Expecting the Rancher's Heir

“Good.” He stood up and walked around the desk to sit in the chair beside her. “I’ve been checking the Web for information on pregnancy and doctors. If the tea and crackers work to help alleviate the worst of the nausea, it’s best to stick with that, rather than a prescription medication. I’ll set my alarm to get up earlier and have them waiting on you when you wake up tomorrow.”

She smiled. “It sounds like you’ve done quite a bit of research.”

“You wouldn’t believe how much information there is on pregnancy.” Clearly amazed, he shook his head. “The first thing we need to do is make an appointment with an obstetrician and get you on prenatal vitamins. Then, we’ll have to review your diet to see where nutritional adjustments are needed.”

Melissa stared at him a moment as she tried to assimilate Shane the ladies’ man, with Shane the expectant father. “I intend to call for an appointment as soon as you take me back to Aspen,” she assured him. “And I’m certain I’ll be given instructions on what foods I should avoid and what I should add to my diet, when I see the doctor.”

Nodding his obvious approval, he went on. “We’ll also need to—”

She held up her hand to stop him. “Back up, Cowboy. Where is all this ‘we’ stuff coming from?”

“I told you, angel. I’m going to be with you every step of the way.” He reached over to take her hand in his. “You’re not going through this alone.”

“I truly appreciate your willingness to help,” she said slowly. “But if I’m in California and you’re here in Colorado—”

“That’s unacceptable,” he interrupted, shaking his head. “I’m not going to let you risk losing your inheritance, Lissa.”

“And I can’t take the risk of having even one of the investors pull out of the upcoming projects planned for Jarrod Ridge.”

Unable to sit still, Melissa rose to her feet to pace the floor in front of his drafting table. They had reached the moment she had been dreading. Decisions were going to be made that would affect the rest of their lives, as well as that of their child’s. She just hoped with all of her heart they made the right choices.

“There are a lot of people dependent on the resort’s success.” She needed to make him understand. “Jarrod Ridge is the single largest employer in Aspen. If future projects like the Food and Wine Gala are canceled because the investment capital isn’t there, people will start losing their jobs.”

“None of that is going to happen,” he said calmly.

Turning to face him, she couldn’t believe his assertion. “You know Elmer Madison and Clara Buchanan. They are huge investors in Jarrod Ridge and two of the most puritanical members of the group, not to mention the most influential. We both know they’d disapprove of me becoming an unwed mother and convince several of the other investors to take their money elsewhere. I can’t be responsible for—”

“The first thing I want you to do is calm down,” he cut in. “Stress isn’t good for you or the baby.” His commanding tone indicated that the issue wasn’t up for debate. “And the second is, you’re worrying for nothing. Once they learn we’re getting married, there’s nothing they can say without looking like the pompous, judgmental asses they are.”

“Shane—”

“Hear me out, Lissa.” He rose to his feet, then walked over to loosely wrap his arms around her waist. “There’s no way I’m going to allow you to go back to California to have our baby alone.”

“You’re starting to sound like a bully again,” she warned. No one had told her what she was or wasn’t going to do since she had left home after high-school graduation, and she wasn’t inclined to let Shane pick up where her father had left off.

“I’m not being a bully. I’m trying to get you to see reason.” His tone was less dictatorial and he had apparently gotten the message that she wasn’t going to be ordered around. “This is my child, too, Lissa. We may not have planned on you becoming pregnant, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to be just as much a part of his life as you do.”

She had always wanted children some day and prayed that their father would be more interested and involved than her own father had been with his. That would be next to impossible with her living in one state and Shane in another.

Nibbling on her lower lip, she shook her head. “I’m sure we could work something out that gives us both equal time.”