Montana Cowboy Daddy (Wyatt Brothers of Montana #3) - Jane Porter Page 0,24

winced as Billy left, closing the door firmly behind him. After he’d gone, she stared at the door a long moment, unsure of how she felt. On one hand she was elated that she’d been right. Billy Wyatt was Beck’s dad. But on the other, she was troubled that April hadn’t ever told Billy. She’d had nine months of pregnancy to let Billy know, and even if Billy had blocked her number, April wouldn’t have found it difficult to track him down. Erika didn’t know him and she’d still managed to find him, in three different places, three different weekends.

She rose from the bed, locked the door, and closed the curtains at the window, aware that in the end, what April did, or didn’t do, wasn’t important anymore. April wasn’t here. But Beck was, and Billy was, and father and son were finally together, the way they were supposed to be.

*

Erika had gone to bed feeling almost euphoric. She’d united a father and son and she’d be able to start getting caught up with her work. Billy would be able to take Beck for a good part of each day, giving her time for some undisturbed writing. The great thing about a laptop was that she could work almost anywhere, including a small motel room off the freeway.

Unfortunately, the next morning Billy got a call that Tommy’s truck broke down a couple hours east of Idaho Falls, and Billy was needed to collect Tommy’s trailer with the horses while Tommy had his truck towed to an auto shop. But instead of returning to Boise that night, Billy stayed with Tommy in Idaho Falls, and it was late Wednesday before they arrived in town, with Tommy’s truck still in the shop, waiting on a part from Salt Lake City.

Wednesday Billy wasn’t available because the body shop called and the part had come in and Tommy would be able to pick up his truck later that day, so Billy and Tommy planned to return to Idaho Falls after they worked out their horses and did some training. The brothers dropped by the motel on their way out of town, spending fifteen minutes playing with Beck before they climbed back in Billy’s truck.

Erika wouldn’t say she fumed as they drove away from the motel, but she was definitely anxious, and frustrated. She’d really wanted to get some solid work done this week, and so far, nothing. Beck wasn’t helping matters by deciding he wouldn’t nap for longer than thirty-minute stretches meant she couldn’t get anything done. She knew Billy had an appearance or something tomorrow, but surely there’d be some time in there where he could take care of Beck so she could focus for three or four hours.

But Thursday was just like the rest of the week, and Billy had sponsors who wanted to take him to breakfast and then he’d been invited to a local Rotary lunch where he’d been asked to say a few words to the group, thanking them for their support to the local charity all these years, a charity that Billy cared about, too. Thursday afternoon he needed to exercise his horses. Thursday evening he had an event to attend.

Friday he managed to squeeze in breakfast with Beck before he had to show up for Boise’s annual rodeo parade. He had an autograph session and another VIP something and then the rodeo itself that night, followed by a party after. She didn’t go to the Friday night rodeo. It was too late for Beck and she was too annoyed by Billy’s sense of self-importance. If every week was like this week, when would he have time for his son?

When would she get anything she needed done?

But Saturday morning arrived, and the sky was a gorgeous clear blue, and the sun shone brightly and Erika woke up feeling hopeful, optimistic despite the challenging week. Since the rodeo was a day event today, she also thought maybe she and Beck should go. She’d finally see her first rodeo, and perhaps she’d have a better idea of just what it was that Billy did.

She sent Billy a text that she and Beck would be heading to the rodeo grounds, and he replied that he’d left a ticket for her at WILL CALL.

Erika left the car seat in the car, strapping Beck into the baby carrier instead. She adjusted him in the carrier, making sure he was comfortably seated and strapped in, before locking the car and heading toward the entrance.