Cowboy for Keeps

“I don’t care that she’s pregnant.”

“Didn’t think so, because your old girlfriend had a little girl and that didn’t bother you.”

It hadn’t bothered Conner. He’d gotten along well with the child and missed her. More than he did her mother, who’d dumped him when his severance pay ran out and he could no longer afford her expensive tastes.

“Be a big step, getting involved with a woman carrying another man’s baby.” Gavin’s voice was absent of judgment.

Conner paused and rested his arm on the side of the wagon. “It’s not her pregnancy stopping me.”

“Her ex-fiancé? Kind of awkward with him still in the picture.”

“No fooling.”

Gavin scratched behind his ear. “I’d be wondering if she was comparing me to him.”

Conner’s stomach clenched. He hadn’t considered that unpleasant possibility.

“’Course, there would be a certain satisfaction in dating her. Paybacks are hell.”

Conner rarely got mad, but his temper abruptly flared. “If I was to ever go out with Dallas, and I’m not, it wouldn’t be to get back at Richard. She’s too good for that.”

Gavin chuckled and retreated a step. “Hey, relax. I wasn’t serious.”

Conner reached for the canvas satchel containing the snacks he’d packed, shoving it next to the ice chest.

Gavin watched him closely. “What’s the real reason you won’t ask her out?”

“Richard being her baby’s father isn’t enough of one?”

“I know you, buddy, and you’ve got a hankering for Dallas. Did from the first time you laid eyes on her.”

Conner wished his friend was less astute.

He had always been drawn to her. She was pretty and genuinely nice, with a heart of gold. Her small, curvy body enticed him more than his model-thin ex-girlfriend’s ever did.

What really appealed to him, however, was her gumption. Her adventurous nature and love of life. Her many passions and her dedication to them. The fearless way she pursued her ambitions.

Conner had been the same once. Passionate and fearless, with an endless supply of gumption.

Then he’d lost his job and a large chunk of his self-esteem in the face of countless thanks-but-no-thankses.

“Richard was a fool to let her go.”

“Here’s your chance, buddy,” Gavin continued. “You don’t ask her out, I guarantee you someone else will, pregnant or not.”

“I’m not asking her out,” Conner repeated.

“She doesn’t care that you aren’t bringing home six figures a year.”

He jerked at the reminder of his former circumstances. “I care.”

“Money’s not important to her.”

“Easy to say.” Conner’s ex-girlfriend used to profess a similar sentiment. Funny how people change.

A horn beeped, causing both men to turn. Dallas waved from her Prius, then headed behind the barn, where the parking area was located.

“You’re wrong.” Conner returned to loading the wagon. “A husband who can provide for her and her child is what’s important to her.”

“She tell you that?” Gavin asked.

“It’s what she deserves.” And what, at the moment, Conner couldn’t give her.

“She’s planning on raising her child alone. If money was important to her, she’d have stayed with Richard.”

“He’s paying child support, or will. On his salary, it ought to be plenty generous.”

“Ah,” Gavin said knowingly.

“What does that mean?”

“If your ego was any bigger, it’d swallow you whole.”

Conner glanced at Dallas, who was quickly approaching and almost within earshot. “This has nothing to do with my ego.”

“Right.” Gavin let loose another chuckle.

Connor cursed under his breath. Once again, his friend’s insightfulness was right on the mark.

* * *

THEY ENTERED the mountains at one of the trailheads behind Powell Ranch. For the first twenty minutes, Dallas could hardly sit still. Head swiveling, she took in the view from her elevated vantage point on the wagon seat.

“Nice.”

“You haven’t seen anything yet.”

They reached the first hill and began their ascent. Conner clucked to the horses, which leaned into the harness as they pulled their heavy load.

Dallas swallowed. “This is steeper than I thought it would be.”

“You want to turn back?”

She dug her fingers into the seat. “Absolutely not!”

The trail, barely wide enough to accommodate the wagon, curved sharply. Conner guided the team of horses, talking to them in a calming tone.

Dallas told herself he’d promised they’d take the easy routes, and she trusted him.