Jill Kemerer - His Wyoming Baby Blessing

The cabin was anything but the dusty old hunting lodge she’d expected. Freshly renovated with big windows, gleaming wood floors and comfortable furniture, it was nicer than any place she’d lived. And, better yet, it held none of the bad memories or mistakes she’d made in her other homes.

“It’s so light and open.” The high wooden ceilings cast a pretty glow on the room.

“The kitchen’s back here. Should meet your needs.”

She followed him and stopped, her mouth dropping open.

“You’re kidding, right?” She trailed her fingertips along the marble—or was it quartz? It certainly wasn’t the chipped counters she was used to. This was hands down the best kitchen she’d ever seen. With stainless steel appliances, tall cabinets and a pretty backsplash, it was her ideal kitchen.

From the window above the sink, a carpet of wildflowers came into view. A reprieve for her weary soul.

“Kidding? What do you mean?” His defensive tone would have made her laugh if she still had a shred of joy left, which she didn’t. Not by a long shot. “What’s wrong with the cabin?”

“Not a single thing.” She could at least attempt to set him at ease. He’d been kind today. But then, he’d always been kind to her. “Except your boots are leaving dirt all over the floor.”

He kicked up the bottom of his boot, then shot her a teasing glare. “My boots are as clean as the day I took them out of the box.”

“You sure about that?”

“As sure as I am a hotel won’t do you a lick of good.”

The hotel. Right.

She massaged her belly. Until recently, she’d been dealing with Cam’s death as best as she could, but finding out about the hole in the baby’s heart and learning it might be caused by special needs... As much as she hoped the hole would heal on its own, the fact the doctor was running all those tests didn’t reassure her. Nor did the online research she’d done on her own.

“Does this place have a bedroom?” She forced a tight smile. The sooner Wade concluded the tour, the sooner she could sit and think. Well, worry and fret about the baby was more like it.

His forehead furrowed as if he wanted to press the issue. “Down the hall. I’ll show you.”

The bedroom had log walls, traditional furniture, a neutral area rug and a puffy white comforter on top of a king-size bed.

“The television works. Bathroom is attached.” He paused in the doorway with one hand planted on the frame. His long body filled the space. “Tell me what you need.”

What did she need?

A healthy baby. Well, that wasn’t entirely true. Even if the child wasn’t healthy, she still wanted him. She could handle the hole in the heart, the special needs. What she really needed was a living baby . She just wanted a chance to raise him. No matter what complications were involved.

Her life had been one big complication for years. For her entire life, really. With each change, she’d dug her feet in, disciplined herself to be good, to meet other people’s needs in the hopes they’d keep her around.

And every single time, she hadn’t been good enough.

The sincerity radiating from Wade’s expression tempted her to confess the truth about why Cam had died, but she hadn’t survived an abusive aunt, four foster homes and a cheating husband for nothing.

“I’m pretty tired.” She sat on the edge of the bed. If Wade wasn’t here, she’d crawl under the covers and sleep for a month. Try to, at least.

“Stretch out and rest. I’ll get your bags.” He knocked on the door frame and left.

She was too tired to protest. Besides, Wade was a strapping cowboy. He’d never let her haul her suitcases and bags inside. She had nothing to prove by overexerting herself and everything to lose if she let her pride override her common sense.

This baby needed a healthy mama.

Her idea of a perfect family had been shattered long ago. She’d give about anything to have any family—perfect or not. A family of two suited her fine. Her and her boy.

Please, God, let my baby live.

The front door creaked, and Wade’s footsteps clomped closer. He set two suitcases in the bedroom. The muscles in his arms and chest strained as he straightened. Even pregnant, she couldn’t help but notice. Unfortunately, her pulse did, too.

“Be right back with the rest.” He waved his fingers toward the bed. “Why aren’t you lying down?”

“I don’t need to lie down. Now scoot.” She was surprised how easily she fell into their familiar sassing, but it left a bittersweet tang on her tongue.

His lips curved into a cocky smile as he exited the room.

She wished she could be the same Kit McAllistor she was before Cam had announced he wanted a divorce. The one who could banter with her old friend Wade, the one who believed love conquered all and if she just tried hard enough, her husband would want her and not other women.

The old Kit wouldn’t have screamed at Cam the night he had a heart attack and died.

She might not have killed him, but it was her fault he was dead. If she hadn’t yelled those terrible things, he wouldn’t have had the heart attack. He still would have divorced her, though.

The old Kit was gone, along with her dreams and her husband.

No matter what happened, she was on her own. Deluding herself into thinking Cam would provide the security she’d craved had been her biggest mistake. She couldn’t afford to make the same one twice.

“That’s everything.” Wade deposited the bags and wiped his hands down his jeans. “You hungry?”

She almost said no, but her stomach growled.

“Guess that answers my question.” He hitched his chin for her to follow him. “Come on. I’ll take you back to my place and feed you.”

Why tears sprang to her eyes, she didn’t know. Maybe because with all the uncertainties she faced—no job, no husband, a baby with serious health problems—she could still count on Wade.

“What are we having?” She stood, pressing her palm into her lower back. The drive had tightened every muscle in her poor body.

“Steak.” He rolled his eyes. “Du-uh.”

“Grilled?” Her mouth started watering. The man had always been able to grill a mean steak. “With melted butter on top?”

“As if I’d cook it any other way.”

A steak. Warm bed. Gourmet kitchen. And wildflowers as far as the eye could see.

She didn’t deserve this.

One week.

Then back to the real world.

She’d build a new life. In Casper. With her sweet baby. If he lived...

For now, she’d do her best to get through the next seven days. “Lead the way.”

If he could find a way back to the easy friendship he’d enjoyed with Kit over the years, their first supper together wouldn’t be awkward. Well, not as awkward as it was at the moment. It was hard to believe she was actually sitting across from him at his dining table.

The top of her rounded stomach was barely visible from where he sat. Why her being pregnant messed with his head so much, he couldn’t say, but it brought out weird feelings. Protectiveness and worry and...never mind about the rest.

He’d practically grown up with her, they’d been friends for so long. They relied on each other, but not in a romantic way. She’d always viewed him as a big brother, and he’d considered her a...

He took another bite of steak and chewed a little too aggressively.

So he’d had a crush on her and lived for her emails and calls all through high school, even though they’d been apart.

And big deal, he’d visited her every chance he could get when she was at college.

The day she’d called and told him she’d gotten engaged had been like a big cow patty to the face for him. But he’d congratulated her, hung up, dusted off his chaps, gotten back in the saddle and ridden out to the section of fence he’d been about to replace. He may have chopped an old post into tiny bits that afternoon, but by the next morning, he’d been fine.