”

“The horses can wait ten minutes.”

Cole would have manufactured another excuse, but he suddenly didn’t want to. He and his brother had always been close, sharing everything, including careers and confidences. Cole could count on Josh to keep Vi’s secret. Certainly for the next hour.

Besides, the fact was he could use some advice as well as a chance to unload. He’d grown tired of having only himself for counsel.

He and Josh set out on a course that circled the horse stables, Josh leading Hurry Up and his two young riders. The kids weren’t interested in the grown-ups, allowing Cole and Josh to talk relatively freely.

Cole cut right to the chase. “Vi’s pregnant.”

“You’re kidding!” Josh gaped at him. “Is it yours?”

“She told me Monday.” Cole gave a brief account of what had happened then and yesterday at the doctor’s office.

When he was done, Josh asked, “And you were together only the one night?”

“She didn’t think we should date. Said it wasn’t professional. That, and I think she considers me a flight risk, ready to leave at the drop of a hat.”

“What are you going to do?”

“We haven’t decided. She wants to wait.”

“That must be why she called the meeting. To tell us she’s pregnant.”

“She’s worried she might miscarry—it’s happened before. Three times, back when she was married.” Cole was growing fed up with circling the stables. His brother, however, appeared not to notice. Did people automatically start putting their children first when they became a parent? Would Cole? “Her doctor gave her strict orders to rest every day and not work so hard. Do you suppose the ranch has a policy regarding medical leave?”

“No idea. Gabe will have to answer that. If not, we’ll figure something out. She’s a good employee. I can’t imagine not trying to help her.”

Cole agreed. Vi had told him she’d been just eighteen when she came to Dos Estrellas, the summer after high school. The Dempseys had taken her in, giving her a home as well as a job. Raquel loved her like family, as had Cole’s late father.

Why hadn’t he shown Cole and Josh that kind of love? Was the estrangement really all their mother’s fault? She may have perpetuated it, but their dad hadn’t fought it, either.

“Why do you think Dad hated us?” Cole hadn’t intended to ask the question, it just slipped out.

“He didn’t,” Josh answered, in a somewhat tired voice. “The problem was him and Mom and their inability to get along.”

Cole suspected there’d been much more going on, but let the subject drop. Josh had reconciled his differences with their father a while ago and didn’t hang on like Cole. Perhaps because coming to Dos Estrellas had resulted in a safe, stable home for his children, a woman he loved and a job he’d come to believe was his calling.

Unfortunately, Cole was of a completely different mind. He liked cattle ranching well enough and someday might make it his living, but he still preferred busting broncs, training horses and chasing the sun to the next town.

“Are you remotely ready to be a dad?” Josh asked. “You haven’t ever been the settling down kind.”

“I want to be ready.”

“You’re going to have someone depending on you. Someone who can’t do the simplest of things for him or herself.”

Cole glanced over his shoulder at his niece and nephew and tried to see himself as their parent. It wasn’t easy. He’d been something of a drifter for the past twelve years.

“What if you made Mustang Valley your home base instead of Grandpa and Grandma’s?

Josh’s suggestion was a reasonable one. Except for one problem.

“I’m not sure Vi wants me here. She made it clear she’d rather go it alone than have a part-time dad in the picture.”

“She has a point. I tried that, and it didn’t work. I wound up with an addict for a wife and two children who suffered from neglect. If you’re not willing to fully commit, you might as well leave Violet to raise the baby by herself.”

Cole heard what his brother said, and also what he didn’t say: that if he failed to commit, he’d be just like their father, a man who’d abandoned his children.

Cole didn’t think he could stand another similarity between them. There were already too many.

He kept watch for Vi’s arrival, staying busy in the horse stables after finishing with the afternoon feeding. At last her pickup truck pulled into the driveway leading to the ranch.

He ignored the rush of relief coursing through him, along with the thrill of anticipation, and hurried to catch up. She was on her way to the house for their meeting. Her meeting.

“Hey, not so fast.”

Glancing back, she stopped and waited. Cole took it as a good sign that she didn’t race ahead.

“How are you doing?” He fell into step beside her.

“All right, I guess.”

Her face told a different story. It had a pinched, exhausted look made worse by the dark circles beneath her eyes.

Cole repressed a sudden urge to wrap her in his arms. Or maybe not so sudden. He’d felt the same when she’d told him about her pregnancy. If anything, this protectiveness was becoming a habit.

“Did you get a chance to rest?” he asked.

“Not really.”

“Too keyed up?”

“I’m not nervous.”

He had his doubts. This couldn’t be easy for her; it was a lot for anyone to handle.

“Did you at least put your feet up for a while?”

“I did.” She smiled, though it was difficult to interpret. She might have been pleased Cole cared, or she might be placating him.

He noticed she held a spiral notebook in the crook of her arm. Had she organized her thoughts? He could picture her sitting in her living room recliner, feet up and furiously scribbling away.

“It’s going to be fine,” he assured her. “There’s nothing Gabe won’t do for you.”

“What about you and Josh? Your votes count just as much as Gabe’s.”

“You know how I feel.”

“Do I?”

“You’re a great employee. You deserve time off.”

“I see.” She didn’t mask the disappointment in her voice.

“What do you want me to say, Vi? That I care about you and what happens? I do. I hope you have this baby, and I hope it’s born healthy. I’ll do my best to be a good father and a good provider. Whatever you need from me. But you said yourself, you want to wait.”

“You’re right. That wasn’t fair.” She started to say more, then faltered, seemingly at a loss for words.

“This is new territory for both of us,” he pointed out.

“Yeah, it is.” This time, her smile was genuine. “Two months ago, I wouldn’t have thought I’d be having this conversation with you.”

“Me, either.”

His response might have been a little too strong, for she grew abruptly quiet. Great. Well, too late now. They were at the ranch house.

They entered through the kitchen door, Cole waiting for Vi to go first. Raquel wouldn’t be attending the meeting, but she’d put out an array of refreshments. On the counter were pitchers of iced tea and cold water, along with a basket of warm, fresh-baked sopapillas, and honey to drizzle on them.

Cole picked up a paper plate and lifted the cover keeping the sopapillas warm. Having no shame, he took two.

“Want one?” he asked Vi.

She grimaced. “No, thanks.”

“Still nauseous?”

“It comes and goes.” She hesitated a moment, then touched his arm in a brief but personal gesture. “See you in the meeting.”

Cole watched her walk away, head held high and shoulders squared as if steeling herself for what lay ahead.

No sense waiting. Holding his plate of sopapillas, he cut across the kitchen to the dining room. That was where most meetings were conducted, along with Sunday and holiday dinners, which Raquel hosted with pleasure.

The house also had an office that once belonged to Cole’s father. Before Gabe became engaged to Reese and started helping at the Small Change, he’d handled all the ranch finances and record keeping, sitting behind the desk their father once occupied.

In recent months, Josh had taken over the task. Cole rarely set foot in the office. He could barely balance his own personal checking account. The ranch finances, already shaky, would suffer further if he were to get involved.

Cole’s brothers and Vi were already gathered in the brightly lit dining room by the time he wandered in. The three floor-to-ceiling windows let in the late-afternoon sun. If not for the air conditioner humming away, the room would have heated to an unbearable temperature.

Everyone glanced up at Cole’s entrance, each of them wearing a different expression. Vi’s was carefully contained, Josh’s piqued with interest and Gabe’s a mixture of mild confusion and curiosity. Then again, he was the only one who didn’t know why Vi had called the meeting.

Cole took the seat beside Gabe and across from Vi. Josh sent him a private look that Cole interpreted as “Good luck.”

Gabe caught the exchange, and his confusion visibly increased. Cole decided to let him stew. It would be better for all if he played dumb. The meeting was Vi’s to run and the news hers to break. He was also still learning his way with his half brother. They’d become friends, which was a huge step from when Cole first arrived at Dos Estrellas. But they weren’t close. Yet.

Gabe had loved their father, and why not? He was the son who’d grown up with August Dempsey. The son their father had taken under his wing and taught the cattle business, and who’d stayed by their father’s side those long eighteen months while he’d been ill. The son who’d been promised the ranch.

For that reason, Gabe hadn’t liked Cole and Josh when they first met, seeing them as unwelcome intruders. But necessity had a way of making allies of would-be enemies. For their own different and very personal reasons, the three brothers had agreed to join forces and run the ranch together for a year. Hopefully, by then it would be operating in the black.

Cole had been waiting patiently for that day, when he’d be able to get his share of their inheritance and leave. With Vi’s pregnancy, his plan might change.

Sweat seeped into his shirt collar, and he absently tugged at it. Was he on edge? Hell, yes. This wasn’t just any family meeting. Vi was getting ready to rock their world.

In response to that thought, more sweat saturated his collar. He hadn’t felt this way since the last time he’d ridden a bull.

Vi turned to a page in her notebook and glanced at the sheet. “If everyone’s ready, we can get started.”

Her statement was met with nods of agreement.

“Let’s do it,” said Gabe.

She swallowed. “I want to thank you for giving me some time off recently. As you know, my parents are getting a divorce, and it’s not going amicably.”

“If you need more time, take it.” Gabe relaxed, no doubt thinking this was the reason for the meeting.

“I do, actually. And thank you.”

“No problem.”

“But not to visit them in Seattle. I, um, have some news. My own news. It’s a bit unexpected. For everyone.” She paused and swallowed again, careful to keep her features neutral. “I’m... I’m pregnant.”

Gabe’s jaw went slack, and he stared, dumbfounded. Josh tried to act surprised and did a passable job.

“You’re right,” Gabe said, and raked his fingers through his dark hair. “This is unexpected. I guess congratulations are in order.”

Vi attempted a smile. “I appreciate it.”

“You’re going to want time off when the baby’s born?” Gabe was clearly struggling to understand. He shot a glance at both Cole and Josh. Neither of them made a comment.

“I saw my doctor yesterday,” Vi said. “She recommended—insisted, really—that I work fewer hours and rest more.” Finally, she glanced briefly at Cole and Josh. “As Gabe knows, I have a history of miscarriages. I’m hoping you’ll agree to let me work half days for the foreseeable future. Naturally, you don’t have to pay me for the time off.”

Gabe didn’t hesitate. Neither did he confer with Cole or Josh. “Of course. And we’ll give you full pay.”

“I can’t ask that of you.”

“You aren’t asking. We’re offering. And that includes after the baby’s born.”

Cole noticed Josh struggling to stay quiet. Dos Estrellas wasn’t in a financial position to carry an employee who wasn’t working full-time. Yet Vi had been with the ranch for over ten years. She deserved special consideration for her loyalty.

“No.” Tears welled in her eyes, and she shook her head emphatically. “I won’t accept pay if I’m not working. But I do have vacation and sick time coming.”

“We’ll figure something out,” Gabe said.

“If I...if anything happens, then of course I’ll come back to work full-time as soon as I’m able.”

“Nothing will happen.” Gabe didn’t ask her to elaborate. “When are you having the baby?”

“Seven months. December.”

Gabe furrowed his brows in concentration, as people did when they were mentally counting backward. He, too, must have heard the gossip from Leroy, for he looked directly at Cole and didn’t appear happy.

Cole waited for Vi to say something, naming him as the father, or for Gabe to straight out ask. Neither happened.

Vi continued after consulting her notebook. “The doctor says I can still work. Just no riding and no heavy lifting. I realize that describes about half my job. But I can still run errands, do the paperwork, make phone calls, meet with the vet. I can either work mornings or afternoons or split my shift with a break in the middle. Whatever’s convenient for you.”

“Let’s see how it goes,” Gabe said. “Take each week, each day as it comes.”

“I want to make this as easy on everyone as possible.” She read from her notebook, then cleared her throat. “I have a suggestion, if no one minds.”

“Fire away.”

“Since you’re busy at the Small Change and Josh is tied up covering for you, I thought maybe Cole could take over some of my duties.”

“Me?” He sat up straight. “I’m not qualified to be livestock manager.”

“I’d still be in charge,” Vi said. “Oversee your work like I do now.”

“We’ll all help you, Cole,” Gabe said, as if it was a done deal.

“Sounds good to me,” added Josh.

“Now, wait a minute—”

Gabe cut him off. “You’re the best candidate. You have the most time and you’re one of the ranch owners.”

Cole didn’t like being reminded he had a responsibility to the ranch. He damn well knew it.

“We could possibly find someone else,” Vi said. “I know one or two people looking for work. But you’d have to pay them, and can you really afford another expense?”

Gabe turned to face Cole. “We can’t.”

For a moment, Cole pictured himself flying out of the chute on the back of a bronc, ten feet off the ground, with one hand holding on to the bucking strap for dear life. His harsh breathing and pounding heart drowned out the cheers of the crowd. Then, all at once, the buzzer sounded.

Slowly, the picture faded as reality set in. There’d been so many changes to his life recently. Moving to Dos Estrellas. Cattle ranching. Vi and the baby.

Something told him this was only the beginning. If he was going to back out, now was the time.

“All right. I’ll do it.”

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