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“Is it something that can wait until we get out of the barn? I’m sure my mom has some lunch if you’re hungry.”
Ben shook his head. “No, I…I need to say it now.”
Tilting my head, I frowned. He looked so stricken. “Okay. What do you need to tell me?”
He swallowed hard, finally lifting his head, and our gazes locked. The little jolt to my heart when he looked at me was barely there anymore.
“I don’t know how to say it, so I’m just going to say it—Abby’s pregnant, and we’re getting married as soon as possible.”
It felt like someone had hit me in the chest with a hammer.
Of all the things I had expected him to say, that hadn’t been on the list. The air left my body all at once, and I couldn’t seem to remember how to breathe. “Wh-what?” I managed to get out.
Ben closed his eyes for a moment before they opened again. “Our parents want us married quickly to cut back on any rumors.”
I blinked rapidly and stepped back. My foot caught on something. What happened next felt like slow motion…I thought I could regain my balance, but my ankle twisted, and I started to fall.
The whole time, Ben just stood there and stared at me in shock.
“Lily!”
Maverick shouting my name had me turning to look at him right before I hit the ground hard on my ass, then felt a sharp pain at the back of my head.
And then everything went black.
As my lashes fluttered, I could tell I was being carried. I felt warm and safe in the arms of the person carrying me.
When I finally managed to get my eyes completely open, I gazed straight into gray eyes laced with concern, looking right back at me.
I only managed to get out one whispered word. “Maverick?”
“You’re okay, Lily. I’ve got you. It’s okay.”
The pounding in my head suddenly registered, making me feel sick to my stomach, and I closed my eyes once again.
“What happened?” I asked as I felt Maverick moving up steps quickly. Had he just taken the steps two at a time…while carrying me? Damn, he had the whole strong, rugged cowboy thing down.
“Oh my God! What happened?”
My mother’s voice pulled me from my silly thoughts.
“She tripped, or lost her balance, and hit her head on one of the stall doors.”
“I would have, um, caught her, but…I was so surprised.”
The last voice was Ben’s. And that was when I remembered the conversation I’d been having with him before I apparently tripped and hit my head.
“I’ll call Dr. Waters—”
Maverick interrupted my mother. “Already called him. He’s on his way.”
“Then let’s get her up to her bedroom. Second door on the right,” she told him. Then, a second later, “Ben, please—you’re in the way.”
“Dr. Waters is going to start charging us extra,” I said, trying to lighten the mood.
I peeked my eyes open to see Ben standing at the base of the steps, staring at me…or maybe Maverick. I wasn’t sure.
“I would have gotten her, you know. You just swept in and picked her up before I could do anything.”
