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Epilogue

L oretta paced the narrow aisle of the Winnebago, each step a testament to her frayed nerves. She chewed on her thumbnail, a bad habit from childhood that resurfaced whenever she was upset. Pausing at the small kitchenette, she wondered if she should make herself something to eat, although the thought of food turned her stomach at the moment. The hum of the refrigerator served as a monotonous soundtrack to her swirling thoughts.

A text buzzed in and she spared a glance at her phone. It was Dolly telling her that she had the Winnebago all to herself tonight because she was spending the night with Nash setting up his new PI office in Dallas.

Is that what they’re calling it these days? she texted back, a bubble of happiness for her sister soothing some of the anxiety in her gut.

All of Loretta’s sisters were coupling up and settling down—Dolly with Nash, Reba with Shane, LeAnn with Dylan. Meanwhile, Loretta’s love life was a mess of epic proportions.

She winced, remembering walking in on her rock star husband tangled up naked with a groupie, every bit the cliché with his infidelities strewn across tabloids like dirty laundry. Then there was her art professor she’d had an ill-advised affair with, who’d conveniently failed to mention his wife and kids. Loretta snorted. She sure could pick them.

Then her thoughts drifted to Taylor Keating, the bull rider slash bullfighter she’d been seeing recently. With his easy smile and gentlemanly ways, he was so different from the self- absorbed cheaters of her past. What they had together felt real, meaningful. Like it could turn into something serious, something lasting.

Except this could change everything.

In the next few minutes, everything between her and Taylor could change irrevocably. Her hand drifted unconsciously to her still-flat belly as a wave of nervous anticipation crested inside her. One little plastic stick could rewrite their entire future, for better or worse.

Loretta stared down at the pregnancy test clutched in her trembling hand, squinting at the tiny window in disbelief. Was that one line or two? The plastic edges dug into her palm as she tightened her grip, willing the results to resolve into focus.

A sharp knock at the Winnebago door jolted her out of her spiraling thoughts and Taylor walked in carrying a bouquet of wildflowers. His eyes widened when he saw what she was holding.

“Hey,” he said, his voice laced with surprise.

“Hey,” she said back and put the test on the table. It still wasn’t time for a conclusive result.

He handed her the flowers mechanically. “Is that…”

She nodded, the lump in her throat making it impossible to speak.

“Wow,” he said softly, thumbing a tear that threatened to escape the corner of her eye. “Whatever happens, I’m here for you.”

Her stomach twisted with uncertainty. “What if I choose to keep it?”

“Then I’d be honored to be a daddy,” he replied, his voice steady.

“You don’t have to marry me,” she said, trying to keep her voice level.

“I wouldn’t,” he replied, “not unless we both knew it was right.” The honesty in his voice chipped away at the walls she’d built around her heart after too many betrayals.

“If I’m pregnant, I want to keep it.” She watched for any flinch, any sign of regret.

Taylor nodded slowly. “I’d love that too. And I’d be there, every step of the way. For you and the little one.”

The sincerity in his voice wrapped around her like a warm quilt, easing the tight coil of anxiety in her gut. Maybe, just maybe, they could navigate this unexpected path together. Find a way to make it work.

She took a fortifying breath. “Okay. Okay, good.” The possibility of not being alone in this softened something inside her, eased a tension she hadn’t realized she was holding. “But what if I’m not?” The question slipped out, exposing her raw need for reassurance.

He huffed a rueful chuckle. “Well, for starters, we’ll be damn sure to stock up on protection from now on.”

A surprised giggle bubbled out of her, laced with an edge of hysteria. The absurdity of the situation crashed over her in a dizzying wave.

“Tell you what,” Taylor continued, eyes crinkling at the corners, “if that test comes back negative, I’m taking you out on the town. We’ll hit up the swankiest club, get bottle service in the VIP lounge, and drink and dance till dawn. What do you say?”

The image drew a genuine smile from her, the idea of recklessness with him a balm to the fear that had tightened around her chest. It sounded good, sounded like a sliver of normalcy she didn’t realize she craved. “I say you’ve got yourself a deal, cowboy.”

Loretta twirled the pregnancy test between her fingers, the tiny plastic object suddenly the fulcrum of her world. Taylor stood close, his presence a warm blanket around her shoulders. She glanced up at him, his eyes steady and encouraging, and with a deep breath that did little to still her racing heart, she looked down at the result.

The End

Read all about it in Christmas Baby for the Cowboy .

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