Montana Haven: A Small Town Surprise Pregnancy Romance

4. ~ Mia ~

Two weeks after Jake and I decided to stay ”just friends”—a decision that soothes and scars my heart in equal measure—and I”m still haunted by that kiss.

Oh, that kiss. It lingers - a ghost of what could have been and will never be. Despite the whirlwind of my thoughts and the fortress I”ve built around my heart, our friendship finds a way to bloom.

We”re dancing a new dance, tiptoeing around what once was and can never be again. Or at least, that”s what I keep telling myself.

”You don”t have to do this, you know,” I tell him as Jake guides me through Beartooth Ranch. It”s a vast spread of land that shouts his love for this lifestyle from the rooftops. Seeing him there, hat tipped back, eyes shining with pride, does funny things to my heart.

”Trust me, Mia, I want to,” he answers, his smile spreading quickly. ”Besides, it”s high time you saw this side of my life. And it wouldn”t hurt for Emily and Dylan to hang out a bit, either.”

I look over at Emily, my city girl, who seems to have taken a silent liking to the endless open spaces around her. ”I think she”s starting to warm up to this place,” I comment, watching her cautiously making friends with a pony under Dylan”s watchful eyes.

”Yeah?” Jake”s voice fills with warmth, a sound that seems genuinely interesting. ”I”m glad. It”s a big adjustment, but there”s something about Pine Creek... it has a way of winning you over.”

I can”t help but laugh, a sound that feels more carefree than I”ve felt in ages. ”It sure has its way of charming people.”

As we stroll, the landscape unfolds around us, vast and untamed. Jake shares the ins and outs of daily life on the ranch, and I”m struck by how his responsibilities echo my own in seriousness, yet are wrapped in a completely different world.

”Look here, Mia,” Jake starts, his voice laced with a passion that”s hard to ignore.

”Teaching kids and teens how to ride is just a tiny piece of the pie around these parts,” he declares, with a gleam in his eye. ”Every morning, before the crack of dawn, I”m out there, making sure our animals—cattle, horses, and cheeky goats—are all in tip-top shape. They have to be fed, healthy, and happy. And then there”s keeping this ranch running smooth, fixing fences, checking the water, and ensuring nothing is out of place that could put a hitch in our giddy-up.”

He stops for a moment, gesturing towards a far off field. ”See that pasture over yonder? It needs eyes on it regularly to make sure it”s prime for grazing. And around this time of year, we”re always moving the cattle around to keep the land in good shape.”

He looks at me, his eyes shining with a downright infectious pride. ”And let”s not forget the dollars and cents of it all. Balancing books, planning... It”s not just a business, Mia. It”s a way of life that demands all we”ve got. It isn’t just about scenic rides and tipping cowboy hats. It”s about honoring the land and the creatures that roam it.”

Hearing Jake, I start to see his world in a new light—a myriad of responsibilities that command respect and admiration.

Our chat takes a brief pause as Emily”s laughter rings out. We glance over to see Dylan with a butterfly perched in his hand and Emily looking on with wide, curious eyes. She”s hesitant, but Dylan gently encourages her to touch its wing, promising it”ll be fine.

At that moment, watching our kids tentatively step into a new friendship, I see Jake. Not as the boy I remembered, nor the memory I held onto, but as the man he”s become. A man who, just like me, juggles the demands of parenthood with the dreams and responsibilities that shape him.

Jake grins and gestures towards the kids, his eyes sparkling with pride and affection.

”Look at Emily, Mia. She”s getting the hang of the move. You can tell she”s starting to feel at ease around here, especially with Dylan. They’re fast becoming buddies,” he declares, his voice laced with a note of relief and joy.

I can”t help but return Jake”s grin, watching our kids mingle and feeling a warm glow inside.

”That”s fantastic,” I say, my heart ballooning with emotion. ”Moving to a new spot is always a big deal for youngsters. And let”s be honest - for me too. I was scared stiff when we first left Cedarvale. But seeing her buddy up with Dylan... soothes my soul. Having even one friend in town will make her feel at home here.” My words drip with gratitude for the unexpected warmth we”ve stumbled upon in this new chapter of our lives.

”And aren”t you thrilled to be jumping in as one of the nature crafts teachers? It”s just in the nick of time since we”ve been itching for another teacher to help spread the classes. We reckon it”s better to keep classes cozy so every kid gets that precious one-on-one time they need. With just three teachers and close to 28 kids showing up regularly, we were looking at ten kids per class.”

It never hit me why ten kids with one teacher felt off until it dawned on me... things are different out here. The arts and crafts classes I taught in the bustling city always included at least 15 kids. But in these smaller towns, it”s clear why keeping the teacher-to-child ratio low is critical.

”Now, with you stepping up as the fourth teacher? It slices the 28 kids, including Dylan and Emily, down to seven per class. This is a game-changer. Especially for the shy ones who find it easier to open up in smaller groups.”

Later, as Dylan took Emily’s hand to show her a newborn calf, Jake turned to me, his gaze holding mine. ”I”m happy you came today, Mia.”

”So am I, Jake. I... I didn”t realize how much I needed to be reunited with this part of the world. Thank you.”

”No need to thank me. Pine Creek has always been your home, and we used to love coming here as kids for the pony rides. I”m glad you can see how much the ranch has expanded into something even more. And I can tell Emily is taking to the ranch quite well.”

Silence fell between us for a moment until he asked me a question I had begun to think he never would.

”So.... about Emily”s father...”

”He”s not a part of her life. Clark had been... a very ambitious man. There”s nothing wrong with being ambitious unless you”re willing to do anything to get ahead in life. While together, he met this model staying in New York City and charmed her into falling for him. We ended things while I was pregnant, and I told him I needed nothing from him. He”s off somewhere, being her trophy boyfriend, husband, or whatever.”

His eyes widen in a mixture of concern and shock at hearing that.

”Wow... I”m so sorry to hear that, Mia.”

”And what about Dylan”s mother?”

”Amy signed over her parental rights a week after giving birth to chase after her ex. They had been on and off again for years before she moved to Pine Creek. He had come to town, convincing her to make up with him and return to New York. She idiotically did so, believing he had changed. From what I heard, they got married, had two sons, and he actively cheats on her.”

He shrugs, feeling no compassion for a woman who could abandon one child to produce two more. I gently grab his hand, feeling so badly for him. Emily”s father also abandoned her, but he had no more children after Emily.

Dylan”s mother, however, went out into the world, creating two more children. That is a different kind of pain.

”Well, you are a wonderful father, and I can tell you make Dylan very happy. And he has such good manners!” I compliment Jake, which seems to lift his mood. He grins widely at hearing that.

We stand there, and a new understanding dawns between us. Something shifts, gently easing the walls we have built. I am not sure where this path will lead us, aware of the complexities that tangle around our ankles, but for the first time, I allow myself to hope. Perhaps, just perhaps, our story isn”t quite finished yet.

But then, I remember Emily, and the steady beat of reality pulses through me. She is my world, my priority, and every decision I make places her at the forefront. I prioritize my responsibilities as a parent and the life I am building for us in Pine Creek, even though my heart may be pulling me in a different direction.