Page 49 of The Cowboy Hitch

Shit. Things finally start clicking into place—her desire to stand on her own two feet, refusing my help, and her worry about being a burden. Despite knowing exactly who Arlene and Otis are, what they do, and how deeply despised they are by most of the folks in town, I never stopped to consider how much of their shit would blow back on Lacy.

Or how much hurt she’d be carrying around because of it.

This trauma runs deep—at least, much deeper than I realized—and here I’ve been pushing her, practically forcing her to do things my way. Fuck, I really am a controlling asshole.

“So, she wanted something from you, I’m guessing.”

Her eyes drop to my chest, where her hands are curled into tight fists. “They always want something, but this time she’s offering me something. She knows about the baby, and she said they want to take me out of town. A fresh start—”

“What the fuck?”

She jumps at the boom of my voice, and my first instinct is to hold her closer. Only, with my blood boiling and mind swirling the way it is, I can’t stand still.

Releasing her, I pace to the back door, seeking the peace of that beautiful view, but the sun has disappeared behind the mountains, and clouds are rolling in to cover the stars. The magic is gone—broken by the confusion and doubt her words have caused.

“Is that what you want? A fresh start, without me?”

I watch her reflection in the glass as she stares at the floor again, her head shaking. “I… I don’t…”

Her uncertainty cuts, deeply.

This woman is so confident and strong, and she never backs down. To hear her faltering now, just when I thought maybe we were getting somewhere, and all because of her miscreant parents… Well, it breaks my fucking heart.

I turn on my heel and stalk back to where she stands, now watching me with tears swimming in her eyes.

“What did you tell her, Lacy? What do you want?” I can’t help the apathy that seeps into my tone—it’s that or rage, and no way in hell am I taking this shit out on her.

“I wanted to tell her it would be a cold day in hell. But you’re missing my point here. They’re up to something.”

Another obstacle.Only, this one is more than an excuse, more than a roadblock. This one feels a hell of a lot like a threat.

“Like what?” I ask, trying but failing to sound calm.

“I’m not sure, exactly, but if they’ve figured out the baby’s yours… Ridge, I’m afraid of how far they’ll go and what they might be willing to do to somehow profit off this. Off the baby.”

The urge to do violence courses through me—overwhelming and dangerous. Am I shaking? “Not happening. I’d die before I let them or anyone—”

“This is why I didn’t tell you.” She crosses her arms protectively over her stomach, like she can physically shield our unborn child from my wrath. “I knew it would only upset you, and I’m more than capable of dealing with it myself. Arlene and Otis are my problem, not yours. And I would never go anywhere with them.”

Her eyes dart to mine, hesitant and seeking. “I want to stay with you.”

“Okay, then.” I reach out to her, but my fingers only brush down her arm as she pulls away.

“So, you’re going to drop all this and let me handle it?”

“No fucking way.”

“Ridge—”

“No. I’m sorry, Lace, but this isn’t only about you. This involves our baby, which means by default it involves me. I promise I’ll protect you, and my last name won’t cause you any harm.”

“You already promised me that but your Mama, then Chastity, and now this. I don’t know what to believe.” The intensity of her words is only rivaled by the hard set of her mouth and the steel of her spine.

There she is—the stubborn, sexy, hardworking woman I can’t get enough of. It’s nice to see her confidence back. I only wish she wasn’t so steadfast in her refusal of my help.

“Lacy, please.” This time when I reach for her, she doesn’t sidestep me.

My fingers tangle in the hair I’m so obsessed with, and I revel in the feel of the silky strands as they glide over my skin. “I’ve never lied to you. Never hidden anything from you and I never will.”

---