Page 103 of Mended Fences

Rhett’s eyes glistened as he traced the embossed letters. “Thank you.”

“Of course.” My hand drifted to my belly as the baby kicked. “We might be new at this whole sibling thing, but I’m learning.”

“Speaking of learning...” He pulled out one last gift from behind his back. The package was wrapped pristinely—different from the first gift-bagged present he’d handed over and not what I would have expected from a man who worked with cows all day. The package was weighty and the paper was simple—a red and black gingham print, with crisply folded corners. I smoothed my hands over the glossy surface as I turned in in my grip and slid a finger along the taped seam. When I folded back the sides, a laugh burst from my throat as I read the title of the pregnancy book in my hands—Cows, Cribs, and Chaos: The Cowboy’s Guide to Newborns.

My laughter must have been contagious, because inseconds, Rhett was doubled over and tears streamed down my face.

When we finally composed ourselves, Rhett said, “Figured as a doctor, you knew the most important stuff. But if that baby of yours is ever gonna come visit the ranch, she better know her way around a saddle.”

My good mood dipped. “Not sure we’ll ever be invited tothe ranch.” Despite connecting with Rhett, I’d yet to hear from the man who’d donated half my DNA.

“Oh, you’ll be invited. You can trust me on that.” His tone brooked no argument, so I didn’t bother. Instead, I offered him a placating smile just as a knock sounded at the front door.

I made to push myself to standing, but at twenty-seven weeks pregnant, it was a struggle.

“Sit,” Rhett said with a gentle hand on my shoulder. “I’ll get it.”

I leaned back on my palms, soaking in the warmth of the fire crackling behind me. I could only make out stilted murmurs from where my brother had opened the front door. “Who is it?” I called.

The moment the final word left my mouth, I watched Rhett stumble backward against the door. “Get out of my fuckin’ way,” Chase barked as he pushed past him.

He made a beeline for me at my spot on the floor and gripped my cheeks. “Are you okay?” His eyes darted between mine, panicked.

Rhett had righted himself and now loomed over us. “Of course, she’s fucking okay.”

Chase glared up at him and, through gritted teeth, said, “I wasn’t asking you.”

I left one hand planted on the floor while the other gripped Chase’s wrist. “I’m fine.” He didn’t look like he believed me. “I see you’ve met my brother.”

His eyes grew comically wide. “Brother?”

“Yep,” I said, popping the P.

“How the fuck do you have a cowboy for a brother?”

A smile stretched across my face as Rhett rolled his eyes and headed to the kitchen where the timer for the cinnamon rolls was going off.

“Help me up?”

Chase lifted me off the ground like I weighed nothing, carrying me bridal style to the couch. When he sat, it was with me on his lap and his arms wrapped tightly around me.

“I saw him here,” he whispered into my temple. “A few months ago.”

“I know.”

“I panicked, just now. Last time I came to your house and a man had been inside that wasn’t me…”

My heart cracked for him, for me, for the life growing inside me.

“I wasn’t here to protect you, and I promised myself that I would never let anything bad happen to you ever again.”

“So, he answered the door, and you panicked.”

A small nod.

“Chase, look at me.” His eyes lifted to mine. “I’m okay.”

A rough swallow. Another nod.