Chapter Eleven
Drake shifted in the saddle, the leather creaking under his weight. He tightened his gloved hands on the lariat as he watched the herd. He’d thought being back in the saddle would feel awkward, but it felt completely natural. His thighs and ass might not think so later though. Even though he couldn’t see Shiloh where she stood at the railing behind him, he felt her gaze. Probably trained on his wranglers, he thought with a smirk. They’d stopped by the apartment on the way to the ranch to pick up his cowboy hat and she hadn’t taken her eyes off him yet. If he’d known it only took some tight jeans and a Stetson, he’d have dressed this way sooner.
The other guys on the ranch had been reserved, until they’d seen he was able to saddle a horse on his own. Hank had introduced him to the team he’d be working with during his tryout. They seemed like a good group of guys. At the moment, they were hanging back to give him room to work. The saddle creaked under him again as he shifted his weight, watching the herd. It had been so long since he’d been on a working ranch, but it felt good to be back in the saddle. It was peaceful even if it was hotter than hades. Ranching was hard work, rain or shine, but he was willing to put in the hours. He took a cleansing breath of the hot, humid air, holding it in his lungs a moment. After being in the desert, this was like heaven.
Bessie, the ranch’s cattle dog, cut a heifer from the herd. As with any good cow pony, his horse knew what to do without much prodding. He twirled the lariat over his head before letting it sail through the air. He looped the heifer and wound the lariat around the saddle horn as the beast struggled. He’d been told it was a catch-and-release scenario, so he climbed off his horse and let the cow go.
Hank spat on the ground near his feet. “Well, you can rope, and it seems you can ride. How handy are you at mending fence line?”
Drake smiled and climbed back onto his horse. “I can hammer and nail with the best of them.”
“You can start Monday. There’s a thirty-day probationary period. If you’re doing a good job at that point, we’ll consider the job permanent.” Hank nodded toward Shiloh. “Might want to leave her home next week. She seems the type that has to touch every furry beast she comes across. Some out here aren’t so friendly.”
“She is that. Don’t worry, she has her own job to get to. She’s just off a few days while her boss is out of town. With her being pregnant, I don’t like to leave her alone for too long. I won’t make it a practice of bringing her to work with me.”
“Well, Sergeant Edwards, I’ll see you bright and early Monday. Best get that horse rubbed down and put up so you can take your wife home.”
He didn’t correct the man. Shiloh might not be his wife, but she was the mother of his child and that was every bit as precious. Drake swung his leg over the back of the horse and gathered the reins in his hand. Pulling off his work gloves, he shoved them into his back pocket. After leading the gelding back to the barn, he unsaddled the horse, rubbed him down, and put him back in his stall. Shiloh hung back, but watched his every move. He felt the absurd urge to flex while he was working, just to see if he could get her to lick her lips like she had when he’d put on his hat. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d been so entertained by a woman.
He shut the gate on the stall and flashed her a smile. “You ready to get some lunch?”
“That was kind of hot,” she said.
“Which part?”’
“All of it.”
Drake laughed and took her hand, leading her to the truck. “Does this mean you have a thing for cowboys now? And here I thought you were more of a soldier groupie.”
“Honestly? I was too busy checking out your ass to look at any of the others.”
“Careful or I’ll find a place where you can show me just how much you like my ass.” He winked and helped her into the truck. Brushing a kiss against her cheek, he fastened her seatbelt. “I think my baby deserves the biggest piece of peach pie at the diner.”
She sighed and rubbed her belly. “You know all the right things to say.”
Drake chuckled and shut her door. As he climbed into the driver’s side, he couldn’t help but smile. Life was looking up. He had a baby on the way, a sweet woman in his bed, and he now had a job that he was convinced he would love. As far as Drake was concerned, life couldn’t get much sweeter.
He shot off a text to his brother on the way to the diner. As much as he loved the one-on-one time with Shiloh, he figured she’d probably like to see Dallas and Rebecca. And maybe having his brother as an audience would keep him from groping Shiloh under the table. Ever since he’d had a taste of her, he’d wanted more. They’d hardly gotten any sleep last night, but it had been well worth it. There was nothing hotter than her screaming his name as she came apart in his arms.
He pulled into a space at the diner and helped Shiloh out of the truck, placing an arm around her waist as they walked inside. Dallas and Rebecca were already seated in a booth by the window. Shiloh lit up when she saw them and he ushered her into the booth before sliding in beside her.
“How’s this asshole treating you?” Dallas asked Shiloh as he pointed at Drake.
“Things are good,” she said, a blush staining her cheeks.
“Ah ha! It looks like the two of you kissed and made up.” Dallas smirked. “I knew you wouldn’t be able to hold out for long. He always did have a way with the ladies.”
Rebecca elbowed him. “Shut it.”
“What?” Dallas asked, rubbing his ribs. “What’d I say?”
“Like she needs a reminder of his reputation,” Rebecca said.
“Anyone with eyes can see he doesn’t want anyone but her,” Dallas argued. “Besides, they’re cute together.”
Drake shook his head and handed Shiloh a menu. “Get whatever you want.”
“You’re trying to make me fat,” Shiloh grumbled. “Pretty soon I’ll be as big as a house. You won’t fit in the apartment with me.”
“I’ll build him a doghouse in the parking lot,” Dallas offered.
“Just think,” Rebecca said. “After this baby, you’ll be a pro when the next one comes.”
Shiloh shook her head. “One baby. I never wanted to tackle motherhood. And now that it’s here I wouldn’t wish it away, but I don’t think I want another one.”
“How do you feel about that?” Rebecca asked Drake.
“I never really thought about being a dad, so it doesn’t bother me if we only have one kid. One kid or a dozen, I think in a few years I’d like to look at buying a house. Somewhere with a yard.”
Shiloh looked at him. “How are we going to afford a house?”
“Let me worry about that.”
“What about Grandpa’s land?” Dallas asked. “It’s just sitting there unused.”
“What land?” Rebecca asked.
“Grandpa had a ranch and then he had several plots of land around town and outside the city limits. He was always buying up acreage when it popped up. The ranch was sold, along with quite a bit of the land, but that corner lot at Maple and Vine belongs to us,” Dallas said.
“I figured you’d build a house there when you settled down,” Drake said.
“I think I’d rather claim the ten acres outside of town if you’re okay with that,” Dallas said. “Rebecca would like to open a pet sanctuary and it would give us some space for a barn and a kennel.”
“I didn’t know you did animal rescue,” Shiloh said.
Rebecca nodded. “I help at the shelter a few days a week and I foster when I can. I try not to keep them very long though because I’m afraid I’ll get attached and not want to let them go.”
“I’ve never had a pet before,” Shiloh said. “I wonder how one would react to a baby.”
Drake rubbed her thigh. “Do you want a pet? I don’t think the apartment is big enough for something large, but maybe a cat or a small dog?”
“Wouldn’t it be mean to make a dog live somewhere without a yard?” she asked. “And I’m not sure a cat would be good with a baby. Maybe we should wait a few years.”
No, if Shiloh wanted a pet, he’d damn well get her one. A small dog really wasn’t a bad idea. It would give her a companion if he had to work on her days off, and it would alert her in case of trouble. While it was true they didn’t have a yard, there was a strip of land behind the bar that was part of the property. At one point, Dallas had thought of expanding the parking lot, but they could easily walk a dog there for now.
The waitress came and took their order, apologizing for the wait. She promised their food would be up soon and then hurried off only to return a few minutes with later with drinks.
Drake shared a look with his brother, and he knew Dallas was on the same page. Dallas gave him a nod. While the women chatted, Drake plotted of ways to get Shiloh the pet she wanted. He knew the shelter had reasonable rates, and he’d much rather rescue someone in need of a home than purchase a puppy from a breeder.
“I forgot about an errand I need to run,” Drake said. “Can Shiloh hang out with y’all for a little while? I’ll swing by and pick her up when I’m done.”
“Can’t you just take me to the motel?” Shiloh asked. “My feet are kind of swollen and I’d like to stretch out for a while.”
Drake frowned. “Are you all right? If you’re uncomfortable, we could get our food to go.”
“I’ll be fine long enough to sit here and eat.”
“When are you going to see the doctor?” Rebecca asked. “Didn’t your insurance card come in the mail?”
“It did. I have to find out which doctors around here will take it though. Not everyone accepts the state’s insurance plan. Being a new patient, I’m sure I’ll have to wait a few weeks.” Shiloh smiled. “It’s all right. By the time I’m able to see someone, I should be able to find out if I’m having a girl or boy, so it will be worth the wait.”
“I’ll call Doctor Thompson this afternoon,” Drake said. “I bet we can get you in to see him tomorrow. And if you need to go back later for an ultrasound, then I’ll see that you get there. I know you don’t want to take off work if you don’t have to, but you have to stay healthy.”
She rolled her eyes. “Yeah, and that slice of peach pie I ordered was really healthy.”
Dallas snorted. “Well, it has fruit in it. It’s not like you ordered the chocolate mousse pie.”
Shiloh groaned. “That sounds really good too. Maybe I could get a slice to go.”
Rebecca smiled. “I’m glad you got over your independence enough to let Drake pay for your meals. It was really hard for us to watch you struggle. I think my heart broke when I dropped off those groceries and saw how bare your kitchen was.”
Shiloh’s cheeks flushed as Drake eyed her. “Something you want to tell me?”
Rebecca’s softly spoken “oops” made Shiloh wince.
“Were you going hungry?” Drake asked.
“Money was tight. I wasn’t starving.”
“She was living off ramen and canned pasta,” Rebecca said. “And I think there was a package of hot dogs in the fridge.”
“And I blew you off when you needed help the most.” Drake groaned. “You had every right to think I was an asshole. I could kick my ass for treating you that way. Maybe if I’d been more open to the idea of you being pregnant, then you might have confided in me and I could have made sure you were taken care of.”
“Drake, I’m a big girl and can take care of myself. I was struggling, and things were pretty bad, but I had a roof over my head, transportation, and while the food in the pantry wasn’t stellar at least there was something to eat.” Shiloh shrugged. “I’ve been in worse situations.”
His gut churned as he thought about how bad things had been for her. It made him even more determined to give her anything she wanted or needed. While he’d been half a world away, pissed that someone was trying to foist a baby off on him, she’d been fighting to survive. It had never occurred to him that she reached out because she needed help. He’d just assumed she wanted a free ride.
“You really were an asshole,” Rebecca said.
“I think he’s beating himself up enough,” Dallas said. “No need to rub it in. He fucked up and he knows it. Question is how he’s going to rectify the situation.”
“Guys, I’m fine. I was fine and will continue to be fine. I’ve decided to live with Drake even after the baby comes. If we stay in the apartment, we don’t have to worry about rent and with both of us working things should be fine. My days of struggling are over, but even if something happens, I know I can get through it.” Shiloh nudged Drake. “And if he turns into an asshole again, I’ll just throw him out of the apartment and claim it as my own.”
Rebecca laughed until she snorted. “And she’d do it too! You’d better watch out, Drake.”
“If I screw up that bad, she’s welcome to the apartment,” Drake said.
Their food arrived and Drake kept an eye on Shiloh, looking for any sign that might need to go back to the motel. She might have said she was fine, but he knew she’d push herself until she passed out. When they were finished, and had paid the check, Drake helped Shiloh into his truck. If she wanted to go to the motel, he’d take her. He just wished she’d agreed to hang out with Dallas and Rebecca until he was finished.
“I won’t be long,” he told her as he opened the motel room door. “You call me if you need anything.”
“I’ll be fine, Drake.”
He kissed her softly before closing the motel room door. As he backed out of the parking space, he saw her peeking at him through the window. She might say she was fine on her own, but after the two scares she’d had last week, he knew she was nervous being alone. He stopped by the motel front desk long enough to make sure a dog would be okay for their brief stay before heading over to the shelter. On his way, he called the contractor to make sure things were on track with the apartment.
“Sergeant Edwards, I have some good news,” the contactor said. “I’m actually a little ahead of schedule on the flooring. Depending on how fast you get the paint colors to me, I can have your apartment finished in about four days.”
“How’d you get so far so fast?” Drake asked.
“My son decided he wanted to learn the trade. The flooring was just that snap-together kind, so once I had everything cut to the right measurements, he was able to help lay it. I won’t charge extra for him working with me. It’s still the same rate I quoted you.”
“I appreciate it. And I’ll get those paint samples to you tonight.”
Drake wrapped up the call and hung up as he was pulling into the parking lot of the animal shelter. He could hear the dogs barking and howling before he’d even opened his truck door. He locked the truck and went inside to see if he could find Shiloh’s new best friend. He hoped his trip proved fruitful and he’d be able to find the right dog. Bringing home just anything wasn’t acceptable.
He signed in at the front counter and the perky blonde pointed the way to the dog kennels. He hated that they were outside in the heat. The dogs seemed well cared for, but they all looked so sad. He walked up and down both sides several times, but he kept coming back to one kennel in particular. A terrier mix stared at him from the back corner, and its large brown eyes seemed terrified as its poor body trembled. Drake waved for the kennel worker.
“What can you tell me about this one?” he asked.
“His name is Dusty and he’s two years old. His owner was a senior woman who passed away, and her family didn’t want him.”
“So, you don’t know how he would be with a baby?”
“I think he would be fine, but I can’t say for sure. That holds true for any dog here though.” The worker waved at Dusty. “He’s really sweet, but all this noise scares him. He’s already been neutered and he was up to date on his shots when he came in.”
“I’ll take him.”
The worker nodded and pulled a leash off a nearby post. She opened the kennel and looped the leash around Dusty’s neck and led him out. Handing the leash over to Drake, she motioned for him to follow her back to the front desk. It took a few minutes to fill out the adoption forms and pay the fee, and then he was on his way to the pet store. By the time he made it back to the motel, Shiloh was asleep on the bed, her shoes kicked off and her hair in disarray. She looked so damn angelic and his heart ached as he watched her sleep.
The dog squirmed in his arms and he set Dusty down on the bed. He immediately wriggled around Shiloh and licked her on the cheek. Her eyes flew open and she bolted upright in bed. She blinked at him in confusion until the dog yipped. When she saw Dusty, tears gathered in her eyes and she carefully lifted him into her arms, cradling him close.
“You went and bought me a dog?” she asked.
“His owner died and he really needed a new home. I thought maybe we could give him one. The apartment will be done in about four days, if I can get the paint samples to the contractor.”
“Does he have a name?” she asked.
“Dusty.”
“Hi, Dusty,” she cooed at the dog. “You’re a good boy, aren’t you?”
He yipped again and licked her face. Shiloh laughed and hugged him, looking happier than he’d ever seen her. Best money he’d ever spent. While she was occupied with the dog, he retrieved the stuff from the pet store and put down food and water. Since he wasn’t sure how housebroken Dusty was, he’d picked up some puppy pads too and he set one under the counter outside the bathroom.
When he was finished getting everything set up and tossing down a few toys, he kicked off his boots and stretched out next to Shiloh with the dog between them. She rolled onto her side and smiled as she scratched Dusty behind his ears. The dog ran to the foot of the bed, leaped off, and ran a lap around the room. He grabbed one of the stuffed squeaky toys and charged onto the bed again.
“So, you like him?” Drake asked.
“I love him.” She wrinkled her nose. “He could use a bath though.”
“I’ll take care of it. Why don’t you find a movie for us to watch while I get this guy cleaned up?” Drake asked as he snagged Dusty.
“I could do it.”
“I brought him home this smelly, so I’ll clean him. Crap. I meant to call Doctor Thompson while I was out. I wanted to get you in to see him tomorrow. Give me a minute to make a call and then I’ll take care of the dog.”
As Drake stepped outside so he could talk to the doctor without Dusty making too much noise, he decided he was going to call the vet too. Might as well get both of them checked out before he started his new job and Shiloh returned to work. Having a family was more work than he’d realized, but he was loving every minute of it.