The Texan's Baby (Texas Rodeo Barons)

Eventually they sat back, and he held her in his arms, much as he had the previous afternoon. “I was thinking,” he mused, “that we might put in an offer on that ranch close to Roughneck. You’d be close to your family and the commute isn’t too bad.”

Excitement fluttered in her heart. “The colonial with the pillars? It’s beautiful.”

“I’d like to work with rodeo stock.” He gave a shrug. “I was thinking of talking to your brothers and dad about some options and the possibility of partnering up to use the arena. What do you think?”

“I think it sounds perfect.” Not only that, but there was a satisfaction and enthusiasm in his voice that she loved to hear.

There was a discreet knock at the door and a technician stood in the entryway with a rolling machine. “It’s time for your ultrasound, Ms. Baron.”

She nodded, giving an emotional sniff and looking down at the ring, a perfect square-cut diamond set in platinum. She was going to be a wife and mother—two roles she couldn’t have imagined even six months ago and now was looking forward to rather impatiently.

Chris moved to the other side of the bed while the technician set up, and then they both watched as she used the wand to scan Lizzie’s uterus.

“There you are.” The wand pressed deeper in one spot and the technician clicked some buttons on the machine. Lizzie tried to crane her neck around but the tech moved the wand. “I promise I’ll let you see, I just need to get some data first,” she said with a smile. “Is this your first ultrasound?”

Chris nodded. “Yes. Well, except for yesterday’s in the emergency room. We weren’t sure we’d be able to see anything. Scary.”

The tech smiled again. “Well, there is definitely a baby, no worries there.” She clicked a few more buttons and it seemed to Lizzie that it took forever. Finally she swiveled the machine a little. “Okay, Mom and Dad. Here’s your little one.”

She worked the wand a bit, trying to get the best picture, and then suddenly Lizzie saw it. A perfectly formed head with a button nose, the torso, arms and legs. Inside her. As they were watching and marveling, the baby moved, and the technician laughed. “Playing hard to get,” she joked, and taking her time, she scanned again until they got a perfect picture of a delicately arched spine.

“Your doctor will be in to talk to you later, but you can rest easy. Your baby is still snug as a bug in there.”

“Can we get pictures?” Lizzie asked, knowing she’d want to preserve this moment forever.

“Of course.” She handed Lizzie some tissues so she could wipe off the gel.

The pictures came back before the doctor arrived, and Lizzie and Chris snuggled together on the bed, looking at them.

“That’s our baby,” she whispered, wondering if she’d ever felt this happy before in her life.

“Our family,” Chris corrected. “That’s what we are, Lizzie. Family. For always.”

She twisted around and kissed him until she heard a throat clear from the direction of the hallway. She looked up and grinned. The whole family was there. All her brothers and sisters, her dad, Julieta, even Anna and Alex. For so long she’d felt alone. The one who had to take care of everyone else. Right now, though, they were all here for her, and their love and concern went straight to her heart.

She looked at Chris and saw al

l the love she’d ever need in his eyes, and then she nodded. “You’d better all come in,” she said. “We have news.”

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