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

Chapter Twelve

Taylor

“W e should get some sleep,” Loretta murmured, snuggling into his side. “Georgie will have us up early.”

“Yeah, you’re right.” He gave her one last kiss and held her close.

Lying in the dark, Loretta’s breathing evening out beside him, Taylor stared at the ceiling. The path ahead was far from clear. His body ached from long days of ranch work and bull-riding practice. The upcoming rodeo season promised opportunity, but also danger. And now, with Loretta’s “I love you” hanging in the air, the stakes were higher than ever.

He turned his head, watching Loretta’s peaceful face in the dim light. She deserved so much more than this cramped Winnebago and constant financial stress. He was determined to give her the life she deserved, to be the man she believed him to be. But a nagging voice in the back of his mind wondered if he was truly up to the task. After all, he was down to his last dime and all of his Three Sisters Ranch check would go toward paying off credit cards and buying things they needed around the Winnebago.

Loretta was bringing in more money, but with Georgie’s growth spurt and all the supplies babies needed, it was hard to make headway into their savings.

As sleep finally began to claim him, Taylor’s last conscious thought was of the pawned ring. It was more than just a piece of jewelry. His mother had given it to him. She had said, “When your father gave me this ring, it was supposed to have been forever.” She had pressed it into the palm of his hand and closed his fingers around it. “He and I wanted different things. We were on different paths. When you find the woman you want to marry, give her this ring. But more importantly, give her the path she wants.”

Taylor was hoping he could do that. He wished he hadn’t pawned the ring now. If he’d known Loretta was going to tell him that she loved him, he would have proposed to her on the spot. His mother’s ring would have been the best first Christmas present ever.

Why hadn’t he thought of that?

He was such an idiot sometimes.

Christmas was just one day. That ring would be the gift of a lifetime. He had to get it back. He’d text Riley Preston after the holidays and see if she could pay him right away—if not the whole thing, then at least enough to get the ring out of hock.

He had thirty days to pay off the loan and interest. He only hoped it would be enough.

*

The holiday spirit was alive and kicking in the Keller family home. Taylor sat at the crowded dining table. It was so full of food there was barely enough room for everyone’s plates. Christmas oldies played in the background, while everyone helped themselves to roasted turkey with all the trimmings. Loretta’s parents, her sisters, and their husbands or in Dolly’s case, fiancé, were all there. Georgie sat in a high chair between Taylor and Loretta, happily making a mess out of the mashed potatoes and gravy on his tray.

Taylor’s gaze shot to Barney who was seated at the far end of the table. His father caught his eye and gave a slight nod, almost imperceptible to anyone else. Taylor’s heart rate quickened. This was it. He had texted his plan to him while Loretta was in the shower this morning.

As if on cue, Barney cleared his throat and spoke up. “So, when are you two getting married?”

Loretta stiffened beside him and attempted to hide a grimace. He knew she was expecting a repeat of Thanksgiving’s interrogation, the endless questions about their future that had left them both feeling cornered and defensive.

But this time was different. This time, Taylor was ready.

He stood up slowly, aware of all eyes turning to him. He could see the confusion on Loretta’s face. For a moment, Taylor hesitated. What if she said no? What if this grand gesture backfired spectacularly?

But then he looked into her eyes, those beautiful eyes that had captivated him from the moment they met, and all doubt vanished. With a deep breath, he lowered himself to one knee beside her chair.

A collective gasp went up around the table. Loretta’s eyes widened, her hand flying to her mouth. “Taylor?” she whispered, her voice barely audible.

He reached for her hand, acutely aware that he had no ring to offer. “I know our life isn’t perfect. We’ve had our struggles, and I’m sure we’ll face more. But there’s no one I’d rather face them with than you.”

Taylor’s eyes never left Loretta’s. “I don’t have a ring to offer you right now. This decision came to me last night when I realized I couldn’t wait another moment to ask. Loretta, will you marry me?”

For a heartbeat, silence reigned. Then Loretta let out a scream of joy so loud, it startled Georgie, who immediately began to wail. The room erupted into chaos. Loretta threw her arms around Taylor’s neck. Georgie sobbed and the rest of the family cheered and clapped.

“Yes!” Loretta cried. “Yes, of course I’ll marry you! I don’t need a ring, Taylor. I just need you.”

Relief and joy flooded through Taylor as he stood up, pulling Loretta into a tight embrace. He hadn’t planned this, hadn’t had time to get another ring or make elaborate arrangements, but somehow, this was more real, more them.

As they stood there, locked in each other’s arms, Taylor caught sight of his father. Barney was smiling, but there was a puzzled look in his eyes that Taylor knew foreshadowed an uncomfortable question later.

The next few minutes were a blur of congratulations and hugs. Loretta’s sisters crowded around her. Taylor found himself being clapped on the back by Loretta’s father and brothers-in-law, accepting their good-natured warnings to take care of their girl.

Once the initial excitement died down and Georgie was soothed, Taylor cleared his throat. “There’s one more thing,” he said, turning to Loretta. “I know this isn’t traditional, proposing without a ring. But I want you to know that after the holidays, I’m going to get my mother’s ring from our safe deposit box in Dallas. If you’re willing, I’d be honored if you’d wear it as your engagement ring.” He avoided his father’s narrowed-eyed stare.

Loretta’s eyes welled up. “Oh, Taylor,” she breathed. “I’d be honored to wear your mother’s ring.”

As Loretta hugged him again, Taylor felt a pang of guilt. The lie about the safe deposit box had come easily—too easily. But he pushed the feeling aside. He would make it right. He’d get the ring back, and Loretta need never know about the pawn shop.

The rest of the meal passed in a haze of joy and celebration. Taylor couldn’t stop looking at Loretta, marveling at the way her eyes sparkled, the radiant smile that never left her face. This was what he wanted for the rest of his life—to make her this happy, to be the cause of that smile.

As the women cleared the table and moved to the kitchen for coffee and dessert, Taylor found himself cornered by his father. Barney’s expression was serious, the earlier joy replaced with suspicion.

“Can we talk for a minute, son?” Barney asked, his voice low.

Taylor nodded, following his father into the study. As soon as the door closed behind them, Barney turned to face him. “All right, what’s going on? Where’s your mother’s ring?”

The direct question caught Taylor off guard. He should have known his father wouldn’t buy his story. Barney knew he’d kept it with him before every show as a good luck talisman.

“It’s…it’s safe,” Taylor stammered, his mind racing for an explanation. “Like I said, it’s in a safe deposit box in Dallas.”

Barney’s eyes narrowed. “Don’t lie to me, boy. You’ve carried that ring with you every day since she gave it to you. So I’ll ask you again, where is it?”

The weight of his father’s disapproval bore down on him. He’d never been able to lie to Barney, not really. With a heavy sigh, he slumped into a nearby armchair.

“I pawned it,” he admitted, unable to meet his father’s gaze. “To pay some bills. But I swear, I’m getting it back. I’ve got a big check coming from that television producer, and as soon as it clears, I’m getting the ring out of hock.”

The silence that followed his confession was deafening. When Taylor finally looked up, the shock and disappointment in Barney’s eyes was almost unbearable.

“You pawned your mother’s ring?” Barney’s voice was quiet, but Taylor could hear the anger simmering beneath the surface. “That ring was meant to stay in the family, Taylor. It was all we had left of her.”

“I know,” Taylor said. “I’m sorry, Dad. The money is coming in. I’ve got a month to get it back.”

“You could have come to me. I would have helped.”

“I didn’t want your help.” The words burst out of Taylor before he could stop them. “I’m a grown man with a family of my own. I need to handle things myself.”

Barney’s face hardened. “And this is how you handle things? By pawning family heirlooms? Where is it? We’ll go get it right now.”

The accusation stung, but it also ignited a spark of defiance in Taylor. “I’m not telling you and they wouldn’t be open on Christmas anyway.”

Barney snorted. “It’s a pawn shop right? They don’t close.”

For a moment, Taylor considered it. But then he’d have to explain to Loretta where the ring had been and why. Besides, he was handling this. “I’m doing what I have to do to provide for my family. And speaking of that, there’s something else you should know.” His father was already pissed off—he might as well get it all out on the table now. He steeled himself for the storm he knew was coming. “I’m not returning to the UPRC as a bullfighter. I’m going all in as a bull rider next season.”

For a moment, Barney just stared at him, as if waiting for the punchline to a joke. When it didn’t come, his face flushed red with anger. “Have you lost your mind? Bullfighting is your legacy, Taylor. It’s what you’re good at. And now you want to throw it all away to be a rodeo cowboy?”

“It’s not throwing anything away,” Taylor argued. “I’m pursuing my own dreams, not living in your shadow. I’m good at this, Dad. I can make it as a rider.”

“You’re risking everything,” Barney growled. “Your safety, your family’s stability. And for what? To prove you can be different from me?”

The accusation hit too close to home, and Taylor felt his own temper rising. “This isn’t about you. It’s about me making my own choices, building my own life.”

Barney shook his head, his disappointment a physical thing. “You’re making a mistake, son. A big one. And I hope you realize it before it’s too late.”

Without another word, Barney grabbed his hat from the desk and stormed out of the study. Taylor heard the front door slam a moment later, the sound echoing through the house like a gunshot.

He slumped back in the chair, the weight of the confrontation settling heavily on his shoulders. This wasn’t how he’d imagined Christmas Day going. The joy of Loretta’s acceptance was now tainted by the bitter argument with his father.

A soft knock on the study door roused him from his thoughts. Loretta peeked in, her face etched with concern. “Taylor? Is everything okay? I saw your dad leave.”

Taylor forced a smile, not wanting to ruin today for her. “Everything’s fine. We just had a little disagreement, that’s all.”

Loretta didn’t look convinced, but she didn’t press the issue. Instead, she crossed the room and perched on the arm of his chair, her hand finding his. “Can I help?”

Her touch, her unwavering support, eased some of the tension in Taylor’s chest. He pulled her onto his lap, burying his face in her hair. “You help just by being you.”

As they sat there, the sounds of the family’s continued celebration drifting in from the other room, Taylor’s mind raced. He’d taken a huge step, not just in proposing to Loretta, but in standing up to his father and declaring his intentions for the future.

Taylor stood up, keeping Loretta’s hand in his. “Come on,” he said, mustering a genuine smile. “Let’s get back to the party. We’ve got an engagement to celebrate.”

As they rejoined the family, accepting fresh congratulations and fielding questions about wedding plans, Taylor’s resolve strengthened. He would make this work. He would get his mother’s ring back, become a successful bull rider, and build the life he and Loretta dreamed of. And maybe, just maybe, he’d find a way to mend the rift with his father along the way.

For now, though, he pushed those concerns aside. Tonight was for celebration, for reveling in the love he shared with Loretta and the bright future that lay ahead. Tomorrow would bring its own challenges, but today, Christmas Day was all theirs.