Love Under the Western Skies

ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ᴛᴡᴇɴᴛʏ ꜱɪx

ᴍᴀᴅɪꜱᴏɴ
*ʟɪɢʜᴛ ꜱᴍᴜᴛ*

➵➵➵➵➵➵➵❂➵➵➵➵➵➵➵

"I love you, baby, I'll see you later."

Steve's soft mouth collided with mine once more and I wanted to hold onto him forever. He and Rhett were getting ready to go over to the rodeo grounds to meet my Dad and Kristina, who would watch Rhett while Steve competed. Steve had made me promise I would stay in bed with my leg elevated, but I so badly wanted to go. Steve smiled against my mouth, pulling away before kissing my forehead. "Don't think about it buttercup, Rhett give Mama a hug."

Steve set Rhett on the mattress beside me, the little boy crawling over and wrapping his arms around my neck hugging me tightly.

"I don't want to stay Steve," I pouted, rubbing Rhett's back when he laid on my chest, tiny feet covered in cowboy boots, he really was his father's mini-me. "If you let me go I promise I'll stay in the staging area, I'll sit on the truck, I promise, I want to go and be with you."

"And I want you to get better," Steve kissed my cheek again, taking Rhett back from my grasp and I may as well have started crying. My eyes must've glassed over because Steve grabbed my hand, kissing my fingertips lightly, "Please Madison, I'm only asking you to stay for your own safety and comfort, and to not stress me out while I'm competing, I know you want to be there, but I want you safe and healthy more," I squeezed Steve's hand, "I'm not leaving you, baby, I'm right across the street, I love you."

"I love you too, be careful."

I curled up in the bed while I watched Steve and Rhett leave the room, both my boys laughing while Steve tickled Rhett's tummy. I couldn't believe this was my life, that I was in love with the one man I should've been scared of. But Steve made me feel whole, he made me feel like I could be me and still be loved. And he was right about me needing to rest, my knee had been throbbing, and last night, Steve carried me to the bathroom more times than I could count because I was throwing up. The nausea was overwhelming, it hadn't stopped since yesterday evening, and every shift made me sick.

Panic flooded my system, my phone flying off the charger when I reached for it. I couldn't remember the last time I had my period, I clicked my calendar app, tapping the monthly view, one shaky hand coming up to cover my mouth. I was five days late, my heart was pounding in my chest, closing out of the app and clicking on Rae's contact. She clicked answer and before she could say anything I blurted, "I'm late."

I could feel the tension through the line, "How many days?"

"Five."

"I'm on my way, what do you need?"

"As many tests as possible," I felt the wobble in my voice, biting down on my lip to stop the sob from ripping free. Steve and I were so new still, barely together officially for two months, what if he didn't want this? What if it was possible and he walked because everything he said was in the heat of the moment, "And something to drink, I'm going to pass out."

"Madison, stay on the line with me," She was running and I could hear Steve's voice behind her, asking what was wrong, "She just wants something to eat," A brief pause, "Yes Steve, if something was wrong I would tell you, no you don't need to tell Nash anything, I'll be back," The background noise died down, and I knew she was on her way to a pharmacy, "I'll be there in a little bit Madison, start downing water so you have to pee, we'll figure this out."