The Rancher's Baby Surprise. Kat Brookes

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СКАЧАТЬ to do this for her.”

      “Was your sister’s?” Garrett replied with a gentle query.

      Her hand went protectively to her stomach as she choked out the words, “Heather and Brian died three months ago in a car accident.”

      “Hannah,” Garrett groaned. “I’m so sorry.”

      She brushed a stray tear from her cheek. “I’ll manage.”

      “Alone?”

      “Women raise children alone every day.” She ran her hand over her stomach, a knot forming in her throat. “This child is all I have left of my sister. I’ll do whatever it takes to make his life one filled with love and happiness.”

      “Is there someone else we could call for you?” Jackson asked.

      Her gaze dropped to the floor between them. “No.”

      “No one?” Garrett pressed worriedly.

      “It’s just my father and me, and he’s been really sick with a virus. Probably brought on by all the stress of dealing with my sister’s recent death,” she said. “It’s been so very hard on him. Especially since we lost my mother a little over a year past. I won’t have him worrying himself even sicker over me when I’m perfectly fine. Just carless.”

      Garrett nodded in understanding, yet the worried frown remained fixed on his handsome face. “We’ll see what we can do in the morning about getting your car out of there.”

      “If it’s still there,” she said with a shudder.

      “Either way,” he agreed, “it’s not going to be drivable. You’ll be needing a rental car to get back to...”

      “Steamboat Springs,” she supplied.

      “You’re a ways from home,” Jackson said.

      Hannah felt another twinge starting. Please, oh, please, make it stop. “There was something I needed to do,” she said, trying to keep her voice calm when she felt the panic washing over her. “If you don’t mind, I’d like to freshen up a little bit.” And take a moment alone to collect herself. Stress wasn’t good for the baby and she’d been under so much of it. Was it any wonder she was experiencing premature labor pains?

      Jackson motioned toward the doorway. “Take a left down the hall. The bathroom will be the second door on your right. In the meantime, can I offer you something to drink?”

      “I think I might have a few packets of tea left in the cupboard,” Jackson replied. “Can I fix you a cup of chamomile tea?”

      “It would help to take the chill off,” she said, another sharp pinch squeezing at her abdomen. Maybe she should ask Garrett if he could drive her to the hospital once the rain slowed, just to be sure she wasn’t in true labor. “But I hate to impose on you any more than I have already.”

      “You’re not imposing,” he replied. “I like having company. I’m a social butterfly, remember?” he said with a glance in Garrett’s direction, causing his brother’s mouth to quirk in a barely suppressed grin. Then he turned back to Hannah. “That being the case, I just wish we had been able to meet under better circumstances.”

      She nodded. “Agreed.” When the viselike grip took hold of her stomach, Hannah fought the urge to groan aloud. Shoving aside the blanket Garrett had lent her in the truck, she made a quick adjustment to the leather strap of her purse, securing it atop her shoulder as she pushed awkwardly to her feet.

      Garrett reached out to steady her.

      “Thank you.”

      “Do you need me to walk you down the hall?”

      Shaking her head, she lifted her gaze to meet his. “There’s no need. I’ll be fine.”

      “I don’t think—” he began, only to be cut off by his brother.

      “Why don’t we go fix that tea Hannah said she’d like to help take the chill away?”

      “It doesn’t take two of us to make a cup of tea,” Garrett argued with a frown.

      His younger brother arched a warning brow.

      Reluctantly, Garrett stepped aside, watching worriedly as Hannah made her way past him and out of the room.

      “I’ll tell you right now,” she heard him say as she walked away, “The cowboy in me doesn’t like leaving her to fend for herself in her condition. Not one little bit.”

      Thank the Lord for cowboys. If not for men like Garrett Wade, she might have lost more than her own life. She would have lost the baby Heather had prayed so long for.

       Chapter Two

      Garrett glanced up from where he sat at the edge of the sofa, waiting on Hannah’s return, when his brother came back into the room carrying a steaming ceramic mug.

      Jackson glanced around. “Not back yet?”

      “No,” he muttered with a frown, his gaze moving past his brother to the entryway.

      He followed the line of Garrett’s gaze with a deepening frown. “Maybe you should go check on her.”

      He wanted to. Would feel a whole lot better if he did. But Hannah had assured him that she was fine. He had to take her word for it. “Best give her a little time,” he told his brother. “She’s been through quite an ordeal. I’m sure she just needs a little extra privacy to sort through all of her emotions.”

      “You’re probably right,” Jackson agreed with a nod as he placed the mug onto the coffee table and then settled into a nearby recliner.

      Garrett sat staring at the paper tag that dangled over the rim of the stoneware cup as the tea steeped. Rain pinged against the windowpane as the storm continued on outside. Beside him, the clock over the fireplace mantel ticked away the minutes. Too many minutes. What if Hannah’s legs had given out on her again? What if she’d fainted from all the stress she’d been under? Losing her sister and brother-in-law, suddenly finding herself in the role of mother-to-be, nearly dying in a flash flood.

      “Maybe I will go check on her,” he announced and was just about to shove to his feet when Hannah, face alarmingly pale, stepped into the doorway.

      The sight of her wan complexion and fearful eyes had both men shooting to their feet.

      “Hannah?” Garrett inquired as he moved toward her.

      She looked up at him, tears in her eyes. “I think my water just broke.”

      It took a moment for her words to sink in. Dear Lord. “You think?” Maybe she was mistaken.

      “I’m pretty sure it did,” she said shakily.

      He crossed the room to where she stood trembling. “Everything’s going to be okay.” СКАЧАТЬ