Stables (Black Gulch Ranch #2)

36. Chapter 35

Chapter 35

Char

I’ve been wondering this last week or so about Lori. I’m glad she isn’t just sick, that would be miserable with a small baby.

At least Mason seems very supportive. It’s hard to raise an infant without any help.

That makes me squeeze Dixon’s hand a little tighter as we walk back to our house.

It’s nice to call it that. I’m finally starting to see it as “ours”.

And the way that Dixon has stepped in without a pause to take care of Paisley has me falling more in love with him every day.

That man deserves anything I can give him. All the babies in the world.

“Pretty exciting about Lori and Mason. You’re going to be an uncle again.” Hugging his arm, I lean against him despite the late afternoon heat.

Another month and it will be threatening frost by morning.

“Tomorrow I think I’ll go through the last of the boxes that came over so I can find Paisley’s winter clothes to see what still fits her. Maybe Lori can use some of the smaller ones for Jack or the new baby.” Most of what I have for Paisley are hand me downs, but I think there’s still some use left in them.

“If you’d like.” His voice rumbles. “Or you can keep them for ours.”

The thought makes my heart beat a little faster. “Well, that hasn’t happened yet.”

Dixon closes the door and sets Paisley down near the book corner he built for her.

But when he turns to me, fire smolders in his dark eyes. “Char, how long have we been here?” He picks me up and seats me on the kitchen island, pushing between my knees to frame my body with his muscular arms.

“A few weeks?” I’m not sure what he’s going for.

His lips move closer to my ear, the heat of him enveloping me. “Mhmm. And in those five weeks since we’ve been here, I’ve had my mouth, my hand, or my cock in your sweet pussy every day. But the only sign of blood was when I cut you with my zipper.”

Wait.

Five?

Fire works its way up my cheeks. “Has it been that long?”

His palms cup my ass and he snugs me against his hips. “And, as your doctor , I know exactly when your last period was.”

It was before I went to the emergency room.

My whole life has changed since then.

The crazy urge to giggle hysterically overtakes me as the raw truth begins to sink in.

No, I need to stay calm. “Maybe it’s just stress? That can affect it?”

His mustache twitches and he squints, making the small crow’s feet at his temples deepen. “Does my girl need some stress relief? I’m here to help.” He finds the spot below my ear and nibbles, tickling his way down my throat. “Because if you’re not already pregnant, we can fix that tonight.”

“Do you think I should take a test? I haven’t been sick. I was puking every day with Paisley.” I wrap my palms over his shoulders, arching my neck so he can keep kissing me. God I could get lost in his mouth on my skin.

“Each one will be different.” He pulls back, glancing at Paisley across the room. “I hope you aren’t nauseous for any of them. Otherwise, we’re setting you up for a miserable few years.” The corner of his lip turns up. “Well, at least until you say you’re done. Ten or twelve?”

My eyes must be wide, because he chuckles, then lifts me off the counter. “We can start with one. We’ll pick up a test at the store on the way to the garden.”

His palm finds my butt in a swat. “You’re gonna have to pick a date soon.”

“For what?” I grab a few extra diapers to put into Paisley’s bag.

He pulls a packet of snacks out of the cupboard and stuffs it into the side pocket. “The wedding.”

Oh.

“Char,” he growls. “You make that face, and it makes me want to stick—” Bending, he scoops Paisley up to his side. “— something in it.”

“Where we going?” Paisley looks up at him as he puts her in the car seat.

“We’re going to our old house to get stuff from the garden.” I better grab extra herbs, just in case I need them to settle my belly too.

Her face scrunches and her feet kick out. “No! I don’t want to! That’s where the bad man is.”

Sometimes I forget she barely knows Matt. And all of the interactions she remembers are probably awful.

A shudder passes through me.

Dixon turns in the driver’s seat so he can reach back and hold out his palm. “Hey, princess, I’ll be there to keep you safe.”

“Thank you, daddy.” Her whimpers fade as her tiny fingers encircle one of his.

If I’m not already pregnant, I think that little act just made me so. I swear I love him more every day.

Crap. I nearly forgot. “Dix, I have to check on Ginger.” She’s nearly ready to foal so I’ve been trying to keep a close eye on her.

His head ducks so he can watch me climb out. “Do you want me to go with you?”

“No, I’ll be quick.” Turning on my heel, I jog the hundred yards or so to the side entrance to the stables.

She’s near the back, and I can hear her nickering before I get there.

“Hey, momma. Is tonight the night?” I lean my elbows over the gate, reaching my fingers out for her to come and sniff.

But she ignores me. Instead, she’s winding in a loop and pawing the fresh shavings on the ground.

Damn, she’s really close. When she turns her tan flanks, her goopy back end faces me.

Shit.

Heavy footsteps echo down the concrete path between the stalls.

“She must be ready?” Dixon has Paisley sitting on top of his shoulders, with his broad brimmed hat on her tiny head.

“I think so. I’ll go get my kit.” This isn’t my first horse birth, so I’ve accumulated a few things that are handy to keep on hand.

“Can you use it for people? Just in case? I don’t see you wanting to slow down when it’ll be your turn.” He smiles as he swings Paisley down, then pulls his hat off to set back over his own ears. “I’ll text Sophia, if you still didn’t mind the extra company? She seemed pretty excited to watch.”

“I’d love that. Maybe we can ask if she wanted to watch Paisley for a little while tomorrow while we go to the garden? It might be easier on her.” I hate that Paisley gets so worked up going back there now.

There’s a part of me that hates wanting to say goodbye to my family home. If only I had better memories there, it’d be different.

But it means she’s comfortable here.

Dixon nods as he types. “That’s a good idea.”

He follows me to the tack room, herding Paisley between us until I get the supplies.

“She’s on her way. I’ll go get the blankets.” He’s barely out of the barn before Sophia comes running in, her hair stuffed under a stocking hat, and a sleeping bag stuffed under her arm.

“‘Phia!” Paisley squeals, running down the aisle.

Sophia flashes a wide grin and ducks to pick her up. “Hi, baby girl. We’re gonna watch a horse be born tonight?”

Paisley claps her hands. “Yes!”

It puts a lump in my throat watching how quickly Paisley has grown into this family. I love that they’ve welcomed her with open arms as if she is Dixon’s own flesh and blood.

How did I get so damn lucky?

Ginger nickers, pawing the ground, then throws herself down with a heavy sigh.

“Think she’ll go fast?” Sophia puts Paisley down, then drops her gear.

“Babies always come when they’re ready, not when we are.” Dixon appears with an armful of blankets and towels. “I remember one of our OB docs when I was in residency saying that more kids are born at night because that’s when most are made.” He grins and winks at me. “So I suppose we should pre-plan that.”

“Gross, Uncle Dixon.” Sophia pretends to gag, which makes Paisley giggle.

“Oh, it’s a fact. I can vouch for all the three in the morning babies I’ve delivered.” He holds up his palm.

I hope it isn’t that late tonight.

He smooths out the bedding just outside the gate, then narrowly manages to swing Paisley off before she runs across in her boots. “Not yet, only when you’re sleepy.”

It’s big enough for all three of us.

“Are you staying out here too?” I’m not sure why I expected it. Matt never wanted any part of this, only the selling.

“Is it okay that I want to hang out with my girls?” He snugs himself behind me, his hands settling across my lower belly. “I like spending time with my family,” he whispers close to my ear.

Heat races through me at his touch.

I know exactly why his hands rest where they are. I hope he’s right, and that the test will only confirm it.

When he pulls away, he runs his fingers over my palm, leaving a crinkly round shape resting in my grip.

One of the chocolate truffles from the freezer.

All of his babies. I’ll have twenty of them.