Page 18 of Rancher's Pride

“Were you even single?” I spat at her. That was low, but I didn’t think I knew this woman anymore.

“Do you seriously think I would sleep with you while I was with another man?”

“I don’t know, Fallon. You didn’t tell me you had my baby. It’s a little difficult to take you to your word right now.” I blurted out before I could stop myself.

“Nash, I was afraid for my life. I couldn’t leave. And you made it very clear that you didn’t want me.” She didn’t break her eye contact.

I searched them, hoping to find a reason to forgive her, but came up short.

She had no remorse.

“You should have known that all you needed to do was call me and I would have taken care of everything.” My voice was rising, and I wasn’t even going to try and stop it.

“I didn’t want to rope you into being with me when you clearly didn’t want to be.” Turning this back on me, that was typical Fallon. But this time it wouldn’t work.

“What gave you that impression? Me telling you I wanted you to be my wife? Telling you I’d loved you for as long as I could remember? Wanting you to come home and have a life with me? What part of all that made you think I wouldn’t drop everything to come to you? All we had to do was think it through a little. I just needed time. My god, Fallon, do you have any idea what you’ve done?” Sinking down into the chair, I rested my head in my hands. “I would have moved heaven and earth for you. Don’t forget you left first.” Lifting my eyes to her, I saw the moment she gave up, and she looked white as a ghost.

“I would kill for you, Fallon.” Her eyes brimmed with tears, but I didn’t go to her. It reminded me so much of the day Miller died. My arms ached to hold her.

“What is going on here?” Kipp asked as he marched into his living room, still wearing all his chore clothes.

“Go on, Fallon, why don’t you tell him?” I stood andran my hand through my hair, letting out a breath. My heart thundering in my ears.

“Josie is Nash’s,” she said as she sniffled and avoided looking at us, keeping her eyes locked on the floor.

“Pardon?” His eyebrows shot up and he looked from her to me and back to her. “How? I don’t want to know how, but how?” He closed his eyes and rubbed his forehead while she gathered the nerve to tell him.

Fallon wiped her nose on her sleeve and took a shaky breath. “I met up with Nash, we had a weekend together and I found out I was pregnant.”

“You met up with him?” I could see anger rising behind the questions. “You knew where she was and you didn’t tell me?” He looked at me and I saw the slight movement of his hand balling into a fist.

“I made him swear he wouldn’t. I knew you’d come after me and I wasn’t ready to come home. It’s not his fault, Kipp.” She had run over to stand in between her brother and I. It was a place I never wanted her to be, but there she was defending me against her brother.

“Some of it is his fault,” Kipp scoffed, looking over her head at me. His frown still locked on me. “Well, hmm. Umm, this is something.” Kipp seemed to relax and put his hand on my shoulder but didn’t say another word. He knew what this felt like, and I knew he’d be there like I was for him.

“I’m going home.” Standing, I headed out of the room when Kipp grabbed my shirt and held me in place.

“Fallon, Nora will help you pack your things you’re going with Nash.” I turned and looked at my best friend.

“You can’t be serious. You’re kicking me out?”

“No, I’m not kicking you out. Nash deserves time to get to know his daughter and you both living in separate places won’t allow that to happen so, you’re moving in with him.” Kipp’s word was basically gospel where his family was concerned, but I could see the wheels turning in her head, as she looked from Kipp at me. Was I supposed to help her get out of this arrangement? Did I want this to happen?

“I refuse to go. This is my home as much as it is yours. I will not be living with Nash. There’s less than fifty yards between his house and here. He can see Josie whenever he wants,” she yelled at Kipp, her hands flailing wildly around her. She was animated when she was mad, and right now I had never seen her this angry before.

“He is standing right here and doesn’t he have a say in this?” I yelled, finally reminding them that I was in the room. “Fifty yards is too far when I want to kiss her good night, or help you get the girls ready for bed. Hell, just making breakfast. Kipp’s right, you need to move in.” I nodded as I spoke, but my mind was screaming all kinds of four-letter words.

Fallon stared at me, shooting daggers from her eyes. She clenched her jaw and pursed her lips so she didn’tsay anything else to me. Her arms crossed over her chest. I was as good as dead when we got home alone.

Kipp nodded at me and vacated the room quietly and left us alone again. As much as I didn’t really want to be around Fallon right now, I need to be close to Josie.

“Josie.” I whispered. It suddenly dawned on me. “You remembered what I wanted to name a little girl if I ever had one.” Finally, I looked at Fallon, and it all made sense. How had I forgotten that? And why had she remembered?

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

FALLON

“You can have the rooms down here. I’ll move my stuff upstairs.”

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