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

12. Beau

12

BEAU

I glance over at Clara, who is sitting stiffly in the passenger seat. The silence between us feels like a tangible wall, impenetrable and thick. The Thomas Rhett song did more than I had intended, stirring up a storm of emotions in both of us. Her face, though a mask of calm, carries the weight of everything left unsaid.

And there is so much that has been left unsaid.

I navigate the winding roads to the ranch we’re visiting, my mind spinning. I never thought a simple song could hit her so hard. Yet, watching her reaction, it’s clear the memories of our past are just as vivid for her as they are for me. I try to break the tension with a different song, but it only amplifies the strain.

Finally, we arrive at the ranch and Clara steps out of the car, her movements rigid and controlled. Her eyes scan the area, deliberately avoiding mine. We walk towards the barn, the air thick with the scent of hay and animals. The place is in rough shape, which is exactly why I probably do need Clara’s expertise, even if this did start as a ruse.

Clara looks around, taking in the scene with a practiced eye. Despite the cold front she’s putting up, I can see the flicker of concern for the animals here. She’s always had a soft spot for them, it was one of the many things I admired about her.

“This is a mess,” she says bluntly, walking up to one of the pens. Her tone is professional, detached. I can tell she’s keeping things strictly professional, and trying to maintain her distance. “If you’re thinking about buying these animals, you need to reconsider.”

I nod, absorbing her words. “I know it’s not perfect. That’s why I wanted you to come with me.”

She gives a small, almost imperceptible nod, acknowledging my admission. She steps closer to a horse, her touch gentle and reassuring as she inspects its condition. Her back is to me, but I can see the tension in her shoulders.

“You’d be taking on a lot of work,” she continues, her voice steady but cold. “These animals aren’t in good shape. The horses’ coats are dull, and they’re low on energy. They’ve been neglected. Do you know who owns this ranch?”

“Yeah,” I say, keeping my voice even. “It’s old man Thompson’s place. He passed away a few months back, and his kids are looking to sell. They haven’t been taking care of the place since he got sick.”

Clara turns to look at me, her eyes narrowing slightly. “So, you’re not just here to buy livestock. You’re considering buying the whole ranch.”

I nod, meeting her gaze. “I figured it could be a good expansion. Plus, it’s close to our land. But you’re right, if the animals are in bad shape and things are rundown, it’ll take a lot of work to get the place back on track.”

She sighs, her shoulders relaxing just a fraction. “It’s a big risk, Beau. I don’t know if you should do this.”

“Can you give me a report? Just in case I do decide to move forward?”

She narrows her eyes at me, before nodding. I follow her around the barn, taking mental notes. Her advice is sound, and I know it will make a difference. But there’s an undercurrent of something in our interaction, an unspoken, lingering tension. She moves to the cattle next, her expression softening slightly as she examines them.

“The cattle need more space. They’re too confined here, which is causing them stress and affecting their health. It’s going to take a lot to turn this around.”

I watch her, trying to gauge her feelings. She’s hurt, that much is clear. I’ve brought back memories, good and bad. But I also see something else in her eyes, a flicker of the connection we once had. Despite the walls she’s built, there’s still a spark, an undeniable chemistry that hasn’t faded.

I guess she’s upset because of her husband, right?

Maybe she never should have married him in the first place…

I hate being jealous of a man whose face I don’t even know.

“Clara...” I start, but she cuts me off.

“If you buy this ranch,” she says, turning to face me, “you’re committing to a huge project and will need to inject significant capital. You’ll need to invest in better nutrition, medical care, and proper space for them. It’s not impossible, but it’s going to be a lot of work.”

I nod, considering her words. “I appreciate your honesty.”

She crosses her arms, her eyes locking on mine for the first time since we arrived. “Just think carefully about whether you’re ready to take this on, Beau. It’s not just about the money. It’s also about time and effort and how much of it you’re willing to invest.”

Her words hang in the air, heavy with meaning. I can see that she’s not just talking about the animals.

There’s more to this, a deeper conversation about commitment and responsibility, about the choices we make and the paths we take.

“I will,” I say quietly. “Thank you, Clara.”

She nods, her expression softening slightly as she turns away and heads back towards the car.

I guess our little day trip is done already…

I’m not sure I got what I wanted because now I have more questions than answers.

I pull into the driveway of the ranch, the tires crunching on the gravel. Clara is already out of the car and heading towards the guest house. I watch her for a moment, feeling the weight of our conversation and the tension still lingering between us. She’s always been a tough nut to crack, but today I had caught a glimpse of the old Clara beneath the cold exterior.

Maybe there’s still hope.

As I head towards my house, I hear Wyatt’s excited chatter coming from the barn. He’s talking to his nephew who’s giggling and bouncing with energy. It seems like the kid looks up to Wyatt like he’s some kind of hero. It’s a good sight, one that makes me smile despite the day’s heaviness.

“Hey Beau!” Wyatt calls out, waving me over. “You should’ve seen Thomas today. A total natural with the horses. We might have a future cowboy on our hands!”

Thomas grins widely, his eyes shining with pride. “Wyatt taught me how to brush them and everything! Can we go again tomorrow?”

I chuckle, ruffling the kid’s hair. “We’ll see, buddy. Got a lot of work to do around here.”

Wyatt’s enthusiasm is contagious, and I can’t help but feel a bit lighter. I watch as he and Thomas continue to talk about their day, the bond between them evident. It’s then that I realize I don’t know anything about how Clara’s life unfolded after she left town. Maybe it’s time I start asking some questions instead of just making assumptions.

“Wyatt, you got a minute?” I ask, motioning for him to step aside.

“Sure thing. What’s up?”

I glance at Thomas, who’s busy playing with one of the barn cats, before turning back to Wyatt. “I’ve been meaning to ask you about Clara. What’s her situation like these days?”

Wyatt raises an eyebrow, looking a bit puzzled. “What do you mean?”

“You know, her family. Is she married? I remember hearing about some guy, Daniel, right? Is he good to her? She doesn’t say much…”

Wyatt laughs, shaking his head. “Daniel? He’s just her boss. Owns the clinic where she works. Clara’s not married, though.”

The revelation hits me like a freight train.

Clara isn’t married!

For some reason, I had assumed she’d moved on, found someone else.

But she obviously hadn’t. Or at least, he wasn’t in her life anymore. A flicker of hope ignites in my chest, but I tamp it down quickly.

“What about Thomas’s dad?” I ask, trying to keep my voice casual. “She ever mention him?”

Wyatt’s expression darkens slightly and his jaw hardens. “Nah, like you said she’s closed off, she never talks about him. Someone she met after leaving here, I guess. She’s kept it pretty close to the chest. I don’t know what sort of guy he is, but if he isn’t in his son’s life, then he can’t be that good. Why do you ask?”

I glance back at Thomas, who was now trying to coax the cat on his lap. “Just curious. It’s hard to reconcile the Clara I knew with the one who’s here now.”

“You didn’t really know her that well though. I mean, she was just my kid sister.”

My blood runs cold. But somehow I feel a heat burning in my cheeks. “Right, of course.”

“Well, I have to get Thomas back,” Wyatt declares with a smile. “Got a hot date tonight, and I need to get ready.”

“Things getting serious?” I cock an eyebrow. This isn’t like Wyatt.

“Maybe… who knows. We’ll see.”

He shrugs, but there’s a twinkle in his eye that tells me he’s more invested than he’s letting on.

I watch as Wyatt and Thomas head back towards the guest house, their easy banter making me smile.

As the afternoon stretches on into evening, I can’t shake the feeling that I need to talk to Clara. To really talk to her, just like I intended to in the car, but things got a little heated and I almost kissed her instead. There’s too much left unsaid, and if I’m ever going to understand the woman she’s become, I need to bridge this gap.

Once Wyatt leaves for his date, I walk out of the main house and head over to the guest house. The door is slightly ajar. I knock twice, but when there’s no answer, I push the door open a bit more and step inside.

“Clara?” I call out softly, hoping not to startle anyone.

Silence.

I step further into the cozy living room and spot Thomas on the floor, surrounded by his toys. He’s deeply engrossed with a set of wooden barn animals, his small hands moving animatedly as he talks to himself.

“Hey there, Thomas,” I say gently, kneeling down to his level.

He looks up, his big eyes wide with curiosity. “Hi boss man.”

“You can call me Beau,” I chuckle.

“Okay… Beau.”

“Mind if I join you?” I ask, nodding towards his toys.

Thomas nods eagerly, scooting over to make room for me. “Look! I got my cars and my animals. This one’s my favorite,” he says, holding up a toy horse.

I smile, taking the horse from him to examine it. “That’s a fine looking horse you’ve got there. You like playing with these?”

“Yeah!” Thomas says enthusiastically. “Uncle Wyatt said I could be a cowboy someday.”

“I think you’d make a great cowboy,” I say, setting the horse back down. “You seem to really like animals.”

Thomas nods, his eyes lighting up. “I do! Mom says they’re our friends and we have to take care of them.”

“Your mom’s a smart lady,” I say, my tone softening. “She’s right, you know. Taking care of animals is important.”

Thomas looks at me, a thoughtful expression on his face. “Do you take care of animals too, Beau?”

“I do. We have a lot of animals on the ranch, and they all need looking after.”

“Can I help sometime?” he asks, his voice hopeful.

“I’d like that,” I reply, smiling at him. “We’ll have to ask your mom, but I’m sure we can work something out.”

Thomas grins broadly, clearly pleased with the prospect.

Before I can say anything else, Clara’s voice cuts through the air, sharp and incredulous. “What are you doing here?” she demands, her tone carrying a mix of surprise and disapproval.

Thomas looks up at his mother, sensing her tension. “Mom, Beau was just playing with me. He said I could help with the animals.”

Clara’s eyes flicker briefly with irritation before she masks it with a forced smile directed at Thomas. “That’s nice, honey. Why don’t you go to your room for a bit? I need to talk to Beau.”

Thomas hesitates, glancing between us uncertainly. “Okay, Mom.” With a reluctant nod, he gathers his toys and heads out of the room, casting me a curious glance over his shoulder.

Clara waits until Thomas is out of earshot before rounding on me, her demeanor tense and defensive. She steps closer, invading my personal space as she speaks in a low, terse voice.

“What are you doing here, Beau?” Her words are laced with accusation, her eyes narrowing as if trying to read my intentions.

“I… I wanted to talk to you,” I begin, taken aback by her sudden aggression. “Wyatt mentioned he was out, and…”

She cuts me off sharply, her voice biting. “Is that why you thought it was okay to barge into my house?”

“I knocked,” I say defensively, feeling the heat rise in my cheeks. “And the door was open…”

“That doesn’t give you the right,” she retorts, her voice clipped. “This is my space, Beau. You can’t just come in here whenever you feel like it.”

I take a step back, stung by her hostility. “I didn’t mean to intrude. I just… I wanted to talk to you.”

Before she can say anything more, the air between us crackles with tension, charged with years of unspoken words and unresolved feelings. Driven by impulse, I close the distance between us and crash my lips to hers. For a heartbeat, Clara stiffens in surprise, her body rigid against mine. But then, slowly, she begins to respond, her hands tentatively finding their way up my shoulders and around my neck.

The kiss deepens, a mix of longing and hesitation, as if we’re both unsure of how far to let this go…