High Country Christmas. Joanna Sims

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      “Well...for one thing, it’s actually a pretty rare event, statistically. And the first condom was chock-full of spermicide.”

      “That’s true.” She nodded.

      “And don’t forget...that was my second time, so...there couldn’t be that many swimmers in the stream anyway.” He saw a hint of a smile in her pretty turquoise-blue eyes. “Besides, I’ve always suspected that I have really slow and confused sperm. So...the few tadpoles who managed to escape from the green condom—the ones who didn’t die by spermicide—are probably swimming the wrong way.”

      Tyler’s attempt to lighten the mood worked. They both laughed for a minute at the image he had just put in their heads.

      Tyler put his arm around her shoulders. “Look...I don’t think you are going to get pregnant. But if you do...I promise...we’ll work it out together.”

      London’s shoulders stiffened beneath the touch of his hand on her skin. She stood up, looked him directly in the eyes. “Like you said...it probably won’t happen. So we may as well just go on living our lives like none of this ever happened.”

      She was standing only a foot away from him, but he could tell by the expression on her face that she was removed emotionally. She wanted them to pretend that they had never made love; she wanted them to erase this night as if it never happened.

      “You know...you don’t have to leave,” Tyler said to her when she was about to open the door. “You could sleep here if you want...”

      London looked back at him with a quick shake of her head. “No. I’ve already stayed too long. Good night.”

      After she left, Tyler shut off the light and got back into bed. It was strange. It felt as if the past couple of hours were a dream, a figment of his imagination. But he could still smell the scent of her body on his skin, the scent of their lovemaking on his sheets. They had made love...twice...and if the stupid green novelty condom hadn’t broken, he’d probably still have London in his arms right now. But the condom had broken and she was gone.

      “Jesus...” Tyler stared up at the ceiling, unable to sleep. “Please don’t let her be pregnant.”

      * * *

      For the first week after the infamous broken-condom incident, Tyler stopped by the foaling barn every day to check on London. But she was always too busy or too tired to talk. After getting the brush-off for an entire week, Tyler started actively avoiding her. There was a lot of commotion at the ranch now, between his younger sister Jordan’s upcoming wedding and the large crew of men who were in the process of moving their great-grandfather’s hundred-year-old chapel down the mountain. It was easy for him to stay busy, avoid the foaling barn and try to pretend as if nothing was out of order. But he knew, in his heart, that everything was out of order. He needed to find out, one way or the other, if London was pregnant. So, at the end of the third week after they had made love, instead of heading out to the south pasture after breakfast, he went to find London.

      After two weeks of not seeing him at all, London was actually glad to see Tyler when he showed up that morning. She’d had enough time to think things over, and now she was ready to talk.

      “How’s she doing?” Tyler rested his arms on the top wooden plank of the stall gate and leaned forward to get a good look at the pregnant mare.

      London ran her hand gently over the mare’s side; she stopped occasionally to palpate the mare’s heavy, rounded belly.

      London finished her examination of the stomach and gave the horse a pat on the neck. “She’s doing great. She’s put on the right amount of weight. Her measurements are all good. The foal is in a great position. If everything continues like this, I think we’ll have a safe birth and a healthy foal right on schedule.”

      “Mom’ll be glad to hear it.” Rising Star was his mom’s favorite mare.

      London unhooked the lead line from the mare’s halter and gave her one last affectionate pat. “I’ve learned to give your mom daily updates.”

      “That’s smart.” Tyler slid the latch open and swung the gate toward him for her to walk through.

      London nodded and slung the lead line over her shoulder.

      “Where’re you heading now?” Tyler fell in beside her.

      “To the office. I need to jot some things down in Star’s file and then I’m expecting the vet soon to take a look at Onyx’s leg...it’s just not healing right.”

      Tyler followed her into the barn office. He pulled the door shut behind him to keep their conversation private. “So, you have a few minutes before he gets here?”

      London wrote a note in Rising Star’s chart and then slipped it back into the file. “A few.”

      God, she drove him nuts! As usual, she was acting as though she had everything under control in an out-of-control situation. She had to be just as torn up about what happened as he was. Why did she have to be so damned stoic all the time?

      “I’m sorry I haven’t been by lately...” This seemed as good a place to start as any.

      “I actually appreciated the space.”

      Tyler nodded. London liked her space. “I’m at a loss here, London, so you need to help me out. I don’t even know how to talk to you anymore.”

      London looked at him with her typically direct gaze. “I’m late.”

      He didn’t need any clarification. He knew what she was referring to—she’d missed her period.

      “Are you regular?”

      He’d outgrown his embarrassment with menstruation in his teens due to his two very vocal younger sisters, who had thrived on torturing him with discussions of maxi pads and tampons and cramps. And thanks to them, he also knew that just because a women was late, that didn’t necessarily mean she was pregnant.

      “Not always.” London shook her head.

      But Tyler could read the worry in her eyes. She was trying very hard to be casual, but she was concerned. And that made him concerned. She was the least dramatic female he’d ever met.

      “So...technically, we could still be in the clear.”

      “Hopefully.” London gave a little shrug with her shoulders. “But I’m not just going to sit around and wait. I’m going to go into town later on and pick up a couple of those early-response pregnancy tests.”

      “I’ll drive you.”

      She was glad that he offered. She hadn’t slept well the past couple of weeks and she felt weary from worry. If he wanted to drive her into town, she would accept the help.

      “I should be done here by three.”

      “Okay. I’ll plan on being done around then, too.” Tyler checked his watch. “Let’s meet at my truck at three-thirty.”

      * * *

      The ride into СКАЧАТЬ