One Bride for Four Ranchers

“No,” she says, but her voice breaks. Tears begin to roll out of the corner of her eyes, as she grips her stomach. “I think I’m okay, but—”

“What is it?” God, she better not be hurt. If Jessa is hurt—I can’t even think about it. Just the thought makes me want to puke.

She takes a deep, haggard breath. But when she lets it out, it’s with another sob. “I’m pregnant.”

I yank my head back. It feels like someone just gut-punched me. I know I can’t be the father, but that doesn’t matter right now. Taking care of Jessa is what matters. And her unborn child’s, whoever it is.

Could it be Clay’s?

I push the question aside. It doesn’t matter right now. We have to get her to the hospital. But beside her, Clay goes so pale he’s practically gray.

“Yes, at the Lazy H ranch...” Tyler says, already on his phone to 911.

“You got her?” I ask Clay unnecessarily, he’s already picking her up.

Clay’s gaze is steely. “I have her.”

Chapter 17

Jessa

Tears still threaten behind my eyelids, and the big lump in my throat won’t go away. I’m not uncomfortable--scratch that--I’m not in pain, but I’m woefully uncomfortable. My shoulder hurts from the fall, and the hospital bed is hard and cold. I haven’t seen my boys once they got me to the hospital, and the idea of facing them right now makes my stomach lurch.

Why did I have to tell them like that? If only I’d found the guts to tell Clay sooner... But I can’t change it now.

The doctor who I’d seen earlier enters, and another one follows him this time. An intern, by my guess. He looks way too young to be any kind of doctor, but that’s what his name tag says.

I force a smile. But before they can say anything, Trey is pushing his way to the door. Right on his heels are the rest of the Hollister brothers.

“Are you okay? How are you feeling?” Trey asks. “They wouldn’t let us in any sooner.”

“Are you Mr. Long?” The young doctor asks Trey, looking at the chart.

I flinch, I can’t help it.

Trey ignores his question. “Have you done an ultrasound? How is she?”

Joshua grips Trey’s shoulder and gives it a squeeze, but Trey shrugs him off.

The younger doctor—the intern—looks like he’s about to pee his pants with the amount of testosterone in the room and Trey glaring at everyone.

“Ease off, Trey,” I say.

Trey goes stiff, but he doesn’t look at me. I’m suddenly reminded of what Amber said at the café. About Trey being overprotective.

But I can’t blame him, can I? With the way I let things go down? I never should’ve gotten on the horse. I should have told Clay—and the others—sooner.

“You all have to leave if you can’t stand back and let us do our jobs,” the older doctor says, giving Trey a stern look.

“We’ll stay out of your way, Doctor,” Tyler replies with an apologetic smile, answering for them all. At his words, Joshua and Clay nod. Trey just crosses his arms and stares.

Apparently used to dealing with uncooperative people, the doctor turns to me and smiles. “Everything looks good, Ms. Long. But we’ve got a tech coming now to do the ultrasound—oh, here he is. Tad, this is Ms. Long. She got off a horse the hard way today.”

The ultrasound tech, dragging a machine behind him, gives me a reassuring smile. I don’t feel any judgment from any of the medical professionals for getting on a horse while pregnant, but I don’t really need them to make me feel guilty. My own guilt gnaws at me.

The Hollisters manage to stay back while the tech does his thing. A bit of cold cream

on my stomach, and in less than five minutes, a tiny, super fast heartbeat comes through the small machine’s speakers.