Authors: Paige Cameron
At last, the ones leaving began to go to their cars. Ty’s mom and dad were going with Drake and Janice to spend a few days with the grandchildren. When the last car light went out of sight, Angie turned to Brent.
“I’m tired, honey, and these newlyweds want to go to the cabin.” She looked at Lily and Ty. “I think you’ll like it.” She flashed a smile at Brent. “We did. I’m glad you decided to stay another few days to visit with your parents, Ty. We love having you here.”
“You all go on in,” Ty said to Angie and Brent. “I’ll see the fires out. We’ll see you tomorrow.”
Angie and Brent waved as they went into the big ranch house. “Alone at last.” Ty pulled her into his arms. “Look at all the stars. You can hear a cow moo and a train whistle in the distance. Yet there’s nothing in sight but rolling pasture land and the barn.” He kissed her mouth. “It’s why I love ranching and being at ranches. You’re close to nature and away from the busy, bustling world.” Putting his arm around her they walked toward the dying campfire.
“I know. The first time I came to your ranch and stood at the window that night looking out, the vastness and quiet was comforting. I think I was born to be a cowboy’s wife and didn’t know it until I met you.”
Ty let her loose for one moment. “This won’t take long to be sure it’s out.” He quickly had the last of the embers buried and, grabbing an empty can, went to the lake and got water to pour over the area. He made several trips before he was satisfied.
“Time to start our honeymoon, Mrs. Terrell. Such as it is with part of our family nearby.”
“I’m glad we’ll have the time with them. Anytime we’re together is like a honeymoon.”
“Then let’s get started.” Ty scooped her up into his arms and carried her to the cabin. He put her feet down inside the door. They both looked around. “This is really nice.”
“I like it.”
“We’ll build one in a pretty spot back home and go there from time to time just to get away from everyone,” Ty said.
“I’d love to have a place like this.”
“Right now I’d love to see you naked.”
“It’s a good thing I changed out of my gown earlier. I should put it on just to make you have to undo all those buttons, but I can’t wait.” She started to undo his buttons on his shirt. “I bet I can have you undressed before you undress me,” Lily challenged him.
“You are so going to lose that bet.” Ty brushed her hands away and quickly had her standing nude in front of him.
“No fair. You didn’t give me a chance.”
He opened his arms. “Come and get me, darlin’.”
* * * *
They’d just fallen asleep when there was a knock on the door. Ty pulled on jeans and called out. “Who is it?”
“Brent. Angie is in labor. I thought maybe you two would go with us to the hospital. Angie would like to have her sister there.”
Ty opened the door to a frantic Brent. His hair stood on end and he’d buttoned his shirt wrong. “We’ll dress and be right with you,” Ty reassured him. Then watched as Brent sprinted back across the yard to his house.
Having heard the conversation, Lily jumped up and put on jeans, a shirt, and shoes. She ran a comb through her hair and tied it back with a scarf. “I’m ready.”
Ty had finished dressing, so they ran to join Brent. He was starting to put Angie in the front seat.
“Wait, you two get in back. I’ll drive,” Ty said.
“Thanks.” Brent helped Angie into the back and he followed. He pulled her into his arms. “We’ll be there soon, sweetheart, and I’ll stay right by your side.” He kissed her forehead.
Lily got in the front by Ty. They took off down the road.
“Are you going to the bigger hospital in the next town?” Ty asked.
“No. Our hospital has been enlarged and has a good maternity section,” Angie said. “Go straight into town and turn right at the last stoplight.”
Ty kept a steady but safe speed. He found the road and turned. It didn’t take long before he pulled up to the ER entrance.
“You all get out here. I’ll park the car and join you.”
Brent, Angie, and Lily got out. “Do you need a wheelchair?” Ty asked before driving off.
“No, I can walk.”
* * * *
Lily followed her sister and brother-in-law inside the small hospital. A nurse greeted them with a wheelchair.
“I’ve preregistered,” Angie explained as they followed her down a corridor.
“This is nice and new,” Lily said as she looked around. The wide corridors had light, tan walls with lovely pictures of nature, and the floors had a lighter color in the center with a darker edge. “Modern and clean, and doesn’t even have the antiseptic smell you’d expect. I wish they had a place like this near our home in
Montana
.”
“They do,” Ty said, coming up behind her. “But you promised to go to the big city and a large hospital with all the trappings for our baby,” he reminded her.
“Well, I’m glad there’s one nearby. I promised you the first time I’d do that, not necessarily the second.” She smiled at him.
“I’m going to take your wife in her room and get her ready for delivery,” the nurse said. “You can come in shortly.”
“I promised to stay by her side,” Brent protested.
“You can after I’m through.” The nurse and Brent stared at each other. “All right, but if you need me, Angie, just yell, and I’ll come through that door.” He squinted at the nurse. “Locked or not.”
She laughed and rolled Angie in the room, shutting the door in Brent’s face.
“I’m sure glad you’re here, Ty. You can walk the floor with me and get into practice.”
Lily hid her smile as the two brothers walked around the room. They stopped once to call Drake and then paced again. When their father and Drake arrived they convinced Brent to sit.
Ty still stood. Lily went to him. “Buy me a decaf coffee?”
“Sure, if we can find any. We’ll look for the dining room.”
The receptionist pointed them in the right direction. Lily took Ty’s arm as they walked. “Are you all right?”
He put his arm around her. “Better than I thought I’d be. I can’t wait to hold our baby in my arms. And once we get through this first pregnancy I’m sure I’ll be fine.”
Mr. and Mrs. Terrell joined them in the dining room. “We wanted a chance to talk with you both. After the baby’s born it will be happy confusion and you’ll be leaving for
Montana
. We talked to Dirk and he said all is good on the home front,” Mr. Terrell said.
Mrs. Terrell put her hand over Lily’s. “We want you to consider the ranch house yours. You can do with it as you please. We’re doing an even exchange.” She smiled at Ty. “And I will do as I want with the cabin. Is that all right with you?”
“Sure, Mom. I see it the same way. The house is ours and the cabin is yours.”
“Good. I’m looking forward to the change when we return this summer.”
“You really didn’t mind giving up the big house?” Ty asked.
“Actually for the last few years I’d been trying to get up my nerve to ask you for the cabin. I love it and I don’t need or want a big house anymore.”
“I’m excited. I have a few ideas of changes, mostly room colors and such.” Lily smiled at her in-laws. Ty looked at her puzzled.
“You do?” Ty asked.
“Just say, ‘Yes, dear.’” His father grinned. “It saves a whole lot of misunderstandings.”
Mrs. Terrell patted her husband’s hand and looked at Ty. “He’s right, son.”
Carter Brent Terrell arrived at 6:00 a.m. All the family crowded around Angie’s bed. She held her baby son and beamed.
Brent took the baby from her and kissed his forehead. “We named him after your father, Mom.”
“I noticed. He’d be pleased.”
“Let Lily hold him, Brent,” Angie directed.
“Sure. Here, Lily.” Carefully he put the small bundle in her arms. Lily’s heart beat fast in her chest. Her nephew. She smiled at Angie and without saying a word they connected. They were a family, and it was growing.
Chapter Fifteen
Dirk Brodie thought he saw a movement near the east fence. He rode closer. None of his hired hands were working this section today. He saw a slight figure in a dark coat manage to climb over the fence. Whoever it was almost made it, but the coat got hung up on the barbwire. He got off his horse and walked through the snow toward the stranger trying to unfasten the wire from the coat.
“Need some help?”
When the woman turned, her hood fell back, revealing bright red hair. “
Chelsea
?” He knew only one woman who had hair that color, but what would the stubborn, independent, tough-as-nails war reporter be doing sneaking onto their ranch?
She looked at him with a slightly belligerent expression. “Dirk. I didn’t expect to see you.”
“Who were you expecting? This is private land.” He reached up and unhooked her jacket from the barbwire.
“I know. Owned by the Terrell Ranch and Conglomerate. I heard Lily Yannell is staying here. I want to talk with her.”
“Why not come to the front door like normal people? Or have you lived on the outskirts of civilization so long you’ve forgotten your manners?” He raised an eyebrow at her.
“No, but I know they’ve been turning reporters away. I wanted to have a chance to talk with her before the door was shut in my face.”
Dirk leaned against a nearby tree. “What in the world could a hard-ass war reporter find of interest in talking with a sweet, normal lady?”
He watched her face flush and his cock came awake. She’d always had that effect on him. They’d had an instant attraction when they first met. Time, distance, and the desire for two different goals had separated them shortly after they had a brief affair. She stared at him with those dark green eyes that reminded him of ocean water at dusk.
“I’m not a reporter anymore.” Her low, husky voice sent heat flowing through his veins.
“Did the world come to an end?” A reluctant smile curved those lush, red lips, and his dick began to harden.
“My mother asked me to come home.”
“And you just up and quit?” His astonishment and doubt were clear in his voice.
“She’s sick. She wanted me closer. She and my dad still live on the ranch where I was raised in
Wyoming
.”
Now his mouth almost dropped open. “You never said you were a country girl.”
“It’s not something I advertised in the war zone where I worked. And we didn’t talk much, if I remember right.”
She gave him that sensuous look that was guaranteed to send all his blood from his brain to his cock. But not today. She wasn’t going to seduce him into letting her come any further.
“You need to leave. Lily Yannell is no longer here.”
“I have it on good authority she is. I’ll leave for now, but I’ll be back after I check with my resources. Are you going to let me ride with you back to the road?”
“No. You got in. Get out the same way.” He felt her angry stare as he walked to his horse and rode off. He circled back and watched as she took off her jacket, threw it across the wire on the fence, and vaulted across to the other side. He’d never doubted her ingenuity. And he had no doubt where they’d have ended if he took her on his horse. Back at his cabin, naked and making love. He didn’t want to open that door again, even if his cock was hard as a rock and protesting his decision.