He had no idea what to say.
“We’re going to have a baby,” Ruby said.
JJ pulled his attention to her, catching her joyous smile. But he couldn’t make his mouth match hers, for his heart stopped. Just gone right to sleep there inside his chest, something that really shouldn’t happen to human beings.
Then, as if shocked back to life, his pulse thundered through his body the way a herd of wild mustangs would thud their hooves against the ground when spooked.
He swallowed, if only to keep his heartbeat contained in his body. Finally, a slow grin broke across his face, spreading likesunrise across the ranch. A deep, quiet laugh rumbled out of him, and he leaned forward, pressing his forehead to hers.
“A baby,” he whispered, as if he didn’t dare believe such a thing could happen to them. “I hope she has your red hair.”
“Bite your tongue,” Ruby said. “No one wants red hair.”
JJ kissed her and stroked his hands through her hair. “I love your red hair.” He pulled back and studied her. “I love you, Scarlet. I can’t believe you’re going to have a baby.”
She tugged him forward and scooted back at the same time. JJ crawled into bed with her, feeling a bit foreign on this side of the bed. The sheets were warm though, and he curled one arm under Ruby as she moved to cuddle into his chest.
His other hand slid down her arm to her belly, where he rested it gently. “When do you think you’ll be due?” He didn’t dare speak much louder than the humming of the furnace, for he wanted this moment to stay sacred, just the two of them on the brink of so much change.
“June, maybe?” she guessed. “I don’t know. I’ll need to find a doctor and all of that.” She didn’t sound the least bit scared, and JJ fell in love with her all over again.
He, however, kept his mouth shut, because he suddenly couldn’t imagine having to care for a helpless newborn. Sometimes, he couldn’t even keep himself fed and looked after.
As he lay there, a streak of fear ruining his moment, the image of Jesus emerged in his mind. He didn’t need to fear. Not only did he have his amazing wife to lean on, his whole family lived here in Three Rivers.
And no matter what, JJ could always go to the Lord for help too. He’d light the darkest night and calm the most violent seas.
He could help JJ be a good father too.
“I love you, Ruby,” he whispered.
“Mm, love you too, Jay.”
21
Surprise ran through Lenore when her phone rang at six-fifteen on Monday morning. The feeling dissipated quickly when she saw Arizona’s name sitting there, and she swiped on the call, almost fearful that the shrill noise would reach across the fields between her cabin and Brandon’s and wake him.
“Hello?” Lenore asked.
“Hey, Lenore,” Arizona said, not a stitch of grogginess in her voice. “I know I’m going to ruin the surprise, but at this point I don’t even care.”
“Okay,” Lenore said.
“I should’ve just talked to you about it anyway,” Arizona said. “Because Brandon is not an early riser, and I can’t get him to answer his blasted phone.”
Lenore frowned. “Why are you trying to call him so early?”
“The food I ordered is there,” Arizona said. “And the guy just wants to know where to put it.”
“The food you ordered?”
“Yes,” Arizona said, as if she ordered food every day and had it sent to the homestead. “Duke and I can’t be there today because we’re making the rounds with all the cattle at ShilohRidge and Hidden Hills to bring them in a little closer for calving season.”
“Okay,” Lenore said again.
“But I wanted to help with the solar panels,” Arizona continued, and Lenore was pretty sure she didn’t have to say anything for Arizona to keep talking. “So I bought breakfast for everyone.”
“Everyone?” Lenore asked.
