The Rancher's Nanny

This was the first time she’d ever seen a man bored with her sister though.

Even though it was cold, she wanted to see if she could hear what was being said. Her car wasn’t far away, and there wasn’t much noise as the traffic was quite light.

“What do you want?”

For a second, she saw her sister hesitate. “Well, is that any way to speak to a lady?”

“I don’t see any lady.”

Her sister glared. “I see Maddie has been spilling nastiness and lies about me. It’s so like her. She just can’t handle being second best.”

“Maddie has done no such thing. I see through the act.” Caleb pointed at her body and then at her face. “To be honest, I’m surprised a lot of guys haven’t seen through what you are.”

Emily tutted and stepped closer.

Anger filled Maddie, and she was about to get out of the damn car and tell her bitch of a sister to keep her paws off her man.

Granny climbed in the car. “I’ve got two just in case you don’t believe the first one.”

“Thank you.”

Maddie didn’t make a move as she watched Caleb finally lose it. He grabbed Emily’s hands.

“Will you just fuck off?” He yelled it, catching the attention of several people walking by. “I get it. You can’t stand your sister to be happy. You stole her fiancé and now you’re after the man that wants her. I’m not Chad. I don’t want you. I’ll never want you, so why don’t you stop throwing yourself at me because you and me, it’s never going to happen.”

Maddie smiled. Turning over the ignition, she pulled out of the parking spot. Caleb looked toward the car.

“I’ll see you back at home,” she said with a smile.

“Your sister is a menace,” Granny said.

“I don’t care about her, nor do I care about what my parents think either.” She glanced over to Granny. “I do love your son.”

Granny patted her arm. “I know you do.”

“I love Paige as well. She’s a bright girl, and so talented, and amazing to be with.”

“She’s really taken to you.”

The drive back to the ranch went by in a blur. There was a pregnancy test in Granny’s lap for her.

Parking the car, she entered the ranch house as quickly as possible. Granny handed her the stick to pee on, and she made her way into the downstairs bathroom, listening as Granny told her the instructions.

Washing her hands after she’d finished, she left the stick on the counter, and then stood with Granny, not wanting to be alone to watch it.

Granny grabbed her hands. “If it’s positive, everything is going to be fine. You’ll have nothing to worry about.”

“You sound so sure.”

“I am sure. You just wait.”

The time was up, and Maddie grabbed the pregnancy test with Granny by her side. They looked at the results, and Maddie didn’t have a clue what it meant.

Granny put her arms around her. “It means you’re pregnant.”

She kissed her cheek, and Maddie felt a bit surreal. “I’m pregnant?”

“You’re what?” Caleb asked.

She turned toward the door and saw the man that was now the father of her child looking a little pale. She held up the stick. “I’m pregnant.”

Had she just ruined everything?

****

Finding Emily by his truck had really pissed him off. He’d never encouraged her, and the last person Caleb wanted was her. No, the woman he wanted every single night was standing before him right now with his mother, holding up a white stick.

“I’m going to leave you two alone. I think you’ve got a few things to discuss.” His mother kissed his cheek. “Congratulations.”

His mother left, and he stared at Maddie.

She was so beautiful even looking slightly pale.

“I didn’t plan to meet Emily,” he said. When he’d seen Maddie, he’d been sick with worry. All of her life she had been played second best against her sister, but that wasn’t how he viewed her. Far from it. He loved her more than any other woman in the world. He’d been trying to find ways of them both sharing a life together.

The ranch wasn’t for everyone, nor was being a rancher’s woman, but Maddie, she thrived in the role, and he loved coming home every day to be with both of his women.

“I know you didn’t. That’s the thing about Emily, she tries to push her way into your life.” Maddie shrugged. “I saw the way you handled her. I don’t think she’ll try again, but then it is Emily. Anything could happen.” She held up the stick. “I, erm, your mother thought it was best that I take one. She had a hunch that we weren’t using protection.”

He stepped closer, wanting to be near her.

“I didn’t plan this,” she said. “I’m trying not to freak out right now.”

“You’re doing a wonderful job.”

She smiled, and then looked down at the pregnancy test. He watched as she pressed a hand to her stomach. “I’m having a baby.”