“You sure?” Trace asked settling the baby in Daisy’s arms.
“You know I do this every day,” Daisy said. “Go on.”
Trace stood collecting the now empty cups and taking them to the sink. “I guess we’d better go,” he said.
Marissa followed him out of the quiet center as a thousand thoughts raced through her head. In her heart, she knew she wanted something more, but she just couldn’t believe it was possible.
“So that’s Daisy,” she said as Trace helped her into his truck. “She seems too perfect to be true.” Marissa knew she was being snappish, but the very nice evening had turned to a muddle in her brain. “Did you two cook this up between you just to get me here,” she added as Trace closed his door.
“What?” he said turning to look at her. “Why would you say that?”
“You’re the one that gave me her card when we first met. I suppose you sat down one night and figured out how to get me here. Is that why you asked me out in the first place?”
“No, not at all,” Trace insisted. “I do this kind of thing all the time,” he defended. “Daisy knows she can call me any time there’s an issue. I’ve worked with her and the center for years. We didn’t plot to get you there it just happened.”
Marissa crossed her arms over her middle as Trace started the truck and turned back toward the Broken J. She knew she was being ridiculous, but she couldn’t seem to shake the feeling of guilt and shame that engulfed her. She was a modern woman and she knew her rights. She didn’t need any backcountry cowboy trying to tell her what to do with her body.
“Marissa,” Trace’s voice was soft. “I asked you out because I like you, and because I thought you might enjoy a night out. Some time to forget about everything and have some fun.”
Marissa looked at the cowboy but his eyes were on the road. Did he mean what he said? How was she supposed to know?
“You’re kind of preachy. You know that,” she spat. “I suppose you know what’s right for me because your sweet sister is a rescuer of unwanted babies.”
Trace concentrated on the road as he desperately prayed for the right words. How could he make her know that he wanted what was good and right for her?
“I don’t know what is right for you,” he finally spoke, “but I do know that you made a choice a while ago, and now you have to think of someone other than yourself. I knew when I saw you that morning by the fence that you were worried and confused.” He paused but continued before she could speak. “I think you want this baby,” he said. “I don’t know anything about the surrounding circumstances, but I know that you have a brand new life inside you and that is a gift that no one should throw away. You have options, Marissa. I just hope you’ll choose one that you won’t regret for the rest of your life.”
Marissa squirmed in her seat. In her heart, she wanted this baby, but she wasn’t sure she wanted to do this on her own. How was she supposed to go back to work this fall and explain everything to her students?
“What options?” she said, her voice rough. “If I do this, I’ll be a single mom, and on a teaching salary that is not a great thing to be. If I put the baby up for adoption, everyone will know. I’m a teacher, after all. We are judged differently than other people.”
“What if you were married?” Trace said the words tumbling out of his mouth so fast they didn’t even register.
Marissa huffed a bitter laugh. “Oh, do I get to wave my magic wand, and a miracle husband will appear?” she growled.
“I don’t know,” Trace admitted. “Kade put in an order for a wife and got one. These things do happen.”
Marissa shook her head. “I’ll figure this out on my own,” she shot back. “I don’t need anyone meddling in my life.”
Trace pulled the truck over in an open field and shut off the headlights letting the stars above twinkle down into the cab. “I think you do,” he said turning to look at her, one arm resting on the back of the seat and the other draped over the steering wheel. “I think you want someone meddling in your life. Someone you can depend on who will help you and give you a way out of this situation that you can live with.”
“Huh,” Marissa said, anger bringing tears to her eyes. “Like who? I don’t see any knight in shining armor charging to the rescue,” she said dashing at her eyes.
Trace reached out taking the hand that she had used to swipe at her tears. “I’ll do it,” he said, his voice a hushed whisper. “I’ll do whatever it takes to help you, Marissa.”
Marissa turned, focusing tear-filled eyes on the cowboy next to her. “And what exactly would you be willing to do?” she asked. “I have to go home in a few weeks. Are you going to move in with me? Take care of me? I can take care of myself.”
“I’ll marry you,” Trace said his warm hand still wrapped around hers. “I’ll marry you, and after the baby is born, you can divorce me, and I take custody of the child.”
Marissa’s breath froze in her throat. Was the man serious? Did he think that he could make it all better by marrying her?
“Are you insane?” she asked her voice harsh. “How is that supposed to work with you here and me in Illinois?”
“I don’t know, but we can make it work. Marissa, just give it a chance. You’ll
