I shrugged. “Marry her.”
A laugh so loud it spooked my horse escaped her, and it took her a full minute to recover before she collected herself enough to talk. "Marry her? You don't even know her. She'd be insane to marry you."
"Well, thanks for the vote of confidence, Mama."
Her gaze softened, that gentle, loving expression I was so used to from her appearing on her face. "Honey, don't ask her that. All that's gonna do is pour salt in the wound."
The space between my shoulder blades began to itch. "I already did."
"And how did that go?"
"She shot me down. I think she hates me." I fiddled with the brim of my hat. It was almost time to trade in this old straw one for my winter hat. "She called me a misogynist."
Mama smiled. "I already like her."
“You’re supposed to be on my side, remember?”
Shaking her head, she sighed. “I’m always on your side, and sometimes that means telling you things you don’t like.”
“I don’t understand why wanting to take care of them makes me an ass—” I tried to stop myself before swearing in front of Mama, but the damage had been done. She gave me the death glare.
“You watch your mouth, Tristan Ryker. I won’t have you talking like that in my house.”
“Technically, we’re outside of the—”
“Don’t you try to be cute on me. That stopped working when you were four, and you know it.”
Frustration worked its way through my chest. What in the hell was I gonna do?
“Please don’t let her go away with that baby. Your baby. I don’t want to go the rest of my life without knowing my grandchild because you’re too stubborn to compromise.”
The plea in her words made my chest ache. I didn’t want to hurt her. But I didn’t have any control over what Hazel did. “I’ll try, Mama. I promise.”
“What baby?” Buck asked, coming around the corner toward the house.
“Mine.”
His eyes widened. “No shit?”
“Carlton,” Mama chastised.
“Sorry, Mama.” Buck’s cheeks went a light pink, and then he caught my eye. “Could use your help with a bit of fence on pasture two. You free?”
I nodded, and the two of us made our way to the horses. We rode out to pasture two, where the fence was absolutely perfect. “Buck, you got something you need to say to me? You never bring me out for bullshit reasons.”
“Are you really having a baby with some girl?” His voice was hard and cold.
“Yeah.”
“Of course you are. I bet you don’t even remember her name.”
That stung, but there had to be more going on with him than his desire to tell me, ‘I told you so.’ Buck wasn’t the kind of guy who’d throw my choices back in my face.
“Her name is Hazel. She’s here with her sister right now, and yes, she’s having my baby.”
He didn’t say another word. Instead, his jaw went tight, and he nudged his horse with his heels. They took off like a shot and I gave chase, letting the wind whip my face as we caught up easily. I followed him into the trails, the two of us working up to the crest of a hill where we could look over the ranch.
We stopped there, looking down at the place our family built. It had grown so much since our sister-in-law showed up with her big ideas to make us into the next hit reality show.
“Penny’s not pregnant. It was a false positive.”
My heart lurched with guilt. I hadn’t even asked since he told me she thought she was gonna have a baby. “I’m sorry, man. But, you guys can try again, can’t you?”
“She said it’s a good thing because it’s too soon anyway.” His brow furrowed. “What if she’s changed her mind about everything?”
“Why would you think that?”
“She ain’t even sad. She’s relieved.”
Our horses were at a walk as we slowly rode the trails back toward the pastures. Buck and I had hashed out more than one issue this way, but I didn’t know how to deal with this one. “Maybe she’s just not ready.”
“Are you ready?”
“Not even close.”
Hazel
My stomach rumbled, hunger making itself known. I needed to eat a lot more frequently than usual. Pregnancy will do that, girl. Hefting myself off the bed where I’d been laying down for a nap, I looked at Erin, hard at work on her computer, taking notes for all the questions she wanted to ask them.
"It's almost six.” I stated it as though I wasn't desperate for food, but she closed her computer so quickly I knew she felt the same.
"I wonder if we can just grab ours to go and bring it back here?" she asked.
I laughed. “Unlikely. Remember, this is the full guest ranch experience. We are supposed to participate. Get to know the ranch. Learn what it means to be a rancher.”
She sighed. "I don't have a problem with that, but I know it's not going to be easy for you. Maybe you should tell Tristan to keep it on the down low. Nobody has to know he’s the father.”
Placing my hand protectively over my belly, I knew I’d never be able to hide it. But, there would be less speculation about who the father was. Unless Tristan had already told them? From everything I learned about this family through my sister, they were tightly knit.
“They probably already know. I mean, it’s pretty weird for a pregnant girl to show up on a dude ranch.”
“True, and Tristan offering to do the right thing probably didn’t help keep anything under wraps.”
I flinched at the mention of him wanting to marry me out of obligation. “Why don’t you go to supper? I think I just want to stay here. I’ve had just about enough of Tristan Ryker for today. Tell them I’m not feeling well and needed to rest. Just…bring me back some food?”
Rolling her eyes, she gave me a look that said I owed her. “You’re lucky I like you.”
“I know.”
“You’re gonna have to face him. But…I’ll take one for the team. It’ll be a good chance to get to know the family.” She grabbed the keys and headed for the door.
"I love you,” I called after her departing form. She answered me with a wave before closing the door behind her. I heard the car's engine rumble to life, and my stomach gave yet another growl.
Thirty minutes later, there was a knock at my door. Erin must have had her hands full because she never knocked. Getting off the couch where I had deposited myself, I walked to the entrance.
"That was fast,” I said as the door swung open, but instead of my sister standing there before me, I was face-to-face with Tristan Ryker. He gave me those soulful blue eyes and sexy smirk, and I already began melting.
"Sorry to disturb you. Your sister said you weren't feeling well. I needed to come check on you."
I crossed my arms over my chest, very aware that the motion made my already bountiful bosom appear even fuller. "Why? Because you felt obligated? Since you knocked me up and all?"
He let out an exasperated sigh, mixed with a little bit of a laugh. "Lord Almighty, woman, you nastier than a hornet’s nest when you get going. What's wrong with me being concerned about you?”