Total pages in book: 51
Estimated words: 47222 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 236(@200wpm)___ 189(@250wpm)___ 157(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 47222 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 236(@200wpm)___ 189(@250wpm)___ 157(@300wpm)
And what about the baby? I have no doubt in my mind that the child Darcy’s carrying is mine. It pains me to think of her struggling with the early months of pregnancy alone, to imagine her shock and fear and despair going through such a big life change. I had hoped, back when we first got married, that she’d get pregnant soon. Not so much because it would have bound her to me, but because I wanted Darcy to have my babies in her belly. I want to raise beautiful children together on this farm with the curvy girl as their mother.
And now she’s having my child, but she won’t let me be a part of his or her life.
Much to my chagrin, my eyes get a little misty thinking about her bold declaration. “Shit!” I bellow and kick the fence hard with my boot. The cow looks up from her chewing, unimpressed by my frequent disruptions. I grip one of the posts and try to control my anger and heartbreak.
Hands down, this whole mess is my fault. I was dishonest with Darcy, and everything she accused me of is true. I had originally come here to try and take her farm and I’d used my accident to my advantage to woo her.
Hell, she even confessed to me how awful the McLaughlins abused her family, and I said nothing about my true identity, like a liar.
Standing in the dark shadows by the pasture, I let myself feel all of my emotions: shame, regret, and fear. I’m ashamed of my behavior and I regret the actions that led me and Darcy to this point. But mostly, I’m scared that Darcy won’t take me back, that I screwed everything up and there’s no fixing it.
But there’s one thing she keeps leaving out. I shake my head ruefully.
I do love her.
When my brothers first suggested that I try my hand at persuading the Fields girl to sell, I thought she would turn out to be plain, boring, and stupid. Instead, I met Darcy, who is kind, sharp as a tack, and the most beautiful woman I’ve ever laid eyes on.
You fucked up, Rock. Letting yourself fall head over heels in love with this curvy, passionate girl was definitely not part of the plan.
“Goddammit.” I curse myself. “I have to get her to listen to me, to hear my side of the story.” The cow merely continues to graze like nothing’s wrong with the world.
Abruptly, I know exactly what I have to do. Darcy came back for the farm, not for me, and while that knowledge pains me to no end, I have to give her the power.
Quickly, I cross the dark yard to my pickup truck. Fumbling for my keys in the darkness, I unlock the car and open the glove compartment. Let’s put it all on the table then.
I stalk back to the house, trying to control the surge of emotions running through me. I recognize that most of my anger is toward myself, but I’m also angry that Darcy continues to refuse to listen to me.
I climb up the porch steps and stride into the house. While most of the lights are out downstairs, the lamps from our bedroom are ablaze. I take the stairs swiftly, hearing Darcy gently humming as I draw near. Hearing her soft voice, I pause outside the master bedroom, my courage ebbing ever so slightly.
Shit buddy. It’s now or never.
I knock on the door but don’t wait for a response as I walk purposefully into the room. Darcy looks up, surprised by my bold entrance. She’s wearing skimpy pajama shorts and an oversized t-shirt. Her full breasts, made even bigger by pregnancy, stretch the shirt material.
“What are you doing?” she asks, her tone indignant.
Without answering, I drop the paper onto the bed and cross back to the door. I lean on the doorframe while Darcy picks up the flimsy document and begins to read.
As her eyes dart across the page, I really look at her, able to take her in without her noticing. Her dark brown hair is longer, fuller looking. Her curvy figure is rounding out even more with the baby weight, and her large brown eyes seem to glimmer in the lamplight. My wife is the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen, I repeat to myself through a lump in my throat.
I straighten up when Darcy looks up from reading the paper. “What the hell is this?” she asks with a confused glance my way.
“It’s the deed to the property.”
“I know that, Ranger, I mean Rock. But what – how, why do you have it?” I can see the anger and distrust starting to boil behind her eyes.
“I’m going to tell it to you straight, Darcy.”
“You expect me to believe a word you say?”