And Then You Dance (Crested Butte Cowboys Series Book 2) by Heather A Buchman Page A

she said. “I’m glad you love me Billy.”
    “You are?”
    “Yeah.”
    “Does that mean we’re gonna make it through all this.”
    “I’m not sure what it means, but I guess so. One way or another.”
    “Oh no, it’s gonna be one way darlin’, and that’s with you and me sharin’ sheets on a regular basis.”
     
    At noon, Renie’s phone rang. It was her mom.
    “Hey Mom, Ben on his way?”
    “No honey, they’ve been at the airport waiting for the weather to clear. It doesn’t look as though it’s getting any better. I’m so sorry sweetheart. We’ll have to wait until tomorrow.”
    “It’s okay,” she answered, knowing her disappointment hung heavily on her words. “We’ll talk in the morning then. Bye Mom.”
    “Bye sweetheart. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
    “What’s up?”
    “Weather. They can’t fly out today.”
    “I’m sorry. I know you wanted to see your mom. I feel as though it’s my fault that I talked you into stoppin’ here.”
    “You saved me. I might have been stuck on the pass if I hadn’t stopped.”
    “Thanks for makin’ me feel better about it. I wish you could…”
    “What?”
    “ I know I’m a selfish prick. You know I’m a selfish prick. I can’t imagine doing anything this big without you with me.”
    “You’ve done lots of big things without me.”
    “But this doesn’t feel like me Renie. This feels like us. Whatever I find out in Texas affects us. Both of us. Us together.”
    “Billy—”
    “Please Renie. Please go with me.”
    She put her head on his chest, right above his heart. “Okay.”
     
    He held her tight and closed his eyes, saying a silent prayer of thanks.
    “Dottie still needs to go with us Billy. I can’t go with you if Dottie doesn’t go.”
    “My mama will still go with us darlin’. Don’t worry.”
    He knew he should tell her she didn’t have to go, but now that he’d talked her into it, he didn’t want to risk saying anything that might change her mind. It wasn’t just that he wanted her with him; he needed her with him.
     
    It cost him a fortune to get her ticket, and theirs, at the last minute, but he would’ve paid ten times more to have her with him.
    Renie sat next to him. Dottie sat across the aisle.
    “I didn’t realize we were flying first-class Billy.”
    He often flew first-class and even if he didn’t, he would’ve this trip. He was about to ask his mother and the love of his life to help him bring his baby girl home. He didn’t need a paternity test, he felt it in his bones; he was Willow’s father.
    He closed his eyes, wishing he could sleep, but knew he wouldn’t.
    He lifted the armrest that was between the two of them and brought Renie closer to him. “Sleep darlin’. Get some rest.” He knew she was asleep before he finished his sentence. He doubted she’d gotten any more sleep than he had the last couple of days.
     
    Dottie looked across the aisle at her son. The worry and tension that had been so evident on his face yesterday had softened. She knew he was still feeling it, but having Renie with them made such a difference.
    His life had changed so drastically in the last few days. He’d gone from a carefree cowboy to a man ready to accept that he’d found the love of his life standing right in front of him. Now he was facing the biggest responsibility of his life. Billy knew the baby was his; she felt it as much as he did. He’d accepted it the minute Earl Johnson told him, in South Dakota.
    ***
    The Johnsons suggested they meet at the hospital the next day, which was a few minutes away from the airport in San Antonio. Billy had gone the afternoon before and given the lab what they needed to run the test.
    They were waiting in the lobby when he walked in with Renie and his mother. Sophie Johnson was holding the baby.
    Dottie knew as soon as she looked at her, it didn’t matter what any lab or doctor told her. That baby was a Patterson.
    Renie saw it too. Billy saw it in her face. He watched