Chapter Four
Owen’s mother was livid when he finally showed up at the house after a shower, but he got her calmed down just in time to get told off by his brothers when they arrived at the house. Cindy was sobbing on the couch, and Marilyn told her sons to stop it as she rushed over to cradle her daughter in her arms. “I suppose that we all deal with things a little differently, but we need to let that go now. Let’s fill Owen in on what happened yesterday.”
Owen sat with Cindy as his mom explained that his father had specified in the will that the farm and the money would go to the first son to have a child, an heir to the family business. Owen knew that in his father’s mind that meant a boy, but that didn’t matter as none of the sons were in that place in their lives yet. He certainly knew who was closest, though, and Nadine flashed through his mind as he wondered if that could have gone anywhere.
Everything was on hold until that situation changed, as far as the ranch, but they were ordered to share the duties of the business until then. Marilyn had an accountant already set up who would handle their finances and, with the money they’d made over the year, the whole family would be more than fine. Owen swore to himself that he would man up and do what was right as he took Cindy for a ride over to the pond to distract her from everything that was going on. They were going to have supper when they arrived back at the house, but she needed this time to just relax.
In the next few months, the family did the best they could with the ranch and dealing with things, and Owen felt like he was getting closer to all of them. Sometimes he felt like his brothers were in a rush to knock someone up to get the business with all of their sudden late nights, but he left that to fate. Owen himself had a few nights with random girls, but never with the intent of impregnating them. It was just what he did, though he thought about Nadine a lot.
Cindy was adjusting within four months’ time, though Marilyn had her stay at friends for the day when they went through his father’s things. They had boxes set up for things to donate, things to save and stuff that just wasn’t worth doing either with due to age. It wasn’t easy, and they both had their moments where they broke down into tears. His parents had been married for thirty-five years and were madly in love the entire time, despite their busy life with family and the ranch. She missed him a lot, and Owen looked at her as he wondered if he would ever find that in his life. Owen also wondered if it was worth it as she cried when she looked through their wedding album.
He took a break to run home and grab some more boxes that he had in a spare room. He thought he heard a knock at the door while he was stacking them in the hallway. Cindy was out in the front yard since she’d arrived home and come along with him so his mama could regain her composure. He wondered if she needed something, as he frowned and brushed his hair back. “What, Cindy?” Owen walked down the hall towards the front door and opened it, expecting to see his little sister at the door. “Nadine?” She was standing there with a nervous expression, and he leaned against the door frame as he frowned. “What brings you back here? “
“I…I have something to tell you.” She was frowning but still looked beautiful in her loose pink dress and flat sandals as she shuffled her feet. “God, I feel stupid. I am here because I’m pregnant.”
Owen felt his face drop before he noticed Cindy standing behind her with wide eyes. “Shit. Cindy!” Nadine turned, and they both saw the little girl running away across the grass. “Damn it.” He stared into Nadine’s face and took in the redness of her cheeks as he wondered where his sister was going. “You’re pregnant?”
“I guess I wasn't that responsible back then. I realized a couple of months ago when I started feeling sick and went to the doctor. I considered not telling you, but that didn’t seem right.” Nadine’s eyes pleaded with him as he looked back at her and took in her words. “I haven’t been with anyone else, Owen. That’s not how I am. I know this is your baby.”
“I’m glad that you came back,” Owen told her, as he stepped closer to her. “I’ve been thinking about you.” He was just leaning down to kiss her when his phone rang in his pocket, and he groaned. It was his mama, and he answered the phone in a gruff voice.
“Owen Marshall James, you’d best stay put until I get there so we can square this away. I am driving there right now. Have your friend stay too.” Marilyn ended the call, and Owen looked down at Nadine.
“You’re about to meet my mom. Cindy ran right to the ranch and told her, I’m guessing.” The will crossed his mind, and he wondered if he should tell Nadine about that, though he decided against the idea. He would wait for the right time. The sound of a car coming up the driveway made them both look over with worried eyes, and then his mom and Cindy left the Range Rover and walked over.
“You make yourself scarce, Cindy. I need to talk to your brother and…” She paused as she looked over Nadine with a curious gaze.
“I’m Nadine Parson. I didn’t want to meet you like this, but the pleasure is all mine.”
“Go over to the pond and feed the ducks,” Marilyn told Cindy before she watched her run off. “You’re a pretty girl, Nadine. I like the looks of you. Let’s sit down and talk this over.”
They went inside and sat at the table as Owen got them all some sweet tea and sat between the two women. “So, Nadine is pregnant, mama. I met her a couple of months back, and she ended up leaving Texas the next day. It’s a long story.”
“Cheating boyfriend,” Nadine filled in the blank and Marilyn frowned and shook her head slowly. “Your son helped me out that day, and I didn’t think that this was going to happen, to be honest. We were trying to be careful and…God, this is embarrassing.” She looked back and forth between Owen and Marilyn. “I thought that he had the right to know. I am not expecting him to ask me to marry him and all of that nonsense, but a good man deserves to know there is a baby that’s coming into his world.”
“You’re right. He does.” Marilyn looked at Owen for a long moment. “Where do you live, Nadine?”
“I am in Chicago. I came here to Texas with the boyfriend and went home when that went south. I figured I could try and get my old job back and start over,” Nadine explained, as Owen looked closely at her. Her hair was longer and hung in a thick curtain down her back, and she was glowing. He knew that she wouldn’t be showing too much just yet, but his eyes moved down to her belly anyway. Nadine blushed when she caught him. “We could make arrangements between us on what to do.”
“What do you want to do, Owen?” Marilyn asked as she looked warmly at her son. She knew about his wild ways, but she was also very close to him, knowing that he had a good heart underneath it all. He had proved that since his little sister was born and he did everything for her.
“I want you to stay here, Nadine. I want to take care of you and our baby.” There was no doubt in Owen’s voice as he spoke and a tear slid down Nadine’s cheek.
“What about my job?” Nadine asked as Marilyn chuckled.
“We own the most successful ranch in the state of Texas, Nadine. Owen can take care of you both just fine.”
“What? You do?” Nadine asked, and he nodded.
Owen was rich. Nadine stared at him as she took this all in and his mother started to talk more to her, asking her questions.