The Rancher's Baby Proposal. Barbara Daille White

to ask about the time you said you had free. While I’m here, I could use some help in the late afternoon and maybe some evenings.”

      Ally reached for her tea glass again and hoped Reagan couldn’t see her hand shaking. This was Reagan Chase, the boy she had had a crush on all through school, the boy who had barely seemed to notice she was alive. Even back then, to her, he had looked hotter than a jalapeño—and he had grown up to become a man who looked ten times better than he had years ago.

      And that man wanted her help.

      “Of course,” she said brightly, trying to hide her elation. “I’d be happy to give you a hand. Since you haven’t been home since...since your mama and then your father died, I’m sure there’s a lot to be done at the house. I’m sorry about your parents, Reagan,” she said in a softer tone, “and sorry I never had the chance to tell you before today.”

      How could she—or anyone else in Cowboy Creek—have told him? He hadn’t been home since before his mama died.

      He nodded.

      She hesitated, then said, “It’s been over a year since your father passed. What brings you home now?”

      He looked down at his glass. She felt sure he wouldn’t answer. Too late, she realized maybe she shouldn’t have asked.

      Finally, he said, “The right way to phrase that question probably is why haven’t I come back before now.” He shrugged. “This was the first chance I had to get here.”

      “Well, I’m glad you’re back. Everyone else will be, too. And I’m happy to help you empty closets, sort through cabinets, do some cleaning.”

      But not clearing out. Now you’re here, tell me you’re going to stay.

      “Thanks,” he said, “but that’s not the kind of help I need.”

      Because you are planning to stay.

      Her heart nearly jumped from joy. She couldn’t help the reaction. She’d had years of history behind her when it came to caring about Reagan.

      “That’s fine, too,” she assured him. “If it’s anything to do with paperwork, I can help. I do some of the parts orders and the filing at the store. And Tina’s a bookkeeper. She’ll help me out if you need to do anything with financial paperwork or taxes. So...what can I do for you?”

      He smiled, and her heart gave an extra thump.

      “While I’m in town,” he said, “I need a babysitter.”

       Chapter Two

      Reagan’s matter-of-fact statement sent a shock wave all the way down to Ally’s toes. “A...” She gulped. “A b-babysitter?”

      “Yes.”

      “For a baby? Your baby?” Now, her heart plummeted. He had a child. Did he also have a wife?

      Why hadn’t she thought of that before she had agreed to meet him here? Wildly, she sent her gaze to his hand then back to his clear blue eyes. No ring on his finger. Not that a lack of one meant much. She saw enough married men, especially cowboys and ranchers, come into the store without their wedding rings. Jewelry could become a hazard to people who worked around equipment and livestock.

      If she were married, she would wear a ring. She would want people to see the symbol of her love, of her devotion—once it was a done deal. However, she hadn’t met the right cowboy yet...because no other cowboy could live up to Reagan Chase.

      “Yes,” he said, “I need a babysitter for my baby. I’m not married,” he added flatly.

      Relief flooded through her. Though curiosity about his past filled her, too, she knew she had to focus on the here and now. She nodded, not sure what to say.

      “It’s a long story. One I’d rather not get into. But I have a one-month-old son. I’ve got someone to watch him during the day. You know Mrs. Browley?”

      “Of course. She’s one of my mama’s best friends.”

      “She was to my mom, too. They spent a lot of time together at the women’s club and planning events at the community center.”

      “I remember,” she said softly. “Everyone misses her.”

      “Yeah.” He stripped the covering from the straw he hadn’t used and concentrated on wrapping it around his fingers. “Anyway, I stopped by Mrs. B’s place to talk with her on my way here to Sugar’s. She said she’ll watch my son during the mornings and early afternoons. I’ll be back again from San Antonio two days from now, and I already made arrangements to drop him off directly there. Then I expect to be busy out at the ranch all day.” He took another long swallow of his tea.

      As he tipped his head back to drink, she watched the muscles working in his throat. When he set the glass down, a rim of tea still wet his upper lip. He licked the moisture away. She shivered and glanced down at the tabletop.

      “I’ll call you to confirm I’m back,” he said. “If you could pick him up at her house once you get off work in the afternoons, it would be a big help. I’m bound to be filthy from prowling around the ranch, and I’d lose a lot of good work time if I had to stop and shower up to come into town in the middle of the day.”

      At the thought of him in the shower, she shivered again. Trying to blame her reactions on her iced drink, she tightened her hand around the tall glass.

      “I’ll pay you whatever it is you make hourly at the store,” he told her.

      I don’t want your money.

      But how could she say that? He would find it highly suspicious, especially since she had said she could use the extra cash. And she couldn’t confess to him that minding his baby scared the heck out of her. Not meeting his eyes, she sipped her tea and then touched the paper napkin to her lips.

      She thought of all the years she had crushed on Reagan. Everyone in school probably knew how she felt about him. He must have known it, too. He couldn’t have missed it...could he? Now the idea made her cringe. If he had noticed, she couldn’t risk saying something that would make him recall how much she had liked him...and maybe make him change his mind about asking for her help.

      Worse, if she didn’t guard her reactions now, he would find out how much she still cared.

      “You’d...want me to take the baby home with me until you pick him up?” That would work. Mama could help her with him.

      “He’ll be fine with Mrs. B all day, I know that. But his routine will already be upset enough since he won’t be with his regular sitter. I’d rather you bring him out to the ranch and watch him there, if that’s not a problem for you.”

      She was stuck between a rock and a hard place, as Jed Garland would say. She would go out to Reagan’s family home to spend afternoons and evenings with him...and a baby she had no idea how to handle.

      Fear at her inexperience fought with her longing to be with Reagan.

      His small smile crinkled the corners of his eyes. His expression looked hopeful...and just a bit desperate.

      Longing left her light-headed. Reagan needed her.

      This was the chance she had always wanted to get close to him.

      Well, if she could play the role of The Girl Most Likely to Make You Laugh, she could also convince herself she would be an expert babysitter. “No worries,” she said firmly. “Watching the baby out at the ranch won’t be a problem at all.”

      * * *

      “BUT, TINA,” ALLY WAILED, “what was I thinking? I don’t know anything about babies!”

      After her meeting with Reagan at SugarPie’s, she had come out to the Hitching Post to see Tina, as she had told Jed she would.

      Her