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

Chapter Fourteen

Taylor

T aylor Keating stared at the numbers on his phone screen, willing them to change. But no matter how long he looked, the balance remained the same: $127.42. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and opened them again. Still $127.42.

“Damn it,” he muttered, running a hand through his hair. It wasn’t enough. Nowhere near enough to contribute toward a down payment on an apartment, let alone getting his mother’s ring out of hock.

His mind drifted back to that day at the pawn shop, the weight of his mother’s ring heavy in his palm. He shouldn’t have pawned it, but at the time he’d seen no other choice. The pawnbroker’s eyes had lit up when he’d placed the delicate gold band on the counter.

“Nice piece,” the man had said, examining it closely. “I can give you $300 for it.”

Taylor had balked at first. The ring was worth at least three times that much, not to mention its sentimental value. But desperation had won out in the end. He’d walked out of the shop with cash in his pocket and a hollow feeling in his chest.

Now, as he stared at his meager bank balance, that hollow feeling threatened to swallow him whole. He had two weeks left before the pawn ticket expired. Two weeks to come up with the money to get his mother’s ring back.

The sound of Georgie’s cries filtered through the thin walls of their Winnebago, pulling Taylor from his spiraling thoughts. He pocketed his phone and made his way to where Loretta was already soothing their son.

“Hey, little man,” Taylor said softly, coming up behind Loretta and placing a gentle hand on Georgie’s back. “What’s all the fuss about?”

Loretta turned, giving him a tired smile. “I think he’s just overtired. It’s not easy for him to nap lately.”

Taylor nodded, taking in the dark circles under Loretta’s eyes. She’d been working late into the night on her latest commission, trying to build on the momentum from the New Year’s Eve Gala. He felt a familiar pang of guilt. She was working herself to the bone, and what was he doing? Checking their insufficient bank account and moping about a pawned ring.

“Why don’t I take him for a walk?” Taylor suggested. “The fresh air might do us both some good.”

Loretta hesitated, then nodded gratefully. “Thanks. I could use a bit of quiet to finish this piece.”

“You should get some rest,” he said.

“I’ll rest when this is done. The sooner I finish, the sooner I get paid.”

“Yeah,” Taylor said. This was his first day off in weeks. He should be at the movie location, but not getting a paycheck until it was all over wasn’t much of a motivator. He’d rather spend time with his family.

As Loretta settled back at her makeshift easel in the Winnebago’s kitchenette, Taylor strapped Georgie into his stroller. He stepped outside, inhaling deeply as the crisp January air filled his lungs.

The Three Sisters Ranch sprawled out before him, a picturesque scene of rolling pastures and grazing cattle. In another life, it might have been paradise. But right now, it just reminded Taylor of everything he was failing to provide for his family.

He began pushing the stroller down the well-worn path that circled the main pasture. Georgie cooed softly, his eyes wide as he took in the sights and sounds of the ranch.

“You see them, little man?” Taylor said, pointing to a group of horses in the distance. “Someday soon, we’re going to teach you to ride.”

He sighed, his steps slowing as they approached Trent’s school. The sight of the practice bulls in their pens made his heart ache with longing to get back on the road. If only he could have Loretta and Georgie with him.

Georgie gurgled, reaching out toward his snack cup of baby puffs. Taylor smiled despite himself. “At least you’re easy to please, huh? Wish I could say the same for myself.” As an afterthought, Taylor popped one of the strawberry melts into his own mouth and crunched. Not bad.

As they completed their walk, Taylor’s mind wandered to the money in the apartment savings account. He was so tempted to take out the money to get his mother’s ring back. He could figure out how to replace it before Loretta noticed. But even as the thought formed, he dismissed it. He couldn’t do that to Loretta, couldn’t betray her trust like that.

Instead, he pulled out his phone. His finger hovered over Riley Preston’s number for a long moment before he finally hit call.

“Hi, Taylor, change your mind about coming in?”

Taylor swallowed hard. “Uh actually I was wondering if you had an update on when the production was going to wrap. Money’s tight right now and I could use it. Maybe not all of it, just a portion?” He winced, hoping he didn’t sound as pathetic as he felt.

There was a pause on the other end of the line. “I was actually going to reach out to you. We’ve got a situation here, and I think you might be the solution.”

“What kind of situation?”

“Well, we’re in the final stages of filming, and our stunt coordinator just threw out his back. We need someone who knows rodeo, someone who can make sure our scenes look authentic. I immediately thought of you.”

“Really?” Taylor asked.

“Yeah, you’d be paid a bi-weekly salary. Don’t worry, you’ll still get paid for your consulting work at the end of production as well. But the catch is it’s a full-time gig. We’d need you on location in Guadalajara, Mexico, for the rest of the month. I know it’s a lot to ask, but the pay would be a thousand dollars a week.”

Taylor’s mind raced. A month away from Loretta and Georgie. But also a month of steady pay, before hitting the rodeo circuit where steady pay was going to rely on his bull-riding skills. “When would my first paycheck be?”

She told him. It would be right under the line, but he’d be able to get his mother’s ring back and finally give it to Loretta. She hadn’t asked about it in the last two weeks, but he knew it was only a matter of time before she did. He had gotten lucky that the gala and the orders had distracted her.

“I’m in.”

“Can you be in Mexico by tomorrow?”

It was a good thing his passport was up-to-date. “You bet.”

“Good, I’ll send you all the information you need. I’m looking forward to working with you.”

“Me too.”

*

Loretta

Loretta jerked awake, her cheek sticking to the half-dry canvas before her. For a moment, she blinked in confusion at the smear of ochre paint on her skin, reflected in the tiny mirror propped up on her makeshift easel. Then reality came crashing back.

The Winnebago. The painting. Taylor and Georgie’s walk.

She straightened, wincing at the crick in her neck. How long had she been out? The light streaming through the small window had shifted, casting long shadows across the cramped interior of their mobile home.

The door creaked open, and Taylor’s familiar footsteps filled the space, followed by Georgie’s happy babbles. Loretta quickly wiped at her face, hoping to erase any evidence of her impromptu nap.

“Hey, sleepyhead. Didn’t mean to wake you.”

“You didn’t,” she lied, turning to face him with what she hoped was a convincing smile. “Just resting my eyes for a minute. How was the walk?”

Taylor’s fingers fumbled with the stroller’s buckle, missing the clasp once, twice. He muttered under his breath, a sharp exhalation of frustration that was so unlike him. The tendons in his neck stood out, taut with tension Loretta hadn’t noticed before.

As he lifted Georgie from the seat, Taylor’s normally fluid movements were stilted, almost robotic. He shifted from foot to foot, his eyes darting around the cramped space of the Winnebago, landing everywhere but on Loretta.

Something was wrong.

“Walk was good. Georgie loved watching the horses.”

Loretta stood, her legs protesting after being cramped under the small table for so long. She crossed the short distance to them, taking Georgie from Taylor’s arms. Her son’s solid weight grounded her, even as anxiety began to bubble in her chest.

“What’s going on?”

He sighed, running a hand through his hair—a nervous habit she’d noticed early in their relationship. “Riley called and offered me a job. As a stunt coordinator for the final month of filming.”

For a split second, joy and pride surged through Loretta. This was exactly the kind of opportunity Taylor needed, a chance to use his skills and make some real money. But then the other shoe dropped.

“Final month,” she repeated. “You mean…”

“The rest of January,” Taylor confirmed, his eyes finally meeting hers. “I leave for Mexico tomorrow.”

“But…” This was their last month together before the rodeo season started. She thought she’d have more time to prepare for his departure. Turning away, she clutched Georgie closer, as if he could shield her from the pain blooming in her chest. Memories flashed unbidden through her mind—Connor walking out for his tour, when she had thought everything was fantastic. Her last date with Donny before she found out about his family.

Men were always leaving. Always choosing something—someone—over her. Taylor couldn’t even wait the rest of the month to be gone.

“Loretta?” Taylor’s voice was soft, hesitant. She felt his hand on her shoulder and flinched involuntarily. He pulled back as if burned.

“It’s fine,” she said, hating how brittle her voice sounded. “You should go. It’s a great opportunity.”

“Look at me. Please?”

Reluctantly, Loretta turned. Taylor’s face was a mask of sorrow and despite everything, she wanted nothing more than to smooth away the lines of worry etched there.

“I don’t want to go,” he said, his voice rough with emotion. “But we need the money. For the apartment, for Georgie’s future. For us.”

Loretta closed her eyes, fighting back the feeling of utter defeat. He was right, of course. That all required money. Money that her art alone couldn’t provide, no matter how hard she worked.

“What about weekends?” she asked, grasping at straws. “Could you come home then?”

Taylor’s face lit up with cautious hope. “I’ll try. I can’t promise every weekend, but I’ll do my damnedest to be here as much as I can. And we’ll talk every day. Video calls, just like we planned when I’m on the circuit.”

The lump in Loretta’s throat grew. She wanted to believe him, wanted so badly to trust that this wouldn’t be the beginning of the end. But the ghosts of past betrayals whispered in her ear, reminding her how easy it was for promises to be broken.

“Okay,” she said finally, her voice small. “If you think it’s for the best.”

Taylor pulled her into his arms, Georgie nestled between them. “I love you,” he murmured into her hair. “Both of you. More than anything in this world. You know that, right?”

Loretta nodded against his chest, breathing in his familiar scent of leather and sunshine. She did know. But knowing and believing, truly believing deep in her soul—that was the hard part. Taylor wasn’t her ex-husband or her art professor. He was good and kind and he loved her. So why didn’t that gremlin in her head just shut the hell up?

As Taylor began to talk about logistics, about when he’d leave and how they’d manage in his absence, Loretta found herself retreating inward. She made the appropriate noises, nodded at the right moments, but a part of her was already steeling itself for the inevitable.

People always left. No matter how much they claimed to love you, in the end, they always chose something else. A woman in every city. Their wife. A movie job that promised money and excitement beyond what she could offer.

Later that night, as she lay awake listening to Taylor’s steady breathing beside her, Loretta made a silent vow. She would be strong. For Georgie, for herself. She would throw herself into her art, make it impossible for galleries to ignore her. And if—when—Taylor realized that the bright lights of his old life were more alluring than their little family…

Well, she’d cross that bridge when she came to it. For now, all she could do was hold on tight and pray that this time, just this once, love would be enough to bring him back home.