Page 24 of Promised to the Cowboy

Once Maggie has disappeared to feed the chickens, I sit at the kitchen table and pull my phone from my pocket.

I’ve been putting this off for weeks.

Every time I went to make the appointment, I found a reason not to. Work. Travel. Bad timing. As though pretending the pregnancy wasn’t happening would somehow buy me more time to figure out what came next.

It didn’t.

I find the number Gabriel gave me last night, scribbled on the back of a feed receipt, before we finally went to bed.

Havenstone Family Clinic.

The receptionist is kind. “How far along did you say you are?”

“About twenty-one weeks.”

There’s a pause.

“We’d really like to see you as soon as possible.”

“I know.” Heat creeps into my cheeks, even though she can’t see me. “I should’ve made an appointment sooner.”

“No judgment,” she says gently. “Let me see what I can do.”

A few moments later, she comes back.

“We’ve had a cancellation this afternoon. Two o’clock, if you can make it.”

“I’ll be there.”

I end the call and let out a shaky breath.

The screen goes dark in my hand.

Two o’clock.

No more hiding.

The back door opens behind me.

I turn to find Gabriel stepping into the kitchen, hat pushed back, a smear of dust across one forearm. He looks at my face first, then at the phone in my hand.

“Well?”

“They can see me this afternoon.”

His shoulders loosen almost imperceptibly. “Good.”

A small silence settles between us.

I hold his gaze for a moment.

Last night he said,I’m here. I’m staying. I’m in this with you.

That wasn’t him taking over.

It was him being present, standing by my side.

“Okay,” I say.