Page 16 of Cowboy SEAL Christmas

“If you’re anything like my mother, it’ll be way more than eighteen years,” Becca offered, grinning.

“Well, you guys suck,” Rose muttered.

Becca slid a bagel slathered in cream cheese in front of Rose.

“Okay, a little less now,” Rose said, pulling the plate toward her. “So,” she began, her tone of voice changing and everything about her expression going far, far, far too innocent for Rose. “Jack mentioned Gabe was your little Christmas-tree-obtaining helper yesterday.”

Monica kept her face bland. “Yes. I’m not an expert at cutting live Christmas trees, so the help was very welcome.”

“He’s very good with Colin,” Becca added, also far too innocently, though Becca was better at pulling it off.

“He is. They all are. I have to say I was not expecting that when we moved here. They’ve been beyond anything I could have hoped for him.”

Becca’s smile was sweet and genuine this time. “It’s nice having Colin around. Sometimes it’s what the place needs. Kid’s laughter. Something…light.”

“Are you worried it’ll be a different once the other men get here?” Rose asked, picking at her bagel. “It’s definitely going to change things.”

“It is,” Monica agreed. “And I’ve certainly considered that it might change how Colin fits in here. But it’s just another reason to take things slow as we build. We don’t want to overextend ourselves when we’re dealing with people who need a lot of help. I think starting with two is an excellent idea, and it seems like the two Becca and I selected will be really good additions.”

Rose settled her hands over her slightly swelling stomach. “Well, I hope so. Jack doesn’t want to say anything yet, but we’ve talked about him taking some time off from here when the baby is born. He’s torn, I think. He wants to be able to contribute and feels guilty taking a paycheck if he’s not working, but I—”

“Stop right there,” Becca interrupted. “He’ll damn well take time off, and he’ll damn well get paid. We are a family. We’ll do whatever it takes to support each other as family. That’s more important than the business side of things.”

“You can’t risk your business at the cost of family,” Rose said sternly.

“And we can’t hurt our family at the cost of our business. There has to be a balance. We can’t ignore the fact that we have to earn money from the cattle. But we also can’t ignore that the whole purpose of this place is healing and hope. Not just for the men and women who will come here as former soldiers, but for us too.” Becca settled herself at a seat in between Monica and Rose at the table. “This is me reclaiming my independence from my very sheltered life. This is Monica’s opportunity to give her son and herself something she’s worked long and hard for. This is as much about them as it is about us. We can’t lose sight of that.”

“I agree,” Monica said firmly. “But there’s something else we can’t lose sight of.”

“What’s that?”

“Your wedding is intwoweeks, and we have lots of work to do.”

“Okay.” Becca straightened in her seat, looking at Monica then Rose. “But first I have to say something.”

“Is it going to be a sappy something? Because this baby makes me cry at the drop of a hat, and I do not cry in front of anyone.”

“I never had any friends growing up,” Becca continued as if Rose hadn’t spoken.

“Becca, I’m warning you.”

“And meeting both of you and having you be part of my life and my family has been more than I could have ever dreamed.”

Rose sniffled, her dark eyes wet and wide. “I’d kick your ass if I wasn’t pregnant,” she muttered.

Becca grabbed Rose’s hand, then Monica’s. “It means the world to me that you’re here and that you’re going to be part of my wedding. And I’m not going to let a few tears stop me from saying that.”

Rose flicked a few tears from her cheeks. “I’ve only ever had my sisters as friends. It means a lot that you two are also here to talk to and support me. Because God knows having a baby is the scariest thing I’ve ever done, and I’ve survived a lot of scary.”

“The good news is, in my experience there’s nothing scarier in the world. So once you’ve conquered that, you’re good.”

“I guess that’s comforting.”

“And I’ll add my mush to the pile,” Monica said, squeezing Becca’s hand, then reaching across the table for Rose’s free one. “I’ve been doing this thing alone for a lot of years. I’ve had my parents, and they’ve been… I wouldn’t have been able to survive without them. But there’s something to be said for building your own support system, too, and doing something you love and being able to trust that your child is in the right place at the right time. It’s possible because of all of you.”

“And you never know when a little romance might show up at the right place at the right time,” Becca offered.

Monica smiled indulgently but pulled her hands away. “And who would I meet in the middle of nowhere?”

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