Page 12 of Knocked up By the Mountain Man

Our baby.

Not that Beau knows anything about him.

My heart clenches with fear. Thomas is napping in my car just outside the barn. What if Beau sees him and puts the pieces together? What if he realizes the truth? I pray he won’t recognize me immediately, I’m hoping that maybe my professional demeanor and the years apart will mask my identity.

But as our eyes lock, I see an instant flash of recognition in his gaze. Panic surges through me, but before Beau can stride towards me, someone else appears, stepping between us.

Wyatt.

“Clara!” Wyatt’s voice is warm, welcoming and full of surprise. He’s completely unaware of the tension crackling in the air. “I didn’t know you were the vet coming out today!”

I try to find my voice, but the shock of seeing Beau again, combined with Wyatt’s enthusiastic greeting, renders me speechless.

“It’s been too long! How’ve you been? And how’s little Thomas?” Wyatt continues, his excitement bubbling over.

I wish he wouldn’t talk about my son. Not yet, but I guess the words are out there now. I open my mouth to respond, but nothing comes out. I feel Beau’s eyes on me, intense and questioning, and it takes every ounce of my strength not to crumble. I need to keep it together. I need to protect Thomas.

“Wyatt,” I finally manage to say, my voice shaky. “It’s good to see you. Thomas’s doing great, thank you.”

Wyatt beams. “That’s awesome. Now that you’re here, I can spend more time with my little nephew. Ineedto spend more time with him, video call just isn’t enough.”

I force a smile, but my mind is racing. How long before Beau starts asking questions? How long before the truth comes out?

“You know, Clara, if you’re going to be working here for a while, you should stay with me,” Wyatt suggests. “I’ve got plenty of room in the guest house. Plus, it’ll give me more time to bond with Thomas. Youknowthat we’ll have the best time ever.”

I blink, taken aback by the offer. Staying here, on the ranch, close to Beau... it’s a huge risk. But the thought of Thomas having a place to stay where he can roam free and be around family is also incredibly tempting. I glance over at Beau again, his expression is unreadable. My stomach twists in knots.

The smart thing to do would be to decline, but I know I can’t say no to Wyatt.

It isn’t his fault he hasn’t seen enough of his nephew.

Plus, what else am I going to do? I was planning on staying at a motel, but this is definitely a better choice.

“That’s really kind of you, Wyatt,” I say slowly, trying to weigh my options. “It would be nice for Thomas to spend time with his uncle.”

Wyatt’s grin widens. “Great! I’ll help you get settled in after we take care of the horses.”

I nod, but my eyes keep drifting back to Beau. He’s standing a few feet away, his arms crossed, his face an unreadable mask. The tension between us is palpable, and I can feel the weight of the past pressing down on me.

Before I can say anything else, Beau turns on his heels abruptly and heads inside, leaving me standing there, stunned and hurt.

What the hell wasthatabout?

Am I that unbearable to be around?

How would he know, when he hadn’t even said a word to me?

Wyatt seems oblivious to the awkwardness between me and Beau. “Come on, Clara. Let me show you what needs to be done,” he says cheerfully.

As I follow Wyatt, my mind is a whirl of emotions. Beau’s coldness stings more than I want to admit. The man I remember was warm, kind, and full of life. This Beau feels distant, almost hostile. It’s like looking at a stranger wearing a familiar face. We reach the first stall, and I try to focus on the horses, to see where I need to begin, but the encounter with Beau keeps gnawing at me.

“Wyatt,” I begin cautiously, “has something happened with Beau? He seems... different.”

Wyatt glances at me, his smile faltering slightly. “Beau’s been through a lot lately. The ranch has been weighing heavily on him, and his Dad’s health is declining.”

I nod, that makes sense. “But he seems... I don’t know, colder.”

Wyatt sighs, running a hand through his hair. “He’s just stressed, Clara. Trying to keep everything together has taken its toll. You know what he’s like… I think. I mean,doyou know what he’s like? You weren’t as close to him as I was, so maybe not…”

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