Page 49 of Wrangling a Wild Texan

Hallie came out from behind the trees looking shaky and pale. “You don’t need to beat around the bush, Jace. If the way Reid has been coddling me the last few days is any indication, he knows I’m pregnant.” She looked at him. “Isn’t that right, Reid?”

He only shrugged. After the egg salad incident, he’d figured things out and had been doing his darnedest to make sure Hallie didn’t overdo. It wasn’t an easy task. The woman was as stubborn as sin.

“I wouldn’t use the word coddling. You more than pull your weight, Hallie.”

She released a heavy sigh. “Yeah, well, I’ve come to accept that might have to change.” She placed a hand on her stomach and sent Jace a determined look. “But just until this little one is out of the oven.” She glanced at Reid. “Until then, I’ll need to rely on my ranch manager.”

He knew how hard it was for Hallie to relinquish control and he couldn’t help feeling a swell of pride that she trusted him enough to relinquish it to him. “I won’t let you or this ranch down, Hallie.”

“I know that.” She thumped his arm. “So let’s get this party started.”

Itdidturn out to be a party.

While the temperature was humid and hot and the work grueling, there was a festive feel to the day. Mimi and Darla had set up food on tables beneath the tarp and they and Liberty and Belle, who were both too pregnant to help with branding, passed out food and drink while the rest of the Holidays and Remingtons worked the cattle. As they separated the calves from their mamas and filed them through the chute to get tagged, branded, and vaccinated, they joked and got on each other as only family could.

Surprisingly, Reid wasn’t left out of the teasing.

“Where did you learn to ride, Reid?” Casey asked as they herded cattle into the corral. “On the mechanical horse outside your local grocery store?”

“Yep.” He wheeled his horse to the left to cut off a calf from escaping. “Where did you learn to ride? On those county fair ponies that ride round and round in a circle?”

Casey laughed. “I was the best county fair pony wrangler this side of the Pecos.” He whipped off his hat and waved it as his Appaloosa horse reared up on its back legs with front hoofs flailing. “Yee-haw!”

“Stop showing off, Case,” Rome yelled. “I’ve seen you flat on your back more times than I can count.”

“Same, big brother. It’s just part of the joy of being a cowboy.” Casey winked at Reid as he tugged on his hat. “Right, Reid?”

Reid couldn’t agree more.

The sun was low in the sky by the time they finished for the day and started loading the horses back in the trailers. Reid was about to dismount and load his when he noticed Sunny sitting on her horse a few yards away. He couldn’t see her face in the shadow of her straw cowboy hat, but he could feel her gaze. He didn’t hesitate to walk his horse over.

“You impressed me today. I didn’t realize you were a cowgirl.”

She laughed. “So what impressed you most? My horrible cutting skills or my horrible roping?”

“Those take years of practice. You’ll get it.” If she stayed. He wanted that. He wanted it badly. Since he hadn’t heard anything about her leaving from the Holidays, he hoped the other night had changed her mind. He hopedhehad changed her mind. “So what are you doing over here all by yourself?”

She pushed up her hat and those big brown eyes gave him the once-over. “Just enjoying the sight of hot, sweaty cowboys.”

He squinted at her. “Cowboys?”

Her lips trembled with a suppressed smile. “Maybe just one.”

“Hmm? So you have a thing for hot, sweaty cowboys, do ya?”

The teasing twinkle faded from her eyes. “It would seem that way. And I don’t know if that’s a good thing.”

His stomach took a dip. “And why is that?”

She sighed and looked away. “I just don’t want things to get too complicated, Reid.”

He hadn’t wanted that either. But now he didn’t care about complications. Now all he wanted was more time with Sunny.

Uncaring that there were people around, including her two brothers, he moved his horse closer to hers and reached out and cradled her face in his hand. “I think it’s too late for that.” His gaze locked with hers. “I like you, Sunshine Whitlock.”

She sighed. “I like you too, Reid Mitchell. But I’m not real good at commitments.”

He brushed his thumb over her bottom lip, loving the way her eyes darkened. “Okay. So what about if we just take things one day at a time and see where they go? No expectations.”

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