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

“I think I was frightened out of at least a year or two of my life, but other than that, I’m okay,” she assured him.

He used his index finger to lift her chin until their eyes met. “I’m going to be just fine. A few stitches or a dislocation are just part of being a rodeo rider.”

Before she could tell him how glad she was that he hadn’t been seriously injured, he leaned in close and the moment his mouth covered hers, she forgot all about the rodeo, bulls or where they were. All she could do was feel the warmth flowing through her from being held by him again.

When he deepened the kiss she put her arms around his neck and, kissing him back, instantly felt a need begin to build inside her that only Nate could ease. She wanted to once again feel his strength surround her and feel the gentle power of his lovemaking.

“Well, I see that you can’t be too bad off,” Ryder said, laughing.

At the sound of Nate’s brother’s voice, Jessie tried to pull away from him, but he tightened his arms around her to hold her to him. “Thanks for saving my bacon out there, bro. I owe you one.”

“All in a day’s work,” Ryder said, walking over to get a chemical ice pack from one of the shelves. “They don’t call me Dances With Bulls for nothing. But you’re wrong about owing me one. It’s more like you owe me a dozen or so.”

“Who won the round?” Nate asked.

“Jaron took first and you got second,” Ryder said, activating the ice pack to place it on his knee. After wrapping an Ace bandage around it to hold it in place, he started toward the door. “He and Sam will be coming to see about you as soon as Sam makes sure his wranglers get the livestock loaded up and Jaron collects your and his winnings from the pay window.”

When the doctor walked back into the room, Jessie stepped away from the cot. “I’m going to go find Bria and Summer while the doctor finishes cleaning your leg and sutures the laceration.” It was a good excuse to escape and regain her equilibrium. Turning back, she advised the doctor, “While you’re at it, you might want to check his shoulder. I think it might be partially separated.”

“She’s a registered nurse down in Waco,” Nate said when the doctor raised an eyebrow. “If she says to check it out, you’d probably better do it.”

The doctor nodded. “An observant nurse is worth her weight in gold.”

“I’ll see you in a little bit, darlin’,” he said, giving her a look that made her insides feel as if they had turned to warm pudding.

As she walked down the hall to the media room where Summer and Bria waited, Jessie knew that she was quickly approaching the point with Nate where she was going to have to make a decision. She was either going to have to trust that Nate wouldn’t lose interest in her this time and resume their relationship, or end things between them for good before she lost her heart to him completely. And no matter how many times she told herself to stay strong, she knew it wasn’t going to do any good.

Unfortunately, she was afraid the die had already been cast. If she wasn’t already head over heels in love with him again, she didn’t have far to fall.

* * *

“Jessie, I swear I’ve got this,” Nate said, refusing to allow a woman to carry her own luggage. Especially one who was five months pregnant. His foster father would roll over in his grave if Hank knew one of the boys he finished raising wasn’t sticking to the Cowboy Code, even if it was because of an injured shoulder and a gimpy leg.

“Nate, you didn’t want me driving the three hundred miles from Amarillo after you took pain medication, but I managed that.” She gave him a pointed look. “Trust me, I’m perfectly capable of carrying at least one of the two small overnight cases.”

Dropping both of their bags, Nate wrapped his good arm around her and kissed her until they both gasped for breath. “Give it up, darlin’. I’m getting the luggage. You just open the door for me.”

She stared at him for several seconds before she sighed. “All right. But when we get into the house, I want you in bed with that leg elevated and ice on your shoulder. You don’t want to make things worse by ignoring doctor’s orders.”

“Is this Jessie the bossy nurse talking?” he asked, grinning as he bent down to pick up both bags with his good arm.

“Yes.” She opened the door leading from the garage into the mudroom. “And you’re going to find out just how mean and bossy I can be if you don’t do what I tell you.”