Pregnant with the Rancher's Baby: Reclaimed by the Rancher

“They took her into surgery about an hour ago,” he said, glancing at the clock over the waiting room doors.

“What did the doctor say?” Ryder asked, sitting down beside him.

Explaining what had taken place and the doctor’s diagnosis, Nate finished, “He has a team of specialists standing by in case something happens and they have to deliver the baby.”

“Everything is going to work out, Nate,” T.J. insisted. “Jessie and the baby are both going to come through this with flying colors.”

The most optimistic of the band of brothers, T.J. was always the one they could count on to lift their spirits when they were down. But as much as Nate tried to believe his brother, he couldn’t stop thinking about the look on the doctor’s face when Chavez told him about the risks to Jessie’s and the baby’s lives.

“T.J.’s right,” Sam said, nodding. He sat down in the chair across from Nate. “Jessie and the baby will both be fine. You have to believe that.”

Nodding, Nate took a deep breath. “We just found out a few days ago that we’re having a girl.”

Giving him a reassuring smile, Ryder placed his hand on Nate’s shoulders. “About sixteen years from now, when our girls start dating, we can trade what scare tactics we’re using to keep the boys in line.”

“The day of the ultrasound I decided it might not be a bad idea to get a couple more guns to clean,” Nate said, praying that he had reason to do just that.

“T.J., why don’t you and I run down to the cafeteria to get us all a cup of coffee,” Lane suggested.

“Good idea,” T.J. said, nodding. “Hang in there, Nate. We’ll be right back.”

Nate nodded as he watched them leave. The last time he sat in a hospital waiting room it was with Bria when they were waiting on word about Sam’s concussion. That had been two and half years ago—the day he met Jessie.

While Ryder and Sam started talking about Bria and Summer getting babysitters so they could join the men at the hospital, Jaron lowered himself into the chair on the other side of Nate. He had always been the quiet one of the bunch, but he was more silent than usual.

“What’s up, bro?” Nate asked, careful to keep his voice low.

Jaron shrugged. “I was just wondering if anyone thought to call Mariah and let her know what happened. You know how she gets her nose out of joint when something’s going on with the family and she doesn’t know about it.”

Nate shook his head. “I’m not sure. Maybe you better give her a call and tell her.”

Nate knew that Jaron was looking for an excuse to talk to Mariah and he couldn’t help but wonder how much longer his brother was going to be able to resist what the rest of them had known for years. Jaron and Mariah were meant to be together.

Jaron hesitated for a minute before he stood up. “I probably better go outside for that. You know how the staff gets when somebody uses a cell phone inside the hospital.”

Nate didn’t bother pointing out that most hospitals had relaxed their rules about cell phone use. Jaron was trying to avoid the rest of their brothers ribbing him later about calling her.

When Jaron walked out of the room to make his call to Mariah, Lane and T.J. returned with the coffee and handed one of the cups to Jaron as they passed in the doorway. Nate watched them talk for a moment before Lane and T.J. continued across the room.

Accepting the cup Lane handed him and unable to sit still any longer, Nate stood up and walked over to the window overlooking the street below. What could be taking so long? It had been almost two hours since they took Jessie into surgery and every damn minute of it had been pure hell for him.

“You okay?” Sam asked, walking over to join him.

Nate gave a short nod. “I just couldn’t sit still anymore. I feel like I need to be doing something, but there isn’t a damned thing I can do to protect her and the baby from this.”

“I understand.” His brother hooked his thumb toward the door. “Do you need to go outside for some air?”

“No, I’m not leaving,” Nate said firmly. He took a sip of the bitter coffee. “As far as that goes, I don’t intend to leave until I take Jessie home with me.”

Sam nodded. “I’d feel the same way if Bria was the one in the operating room.”

The sound of his brothers rising to their feet to join him and Sam by the window in a gesture of support had Nate turning to see Dr. Chavez making his way over to him. Whether from dread of what the man might say, relief that the surgery was over or the emotion threatening his composure, Nate couldn’t for the life of him find his voice to ask the man if Jessie was all right.