Page 17 of The Cowbears of Curvy Bear Ranch

“I’m sure I’ll like the kid,”hesaid.

She looked up with shimmering eyes. Was she abouttocry?

The door to the bathroom cracked open and a boy, a little over three feet tall, raced into the room. Clad in a bath towel cut to form the shape of a monkey, he shrieked. “Mommy, I grabbed the pie anditfell.”

She leaned over to scoop him into her arms. “Iheard.”

He flailed and kicked. “Putmedown.”

When she did, the boy turned to face Brady. A rush of awareness punched him in the gut. The kid looked exactly like him down to the same chocolate-colored eyes and thickbrownhair.

When Brady could finally take a breath he gasped, “Ishe?”

Rachel noddedslowly.

Disbelief, followed by confusion, followed by rage, rushed through him. He stood and yelled. “And you didn’t think I neededtoknow?”

The boy’s eyes went wide. He stepped closer to his mom and hid behindherlegs.

“I wantedtobut—”

“Jesus, Rachel. How the hell could you keep something like thisfromme?”

“You were going off to war. You didn’t give a damn that you were leaving me allalone.”

He narrowed his eyes. “When did you find out? Was it before or after I left? Wait… you know what? I don’t wanttoknow.”

He stomped towardthedoor.

She ran over to him and grabbed hisarm. “Wait.”

“Are you kidding me? I can’t believe you didn’ttellme.”

“I didn’tknowhow.”

“Pick up the phoneandcall.”

“Where? What country was I supposed to call? I didn’t even know whereyouwere.”

He clenched his fists to try to contain the rage. “I wrote to you. You could have written back andtoldme.”

He spun and swung open the door. He couldn’t get away fast enough. If he couldn’t keep his bear in check, everyone, including his son, would be in grave danger. He needed time tothink.

Shit. He hadason.

Rachel bounded down the stairs behind him. “I have to tell yousomethingelse.”

He turned and got right in her face. “Stop. I can’t. Notrightnow.”

Sherecoiled.

He blinked several times. She’d never been afraid of him before. But what little sympathy he felt vanished as his son appeared in the doorway. The child stared at him with fear in his eyes. Brady’s heart shattered into a million pieces. How could she besocold?

Chapter5

Rachel collapsedto her knees in the snow. Her worst nightmare had just come true. Not only was Brady enraged, but he’d left before she’d even had a chance to tell him about Jimmy’sillness.

On her hands and knees, she sobbed until her mom camedownstairs.

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