A Cowboy to Marry (16 page)

Her nervousness dissipating despite the task at hand, Libby took the microphone and thanked everyone for coming. “Before we start the party, I have a few announcements to make. First—it's official. This afternoon, I sold the dealership to Jeff Johnston. Everything Jeff has promised LRE employees—including the five-percent share of annual company profits—is in the sales contract.”

A cheer went up.

Libby smiled, glad to see so many happy faces. Knowing the next part was going to be a tougher sell, she forged on. “In exchange for Jeff's generosity, I have agreed to a change in the name of the business. From here on out, the dealership will be known as Jeff Johnston Ranch Equipment.”

Silence fell.

No one looked enthused about that.

In fact, just as Libby had expected, a lot of people looked downright ticked off.

She held up a hand to stave off any boos or negative comments, and continued sincerely, “And while I'm happy for Jeff, this makes me sad.” She paused, looking audience members in the eye.

“For generations, the Lowell family served this community and served them well. Which is why I have taken the proceeds from this sale and created a charitable foundation in my late husband's name.

“The Lowell Foundation will serve Laramie County and its residents. And my first project, as director and chairman of the foundation, will be to get the Laramie Public Library back up and running, the way it should be.”

 

T
HE NEXT FEW HOURS WERE
filled with tons of questions, even more congratulations and a lot of celebrating. Finally, four hours later, the dealership was empty, except for Libby and Holden.

She returned to her office, where several empty boxes waited.

Looking unbearably sexy in a dark suit and cobalt-blue shirt that brought out the hue of his eyes, Holden undid the knot of his tie. He lounged in the doorway, one shoulder propped against the frame. “So I guess this means you're staying on in Laramie?”

Nodding, Libby slipped out of her high heels. She flexed her aching feet against the plush carpet, working out the kinks. Exhausted, she took off her earrings, too, and set them on her desk. “This last week has given me a lot to think about. I figured I had to leave Laramie, and all the trappings of being Percy's widow, to move on. When the
truth is that experience—all the good and bad of it—made me the woman I am today.” Pausing, she gazed up at him reflectively. “I can move on, right here. Honor my past, while at the same time pursuing my future, because if there is one thing all this has taught me, it's that Laramie is my home.”

Holden came toward her. “What about the house?”

“I'm keeping it—at least for the time being. That was one of my bargaining chips in the marathon negotiation this week. I told Jeff I would lower the overall price on the sale by removing the house. In return, he said he'd put everything he'd promised the employees in writing….” To her consternation, Libby began to feel a little wobbly again.

Gosh, darn it!

Holden's brow furrowed.

Libby steadied herself by putting a hand on the file cabinet, then went to sit on the edge of her desk. “If I…agreed to a name change of the dealership. Which I think was what he was angling for all along.”

Holden walked over and sat down next to her. He took her hand in his. “Then why didn't he come out and say it?”

Libby stared down at their linked hands. “Because when we started talking, I wouldn't even consider selling unless we kept the Lowell name on the business. It was only later,” she admitted, tightening her suddenly damp fingers in Holden's, “that I realized what the real purpose of this windfall inheritance could be.”

Holden nodded, listening, seemingly unable to take his eyes from her face. Although he looked worried now.

Doing her best to hide her symptoms, Libby forged on. “This way, Percy's family will continue to do a lot of good, and they will be remembered always.” She paused
to acknowledge quietly, “And I'll be able to help a lot of people, too.”

Holden searched her face. “You have always been quite the problem-solving crusader.”

She smiled and withdrew her trembling fingers from his, discreetly blotting the moisture on her skirt. “And now…I'll have the funds to…” Libby swore as the room tilted sideways. Or at least it seemed to. That darned dizziness again!

“What is going on with you?” Holden demanded in concern, taking her by the shoulders. “You're white as a ghost!”

And that was the last thing Libby heard.

“This is ridiculous!” Libby argued as Holden escorted her into the Laramie Community Hospital. “I do not need to go to the emergency room.”

“It's Saturday night,” Holden stated firmly. “You are not waiting until Monday morning to see your family doctor.”

Before she could respond, Paige stepped out of an exam room and approached them. “Hey.” The scrubs-clad physician and mother of three paused to put down a chart at the nurses' station, then turned back to them. “What's going on?” Her glance swept over them both, taking in the tender, protective way Holden's arm was clamped around Libby's waist. “I heard you were bringing Libby in.”

Relieved to have medical help at long last, Holden confided to their mutual friend, “She hasn't been feeling well since she had a virus a couple of weeks ago.”

Paige grabbed a new chart and pen. “Is this true?”

Libby waved off the intermittent bouts of nausea and dizziness, combined with the ever-present urge to curl up somewhere and take a nap. “It's just fatigue. And stress.”

And a menstrual period that was nearly three weeks late, causing the physical commotion. There was no way she was going to let herself be prey to another hysterical pregnancy, or even the hint of one, Libby thought grimly. It
was bad enough she had allowed that kind of melodrama to happen once before. This time, she was doing the rational thing and keeping her suspicions to herself.

Unfortunately, her lack of full disclosure, to either Holden or her best friend, had Paige's radar on full alert.

Her expression concerned, the physician steered them toward an exam room. “Describe the symptoms.”

That, Libby really did not want to do. So instead, she stalled and said, “Aren't you a pediatrician?”

Paige flattened a hand against the door and ushered them inside. “It's the holidays. We're shorthanded tonight. At this moment, the internist on call is busy stabilizing a coronary patient. And the other physicians are busy, too. So unless you want to wait until another doctor can be called in…”

Holden lifted his palm. “We're grateful for the help.”

Meanwhile, Libby
was
feeling a little wobbly. Actually, she thought, putting a steadying hand on the gurney, make that a
lot
wobbly.

Holden grabbed her by the waist and lifted her onto the bed. Still holding her, he peered at her face. “Are you going to pass out again?”

Paige broke out the smelling salts and waved the aromatic scent beneath Libby's nose. “You fainted?”

Libby jerked back from the hideous smell. “Just a tiny bit,” she admitted grumpily.

Not bothering to hide his concern, Holden told Paige, “She scared the heck out of me.”

The pretty physician smiled knowingly. “And you are not a guy who scares easily.”

He was gallant, though, Libby thought. Sometimes way too gallant for his own good.

“You'd never know that by the way he's been acting
this evening,” Libby grumbled, knowing much more of this tender loving care from him and she would be tied to him emotionally—for life.

Paige reached for a clean cotton gown and handed it to her. “We're going to examine you and see what's going on. Do you want him in with you? Or out in the waiting room?”

Libby didn't even have to think about that, as she admitted reluctantly, “In here.” Turning to Holden, she tapped the middle of his broad, strong chest. “I want you to hear it firsthand when they tell me this was just exhaustion.”

Because she was definitely not pregnant. It didn't matter how much her mind was trying to trick her into believing it was so.

“Get changed. I'll be right back.” Paige eased out. The door shut behind her, leaving Libby and Holden alone again.

“Want help getting into that gown?”

Libby felt so shaky and weak she wasn't sure she could manage. However, there was no need to let her handsome companion know that. He'd only use it to torture her with kindness later. “If you must. And stop smiling.”

“Can't help it.” He playfully tugged on a lock of her hair before helping her off with her sweater. “You're really pretty when you're cranky.” He stepped behind her to allow her some modesty while her bra came off and she eased the polka-dot, green-and-white-cotton gown over her shoulders. “And that temper of yours is working to bring the color back into your face.” His fingers brushed her skin as he tied the gown in back, then helped her to her feet.

A short time later, she was relaxing beneath the sheet. Holden kept up the chitchat until Paige returned with an E.R. nurse.

Libby answered a ton of questions. Endured a physical exam and gave blood and urine samples.

After an interminable wait, which in reality was only twenty minutes, but was more than enough to tempt Libby to fall asleep, Paige returned.

The auburn-haired physician studied them both, the hint of a smile in her eyes. Finally, she looked at Libby and announced with candor, “The bad news is there's a reason you've been feeling the way you have. And it's likely to continue.”

Holden turned and gave Libby an I-told-you-that-you-needed-to-come-in-tonight look.

Paige continued, with a warm smile, “The good news is…you're pregnant.”

 

F
OR A LONG MOMENT
, the mixture of shock and surprise rendered them motionless.

For Libby, this was all too reminiscent of a very similar event—with a very different outcome—two years prior.

She stared at her friend, hardly able to believe… “Are you sure?” she finally gasped, clapping a hand over her heart. “Because we used condoms! Every time!” Paige smiled.

Holden, Libby noted, couldn't stop grinning like the proud papa-to-be he was.

“No method of contraception is one-hundred-percent fail-safe,” Paige said.

“But…” Libby sputtered, still unable to fully comprehend.

“The blood work confirms it. I'm guessing you're due in August. But of course, you'll need to follow up with your ob-gyn.” Paige rattled off a few more instructions,
then gave Libby a prescription for prenatal vitamins and a list of dos and don'ts for mothers-to-be.

She congratulated them again. Then, leaving them to absorb the news in private, she slipped out of the room.

Holden grabbed Libby and hugged her fiercely. “Can you believe it?” he murmured, every bit as stunned and happy about the news as Libby was, deep down. “We're going to have a baby!”

It was, Libby thought, still struggling with a myriad of emotions, almost too good to be true. For her to suddenly be getting everything she had ever wanted—save love…

“Of course, we'll have to get married right away,” Holden stated.

The confidence in his tone snapped her out of her lethargy. “Whoa!” She held up a palm, wishing she had on something other than a hospital gown, which left her feeling far too vulnerable. “You've already had one shotgun wedding,” she pointed out, forcing herself to be practical. “You can't do another.”

Holden's brow furrowed. “That was different.”

Deliberately, Libby ignored the mixture of disappointment and hope on his face. “Yes, you and Heidi had been dating longer than you and I have. And your marriage still failed.”

Resentment flashed in his eyes. “
Our
marriage won't fail.”

She studied his suddenly poker-faced expression. “Why not?” she demanded impatiently, wishing he could reassure her.

He kept his eyes locked with hers. “Because I care deeply about you and I know you care for me.”

Care, Libby thought. Not love…

Unwanted emotion welled up inside her. Wistfulness
and hormones combined, leaving her all the more out of sorts. “Listen to me, Holden.” Her temper spiking, Libby folded her arms across her chest. “I know your instincts are noble and that it is very important for you to do the right thing in all situations. But I can't—won't—be a ball and chain to anyone again.”

Holden smiled at her in the same indulgent way she had seen other men gaze at their pregnant wives. Gently, he placed his hands on her shoulders. “You wouldn't be a burden to me.”

“You say that now,” she countered. Doing her best to remain immune to the warmth in his grin, she added, “But as time goes on, you're going to feel cheated. And when that happens—” she swallowed hard, forcing herself to go on “—whatever affection you have for me will diminish.”

She held up a hand before he could interrupt. “Maybe only a tiny increment at a time. But it will happen. And then you'll look around and see the kind of deeply loving matches everyone else in your immediate family has made, and you'll regret rushing into this the same way you now regret rushing into that union with Heidi.” Tears blurred her eyes. “And I couldn't bear that.”

Holden stared at her, his hurt and dismay evident.

Libby mourned, too, but knew the pain he felt now was only a fraction of what he would endure if they continued recklessly down this path.

It didn't matter how she felt, or would always feel, about Holden, Libby thought sternly. It didn't matter that she would marry him in an instant, if only she thought he could love her. She had to do what was right for him. And ultimately, their baby, too. And that meant facing the facts, no matter how harsh.

“I'll share custody of this child with you, and we'll
raise him or her together with all the love and tenderness we have to give.” Hoping to hang on to the passion for as long as possible she blurted, “And we can even keep the physical side of our relationship going, as long as it works for both of us.”
As long as you still want me…

A flicker of interest appeared in his eyes.

“But I won't let you marry me as a point of honor, or enter into a sham of a marriage, just so everyone else around us will be happy.”

As Holden realized how serious she was, his expression grew stony. “You're asking us to settle for only a portion of what we should have.”

Feeling as if her whole world were crashing down on her once again, she edged closer, looked deep into his eyes. “I'm trying to protect us,” she told him softly. “To create a situation we both can live with.”

Holden braced himself as if for battle. “No, Libby,” he argued, “you're
protecting
yourself. And that's not fair to either of us, never mind our baby!”

“What are you saying?” she whispered, afraid she already knew.

With his jaw clenched, Holden laid down his ultimatum. “If you don't care enough about me to even consider marriage—after everything we've been through together…after the incredible way we made love—then it's over, Libby.” He grimaced and stepped back. “It has to be.”

 

“I
S THIS A GOOD TIME
for us to talk?” Greta asked, several days later.

It was and it wasn't, Libby thought.

Determined to avoid the subject of her broken heart, she ushered Holden's mother out of the wintry gloom. The
forecasters were predicting snow, but Libby wasn't expecting that to happen.

She smiled at Greta. “Tomorrow is Christmas Eve. Shouldn't you be getting ready for the big family dinner you're hosting?”

The older woman inched off her leather driving gloves. “I wanted to make sure you were still planning to attend.”

There it was, the maternal concern that she so longed to have in her life.

Libby swallowed, figuring she owed it to both of them to be honest. “I didn't think…under the circumstances…” She decided just to come right out with it. “I presume you heard our news?”

Greta smiled, looking overjoyed. “That congratulations are in order? Yes. We do know.” She paused to give Libby a warm hug that spoke volumes about the affection and inclusiveness of the McCabe clan. “And we are
so happy
for you and Holden both.”

“But—unless I miss my guess—probably not so happy that our rebound romance is officially over.”

Looking more thoughtful than upset, Greta allowed, “We're still hopeful things will work out, over time. But that said, the invitation to become a member of the McCabes is still on.”

“Because of the baby,” Libby stated, needing to know where they all stood.

Greta shook her head. “Because you're you. You're a wonderful young woman, and you need family. And we would love to include you in ours. The same thing goes for your baby, of course.”

Libby bit her lip. “Even if Holden and I don't ever marry?”

Greta took her hand and patted it gently. “Our offer is
not conditional. There is no pressure to do anything any one particular way. Love isn't a one-size-fits-all sort of thing.”

She continued thoughtfully, “You've seen the different paths it has taken with Holden's siblings and even some of his cousins. Kurt and Paige loathed each other for years before the triplets that were abandoned on his doorstep brought them together.”

Libby grinned, recalling, “Hank and Ally came together because of the ranch she inherited.”

Greta nodded. “Dylan and Emily tamed each other.”

“And Jeb and Cady let a two-week babysitting gig for her sister turn their years-long friendship into something more,” Libby recollected.

“And then, of course, there's my beginning with Shane,” Greta reminisced fondly. “A late-night mix-up landed us both in the same bed, with our mothers' entire bridge club looking on.”

And what a scandal that had been, or so the story went. “The two of you decided the only way to fix it was to get married.”

Greta chuckled. “So we eloped to J. P. Randall's Bait and Tackle Shop. And then did everything possible to prove to our matchmaking families that we were not meant for each other.”

Creating more legendary scandal in their wake. “And fell in love along the way.”

“Very much in love,” Greta confirmed, the corners of her eyes crinkling contentedly. “And four children and thirty-six years of marriage later, we're still very much in love.”