Rancher’s Pregnant Wife: Anderson Ranch Brothers, #1

By Leslie North

True love is worth fighting for…

 

Rancher Silas Anderson was raised to believe in one thing: hard work leads to success. Maybe that's why he throws himself into his work a little too much. Come hell or high water, he's going to make his ranch the best it can be. No matter the cost…
 

But his wife Bea has dreams of her own—a life she's had to put on hold, while Silas focused all his attention on the ranch. And as far as she's concerned, he's never going to give her the love and care she deserves. When she discovers she's pregnant, she decides it's time for change.
 

Bea is ready to leave Silas for good, and begin her career as a seamstress to support herself and the baby on the way. But when Silas realizes he's about to lose the love of his life, he's determined to fix his mistakes and win her back.  Starting with a breath-taking kiss that leaves Bea weak in the knees.  And as she stitches away at a client's bridal gown, she begins to wonder… Does Silas deserve a second chance?
 

But when things start to fall apart at the seams, Bea is forced to make a choice. If she wants to start a new life, will she have to leave the old one behind?

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Relay Publishing
• Release date: Jun 15, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223461999

Book preview

1

Silas Anderson gripped the steering wheel tighter and scowled at the glint of light through the trees. Damn it.

The rutted road that led to the cabin on a secluded part of his ranch curved sharply then opened to a scene right out of a Norman Rockwell painting, with soft light pouring from the cabin windows and a plume of smoke curling from the chimney. Normally, it was a sight that would fill him with a sense of peace, but this time all he felt was dread.

Because lights and a fire meant that Bea was there. The thought of seeing her landed like a blow to his chest.

Five weeks ago, she’d packed the few things she’d brought into their marriage nearly three years earlier and walked out. He still couldn’t quite make sense of it, and he wasn’t in the mood to dance around the reasons with her in person. Their communication had been limited to phone calls and texts since she’d left, which suited him just fine.

Silas gripped the steering wheel tighter. Didn’t matter that she was there. It was only going to be a quick trip, in and out, to scrub any traces of himself from the place that was supposed to be their cozy getaway spot. He’d intended to close it up for the season, but if she was staying here… Well, if she wanted the place, she was welcome to it. He didn’t know what the hell use he’d get out of it himself when everything about it reminded him of her. Besides, it wasn’t like he’d ever done much with the place even when it was theirs to share. During their marriage they’d stolen a night here and there to be alone, but then the work of Double A Ranch often got in the way, leaving the cabin sitting empty for most of the year.

Silas parked his truck and eyed the ominous sky as he headed for the cabin. The dark clouds were moving steadily closer. The weather service was predicting a major storm with several feet of snow. He hadn’t thought that likely in late March, but those clouds would say otherwise. Spring planting and calving season didn’t care about the weather, and an unexpected storm would make his already overwhelming workload that much heavier.

He was so deep in his thoughts that he didn’t even pause when he got to the door, pushing into the cabin and immediately regretting it the second he stepped inside.

It was as if the place was weaponized to remind him of everything he’d lost.

The fire filled the main room with warmth, and damnit if Bea didn’t have something sweet in the oven, making his mouth water at the thought of her chocolate chip cookies.

And then there was Bea herself, bent over her sewing machine, immersed in her work.

She was so damn beautiful.

Her blond hair that somehow always looked sun kissed was piled on top of her head in a messy bun. From where he stood, he could see the curve of her neck and her profile, both delicate and determined. In a flash he remembered kissing her nape, making her giggle and squirm against him. So many good times.

Nothing but memories now.

Silas cleared his throat, but Bea kept feeding the blue fabric beneath the needle.

Bea, Silas said when the whirr of the machine stopped.

Despite his low tone, she jumped. For a moment, they locked eyes across the room. Hers were blue like the cornflowers that grew in the pastures during the spring. Maybe this would have been the year he’d brought her a bouquet of the flowers. He’d thought about it other springs, even picked a bunch the first year they were married, but he’d gotten busy with ranch work and forgotten them. By the time he remembered, they’d been wilted.

Silas. Bea stood up and moved toward him, frowning deeper with each step closer. What are you doing here?

Well, it’s technically my cabin, but I see you’re determined to live here. He gestured at her things spread out around the room. A photograph of her family back in Chicago sat on the mantle, sewing items were on the table, and her hat and mittens were in the cubby near the door.

"It’s my cabin, Silas, she reminded him, her voice taking on an edge. You gave it to me as a wedding gift."

He’d meant for it to be a wedding gift for the two of them. Something to keep their marriage strong. But now that marriage was over. He wasn’t going to argue with her about who the cabin belonged to now. If she wanted to live there, she could, he supposed.

Fine. At least you’re still on Anderson land. That’s…something. What exactly, he didn’t know, but it seemed right for her to be there. What felt all wrong was the estrangement between them.

From the moment he’d been introduced to her, he’d felt a connection to her and thought she had felt one with him, too. That summer day stood out so clearly in his mind. He’d gone into town to buy fertilizer and ran into Gary Newell who’d invited him back to his house for a beer. Bea had been there in the backyard with Gary’s wife, Jessica, who had introduced Bea as a friend of a friend from Chicago who was stopping off for a few days on a cross-country trip.

Silas hadn’t been able to look away from the beautiful woman. Instant attraction had turned to love quickly, and Bea had ended up staying in the small Montana town, marrying him just a few months later. It had seemed like destiny…until five weeks ago. And now it was over. He was going to have to accept that. I’ll pack up my stuff and get out of your hair.

He went out to his truck to grab the boxes he’d brought. The snow had begun falling in the few minutes he’d been inside. Big flakes swirled in the wind, and the air had a cold sharpness that hadn’t been there earlier. Better get a move on. He went back inside, heading straight for the bookshelves that flanked the fireplace.

He grabbed the books on agronomics and ranching along with the novels he’d liked as a teen but never had time to read anymore. He dropped them all in a box before moving toward the dresser in the bedroom where he added a few flannel shirts and an old pair of jeans. Silas avoided looking at the bed. The sturdy four poster held too many good memories of them getting lost in one another, laughing, sighing, and connecting in a way he’d never felt with anyone before. He closed the box up quickly, trying not to think about the way Bea’s soft curves seemed to fit perfectly against him.

Back in the larger room, he looked around for anything else that was specifically his and spied an aerial photograph of the ranch taken when he was a kid. He’d always been fascinated with the bird’s eye view of his family’s land. He crossed the room and took the picture from the wall. And that about did it. Technically, the furniture was also his. The maple kitchen table had been his grandparents’, the rocker in the corner belonged to a great aunt, and the chairs by the fire were ones his parents had purchased long ago. But Silas wouldn’t take those items from Bea.

Do you want a cookie and some coffee before you go? Bea offered. It was silly of me to make an entire batch when it’s only me, but I had such a craving… She trailed off, pinching her lips together as she turned away, busying herself with pouring two mugs of coffee.

That’d be nice before going out in the cold. Despite his concern about the snow, he accepted her offer, trying to decide in what vein it was offered. Was she trying to prolong his visit, or was she just being nice? Probably nice, he decided as he sat at the table. Their stilted conversation so far that day wasn’t any better than the tense, businesslike words they’d exchanged via texts as they started the process of uncoupling their lives.

Is it bitter again today? I’ve had the fire going and barely noticed. Bea used a spatula to shift cookies from the wire rack onto a plate. This place is so snug.

Yeah, he wanted to say, because he’d built it that way. This wasn’t the first storm they’d experienced together at the cabin, but it would be the first time they wouldn’t be spending it nestled together in front of the fire. Was she thinking about those times now, about when they used to be happy? He wasn’t sure when that ended. He’d thought their lives were on track and that she was content with what they had. He’d thought she was right there with him, until she wasn’t.

These are good, he said after taking a large bite out of a cookie.

Thanks. It’s just my usual recipe, but everything always tastes better here for some reason. She gave him a half-smile. Remember when you took me fishing for the first time, and I caught more trout than you did? We fried them up right here. Delicious.

I remember, he said and watched as her smile slowly faded. Was it going to keep being like this every time he and Bea talked? Their lives had been intertwined. That’s what marriage meant, but a divide had formed, and he didn’t know how to bridge it.

Or if he should even try.

He needed to leave the cabin. Get back to the ranch proper where he was in charge and understood what needed to be done. Wading around in the remains of their relationship wasn’t doing him any favors. He glanced out the window where the snow was still steadily falling. Definitely time to go, before the roads became impassable. He washed down the rest of the cookie with the hot coffee and got to his feet.

If you need something—

He stopped when the lights flickered out. They held each other’s gaze as the power came back on…then went out again, leaving them in the dimness of early evening.

Is it the snow? Bea asked, rising and going to the window over the kitchen sink. Oh wow, she said, and he heard the surprise in her voice. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen it pile up quite that fast. The statement was something coming from a woman raised in Chicago who had lived in Montana for the past three winters.

Silas carried his plate and mug to the sink and followed her gaze outside.

Guess the forecasters were right after all. The snow was already thick, blanketing the landscape, which left Silas in a bind. He couldn’t leave Bea here at the cabin by herself, snowed in without power. Besides, he wasn’t convinced he could make it back to the ranch’s center without getting his truck stuck.

I don’t even think you can make it back to the house, she said, seeming to read his mind.

Yeah, agreed. And getting trapped out on the road wouldn’t be fun. Would it be alright with you if I stayed the night? It felt weird asking permission to sleep in the cabin that had been theirs, but she’d declared ownership of the space, and he was going to respect that.

Of course you can. Her response was instant, and she even smiled slightly. I wouldn’t want you out in this.

He acknowledged her words with a nod. I’ll bring in more wood for the fire then. He grabbed his coat and stomped out into the snow. A small lean-to off one side protected the supply of logs and kindling. Silas sent a quick text to his brother, letting him know that the road was blocked so he was staying at the cabin, but ignored the heart emojis he got in return. Nate was a pain in his ass. Silas then loaded up his arms with more wood than he’d thought he and Bea would need to get through the night.

When he carried the load in, he found that Bea had been busy as well. Candles were lit around the room, and she’d gathered pillows and blankets for them on the soft rug in front of the fire. It looked like it was staged for romance, but Silas knew that wasn’t possible. Thanks to Bea, their relationship was as dead as last year’s grass.

But grass came back in the spring, revitalized and fresh. Was it possible…? He put a hard stop on that line of thought. No, not possible, not worth thinking about.

Cozy, he commented when he’d taken off his boots and coat. He gestured to the fire she’d stoked. Should keep the chill away for the night.

We might as well enjoy our last night together. I mean, this is probably it, right? She sat down on the rug and leaned against a pillow. For tonight, let’s set aside any drama and just be.

He didn’t want to talk about divorces and attorneys, didn’t want to go through the rigmarole of ending their marriage. It would suck up time he couldn’t spare, and it would hurt like hell, but there wasn’t a way around it. Bea didn’t want a reconciliation. But she did want one last night together. And hell, so did he.

Sure. Suits me, he said, settling in next to her with his legs stretched out toward the warmth of the fire.

Good. She seemed to relax then as she drew a blanket around herself and snuggled in. I love a fire when it’s cold and snowy like this.

Yeah, same. He thought about the first night they’d spent in that cabin. It had been October, one of the first truly cold evenings of the year. She’d sat on his lap and kissed him, which had led them to the four-poster bed in the next room soon enough. The memories of the night made him lean a little farther away from Bea. He didn’t want to accidentally catch a whiff of her perfume and have it trigger even richer sense memories about everything they’d done that night.

I remember how horrified you were that my parents had an electric fireplace in their house, Bea said with a laugh, bringing him back to the present.

It makes no sense. It can’t keep you warm when the electricity is out. Since she mentioned her family, he took the opportunity to ask her something he’d been worried about. Will you go back to Chicago after the divorce?

I don’t plan to, she said. Montana is home to me now. I’m going to stay. Did she mean in the area or in the cabin? I’ve started my own business in the past few weeks. Busy Bea’s Sewing and Alterations. She gestured toward her sewing machine and the fabric. I’ve done a few alterations and even got two orders for prom gowns. Custom work.

Yeah? That’s great. He kept his face and his tone neutrally supportive, hiding his surprise. He shouldn’t be surprised. He knew she’d been interested in beginning her own sewing and alterations business for a while. But whenever she’d brought it up, he’d suggested waiting, saying that they didn’t have the capital or time to split between two enterprises and the ranch had to come first. He’d always said that some day, once things were more settled, she could look into