Page 71 of All in with the Maverick Montana

“That’s not like you,” his mother said. “Why would we think that?”

“Because… I want to be with Amy. I want to make a life with her.” The truth was, he wanted Amy, even if she’d chosen someone else first, even if he’d only ever be her second choice. He might not be able to hold a candle to Tru McCoy, but he wanted to take care of her and her child. He thought that she could be happy with him, and that they could have a good life together. And maybe those were all foolish things to think, and she’d reject him anyway, but he knew what his heart wanted, and he at least needed to try.

“Oh, Josh! That’s music to my ears.”

“But there’s something you should know.” Josh swallowed. There wasn’t really a delicate way to break this news. “Amy’s pregnant.”

His mother gasped.

“It’s not mine,” he rushed to say before she could get carried away. “But I… I want it to be. I know we’ve only just met, and I haven’t even introduced her to you and Dad yet, but she’s the one. I know she is. And I want to raise this baby as my own. If Amy will have me, that is.”

He stopped talking, taking in the silence on the other end of the line.

“Do you think I’m still being a fool?” he asked.

“Do you love this girl?” his mother replied.

“Yes,” Josh said. “More than anything.”

“Then that’s all that matters.”

“But do you think I’m ready to be a dad?”

His mother chuckled softly. “Josh, none of us is ever ready. Look at me and your father. You showed up later in life and we still weren’t ready. But we loved you, and we figured it out. And you and Amy will, too. Remember what your father told you? All that really matters at the end of the day is that you have good people to call home. That’s all we’ve ever wanted for you. So, if you’ve found your person, you hold on to her tight. Right?”

“Right,” he said, fighting the emotion that swirled in his chest.

“Now, you go fix things with Amy,” his mother said. “Because I want to meet my grandbaby when the time comes.”

Josh laughed, pressing his hand to his forehead. Maybe he’d only been looking for Ms. Right Now before meeting Amy, but she was Mrs. Right…his Mrs. Forever. He knew it down to his boots. She was the only one for him. And the old Josh might have let her go without a word and retreated back into his world of cattle, but it was time to risk his heart again and go after what would make him truly happy.

“Oh, I can’t wait to tell your father! He’s going to be thrilled. We both are, Josh. We love you.”

“Love you, too, Mom.”

“Call me later with good news?”

“You bet.” Josh hung up, finally ready to call Amy, adrenaline surging through him. He sure hoped he’d be calling his mother back with good news. His hands shook as he found Amy’s number in his call log. He hit Dial.

Part of him worried she might not take his call, but she answered after the second ring.

“Hi,” he said.

“Hey there, cowboy,” she answered, a mix of surprise and relief in her voice.

“Do you think we can meet up in person?” he asked. “To talk?”

There was a pause. “Where?”

“The ranch?” Josh suggested. At least there they’d have privacy.

“Okay,” Amy agreed. “I’ll see you soon.”

Chapter Twenty

Amy felt like a shaken soda bottle as she turned off Juniper Road and down the gravel drive leading to Split Valley Ranch. Nerves coiled in her gut, and her hands trembled against the steering wheel of her car. The shakes were so bad by the time she pulled up beside the house that she had to sit in the driver’s seat and take a few deep, calming breaths. In through her nose. Out through her mouth. And again. In and out.

Elizabeth had told her to fight for him, and she’d wanted to call him for days. But that fear of rejection had planted itself inside her chest and refused to move. Every time she’d tried to pick up the phone, she’d been overwhelmed with the image of Josh pulling away, of him turning his back on her. So she’d resigned herself to giving him more time. She tried not to take up space in his world even though that’s all she wanted to do. That didn’t stop her from missing him though.