Love Inspired April 2021--Box Set 2 of 2 by Tracey J. Lyons

Author:Tracey J. Lyons
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2021-10-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER EIGHT

The kindness everyone showed Grace since she announced her pregnancy made her wonder why she’d been so afraid of telling anyone. She’d underestimated her mother, underestimated everyone. And now, a month later, with her little belly poking out, the reality that Pumpkin was on the way was starting to hit.

She glanced into the backseat at the box of baby things that they’d picked up from one of her mom’s church friends. Everyone was offering her their hand-me-downs to reduce the expense of having a baby.

She and William were on their way to the Merrick Ranch, where they were going to talk to the staff about becoming the stock contractor for the rodeo. Finding a stock contractor had been the hitch in organizing the event. In the past, the Double R had used their own stock to put on rodeos, but because it had been so long, they’d sold all of those animals, and it was important to have stock meant for rodeo, not just any animals pulled off a ranch. Rodeo stock had a better sense of what needed to be done and why, as opposed to some random bull thrown in a chute. Those creatures could be dangerous in an already risky sport.

Plus, when you worked with a respectable rodeo contractor, you knew the stock was being treated ethically and humanely in accordance with all the rodeo rules.

The problem was, the July date they’d chosen for the rodeo was a popular one and it seemed like all the contractors’ cattle were already spoken for.

But if they had the rodeo any earlier, it would be too close to the birth of the baby. Everyone had agreed that putting on a rodeo at nine months pregnant was not going to be a lot of fun, so they moved the date later to give Grace time to give birth and recuperate.

When they arrived at the Merrick Ranch and got out of the truck, Grace smoothed the maternity top over her stomach. She was finally starting to show now, and while it was nice that she didn’t have to hide her pregnancy any longer, she still felt self-conscious about her baby bump.

As they walked to the barn, a familiar face came out to greet them.

“Gracie.”

Grace smiled at Darby. “What are you doing here?”

Darby grinned. “I just took a job here. Mr. Merrick asked me to show you around. He’s interested in creating a name for himself in the rodeo community. There are so many bigger outfits these days, that it’s getting harder for the little guys to compete. So much of who we are as cowboys is built on being small, family-oriented outfits. It’s a shame to see so many of the bigger outfits taking over. I don’t want the cowboy way to die out.”

“Do you think you can provide stock for our rodeo?” William asked.

Darby nodded. “Yes. And I think you’ll agree that having the rodeo with local stock will get some good attention on Columbine Springs. Not only is this

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