Aidan: Loyal Cowboy. Cathy Mcdavid

hand.

      No, carried them inside her. Setting the wand on the bathroom sink, she pressed a palm to her belly.

      A baby! The timing couldn’t be any worse and, my goodness, what would Ace say?

      She slipped the wand into her robe pocket and inspected herself in the bathroom mirror, tilting her head to the side. She was going to be a mother in, she mentally counted, about eight months! Thanksgiving time.

      Did she look any different?

      What had her own mother thought when she realized she was carrying Flynn’s older sister, Nora?

      That a baby was the last thing she wanted?

      Flynn considered calling Dinah, asking her friend to meet her after work. Flynn could use an ear to bend, a shoulder to lean on. But Dinah was Ace’s sister and the two of them were thick as thieves. Flynn couldn’t chance Ace finding out about the baby until she was ready to tell him. Until she’d decided on a course of action.

      She’d have the baby, there was no question of that. With the possible exception of Ace, she hadn’t wanted anything more. Ever. Her way of compensating for her mother’s abandonment, she supposed, and Paul’s. His refusal to even consider having children for years and years into the future had been the final, backbreaking straw in their shaky marriage, ending with him walking out on her.

      A baby. She still couldn’t believe it! The prospect petrified her. Wanting children didn’t necessarily mean she was ready to be a mother. It also thrilled her. This was a dream come true.

      Flynn stumbled from the bathroom, the news of her condition, more than the condition itself, making her light-headed. She usually awoke after her father, so it was no surprise to find him in the kitchen, drinking a cup of coffee, nibbling on a piece of toast and reviewing paperwork.

      “Morning, sweetie pie.” His tone lacked his usual enthusiasm and his smile its usual luster.

      Who was she kidding? Her father’s smile had been mostly lusterless for months.

      How to tell him about the baby? She longed to share her news with someone who loved and understood her. Dinah was out of the question and Nora, the next logical choice, would be in the middle of dropping her sons off at day care on her way to work. Forget calling her mother. Flynn wasn’t in the mood for a lecture.

      She reached for the pot of coffee on the counter, then stopped. Returning the mug to the cupboard, she grabbed a juice glass instead. Caffeine wasn’t good for the baby. Orange juice, however, very good.

      “What are you looking at, Dad?”

      “This is a listing agreement with the real estate agent I hired.”

      “Really?” She sat at the table. “When did you talk to him?”

      “Her. And it was yesterday. We met while you were at work.”

      Well, he’d certainly moved quickly. He’d only just announced to the Harts on Saturday he was selling everything and getting out of the business. Today was Tuesday.

      “Are you going to sign it?”

      “Already did.” He held up the agreement for her to see. “Just reviewing it and making notes.”

      “Wow.” Flynn’s throat inexplicably tightened. This wasn’t the first time she’d moved from Roundup. Why, then, were her emotions threatening to spill over?

      Must be the baby and hormones.

      “Sweetie pie, what’s wrong?”

      Flynn glanced up to find her dad studying her. “Nothing. Actually, everything’s falling into place perfectly. You’re selling the ranch, we’re moving to Billings, I’m going to nursing school.”

      “Then why are you crying?”

      She touched her cheek, stunned to find it damp.

      What a mess. Everything wasn’t perfect.

      Having a baby was supposed to be exhilarating. Deeply satisfying. One of life’s greatest joys. Flynn felt those things. She was also still in shock and uncertain. At this moment, those feelings overwhelmed the others.

      “Dad,” she blurted. “I have something to tell you. You’re going to be surprised. A good surprise, I hope.”

      Please let him be happy for me.

      He laid the listing agreement aside, his expression concerned. “You’re not going back to school?”

      She could do both, right? Go to school and have a baby?

      “No. I am.” She swallowed. This was much harder than she’d anticipated. “I’m… Wow.” She gathered her wildly racing thoughts. “I’m pregnant.”

      He sat back, his eyes wide and unblinking. “That is a surprise.”

      “I only found out myself a few minutes ago when I took the home pregnancy test.”

      “How far along are you?” he stammered.

      “A month or so.”

      Flynn’s chest tightened, and her eyes stung. She wished her father would stop sitting there, staring at her. “You’re disappointed in me.”

      “God, no, Flynn.” He sprang from his chair, hauled her to her feet and clasped her to him. “I love you, I could never be disappointed in you. It’s just like you say, a surprise.” He set her back from him, brushed her hair from her face in a familiar and tender gesture reminiscent of when she was a young girl. “I love being a grandfather. It’s one of the reasons I want to move to Billings. And I know how much you’ve always hankered for kids of your own. I just figured…”

      “That I’d be married.”

      “Something like that. I’m your old man.” He shrugged apologetically. “Can’t help wanting what I think is best for you.”

      Flynn hugged him fiercely, laid her head on his chest.

      “I’m happy for you, sweetie pie.”

      “I’m happy, too. And a little nervous.”

      “Kids are a big step.” He kissed the top of her head. “But you’ll do fine. And you’ll be a wonderful mother.” He grew suddenly serious. “You are keeping the baby.”

      “Of course I am!”

      “That’s good.” He patted her reassuringly. “Is Ace the dad?”

      Now it was Flynn’s turn to stare at her father in confusion. “H-how did you—”

      “Because, there really hasn’t been any other man for you.”

      If her father knew, then chances were Sarah Hart did, too. All those months trying to hide her and Ace’s relationship from their parents had apparently been for nothing.

      Flynn grimaced. What would Ace’s mother, his whole family, think of her when they found out about the baby?

      “Do you love him?” her father asked.

      Flynn involuntarily stiffened. Dinah Hart had been the only one to ask her that before. She’d noticed Flynn’s crush on her older brother, a crush that had developed into much more when she and Ace dated.

      Except Flynn had kept those feelings hidden and always would, not even telling Dinah.

      “I— I’m… It’s complicated.”

      Thankfully her father didn’t pressure her for more. They returned to their chairs, and he clasped her hand across the table. “I take it you haven’t told Ace yet.”

      “No.”

      “Are you going to?”

      Flynn pushed her half-empty juice glass away. It suddenly didn’t appeal to her anymore. “I wouldn’t hide the baby from him. But I’m going to wait until I