The Nine-Month Bride. Judy Christenberry

The desire to hold his son in his arms was overpowering. He could see himself teaching the boy about the ranch, about his heritage. They would share the past and the future.

      And Lucas would love him, his child, as he’d loved Beth and that other little baby boy. With all his heart.

      He slung himself behind the wheel of his truck and drummed his fingers on the steering wheel. What now? Doc didn’t seem to think he’d be able to find someone willing to have his baby.

      The old man had suggested he go into Denver and find some poor woman who needed money desperately. Hell, he didn’t want his child’s mother to be a street person. She had to be strong, healthy, upstanding.

      A dry chuckle surprised him. He couldn’t say Miss Langston was weak. Or meek. Or agreeable. She was tall, too. He’d worried about his future sons with Beth. She was so little. What if—such a thought seemed like a betrayal of their love. But—

      He turned the key and slammed the truck into Drive. He wasn’t going to think about such things. Didn’t matter anyway. Beth was dead. They wouldn’t have children together.

      When he stopped the truck at the streetlight, he realized he was half a block from Doc’s office. He’d make a detour and fill him in on the latest discussion with Miss Disagreeable Langston.

      “You did what?” asked Doc, a comical look on his face, after Lucas revealed his conversation with the woman.

      “I just told you. I offered—”

      “I heard you. Lord’a’mercy, boy, don’t you have any more sense than that?”

      “What’s the matter with what I offered? She’d get to have a baby, take care of it and get paid for the job, too.”

      Doc grinned. “And what was her answer?”

      “She wouldn’t even consider it.”

      “That doesn’t surprise me.”

      “So why did you suggest such a disagreeable woman?”

      “Disagreeable? Susannah Langston? Everyone loves her. She’s patient with the elderly, gentle and loving with the children and extremely knowledgeable about her job. What’s not to like?”

      “She wasn’t gentle, loving or patient with me.”

      “And were you any of those with her?”

      “Hell, no! I just met the woman.”

      “Then why expect anything different in return?”

      “You’re turning the tables on me, just like she did,” Lucas complained, frowning fiercely. What was wrong with everyone today?

      “Lucas, you’re spoiled. You’ve been running a huge operation for about eight years now, and everyone jumps to your command. Your wife was a sweet lady, beautiful, but she would’ve jumped off a bridge if you told her to. When was the last time someone told you no?”

      “Today,” he replied grimly.

      “Exactly, and you’re upset that she didn’t see everything your way.”

      Lucas sprang from his chair and paced the office. “Okay, okay, maybe it isn’t the best deal for her. But—but I need my son, Doc,” he whispered, his head bowed. “I need a reason to keep going, to look to the future.”

      Dr. Grable stood and came around the desk to put an arm around Lucas’s shoulders. “I know you do, son. And I’m going to help you.”

      Chapter Three

      “How?” Lucas asked hoarsely. He hadn’t intended to break down in front of Doc—or anyone for that matter. He was embarrassed and anxious to get back in control.

      “It’s simple. You marry the woman.”

      He stared at the old man. Doc must’ve lost his mind. “I can’t do that, Doc, and you know it!”

      “’Course you can.”

      He jerked away from Doc’s touch. “No, I can’t. I can’t let myself—I loved Beth!”

      “I know you did, son. But that doesn’t mean you can’t marry again. Lots of men do.” Doc moved back to his chair. “Come sit down and let’s talk about it.”

      “No! When I lost Beth and my baby boy, I vowed I’d never—I can’t do that, Doc!” He clenched his jaw. A man didn’t cry, especially not where someone else could see him.

      “You took a few hits that year,” Doc said calmly. “After all, your father had been dead only a few months. And your friend Billy died in that car crash in Denver. A rough time.”

      Lucas shook his head and stared out the window. He’d been doing a lot of that lately. But it was easier than facing Doc’s pity.

      “But that doesn’t matter, because I’m not asking you to love Miss Langston. Just to marry her.”

      Lucas turned to stare at Doc. If he’d thought him crazy before, now he knew it. “Come on, Doc. She wouldn’t even consider what I offered today. If I tried that idea on her, she’d slug me.”

      “Why?”

      “Why? No woman would consider that kind of marriage proposal! It’s an insult.”

      “It’s my belief there are a lot more marriages based on practical reasons than there are based on love. And if you look at it from a practical angle, it meets all of your and her requirements.”

      “I don’t see how,” Lucas said, but he took the chair in front of Doc’s desk, listening intently.

      Doc raised his hand and began counting off his reasons. “You get your son and someone to take care of him. And no gossip. She gets her baby and someone to support both of them. And no gossip.”

      Put that way, Doc’s idea seemed simple. But Lucas didn’t think a female would think the same way. “I don’t believe Miss Langston would agree with you. In fact, I’m sure she wouldn’t. She hasn’t agreed with anything I’ve said!”

      “Maybe you haven’t approached her right. You gotta give her a little romance, take her out to din—”

      Before he could finish, Lucas jumped up from his chair. “Wait a minute! You said no romance!”

      “Nope. I said no love. Women set a lot of store by romance. You know the things—flowers, gifts… All that takes is a little money and a little thinking.”

      “I’m not going to mislead her,” Lucas muttered as he stared at the calendar on Doc’s desk. He didn’t realize his mistake until he looked at Doc and discovered a big grin on his face. “I haven’t agreed to it!” he hurriedly said.

      “Just think about it, son. Just think about it.”

      Susannah pulled herself together after a few minutes. It was foolish to wish for what she couldn’t have. She’d learned that lesson a long time ago when the petite, pretty blondes, girls like Beth Boyd, took the roles of cheerleaders, homecoming queens and popular dates, while the tall, gawky, plain girls sat home, waiting for the phone to ring.

      It was no surprise that Lucas Boyd still loved his dead wife. And mourned his baby boy. His pain had touched her again. She could understand why he wanted a baby, even if he didn’t comprehend her reasons.

      But she couldn’t give up her baby any more than he could.

      She squared her shoulders and picked up the phone. She was going to have her baby.

      She dialed the number written on the pad. After a conversation with the fertility clinic in Denver, she felt a little better.

      Life was strange. Lucas Boyd had had all the things she wanted. Now, he was no better off than she was. Indeed, he was worse off, because he couldn’t have his child.