bed. “Come with me, okay? We’re going to go see Uncle Mister, and I’ll bet he has some candy in his pocket for you.” She smiled broadly at the girl and picked her up. She looked like a natural nurturer with Lynn in her arms, but when her eyes came back to Willa’s, she sobered.
“I love you, Pastor Glover,” she said. “If I can help, I will.”
“You’re helping,” Willa said, giving her the best smile she could conjure up. “Thank you for coming all the way out here.”
The tub turned off, but Etta continued with her stream of talking, telling Chazzy he better not cause any problems for her during the picnic or she wouldn’t let him stay the night with her. He sniffled and kept saying, “Okay, Auntie,” or “I will, Auntie.”
She came out into the bedroom with the boy wrapped in a fluffy, blue towel, and Willa just looked at her and Libby. “I’m sorry,” she said, her voice breaking. “I’m going to call Cactus, and maybe I’ll come over.”
“You have nothing to be sorry about,” Etta said. “I’m a little nervous leaving you here alone.” She looked at Libby, who nodded.
“I can load up the food and the kids and take them to the branding,” Libby said. “Maybe Cactus and August could come back here?”
“No,” Willa said firmly. “I can’t take two cowboys from the branding. Let me just call Cactus really quick. I’m feeling better.” She drew in a deep breath and pushed it all the way out. Her stomach still didn’t feel totally settled, but the tears seemed to have gotten the hint that they couldn’t just show up whenever they wanted.
“We’ll load up the food and kids,” Etta said. “Come on, Chaz. You show Auntie Etta where your big boy pants are.” She and Libby left, and Willa dialed her husband, praying with everything inside her that he could answer.
“Hey,” he said just as someone else on his end of the line yelled.
“Hey.” Her voice trembled. “Charles,” she started, but the rest of the announcement wouldn’t come.
A few seconds of silence came through the line, wherein Cactus finally realized Willa was in trouble. “What’s goin’ on?” he said. “Are you hurt? One of the littles?”
“Neither,” she said, clearing the lump from her throat. She wanted this baby. She would do whatever she had to do in order to bring he or she into the world surrounded by love, adoration, and family. “Charles, I’m pregnant.” She sniffled, because she’d never thought she’d be blessed enough to say those words again.
Cactus let more silence fill the line, and then he drew in a breath. Willa pulled the phone away from her ear, because she knew what came next. The cowboy—her cowboy—whooped and laughed, and said, “I know you’re scared, my love, but you can do this. You can.”
She nodded though he wasn’t there to see it, and she let more tears wet her face. “I love you.”
“And I love you. I’m on my way right now.”
“No,” Willa said. “Libby and Etta are here. They’re loading everything up, and I think as long as I don’t get too hot or eat too much, I won’t throw up again.”
“Oh, my love,” he said, and that was Cactus-code for I’m so sorry you’re throwing up. I wish I could be there. I love you as far as I can see and as deep as the ocean.
“I’ll see you in a few minutes,” she said. “Now, Charles, I do not want this to be made into a big deal. It’s too soon to tell others, and I don’t want to hurt Montana or Bishop. I will not cry. You will not sweep me off my feet and kiss me.”
“Come on,” he said, a light lilt in his voice. “I can’t kiss you?”
“No, sir,” she said. “You’ll get in line with the other cowboys and get your lunch, and when we can, we’ll sneak off to the side of a barn or something, and you can kiss me then.”
He laughed, but Willa was serious. “I mean it,” she said. “I will not hurt Montana with this news.”
“I know, Willa,” Cactus said. “We’ll be discreet.”
“Thank you,” she said just as Chaz went running past the master bedroom door. “Your son needs a leash for the branding, and we need to put the chocolate higher in the pantry.”
Cactus burst out laughing again, and even Willa managed to smile. Libby paused in the doorway, and she added, “I need to go. I’ll see you