Knocked up by the Mountain Man (Silver Ridge Mountain Men)

5. Clara

5

CLARA

I feel sick.

I clutch my stomach, trying my hardest not to throw up as I wait. It’s harder being back here than I thought it would be. My heart pounds as I drink in the sight of the barn, stirring memories I’ve tried hard to bury. The air is thick with nostalgia and an anxiety that tightens my chest.

I haven’t been back here since that night more than three years ago, and now... well, now it just felt weird.

Taking a deep breath, I remind myself that I’m here for a job. I am Dr. Clara Ryder, veterinarian.

A Professional.

I try to remain cool and detached.

But the facade is hard to maintain.

I hear footsteps and stiffen, my pulse quickening. Turning around, I see him.

Beau Marshall.

The sight of him almost makes me buckle at the knees. How is he still so damn handsome? The same tall, rugged frame, the same piercing blue eyes that always seemed to see right through me. It’s painful to look at him because my heart still aches. But I have to keep myself in check, this isn’t just about me now, I have a secret that I need to keep tightly locked away.

Thomas.

Our baby.

Not that Beau knows anything about him.

My heart clenches with fear. Thomas is napping in my car just outside the barn. What if Beau sees him and puts the pieces together? What if he realizes the truth? I pray he won’t recognize me immediately, I’m hoping that maybe my professional demeanor and the years apart will mask my identity.

But as our eyes lock, I see an instant flash of recognition in his gaze. Panic surges through me, but before Beau can stride towards me, someone else appears, stepping between us.

Wyatt.

“Clara!” Wyatt’s voice is warm, welcoming and full of surprise. He’s completely unaware of the tension crackling in the air. “I didn’t know you were the vet coming out today!”

I try to find my voice, but the shock of seeing Beau again, combined with Wyatt’s enthusiastic greeting, renders me speechless.

“It’s been too long! How’ve you been? And how’s little Thomas?” Wyatt continues, his excitement bubbling over.

I wish he wouldn’t talk about my son. Not yet, but I guess the words are out there now. I open my mouth to respond, but nothing comes out. I feel Beau’s eyes on me, intense and questioning, and it takes every ounce of my strength not to crumble. I need to keep it together. I need to protect Thomas.

“Wyatt,” I finally manage to say, my voice shaky. “It’s good to see you. Thomas’s doing great, thank you.”

Wyatt beams. “That’s awesome. Now that you’re here, I can spend more time with my little nephew. I need to spend more time with him, video call just isn’t enough.”

I force a smile, but my mind is racing. How long before Beau starts asking questions? How long before the truth comes out?

“You know, Clara, if you’re going to be working here for a while, you should stay with me,” Wyatt suggests. “I’ve got plenty of room in the guest house. Plus, it’ll give me more time to bond with Thomas. You know that we’ll have the best time ever.”

I blink, taken aback by the offer. Staying here, on the ranch, close to Beau... it’s a huge risk. But the thought of Thomas having a place to stay where he can roam free and be around family is also incredibly tempting. I glance over at Beau again, his expression is unreadable. My stomach twists in knots.

The smart thing to do would be to decline, but I know I can’t say no to Wyatt.

It isn’t his fault he hasn’t seen enough of his nephew.

Plus, what else am I going to do? I was planning on staying at a motel, but this is definitely a better choice.

“That’s really kind of you, Wyatt,” I say slowly, trying to weigh my options. “It would be nice for Thomas to spend time with his uncle.”

Wyatt’s grin widens. “Great! I’ll help you get settled in after we take care of the horses.”

I nod, but my eyes keep drifting back to Beau. He’s standing a few feet away, his arms crossed, his face an unreadable mask. The tension between us is palpable, and I can feel the weight of the past pressing down on me.

Before I can say anything else, Beau turns on his heels abruptly and heads inside, leaving me standing there, stunned and hurt.

What the hell was that about?

Am I that unbearable to be around?

How would he know, when he hadn’t even said a word to me?

Wyatt seems oblivious to the awkwardness between me and Beau. “Come on, Clara. Let me show you what needs to be done,” he says cheerfully.

As I follow Wyatt, my mind is a whirl of emotions. Beau’s coldness stings more than I want to admit. The man I remember was warm, kind, and full of life. This Beau feels distant, almost hostile. It’s like looking at a stranger wearing a familiar face. We reach the first stall, and I try to focus on the horses, to see where I need to begin, but the encounter with Beau keeps gnawing at me.

“Wyatt,” I begin cautiously, “has something happened with Beau? He seems... different.”

Wyatt glances at me, his smile faltering slightly. “Beau’s been through a lot lately. The ranch has been weighing heavily on him, and his Dad’s health is declining.”

I nod, that makes sense. “But he seems... I don’t know, colder.”

Wyatt sighs, running a hand through his hair. “He’s just stressed, Clara. Trying to keep everything together has taken its toll. You know what he’s like… I think. I mean, do you know what he’s like? You weren’t as close to him as I was, so maybe not…”

I want to pry more, to understand what’s changed, but Wyatt’s closed expression tells me I won’t get any more answers from him. Plus, I can’t ever let Wyatt know how close we were, I think that’d kill him.

I swallow my frustration and focus on the horse in front of me. As I make my initial assessments, I try to push thoughts of Beau to the back of my mind. The horses need my attention, and I need to prove that I’m good at my job, not dredge up old memories.

The first horse, a beautiful bay mare, nuzzles my hand as I approach. I smile, taking comfort in the familiarity of the work. Running my hands along her sides, I check for any signs of injury or illness and fine none. She seems healthy, her coat gleaming under the barn lights.

Wyatt stands nearby, watching me work. “She looks good, right?” he asks.

I nod. “She’s in great shape. Well cared for.”

Wyatt beams. “We do our best. Let’s move on to the next one. She isn’t really the one we’re worried about anyway. It’s Daisy.”

“Well, then take me to Daisy.”

Wyatt leads me through the barn. We stop at a stall at the end of the row, and I peer inside to see a mare lying down, her breathing labored.

“Daisy’s been having trouble for a few days now,” Wyatt explains handing me some bottles. “We thought it might be colic, but nothing we’ve done has helped. There are the meds she’s currently taking.”

I nod, pushing my anxiety aside as I switch to vet mode. I step into the stall and approach Daisy slowly, murmuring soothing words to her. She watches me with wide, pain filled eyes.

“Hey there, girl,” I say softly, kneeling beside her. “Let’s see what’s going on. Hmm… she’s in a lot of pain. We need to get her up and moving. I’ll administer some medication to help with the pain and start her on fluids. I’ll work with her over the next few weeks. I don’t think what she’s been prescribed will do good, so we’ll stop that for now.”

“Good. Glad you’re here, Clara, because no one else seems to know what to do with her.”

After finishing my rounds, Wyatt and I head back to my car. I gently lift Thomas from his car seat. He blinks up at me, still sleepy. As soon as he sees Wyatt, his face lights up.

“Uncle Wyatt!” Thomas exclaims, reaching out for him with chubby arms.

Wyatt’s face splits into a wide grin as he takes Thomas from me, swinging him up in the air. “There’s my little man! How’ve you been, buddy?”

Thomas giggles, his joy infectious. Watching them together, I can’t help but smile. Despite the tension with Beau, seeing Wyatt with Thomas makes me feel a bit more at ease.

Wyatt looks at me over Thomas’s head. “Come on, let’s get you two settled in the guest house.”

I follow them across the yard, my eyes scanning the familiar landscape. It’s hard to be somewhere that I know so well, but that I don’t want to think of. Wyatt leads us to a cozy little guest house tucked away from the main buildings. It’s quaint, with a small porch and flower boxes under the windows. Much cuter than anywhere Wyatt has lived in before.

Maybe this is why he has no desire to leave Silver Ridge. He’s got it made here.

“Here we are,” Wyatt says, setting Thomas down. “Home sweet home.”

Thomas looks around, his eyes wide with wonder. “It’s so big, Mommy!”

I smile, ruffling his hair. “It is, isn’t it?”

Wyatt helps me carry our bags inside. The interior is charming, with a comfortable living room, a small kitchen, and two bedrooms. It’s perfect for the time we’ll be here, however long that might be.

“Make yourselves at home,” Wyatt says. “If you need anything, just holler. I’m not far.”

“Thank you, Wyatt,” I say sincerely. “This means a lot.”

He gives me a warm smile. “Anything for you and Thomas. We’re family, after all.”

Family.

That has always been a weird concept for me. I’ve spent so long being alone, but maybe it doesn’t need to be that way anymore.

He rubs the back of his neck, looking slightly sheepish. “I, uh, arranged a date tonight. I didn’t know it would be you arriving today. I can cancel if you need me to stick around.”

“Ooh, a date, huh?” I tease. “Anyone I know?”

He shakes his head. “Actually no, someone new. We’ve been out a couple of times and she’s really cool, I’m sure she’ll understand if I cancel tonight…”

I shake my head, smiling. “Wyatt, it’s fine. Go on your date. Thomas and I will be fine here. Besides, I could use the time to settle in and unpack.”

Wyatt looks relieved. “Are you sure?”

“Positive,” I assure him. “Go have fun. We’ll be fine.”

“Thanks, Clara. I owe you one,” he says, shooting me a grateful smile. “If you need anything, don’t hesitate to call.”

“Will do,” I reply, watching him leave.

With Wyatt gone, I take a deep breath and look around the guest house. It’s cozy and welcoming, the perfect temporary home for Thomas and me. My only issue is that it’s very close to Beau. Thank goodness we won’t have to be here for long. I hope…