The Cowboy Seal's Christmas Baby. Laura Altom Marie

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       Chapter Three

      “That was delicious. Thank you.” Jane couldn’t recall the last time she’d enjoyed a meal more. But then considering the fact that she didn’t know her own name, was that a surprise? The act of eating proved especially enjoyable, because of the normalcy of sharing a meal. If only for a moment, it distracted her from her frightening reality—of literally having zero reality.

      “It was no biggie.” Her cowboy had added water to a packet of dehydrated sweet-and-sour pork. He was right; the shared feast hadn’t required an inordinate amount of culinary skill, but it was hot and filling and for now, that was good enough.

      Before sundown, he’d built up the fire, then moved the tent closer to take advantage of the radiant heat.

      Jane cradled her son, rubbing the underside of her chin along his downy hair. Part of her couldn’t wait to get him back to civilization. Another part was terrified of what that return might find. There had to have been a reason for her to have endangered herself by traipsing off into the woods this late in her pregnancy. It had been not only irresponsible, but just plain dumb. She was lucky they were still alive.

      So why had she done it? A nagging voice told her she didn’t want to know.

      “Do you have kids?” she asked Gideon, eager to change the subject—if only in her own mind.

      “Nope.”

      “I’m assuming you’re not married?”

      “Nope.”

      “Would you ever want to be?”

      “Nope.”

      “Why so fast to respond?” She kissed the crown of her baby’s head. “I’ve only been a mother for a few hours, but this guy’s already got me wrapped around both of his tiny pinkie fingers.”

      “Let’s just say I’ve been there, done that, and learned the hard way that marriage isn’t for me. The only logical conclusion is that parenthood would end with the same dismal results.” He set the foil food packet on the ground beside his log seat, then warmed his hands in front of the fire. He was tall and ruggedly appealing, but not traditionally handsome. His nose was crooked as if it may have been broken. His jaw was too wide and his cheekbones too high. That said, something about the way firelight danced in his brown eyes called to mind s’mores and made her wonder what kind of ugly breakup had resulted in such a bad attitude toward any sort of new relationship.

      Skirting the direct issue, but still curious, she said, “Tell me about your parents.”

      “Not much to tell.” He added a log to the fire. “They’ve passed.”

      “Sorry.”

      He shrugged, staring into the dancing flames. “They were hardly the sort who inspired procreation or family unity. I’d never even celebrated Thanksgiving until joining the Navy. Before Mom split, we did usually have Christmas.”

      “That’s sad. But back to your grim outlook on marriage, what happened?”

      “Aren’t you tired?”

      “Yes, but I won’t get a wink of sleep until you answer my question.”

      He sighed. “If you must know, I’m divorced. My marriage ended so badly that my ex wanted her freedom even more than my assets. We had to have set a record for the world’s fastest split.”

      Jane whistled. “Did you cheat on her?”

      “Why would you assume that?”

      “You said you were in the Navy. I thought you might have had a girl in every port.”

      “I didn’t.” He pitched a log into the fire hard enough to send sparks flying.

      “I believe you. Sorry.”

      “Apology accepted. How about you turn in. I’ll keep watch.”

      “For what? Mountain lions? Bigfoot?”

      “Look...” He clasped his hands. “Don’t take this personally, but I’d rather sleep outside.”

      “Oh.” Why did his rejection hit her as if he’d turned down her invite to a Sadie Hawkins dance? “Sure. I understand.”

      But she didn’t.

      Worse yet, it wasn’t so much his rejection that had her super confused, but her silly reaction. For a woman who literally knew only two people in the world, to have one dismiss her stung.

      * * *

      GIDEON WOULD HAVE enjoyed nothing more than stretching out in his sleeping bag in Jane’s toasty tent. The night had turned breezy, and his fingers and nose felt cold enough to snap off. Just what he needed: to also be missing his nose. That’d be a big hit with the ladies.

      Suddenly mad at the world, his ex, Missy, and most of all himself, Gideon kicked dirt into the fire.

      Nights were always tough.

      Jane’s incessant babbling and questions weren’t making this particular night any easier.

      How long had it been since he’d shared a meal?

      The part of their time when they’d exchanged small talk about favorite old movies had actually been pleasant. He would have never pegged her for an old-school sci-fi fan. Maybe once they got back to his cabin, he’d make popcorn. The two of them—make that three—could settle in for a movie marathon.

      Stop.

      He pressed the heels of his hands over his stinging eyes.

      For the sake of argument, even if he was interested in hooking up, perky Jane was hardly his type. He was willing to bet that somewhere out there she had a husband desperately searching for her and their son.

      Gideon would be wise to adopt his usual protector role, get her and her son safely delivered back to her family, then wash his hands of the whole situation.

      In fact, as well as Jane had already recovered from giving birth, he figured Jelly Bean needed him more than she did.

      “Gideon?” СКАЧАТЬ