Rodeo Family by Shannon Taylor Vannatter

Author:Shannon Taylor Vannatter
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2014-02-14T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 9

Tori’s heart stilled in her chest. “A baby? I don’t understand.”

Natalie’s heels clicked across the floor—back and forth. “Back before I was a Christian, I slept around all over the place. And the one time I forgot to use protection, I got pregnant with Hannah. I wasn’t ready to be a mom then and I gave her to her father.”

Natalie sank into a chair. “But I’m different now. I’ve done everything I know to do to make it up to Hannah. We have a great relationship now. And Lane is a wonderful Christian husband. We’ve been trying to have a baby for months. Much longer than Caitlyn and Mitch have even been married. But she’s pregnant and I’m not.”

“And you have to be happy for her.”

“She’s my sister and I love her. I am happy for her.” Natalie’s voice broke. “Just not for me.”

Unsure of what to do, Tori put a hand on her shoulder. “Sometimes these things take time.” It sounded lame even to her own ears.

“It didn’t with Hannah.” Natalie blew out a big sigh.

“I don’t mean to be insensitive.” Tori swallowed hard. “But have you thought about adopting?”

“That’s what Lane said. He says we’re in no rush, but if nothing happens after a few years, we can adopt.”

But Tori didn’t have a few years. She needed a mother for her baby in about four-and-a-half months. “There are lots of babies who need good homes.”

“Adoption kind of scares me.” Natalie shook her head. “Kendra and Stetson adopted their daughter. And her biological family has come out of the woodwork ever since. Kendra spent months worrying someone would file for custody.”

“And?”

“No one did.”

“Does Kendra regret adopting?”

“No.”

“It’s complicated, but it turned out okay.”

“Yes.” Natalie shrugged. “But on top of that, Hannah isn’t Lane’s. I wish she was—but she’s not. You’d never know it from the way he loves her, but I’d like to reward him for loving us both so much by giving him his own child.”

“I can understand that. But it’s obvious he can love someone else’s child, so I just thought...”

“Thanks for checking on me.” Natalie swiped underneath her eyes with her thumbs and checked the mirror. “Sorry for dumping everything on you, but I can’t really share this with Caitlyn or Jenna. I can’t let them know Caitlyn’s pregnancy upset me. I won’t take an iota of their happiness away by making them worry about me.”

“Not a word from me.”

“Thanks.” Natalie stood. “By the way, I wish my statement had helped your case.”

Tori’s brain spun. “What statement?”

“Back when I was in my barhopping mode, this guy got a little rough with me. Mitch was on a stakeout and rescued me, so when Mitch made that arrest at Jenna’s store, he recognized him.”

Tori shuddered.

“Mitch asked me to file a report to show a pattern of violence. But the judge ruled it inadmissible.”

“Thanks for trying.”

“Now, I need to get myself together—pull myself out of this pity party and go watch my husband save some cowboys. Tell Brant I’m fine and I’ll be out in a bit.

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