Page 15 of Seized by the Lawman

Big breasts. Bright, come-hither eyes. Nice, plump lips…

So, why in the hell was Melly’s image tattooed on his brain cells?

Trouble. That’s all she was.

~~~**~~~

Melly wanted coffee, but she’d cut caffeine from her diet. She took a sip of her green tea sweetened with honey, and although it was delicious, it wasn’t her usual double espresso with lots of sweet cream. Taking her cup outside, she stepped into the warm sun and smiled. Although she woke up feeling some morning sickness which required her to lie down for another hour, she was feeling better now, especially after forcing herself to eat two slices of toast. Now wasn’t the most opportune time to be pregnant, but she was getting used to the idea. She had picked out a room for the nursery, decided on a color, looked at baby furniture, and had spent a good chunk of her savings in hiring a crew to remodel the house so it fit her needs. New furniture. Paint on all walls. Baby proofing. And a new roof that had leaked during a rain storm. Since this was her home, she wanted to be comfortable for years to come.

With something to prove to not only herself, but her father and the dozen or so hands that worked Shy Brooke, she planned on turning the ranch upside down. They seemed happy that she was back, but would they respect her authority? They had a loyalty to her father, and would they give her the same? If they didn’t, then she’d have to be tough because what she needed now were hands she could trust.

This included the lawman who was watching her. Goosebumps scattered her skin.

Although Nix had been at the ranch for two days, she’d only caught glances of him on the land. It seemed like he could be dodging her, but then again in reality, it was probably for the best. Or he could be waiting for her to engage in conversation with him so they could get over that first awkward hump. It was enough that her dreams were filled with the handsome cowboy but now she had the real-life hunk turning her days into steamy ones. She’d have to grow a wall of steel around her heart as well as her body. He was here, and there was no way of getting around working with him, at least on occasion. Eventually the other hands would get suspicious if they totally ignored each other and the last thing she needed was for rumors to start about her love life here at her home. Rag magazines owned the corner lot of that aspect, although these days they’d moved on to juicier stories. Now that she and Brad had severed all ties.

Looking out over the land, she could see green spotted with horses and barns as far as the eye could see. It had been a long time since she was that little girl in pigtails riding horses and catching minnows with her fishing pole down by the pond. Now she had a lot riding on this land and her capabilities. She wanted to believe that she had this in the bag, but truthfully, she wasn’t that full of herself. Melly’d learned a lot watching the hands, but things had changed around the ranch which she’d seen while exploring the last few days. The equipment was modern. The process of feeding, birthing, and inoculating the livestock was different. Ranchers had new procedures and humane methods to produce healthier cattle. Being that this was spring, one of the busiest times on a ranch, a lot needed to be done. So, she had a talk with the baby that morning, explaining how important it was that he or she was a good baby and didn’t make her life miserable with more morning sickness. Melly had to do her part and lay off the cravings—sardines, pickles and spicy burritos. Why-oh-why did she want these foods?

Taking another sip of her tea, she noticed how the liquid splashed against the sides of the cup because she was shaking. Caffeine withdrawal? Or something more, like anticipating running into Nix? Maybe even the fact that she was afraid to fail. All her life she’d loved a challenge and considered herself competitive. She’d never backed down from anything, and this was no different. But this wasn’t just a hurdle…it was a dream.

Last night she’d had an ugly cry over a bowl of cereal for dinner. It was triggered when she felt the baby move for the first time. The movement had been so subtle and yet so obvious. She’d ran outside, searching for someone to tell, but she was alone. Very much alone. She wasn’t one to feel sorry for herself, but every strong, independent woman deserved to break down on occasion, and she’d had hers, and it was monumental. It would be much easier to accept defeat, kiss the ranch goodbye and head to the city where she could settle into a nice, comfy apartment and prepare for a baby. Instead, she was here, miles away from milk and bread, and even further away from her friends, what little she had left after giving up the party life. They all thought she was silly for doing this, although none of them admitted to it. They didn’t understand, though, what this ranch meant to her. How the memories enticed her, the same things she wanted for her child.

Growing up was hard to do, but she was getting there. Although life had been tough at times, losing people she loved. Without telling him, she agreed with her father that she’d been spoiled for too long. Gone were the days of carefree shopping, partying with friends, shacking up with the new flavor of the month. Now was the time she took a stance and made a home for her baby. Today, she wanted nothing more than to take her paints and canvas, pick a shaded location and spend the day painting, but responsibility loomed over her. Yet, she planned to set her studio up in the sunroom where there was perfect lighting—the same place where her mother would paint.

Melly also wanted to set up a play area for the baby under the huge oak tree in the back yard where she had swung on a tire swing and climbed into the branches, loving the feeling of being on top of the world.

Here was where she belonged. She supposed it wasn’t until recently that she started really thinking of her future and getting pregnant solidified the need to get the ball rolling. She’d been trapped in her small bubble of fun, and now she must branch out.

Setting her cup on the rail, she leaned over the top, staring into her future, she hoped. The only other person who knew she was pregnant outside of the doctor’s office was her friend, Cinda, and a conversation had ensued that left a fowl taste in Melly’s mouth.

“You can’t be serious. You’re really going to keep the baby?” Cinda had asked.

“Yes. I’m seriously going to keep my baby.”

“You? A mother?” Cinda had laughed.

Melly had opened her mouth, ready to say something, but nothing came out. It had taken her a good thirty seconds to work her tongue around the words that she really wanted to speak. “I can and will do this. And I’ll do a good job.”

“Children require stability. You don’t even know what you want for dinner, let alone what you’ll do with your future. Artist or reality star? Social worker or dancer? Didn’t you even say you wanted to open a café? How will you guide your child to know what they want?”

Cinda’s words had burned their way through Melly’s brain like a branding of evil. She’d felt tears come to her eyes, but she’d refused to show her friend any emotion. Melly had squeezed her cell until she thought the glass screen would shatter, then she forced through trembling lips, “I’m sorry that’s how you feel. And I’m sorry that I don’t have room in my life for those who see me as a failure.” She’d hung up, sniffed back unshed tears, and swore she’d show all the naysayers.

And here she was. In a bit of a pickle. She couldn’t trust Nix finding out she was pregnant. Not until the deed was in her hands. If he told her father, she’d never see her name on the title.

Inside, she slipped into her boots, grabbed a water bottle, after all the doctor told her to drink lots more fluids, and she followed the worn path through the field that led to the barn. She came through the open door, hearing the foreman, Randy, discussing the fencing with someone. That someone just happened to be Nix Her first instinct was to slowly back away and disappear before either one of them saw her, but the sound of her footsteps in the straw must have alerted them that they weren’t alone because they both popped their heads around. Randy, one of the oldest hands on the ranch, smiled, crinkling his eyes in a way that told her he truly loved her. He had been like an uncle to her and her mother. However, Nix didn’t offer the same kindness. A frown deepened the corners of his mouth and his gaze narrowed on her. Not a good start of working together.

“Just the girl we were looking for,” Randy said.

“Yeah?” she asked as she stepped closer to the men, feeling her hands shake so she pushed them into her back pockets.

“Cade and I were just heading out on the land to check the fences. I thought maybe you’d like to take this one to give you a chance to see the property. It’s best you get the layout of the pastures,” Randy said as he led the pretty mare toward her. “Her name’s Jewels and she’s a lot like that mare your momma got you for your eighth birthday.”

“I remember Jessie.” Melly patted the horse on the neck.

“She won’t want to come,” Nix surprised her by mumbling.

“Oh? Why won’t she?” Melly asked sarcastically, almost choking on her tongue as she watched his long fingers move across the buckles and cinches of the saddle, then up to rub the gelding’s nose. He whispered something under his breath like a word of encouragement to the horse, and as insane as it was, Melly felt a sliver of jealousy. He’d shown her the same gentleness and kindness the night he’d impregnated her.

Her knees wobbled some.

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