A Baby in His Stocking Read Online Free PDF Page B

begin to compute.”
    â€œSorry. When it comes to family disapproval, mine wrote the book.”
    â€œOh, please.” Twisting on the seat for a better view of his handsome profile, she asked, “What have you ever done that the mighty Buckhorns disapproved of?”
    â€œLike your folks,” he said, narrowly avoiding a fallen tree, “they would prefer I be married. Oh—and they can’t stand my house.”
    â€œReally? Town gossip says it’s pretty amazing.”
    â€œI like to think so.” His smile warmed her far more efficiently that the heater.
    â€œAnd lately, they’re mighty pissed about me leaving.”
    â€œHmm…Josie told me about your great Ethiopian adventure. Sounds like a once-in-a-lifetime chance. Something to be done before you finally do settle down with a wife and those requisite 2.5 kids.”
    Natalie had expected Wyatt to appreciate her support. Instead, his expression hardened.
    She asked, “Did I somehow offend you?”
    He shook his head and gripped the wheel tighter.
    â€œThen why the one-eighty in your mood?”
    After a glance out his window at the inky nothing beyond the glass, he exhaled. “What the hell? I’ve needed to get this off my chest for a while now, and I like you, Natalie. Always have. Most girls fell for my Buckhorn hype, but not you. You always treated me like a regular Joe.”
    Stomach sour, Natalie wasn’t sure she wanted to hear whatever Wyatt had to say.
    â€œI appreciate that. Outside of family, and a few closefriends, there aren’t a lot of people I can trust to keep my private issues private. Know what I mean?”
    She nodded. “I feel that way about Josie. As happy as I was to see her marry Dallas, part of me mourned to have lost her. Sure, we’ll always be close, but not the way we were before she began bursting with family.”
    Wincing, he said, “There’s that word again. The bane of my existence.”
    â€œFamily?” Wrinkling her nose, she said, “I would think however your relatives are, they’re still your blood and you love them.”
    â€œLove has nothing to do with it. Their expectations for me to be just like them is what brings me down—especially since no matter how much they bitch and nag about me marrying and having kids, their hopes will never come to pass.”
    â€œWhy? You’re young. How can you arbitrarily decide you never want to be more than a bachelor?”
    â€œEasy.” Thumping the heel of his hand against the wheel, he added, “Especially since it wasn’t even my decision. I’ll never have a son or daughter.”
    â€œWhat do you mean?”
    â€œTo spell it out, I’m sterile.”
    Heart aching for him, eyes stinging with tears she struggled to hold in, she asked, “H-how do you know?”
    â€œNasty case of mumps. Doc Haven tested me. That’s why I’m so desperate to get out of Weed Gulch. No one knows, and the last thing I want to do is tell them. I don’t want their pity or well-meaning lectures on the wonders of adoption. I need to be left alone, you know? Just come to grips with this in my own way.”
    Hand on his forearm, she asked, “How long have you known?”
    â€œA few months, and damned if the more kids mybrothers and sister pop out, the more disconnected I feel. I will forever be the lone man out and it—”
    When his voice cracked, Natalie scooted across the seat to put her arms around him.
    He stopped the truck, killing the engine.
    Though Wyatt never shed a tear, Natalie could only imagine how much his diagnosis had hurt. For a guy like him, his macho manliness no doubt meant the world. To never be able to have his own namesake must be crushing.
    â€œI’m so sorry,” she said, holding him for all she was worth. “Ironic how your family wants nothing more than for you to produce a child, and mine is going to be peeved for that