Page 38 of A Heart Falls Cowboy Christmas

No matter what Sasha decided, all would be right in their world.

9

Snow remained on the ground, but the late May sunshine poured in the windows at High Water, warm enough to offer hope that the seasons were finally changing.

Petra leaned back at the breakfast table, and the skin over her broad baby belly tightened. She rubbed a hand slowly over the surface, smiling in spite of the discomfort. Any day now.

Please, Lord, a day that is soon.

A teeny heel pressed outward far enough to make a bulge, and she laughed, even as she pushed back a little. “Cool it, baby. That’s not as painful as when you kick my bladder, but still no.”

A plate of pancakes, peach slices, and whipped cream landed on the table in front of her.

“Eat what you can,” her mother, Pamela, ordered. “You have no idea when labour will begin. Even if you don’t feel hungry, you’ll be grateful for the calories later.”

The scent was tempting, but Petra’s appetite had vanished in the last twenty-four hours. Hopefully that meant the baby was ready to appear. Still, she obediently cut off a small piece of peach, stacked it on a pancake slice, and nibbled thoughtfully.

Petra’s parents had arrived over a week ago, a day before her due date. They had set up camp in one of the rooms made for the temporary hands and leapt into the fray. Pamela had taken over a ton of kitchen duties from Tansy, while Zachary Senior was entertaining himself fixing older ranch equipment. He’d hauled Logan in as a helper, and the young man was walking with his chin held high after the two of them had gotten an old baler working that the ranch had given up on.

Beside Petra, Aiden tapped on his watch. “Jinx. You’re cutting it close for the bus.”

Jinx hurried to fork the last of her meal into her mouth even as she shook her head. “The Stones are picking me up.”

Oops. Baby brain had struck again. Petra grimaced. “Sorry, Jinx, I forgot. Tamara messaged to say they’re running late so you should catch the bus.”

Her dad spoke up. “Logan and I are headed to the hardware store. We can drop you off.”

Jinx’s cheeks turned bright pink, but she sat back down and gulped in relief. “Thanks, Mr. Sorenson.”

He shook his finger at her.

This time a genuine smile escaped. “Thanks, Grandpa Zach.”

A warm buzz hit at the acknowledgment of their family connection, brushing away Petra’s curiosity at the unexpected blush she’d seen on her adoptive daughter’s face.

Happiness at how amazing it was to have a teenage daughter and a baby on the way warmed Petra for the rest of the morning until she and Aiden pulled up in front of Brooke and Mack’s bungalow home.

“Ready to see the new baby?” Aiden asked.

Some things weren’t fair. Brooke had gone into labour early while Petra remained belly-filled and waiting. A little complaining wasn’t wrong, was it?

“Yes. Ready to see our new baby, as well, but theirs first, I guess.”

Aiden laughed. “No pouting, sweetheart.”

Brooke’s dad opened the door to their knock and welcomed them in, the thin but piercing cry of a baby on the air.

Gary Silver laughed. “She’s got opinions, that one.”

“Good to hear,” Aiden said, shaking the man’s hand. “Congrats for the second time, Grandpa.”

“Thanks. I’m having a blast.” Gary gestured them into the back of the house. “Go ahead. It’s time for me to get Landon up from his nap.”

Brooke sat in splendor in an oversized rocker by the kitchen window. She sipped tea while Mack had the teeny baby pressed to his shoulder, patting her back gently as he paced. A surprisingly loud whine escaped the little thing as she complained.

Petra hurried over to the chair beside Brooke—okay, she definitely waddled this time. “Congrats. She sounds healthy.”

A laugh escaped Brooke as she put down her cup and rose to give Petra a hug. “She’s got the lungs of a drill sergeant, but luckily, she’s selective about when she uses them.”