The Rancher’s Runaway Bride (The Mountain Man’s Mail-Order Bride #4)

Chapter 5

Chapter Five

L ayla

The sun pours into the kitchen, golden and warm, as Carson and I roll dough for cookies a few hours after the kiss between Cal and me. Carson’s little hands are dusted with flour, and his cheeks flush with the effort of pressing cookie cutters into the dough. I bite back a smile, watching him carefully arrange each star and heart-shaped piece on the tray.

“You’re a natural, Carson,” I tease, nudging his shoulder lightly. “We might have to open a bakery.”

He grins up at me, a smudge of flour on his nose. “Do we get to eat them all?”

“Of course. That’s the best part.”

A deep voice cuts through the moment, startling me. “You spoiling my boy?”

I glance over my shoulder to find Cal leaning in the doorway, his broad frame nearly filling the space, a grin on his face. His arms are crossed, but there’s a flicker of something softer in his eyes as he looks at Carson.

“You bet I am,” I counter, turning back to the tray. “Cookies are a requirement.”

Cal grunts, stepping into the room, his boots heavy against the wood floor. “Cookies before dinner, hmm? What’s next, ice cream for breakfast?”

Carson giggles, filling the air with joy. “Mommy Layla says I can,” he chirps, completely unaware of the bomb he’s just dropped.

My hands freeze mid-air. Time seems to stop as I look at Carson, my heart pounding. “What did you just call me?”

Carson blinks up at me, completely unfazed. “Mommy Layla.”

Heat rushes to my face. My gaze darts to Cal, who’s now standing stock-still, his expression a mixture of shock and something deeper—something raw. I can’t tell if it’s anger, confusion, or longing.

“Well,” I manage to say, my voice shaky. “That’s a first.”

Carson shrugs, oblivious. “You feel like a mommy.”

The words hit me like a freight train. I force a smile and ruffle his hair. “You’re sweet, kiddo. Now go wash up while these bake.”

Carson scampers off, leaving me alone with Cal. The room feels too small, the silence pressing in on me like a weight. I turn to face him, bracing for his reaction.

“I didn’t tell him to say that,” I start, my voice defensive. “It just?—”

“He’s a kid,” Cal interrupts, his tone low, almost gruff. “He doesn’t understand what he’s saying.”

“I know that…” I fold my arms. “But maybe–”

“What?” Cal’s frown deepens. But then I see a flicker of vulnerability, a crack in his tough exterior.

“Maybe he’s looking for someone to fill a role he’s missing,” I say softly. “Someone who loves him, who’s here for him.”

Cal looks away, his jaw tightening. “I’ve been here. I’ve always been here.”

“I know,” I say, stepping closer. “It’s just been a long time since he had a mother figure…”

The words hang in the air between us, charged with a truth neither of us wants to face. Cal’s eyes meet mine, and for a moment, I see past the gruff cowboy to the man beneath—the man who’s done everything to protect Carson but is terrified of letting anyone else in.

“You think you can give him that?” he finally asks.

I swallow hard, meeting his gaze head-on. “I don’t know. But I want to try.”

The vulnerability in my voice seems to catch him off guard. His shoulders drop slightly, the tension in his stance easing. He scrubs a hand over his face, letting out a heavy sigh. “I’m terrified if I let someone in and they leave…well, it would break him.”

“I know, and after everything he’s been through I would never just leave him,” I place a hand on Cal’s forearm.

“You’re a complication I didn’t ask for,” he finally mutters, but there’s no bite in his words.

“I know,” I say, a small smile tugging at my lips. “And you’re the grumpiest cowboy I’ve ever met.”

He smirks, shaking his head. “You drive me crazy, you know that?”

I step closer, the space between us shrinking. “Likewise.”

For a moment, the air shifts, the banter giving way to something deeper. His eyes drop to my lips, and my breath catches. The tension between us is almost unbearable, the unspoken pull stronger than ever.

But then Carson bursts back into the room, his hands still wet from washing. “Are the cookies ready?”

The spell is broken, and Cal steps back, clearing his throat. “They’ll be ready soon, kiddo.”

I turn to the oven, blinking back the heat in my eyes that has nothing to do with the cookies. I can feel Cal watching me, his presence as solid and unyielding as the mountains surrounding us.

Later that afternoon, I find myself at the barn, leaning against the fence as Carson helps Cal feed the horses. He’s chattering away, his little voice full of excitement as Cal listens with a small smile. Watching them together, my heart aches in a way I don’t fully understand.

“Got a minute?” Cal’s voice pulls me from my thoughts.

I look up to find him standing a few feet away, his expression unreadable. Carson is busy petting one of the horses, completely engrossed.

“Sure,” I say, following him to a quieter corner of the barn.

He turns to face me, his hands resting on his hips. “About earlier…”

“You don’t have to explain,” I say quickly. “Kids say things.”

“No,” he interrupts, his voice firm. “I need to say this.”

I stay quiet, my heart pounding as he takes a step closer.

“Carson’s been through a lot,” he begins, his tone softer now. “Losing his mom, me trying to figure out how to be enough for him… it’s not easy.”

“I know,” I say gently. “And you’ve done an amazing job, Cal.”

He shakes his head, his gaze dropping to the ground. “I don’t know about that. But seeing the way he looks at you, the way he’s bonded with you so quickly… it scares the hell out of me.”

“Why?” I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.

“I just…I don’t want him to get hurt again,” he admits, his eyes meeting mine. “You’ve only been here a week and already he’s…attached. We both are.”

The vulnerability in his voice takes my breath away. I step closer, placing a hand on his arm. “I’m not here to hurt either of you.”

“I know,” he says, his voice rough. “But that doesn’t mean it’s not a risk.”

“Sometimes risks are worth taking,” I say softly, my heart pounding as I hold his gaze.

For a moment, neither of us speaks, the air between us thick with unspoken words. Then, slowly, he reaches up and brushes a strand of hair from my face, his touch sending a shiver down my spine.

“Layla,” he murmurs, his voice a low growl that makes my knees weak.

“Yes?” I breathe, my heart racing.

But before he can say anything more, Carson’s voice echoes through the barn. “Daddy! Come see this!”

Cal steps back, the moment shattered. He clears his throat, glancing over his shoulder. “Coming, kiddo.”

I watch as he walks away, my heart pounding in my chest. Whatever just happened between us, it’s far from over.

And I’m not sure if I’m terrified or excited about that.

The soft glow of the lamp spills from Carson’s room as I tiptoe down the hall. It’s late, and the house is quiet except for the low murmur of Cal’s voice. I pause at the doorway, leaning against the frame, unnoticed.

Inside, Cal sits on the edge of Carson’s bed, his broad shoulders hunched forward as he holds a book in his hands. Carson is curled up under the covers, his big brown eyes wide with wonder as he listens.

“…and the little duckling wandered through the reeds, lost and scared,” Cal reads, his voice low and steady, rich with emotion. “But then he heard a croak, and out hopped a frog. ‘Don’t worry,’ said the frog. ‘We’ll keep you safe.’”

Carson clutches his stuffed bear closer. “What happens next?”

Cal turns the page, the soft rustle of paper filling the quiet. “The duckling stayed with the frogs for a while, learning how to swim in their pond. But soon, he met some loons who showed him how to dive deep for food. And when winter came, the geese took him south, teaching him to fly.”

Carson’s brows knit together, and he looks up at Cal. “But what about his real family? Did they come back?”

Cal hesitates, the weight of the question settling over the room. “Sometimes, people leave, buddy,” he says softly, his thumb brushing over the edge of the book. “But it doesn’t mean they stop loving you. And it doesn’t mean you won’t find other people to love you, too.”

Carson tilts his head. “Like you and me?”

My heart clenches. I wipe at the corner of my eye, the lump in my throat making it hard to breathe.

Cal nods, his voice thick with emotion. “Yeah, like us. I wasn’t expecting to be your dad, but here we are. And I wouldn’t change it for anything.”

Carson snuggles deeper into his blankets. “Do you think there’s a Heaven?”

“I do,” Cal says, his voice unwavering. “And I think your mom is up there, watching you. She’s proud of the young gentleman you’re becoming.”

Carson’s eyes glisten as he whispers, “You think so?”

“I know so,” Cal says, leaning down to kiss Carson’s forehead. “She loves you just as much now as she ever did.”

Tears spill down my cheeks as I watch them, the depth of Cal’s love for Carson hitting me like a wave. He’s not just a grumpy cowboy with a sharp tongue; he’s a man with a heart so big, it could hold the whole world.

Carson’s voice pulls me back. “Do you think I’ll ever have another mom? Like… a new one?”

Cal freezes for a moment, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he swallows. His gaze flicks to the doorway where I’m standing, his eyes locking with mine. I hold my breath, unable to move.

“I think,” he says carefully, “that sometimes, when you least expect it, the right person comes along. Someone who fits into your family like they were always meant to be there.”

Carson’s sleepy voice murmurs, “Like Layla?”

My hand flies to my mouth, but Cal doesn’t look away. His gaze softens, a flicker of something I can’t quite name—hope, maybe—dancing in his eyes.

“Maybe,” he says, his voice low. “But that’s a big question for another day, buddy. Right now, it’s time for you to sleep.”

Carson yawns, his eyes fluttering closed. “’Night, Dad.”

“Goodnight, kiddo,” Cal murmurs, setting the book aside and standing.

I quickly step back into the shadows, wiping at my cheeks as Cal steps into the hallway. He closes Carson’s door with a quiet click and turns, his sharp blue eyes finding me immediately.

“How long were you standing there?” he asks, his voice low but not accusing.

“Long enough,” I admit, my voice trembling. “Cal, that was… beautiful.”

He shrugs, his hand rubbing the back of his neck like he’s uncomfortable with the compliment. “Just doing my job.”

“No,” I say, stepping closer. “It’s more than that. The way you love him… it’s everything. And the way you talked about me… about us…” My voice breaks, and I take a shaky breath. “I didn’t realize how much I needed to hear that.”

He steps closer, his presence grounding and overwhelming all at once. “You mean it?”

“Yes,” I whisper. “You and Carson… you’ve given me something I didn’t even know I was missing. I ran away from my wedding thinking I’d lost everything, but now…” I meet his gaze, my heart hammering in my chest. “Now I think I found what I was always meant to have.”

His hand comes up, his fingers brushing my cheek, warm and rough against my skin. “Layla,” he murmurs, his voice a mix of gruffness and tenderness that makes my knees weak. “You’ve changed everything.”

“So have you,” I whisper, my hand coming up to rest on his chest, feeling the steady thrum of his heartbeat beneath my palm.

For a moment, the world falls away. It’s just us, standing in the dimly lit hallway, the weight of unspoken words hanging in the air. Then, slowly, he leans down, his lips brushing against mine in a kiss that’s soft and searching, yet filled with an intensity that takes my breath away.

When he pulls back, his eyes search mine. “We should be careful.”

“Why?” I hum.

“Because the more I kiss you, the less chance I’ll ever let you go.” His eyes, warm with emotion, hang on mine and all I can think is good, because I never want this man to let me go.