She was excited that she’d been given the okay to swim and she’d been doing laps every morning and evening in an attempt to stretch out the skin on her back and legs. She loved the pool. She didn’t love the fact that her hair was always wet or drying, or that already, even though she knew exactly when she got pregnant, there was already a pooch. Her waist wasn’t thick yet, but there was a definite pooch already, she threw up often and she wasn’t more than seven weeks along. But she loved the pool.

The afternoon sun poured down on her as she floated in the little river, one hand trailing in the water. Emma Bannaconni and Catarina Perez floated just a few feet from her, each in their inner tube, heads thrown back watching the clouds as they drifted through the current. Emma’s belly moved, and Siena touched her own with her fingertips.

The sound of children’s laughter turned her head. Jake, Emma’s husband, lifted his son out of the water and sent him flying. He landed with a splash, and his daughter yelled excitedly to be flung through the air.

“It’s sort of a revelation to see Jake Bannaconni playing with his children,” Siena observed. “If anyone saw this, they’d be shocked.”

Emma smiled. “Jake is an amazing father. Even when they were first born. He sat up at night and rocked them or watched me rock them.”

“But completely different in public or at his work,” Siena said, remembering the steely-eyed man she’d faced when asking for Drake’s location.

Emma nodded. “Jake is the best father I can imagine for our children, and he treats me like a princess . . . well . . . most of the time. He’s got a temper and he’s bossy.”

Catarina burst out laughing. “You think your man is bossy, mine patented bossiness. Ever since he’s known I was carrying a baby, he’s been Mr. Protection and double the bossiness, which, by the way, I didn’t think was possible,” Catarina continued.

Siena’s heart jumped and she rubbed her hand over her growing tummy and swung her head around toward Catarina, who was behind her. She nearly tipped her tube over craning her neck looking at Catarina’s flat stomach. “You’re pregnant too?”

Catarina was married to Eli Perez, and they owned the bordering ranch. Siena had caught a glimpse of Eli when he’d dropped Catarina off. He’d looked tough and hard, and when he caught Catarina’s hand as she started up the stairs, he’d jerked her back around and pulled her body tight into his. His mouth had come down on hers in a gesture so intimate, Siena had turned away.

“Yes, I’m three months and then some. Eli is beside himself. He thinks he’s the coolest man in town.” Catarina burst out laughing.