by Vivian Arend
Exhaustion rolled in as if she’d been working chores for hours instead of sitting in the kitchen having a conversation. She gave Finn a brief kiss then tilted her head toward the door. “Come on. I need some fresh air, and I want you with me.”
They walked in silence for a while, following the path that headed toward the river at the bottom of the pasture. It was wide and smooth, which meant Finn’s crutches worked fine.
He grumbled his disgust, though. “I want to hold your hand and not deal with this nonsense of being close by but not touching.”
“Newsflash, cowboy. Even when you do get your cast off, we’re not going to spend twenty-four seven attached at the hip.”
It was good to hear a soft chuckle, and Karen glanced to the side to find he was smoldering at her again. “I plan to do my best. Oh, wait. It’s not quite hips I’m thinking of.”
“Bad boy.” She raised a brow. “I thought you liked cowgirl position.”
“Love it,” he agreed. “Anytime you want, I give you the go-ahead. But more variety will be fun.”
The conversation drifted then, deliberately becoming lighter as they avoided talk of the serious matters that had blown up their day. There were plenty of other things to discuss, between ongoing plans for the ranch and Karen tentatively exploring possibilities for the future.
Those ideas needed to be talked through with more than just Finn, which is how a couple days later she finally built up the courage to share her news with her sisters.
They’d gathered at the cottage, supposedly to introduce one of their favourite family traditions to Julia. Karen figured the interactive, hands-on meal would be a good distraction after she’d dropped her bomb.
It also meant cooking and cleanup would be a snap, and with the long days they were putting in at the ranch to keep things moving at an accelerated rate, right now Karen was all about easy.
Julia stepped through the door. “Sorry I’m late. Where do you want these?”
She held out a block of Swiss cheese and a carton of eggs.
Lisa grabbed them then headed to the kitchen. “That’s the last we need. I’ll get the omelet mix together. Karen, slice the cheese.”
It was like old times. Karen exchanged a glance with Tamara. “I’m not in charge of my own home.”
“Get used to it. I have.” Tamara admired Tyler, who was conveniently eating before they started their meal. “Auntie Lisa is a bossy pants, isn’t she? Yes, she totally is a bossy pants and we love her for it.”
Karen snickered as she joined the other girls in the kitchen and obediently cut up the cheese as per Lisa’s instructions. Ollie wander under Lisa’s feet, sweetly begging for treats until ordered to the pillow Karen had placed in the corner.
As soon as the dog settled, Dandy crawled from under the couch like a wild tiger, intent on stalking Ollie’s tail.
By the time they gathered around the table, Tamara had finished feeding the baby, burped him, and put him down to sleep. She rubbed her hands together. “I’m starving. After nine months of not eating, I’m still playing catch-up.”
“I can’t believe you were actually nauseous your entire pregnancy.” Julia hesitated. “Okay, technically and scientifically, I believe it. I just mean that was a pretty shitty hand to be dealt.”
“I hope it doesn’t run in the family,” Tamara said dryly.
“I nominate Karen to be the next guinea pig to get pregnant,” Lisa said instantly.
Karen gasped. “What? No. I just got into a serious relationship. It’s obvious you’re the next to fall.”
Tamara gently tapped her fingers against the side of her glass, just enough to get their attention and not loud enough to wake the baby. “Instructions for Julia so she knows what we’re doing. This is a raclette.”
“Raw food meets hot surface, cook till it’s done.” Karen pulled one of the little pans from underneath the top broiler plate. “You can cook little omelets in here or melt cheese to pour over top of your food. Eat until you’re ready to burst.”
Lisa lifted a pair of chopsticks. “The only other family rule you need to know is even if you put a piece of food on the top surface, it might not be there when you go back for it. It’s kind of a free-for-all when we get rolling.”
The newcomer watched for a while as the three of them started eagerly. They passed around sauces and dips, and easy conversation drifted while tidbits were consumed and laughter danced in the air. The animals made the occasional forage attempt before being sent back to their no begging zone.
It was comfortable, and it was family. Karen’s concerns about sharing her change of plans eased when confronted by how sweet the connection between them felt.
Still, the deed had to be done.
She waited until everybody had food in motion then laid her utensils down and sat up a little straighter. “Got a couple things to let you know. All of it good, and I hope you’ll be happy for me.”
Three sets of eyes turned on her, filled with curiosity.
And eagerness. “Are you and Finn engaged?” Lisa asked.
Karen restrained from rolling her eyes. “Jump the gun a little? It’s way too soon. We’re—” What the hell did she call this? He was more than her boyfriend. More than a lover.
He was…hers.
“You’re together.” Julia dipped her chin firmly. “You guys fit. And I understand there’s history, but you seem pretty solid in the here and now. Good for you.”
“What will happen when you head out in the fall?” Tamara looked uncertain. “Long-term relationships do better when you’re in the same postal code area.”
Karen put both feet forward and jumped.
“There’s the other thing I want to let you know. Ever since I got here, I’ve been considering my options. Thinking about what would make me happy not just down the road, but right now. And that might sound a little backwards, but it’s been pointed out that it’s okay to do things that make me happy. I’ve decided school is not on my short-term list. Instead, I’m staying and working the ranch with Finn and Zach.” She wondered if she would have to fend off a mass of questions, so she hurried to finish. “It’s what I want. I’m excited to stay in Heart Falls.”
The entire time Karen had been talking, her sisters’ expressions had grown more surprised, eyes widening.
Lisa pressed her fingers over her mouth. Then damn if she didn’t burst into tears. Tamara followed, and suddenly Karen’s eyes filled as well.
It was far too easy to get a group of grown women to end up watery messes.
Julia was the one who finally voiced her discomfort. “I don’t even know why I’m crying. I mean, I’m happy for you. Sounds as if you gave it a lot of thought. Besides”—she jerked a thumb toward Lisa and Tamara—“getting to set up here in Heart Falls with these two is pretty perfect.”
“I’m crying because she’s crying,” Tamara insisted as she pointed at Lisa. “Dammit. Pregnancy and nursing hormones are hell. I’m really happy for you, Karen. And not only because it will be so much easier to hold family get-togethers.”
The little cream-coloured terrier, Ollie, was up on her hind legs, scratching lightly at Lisa’s leg, trying to figure out what had gone wrong so she could fix it.
Lisa soothed her, slowly petting the puppy’s head. “It’s okay, sweetie. This is one of those weird things humans do when they’re happy.” She held her hand out to Karen and gave her fingers a big squeeze. “That’s a hell of a destination change, but I’m hardly one to talk. I’m so glad you’re sticking around.”
“Now we need to find Julia a full-time job in the area so we’ll have all the Whiskey Creek women in one place,” Tamara pointed out.
Julia shrugged even as she wiped away tears. “I wouldn’t mind, but right now the job only lasts until the end of October. But no matter what, this will make it a whole lot simpler when I come visit. I’ll find all three of you in one spot.”
They returned to their meal while questions and teasing about every other to
pic under the sun continued. Laughter rose and love and support surrounded Karen like a warm blanket on a cold day.
It might be a different story when she had to explain to extended family, but really, at the core, did that matter?
The women around her right now—they were the ones in her heart. They were the ones whose opinions mattered, and with them by her side, she could do anything.
21
Things smoothed out after that in a way that made the momentary upheavals seem like distant memories. Finn was fine with that.
Security teams were hired, and there were no more unexpected losses or fires. Which meant as the end of July rolled around, things continued to progress at double-quick pace.
Karen drove him to the hospital for his appointment to get the cast removed. He was antsy. It was a couple days later than he’d hoped, plus he was so done being chauffeured everywhere.
In the driver’s seat beside him, his woman didn’t even try to hide her amusement.
“Stop smirking,” Finn grumbled. “Admit it. You’re just as eager for me to get this cast off as I am.”
“Oh, I don’t think that’s possible.” She offered him a sweet smile before turning her focus back on the highway. “I’m absolutely amazed you didn’t take a hacksaw to it yourself yesterday. You’re to be commended for your restraint.”
“Damn doctor shouldn’t have said August first when she knew she wasn’t coming back from holidays until the third,” Finn complained. “And putting on my chart that no one else was allowed to take the cast off without her approval was just nasty.”
“I know. It was a terribly mean thing to do.” Karen patted his hand with mock sympathy. “Shall we go for a celebratory horseback ride when we get home?”
He kept hold of her fingers, tugging them to his lips. “Maybe second thing.”
If anything, her smile got wider. “You’re right. You really should go on a full inspection tour of everything that’s been accomplished over the past couple of months before we try anything fun.”
“You just carry on like that. See how well fucked it gets you.”
She gasped. “Language.”
He shifted as much as possible in his seat, turning toward her and playing with a strand of hair that had fallen loose from her ponytail. “I can’t wait to get you home and strip you naked. After I use my mouth and fingers to make you scream a couple of times, we’ll move on to something totally wild.”
“Really? And that would be?” The question came out a little breathless.
He leaned forward to get in her line of sight. “Missionary position.”
As hoped, he got a loud laugh, but the twinkle in her eyes said she was just as eager to mix it up.
Having her in his arms each night had been a bit of a miracle. Yet since rolling over required his full concentration and the equivalent of a damn workout, their sex life had remained limited.
The doctor took pity on him, pushing through the X-ray results quickly, which put him back in the waiting room in double-quick time. Being stared down by that minuscule woman with the attitude of an Amazon would’ve been highly amusing if there wasn’t so much on the line.
“You’ve healed well,” Dr. Jerimiah told him. “Congratulations. You graduate to walking on two legs.”
Finn grinned over the doctor’s shoulder at Karen. “Ready to go dancing, ma chérie?”
“Good idea,” the doctor told him. “In moderation. You need to build up your strength again. I’ll give you a set of exercises and a prescription for physiotherapy if you need it. I have a feeling your biggest issue will be not overdoing it.” She glanced over her shoulder at Karen. “Keep him off his feet when you can.”
“She already promised to.” Finn caught Karen’s gaze, and when he spoke again, his voice had gone lower. Needy, full of anticipation. “Frequently and enthusiastically.”
That might’ve come out a little dirtier than he intended. In front of the doc and all.
The young woman laughed. “That’s pretty much what I figured. If you have any troubles, come back and see me. Otherwise, stay out of collapsing buildings, and I hope the rest of your summer goes well.”
He pumped her hand with real gratitude. “Thanks.”
Finn and Karen took a slow stroll to the parking lot, but when he pulled open the passenger door for her, she shook her head and pointed at the seat. “One last time as passenger. I insist. You have presents to open.”
It wasn’t worth grumbling about because—damn. Without the cast, he felt fifty pounds lighter and yet slightly out of kilter. “Okay. But tomorrow I drive.”
She hadn’t been kidding about the presents. A pile of them rested on the seat.
He waited until she’d pulled out of the hospital parking lot and had them on the highway headed home to Heart Falls. “What’s all this?”
“Everybody wanted to celebrate your getting-out-of-jail moment.” She pointed to random packages. “Zach, Cody, Josiah. Those two are from Tamara and Lisa. Tansy sent over a black forest cheesecake, and Julia and the crew at the fire hall picked up some ribeye steaks for us to enjoy sometime this week.”
A strange knot developed in his throat. He stared at the boxes, all brightly wrapped, and wondered at the weird sensation in his belly.
Karen glanced over. “Finn? You okay?”
He picked up one of the packages, opening the tag on it to see it was from his brother Levi and family. “I’m a little choked up right now, to tell the truth.”
“Because people are happy you’re feeling better?”
He shrugged. “Hell. I figured they would be happy knowing I won’t be begging favours anymore. I’m just not used to— I don’t know.”
She threaded their fingers together. “Not used to having visible signs that people appreciate you show up on your doorstep? Or in this case, truck seat?”
He nodded. “Pretty much, yeah.”
“Well, they do appreciate you. And they’re happy for you, and I need you to start opening presents because I’m dying of curiosity.”
Even as he worked the wrapping paper on the one in his hands, he lowered his tone a notch. “Thank you for what you got me. It’s exactly what I wanted.”
She snickered. “My present isn’t even here.”
“Oh. I was talking about your promise to sex me to death.”
“Oh. That. You’re welcome.” She gave him a love tap on the shoulder. “You’re a terrible present opener. Get going.”
The box from Levi and Chelsea contained cards from the kids— typical small people productions made of crayon scrawls and hearts—and a picture frame.
Levi and Chelsea sat on the front porch of the house Finn had grown up in, surrounded by their family. The kids wore matching outfits with cowboy hats and boots. The three little tykes looked happy and well loved. His brother had an arm wrapped around Chelsea’s shoulders, the smile on his face sheer perfection.
The house itself had a new paint job, and somehow it looked a lot shinier than the last time Finn remembered being there.
He carefully put the frame aside, soaking it in as a new memory to help wash away some of the bitterness of the past.
Then he worked on the next present, warmth growing in his chest.
“Zach got me a new deck of playing cards. Probably figured the other set we use is marked, considering how bad he’s been losing lately.”
“You shouldn’t be so mean to your best friend.”
“Hey, if he wants to help finance our next vacation, I have no problem taking money from him.” He opened the bag from Josiah and laughed. “The man gave me a jar of Bag Balm.”
“That should help with all the chafing you plan to get,” she teased.
They grinned at each other.
He picked up the package from Tamara and gave it a shake. Something slid inside. “You want to wait and open this when we get home?”
They were still a good forty-five minutes from the ranch. “Keep going. This is entertaining,” Karen told
him.
Inside the paper was an old-fashioned tobacco tin. “She wants me to take up bad habits,” he informed Karen. He wiggled off the lid, and laughed out loud. “Scratch that. Your sister just gave me a couple dozen condoms.”
“Get out.” She glanced over quickly as he tilted the container toward her. “She’s terrible.”
“She’s brilliant,” Finn said. “Now I can be prepared for the days ahead.”
Only when the present from Lisa also made the same suspicious sliding noise, Finn started laughing even as he tore the paper off. “Oh, look. Another tin. I wonder what’s inside?”
“I’m going to kill my sisters.” But her laughter joined his, and when he poured the contents into his open palm, the colourful packets like a rainbow, she tossed him a dirty grin.
When she pulled off the road and headed down a gravel path toward who knew where, Finn sent up a thank-you to the heavens.
“Tell me you have some ulterior motive in taking me for a ride.”
She pulled the truck to a stop on a narrow path hidden between tall trees. “You think you can handle that missionary stuff in the back of the truck?”
He met her at the tailgate in under three seconds.
She hoped this wasn’t going against everything the doctor had warned Finn about, but they were both too eager to wait.
He took the blanket she’d grabbed from the back cab and, with one firm snap, spread it out in the truck bed. Then he caught hold of her and pulled them together, lips meeting eagerly, hands moving freely as they gave in to desire.
He got her jeans undone, pushing them and her panties off her hips seconds before he lifted her to the surface of the open tailgate.
Hands on either side of her legs, Finn leaned in. “Hold on tight. I’m about to take you to church.”
Which meant it wouldn’t be long before she started singing with the choir. The thought made her giggle, the sound turning into a moan as Finn opened her knees and pressed a kiss to her inner thigh. Another one, higher, hands stroking in advance of his mouth until his thumbs teased against her core.
