Page 28 of Knocked up By the Mountain Man

There’s more to this, a deeper conversation about commitment and responsibility, about the choices we make and the paths we take.

“I will,” I say quietly. “Thank you, Clara.”

She nods, her expression softening slightly as she turns away and heads back towards the car.

I guess our little day trip is done already…

I’m not sure I got what I wanted because now I have more questions than answers.

I pullinto the driveway of the ranch, the tires crunching on the gravel. Clara is already out of the car and heading towards the guest house. I watch her for a moment, feeling the weight of our conversation and the tension still lingering between us. She’s always been a tough nut to crack, but today I had caught a glimpse of the old Clara beneath the cold exterior.

Maybe there’s still hope.

As I head towards my house, I hear Wyatt’s excited chatter coming from the barn. He’s talking to his nephew who’s giggling and bouncing with energy. It seems like the kid looks up to Wyatt like he’s some kind of hero. It’s a good sight, one that makes me smile despite the day’s heaviness.

“Hey Beau!” Wyatt calls out, waving me over. “You should’ve seen Thomas today. A total natural with the horses. We might have a future cowboy on our hands!”

Thomas grins widely, his eyes shining with pride. “Wyatt taught me how to brush them and everything! Can we go again tomorrow?”

I chuckle, ruffling the kid’s hair. “We’ll see, buddy. Got a lot of work to do around here.”

Wyatt’s enthusiasm is contagious, and I can’t help but feel a bit lighter. I watch as he and Thomas continue to talk about their day, the bond between them evident. It’s then that I realize I don’t know anything about how Clara’s life unfolded after she left town. Maybe it’s time I start asking some questions instead of just making assumptions.

“Wyatt, you got a minute?” I ask, motioning for him to step aside.

“Sure thing. What’s up?”

I glance at Thomas, who’s busy playing with one of the barn cats, before turning back to Wyatt. “I’ve been meaning to ask you about Clara. What’s her situation like these days?”

Wyatt raises an eyebrow, looking a bit puzzled. “What do you mean?”

“You know, her family. Is she married? I remember hearing about some guy, Daniel, right? Is he good to her? She doesn’t say much…”

Wyatt laughs, shaking his head. “Daniel? He’s just her boss. Owns the clinic where she works. Clara’s not married, though.”

The revelation hits me like a freight train.

Claraisn’tmarried!

For some reason, I had assumed she’d moved on, found someone else.

But she obviously hadn’t. Or at least, he wasn’t in her life anymore. A flicker of hope ignites in my chest, but I tamp it down quickly.

“What about Thomas’s dad?” I ask, trying to keep my voice casual. “She ever mention him?”

Wyatt’s expression darkens slightly and his jaw hardens. “Nah, like you said she’s closed off, she never talks about him. Someone she met after leaving here, I guess. She’s kept it pretty close to the chest. I don’t know what sort of guy he is, but if heisn’t in his son’s life, then he can’t be that good. Why do you ask?”

I glance back at Thomas, who was now trying to coax the cat on his lap. “Just curious. It’s hard to reconcile the Clara I knew with the one who’s here now.”

“You didn’t really know her that well though. I mean, she was just my kid sister.”

My blood runs cold. But somehow I feel a heat burning in my cheeks. “Right, of course.”

“Well, I have to get Thomas back,” Wyatt declares with a smile. “Got a hot date tonight, and I need to get ready.”

“Things getting serious?” I cock an eyebrow. This isn’t like Wyatt.

“Maybe… who knows. We’ll see.”

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