Christmas Baby for the Cowboy (Sweethearts of the Rodeo #4)

Chapter Three

Loretta

Last Stand, TX

L ast Stand, Texas, was where the last rodeo of the UPRC season would be held. They had just been here in July, but the town had asked them to come back for one more show. UPRC’s acting CEO, Shelby Miller, had been happy to oblige, especially considering the record-breaking attendance they’d had last time.

Only this time, things weren’t working out as well—at least for Loretta. Because everyone here had already seen her stuff just a few months ago, she hadn’t had one sale today. To make matters worse, Georgie wasn’t feeling well. She wanted to be anywhere but here right now.

The smell of barbecue filled the air, mixing with the lingering scents of livestock and dust. It was the smell of the rodeo, of the life they’d been living. But Loretta couldn’t help wondering if it might be time for a new chapter in their lives—one that smelled a little less like horse and a little more like home.

Loretta pressed a cool hand to Georgie’s forehead. The seven-month-old’s skin burned beneath her palm, his usual happy babbles replaced by quiet whimpers. The bustling sounds of the Last Stand Rodeo faded into the background as her world narrowed to her sick child.

“Oh, baby,” she murmured, lifting him from his playpen behind her art booth. “What’s wrong, sweetie?”

Georgie’s only response was to bury his face in her neck, his little body radiating an alarming amount of heat. Loretta’s mind whirled with worry and indecision. She could go to a drug store and try some kids’ pain relief medicine, but this seemed like too hot of a fever to take a chance. She needed to get him to a doctor, but she didn’t know this area very well. She desperately did a search on her phone.

“Loretta, what’s wrong?”

She turned to see her sister Reba hurrying toward her, concern etched on her face. Reba took one look at Georgie and frowned.

“He’s burning up,” Loretta explained, her voice tight with worry. “I need to get him to a doctor, but I don’t know where in town to go.”

“I do. Head on down to Main Street, past the Honeyman Veterinary Hospital. I saw a pediatrician’s office a few blocks away.”

“What’s the name of it?” Loretta asked, feeling frantic.

“I don’t remember. Take my truck. You can snap Georgie’s car seat rear facing on the bucket seat.” Reba tossed her the keys. “I’ll watch the booth.”

“Are you sure? What about your work?”

“I’ve got assistants and staff to help me out there. I’ll take turns with Dolly and LeAnn here,” Reba insisted, already moving behind the booth. “Now go, and text us with updates.”

Loretta managed a weak smile. “Thank you,” she breathed, gathering Georgie’s diaper bag with her free hand. “I owe you one.”

“No, you don’t. You took care of Mom and Dad while the rest of us were busy chasing our dreams. It’s our turn to take care of you.”

Loretta wanted to argue, but there wasn’t any time. She hurried toward the parking lot. Sure her parents had needed some assistance dealing with technology and stuff like that, but it had been them who had taken care of her. But that was the least of her concerns right now. She was grateful—that word again—that this town even had a pediatrician.

As she secured Georgie in his seat, his lack of fussing worried the hell out of her. One of the downsides of living rodeo town to rodeo town was never staying in one place long enough to establish roots or reliable medical care. Georgie, if they could even fit him in today, would be seen by a stranger.

“It’s okay,” she murmured, more to herself than to him. “We’re going to get you feeling better.”

The drive into town was a blur of worry and self-recrimination. She should have been more prepared for something like this. Should have researched local doctors in every town they visited. Should have…

A sign for the Last Stand Children’s Medical Clinic caught her eye, and Loretta shuddered in relief. She pulled into the parking lot, jittery with anxiety. What if they wouldn’t see Georgie without an appointment? What if they needed medical records she didn’t have?

Pushing aside her fears, Loretta gathered up her son and hurried into the clinic. The waiting room was mercifully quiet, with only a few other people scattered about. She approached the reception desk, trying to project a calm she didn’t feel.

“My son is sick,” she explained to the receptionist, her voice wavering slightly. “He has a high fever, and I’m not from around here.”

The receptionist’s kind smile helped ease some of Loretta’s tension. “Of course, we’ll get him seen right away. I just need you to fill out these forms. Do you have his medical records with you?”

A leaden weight dropped in Loretta’s chest. “No, I… We travel a lot, and I don’t have them with me. Is that going to be a problem?”

Before the receptionist could respond, a voice behind Loretta chimed in. “Have you tried the MyBabyChart app? It’s a lifesaver for keeping track of medical records. Once you log in and connect it to your insurance, you should be able to access anything you need.”

Loretta was grateful she had insurance, thank you Mom and Dad, for paying the astronomical premiums for that.

She turned to see a woman about her age, holding a sleeping baby in her arms. The woman smiled warmly. “I’m Kelly. I couldn’t help overhearing. Here, let me show you how it works.”

Grateful for the help and distraction, Loretta watched as Kelly walked her through downloading the app and accessing Georgie’s records. It was so simple, she couldn’t believe she hadn’t known about it before.

“Thank you so much,” Loretta said, handing the now-completed forms to the receptionist. “I don’t know what I would have done without your help.”

Kelly waved off her thanks. “Us moms have to stick together, right? Why don’t you come and sit with me while we wait? I could use the company.”

Loretta nodded, following Kelly to a quiet corner of the waiting room. As they settled into the uncomfortable plastic chairs, Georgie whimpered softly, reminding Loretta of her worry.

“First time dealing with a sick baby?” Kelly asked sympathetically.

Loretta nodded, gently rocking Georgie. “Is it that obvious?”

Kelly laughed softly. “Only to someone who’s been there. It gets easier, I promise. Well, not easier exactly, but you learn to panic less. Roy, here, is my third. I think he’s got thrush.”

“I’m sorry to hear about that.” Loretta wasn’t even sure what that was, but she remembered reading about it in a baby book once.

“It’s not serious, just a little uncomfortable for a few days once we start on the antifungal meds.”

Despite her worry, Loretta found herself relaxing. There was something comforting about Kelly’s presence, a steadiness that helped calm her frayed nerves. It was nice to talk to another mother about things like this.

“So, you said you travel a lot?” Kelly prompted. “What brings you to Last Stand?”

“The rodeo,” Loretta explained. “I’m an artist. I have a booth where I sell my paintings, mostly Western and rodeo scenes.”

Kelly’s eyes lit up. “Really? I’m a photographer. I run a portrait studio on my family’s ranch.”

“That sounds like fun. Do you mainly photograph the ranch life?” Loretta asked, intrigued despite her worry.

“It’s a mix. We do a lot of family portraits, senior photos, that kind of thing. But we also offer ‘cowboy experience’ photo shoots. You know, city folks who want to play cowboy or cowgirl. One of my sisters, Janice, runs a woman’s retreat on the property. It’s at the Three Sisters Ranch here in Last Stand.”

Loretta counted on her fingers. “What does your other sister do?”

“Emily is running the place, much to my father’s chagrin. His mind is telling him he’s still twenty-one, but unfortunately, his body gave him a reality check.”

“That must be tough.”

“It is awkward. But we’re getting by. He’s as stubborn as a bull, but Emily goes the full eight seconds.”

Loretta grinned.

“The guests coming in and out of Janice’s retreat keep life interesting. I could tell you stories…” Kelly shook her head in disbelief. “But what about you? What’s it like, traveling from rodeo to rodeo?”

Loretta’s smile faltered slightly. “It has its moments. The travel can be exciting, and I’ve met some wonderful people. But it’s exhausting, especially with Georgie. Sometimes I wonder if it’s worth it.”

Kelly nodded understandingly. “I can imagine. It must be tough, not having a home base.”

“We have a Winnebago. It’s not huge, but it’s home. All my art supplies, Georgie’s things, everything we need is in there.”

“That takes some serious organization skills. But I guess it gives you the freedom to go wherever the work is, right?”

“It does. But days like today make me wonder if I need to pick one spot and stay there, especially for Georgie’s sake.” Of course, that would mean the end of her and Taylor. It was one thing to be separated for three months. Loretta thought she could trust Taylor for the three months he would be in Mexico and South America mostly because he’d never given her a reason not to trust him. But every weekend all year long until the winter months? No. That was just asking for heartache again. Just like Connor. Just like Donny.

She’d be watching a televised UPRC event and she’d no doubt see a buckle bunny throw her arms around Taylor and kiss him senseless. Or maybe Loretta would be scrolling Dolly’s UPRC social media feeds and she’d catch Taylor in the background of one of the pictures with his tongue down a fan’s throat. Of course, she’d like to think her sisters would tell her long before that happened, since they’d be at all the events.

There’s a chance he wouldn’t cheat , a small voice inside her whispered, but she squashed it ruthlessly. Listening to that little voice was a way to set herself up for disappointment again.

Before Kelly could respond, a nurse called Georgie’s name. The momentary distraction from Loretta’s worry vanished, replaced by a fresh wave of terror. What if Georgie had Covid or RSV?

“Good luck,” Kelly said, squeezing Loretta’s hand. “I’m sure everything will be fine.”

Loretta managed a smile before following the nurse to an examination room. The next twenty minutes were a blur of questions, measurements, and gentle examinations. When the doctor finally delivered his diagnosis. It was a double whammy of an ear infection and a URI, nothing too serious. Loretta was dizzy with relief.

“We’ll prescribe some medication to help with the symptoms,” the doctor explained. “But mostly he just needs rest and fluids. He should be feeling better in about seven to ten days.”

Loretta nodded, cradling Georgie close. “Thank you, Doctor. I was so worried.”

The doctor’s kind smile reminded her of Kelly’s earlier reassurance. “It’s natural to worry. You’re doing a great job, Mom.”

As Loretta left the examination room, prescription in hand, she saw Kelly in the hallway. The other woman’s face lit up when she saw them.

“Everything okay?” Kelly asked.

Loretta nodded, feeling the tension of the past few hours finally start to ease. “Just a respiratory infection. He’ll be okay.”

“Oh, thank goodness,” Kelly said, genuine relief in her voice. “My little guy just finished his checkup too. We’re all set and good to go as well.”

As they made their way to the parking lot, Loretta knew something had to change in her life. The scare with Georgie had shaken her more than she wanted to admit.

“I don’t think I can do this anymore,” she confessed as they reached their cars. “The constant travel, the uncertainty… It’s not fair to Georgie.”

Kelly listened sympathetically. “I can only imagine how tough that must be. Have you thought about settling down somewhere?”

Loretta sighed. “I have, especially after today. But it’s not that simple. The rodeo circuit is our livelihood, and Taylor, well, it’s his whole life.”

“Taylor?” Kelly asked.

“Georgie’s father,” Loretta explained. “He’s a bullfighter. Taylor Keating.”

Recognition flashed in Kelly’s eyes. “Taylor Keating? Barney Keating’s son?”

Loretta nodded. “That’s him. Do you know him?”

“Everyone knows Barney Keating,” Kelly said with a grin. “My husband Trent runs a bull-riding school on our ranch. He used to be one of the big bull riders.”

“I don’t really follow rodeo…or at least I didn’t before getting involved with Taylor,” Loretta said. “I bet my sister LeAnn knows him.”

“Killer Keller is your sister?”

Loretta snorted. “Yup.”

“I think I know your whole family. Your sister Dolly’s fiancé took lessons with Trent last year.”

“Nash?” Loretta said. Nash wasn’t a really good bull rider, but then again, he had only been riding bulls in order to find evidence against the former co-CEO of the UPRC.

“Trent’s a good teacher, but he’s not a miracle worker.”

Loretta snorted. “That’s okay, Nash is a better private eye than he is a bull rider.”

“Private eye?”

“We need to meet up for some UPRC tea. What are you doing tomorrow? There’s no way in hell I’m going to set up my booth with Georgie so sick. Besides, Sundays are always slow. It’s the last day of the rodeo and no one is looking to shop.”

“I have a few photo shoots with some of the 4-H clubs. That’s the problem of being your own boss. You tend to be a workaholic.”

Loretta looked down at Georgie, who had finally fallen into a peaceful sleep. “It’s a little easier when you don’t have to travel.” In fact, traveling was the last thing she wanted to do right now. “You wouldn’t happen to know of an RV park in Last Stand, would you?”

Kelly shook her head.

“What about a camper-friendly restaurant or business? I don’t want to leave Last Stand until Georgie is better. I know that sounds silly, but he doesn’t even have a regular pediatrician. I’d feel more at ease if he could see this doctor again, if for some reason his condition worsens instead of improving.”

Kelly hesitated for a moment, then said, “Listen, Loretta, I know we’ve just met, but you’re welcome to park your Winnebago at the Three Sisters Ranch for as long as you need to. We’ve got plenty of land.”

Loretta was taken aback by the generous offer. “That’s so kind of you, Kelly, but I couldn’t impose like that. And I don’t have much money for rent or anything…”

Kelly waved off her concerns. “Nonsense. It would be nice to have another mom around to chat with.”

“Well, if you don’t mind Georgie tagging along, I’d be happy to help you out in your studio.”

“I could always use an extra pair of hands, especially someone with an artist’s eye.” Kelly beamed.

A lump formed in her throat at the unexpected kindness. “Are you sure? I mean, you hardly know me.”

“I’m sure. Barney Keating must have saved Trent’s bacon a few times, so it’s like karma that we can help out his grandson. And besides, anyone who can handle life on the rodeo circuit with a baby is someone I want to get to know better.”

Loretta looked down at Georgie, then back at Kelly. A safe place to stay, close to medical care, and a chance to work at something she loved without the pressure of running her own booth. It was like a lifeline had been thrown to her just when she needed it most.

“Thank you,” she said.

Kelly’s face lit up. “Great. Why don’t you follow me home? We can get you and Georgie settled, and you can see the studio for yourself.”

“I don’t have the Winnebago with me right now. I’ve got my sister’s truck. Let me pick up Georgie’s medicine at the pharmacy and then I’ll meet you at the ranch.”

“Sounds like a plan.”

As Loretta buckled Georgie into his car seat once more, she realized that she hadn’t taken account that Taylor probably thought he was going to be using the Winnebago in the off-season. He might have wanted it to drive to the Mexican rodeos. She hoped he understood. She also realized that this meant she didn’t have to go back to her parents’ home in Paris, Texas, even though that was probably the easiest thing to do.

This was a big hitch in plans for everyone. But for now, as she pulled out of the parking lot to follow Kelly’s car, Loretta mentally checked her five-year plan for independence. This might be a way to get back on track.

Unfortunately, she had a sneaking suspicion that in this new life, she’d be alone again. At least this time, it would be her who was doing the leaving. Loretta didn’t know why that made her want to burst into tears at the thought. She chalked it up to the stress of the day.