Page 76 of Rough Cowboy
Chapter Fourteen
ELSIE
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“I’M NOT GOING IN THERE.” I glare at my sister. “I can’t believe you tricked me into attending a baby shower.”
“You can’t hide in the house forever.” We stand in the hallway of the town hall building where she lied and said we were picking up items for her book club.
“I can, and I’ve been doing it very well for three weeks, thank you very much.”
“It’s not healthy.”
“What’s not healthy is entering a room with a slew of women I lied to and expecting them all to forgive me. That’s dangerous, and I am not putting my child at that risk.”
“No one is angry with you. Hurt, yes, but not angry.”
I fold my arms over my growing belly. “You saw the look on Lillian’s face when she gave me the keys to the empty ranch. She was devastated.”
“Both her boys have gone off the grid. That’s not your fault.”
“It’s all my fault.”
My heart breaks all over again. “I lost my best friend and the love of my life. If I’d listened to you and told the truth, none of this would’ve happened.”
“You haven’t lost either of them. Sammy needs to heal a part of him that no one can assist help him heal. He thought he had a family—”
“And I took it away from him.”
“It wasn’t his to start with. And Silver needs time.”
“If he stays away long enough, she’ll be born without him.”
“He won’t stay away.”
I wish I could believe her, but my track record for men in my life hasn’t been stellar.
She takes my hand. “Right now, there’s a room of very excited women who want to share this blessing—with you. I promise. I would never steer you wrong. Do you trust me?”
I nod, and she guides me into the big room is decked out with pink decorations. I don’t know if I’ve been reading too many of my sister’s books—it’s been a lonely few weeks—but part of my hopes Silver is on the other side of the door.
He isn’t.
But my sister is right. A room full of Whiskey Ridge Creek women are thrilled to host this party for me.
“Elsie.” Lillian embraces me. “Sweet child. I know you’ve needed your space, but let me be clear, you are family. My family is now youre family in every aspect of the word. And not only because you are carrying my granddaughter. You are part of this family. Always and forever.”
