B.J. Daniels - Cowboy's Redemption

She refused to think about that as she got up. Her escape had cost her. She hurt all over. The scratches on her face and the sore muscles were painful. But far worse was the ache in her heart. She’d had to leave Grace behind.

Still dressed in the sweatshirt and sweatpants and barefoot, she followed the smell of frying bacon to the kitchen. Colt had music playing and was singing softly to a country music song. She had to smile, remembering how much he’d liked to dance.

That memory brought a rush of heat to her cheeks. She’d told herself that she hadn’t been in her right mind that night, but seeing Colt again, she knew that was a lie. He’d liberated that woman from the darkness she’d been living in. He’d brought out a part of her she hadn’t known existed.

He seemed to sense her in the doorway and turned, instantly smiling. “I hope you don’t mind pancakes again. There was batter left over. I haven’t been to the store. But I did find some bacon in the freezer.”

“It’s making my stomach growl. Is there anything I can do to help?”

“Nope, just bring your appetite.” He motioned for her to take a seat. “I made a lot. I don’t know about you, but I’m hungry.”

She sat down at the table and watched him expertly flip pancakes and load up a plate with bacon.

As he set everything on the table and took a chair, he met her gaze. “How are you feeling?”

“Better. I slept well.” For that he couldn’t imagine how thankful she was. “On the compound, they would wake me every few hours to chant over me.”

“Sounds like brainwashing,” Colt said, his jaw tightening.

“Jonas calls it rehabilitation.”

He pushed the bacon and pancakes toward her. “Eat while it’s hot. We’ll deal with everything else once we’ve eaten.”

She looked into his handsome face, remembered being in his arms and felt a flood of guilt. If there was any other way of saving Grace, she wouldn’t have involved him in this. But he had been involved since that night in Billings when she’d asked for his help and he hadn’t hesitated. He just hadn’t known then that what he was getting involved in was more than dangerous.

Once Jonas knew that Colt was the father of her baby... She shuddered at the thought of what she was about to do to this wonderful man.

Chapter Four

Colt picked at his food. He’d lied about being hungry. Just the smell of it turned his stomach. But he watched Lola wolf down hers as if she hadn’t eaten in months. He suspected she hadn’t eaten much. She was definitely thinner than she’d been that night in Billings a year ago.

But if anything, she was even more striking, with her pale skin and those incredible eyes. He was glad to see her hair down. It fell in a waterfall of gold down her back. He was reminded again how she’d looked the first time he’d seen her—and when he’d opened the door last night.

“I’ve been thinking about what we should do first,” Colt said as he moved his food around the plate. “We need to start by getting you some clothing that fits,” he said as if all they had to worry about was a shopping trip. “Then I think we should go by the sheriff’s office.”

“There is somewhere we have to go first,” she said, looking up from cutting off a bite of pancake dripping with the red syrup. “I know you don’t trust me. It’s all right. I wouldn’t trust me, either. But don’t worry, you will.” She smiled. She had a slight gap between her two front teeth that made her smile adorable. That and the innocence in her lightly freckled face had sucked him in from the first.

He’d been vulnerable that night. He’d been a broken man and Lola had been more than a temptation. The fact that she’d sworn he was saving her that night hadn’t hurt, either.

He thought about the way she’d looked last night when he’d found her on his doorstep. She still had a scratch across one cheek and a cut under her right eye. It made her look like a tomboy.

“You have to admit, the story you told me last night was a little hard to believe.”

“I know. That’s why you have to let me prove it to you.”

He eyed her suspiciously. “And how do you plan to do that?”

“Do you know a doctor in town who can examine me?”

His pulse jumped. “I thought you said—”

“Not for that. Or for my mental proficiency.” Her gaze locked with his. “I need you to know that I had a baby three months ago. A doctor should be able to tell.” He started to argue, but she stopped him. “This is where we need to start before we go to the sheriff.”

He wanted to argue that this wasn’t necessary, but they both knew it was. If a doctor said she’d never given birth and none of this was real, then it would be over. No harm done. Except the idea of him and Lola having a baby together would always linger, he realized.

“I used to go to a family doctor here in town. If he’s still practicing...”

* * *

DR. HUBERT GRAY was a large man with a drooping gray mustache and matching bushy eyebrows over piercing blue eyes.

Colt explained what they wanted.

Dr. Gray narrowed his gaze for a moment, taking them both in. “Well, then, why don’t you step into the examination room with my nurse, Sara. She’ll get you ready while I visit with Colt here.”

The moment Lola and Sara left the room, the doctor leaned back in his office chair. “Let me get this straight. You aren’t even sure there is a child?”

“Lola says there is. Unfortunately, the baby isn’t here.”

The doctor nodded. “You realize this won’t prove that the child is yours—just that she has given birth before.”

Colt nodded. “I know this is unusual.”

“Nothing surprises me. By the way, I was sorry to hear about your father. Damn cancer. Only thing that could stop him from ranching.”

“Yes, he loved it.”

“Tell me about flying helicopters. You know I have my pilot’s license, but I’ve never flown a chopper.”

Colt told him what he loved about it. “There is nothing like being able to hover in the air, being able to put it down in places—” he shook his head “—that seem impossible.”

“I can tell that you love what you do, but did I hear you’re ranching again?”

“Temporarily.”

A buzz sounded and Dr. Gray rose. “This shouldn’t take long. Sit tight.”

True to his word, the doctor returned minutes later. Colt looked up expectantly. “Well?” he asked as Dr. Gray took his seat again behind his desk. Colt realized that his emotions were all over the place. He didn’t know what he was hoping to hear.

Did he really want to believe that Lola had given birth to their child to have it stolen by some crazy cult leader? Wouldn’t it be better if Lola had lied for whatever reason after becoming obsessed with him following their one-night stand?

“You wanted to know if she has recently given birth?” the doctor asked.

“Has she?” He held his breath, telling himself even if she had, it didn’t mean that any of the rest of it was true.

“Since she gave me permission to provide you with this information, I’d say she gave birth in the past three months.”

Just as she’d said. He glanced at the floor, not sure if he was relieved or not. He felt like a heel for having even a glimmer of doubt. But Lola was right. He’d had to know before he went any further with this. It wasn’t like he really knew this woman. He’d simply shared one night of intimacy all those months ago.

There was a tap at the door. The nurse stuck her head in to say that the doctor had another patient waiting. Behind the nurse, he saw Lola in the hallway. She looked as if she’d been crying. He quickly rose. “Thank you, Doc,” he said over his shoulder as he hurried to Lola, taking both of her hands in his. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. You didn’t have to do this.”