Page 47 of Caught By A Cowboy

“Eli, it’s nice to see you.” She smiles warmly as she makes her way toward us.

“Congratulations.” He manages to pull together a smile of his own and when she frowns in confusion, he tosses me to the wolves. “Jace told me about the baby. Maybe you could givesome tips to Isabel, we’ve been trying just about everything and yet…no success.”

“Oh.” Maddison looks uncomfortable as she takes my hand and makes a sweet little attempt to crush it.

“I’m sure she’ll be very excited to hear your news. You should come to dinner. She loves to entertain.” I hate the way he takes his time appreciating how good she looks in that dress as he wipes the sweat off his top lip.

“Sounds great.” Maddison doesn’t seem to notice, and when he nods us both a goodbye and backs out the door, I slam it closed behind him.

“Will youstoptelling people?” she scolds me. I take my own sweet time to check out how beautiful she looks and I have to bite down on my fist to stop me from hitching that dress up and filling her with cum before her parents arrive. I can’t let her distract me from how serious all the shit that's happening around us is becoming.

Billy McGee is fuckin’ dead, and I’m sure as I can be that it’s because of whatever he knew.

MADDISON

“Mom, Dad, this is Jace.” I pull back from the tight, lingering hug I pulled them together with, and smile so big it hurts my cheeks.

“Hello, Jason.” Mother wrinkles her nose as she looks him up and down.

“Actually, ma’am, it’s just Jace. Pleased to meet you.” He holds out his hand and when she drapes her fur coat over it instead of shaking it, he looks at me and fakes a grin.

“Mr MacKenzie.” He extends his hand to my father, who takes it and shakes it firmly. “Come on in, make yourself at home. Can I get you something…coffee, iced tea, liquor?” I appreciate Jace’s efforts to be polite while my mom steps into the living area and looks around it, judgingly.

“This is a nice place you have here,” my father comments as he moves to stand beside her.

“Thank you, sir, my father built the place himself.” Jace brushes his hand along my back as he joins them too.

“I made lemon drizzle, it’s not as good as Stella’s but it passes the bunkhouse boys.” I laugh nervously as I pick up the plate from the coffee table to show them.

“You made that?” My mother scoffs and when I see Jace’s face start to look angry, I shake my head and plead him with my eyes to keep his calm.

“Yes, I’ve gotten much better than I was when I first arrived, haven’t I, Jace?” I look to him for support and, of course, he doesn’t let me down.

“You sure have, darlin’.” His hand wraps around my hip and when Mother notices, her drawn-on eyebrows leap a little higher on her forehead.

I don’t miss the way she digs her elbow into my father's side to prompt him.

“Jace doesn’t just run that ranch, do you know he’s a volunteer firefighter for the town? The cities so far away that?—”

“I’ll cut straight to the chase, sweetheart.” Dad clears his throat. “We erm…we–”

“We demand you come home.” Mother decides he isn’t cutting to the chase fast enough.

“Well, I’m sorry, that isn’t going to happen.” I keep my tone soft and non-confrontational. I don’t want to argue with my parents, I want a relationship with them. I want our child to have a relationship with them too.

“Maddison, you're obviously ill. You need to speak to Bridget.” Mom lowers her voice as if sparing me from shame.

“I don’t need to see your therapist, Mother, I’m happy. The happiest I’ve been for… well, as long as I can remember.”

“This isn’t happiness.” Her head shakes as she looks Jace up and down in that same condescending way, and I’m surprised by how silent he remains. “This is…It’s just…lust.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment, ma’am.” Jace winks at her and I don’t know if her cheeks heat from rage or embarrassment.

“Maddison, you are coming home with us, righ–”

“I’m in love!” I may have just blurted the words out from nowhere, but I have no desire to take them back. Seeing myparents again has hit me with a reminder of how trapped I used to be and with Jace standing beside me, I no longer feel afraid. “I’m in love, we’re engaged and I’m… I’m pregnant.” I pull the pin on the grenade and watch my mother's shock turn to horror.

“Roger, I think I need to sit down.” She stumbles dramatically on her feet and while both Jace and my father rush to her aid, I stand strong and determined.

---