by Vivian Arend
God, if she apologized again he was going to be walking into his mama’s house while bawling like a damn baby.
“When does Rafe get home?” she asked instead, and a bit of his tension drained away.
“Usually around four if he takes the bus. Should just be my ma right now.”
She nodded. They paused on the top of the steps, the wobbly fourth board pissing him off. He’d offered to repair it, but he’d been stupid enough to make the suggestion in front of Ben. Now he was forced to wait for the man to get around to fixing the problem so that his ma wouldn’t take the brunt of his father’s complaining.
Allison looked a little flustered. “Do we knock?”
He laughed. “She’d have my ears if we get all formal on her.”
Gabe opened the door and leaned his head in. “Ma, we’re here.”
They stepped into the entranceway. The long line of hooks on the wall was so familiar, the worn linoleum underfoot. Inside was his mother’s domain, as much as it could be, and everything sparkled. Scrubbed and cleaned within an inch of its life. Dana Coleman didn’t tolerate her bit of the world to be messy.
He was hanging up Allison’s coat when his ma came into view.
She wiped her hands on a towel, gaze skimming over him to land on Allison. She pulled to a stop, her polite visitor’s smile leaping into place. “Allison Parker. You have grown up now, haven’t you?”
“Mrs. Coleman.” Allison held out a hand and his ma shook it firmly, her gaze darting over Allison’s shoulder to meet his own. She raised both eyebrows high, as if asking what the heck was going on.
Gabe’s unease shifted into something far different. “You need help with anything, Ma?”
She shook her head and led them into the house. “No, I’ve got a pot of tea on, and some fresh-baked cookies. Everything is in the back, though. Just let me grab it and bring it out here.”
“Don’t make more work for yourself. I don’t mind sitting in the kitchen.” Allison followed hard on Dana’s heels.
“She’s right, the kitchen is nice. Smells like heaven.”
His ma paused in the doorway, obviously fighting her compulsion to seat guests in the living room. She frowned at him, and he smiled, ready to reassure her.
Allison’s gasp distracted them both, as did her long awww as she pressed past Dana and headed straight for the box tucked up against the wall.
“Looks like we’re sitting in the kitchen, Ma.”
“Looks like it.” Dana smiled but her questioning gaze continued to bounce between him and Allison.
The woman had apparently forgotten to feel shy around his mother. All her attention was focused on the swirling mass of furry kittens tucked inside the cardboard shelter. “They’re adorable. Can I touch them?”
“Ma?”
Dana bustled about, setting another cup on the table and pulling out a few more baked goodies. “Go ahead. The mother died, and I found the little things just yesterday. Almost starved. They seem to have recovered nicely, though.”
Allison needed no additional coaxing. She dropped to the floor and crossed her legs. In no time flat she had one of the dark brown bodies cradled against her cheek. “Oh, she’s so soft. How old are they?”
“Just over a month I guess. They were nearly weaned, from what I can tell.”
Gabe pulled out a chair and sat, smiling as Allison plopped one kitten into the hollow of her lap and picked up another. Watching her tenderly handle the tiny creatures made something inside of him happy.
He was glad she could find stuff to enjoy.
“Is tea good? Or you want some coffee?” Dana asked.
His ma held out the cookies and he willingly accepted a couple. “Tea is fine.”
He let her fuss for another minute since Allison was still distracted with the kittens. Distracted, but obviously watching enough that when Dana sat, Allison gently returned the tiny furballs to the box.
She rose and slipped to the sink to wash her hands. “They’re beautiful.”
Dana nodded. “That batch are pretty little things. I’m tempted to keep one of them in the house, but inside is not the place for barn cats.”
“My mom always says the same.”
Allison paused at the edge of the counter. Gabe answered her dilemma before her hesitation became any clearer. He pulled out the chair beside him and patted the seat.
He’d managed to twist the sturdy wooden thing to be right in line with his so when she sat, his arm along the backrest lightly touched her shoulders. She was as close to being held in his embrace as they could be while sitting in different chairs.
His mom’s eyes widened before she caught herself and poured Allison’s cup full. “You visiting your family, Allison?”
Allison fidgeted with her plate. “A bit.”
“She’s here to visit me too,” Gabe cut in.
His ma smiled, the touch of a smirk disappearing behind her cup. When she lowered the dainty thing, her expression still showed amusement. “Really? That’s nice.”
Allison twisted to glance at him. “Yes, Gabe and I…”
He covered her fidgeting fingers with his own. Dana’s gaze snapped to the linked hands, and her smile got bigger.
Gabe cleared his throat. Time to get this thing rolling. “We’re engaged.”
There was a moment’s pause, but his ma pretty much did what he expected. She shot to her feet and was around the table and hugging them both without another word.
It was a bit of a tangle of arms and heads, and Gabe laughed. “I take it that’s mom code for congrats.”
Dana pulled back. “You two are the sneakiest people I ever met. I knew something was up, but damn if I could figure it out. Yes, congratulations. And, Allison, if this young man gives you any grief, you let me know. I’ll tell you all the ways to make him behave.”
Allison settled back in her chair as his ma returned to the other side of the table. “Thank you. I’m glad you’re not…”
“More surprised? Girl, I am completely surprised. But at the same time, I knew something was up. Didn’t think it was that you two were running around on the sly. How long has this been going on?”
Gabe dropped his arm along the back of the chair again. It was kind of nice to have Allison relaxing against him. “What do you mean you knew something was up?”
His ma stared him down. “You aren’t the most talkative of creatures, Gabe Coleman, but the past couple years you’ve been awfully quiet, even for you. At the start I thought you were planning on moving out of the area again, but once you built your cabin I knew it couldn’t be that.”
Damn. Maybe his secret projects hadn’t been so secret after all. This excuse of having been seeing Allison on the side was a good thing to cover his tracks. “I’m not planning on leaving anytime soon, Ma. I told you that when I came back to town.”
Dana folded her hands in front of her. “Well, I’m glad to hear it. Are you working at the restaurant again, Allison?”
The conversation drifted into safe, easy territory, and Gabe listened without having to add much to the discussion as Allison and his ma chatted about the community. The side flap of the box came loose and one of the kittens got caught, hips falling through the crack. He leaned over to grab the little creature. So small and defenceless. He rested the tiny beast in his lap and stroked it carefully.
“You want an engagement party?” Dana asked.
Allison shook her head. “My mom asked the same thing, but if you don’t mind, we don’t really want one. I’ll be busy getting settled in the new job and everything.”
“No problem. I bet your mom is thrilled you’re going to be so close by. I know I missed Gabe terribly when he moved out of Rocky.”
Moved out because if he had stayed he would have gone mad. “Well, we’re all back now. And I should get to work. We just wanted to let you know our plans.”
“Did you—” Dana broke off then nodded briskly. “I’ll let your father know. And Rafe, if you want.”
Allison h
ad tightened at the mention of Ben. Great, seemed she liked his father as much as pretty well everyone else in town. “I’ll see Rafe when he’s doing chores. Let him razz me about getting hitched on his own.”
They rose and made their goodbyes, Dana promising to call Allison to chat when she could. It was all far simpler than he’d thought it would be. Once things got a little more settled in the next couple days, they could make a list of what he needed to do to get the ranch started on the road to recovery.
It was all working out just fine.
Chapter Six
Rafe’s jaw hung open for about ten seconds before he burst out laughing. “You’re shitting me.”
“I don’t shit.” Gabe deliberately drawled the words.
His deadpan joke only made his brother laugh louder. “Yeah, right, that makes you full of shit. Who you engaged to?”
“Allison Parker. You know her.”
Rafe wrinkled his nose. “She left here years ago. Did you date her while you were living away from Rocky?”
“No.”
“Did you date her in high school?”
“No.”
Rafe dug the shovel in deep before standing back and crossing his arms in front of him. “Then why you getting married?”
“We’re getting engaged.” Gabe snatched up the shovel and tossed another scoop of manure into the wheelbarrow.
“Which means you’re going to get married, you idiot. Oh hell—” Rafe cussed a few more times then kicked the wheel in front of him. “I guess I can’t come stay at your place this summer now, can I?”
“Well, you hadn’t asked me in the first place, but you’re right. You can’t.”
“Bastard.”
Rafe snatched up the long wooden handles of the wheelbarrow and forcibly shoved himself and his burden down the narrow path leading toward the garden.
“What’s that look for?” Gabe called after him. “Because I won’t let you move into my house without asking?”
“Because I figured you knew I wanted to move in with you. I didn’t think I had to ask.” Rafe shouted the words over his shoulder before he disappeared between the row of trees separating the compost and manure piles from the new stretch of garden Gabe had turned.
Well, assumptions had a way of kicking a person’s ass. If this was the first occasion Rafe learned that lesson, it was about time.
Gabe turned back and headed into the barn until Rafe returned. He took a quick check to see what was in the storeroom, and noted how little his father had actually listened to him in terms of needed supplies. There was a distinctive lack of a number of items, what looked to be overstock of others, and he closed his eyes and fought his frustration.
It was no use trying to take control of this area of the ranch. Not yet, not until he got Ben at least moderately onside.
He went back outside in time to catch his brother returning from another trip with the wheelbarrow. Rafe had already stripped off his shirt, the hard muscles from heavy labour beginning to show on his young body. The kid was growing up, and it was time to acknowledge that.
Didn’t mean Gabe was going to let Rafe walk all over him.
“You ask Ma if you can move into the room over the garage?”
Rafe sighed. “No, because I thought I could move in with you and get away from—get to be out on my own.”
“Moving in with me is not being on your own.” Gabe dropped a hand on his brother’s shoulder. Damn, he hadn’t meant to block one of the refuges for the kid. “Check with her. I bet she’d have no issue with it. And Ben won’t care as long as you’re up and ready for chores without him having to haul your ass out of bed in the mornings.”
The silence from Rafe stretched on until Gabe figured it was time to ignore it. If his kid brother wanted to pout, that was his business.
He headed over to the tractor instead, getting ready to transfer bales. A few minutes later a smack on the window next to him jerked him upright, and he turned off the engine and cracked open the door.
Rafe hopped down out of his way so the door could fully open.
“Can I come over later this week?”
Shit. “Allison’s—”
“I’m not asking to stay over. Can I come over on Friday or something to meet her? Or are you bringing her over for a family dinner?”
Rafe’s serious expression twisted something inside him. “No, we already talked to Ma. If you want to have dinner with us, Friday works. You usually go out with your friends then, don’t you?”
“You’re talking about getting married, and I’ve never even met the woman, I mean not really. I think I can skip hanging out with my friends for one night.”
Gabe stared in mock horror. “Who the hell are you, and what did you do with my immature kid brother?”
Rafe grinned sheepishly. “Fuck off.”
“Just saying. Let’s make it Thursday, that might work better for everyone.”
“You wait. I’ll ask her all kinds of terrible questions to make up for being so mature right now. Does that make you happier?”
The tension that had rushed through when he’d share his news with Rafe smoothed away. He was a good kid, and he was trying. “Remember whatever you do will come back to haunt you. I’m going to be around for a long time, and I have a great memory. Someday you’ll find a girl you seriously like and it’ll be payback.”
Rafe walked backward, his huge grin not giving any sign he was returning to the dirty task of hauling manure. “It could still be fun in the short term.”
Gabe pulled the door shut and went back to work. He had a couple hours before he had to get cleaned up and head out with Allison for the next round of family inquisitions. Maybe after tonight things would settle down.
It certainly couldn’t get any worse.
Dead silence greeted her announcement.
Actually, that wasn’t true. Music played, and the murmur of other people conversing carried in the background. Normal restaurant sounds that should have made Parker’s Timberline Grill the perfect setting for them to proclaim to yet another set of shocked people the news about her and Gabe’s engagement.
Maybe they should have had a party and gotten it all over at one time. The jolt would have been greater but less prolonged.
Paul and Elle exchanged long stares before Elle turned back and blinked hard.
“Congratulations. I’m… That’s… How interesting.”
Everything about her response was obviously a sham, but at least she attempted to smile instead of the near-violent frown that marred her brother’s expression.
“Why the hell would you marry him?” Paul blurted out, and Allison’s heart fell. She hadn’t expected it to be all smooth sailing, but downright rudeness?
“Paul!” Their mother’s hushed whisper carried volumes of disapproval.
He had the grace to look uncomfortable, but he didn’t back down. “It’s a bit of a shock. What did you expect me to say?”
Allison readied to defend herself, but it was Gabe who leaned forward. “I’d expect you to act like someone who gives a damn about your sister. You have questions, you go ahead and we can discuss them politely, but maybe first you stick out your hand and at least pretend you’re happy.”
Gabe settled back, draping his arm around her shoulders as he squeezed reassuringly. Allison leaned into him, grateful for his warmth and his support.
Paul eyed Gabe slowly then nodded. “I do have questions, but you’re right, this isn’t the place. Allison, I’m glad you’re back in town. We’ve missed you.”
Gabe chuckled. “See? It’s always possible to find something to not lie about.”
Allison bit her lips to stop from laughing. The tension between the two men was reminiscent of bulls vying for dominance. Somehow she had to defuse the situation before someone said something that made things worse.
It was their mom who smoothed matters over, at least temporarily. Her soft laughter trickled over Allison. “I swear, sometimes you children—it’s as
if you’ve reverted to being teens again, all poking each other and trying to get on each other’s nerves. I’m so pleased. Allison and Gabe are obviously happy. There’s nothing a mother wants more for her children than that.”
Her beaming face said she wasn’t faking it, and Allison smiled back. The heat from Gabe’s body encircled her and held her up as well, and if Paul’s scowl only eased a tiny bit, well, she’d just have to give him time. It was a shock, but the pleasure her mom showed made it all worthwhile.
Elle passed the breadbasket to Gabe. “Are you planning on coming to work for the restaurant as well?”
Gabe snorted before turning the sound into a cough. “No. Allison working here is enough. I’ve got the ranch to keep me busy.”
Paul’s lips twitched, but he didn’t say anything.
Elle brought forward the topic of menus, and Allison got involved with her mom and sis in the usual brainstorming for new ideas. Their chef was good, but also loved the hands-on direction they gave, and together the combination had always been something to be proud of.
It was only after their meals had been delivered she realized the guys weren’t doing a lot of talking. Gabe was listening in on her conversation, but Paul seemed too busy glaring daggers at Gabe to contribute much of anything.
Just what she needed, grief from her younger brother. Not. If this hadn’t been a sham, his actions would have pissed her off even more. The jerk should know better than to stick in his oar that far.
Allison made sure to pull Gabe back into the rest of the discussion as best she could, but by the time they were done eating, she’d had enough.
“I’ll grab the truck and bring it to the door.” Gabe pressed a quick kiss on her cheek then rose. He nodded politely to her mother, winked at Elle who responded with a reluctant grin.
He tipped his hat forward and stared Paul down for a second before leaving without another word.
Allison sighed, ignoring the tingling where he’d touched his lips against her cheek. Good old family togetherness. She’d thrown a lot at them tonight, so she wasn’t about to push it.
Paul escorted her to the door, though, something obviously on his mind.
