Into the Arms of a Cowboy (21 page)

The digital clock on the bedside flipped from 2:28 to 2:29 a.m. Cassie reached over and switched off the alarm before it could buzz and disturb Jess. They’d spent the weekend together at a rodeo on the central coast, where she’d watched Jess win the calf-roping event. He’d given up the bulls and
broncs
now. But Cassie would never dream of asking Jess to abandon rodeo completely. The arena, the cheers, the adrenaline rush, even the danger--that was all part and parcel of the man she loved.

Now she slowly lifted her head from his shoulder, careful not to wake him. But he must have sensed her movement because he opened his eyes anyway. His lids appeared heavy with fatigue as he peered at her in the dim light.

“My turn to feed the little ones?”

“
Shh
, go back to sleep,” Cassie whispered. “I’ll get it. I’m awake anyway.”

“
Mmm
. Thanks,
darlin
’.” He was asleep again in an instant.

Cassie slipped out from under the quilt and padded barefoot to the kitchen. She heated two bottles, squeezed a few drops onto her forearm to test the temperature, then pushed her feet into a pair of worn sneakers and headed for the front door.

Harry lifted his shaggy head as she stepped out onto the balcony. He was still as ugly as ever, still a black-and-tan mutt with wiry fur, floppy ears, and a pushed in nose, but Cassie had to admit she’d grown fond of the wretched creature. He was still a one-man dog--Jess’s dog--but tonight he crept from his new doghouse and loped along at her heels as she climbed the hill to the cabin.

As she walked, she thought of Scamp and Rascal with a faint ache in her heart. They’d quickly grown into fat, rambunctious young raccoons. With Jess’s help, Cassie had taught them to climb trees and forage for themselves. With each lesson it grew more and more difficult to lure them back. Finally, in July, Cassie and Jess packed them into the pickup truck and driven further up into the mountains.

Cassie would always treasure the last photo she’d taken of the pair as they paused, torn and uncertain, at the edge of the woods. Finally, Scamp--always the more aggressive brother--turned and slipped away for good. Rascal followed, more slowly,
and
then picked up speed as the forest claimed him. It was the life they were meant for, though Cassie had cried that day and missed them still.

But she had more wild babies now. She pushed open the door of the newly redone cabin and found Samson and Delilah waiting in their pens. The orphaned fawns turned their soft brown eyes on her with more interest than fear. Cassie’s heart jumped a little with relief. It had been touch and go for a few days, but Jess thought they’d make it. They wanted to live now, and that would make all the difference.

When she slid back into bed fifteen minutes later, bringing some of the cool night air with her, Jess woke a second time. “Thanks, Cassie. I owe you one,” he whispered. He drew himself up on one elbow, leaned over, and planted a kiss just to the right of her waiting mouth. “Oops, I missed.”

Cassie laughed and kissed him back, this time hitting the target. She let Jess pull her tight against him under the quilt. Her distended belly pressed into his taut abdomen. Cassie savored his familiar, masculine scent and his sleep-warmed skin against hers. “Lazybones,” she teased. “Don’t think you’ll get away with this kind of behavior once our son gets himself born.”

Jess’s hand crept down under the blankets. He spread his palm over her stomach, which, five months into the pregnancy, seemed to expand almost daily now. “Could be a daughter,” Jess murmured.

As he spoke, Cassie felt a very definite flutter of movement inside her womb. She let out a small yelp of surprise.

“Hey, what was that?” Jess asked, suddenly wide awake.

“I think the baby moved.”

Another internal jolt, and this time there was no doubt about it.

Cassie’s eyes widened. “Oh, Jess. This all of a sudden makes it more. . .more real, doesn’t it?”

“Sure does.” Jess’s face glowed with excitement. He looked awed. Tender.

As she huddled under the quilt, warming up with Jess’s hand still on her belly, a wave of pure joy made Cassie’s head swim. Just when she’d least expected it, she’d found everything she had ever wanted. Drowsily, she listed off the things she was grateful for.

Number one, Jess.

Number two, their baby.

Number three, her wonderful friends: Gus, Ruby, Tanya, Angela, Chad, and too many more to name.

Number four. . . .but she never made it to number four, or the rest of the hundred things she treasured. Instead, she drifted off to sleep, a blissful smile still curving her lips.