“Thank you, Mrs. Blakely,” Cassie managed to say, her voice a blend of gratitude and trepidation. She couldn’t help but wonder how they would manage the ranch, her dress shop, and a new baby. But to her surprise, she was thrilled with the idea.
“Take care now, and come see me should you need anything,” Hortense offered, her eyes softening at the sight of the young woman’s mixed emotions.
“Of course,” Cassie replied, rising from her chair. As she stepped out onto the porch, she allowed herself a moment to breathe in the vastness of the sky above. It seemed to whisper promises of change, challenge, and unexpected joy.
The dishes clinked softly as Cassie cleared the table, her mind a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. She could feel Andy’s gaze on her, patient yet expectant. The evening sun cast a warm glow through the window, wrapping the kitchen in gold and amber. It was time.
“Andy,” she said, “I went to see Hortense today.”
She watched him pause, his hands stilling on the dish towel. His dark eyes locked onto hers, searching for the message behind her words.
“And?” he prompted when she hesitated a beat too long.
“I’m pregnant,” Cassie admitted, her blue eyes not straying from his. The room seemed to hold its breath.
Andy’s face paled slightly, disbelief etched momentarily across his features before giving way to a stunned silence. They sat together, letting the weight of her words settle between them.
“Are you sure?” Andy finally asked.
“Quite sure,” Cassie replied, feeling a strange sense of calm now that the secret was shared.
As they sat at the wooden kitchen table, their hands found each other, grasping for comfort and reassurance amidst the uncertainty.
Cassie broke the silence first, her practical nature guiding her words. “I’m scared, Andy. What about my dressmaking? I’ve dreamt of that shop since I was a girl.”
He listened, his thumb gently stroking her hand. “Cassie, love,” he said with a soft firmness, “we’ll make it work. You’rethe finest seamstress I know. If anyone can do it, it’s you. Maybe Jane could work more hours...”
Her heart fluttered at his confidence, even as doubts nagged at her. “But a baby...this changes everything.”
“Maybe it does,” Andy agreed, his entrepreneurial spirit shining through. “But we’ll figure it out, together. We always do.” Andy rose from his chair, pacing back and forth across the creaky floorboards of their humble kitchen. “Cassie,” he began, the words catching in his throat, “I never thought—well, I never allowed myself to think we’d have a child.”
“Nor I,” Cassie admitted, watching him with an understanding gaze.
He stopped, hands on his hips, and turned to face her. “It’s just...do you reckon we’re ready for this? To be parents?” The worry creased his brow, betraying his usual stoicism.
“Ready or not, it’s happening,” Cassie said, a wry smile touching her lips. She shook her head. “I find that I’m much more delighted with the prospect than I thought I would be.”
“You’re right,” he conceded, chuckling despite himself. “I suppose my biggest fret is providing for you both. The ranch hasn’t been turning the profits I hoped for yet.”
“Then we’ll tighten our belts,” she replied with unwavering spirit. “We’ll scrimp and save a little.”
“I guess that’s what families do.”
“Exactly,” Cassie said, her heart swelling at the sight of his growing grin. “We’ll teach our child the value of hard work and dreaming big, just like us.”
“Speaking of dreams,” Andy said, taking a seat beside her once more, “what do you hope for our baby?”
“Health and happiness,” she answered instantly. “But also...curiosity. A sense of adventure, maybe.”
“Like their mother,” Andy said, his dark eyes twinkling. “And a good head for business, like their father.”
Cassie laughed, the sound light and free. “Let’s not set the bar too high.”
“High enough to reach for the stars,” he insisted, his hand finding hers again. “Imagine them riding across the fields, or better yet, helping you pin patterns and sort fabrics.”
“Or counting cattle and fixing fences,” Cassie added. Now she had something new to dream about, and she found herself looking forward to the baby.
“Whatever they choose, we’ll be there,” Andy said, squeezing her hand gently.
