Cowboy Up (Coming Home #3)

“Mrs. Davis.” He sighs, his lips twitching as he obviously tries to keep from laughing at me. I’d like to see him be all calm and doctorly when someone wants to stick a long, skinny, condom-covered piece of plastic inside of him! “This is the most accurate way to determine how far along you are. Your numbers are high, but that could mean one of quite a few things. My guess is you’re somewhere between six to nine weeks along, which means this is the only form of ultrasound we can actually see the baby with.”

“This is such a waste of time. I haven’t even missed a period!” I pull the hem of my gown down, covering my naked sex. If I could reach the blanket, I’d put that back over me as well.

“Some women, though few, experience their cycle throughout their pregnancies. I know this might be a surprise, but I assure you there’s no way we aren’t going to see a baby.”

“Linney,” Clayton huskily whispers.

I stop glaring at the doctor and look at my husband. His stubble has grown out even more, the black shadow highlighting his strong jaw. The lips that can drive me wild curve, a small and happy smile across his mouth. His dark-as-night hair is still a mess, but instead of seeing the raw pain that had been in his green eyes last night, all I see is a whole lot of love and even more . . . hopefulness.

“Had a little more time for this to sink in, darlin’, and I get you not believin’ the good doctor, but please, baby . . . let them show us what our love created.”

The wind in my sails evaporates instantly and I study my husband, the emotions written all over him infectious as a flicker of hope starts to ignite inside of me.

With a nod to the doctor, I follow his instructions as he embarrassingly bares me, then inserts his ET finger into my sex. It’s uncomfortable as hell, but I keep my eyes on Clayton and hold my breath. I watch his face as his eyes go wide and stay trained on the monitor. Tiny wrinkles form between his eyebrows as he concentrates.

Then his hand convulses in mine and his whole face goes soft. I’ve seen what my husband looks like with love shining bright, but this . . . this is something I’ve never seen on his face. It’s as if his heart jumped from his chest to beat right behind his blazing bright eyes. Wonder, love, and pure elation beam out at me. My own heart starts to pick up speed when I realize there’s only one thing that could make him look as if the world is being handed to him.

“Amazin’,” he says softly.

I feel lightheaded as my head rolls against the pillow to look in the direction of Clayton’s stare. I see the doctor’s face first. He arches a brow and smiles smugly. The nurse is beaming, but I let my attention pass over her and fall on the monitor.

“Oh my God,” I gasp, my eyes burning as a beautiful kind of bliss slams into me.

The doctor reaches out and presses some buttons, then the quiet room fills with what can only be described as the sound of muffled hooves racing.

“What is that?” I whisper, not looking away from the monitor, my grip on Clayton’s hand tightening.

“That, Mrs. Davis, is your baby’s heartbeat.”

“Oh,” I breathe.

“Strong and healthy. You’re measuring right at eight weeks, and everything with the baby looks just fine.”

“But . . . are you sure? Nothin’ is wrong after last night?”

The doctor shakes his head. “Not a thing. The baby is nice and protected in there, Mrs. Davis.”

“A baby.” I shake my head, smiling so big my cheeks hurt, and blink rapidly to clear the tears even though I know it’s fruitless to try. “Honey, a baby!”

“Heard the doc,” Clayton says, his voice thick and even deeper than normal.

I look at him, seeing the same things I’m feeling in his eyes. “Can you believe it?”

“It’s our beauty, darlin’. ‘Course I believe it.”

“We’re havin’ a baby,” I cry, the image of him swimming now that my eyes are full of happy tears.

“I’ll print some images for y’all and get out of your hair,” the doctor mumbles.

I don’t pay him any attention, not when my husband is looking at me like I’ve just given him the greatest gift. We continue to stare at each other, ignoring the other two in the room. I don’t even flinch when the doctor pulls the probe free from my body and drapes the sheets back over my legs. I hear one of them mention that the pictures are on the table next to my bed and that they’ll be back shortly with my discharge papers, but I don’t look away from the blazing green orbs that have me transfixed.

When the door clicks signaling their departure, Clayton pounces. My hand falls from his grip and lands on the mattress with a soft bounce the same second his lips land on my mouth. If I thought our kisses before were magical, I was wrong. He devours me and fills me with so much love that I’m drunk on it. This is the kind of kiss you only experience with the person who holds the other part of your soul. With every swipe of his tongue, I feel like my heart is swelling, every swirl and sweep feeding my very being. His panting breaths against my face fill me with the all-consuming power of his love.

And I give him just as much as he’s giving me.

The knowledge that our child, one who is wanted and loved already, is growing healthy and strong inside of me is nothing short of incredible. Our love, while it flickered to life with a brilliant boom, grew into what we’re sharing right here—perfection.

“You’re goin’ to have my baby,” he finally says in awe after pulling his lips from mine.

“I’m goin’ to have your baby.”

“Everything, Linney, love . . . your love gives me everything.”

I hiccup a sob, smiling at the man who owns my love. “You’re wrong, honey. Our love gives us everything.”

“This is it, darlin’. This is our forever startin’, with nothin’ and no one standin’ in the way of what kinda beautiful we create. Told you before and I meant it then just like I do now, the ugly we had to face to get here only made us unbreakable. Havin’ you and our child as my reward for makin’ it through mine only makes it all the sweeter. From this moment on, we’re not lookin’ back and I’m gonna love you so bad you won’t ever have a day without knowin’ your husband is everything because of you.”

“Oh, Clayton.”

“Thank you, darlin’, for takin’ that seat next to me, makin’ that crowded bar feel empty with your shy smiles, takin’ a chance on us, and, in the end, givin’ me life.”

I’m openly crying now. I couldn’t have held it back if I wanted to. Not with him giving me so much.

“I love you, darlin’,” he rasps, his lips pressing against my forehead.

“I love you, too, honey. So much.”





Epilogue


CAROLINE


“Holdin’ Her” by Chris Janson

- -

I lower the camera and smile. It’s moments like these that make me want to pinch myself. Moments that fill my every day, giving me a life that’s so unbelievably beautiful it doesn’t ever seem real.

“Pretty sure you’ve got a million pictures just like that one, Linney love.”

I scrunch my nose at my husband, turning the camera in my hands and bringing up the image I just took on the screen. “I could have a million more, Clayton, and it still wouldn’t be enough.”

He grunts out a few low chuckles. “You’re a nut.”