Page 61 of A Cowboy's Trust
Five days after the perfect date, Tansy packed a bag full of goodies and joined Rose and Fern as they headed to the hospital for a visit.
Stepping into the scent of antiseptic, with nondescript, white-walled corridors around them, Tansy slowed. This was not where she wished they’d be doing this.
Fern slipped her arm around Tansy and guided her forward, tipping her head into Tansy’s shoulder briefly. “It’s okay. Kelli’s fine, and the baby’s fine. They’re just being cautious.”
“I know that,” Tansy said. “But of all the people to have complications during labour and delivery, I never expected it would be Kelli. She’s bombproof.”
On her other side, Rose took the goodie bag from Tansy then linked their fingers together. “We all know that’s not true. There’s no telling what might happen, especially when it comes to giving birth. But Fern is right. Focus on the good stuff. Everyone is doing great, and we’re about to get to snuggle a brand-new baby.”
Kelli wasn’t alone in the room. Luke sat in the recliner beside the bed. His shirt was open, and he had a tiny bundle wrapped in a blue blanket against his bare chest. His big hand held the baby locked in place, but his eyes were closed and his breath flowed in a smooth rhythm that said he was sound asleep.
Tansy and her sisters slipped into the room quietly, pausing until Kelli motioned them forward.
“It’s okay if you wake Luke. He’s been out for a while, and if he stays in that position for much longer he’s going to walk like a troll.” Kelli reached a grabby hand toward Tansy’s bag. “Tell me you brought cookies.”
“Cookies, cupcakes, and apple turnovers,” Tansy assured her. “How are you doing?”
Kelli patted the side of the bed for Tansy to join her then offered a smile to both Fern and Rose. “I have stitches in places where no woman ever wants stitches, but I have a healthy baby, and the doctor assures me everything is still intact. I will be out riding…horses…again, eventually.”
Rose slipped in to give Kelli a hug. “That’s good to know, but first you concentrate on healing.”
“I will. Why don’t you steal Kyle from Luke?”
Rose and Fern eased away, congratulating the groggy Luke as he woke and somewhat unwillingly passed over his son.
Tansy caught Kelli’s fingers in hers, speaking quietly with her friend. “You with an emergency C-section was not the news I was looking forward to.”
“Me, neither.” Kelli made a face. “I love the fact that we made a baby. I am not enamored of the whole birth experience.”
“I don’t blame you,” Tansy agreed.
Kelli leaned in so her words stayed private. “I know you’re here to love on my son, but first, I never got apprised about the date. Tell me.”
Warmth built in Tansy’s chest. “It went so well. Yes, the sex didn’t suck, but it was definitely about more than just sex. Jake’s pretty amazing.”
Her friend smiled. “I could have told you that from the expression on your face. But you take care of you, yes? You’re worth it, girlfriend. Remember that.”
“I’m working on it,” Tansy promised.
The really fun thing was, as the days continued and she slipped into the busy routine of cooking and prepping for events in the art studio, Tansy found it easier to believe.
But the part that didn’t change was they still had everything else to deal with. Jake still slept in his room across the hall from her. They had plenty of things to occupy their time without each other, between the cooking Tansy had to do for High Water, plus a slew of events in the art studio over the next couple of weeks.
Jake was kept busy making sure Logan got on his feet. The kid—and he really was still a kid, barely turned twenty—hadn’t shared anything more about his past but had slowly accepted that he was welcome on the ranch.
March passed, part of April. The original hands moved on. While there was no reason for Jake to stay in the house anymore, he kept sleeping there, and no one said a word.
Being an established couple, accepted by her friends and his brothers—it felt right. Felt real.
It was such an odd sensation not to have her past hanging over them.
Jake kept being patience personified, and with every day that passed, she got that much closer to believing that this was really happening. That she didn’t have to lay herself bare and yet he’d still care about her.
Maybe even love her…
A kazoo blasted in her ear and brought her back to the here and now. Tansy blinked then smiled at her nephew. “Hey, Carter.”
“Happy birthday, Auntie Tansy. You’re supposed to come and cut the cake with Auntie Rose.”
