This Hick?

Chapter 29

CHAPTER 29

KAREN

M y stomach was twisting and flipping as I walked back up to my room with the brown bag in my hand. I avoided making eye contact with anyone like I was committing a crime. This morning, I finished my chores early and then borrowed my uncle’s truck, an automatic thankfully, and headed into town. Ginny offered to go with me, but I had to shut her down. It was a mission I needed to do on my own.

I made it into my room and quickly closed the door. Locked it. Once again, I felt like I was doing something wrong. Something illegal.

I put the bag on the bed and stared at it like it was a ticking time bomb, ready to blow at any second. My hands were shaking as I pulled my phone out of my purse.

I called Rylee. “We’re all here,” she said. “You’re on speaker.”

“Did you get it?” Mary Ellen asked.

“Yes, but I don’t want to do it,” I said.

“It’s better to just get it over with,” Lauren said.

“We’ll be right here with you,” Jenny added.

“Guys, do I have to?” I groaned, my eyes on the bag.

“Just do it,” Rylee said. “The suspense is killing me.”

I groaned, knowing I had no choice. “Fine. Give me a minute. I’m not taking you in there with me.”

“We’ll be waiting,” Jenny said.

“Aim well!” Rylee called out.

I put my phone on the bed, snatched the paper bag, and went into the bathroom. Never did I think I’d be needing one of these. I quickly read the instructions on the box. It wasn’t rocket science—pee on the stick and wait.

I quickly did so, doing my best to aim like Rylee suggested, and slid the cap back on. I washed my hands, refusing to look at the stick. I returned to my room and picked up my phone. “I did it.”

“I’ll set my timer,” Rylee said. “Should I put a song on while we wait?”

“This isn’t the final round of Jeopardy,” I said, shaking my head.

“No, this is way more exciting,” Rylee said.

I paced back and forth with the phone pressed to my ear. I didn’t dare put it on speaker. Someone might happen to overhear the conversation.

“Thirty more seconds,” Lauren said.

“Look early,” Mary Ellen said. “I can’t wait.”

“I can,” I muttered, not daring to look at the stick on the dresser.

I continued pacing. The timer dinged through the phone. My stomach dropped. It was time.

“Whatever it says, we’re here with you,” Mary Ellen said.

“I can’t,” I squeaked. “I can’t look.”

“Yes, you can.” Rylee was stern. I knew if she was with me, she would have already snatched the test and looked. She wasn’t the patient kind.

“Fine.”

I walked back to the dresser and picked up the test. I stared at the stick, blinking, as if that would change the result staring back at me. It didn’t.

“Karen?” Lauren breathed softly into the silence, as if sensing I needed the gentlest push.

“Well…” My voice wobbled, and I swallowed hard. “It definitely wasn’t something I ate.”

Silence.

“Positive,” I croaked. “I’m pregnant.”

The words hung in the air, echoing around me as if I’d just said something too big, too unbelievable. How did this happen? Okay, scratch that. Obviously I knew how it happened. But why now? And here? And with a guy who’s a tangled-up mess of questions, emotions, and nothing I ever imagined myself being attracted to let alone forever connected to?

What was Cassidy going to think? What was I going to think? Was he going to be mad? Happy? Scared?

“Somebody say something please,” I said, sinking onto the edge of my bed, still staring at the test in my hand. I tried to wrap my mind around it.

“Karen.” Mary Ellen’s voice came through my phone, grounding me. “You’re going to be an incredible mother. You’ve got this.”

“I’m going to spoil the hell out of that kid,” Rylee said, way more excited than I was.

Lauren sounded more levelheaded. “Whatever you decide, we love you, and we’re here. You don’t have to go through this alone.”

“And we’re all going to be aunties!” Jenny’s excited voice cut in. I could hear her practically vibrating through the phone.

“I’m definitely the cool aunt,” Rylee said. “I’m buying that kid a drum set.”

They all started talking at once, each trying to offer their version of support, but my brain was spinning in a hundred different directions. How could my life have turned on its head so quickly? One minute, I was Karen, the dependable, predictable girl who always stayed within her comfort zone. The next I was a pregnant woman with decisions to make. Decisions I wasn’t prepared for.

I looked at the test again. I was hoping there would be some kind of sign or reassurance. It didn’t have answers, only confirmation of what my body had already told me. I had a little cowboy or cowgirl in me.

“Come home,” Lauren said, her voice cutting through my thoughts. “If you don’t want to be there, you can come and live with us. We’ll figure it out.”

The thought of leaving the ranch—leaving Cassidy—had me recoiling.

Maybe that was a sign.

I barely registered the sound of someone knocking at my door until it happened again, louder this time.

“Crap,” I muttered into the phone. “I’ve got to go, guys.”

“Call us if you need anything,” Mary Ellen said.

“Any time,” Rylee added. “I’ve got you. I’ll fly out there myself if you need me to.”

Feeling slightly reassured that I wasn’t alone in the world, I ended the call and stashed the test under my pillow like a teenager trying to hide something from my parents. I rushed to the door, still reeling.

When I opened it, Uncle Don was standing there. Right behind him was Cassidy. They both looked at me like I’d grown a second head. Just seeing Cassidy made my heart thud. I swallowed the lump in my throat and did my best to look casual.

“Yes?” I squeaked, my voice higher than usual.

They both scrutinized me, suspicion clear in their eyes. I forced a smile and leaned casually against the doorframe with my arm up. I hoped I looked like the most laid-back person in the world. But as Cassidy’s gaze drifted from my awkwardly posed arm to the weird way I was sticking out my hip, then back up to my face, I realized I probably looked anything but casual.

I dropped my arm and shoved my hands into my jean pockets, silently cringing. Great recovery, Karen.

Uncle Don cleared his throat. “Are you busy?” Uncle Don asked.

“Nope. Why would I be busy? What’s up?”

I was nailing the casual thing.

“We’ve got an idea, something that might help us close the gap in the books,” Uncle Don said.

I blinked, trying to focus on what he was saying. Right . Ranch business. Money. Not babies.

“I’m listening,” I said, hoping my voice sounded more normal than I felt.

“I’ll let Cassidy explain,” Uncle Don said.

“I was thinking, well, what do you think about hosting a Valentine’s Day event here at the lodge?” Cassidy asked.

I blinked again, my brain struggling to keep up. “A Valentine’s Day event?” I repeated slowly, trying to focus on anything other than the fact that I had a positive pregnancy test hidden under my pillow.

Cassidy nodded. “Yeah. There’s not much in Wind Ridge for couples. The restaurants are always booked up with reservations. But what if we held a romantic evening here? You know, dinner, dancing, a place where people can dress up and have a nice night with their partner? For a fee, of course.”

I tried to root myself in the conversation, to get a grip, but my mind was still stuck on the test. Valentine’s Day? Romance? How could I even think about that right now? I was not feeling very Valentine-y.

“Why would people come here for romance?” I tried to joke. “No offense, Uncle Don, but it’s all a little lackluster. Rustic.”

“They’ll come for the dance,” Cassidy said.

I stared at him. “You really think people would come for a dance?”

Cassidy nodded. “I do. With the right setup, we could make it something special. We get a live band and put up a little stage. We can turn this place into something memorable for couples looking for a good night out. You’re from the city, but we’re not. We don’t mind rustic. It’s part of who we are. We don’t need ballrooms and chandeliers. Just good music, good friends?—”

“And good whiskey,” Uncle Don threw in.

Cassidy laughed. “That couldn’t hurt.”

“It’s a nice idea, but do you think we could pull it off?” I asked.

“We can pull off anything,” Cassidy said. “If we work together.”

His confidence was infuriating and reassuring all at once. And the way his eyes held mine? Yeah, that didn’t help the situation. The chemistry between us was off the charts. Or maybe my hormones were already going wild. Either way, he made me a believer.

Uncle Don cleared his throat again. “I’ll leave you two to hash out the details. I think it’s a great idea, but I’m not going to be the one trying to make it happen. Let me know what you think is best.”

As soon as he was out of sight, I let out a breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding.

Cassidy was still looking at me, waiting for some kind of reaction. “What?” I asked, trying to sound nonchalant.

“You okay?” he asked softly, stepping a little closer. He reached out and took my hand. It was a simple gesture. One that wasn’t abnormal between lovers.

I nodded, but I didn’t trust my voice. My heart was fluttering too hard for me to sound normal. I pulled my hand back. It wasn’t possible, but I was worried he would somehow sense I was growing his baby through that one simple touch.

He tilted his head slightly and studied me. “You sure?”

I bit my lip, debating whether or not to spill my guts. But no. I needed time to process this on my own first. Maybe it wasn’t fair to him but the big reveal would have to wait, assuming I ever told him at all. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just a lot on my mind.”

Cassidy nodded, as if understanding. “If this is too much, just say no. Ginny might be able to help out.”

“No, no,” I said. “I’m just thinking. That’s a big job and not a lot of time.”

“How soon would we need to start planning?”

“Three months ago,” I said with a small laugh.

He wrinkled his nose. “I suppose we’re kind of up against the wire. Maybe it was a dumb idea.”

“No, not at all,” I said quickly, hating the look of dejection on his face. “It’s a great idea. We just have to get organized.”

My mind was already racing with everything that would need to be done.

“I’ll get everyone together,” Cassidy said. “Give me two hours. That work for you?”

“That totally works.”

“Thank you for helping with this. Together, we can make great things happen. I just know it.”

I let out a laugh. You have no idea. “Don’t give me too much credit yet. I’m not sure how romantic this place can get, but I’ll try.”

He stepped closer. “It’ll be something amazing. I can see it already.”

He leaned down and dropped a kiss on my lips. It was barely anything more than a peck, but it had the usual effect of making my knees weak.

“To be continued,” he said with a wink.