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The Cowboy's Baby(30)

By:Cristina Grenier


She had to get back on the horse or lose her chance forever.

Which meant not only overcoming her nervousness, but also being alone with Daniel after fleeing his affections the night before. Esme just wasn’t quite sure what to do. Daniel had told her that he didn’t want anything between them to be about Alyssa, but he hadn’t told her for certain whether or not he was ready to let go of her completely.

And what about the baby?

Surely Alyssa would return to claim her son or daughter, and that, no doubt, would cause a scandal of epic proportions.

Almost protectively, the young woman covered her stomach with a palm, frowning. A newborn baby didn’t need that kind of drama in its life, and she could only hope both Daniel and Alyssa had considered that.

When her lesson started, her ruminations thankfully disappeared. Esme was far too concentrated on trying to stay on Apple, and worrying about any stray cats in the area, to lend any more serious thought to what might or might not be between her and Daniel. She had been doing fairly well before, and with Daniel’s patient instructions and a little bit of coaxing, she was soon sitting fairly confidently on Apple’s back once more.

She resisted the urge to cover her belly protectively every time her body jarred with the horse’s movements and, within an hour, she was grinning, her hair caught in the wind’s fingers as she circled the paddock again and again.

After a short while with the breeze in her face and exhilaration in her blood, Daniel maneuvered Apple to a halt. The man was absolutely breathtaking in a skin-tight t-shirt with weathered jeans, his Stetson casting a shadow over his swarthy features. Sweat beaded on his neck and brow in the heat of the day, and Esme tried to think of anything but licking him clean.

When he suggested that they go for a short ride beyond the boundaries of the fence – over the rolling hills of the immense property, Esme at first, protested. She’d only had two lessons. And she was pregnant! The last thing she needed was for Apple to have another panic attack when Daniel couldn’t get to her.

“I’ll be right beside you. We’ll go at a slow pace, and I’ll hold Apple’s reins the entire time.” His clear blue eyes were earnest as he gazed up at her. “I swear, I won’t let anything happen to you…or the Bean.”

At the use of her nickname, the young woman couldn’t help but smile, doing her best to bury her nervousness in anticipation. She’d finally get to see the full extent of the ranch – it’s amazing green sprawl as well as the hundreds, if not thousands of animals that roamed.

“Alright.”

Her acquiescence led to an afternoon of leisure, sun, and amazing beauty.

Though Esme was apprehensive for her first few minutes beyond the safety of the fence, she soon found herself to awed by the multitude of cattle roaming free over the property. They grazed where they would, gentle animals who were far from startled by their horses as they rode through.

True to his word, Daniel never let go of Apple’s reins, leading her in line with his larger stallion as she took in the brilliant scenery. The sun shone through the dappled leaves of oak trees they rode under – there were man-made lakes and even an orchard of apple trees ripe with heavy red fruit. Though Esme had never had the time she craved to appreciate South Dakota’s ample, gorgeous scenery, she had to say she might not be opposed to becoming the outdoorsy type. Perhaps if she spent more time outside during her pregnancy, that sentiment might rub off on the child within her.

He’d be an outdoorsman – just like his father.

The thought made Esme smile a moment before she remembered that Daniel’s child wasn’t supposed to be her concern. Really, she shouldn’t even be interacting with the man himself the way she was, but she’d be damned if she could help herself. Daniel Hartsford and his easy charm sucked her in.

“Here we are.”

She looked from where she’d been transfixed by the sight of a calf placidly drinking from a pond at his mother’s side just as Daniel dismounted his horse in a fluid movement. He really moved with an ungodly grace for a man his size. She could only hope that one day she looked that good getting down from a horse.

However, this go round, she didn’t have to worry about such things. Before she could utter a word of protest, Daniel strode over to her, his hands encircling her waist and lifted her easily to the ground. As her body slid against his, Esme inhaled sharply, biting her lip as her toes curled.

Christ, it seemed she wanted him more every day.

When his eyes met hers, she looked away, forcing herself from his arms to take a step towards a large willow tree, beneath which the shade was absolutely heavenly. Looking over the scenery around her, she sighed in content. Blue sky, the sun warming her skin, the sweet smell of clover and grass in the air. What more could she want?