My Cowboy

Thanksgiving Eve

It's now been almost a month in Texas. Today is November 25th. After the long amount of time I've waited, it was finally close to Black Friday. I'm so excited to visit my hometown. Luckily, we have holiday break from school starting today.

I walked down the stairs pretending to be ready to take on the world. I had big news to share.

"Dad, I'm going to help Ryder with the horses."

I left without any breakfast. I don't want anything to do with food. Ugh I hate being sick.

"Hey, sexy." I greeted Ryder.

"How's my girl doing today?" He asked.

"Funny you'd ask that." My voice cracked with nerves. "I'm sick actually. It's a pretty serious stomach thing, but I'm going to New York, regardless."

"How serious? Are you okay, Doll? Want me to rub your tummy and make you soup?" He asked.

"Well." I cleared my throat, "There's something else."

He looked at me as if asking what else.

"You might want to sit." I told him.

"You're freaking me out. What's this about?" He interrogated, sitting on a hay bale.

"Well, uh, I went to the doctors." I paused.

"And?"

"And, you're gonna be a daddy." I shook nervously and began crying.

"What?" He asked completely stunned. "I'm—you're—we're...parents?"

"Yeah. I'm-I'm pregnant." I cried harder. I realized I literally cry all the time. 

"It's okay. We are gonna make it through this. Come here, baby." He wrapped me up. "I didn't see this coming. How far along are you?"

"A little over 3 weeks."

"A month? Does your dad know?" I shook my head. "Oh man. This ain't gonna be a pretty conversation. Let's go round em' up and tell our parents." He stated ready to leave.

"Woah-woah-woah. What do you think you're doing? I'm not telling him, especially not before my trip. He might not let me go." I interjected.

"We gotta tell them, Doll. It's okay. Don't cry, baby." He responded calmly.

"I know but maybe just not right now. After the trip I promise we will." I wiped my tears.

"Deal." He sealed the deal with a kiss.

"Now what?" I asked in confusion.

"I don't know. Why don't you finish packing and I'll keep working."

"No. I want to be with you. Plus ,I packed the day after my dad told me about New York. Come cuddle in my room with me." I tugged on his shirt like a little kid. "We can watch movies."

"I wish, but I gotta get these stalls cleaned and the horses need taken care of." He answered looking at my puppy dog face. "Maybe I can get my dad to do it. I'll just tell him I wanna make out with my girlfriend. You know him. He's all for that."

He kissed my forehead.

Ya know, we've been together a few weeks, and he hasn't told me he loves me yet. I mean not that it's a bad thing or that it's late or anything, but I'm just surprised. I know it's early for 'I love yous' but I think I love him and I don't know how he feels. Sorry that's a little off topic, but I had to put that out there.

I followed him into his house, pulling my sleeves over my hands.

Ryder stopped, noticing my nervous habit. "I know you do that when you're nervous. There's nothing to worry about."