Page 9 of Rain or Shine
“The fuck it’s not. You’re my little sister, and you’re knocked up. I think I have a right to know who the father of my niece or nephew is.” Dustin’s booming voice causes me to flinch and him to curse. “Sorry, Laney, I didn’t mean to yell at you. I just don’t want to see you burned.”
“I’m fine, Dustin. Really. I don’t even know if the test is correct. I’ve got an appointment set to find out,” I tell him andnarrow my eyes to little slits. “Don’t go blabbing your mouth about this to anyone.”
The last thing I want is for word to get back to Tyler about the fact I’m pregnant before I have the courage to tell him. I honestly don’t want to tell him right away. I’m not sure I’d know how. Yes, he has a right to know, but what if I lose the baby? There’s no reason to tell him until I know for certain there’s something to report. With my luck, it’s probably a false test. If by chance it isn’t, I could lose the baby, and again, no reason to bring him into this mess.
I’m not even sure how he’ll react to the news. With the way he acted after, I’d say he wouldn’t take kindly to me springing it on him.
Dustin watches me closely for a minute before nodding. “Fine, I won’t say anything, but you’re gonna have to talk to me eventually about this. You can’t do this by yourself.”
“I’m better off at the moment alone.” If it’s true, then I want to be the only one it affects. I hate that my brother saw that stupid test in my trash can.
“You might think that, Laney, but you’re not. I’m not going to let you do this alone. You can keep the father to yourself for now, but I will find out, eventually.”
That’s what I’m worried about. Dustin and Davis were always protective of me growing up. They scared off any guy who even tried to ask me out in high school. I hadn’t even had a date to the prom because of them, so I hadn’t even gone. To make it up to me, they’d taken me to the rodeo the weekend after.
“How about I order us something to eat from The Hideaway and get it delivered?” My stomach growls at the mention of ordering food. “I’ll help you put these packets away, and we can watchThe Waterboy,” he suggests, already pulling his phone out of his pocket.
“That sounds good, mac and cheese and a BBQ sandwich, please.” It’s what I typically order when I want comfort food.
“You want coleslaw?”
“What do I look like?” I balk at the mention of slaw. It’s just gross. I don’t care if people like it or not, I’m good without the stuff anywhere near my food.
Dustin chuckles, shakes his head, and puts the order in. “It’ll be here in about thirty to forty minutes. Got a prospect bringing it by.”
“You’re the best.” I grin at him.
“Yeah, yeah, now where do we get started?” he asks.
“Let me get changed and we’ll organize everything into stacks, then put them together in the packets with the folders of information.”
“You got it.”
I leave him to start organizing while I make my way to my room to change. I’m glad he didn’t push me on the whole pregnancy subject. I don’t need him to know my fears or about me having a one-night stand with Tyler. For all my brother knows, I was pregnant before I moved home, and I just found out.
Changing into a pair of loose sweatpants and a bright pink tank top, I head back to my brother and the mound of work I dreaded doing myself. Now, it won’t be so bad since he’s helping me to get it done. The best part? We’re doing it together. Somewhat like old times. What better way to do it than with food from The Hideaway and watchingThe Waterboy.
Chapter Four
Tyler
“Shit, I gotta get going,” I mutter, checking the time on my watch.
“What’s going on?” Maddox asks from the saddle next to me.
We’d just finished bringing a herd of bison to their new pasture for the time being. Tomorrow we’ll be doing their vaccines and checking them over. Like today, it’ll be an all-day job with all of us working to see that the bison are healthy.
“Gotta take Dash to meet his teacher.”
“That's right.” Maddox hums, readjusting his Stetson. “He ready?”
“More than ready.” I wasn’t. I didn’t want to think about my son growing up on me. I hated it. Time needed to slow down a bit.
“It'll be good for him to be around other kids his age.”
Can't argue that.
Dash has grown up on this ranch. He's seen firsthand what hard work truly is and as little as he is, he's already made up his mind that he wants to be just like me.
