Page 10 of One Lucky Cowboy

“Okay, well, I mean, I’d have liked to be a part of this, but if it’s good for the company—” What else could she say? I wanted to be your partner, not work for your husband? It wasn’t her company. And now it looked like it never would be. She shivered even though the room was plenty warm in the afternoon sun.

“We’ll announce it the end of the month at the Cattleman’s Association fair.”

Jill stood up and paced behind the couch until a shrill whistle blew through the tap, tap, tap of her stilettos on the wood floor. She turned off the teapot, poured water over two bags in two mugs and then stood there.

The end of the month. She had time, but would that matter?

She’d turned down running a company that would have given her control and let her run things the way she wanted. No, it didn’t make her heart happy, not like Steel Born did, but would that even be the case anymore now that Maggie and her husband would be running the show? Would there even be room for Jill’s influence anymore?

So many questions, and only one made it past her lips.

“Was this Bennett’s idea?” Jill asked. She squeezed her eyes shut so the heat behind them wouldn’t spill out. Crying at what was supposed to be good news wasn’t a good look.

Maggie didn’t answer her question, instead going with, “We’re just trying to do what’s best for the company—”

“A female-owned company that was working to make real strides to bring parity to the ranching world. Now”—she swallowed back bile building in the back of her throat—“now we’ll be just like everyone else in the business. Run by a man.”

Jill walked back in and plunked the two glasses on the oak table, sloshing some hot water over the sides. She couldn’t help it—her hands trembled like they were in an earthquake.

Maggie’s smile fell. Her friend looked worn. Deep lines around her eyes and lips spoke of an exhaustion beyond the normal tiredness of running a company. Still, she couldn’t figure out why Maggie’d kept this from her, and why she felt the need to drag Jill from the city to announce the merger when it was already in the works.

“What aren’t you telling me, Maggie?” Jill asked.

“What’s going on with Lily?” Maggie asked at the same time.

Jill gestured for her friend to go first. She needed time to regain her bearings. To think through how this was going to upend her life as she knew it—and not in any good ways she could discern.

“Is Lily okay? She’s really lethargic and her breathing sounds labored.”

“Well, she’s fine if you don’t count being knocked up by a random dog at the dog park. She’s about halfway through her pregnancy. You’re going to be an aunt.”

Of all the reactions Jill expected—a laugh at the ridiculousness of the situation, surprise at the circumstances surrounding the pregnancy, even disgust at Jill for allowing her dog to be unspayed—the reality was much odder.

Maggie broke into tears, heavy and wracking her whole torso with sobs.

Jill abandoned her tea and frustration and was at her friend’s side in an instant. Rubbing her back, she felt Maggie’s spine protruding through the threadbare robe. She’d lost weight. A lot of it that she didn’t have to lose.

“Okay, that’s enough. What’s going on, Maggie? You need to tell me what’s up. Please.”

“That wasn’t supposed to be the good news. I called you here to tell you something else, but then … then things changed yesterday at my doctor’s appointment.”

Oh, God. No. Please let Maggie be okay. I’ll work for whomever if she can just be okay.

“I’m pregnant. We’re—Bennett and me—are pregnant.”

Jill shot up again. “What? That’s fantastic. Congratulations, Mags!”

Maggie burst into fresh sobs. “It isn’t fantastic. I have to be on bedrest unless I’m going to the bathroom or making something on my severely limited list of what I can eat. I can’t do anything, Jill. How am I supposed to run a company—” Her words were cut short by a heaving spasm that rolled through her body. Jill sat and cradled her.

It all made sense. Why Maggie wanted to merge the companies, why she hadn’t involved Jill, and why she was so scared and exhausted.

The most important matter of business was making sure her friend was okay—not just physically, but that she felt like she had support and someone to count on. No matter what else Jill was, she was Maggie’s best friend.

The rest would come.

“It’ll be okay. I promise. Whatever you need, I’ve got you.”

“Thanks, Jill. You’ve no idea how much that means to me. I mean, Bennett’s family has been great, but you’re my family. Have I told you how glad I am that you’re here?”

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