Page 67 of Christmas at the Ranch
“It’s not about money. It’s because I’m pregnant.”
He dropped into a chair. “You’re what?”
“I thought I had the flu. It wouldn’t go away, so I took a pregnancy test.” I still couldn’t look at him. “That’s why I was crying. I cry about everything: because I expected an A on a test and got a B plus, when the cat that lives next door got stuck outside in therain. If we got married, your parents would think I was trying to trap you.”
“I was raised Catholic; I won’t let you—”
“I thought about it, I’m not going to have an abortion,” I assured him. “I’ll live with my parents in Jackson Hole. Eventually I’ll go back to school, but for now I’ll take care of the baby.”
Arthur got up and paced around the room.
“Is that what you want? To live in Jackson Hole your whole life? Your old high school boyfriend will still be in town and your parents will invite him to dinner. You’ll start sleeping together and he’ll ask you to marry him. He’ll get a job in a ski shop and you’ll go back to the dude ranch and spend your life kissing up to tourists.”
“For your information, my high school boyfriend is studying pre-med at Notre Dame,” I snapped. “And what’s wrong with working at the dude ranch? I’d be with people who like the same things as I do. And I wouldn’t have to apologize for helping to serve dinner. In Wyoming it’s called good manners.”
It felt good to get angry. Since I arrived in New York, I haven’t had the confidence to get angry about anything.
Arthur sat across from me. He leaned forward.
“You and I like the same things. We both love horses and reading.” He took my hand. “I’d know why you agreed to marry me, that has to count for something. I’d marry you if you were nine months pregnant and had to stand at the altar naked because youcouldn’t fit into a dress. I love you and I can’t be without you.”
Oh, diary. I couldn’t imagine a life without Arthur’s smile. Never kissing him again or having his body pressed against mine.
“I don’t think the priest would marry us if I was naked,” I said with a grin.
He sensed the change in my mood. He picked up the box and took out the diamond ring.
“Diana, I’ve loved you since the moment we met.” He got down on his knee. “I promise to spend my life making you happy. Will you marry me?”
What choice did I have, diary?
I said yes.
Samantha stopped reading. She went back and flipped through the pages.
She wanted to be mistaken, but the dates matched up. Arthur and Diana got married and had a baby. The diary could have belonged to Drew’s mother.
How did it end up in Arthur’s library? Perhaps Arthur didn’t know it was there. When he furnished the ranch, he probably brought books from his apartment in New York. The journal sat unnoticed until Samantha found it behind a Vince Flynn thriller.
The door opened and Drew poked his head in.
“You’re up!” he said, entering the room.
“Drew.” Samantha slipped the diary behind her back. “I was about to take a bath.”
“The electrician didn’t need me, so I went into the village,” Drew said. “I have a surprise for you.”
“What kind of surprise?” she asked, shifting the diary into her other hand.
“Don’t worry, it was approved by Dr. Parr,” he said with a smile. “It does mean leaving this room. Dress warmly, you’ll need a hat and gloves.”
“Where are we going?” she wondered.
“You’ll see,” he said, his eyes as bright as the fire in the fireplace. “I’ll wait for you downstairs.”
When Samantha appeared, a white Rolls-Royce stood in the driveway. A man in a gray uniform jumped out.
“Good afternoon, Miss Morgan, Mr. Wentworth,” he greeted them. “I’m Adam; I’ll be your guide. There’s hot chocolate in a thermos or coffee if you prefer.”
