by Vivian Arend
“Is it safe to come down?” Beth paused at the base of the landing, not wanting to ruin their surprise.
A flurry of voices called out a warning, and she waited for her escort.
“Don’t peek,” Nathan warned as they guided her to her chair.
“I wouldn’t dream of it.” Beth sat cautiously as Lance moved her chair into place. “Can I look now?”
“Look, look, look…” Robbie was still bouncing when she opened her eyes.
The table was set with a bouquet of flowers in the center, plates arranged around the edges, and over by the stove, Daniel leaned on the counter, all six foot plus of him staring down with contentment on his face. His smile took in the boys as well, and another tendril of warmth uncurled in her belly.
“I made the soup.” Robbie crawled into his chair, sitting on his knees as usual.
“Lance got to use the knife but I buttered the bread. You like supper, Mom? You like it?” Nathan carried over a plate covered with grilled cheese sandwiches. She caught the edge before the whole pile slipped to the floor in rush. Beth took a deep breath and hmmed loudly before placing the platter safely on the tabletop.
“I love it. It’s wonderful.”
So were the cards on her plate she had to read through and admire before any of them could start on the food.
Conversation flowed around the table like only little boys could provide, mouths filled with bites of food chewed rapidly so the next story could be told. Laughter filled the air—Lance had received a heart-shaped card from one of his classmates and been teased about it all the way home on the bus. Nathan was clear in how he’d defend his brother the next time anyone tried something stupid like that again.
Throughout the meal and the cleanup that followed, Beth tried to define what she was feeling. It wasn’t until they were sitting in the living room playing a game of snakes and ladders that it hit her.
This was the first Valentine’s ever that she’d been given to, instead of doing all the giving.
She held on to the satisfaction and wonder of the sensation through the game and follow-up reading time. Bringing the evening to a close was tough.
“I’ve had a marvelous evening, boys, and your presents were perfect. Thank you for the wonderful Valentine’s Day. But the school bus will be here bright and early, so it’s time to say good night to Daniel and hit your pillows.”
Groans and complaints died off quick enough when it was clear she was serious.
Robbie crawled beside where Daniel sat on the couch and pulled a slightly tattered piece of paper from behind his back.
“What ’cha you got there, tiger?” Daniel took it and opened it carefully. A bright smile spread across his face. “Well, I think that’s about the best Valentine I ever did get.”
“I can’t draw very good.”
“You drew great.” Daniel pointed to the page. “What they doing there?”
“The doggies are chasing the deer, like we saw last weekend when you took us on the snowmobile. Can we go again?”
“Course.”
“I get to go by myself this time, right?” Lance paused in the middle of cleaning up the game.
Daniel looked over at Beth, hesitating before answering. “Not yet. We ain’t got a machine the right size for you to ride solo. You remember I told you that. You’ll have to ride double for a while longer.”
Lance rolled his eyes and scrambled to his feet, heading for the door.
“Come back and finish cleaning up, please,” Beth said firmly.
Her oldest son didn’t say a word, but his pointed glances Daniel’s direction were all about showing his displeasure in being treated like a little kid.
Daniel ignored him, instead accepting a big kiss on his cheek from Robbie and a hug from Nathan before the two of them raced away, making car noises en route to their bedroom. Lance left as soon as possible afterward, his nose still out of joint.
Beth held her cup of tea in both hands, rocking as she stared at Daniel.
“Now don’t you go apologizing for him or anything.” Daniel leaned back and stretched out his legs, ankles crossed easily.
“I wasn’t going to. I was going to say thank you for respecting my wishes regarding him riding alone. You didn’t have to be the bad guy. You could have said it was my idea.”
He shrugged. “No use in us both being in his bad books. You’re right, our rides are made for bigger bulk. Unless we get something smaller, it’s not safe. I’d probably have forgotten if you hadn’t reminded me. I’m not all that up on little-people safety, as you could probably tell by my lack of worry back in the fall with the swimming hole.”
Beth got in a leisurely examination as he spoke, eyeing every mouthwatering bit of him. The muscular bulk of his thighs filled his jeans, his strong forearms bared since he’d rolled up his sleeves during dishes and never put them back down. She could almost feel his hands on her body, imagine him stroking with his fingers and bringing her pleasure.
“I like that expression you’re wearing, Miss Beth.”
She dragged her eyes off the cause of her fantasizing. “You’re distracting me.”
“Distracting is good.”
Beth smiled harder. “I wanted to say thank you for everything you did tonight. It was very special. The best Valentine’s Day ever for me.”
If her voice cracked a little on the last word, she thought he could understand.
“I’m glad. I’m only sorry the day can’t end the way I’d like it to.” Softly spoken, quiet enough the boys couldn’t overhear. Lusty and dark enough to make a shiver race over her skin.
“You got time to stay until after I tuck them in?” Maybe they couldn’t make love, but sharing and talking—those things were just as important to her soul. Every time they spent together made her more aware of how much she’d grown to care for him. Care about him.
Daniel rose and pulled her to her feet, bringing her flush to his body and holding her close, his chin resting on the top of her head. “I’ll stay. You take as long as you need, but I’ll be waiting for you here.”
That was the miracle. That was the real truth—he would be waiting for her. Beth squeezed him tight, not wanting to let go.
“Mooom. Robbie’s playing with the toothpaste again.”
Daniel snorted. “God, run, don’t walk. That’s a potential disaster in the making.”
He released her toward the stairs. She didn’t waste any time because, yeah, the last toothpaste battle was still fresh in her mind. But she did glance over her shoulder before getting out of view.
The fact Daniel was still watching pleased her more than she could possibly explain.
20
Gabe exited the hardware store and literally bumped into his cousin.
Daniel caught him by the shoulders, steadying them both. “Hey, you want to bounce, try the trampoline at the rec hall.”
At that moment, bouncing anything but his fists off a firm surface was the last thing on his mind. Gabe pulled his thoughts away from his lingering exasperation to concentrate fully on Daniel. “I didn’t expect to see you for another couple weeks. How’s calving going?”
There was a trace of cow shit on Daniel’s boots, dark streaks of mud along the cuffs of his jeans. His eyes were tired but he still managed to look insanely happy. “Typical April chaos. I’m in town for fifteen minutes on a supply run before diving back into the fray. You bastard—taking it easy right now, aren’t you? Your family did the hard labour back in February. You’ve got nothing to do but wait for the fields to thaw before seeding.”
Waiting. Waiting. That was all Gabe felt he was doing. A sigh escaped before he could stop it. “Yeah, I’m living a life of fucking leisure. I should drop in at the Queen’s for tea.”
A furrow appeared between Daniel’s eyes. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
Daniel planted a hand on his shoulder and pushed hard enough to make Gabe rock on his feet, moving him out of the path of the front doors.
“Bullshit. You’ve been MIA for the past while, and it’s not just that you’re busy. We’re all busy. I still usually see you a few times a month. Spit it out.”
Gabe wasn’t about to spill the entire story in the middle of the street. “You’re extra busy these days. The Coleman rumor mill says your lady keeps you hopping.”
The glow of happiness lighting Daniel’s face would have made the twist of jealousy in Gabe’s gut sharper if he wasn’t honestly damn pleased for his cousin.
“Beth is…” Daniel closed his mouth and shook his head, his grin growing wider by the second.
“That good, eh?”
“Better.” Daniel pulled himself from his love-struck musings, turning his focus on Gabe again. “You still didn’t answer me, though. I know something’s happened.”
Gabe snorted. “Now you’re gonna be a psychiatrist as well as a coach? Isn’t it enough that you’ve changed your life over the past months? Just like you said you would?”
“The plan, if I recall right, was for both of us to change our lives. What happened with all your ideas? Still working on them?”
“You could say that.” He’d shared some of his musings with Daniel. It had been nerve racking but positive to bounce ideas off someone else. And now it seemed it was all for nothing.
Comprehension spread slowly over Daniel’s face. “Uncle Ben causing you grief?”
It wasn’t the time. It wasn’t the place. Still, hell if Gabe knew when they’d get a chance to talk, and he really wanted to unload, bad. “You know my dad and I don’t see things the same way. He found a bunch of my mail in his mailbox—flyers and shit about the organic stuff I’ve been researching. He took it as an insult and tore a strip off me. ‘The ranch isn’t some goddamn experiment for a bunch of granola-eating hippy freaks.’ I’m to do as I’m told—like some wet-behind-the-ears schoolboy.”
Daniel leaned back against the concrete side of the building. “Damn shame. It sounded like you were on to something.”
That was the kicker. “I am on to something. I’m not giving up, just…taking it slower.”
“But I thought you said—”
Gabe shook his head. “I’ve gotta step back for a while, it’s true. It’s not worth pushing him and making things worse, not with Rafe still living at home. And Dad is right—it’s officially his land and he is in charge. Doesn’t mean I can’t do my damnedest to get things ready for the time I can buy him out. Or by some miracle, make him see things in a new light.”
Gabe had spent enough time worrying and poking at the problem to know the ranch had to change. But fighting his father and tearing apart his family more by antagonizing the man was counter to part of what he hoped to accomplish. A thriving ranch and an intact family.
Didn’t make the regrets less that he had to put his dreams aside just as he felt he was making some progress.
Daniel’s smile returned, curling his lips and lighting his eyes. “Well, you son of gun. You’re doing it.”
“Doing what?”
“Meeting the challenge.” Daniel poked him in the chest.
Gabe stood there for a moment, wondering what the hell his cousin was talking about. Maybe his brain was still numb from the long winter, because it took the longest time for realization to trickle through as Daniel stared him down, silently waiting for him to put the puzzle pieces together.
Waiting? Motionless? He’d been choked because his delay in plans felt as if he’d gone back to his old drifting ways. The cold pain he’d felt since New Year’s deadening his senses. But…this wasn’t drifting. It was more like holding back the floodwaters or containing energy in a battery. Storing up the power to release it when it would best be used.
Another thump shook him from his meditations. He blinked hard and concentrated on Daniel. His familiar face was right there, expectation written all over it.
“Damn it, you’re right,” Gabe confessed.
Daniel raised a brow. “And you say that like it’s a total surprise.”
Gabe snorted. “Bastard.”
“Nope—you know my parents were married. Asshole? I’ll accept asshole.”
They exchanged grins and slapped each other on the shoulder before pacing in opposite directions, returning to their own tasks.
Their challenge wasn’t finished—not for either of them. Daniel, from what he’d seen, was a lot closer to reaching an end. But…that was okay. Moving forward in life wasn’t a race to the finish line.
Gabe took a deep breath of the springtime air and headed back to his truck with a far lighter heart than he’d had for a long time.
21
“You need to get down here right now.” The frantic tone in Beth’s voice came through loud and clear, even through the words were whispered.
Daniel glanced at his watch. Why was she calling him just past one on a school day? She should be in class right now. “Beth? What’s the matter? Something happen at work? Are the boys okay?”
She hesitated for a second, and his heart nearly stopped, thinking of all the terrible things that could have happened. “The boys are fine. Jaxi’s in labour and…”
He had the truck turned toward the hospital already. “Don’t tell me there’s something wrong.”
“She’s doing great. It’s a few weeks before her due date, but it’s May already so there’s no concern. It’s your brother who—” Beth lowered her voice again. “Okay, there’s no other way to say this, but he’s having a little trouble, and I think he needs someone to hold his hand.”
The first wave of fear washed away only to be replaced with confusion. “Blake’s in trouble? Why’s he in trouble if Jaxi’s in labour?”
“Because Jaxi’s in labour? I don’t know, Daniel, but I’d appreciate if you got here quickly. Jaxi wants him to stick around, and we think he’s on the verge of making for the hills.”
Oh hell no, that wouldn’t go over well with Jaxi at all. Daniel found his face being split by a huge grin. “I’m on my way. How’s Jaxi?”
“Great. She should have the baby in the next couple hours or so if things continue well. The doctors don’t seem worried at all, at least not about her. I think they’re imagining Blake falling into a faint and cracking his head open on the floor or something.”
Oh, the ammunition they were going to have to tease Blake with in the future. “Jaxi have no problem with me joining you in the labour room?”
Beth’s sweet laugh stroked him with her delight. “She’s kicked out all the interns and spare nurses, but she’s the one who said to call you. Said she figured you’d be too busy taunting Blake about being a wuss to be peeking at her privates.”
Only Jaxi.
He pulled into the parking lot and headed for the main doors. “I’m nearly there. What floor, and then tell me quick how you’re doing, darling.”
“Third floor, room four. I’m—I’m so glad I can be here for this. I’m still shocked that Jaxi asked me to help her. It’s a little tough, but it’s good. And, my God, is Jaxi ever a hoot. Even in labour she’s bossing Blake around and cracking jokes. I need to get back. See you soon?”
“In a few minutes.”
Daniel tugged off his coat as he ran the stairs. He never thought he’d get to witness a baby’s arrival. He’d never thought he’d be called on to make sure his big brother stayed around to see it either.
He wasn’t sure which tickled him more.
The staff at the top of the stairs eyed him for all of two seconds before his cousin Tamara stood and pointed the way. “It’s the start of a whole new Six Pack generation. We got the phone lines warmed up and ready to spread the news.”
“How are the bets standing?”
Tamara laughed. “Boys are the top choice as expected. About eight out of ten figure that way.”
Daniel’s cheeks hurt from grinning so hard. There was a baby coming, and he was going to get to see his nephew arrive. Or niece. What an incredible twist to his day. He’d helped deliver enough animals over the years he wasn�
��t worried about the messy parts about to happen. It was the miracle of it this time being a tiny person that threatened to blow his mind.
Course he wasn’t about to tell his sister-in-law he’d been comparing cows in labour to her about to give birth.
Daniel paused to knock on the door.
The wooden surface swung inward, and Beth’s curls bounced into view. She winked and let him in. He stepped forward cautiously, uncertain what he was about to witness.
He didn’t expect the scene to involve a very pregnant Jaxi, decked out in a pretty blue robe, holding on to a tall pole that held a contraption with blinking lights. Wires led off the square and disappeared under her robe, but other than that she looked normal. She stood beside what looked to be a La-Z-boy rocker. Blake occupied the chair, stretched nearly flat with his feet raised and head back.
Daniel laughed. “You two got something mixed up from what I remember in the text books.”
Jaxi turned to greet him, the edges of her smile tighter than usual. “Hey, you. Did I call you away from something important?”
He crossed the distance between them and wrapped her in a hug. “Nothing more important than this. Don’t you worry. I’m here for however long you need and whatever you need me for.”
The bulk of her belly pressed him, the pole got in the way, and for a second he wasn’t sure where and what he was supposed to touch or not touch. She ignored his discomfort and buried her face against his chest, close for a brief moment before releasing him. She lifted her chin, and he squeezed the fingers she’d slipped into his hand.
“Come on, Jaxi.” Beth moved past him to duck under Jaxi’s arm and urge her toward the door, the pole rolling along with them. “We can walk the hall for another lap before the doctor gets back to check you.”
Jaxi poked out her tongue. “Yes, ma’am. You’re a slave driver.”
“Of course I am. And since I’m supposed to distract you, I’d love you to tell me another story about the boys when they were growing up. Something embarrassing. Know any more?”
