The Cowboy's Christmas Baby Read online

  “Hey, guys, why aren’t you out there?”

  The smaller one looked him up and down. “Not enough people to watch right now.”

  Dan smiled. “Well, you’re in luck. I’m free, and I have good eyes.”

  Both boys beamed and brightened, their pink cheeks turning pinker as they hopped down and snatched up the rods lying beside the bench.

  “You guys staying in one of the new cabins?” They nodded as Dan helped them with their bucket of bait.

  “Pretty nice for Christmas, huh?”

  The other boy grinned. “The tree’s as big as the ceiling, and we had decorations waiting for us to hang up.”

  Warmth on the heels of happiness spread throughout his chilled body. The beaming smiles and eagerness of his two charges wiped the last lingering thoughts of his failed plan away. Memories were the only thing on his mind—making sure these two left with some really good ones.

  Dan followed them out onto the ice, confirming both were steady on their feet. Ryder and Peyton had outdone themselves with the lakeside cabins, managing to get two of them up and ready in record time.

  He could admit when he was wrong. He’d been convinced they would change Sky Lake, and even though Ryder’s motives had been pure, Dan hadn’t liked the process he’d used to bring them about.

  But now? Now he couldn’t imagine a better addition to the ranch. He was only sorry he wouldn’t see the final result come this spring and summer when the rest of the cabins opened.

  Showing the boys the right way to bait the hook for the type of fish still biting on the frozen lake, Dan absorbed their simple smiles and carefree laughs. They were brothers for sure, the similarities too close to dismiss. He didn’t have any siblings. Not blood at least. He and Ryder had grown up together, raised like brothers, but they’d been apart for the better part of ten years, and neither quite knew the man the other had become. Ryder had taken off to prove he could be successful on his own, while Dan had stayed and taken on the role he’d abdicated. They were healing that breach little by little, with Sky Lake as common ground. When Dan left, would he break the bond for good this time, or would Ryder understand, since he, too, had fled to find and make something of himself?

  One of the boys punched the other playfully, and Dan gently reminded them of safety on the ice. They looked appropriately contrite and immediately refocused. It made him wonder whether he’d have sons like this one day. Whether he’d get to share his knowledge and make memories with them. Unbidden, an image of Sofie cradling her bump came to mind. Would she be out here one day, making memories with her child? Would there be someone alongside her? Did she have a husband hot on the heels of her arrival in Sky Lake?

  As he looked out at the families enjoying the lake, he pictured himself out there…and the woman by his side looked an awful lot like Sofie.

  Well, crap.

  …

  Sofie tightened her grip on Emily’s arm as she picked her way across the uneven road.

  “Sis, I love you, but if you plan on staying here in Fly Creek, you’re going to need to do some shopping.”

  She’d already figured that out last night, right around the time Dan had pointed it out to her. Knowing that didn’t stop disappointment from rearing its ugly head. She’d failed at the simplest of things—choosing what to wear in winter in Wyoming. If she was going to be a mom, and that was a definite at this point, then she needed to be smarter in her choices. Not too long ago, someone else had been making all the decisions in her life, a switch that had happened so subtly she hadn’t realized control had been wrenched away until it was almost too late.

  “If this place wasn’t basically an entryway to the artic, maybe I would be faring better.”

  Emily laughed. “You’ve always preferred fashion over function.”

  “I don’t understand why the two have to be mutually exclusive.”

  “Do you now?”

  Sofie ducked her head a little farther into her coat and nodded. She would wear wool sacks and flannel-lined anything if it meant being warm again.

  “It’s a shame neither of us can ride horses right now. It’s so peaceful exploring Sky Lake on horseback. The trails take you all over and the views are so inspiring.”

  “Since when did you become a horse expert?”

  “Since I married a hot rancher who tames wild stallions.”

  Sofie wasn’t going to touch that innuendo with a ten-foot pole.

  Squeals reached their ears, and they both headed in the direction the sound was coming from. Sofie saw the lake peeking through the trees, and when they cleared the branches, she noticed several groups out on the ice. The source of the squeals, however, was two boys and a ranch hand closest to shore. Before he even looked up, Sofie knew it was her cowboy. His tan hat bent toward her, concealing his face, but she recognized Dan’s duster coat and, despite it not being possible, his movements, determined and precise, but with a confident smoothness.

  He looked up then and smiled. Lord. She ordered her stomach and knees to behave. It wasn’t for her specifically. It was just who he was. He waved, and she and Emily waved back, settling in on the bench a few feet away.

  “What did you think of him?”

  Sofie stared at her sister. “Who, Dan?”

  “No. Isaac the bellhop. Of course Dan.”

  “Don’t you dare.”

  Emily gave her an innocent, wide-eyed look. “Don’t I dare what?”

  “Play matchmaker.”

  “What? I would never and definitely not right now. The last thing you need is a man. I just wanted your opinion. You’re new to town and surely you have thoughts.”

  Oh, she had thoughts. The wrong kind, which she was still blaming on hormones. Insta-lust couldn’t really be a thing. Regardless, she wasn’t sharing her thoughts with anyone. “He seems nice. A little cocky. He was very helpful and good at keeping me calm. Though his ‘I Know What’s Best’ demeanor is a tad annoying.”

  Emily stared out at the lake and nodded. “He really is a good man, which is why I cannot figure out why he hasn’t met someone and married. I don’t know a single bad thing about him. I think maybe he had a thing for Peyton, but she was always stuck on her ex, Ryder, and now they’re back together. Still…there are lots of great women in town, and he’s most definitely easy on the eyes.”

  Jealousy had heated her frozen body at the mention of another woman and Dan. She drowned that puppy faster than it could thaw.

  “It’s probably a case of what you see is not what you get. Too good to be true. Trust me, I know that snake oil salesman first hand,” she said, watching as Dan worked with the kids.

  Emily’s eyes widened. “What did Brent do?”

  Crap. Not the conversation she wanted to be having right now. “Nothing I haven’t overcome. Now, please, can we go somewhere and thaw out?”

  Emily nodded, and they waved goodbye to Dan, who was helping one of the super-excited boys get a fish off his line. Sofie dropped her gaze. She was absolutely not going to think about his hands and fingers and how good they felt helping her last night and this morning. Or how natural he looked out there with the boys.

  Choices, she reminded herself. She was choosing not to be baited by hormones.

  The sisters made their way back to the lodge and settled into two big rocking chairs in front of the fire.

  “So what’s on your agenda?” Emily asked. “I mean, you are staying, right?”

  She’d wondered how long it would take her sister to ask for more details in regards to her plans. “Well, a place to live first and foremost, then a doctor and hospital. Is Fly Creek General all you have?” A job, too, was on the agenda. Hopefully, she’d find a teaching position after the baby was born, but thankfully she had enough money saved that she could take some time to be with her son before jumping back into the workforce. She supposed she needed to
add daycare to the ever-growing list of things to decide on.

  Emily nodded. “I have a great doctor if you’re interested.”

  Sofie smiled. “That would be awesome. Thank you.”

  Emily opened her mouth to say something more, but her phone chirped.

  She held up a finger. “Hello? Hey ba—” Blood drained from her sister’s face, leaving her paler than the snow topping the peaks. Emily’s fingers trembled as she nodded, and Sofie grabbed her free hand and squeezed. The call was brief, and once Emily ended it, she just stared into the fire.

  “Em, what’s wrong?”

  Emily’s hands shook as her eyes darted from the phone in her hand to the wall to the window and back to Sofie.

  “It’s Adam. He’s been hurt.”

  Oh God.

  Sofie squeezed her hand. An ache settled in her heart, and she wished she could take all the anxiety and concern from her sister. She’d lost her late fiancé, and it had devastated her. It had been that loss that had spurred Emily to move to Fly Creek in the first place. “Was that him?”

  A nod was all Emily could manage. Her throat swallowed over and over.

  “That’s good. He called and is well enough to speak.”

  Glazed eyes met Sofie’s. “Yes.”

  “Good.” She smiled. “So I’ll drive you there.”

  Emily shook her head.

  “What? Why not?”

  “No, I mean you can’t. I’m flying. He already arranged it. He knew.”

  Sofie understood. Emily and Adam’s history started way before they met, and Adam would understand what hearing he was hurt would do to his pregnant wife.

  “Okay, well, I’ll help you pack and drive you to the plane.”

  Another nod was all her glassy-eyed sister managed. She bundled Emily and herself up and steered them toward the huge double doors of the main lodge.

  “We’ll take my truck. That way you can use it while I’m gone. Your car isn’t going to do much if it snows more.”

  Sofie pursed her lips at being reminded once again at how unprepared she really was but continued walking toward the big blue monstrosity. Now was not the time to take offense.

  A shrill whistle had both sisters turning their heads. Dan waved from atop a spotted horse. His hat sat low, shading his eyes and adding a mystery to an already intriguing package. Sofie refused to admire it. Refused to see the way his thighs gripped the side of the horse easily keeping it under control, or how his forearms bulged, controlling the bobbing head attempting to reach for the fence.

  Yep, she didn’t notice any of that.

  “Hold on a minute,” her sister said, before taking off toward Dan, who slid easily off the horse, drawing the reins over its head. Sofie itched to follow, but by the time she maneuvered around and moved at her turtle pace, Emily would probably be back at the truck honking the horn.

  Dan glanced up at her, and Sofie felt the heat rise in her cheeks. Good thing he couldn’t see. She needed to indulge in the privacy of her room, not in the middle of the parking lot with her sister and said object fifteen feet away. For a woman who claimed she had man issues, this particular one did all sorts of things to her.

  Emily hugged Dan and headed back toward her truck. Dan had an odd look on his face, but when their eyes met, a corner of that wicked mouth quirked up, and he waved. Sofie returned the gesture, her cheeks once again heating to an uncomfortable degree. Surely this was all pregnancy-related and hormone emotional imbalance thanks to what had happened with her ex. Nothing else could account for the problem. He was being nice and it had been a long time since a man had been nice to her. Then again, Brent was nice, too, when he wanted something.

  Emily slid in, and Sofie followed suit at a much more uneasy and comical manner.

  “What did you need from Dan?”

  “I made sure he’ll take care of you while I’m gone.”

  Sofie stood suspended, half in, half out of the truck. “You what?” She was no longer sure she wanted to be in a confined space with her sister, no matter how worked up she might be.

  “Get in, I don’t have much time.”

  Sofie muttered several things about sisters and family and choices, all while leveraging and giving one final boost from the running board of the truck and yanking the door closed.

  Sofie managed to stay silent until they crossed under the arch of the ranch. She could not have Dan babysitting her. “Umm, Em, I’m fine. I can stay at your cabin and take care of it while you’re gone.”

  Emily shook her head. “No way. I’ll have Peyton and Ryder keep an eye since they’re across the street. You need to be near people. You can stay in your room at Sky Lake. Dan will keep you entertained.”

  “I’m not a child. I do not need to be entertained.”

  “Sofie, you’re eight months pregnant. You ran clear across the country to escape something I’m sure you’re not giving me the full details on. You know nothing about Wyoming or the weather, and I am not going to leave you to fend for yourself in an unfamiliar cabin.” She slammed on the brakes and narrowed her gaze. “I’m already worried about Adam. Please don’t make me worry about you, too.”

  Game. Set. Match. All in one simple argument.

  With a heavy sigh, Sofie shifted, readjusting the seatbelt so it rode lower on her thighs.

  Emily took her silence as agreement, and they drove the rest of the way. Sofie would stay at Sky Lake, but that didn’t mean she’d agree to be “entertained” by a cowboy who caused her already hyperaware body to combust by simply sitting on a horse.

  Nope. No way.

  Chapter Five

  Dan paced the great lodge, glancing at his watch every few minutes. Sofie had yet to return to Sky Lake, and the urge to do something was eating away at his skin. It was kinda hard to help someone if that someone couldn’t be found. Lord, if he’d managed to lose Sofie in five hours in a town the size of a pea, what did that say about his “Dependable” moniker?

  “Dan, sit down. You’re driving the staff and guests crazy.”

  He looked up to see Peyton Brooks bearing down on him like a boat in full sail. Knowing to argue or go against anything she ordered was a fool’s game, he collapsed in the closest rocker and sighed.

  “What are you waiting on?”

  “Who.”

  She pursed her lips. “Is this a game?”

  “No. I’m waiting on a who. Emily’s sister.”

  “Emily’s what?” She jammed her fists on her hips. “How did I not know this?”

  Dan laughed. Full belly laughs. Peyton looked so affronted, he nearly fell off the chair. She crossed her arms and stomped a booted foot. “You done?”

  He sobered, afraid she might hit him upside the head. “Shelby knew.”

  Wrong thing to say. Red flushed her face, and she looked downright mutinous. She pointed a finger in his face. “How long?”

  “Since about five a.m. this morning.”

  Peyton looked at her watch. “Twelve hours!”

  All he could do was shrug. A flash of brown caught his eye, and he shifted to see past the pissed drill sergeant. Sofie was doing her best to slip by unnoticed.

  “Come on. That’s her now.”

  Peyton spun around as Dan passed her.

  “Sofie, wait up.”

  He heard her groan and swallowed another laugh. Lord, she and Peyton would get along just fine. Which, considering how he’d once felt about Peyton, was slightly disconcerting. Apparently, his type was headstrong with a temper to match her beauty.

  “Umm, I was just headed up to change and get some dinner,” Sofie said once they’d caught up to her.

  Peyton pushed in front of him. “Hi. I’m Peyton. We think the world of Emily. I’m her neighbor. Well, along with my soon-to-be husband, Ryder, and our daughter, Mel.”

  Sofie shook Pey
ton’s hand, and Dan caught the side-glance she threw him. What had he done now? He arched a brow and gave her a questioning look, but she ignored him.

  “Nice to meet you. If you’ll excuse me.” She made to turn away, but Peyton was having none of it.

  “Why don’t we have dinner together? Dan said he was waiting for you.”

  It was his turn to groan. The way Peyton sounded, he’d been all but panting for her arrival. A quick glance showed Sofie blushing despite her body being tight and tense.

  “Dinner sounds good. Thank you.”

  “Great, let me call Ryder and let him know. Is Emily here?”

  “Umm…” Sofie looked unsure what to say.

  “Peyton, you’re losing your touch. Adam was hurt, so Emily just flew out to be with him. She’s going to stay with him until he’s able to travel.”

  Peyton’s green eyes had grown into saucers, and she slapped him on the shoulder.

  “Ow.” He rubbed the abused spot.

  “Why did you let me ramble on when something that important had happened?”

  “I didn’t know you didn’t know. You usually—”

  “Don’t. Finish. That. Sentence.” She narrowed her gaze, then closed her eyes and let her shoulders slump. “Darn it, Emily called me earlier and left a voicemail, but I’ve been so busy I haven’t listened to it yet.”

  “It was probably her asking you and Ryder to look after her place. She said she was going to call you,” Sofie said, some of the tension draining from her.

  Seizing the opportunity, Dan turned toward the dining room. “Shall we?”

  The trio grabbed a table by the massive fireplace/stove area. Several cooks were stirring cast iron pots and then pushing them back over the open flames.

  “It always smells so heavenly in here.”

  Dan helped Sofie sit and pushed in her chair, doing the same for Peyton. “Laney is a genius, and she hires semi-geniuses to work under her.”

  Peyton shook out her napkin. “Just wait until you have some of her tarts. She’s famous for them.”