Twins for the Rebel Cowboy (The Boones of Texas 2)

“Princess,” he murmured, smiling at her scowl. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Oh.” She blinked, placing the poster facedown on her cluttered coffee table. “Ryder, I... We are...” She sucked in a deep breath and shook her head.

He heard that strange nervous tension in her voice and moved to crouch in front of her. “Don’t fall apart on me now.”

“I won’t.” She sniffed. “I’m stronger than that.”

“Don’t I know it.” He didn’t resist the urge to smooth a strand of her long hair. The way she was looking at him...as if her world was falling apart and she needed rescuing... She wanted him here, but she still hadn’t said why. This from a woman who was never short on words or opinions.

But she didn’t say a thing. She just sat there, tense, quiet and pale.

He’d never wanted to hold someone as much as he wanted to hold her, right now. He said the first thing that came to mind. “Like the pajamas.”

She ran her hands over her knees—clad in pale blue flannel pajamas, covered in rainbows and butterflies. “Cody got them for me last Christmas. Greg’s folks took him shopping. They’re my movie night pj’s.”

“What did you watch?” he asked, looking at the half-eaten bowl of popcorn and the empty juice box containers.

“Superman.” Her eyes were huge, boring into him with an intensity he felt deep in his bones. He ran his thumb along her temple, tucking a long strand of golden hair behind her ear. Touching her seemed to ground him, to ease the growing anxiety in his chest.

He smiled at her, earning a small smile in return. Ever since she’d tripped Tyler Gladwell on the playground and offered Ryder her hand, he’d known Annabeth was the kind of girl a fellow should hold on to forever. But Greg had beat him to it.

She blew out a shaky breath, her gaze slipping from his. It was easier for him to breathe then. Where had this pull come from? All he wanted was to touch her. Which was the last thing he should do. The last thing he had the right to do.

“So...” She stood, putting space between them.

“Why don’t we start over?” he said, standing beside her. “I’m guessing you had a rough day?”

“Yes.” She glanced at him, then swallowed.

“I can’t fix it if I don’t know what’s wrong, Princess.” He took her hands in his, squeezing gently.

She nodded. “I’ve been cranky and tired and frustrated. I have every reason, you know? Grandma’s bills aren’t going to pay themselves. Greg’s settlement covered the first two strokes and the resulting complications and therapy, but there’s nothing left, and bills keep coming in. And Cody... Ryder, I know growing up is hard, but his stutter makes it that much harder. Ms. Chavez is amazing, our new speech teacher, but it’s not like his stutter is going to go away overnight. Stress can complicate it, too.” She spoke quickly, her words pouring out of her. “And the job. I need this job, you know? So I assumed all of this was why I was feeling so out of sorts. But that’s just not me, you know?”

He nodded.

“But there were other things...well, actually two things. I thought it was stomach flu. And then I was late. And I’ve never been late. Except when I found out I was expecting Cody. I wanted to pretend this wasn’t happening but I’m not a coward. I had to know.” Her eyes met his. “You need to know.”

He couldn’t breathe. He tried, but it felt like a horse had kicked him square in the chest. He knew what she was saying. Damn it.

“Ryder...” She paused. “I’m pregnant. I’m fine doing it on my own. I know now’s your time to get out of Stonewall Crossing. I understand. I won’t stop you. I just thought you should know—so there’s some sort of plan.”

“Plan?” he repeated, his mind racing. She was pregnant. He got her pregnant.

She nodded.

He stood, needing space. Her words seemed to echo in his ears. She was pregnant but didn’t expect his help. That was good...wasn’t it? Shit. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t breathe. The walls were closing in, making him hot and uncomfortable. “Be right back.” He hurried into the bathroom to splash some cold water on his face.

* * *

ANNABETH WATCHED HIM GO. She should have waited. She should have waited until morning, after a good night’s sleep. As if she’d get any sleep.

As soon as she’d come home from work, she’d closed the bathroom door, ripped open the pregnancy test box and read the directions. Then she’d read the Spanish version of the directions, then the English version again. She’d opened the foil package holding the test and put the innocent white plastic stick on the edge of the sink. The “Results in 3 Minutes” outlined in bold was almost a threat. And three minutes later, her world changed forever.

She’d had a few hours to process it. Superman was a long movie. Considering what she’d told him, Ryder was handling it pretty well.

The question was simple: Would he want to be a father? But with his dream job and the promise of a new life outside Stonewall Crossing, she had her answer. And she didn’t blame him—not really.

She wrinkled her nose, willing the tears back. It didn’t matter. She’d been managing on her own just fine so far. She didn’t, wouldn’t, need him.