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

21. Clara

21

CLARA

U rgh.

I still feel like shit. I don’t know what the hell is wrong with me, but it’s not pleasant. Thank God Thomas is at daycare, so I can have some time to recover. I kinda wish Beau was still with me, but I get it. He has a lot to sort out at the moment, with the ranch and his Dad, plus I did insist a million times that I’m fine. Wyatt still isn’t back…

So I guess I really am here on my own.

As I look at myself in the mirror, I can’t help but notice the pallor of my skin, and the dark circles under my eyes. I’ve been so stressed, and worried about everything, that I haven’t taken a moment to really listen to my body.

A wave of nausea suddenly hits me again, and I clutch the sink, trying to steady myself. The feeling is all too familiar, and as I sit down on the edge of the bathtub, an awful realization dawns on me. I’ve felt like this before. The overwhelming fatigue, the nausea, the dizziness.

I had felt like this once before… years ago. Back when…

It can’t be , I think, my heart pounding in my chest.

But as I count back the weeks in my mind, it all adds up. The last time I felt this way was when I was pregnant with Thomas. A mixture of fear and disbelief washes over me. Could I be pregnant again? Really ?

I take a deep breath, trying to calm the rising panic threatening to overwhelm me. There’s only one way to be sure. I need to get a test. I have to do that before I allow myself to spiral. So that means now .

I quickly get dressed and grab my keys, heading out to the local pharmacy. But it quickly hits me that I don’t have options here like I did in Lewistown. I’ll have to sneak this purchase in the same place I did last time. Garrison’s General Store. Not ideal, because everyone knows everyone there, but I need to go anyway, with my head held high. I’m not a scared teenager this time... just a scared adult. One who’s already a mother.

Since Wyatt never found out last time, I just have to hope that my secret will be kept again.

Oh God…

I groan and get to my car, my mind racing with a thousand what ifs as I drive down the familiar streets.

When I pull up to the store, my heart is pounding. The creak of the wooden floors and the ding of the doorbell as I enter the shop spikes my anxiety. I take a moment to steady myself, breathing in the mixed scents I’ve always associated with this place. The rich aroma of coffee, the earthy scent of leather, and the warm, woody smell of the building itself.

I scan the store, relieved to see that the owner, Hank, isn’t at the counter today. Instead, there’s a young woman I don’t know, busily stocking shelves. She glances up and throws a friendly smile my way but she doesn’t seem to recognize me, which is a huge relief.

I make my way to the tiny health and beauty shelf, my heart hammering in my chest. The pregnancy tests are on the bottom shelf. I crouch down, trying to make it look like I’m just browsing. My hands tremble slightly as I pick up a box, glancing around to make sure no one is watching.

I might be an adult now, but I don’t think I’ll ever lose the teen in me while I’m in Silver Ridge.

As I head to the counter, I grab a couple of other items, some aspirin and a magazine, to make my purchase look less obvious. The cashier rings me up, chatting politely about the weather and how quiet the store has been lately. I nod along trying to maintain a calm, casual composure, but my mind is a whirlwind. I can’t do small talk while I’m in this mood.

The bell dings as I leave the store, and hurry back to my car, clutching the small paper bag to my side. The drive home feels longer than usual, every bump in the road making my nerves jangle. When I finally pull up outside the guest house, I sit for a moment, gathering my courage.

Am I really here doing this, again?

Why do I always end up with a pregnancy test in Silver Ridge?

I close my eyes and take a few deep breaths, trying to calm the storm raging inside me. I’m not ready for this. Not now. Not with everything else falling apart. But I have to know. I grab the bag and head inside, thankful that nobody else is here.

In the bathroom, I sit on the edge of the bathtub, my heart pounding in my chest. I carefully unwrap the test, with shaky hands. The white plastic stick seems so innocent, but it holds the power to change everything. I take another deep breath, following the instructions methodically.

I set the test on the counter and glance at the clock. Three minutes. Just three minutes to wait, but it feels like an eternity. I pace the small bathroom, my mind racing with thoughts of what could happen next. What will I do if it’s positive? How will I tell Beau?

He doesn’t even know about Thomas yet.

How do I let him know that we’re having another child?

I force myself to sit back down and stare at the floor, willing the time to pass faster. My stomach churns, a mix of nausea and anxiety. Finally, I hear the soft chime of my phone, signaling that the three minutes are up. I hesitate, my hand hovering over the test, too afraid to look.

“Come on, Clara. You can do this,” I whisper to myself. I take one last deep breath and pick up the test, my eyes scanning the small screen.

Two lines.

Positive .

I stare at the result, my mind struggling to process the reality of it. I’m pregnant. The weight of the news crashes down on me, and I feel a mix of conflicting emotions. Fear, disbelief, a tiny spark of joy, and overwhelming anxiety.

What now?