The Rancher's Blessed Event by Stella Bagwell Page B

she looked in the next sack and the next. There were all sorts of slacks made of warm corduroy, velvet and knit, sweaters of cotton and cashmere, and dresses of soft jersey.
    Looking up at him with shocked eyes, she asked, “Where did all this come from?”
    â€œDon’t worry about that. Will the things fit?”
    This afternoon in Ruidoso he’d said he had something else to do while she finished her shopping. She couldn’t believe he’d gone to a boutique and bought her these things! Her mind spinning with questions, she glanced at the tags inside the garments. They were all pretty much her size.
    â€œYes, they’ll fit. But—”
    â€œOpen the box.”
    â€œThe steaks—”
    Waving away her protest, he went over to the stove to tend the frying meat. “Okay, they’re not burning. Now open the box.”
    Like a kid at Christmas, Emily didn’t have to be told a second time. She tore into the box, then simply stared at the contents.
    â€œWhat’s the matter? Wrong color?”
    Slowly she lifted the red wool coat from its nest of tissue paper, then held it in front of her. It was a classic cut that buttoned down the front and stopped just above her ankles. The fabric was tightly woven, not only making it baby soft, but also very warm.
    Tears stung her throat as she looked at him. Her mother had given her things she needed from time to time, but this wasn’t the same. Not nearly the same. “The coat is beautiful, Cooper. But I don’t understand—”
    â€œThere’s something else in the box,” he interrupted.
    Carefully lying the garment to one side, Emily peeled back another layer of tissue paper. “Snow boots!”
    Quickly she kicked off her loafers and pushed her feet into the black, fur lined boots. The warmth of them was like heaven against her toes. “Oooh,” she exclaimed, “these feel delicious.”
    â€œThen they fit?”
    â€œI think so. Let me see.” She zipped the sides, then tentatively walked across the kitchen floor. “They’re perfect. How did you know what size to get? And my clothes?”
    He gave her a lopsided smile. “I have a good eye.”
    Laughing with disbelief, she pulled on the coat, buttoned it, then turned slowly in front of him. “How do I look? Like a fat red robin?”
    She looked like the Emily he used to know, the happy laughing woman that had stolen his breath away. “You look...beautiful.”
    She laughed again as though she didn’t believe him about that either and hurried toward the door. When she started to step outside he asked, “Where are you going?”
    â€œI’m going out to see how my coat and boots work.”
    â€œThey’ll work fine,” he said, shaking his head with comical disbelief. “It’s too cold to be going out now!”
    Ignoring his objection, she shut the door behind her.
    Cursing, Cooper forked the steaks onto a platter and hurried after her. When he stepped onto the small square porch, he saw Emily out in the yard dancing happily around in the snow.
    â€œI can’t feel a thing,” she called. “I’m as warm as toast and my feet are as dry as powder!”
    â€œThat’s good. Now get—”
    Suddenly her footing slipped, but she managed to right herself before falling. Instantly Cooper leapt off the porch and grabbed her around her thick waist before she knew what was happening.
    â€œDamn it, girl, what are you trying to do? Hurt yourself and the baby?”
    The harsh tone of his voice broke the happy spell his gifts had given her. As she looked up at his dark face, she wondered how she could have forgotten, even for a moment, the pain this man had caused her. “You would say something like that now,” she said through tight lips. “Now that it’s too late.”
    His face wrinkled with confusion. “What?”
    She tried to push his arms away