Page 49 of Rancher's Pride

“Did he tell you he’s my ex-husband, and I divorced him, so move his mistress into myhome? And as far as his children, Josie isn’t his, she’s Nash’s.” I watched the man’s face process the information as he wrote it on his little notepad. He looked up from me to Nash and back to me. “I can have a DNA test done if you’d like.” My tone was flat, but I was serious. If anyone questioned Josie’s parentage, I’d happily prove it.

“What about the baby?”

“She’s mine too.” Nash gripped my hand tighter, and I took a step closer to him.

Hal looked at Nash. “If you’re not, I don’t want to know. That’s fraud, Nash.”

“Pretty sure nobody’s going to challenge it.” Nash replied, smirking. An unease built in my stomach. Hal was right, it was fraud, and I’d be the one in trouble if it was challenged.

Hal tucked his notebook in his pocket and nodded. “Thank you both. We’ll get him booked and a bail set. That won’t happen until tomorrow. The judge is sick today.”

“When bail’s set, I want to know, and then I want updates about his whereabouts. If he goes back to Kentucky, I want to know,” Nash said through gritted teeth. “Also notify Drake Gatlin, I want his men keeping an eye on him. They are familiar with the area.”

I didn’t ask why he wanted all this information. It was probably better if I didn’t know his plans. “Wait, you're still in touch with Drake?” I asked, looking at him.

The Gatlin family had suddenly become interested in horses shortly before Nash found me. They’d bought race horses and specifically asked for me to be the only one to touch their animals.

“You know, we did some work for him back when we were running security.” He shrugged and started walking to the house. “We’ve kept in touch since then. He kept an eye on you for me.”

“Wait. What?” I stopped and pulled him back toward me.

“If you think I’d just let you be out there wandering in the world aimless and on your own, you’re crazy.” He wrapped his arm around me. “I didn’t know things were bad, or I would have brought the other four and taken you out of there by force and left carnage in our wake.” His voice was more of a growl now and his grip was tight around me. There was no question he’d burn the world for me.

“Don’t think I don’t know I pushed you into the arms of that psychopath, but you can be sure. I’m never letting you go again.” I looked deep into his eyes, but I didn’t have to look too hard. There was a fire in his eyes that burned my soul, and I knew I’d be his forever. I watched him go from fire to lust in the blink of an eye and he lowered his mouth and I pulled him closer to me and crushed our mouths together.

When he pulled away, he smiled. “Let’s go get our girls.”

“This will be the first time we confirm we’retogether. Are you okay with that? I mean, it’s been a rumor running wild through the ranch, but this is different. We’re walking into my mom’s house as a couple.”

“I want every single person in the world to know I love you. Everyone has had more than enough lead time for us to be together. We have a child together, pretty sure they’ve figured it out.” He smiled and turned away from me. Nash said he loved me, not during sex, not while we were falling asleep, but right as we were talking about my family.

“You’re seriously going to tell me you love me, and then walk away?”

“Toots, I’ve told you I love you before.”

“Yeah, but not like this.”

“If you don’t think I meant it every time, I guess I need to do a better job showing you.” He knelt down and reached out in front of him. “Maybe I should start with this.” He held out a tiny purple flower with a yellow center. “First one of the year.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

NASH

Aknock on the door drew my attention from the steak I was cutting. Why did people show up at suppertime? It was rude. Fallon smiled and pushed her chart back from the table. “Hal, what brings you all the way out here? Please come in.” I heard Fallon’s voice change from chipper to concerned, and I pushed my chair away from the table and walked out to the front door.

“I didn’t expect to be here with news, but while I was going through your ex’s car, I found these in the back seat.” Hal said as he handed an envelope to Fallon. Ripping it open, I watched her eyes dart back and forth as she read.

“This says my divorce was finalized last month just shortly after I left. He signed the papers and everything has been filed.” She scanned the papers and stared at them in disbelief before looking up at me.

“Let me see.” I reached for the papers, and Fallon handed them to me. “If this is true, why did he come here looking for you?” Something still didn’t seem right. If these papers were filed, why hadn’t she been notified?

“I might have an answer for that.” Hal said as he shifted awkwardly on the porch. “When that guy’s men showed up, they let it slip that whoever his mistress was, is no longer in the picture. She’d had her baby and, well, it wasn’t your ex-husbands. So he was trying to file a motion to stop the divorce and if he could get you back, then it could all be null and void.”

“Smart isn’t a word I’d use for that man,” Fallon said off the cuff. “Thanks Hal, I appreciate you bringing these.” The sheriff left the house, and we both stared at the paperwork.

I hadn’t expected this to go through so fast, but I suppose when one side has money, the ear of a judge and extreme hatred of me, things can be moved along.

“You’re not married anymore and haven’t been for a month.” I whispered, unable to keep the smile off my face before I pressed my lips to her head. “You haven’t been since before Christmas, since before Kipp’s wedding.” I tried not to smile, but I couldn’t help it.

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