“I would have come sooner,” Dallas said, “but after being away so long I put in a full day’s work.” He stood in the center of the room, hands on his lean hips, his eyes cool. “Hadley says you have something to tell me.”
Elizabeth could see a muscle knot in his jaw. “Jenna told him,” she murmured. In Barren, others might always be waiting for the next bit of gossip to spread, but she hadn’t expected Jenna to betray her confidence.
“There was never any flu, was there?” he asked.
“No, but at first I wasn’t sure about...the other.” She pressed a hand to her forehead. “Dallas, I didn’t want to think I was pregnant. Then I didn’t want to trouble you until I had to.”
“Trouble me?”
“I should have told you, I know that. But I...lost a baby last year, and I’ve been so afraid that might happen again. I wanted to feel more confident that it won’t before I said anything. Before we go on now, how is your mother doing?” Elizabeth added.
The muscle in his jaw jumped again. “Better. Out of the hospital. I took off too fast to call you. Sorry, and once I was there, I never seemed to find the time.” Or maybe he hadn’t wanted to. He returned to the subject that involved him now as well. “I’m very sorry for your loss then, but yes, you should have told me. Instead, Elizabeth, I had to find out from my brother that you’re carrying my baby?”
Dallas came closer, eyes blazing. “Why didn’t you tell me? Or did you not want me to know?” He waved a hand toward the stairs. “I was here long enough to take care of your three kids. I watched rodeo tapes with Jordan, read books to Seth, tried to connect with Stella, who’s having none of that, by the way. I was in this house for days while you hid the truth from me. That’s the same as lying.”
“By omission,” she conceded. “Dallas, I didn’t intentionally mislead you.”
“I think you did. You kept on talking about our rodeo plans, but you could never even say a few other words? Like, ‘Dallas, I’m pregnant. Help me.’” He stood in front of her and Elizabeth looked up into his angry eyes. “You trusted me with your children, but you didn’t trust me with the truth. I have to ask—what am I to you? What do you take me for? Just some guy you made one mistake with last May, someone who’s passing through and will be out of your life before summer’s over?”
“You will be,” she pointed out. “You’ve never made any secret of the fact that you can’t wait to get on the road again.” She understood the worry he felt about that and his parents. “So, no, I didn’t expect you to be thrilled about the baby. And when you do go back to the circuit, have you thought about what would happen if you got injured again? How would that help your mother or secure your parents’ future?”
“I won’t get hurt.” Except that hadn’t worked so well for him before.
Elizabeth flung out a hand. Stubborn man. “You shouldn’t even ride in this local rodeo. The animals you’ve managed to acquire are inexperienced. No one’s ever tried to stay on them. Am I right?”
“You let me worry about that. I promise not to get killed in front of you and your children.”
His sarcasm made Elizabeth see red. “I hope not, but isn’t it time you faced reality? Riding bulls can’t last forever.”
His mouth tightened. “No, and when that’s over, I’ll decide what else to do with my life. Maybe stock contracting, becoming a rodeo announcer on TV, getting more involved with a group that helps injured and disabled riders—I might even think about buying a ranch of my own. I’m not there yet. But right now my folks can’t live in that house much longer, even with the caregiver I hired. Over time Mom will need more care—expensive care. When I’m through on the circuit, I can relocate them wherever I decide to settle or go home and find them a better situation in Denver, but I need to get back to rodeoing so I can afford to do that. I thought you understood why my first priority has to be my parents.” He drew a sharp breath. “But about this baby...what do you need from me?”
Elizabeth stiffened. This wasn’t going any better than she’d expected. “I don’t need your money. And I haven’t asked you to stay, Dallas.” Her voice quavered. “Or to be part of this child’s life. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you before Hadley did. Just go,” she said, “back to your rodeo career and all that prize money you intend to win. I have a job now too, and my three kids have support from Harry. If I need anything more, I’m sure my friends will help.”
He gazed at her. “Know something? This isn’t about what I do. It’s not about me being the wrong guy for you, a cowboy who’s like some tumbleweed rolling over the ground. Isn’t that what you meant?” He didn’t give her a chance to answer. “You don’t much like rodeo, I get that, but it’s not really about me. It’s not even about this baby, is it? I’ve been wrong. I think you care more what the town gossips might say—”
“That’s not true.”
“—and about your standing in this community, including with your mother, than you do even about the children you already have.”
Elizabeth winced. “That’s unfair. I don’t want them shamed—because of my behavior with you this time!” Her voice continued to shake. “But that’s on me. I had a rebound thing
