Aidan: Loyal Cowboy

“I realize that family is important to you. How could I not?”

She was referring to when they broke up ten years ago.

“After my dad died, I didn’t have any choice. I needed to finish school and help Mom run the ranch. There wasn’t anybody else to do it.”

“So you said. Countless times.”

“Tuf joined the Marines. Dinah was trying to turn her life around. Colt decided he’d rather be on the road than at home. What was I supposed to do?”

“Exactly what you did.”

“We were nearly broke, thanks to my dad.”

A surge of anger from years earlier resurfaced, stifling Ace. How could his father have been so careless with the ranch?

Easy. Alcohol had clouded his judgment.

“You’re right, your mom needed you.” Flynn rubbed her temples. “I didn’t mean to dredge up the past.”

“I want to be an active father. Change diapers. Take the 3:00 a.m. feeding. Rock him or her to sleep.” Ace wasn’t sure where this spontaneous paternal drive came from, only that the baby mattered greatly. “I can’t do those things if you’re in Billings.”

“Like you said, you have an awful lot on your plate right now.”

“This is my child. You have to stay.”

“Billings isn’t far. You can visit. Often.”

“I’m not driving an hour to see my child.”

“Once Dad sells the ranch and moves, there’s nothing keeping me here.”

Was he nothing?

Apparently so.

“What about your job?”

“I’m enrolling in nursing school.”

“Won’t that be an awful lot on your plate? School and taking care of a baby?”

“I can manage. Between my dad and my sister and day care.”

“Day care?” He scowled. “You’d let strangers take care of our child?”

“I’ll find qualified day care. The university may have a facility.”

“No.”

She gaped at him, her jaw slack. “I beg your pardon?”

“I don’t want you leaving our baby in day care. There has to be another solution.”

“Like what? You watch him?”

“Why not? He could stay here with me during the week and you have him on the weekends. My mom will help.” As if she wasn’t as busy as Ace.

“No way!”

“You don’t get to make all the decisions, Flynn.”

Her mouth quivered. “Neither do you.”

Ace paused, breathed deeply. He hated being harsh with her. “It’s only late March. You won’t be starting school until, what? The fall?”

“I was hoping to take some online classes this summer.”

“You can do that from here.”

“And Billings.”

“Not until your dad’s ranch sells, which gives us a little time to decide. Together.”

She shrugged.

“Flynn.” He took a chance, reached out and captured her hand. “We’re having a baby. It’s pretty incredible when you think about it.”

She wiped at the tears spilling from her eyes.

“Don’t cry.” He’d always been a sucker for a woman’s tears and ached to kiss her.

Better not. She’d probably club him up the side of the head.

A hug, that was the safer option.

He put an arm around her, pulled her close and stroked her back. “It’s going to be okay. We’re going to be okay.”

She surprised him by returning the hug and burying her face in his jacket.

He cupped the back of her neck, threaded his fingers into the hair that had escaped her colorful stocking cap.

“There’s another solution, you know,” he murmured.

“What’s that?”

“We get married.”

She pushed away from him. “Ace, I can’t.”