The Doctor Wears A Stetson (Contemporary Western Romance) (26 page)

Her head snapped up. "What?"

"Your last period?"

"What does that have to do with anything?"
she asked with a frown.

Cameron walked over to the cabinet and took
out a plastic- wrapped specimen cup and handed it to her.

"What's this for? I'm not pregnant. Why
don't you believe me? I've told you--"

"Just pee in the cup, sweetheart. It's
quick, easy and painless."

"But I can't be--"

"You have all the symptoms, Jess. Pee in the
cup and we'll have our answer in a couple of minutes."

She hopped down from the table and Cameron
took her elbow.

"Here, I'll help you to the bathroom."

Jessie jerked away. "I can do this myself,
thank you very much."

He nodded and held open the door, smiling as
she passed him on her way out.

She couldn't believe he was making her do
this. It was a waste of time. As she collected the specimen, Jessie
tried to think when she'd had her last period. What with all the
commotion in her life and being sick as a dog, she hadn't noticed.
She wasn't regular by any means, but as she counted the days, she
realized she was later than usual.

Cameron was waiting outside the restroom
when she emerged and took the cup. "Sit there while I run the
test." He pointed to a chair near the scales. "Sheila's going to
weigh you and take your blood pressure."

Jessie sighed. "You know this is a waste of
time. I have a bug, that's all."

"Humor me, Jess."

She watched him walk to the lab, handsome
and strong in the green scrubs he liked to wear for work. A
fleeting sadness settled over her. She knew Cameron truly didn't
care if she was barren, but damn, she wished she could have
Cameron's baby. A little McCade to hold in her arms and sing
lullabies to.

Jessie knew better than to wish for the
moon, but she couldn't help herself. Several of her most secret
wishes had recently come true. The clinic was up and running.
Cameron had come back to practice medicine in Salt Fork. And he
loved her and wanted to marry her.

Three out of three wasn't bad. But oh, how
she wished she could give Cameron a child.

Sheila weighed her, then proceeded to take
her blood pressure. "This is so exciting," she said. "A baby! I
know you must be thrilled. And Dr. McCade will be happy, too. He's
so good with the sick children he treats."

"Sheila, don't get your hopes up. I can't be
pregnant. In all the years I was married to TR, I didn't get
pregnant. I'm not--"

Jessie stopped in mid-sentence. Cameron
hurried out of the lab, waving a small white strip like a flag, his
face beaming. "Guess what, sweetheart?"

Jessie stood abruptly and shook her head.
"But that's impossible. It must be a false reading." She couldn't
let herself hope . . . couldn't let herself believe.

Cameron showed her the evidence. "You're
pregnant, Jess. I'll do an ultrasound and a blood test to verify
it, of course. But this test is extremely accurate."

Sheila clapped her hands. "All right!
Congratulations." She hugged Jessie and Cameron, sniffling and
laughing and wiping her eyes. "Oh my, I'm so happy for both of you.
I'll leave you two lovebirds alone."

Jessie couldn't stop staring at the test
strip. She tentatively placed her hand on her tummy.

"A baby?" she asked in wonder.

Cameron covered her hand and kissed her
forehead. "Yes, Jess. We're going to have a baby."

A million thoughts ran through her head,
each one more fantastic than the last. Something she hadn't thought
possible . . .
suddenly was
.

Her world had turned upside down. Again.

She felt tears welling up, slipping down her
cheeks. She hastily brushed at them. "Damn, I'm as bad as
Sheila."

Cameron set the strip on the table and
pulled her into his arms. He wiped away her tears and sprinkled
tender kisses on her cheeks, nose and chin and finally her mouth.
When they came up for air, he reared back and smiled that sexy
smile she loved so well.

"We're having a baby," he said softly.

Jessie nodded and laughed. "Thank you, thank
you, thank you! You've made all my impossible dreams and wishes
come true."

"Not all of them, surely?" he said, kissing
her forehead.

"Oh yes, all of them." She planted kisses on
his neck, inhaling his scent, loving him more than ever. "Or most
of them anyway."

"I'm glad, sweetheart. It makes me happy to
make you happy. I'll always try to make your wishes come true."

Jessie looked up at him. "Well, there is
still one wish you've never gotten around to."

"Which one is that?" he asked.

"It involves a handsome doctor, a Stetson
and a soft bed."

Cameron chuckled. "I think I can grant that
wish. Is tonight soon enough?"

She grabbed his stethoscope and pulled him
back for another kiss. "Tonight is perfect. I can hardly wait."

###

About the Author . .
.

Anne Marie is a Texas girl, born and raised.
Romance is her passion. She loves to read and write about men and
women falling in love, overcoming life's obstacles, and living
happily ever after. She writes spicy contemporary novels, usually
involving a cowboy or two, as well as Regency historicals.

Anne Marie lives just outside of Houston with
her husband who is her best friend and her own special hero. They
have two grown children, two mischievous cats and one sweet puppy
dog. Besides reading and writing, Anne Marie enjoys puttering
around in her flowerbeds, going to garage sales, collecting
antiques and watching old movies.

Visit her at
www.annemarienovark.com
.

****

Also available on
Smashwords:

Midnight My Love

Other books by Anne Marie
Novark:

Her Reluctant Rancher

Chasing the Moonlight