Montana Haven: A Small Town Surprise Pregnancy Romance

1. ~ Jake ~

After another successful riding lesson, I smirked and tilted my cowboy hat to the thankful mother.

She can”t stop thanking me and promises to return with her teenage son, as she finally parts with another wave. I”m popular with the parents for giving teenage boys riding lessons at the ranch. I show them how to ride correctly while bringing fun into the teaching.

”Nothing has changed, and you”re still Mr. Popular.”

I turn around at the sound of the voice since it seems they are addressing me, only to get the surprise of a lifetime. My heart beats faster at seeing an old flame I hadn”t seen in a decade, due to her moving away.

”Mia Montgomery?! Wow, it”s been forever and a day!” I exclaim, as we meet in the middle, embracing deeply after such a long time apart. She smells like sweet honeysuckle and nostalgia as I breathe her in like freshly brewed coffee.

We finally break the embrace and take a few long seconds to check each other out. She has aged like fine wine into her thirties and looks even more beautiful. She has this smile, suggesting she thinks the same of me.

”So, what are you doing here? In town to visit?”

”I moved back a couple of days ago.”

My eyes widened at hearing that because I had begun to think she”d never move back after she succeeded in staying gone for ten years and chasing the thrill of all the curiosities and intrigue that the big city brings and promises. Her being back meant she had gotten her fill, or it wasn”t as cracked up as she expected.

”Wow... just you?” I can”t help but pry, wondering if she”s brought back a husband or significant other. I”m always intrigued when city folk move here and then don”t feel comfortable living in such a small town.

They complain about how different it is from the big city, which I believe defeats the purpose of moving to a small town if you”re not able to adjust or adapt well to it.

”No, me and my mini-me. I have a daughter now.”

My mouth drops open at hearing that. I”m brewing questions about the father, but then I realize they”re way too mysterious for our first conversation after ten years. So, I decided to shelve it and let her tell me about it herself.

”I guess that”s something we have in common after so many years apart. I”m also a parent. I have an eight-year-old son. His name is Dylan, and boy, did he cause me to mature to the level I needed to be in life.”

We laugh at that before it dies once our shock over the other being a parent overtakes us again. Now I”m stuck between asking her out to dinner to catch up or wondering if I”ll be crossing lines. Maybe even stepping on toes if the father is still in the picture.

Maybe he decided to stay in the city for work?

”I can understand that with my Emily. I still can”t believe she”s eight! It seems like time flies by and they grow up right before our eyes!”

”Yeah, it”s the same with Dylan,” I nod, feeling connected through our shared experiences as parents. ”They grow too fast, making you wish you could freeze time.”

Mia chuckles softly, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear. ”Tell me about it. The big city was something else, Jake. It”s fast, you know? Everyone”s always rushing somewhere, always busy. And there”s this constant noise like the city itself is alive.”

I lean back, intrigued. ”Sounds like a whole different world from here. Do you miss it?”

She pauses, her gaze drifting off as if sifting through her memories. ”Sometimes I do. I love the conveniences, the variety of people, and the endless opportunities. But it”s also lonely. Sometimes, being in a crowd can make me feel incredibly isolated. That”s why I want Emily to grow up in a community where people know each other and look out for each other.”

I nod, understanding her sentiment all too well. ”Yeah, there”s a charm to small-town life that the big city can”t replicate. The way people come together here, it”s special.”

”Exactly,” Mia agrees, her eyes meeting mine again. ”But don”t get me wrong. The city taught me a lot. It made me tougher and more independent. I hope to blend those lessons with this place”s warmth and community spirit.”

Thinking over her words, I admired her perspective. ”Sounds like you”ve figured out the best of both worlds, Mia.”

She laughs - a light, accessible sound that fills the space between us. ”I”m trying, Jake. It”s all about finding that balance, right?”

”Right,” I affirm, the corner of my mouth lifting in a small smile. ”Say, would you and Emily like to join Dylan and me for dinner one of these days? You know... when you”ve settled in and everything.”

Mia”s face brightens at the offer. ”We”d love that, wouldn”t we, Emily?”

Turning to look at her daughter, who had been quietly playing with a toy nearby, Emily smiles and nods enthusiastically.

”Well, it”s a plan then,” I say, feeling a warm sense of anticipation at the thought of spending more time with Mia and getting to know Emily. Perhaps this was the beginning of a new chapter for us all. Is she seeing someone or still with Emily”s father?

I wouldn”t say I like drama, and I always hear how city men are confrontational without getting all the facts about the situation first. Mia and I dated when we were younger, but I honestly didn”t mind if we were just friends, even with our looming attraction.

But I decided to ask about that later as I crouched down with a friendly smile toward her shy daughter.

”Hi Emily, my name is Jake. I”m an old pal of your mom”s. Are you hungry?”

The shy Emily nods and holds her doll before her face to emphasize her bashfulness.

I then stand to smile at Mia. ”So, what do you say? Lunch? I had planned to have lunch with Dylan after finishing with that riding lesson, and his cornhole tournament with his friends should be about finished up.”

Mia”s eyes widen in shock at the lunch invitation before her beautiful smile emerges, almost taking up the entirety of her face.

”Sure! Yes, we”d love that!”

Leading the way to the main lodge, I could feel the excitement bubbling within the group. The warm midday sun cast a golden hue over the dude ranch, making it feel like a scene from a Western romance novel.

”So, have you been to a dude ranch since leaving here?” I ask Mia, attempting to make small talk as we walk.

”No, this is a first for me in such a long time, and a very first for Emily,” she replied, her gaze taking in the surroundings with evident wonder. ”It”s beautiful here.”

The lodge looms before us, its rustic charm welcoming us in. Pushing open the heavy wooden doors, we enter the dining hall, greeted by the mouth-watering aroma of barbecue. Mia”s eyes light up, and even Emily hides her doll momentarily to look around with curiosity.

I nudged Dylan, who was as eager as a kid in a candy store. ”You ready to dig in?”

”You bet.” Dylan grinned as we joined the food line. The spread was a tribute to country cuisine, with trays of juicy barbecued meats, creamy macaroni and cheese, freshly baked cornbread, and various salads and fruits.

”If you don”t mind... could you make her plate for her? She”s not used to eating BBQ and stuff like that. She”s more of a fast-food child, even with the healthy restaurants we”ve visited in the city. She hasn”t eaten good comfort food before. You and I grew up on this, but it”s easy to get pulled into the chain restaurants in the city.”

I nod and feel honored that she trusts me to compile a suitable plate for her daughter. I make sure to get a plate with smaller, child-friendly portions for Emily—a bit of macaroni and cheese, some slices of tender brisket that I think she”ll find easy to eat, and a biscuit alongside a few slices of apple for a balanced meal.

”Look, Emily, they have mac and cheese, your favorite.” Mia smiled down at her daughter, who nodded shyly, her eyes wide at the sight of all the food.

Once our plates were loaded with the delicious offerings, we found a table near the windows overlooking the ranch”s vast expanse. ”This is incredible,” Mia said as she took a bite of her barbecue. ”I can”t believe it”s been so long since I”ve eaten anything like this. And the macaroni is delicious. Right, Emily?”

Emily nodded vigorously, her initial shyness forgotten in the face of the food, her attention caught between her macaroni and the biscuit.

”I”m glad you”re enjoying it,” I said, feeling a warmth that had little to do with the sunlight streaming in. ”Meals like these bring everyone together, don”t you think?”

”Nothing beats good food, good times, and.... and...” Dylan chimed in while struggling to remember the motto.

”Great company.” I help him out as he nods widely before refocusing his attention on his plate of food.

Dylan”s face shows pure joy with each forkful of food he eagerly devours. His eyes sparkle with a happiness that only a love of good food can bring. ”This is the best barbecue I”ve ever had!” He declares, his voice muffled slightly by a mouthful of brisket. I laugh and shake my head because he says that about every piece of barbecue that he eats.

On the other hand, Emily seems more reserved, picking at her food with a tentative curiosity. Her fingers gently push the macaroni around her plate, and she nibbles on the biscuit as if assessing each bite”s worthiness. Her eyes light up at the biscuit taste, and I can”t help but smile adoringly.

Mia leans closer to me, watching Emily with amusement and thoughtfulness. ”This is going to be quite the transition for Emily,” she whispers, her gaze lingering on her daughter.”

”She”s always been more accustomed to the food we had back in the city. Comfort food is new territory for her.”

I nodded, understanding the challenges of adjusting to a new environment. ”She”ll find her favorites soon enough,” I assured her, hoping to ease her worries. ”It might take a little time for her to adapt to the changes. She”ll adjust soon enough.”

Mia smiled a soft, grateful expression that made my heart skip a beat. ”I hope so,” she whispered back. ”I just want her to feel at home here.”

”I reckon she will,” I replied with a confidence I felt deep in my bones. ”There”s something about this place that has a way of growing on you. Think back to our childhood. We lived solely off imagination and playing outdoors. I”m sure she”s knee-deep into technology from growing up in the big city, but she”ll see how fun it is to get out and enjoy the nice weather occasionally.”

We return our attention to our plates, the conversation shifting to lighter topics as we finish our meal. The laughter and chatter continue around us, wrapping the dining hall in a warm, welcoming atmosphere.

I can”t help but feel optimistic about the future. I am confident that Mia will settle back into living here again and that Emily will find her place among our small town”s vast lands and close-knit community.