Having The Rancher's Baby. Cathy Mcdavid

page in her notebook and glanced at the sheet. “If everyone’s ready, we can get started.”

      Her statement was met with nods of agreement.

      “Let’s do it,” said Gabe.

      She swallowed. “I want to thank you for giving me some time off recently. As you know, my parents are getting a divorce, and it’s not going amicably.”

      “If you need more time, take it.” Gabe relaxed, no doubt thinking this was the reason for the meeting.

      “I do, actually. And thank you.”

      “No problem.”

      “But not to visit them in Seattle. I, um, have some news. My own news. It’s a bit unexpected. For everyone.” She paused and swallowed again, careful to keep her features neutral. “I’m... I’m pregnant.”

      Gabe’s jaw went slack, and he stared, dumbfounded. Josh tried to act surprised and did a passable job.

      “You’re right,” Gabe said, and raked his fingers through his dark hair. “This is unexpected. I guess congratulations are in order.”

      Vi attempted a smile. “I appreciate it.”

      “You’re going to want time off when the baby’s born?” Gabe was clearly struggling to understand. He shot a glance at both Cole and Josh. Neither of them made a comment.

      “I saw my doctor yesterday,” Vi said. “She recommended—insisted, really—that I work fewer hours and rest more.” Finally, she glanced briefly at Cole and Josh. “As Gabe knows, I have a history of miscarriages. I’m hoping you’ll agree to let me work half days for the foreseeable future. Naturally, you don’t have to pay me for the time off.”

      Gabe didn’t hesitate. Neither did he confer with Cole or Josh. “Of course. And we’ll give you full pay.”

      “I can’t ask that of you.”

      “You aren’t asking. We’re offering. And that includes after the baby’s born.”

      Cole noticed Josh struggling to stay quiet. Dos Estrellas wasn’t in a financial position to carry an employee who wasn’t working full-time. Yet Vi had been with the ranch for over ten years. She deserved special consideration for her loyalty.

      “No.” Tears welled in her eyes, and she shook her head emphatically. “I won’t accept pay if I’m not working. But I do have vacation and sick time coming.”

      “We’ll figure something out,” Gabe said.

      “If I...if anything happens, then of course I’ll come back to work full-time as soon as I’m able.”

      “Nothing will happen.” Gabe didn’t ask her to elaborate. “When are you having the baby?”

      “Seven months. December.”

      Gabe furrowed his brows in concentration, as people did when they were mentally counting backward. He, too, must have heard the gossip from Leroy, for he looked directly at Cole and didn’t appear happy.

      Cole waited for Vi to say something, naming him as the father, or for Gabe to straight out ask. Neither happened.

      Vi continued after consulting her notebook. “The doctor says I can still work. Just no riding and no heavy lifting. I realize that describes about half my job. But I can still run errands, do the paperwork, make phone calls, meet with the vet. I can either work mornings or afternoons or split my shift with a break in the middle. Whatever’s convenient for you.”

      “Let’s see how it goes,” Gabe said. “Take each week, each day as it comes.”

      “I want to make this as easy on everyone as possible.” She read from her notebook, then cleared her throat. “I have a suggestion, if no one minds.”

      “Fire away.”

      “Since you’re busy at the Small Change and Josh is tied up covering for you, I thought maybe Cole could take over some of my duties.”

      “Me?” He sat up straight. “I’m not qualified to be livestock manager.”

      “I’d still be in charge,” Vi said. “Oversee your work like I do now.”

      “We’ll all help you, Cole,” Gabe said, as if it was a done deal.

      “Sounds good to me,” added Josh.

      “Now, wait a minute—”

      Gabe cut him off. “You’re the best candidate. You have the most time and you’re one of the ranch owners.”

      Cole didn’t like being reminded he had a responsibility to the ranch. He damn well knew it.

      “We could possibly find someone else,” Vi said. “I know one or two people looking for work. But you’d have to pay them, and can you really afford another expense?”

      Gabe turned to face Cole. “We can’t.”

      For a moment, Cole pictured himself flying out of the chute on the back of a bronc, ten feet off the ground, with one hand holding on to the bucking strap for dear life. His harsh breathing and pounding heart drowned out the cheers of the crowd. Then, all at once, the buzzer sounded.

      Slowly, the picture faded as reality set in. There’d been so many changes to his life recently. Moving to Dos Estrellas. Cattle ranching. Vi and the baby.

      Something told him this was only the beginning. If he was going to back out, now was the time.

      “All right. I’ll do it.”