A Montana Cowboy by Rebecca Winters Page B

her brother wasn’t back living on the Bannock Ranch yet.
    Content that she and the baby were safe for the moment, Trace could relax while he thought about the conversation with his father yesterday. “Before you make a decision you can’t take back, why not rent the house for the next year, son, to give yourself time?”
    In the light of morning his father’s suggestion made sense. The right renter would pay a lot for the use of the house sitting on prime hunting land. If Trace charged enough money, his father would receive substantial monthly payments that would add appreciably to his income.
    Once he was working in Colorado Springs, Trace could fly to Billings for a weekend once a month to see his father and inspect the property. It could work. How would Nicci feel about it? He needed her to come! The doctor in Billings was right. There was no way he could make definite plans about anything until they were together and could make a decision about getting married.
    He rolled onto his side and reached for the phone to call her. To his chagrin it went through to her voice mail. Trace asked her to get in touch with him as soon as she could. Had she refused to answer his calls on purpose? They needed to talk before any more time went by.
    Once he’d showered and dressed, he walked through the house and heard voices in the kitchen. One of them was male. Connor! A smile broke out on his face as he entered. “Well if it isn’t the king of the rodeo!”
    â€œDude!” His dark blond friend made a beeline for him and gave him one of those hugs he was famous for—one that could throw a bull to the ground in a couple of seconds. No one had ever called him that but Connor.
    â€œI thought you were injured at finals, but I swear you’re tougher than ever.”
    Connor let out a bark of laughter. “Don’t I wish, but you’re looking ripped. How in the hell did you run into a laser?”
    Cassie stood in the background, dressed in a blue-and-green print top and jeans. The pregnant woman was beautiful no matter what she wore. Her gaze swerved from Trace to her cousin. “It ran into
him
, Connor. Kind of the way that steer bucked upward and tore your shoulder. Talk about the walking wounded around here, but no one would ever know looking at the two of you!”
    Both men chuckled. Connor’s blue eyes twinkled as he studied her. “I guess you thought you could keep
your
condition a secret, sweetie pie. But Jarod and I had our suspicions a month ago when we saw you leading Masala around instead of riding him. Liz and Sadie are already fighting over who’s going to get to babysit your daughter.”
    Trace eyed Connor. “Did she show you the ultrasound picture yet? It’s like a miracle.”
    â€œNo.” Connor shot him a speculative glance. “I haven’t had that privilege. Cassie? Can I see it, too? Liz and I are trying for a baby.”
    â€œI know.”
    â€œWhat do you mean you know?”
    â€œAt your wedding reception Liz whispered to me that giving you a child would be her top priority in the foreseeable future.”
    â€œApparently there are no secrets.”
    â€œNope—I’ll run to the bedroom and get it.”
    In another minute she was back. Trace smiled at her before he took the picture from her and showed it to Connor. While they tried to pick out all the parts, Cassie finished a batch of jam.
    Connor let out a whistle. “Your baby’s going to be a real knockout.”
    â€œYou’re full of it, cousin.”
    â€œThat wasn’t nice. I may not have been born with Jarod’s gift of vision, but I can say without any doubt that your baby’s going to be just like her mother. You brought every cowboy in Carbon County to your doorstep in high school.”
    â€œStop, Connor. You’re embarrassing me in front of Trace.”
    â€œWhy? You know it’s true and Trace is practically family.