Having The Rancher's Baby

She grimaced. “No, thanks.”

“Still nauseous?”

“It comes and goes.” She hesitated a moment, then touched his arm in a brief but personal gesture. “See you in the meeting.”

Cole watched her walk away, head held high and shoulders squared as if steeling herself for what lay ahead.

No sense waiting. Holding his plate of sopapillas, he cut across the kitchen to the dining room. That was where most meetings were conducted, along with Sunday and holiday dinners, which Raquel hosted with pleasure.

The house also had an office that once belonged to Cole’s father. Before Gabe became engaged to Reese and started helping at the Small Change, he’d handled all the ranch finances and record keeping, sitting behind the desk their father once occupied.

In recent months, Josh had taken over the task. Cole rarely set foot in the office. He could barely balance his own personal checking account. The ranch finances, already shaky, would suffer further if he were to get involved.

Cole’s brothers and Vi were already gathered in the brightly lit dining room by the time he wandered in. The three floor-to-ceiling windows let in the late-afternoon sun. If not for the air conditioner humming away, the room would have heated to an unbearable temperature.

Everyone glanced up at Cole’s entrance, each of them wearing a different expression. Vi’s was carefully contained, Josh’s piqued with interest and Gabe’s a mixture of mild confusion and curiosity. Then again, he was the only one who didn’t know why Vi had called the meeting.

Cole took the seat beside Gabe and across from Vi. Josh sent him a private look that Cole interpreted as “Good luck.”

Gabe caught the exchange, and his confusion visibly increased. Cole decided to let him stew. It would be better for all if he played dumb. The meeting was Vi’s to run and the news hers to break. He was also still learning his way with his half brother. They’d become friends, which was a huge step from when Cole first arrived at Dos Estrellas. But they weren’t close. Yet.

Gabe had loved their father, and why not? He was the son who’d grown up with August Dempsey. The son their father had taken under his wing and taught the cattle business, and who’d stayed by their father’s side those long eighteen months while he’d been ill. The son who’d been promised the ranch.

For that reason, Gabe hadn’t liked Cole and Josh when they first met, seeing them as unwelcome intruders. But necessity had a way of making allies of would-be enemies. For their own different and very personal reasons, the three brothers had agreed to join forces and run the ranch together for a year. Hopefully, by then it would be operating in the black.

Cole had been waiting patiently for that day, when he’d be able to get his share of their inheritance and leave. With Vi’s pregnancy, his plan might change.

Sweat seeped into his shirt collar, and he absently tugged at it. Was he on edge? Hell, yes. This wasn’t just any family meeting. Vi was getting ready to rock their world.

In response to that thought, more sweat saturated his collar. He hadn’t felt this way since the last time he’d ridden a bull.

Vi turned to a page in her notebook and glanced at the sheet. “If everyone’s ready, we can get started.”

Her statement was met with nods of agreement.

“Let’s do it,” said Gabe.

She swallowed. “I want to thank you for giving me some time off recently. As you know, my parents are getting a divorce, and it’s not going amicably.”

“If you need more time, take it.” Gabe relaxed, no doubt thinking this was the reason for the meeting.

“I do, actually. And thank you.”

“No problem.”

“But not to visit them in Seattle. I, um, have some news. My own news. It’s a bit unexpected. For everyone.” She paused and swallowed again, careful to keep her features neutral. “I’m... I’m pregnant.”

Gabe’s jaw went slack, and he stared, dumbfounded. Josh tried to act surprised and did a passable job.

“You’re right,” Gabe said, and raked his fingers through his dark hair. “This is unexpected. I guess congratulations are in order.”

Vi attempted a smile. “I appreciate it.”

“You’re going to want time off when the baby’s born?” Gabe was clearly struggling to understand. He shot a glance at both Cole and Josh. Neither of them made a comment.

“I saw my doctor yesterday,” Vi said. “She recommended—insisted, really—that I work fewer hours and rest more.” Finally, she glanced briefly at Cole and Josh. “As Gabe knows, I have a history of miscarriages. I’m hoping you’ll agree to let me work half days for the foreseeable future. Naturally, you don’t have to pay me for the time off.”

Gabe didn’t hesitate. Neither did he confer with Cole or Josh. “Of course. And we’ll give you full pay.”

“I can’t ask that of you.”

“You aren’t asking. We’re offering. And that includes after the baby’s born.”

Cole noticed Josh struggling to stay quiet. Dos Estrellas wasn’t in a financial position to carry an employee who wasn’t working full-time. Yet Vi had been with the ranch for over ten years. She deserved special consideration for her loyalty.

“No.” Tears welled in her eyes, and she shook her head emphatically. “I won’t accept pay if I’m not working. But I do have vacation and sick time coming.”

“We’ll figure something out,” Gabe said.

“If I...if anything happens, then of course I’ll come back to work full-time as soon as I’m able.”

“Nothing will happen.” Gabe didn’t ask her to elaborate. “When are you having the baby?”

“Seven months. December.”

Gabe furrowed his brows in concentration, as people did when they were mentally counting backward. He, too, must have heard the gossip from Leroy, for he looked directly at Cole and didn’t appear happy.

Cole waited for Vi to say something, naming him as the father, or for Gabe to straight out ask. Neither happened.

Vi continued after consulting her notebook. “The doctor says I can still work. Just no riding and no heavy lifting. I realize that describes about half my job. But I can still run errands, do the paperwork, make phone calls, meet with the vet. I can either work mornings or afternoons or split my shift with a break in the middle. Whatever’s convenient for you.”

“Let’s see how it goes,” Gabe said. “Take each week, each day as it comes.”

“I want to make this as easy on everyone as possible.” She read from her notebook, then cleared her throat. “I have a suggestion, if no one minds.”

“Fire away.”

“Since you’re busy at the Small Change and Josh is tied up covering for you, I thought maybe Cole could take over some of my duties.”

“Me?” He sat up straight. “I’m not qualified to be livestock manager.”

“I’d still be in charge,” Vi said. “Oversee your work like I do now.”

“We’ll all help you, Cole,” Gabe said, as if it was a done deal.

“Sounds good to me,” added Josh.

“Now, wait a minute—”