by Vivian Arend
The woman knew everyone in town, which—okay, fine, small-town living and all, Dare understood that one.
But Marion didn’t just know their names, she had something to share about every person they met that made the other person respond with a smile or a grin or a blush.
Unfortunately, the next move in this comedy routine was when they would turn to Dare for an introduction, and the smiles would tighten, or eyes would widen, an instant after Marion uttered those fateful words, “Jesse’s fiancée.”
There’d been a bit of this back in Heart Falls the couple times she and Jesse had gone out to do something together, but the response in Rocky Mountain House was spectacularly over the top. If she was to go by their expressions, she’d either hooked up with a mass murderer or the town’s most eligible ruling elite.
In both cases, she’d been found wanting.
Dare found even her sense of humour being pushed to the limit by the time lunch rolled around and they stopped in at the café for a bite to eat.
Marion ordered the daily special then introduced Dare.
“Oh, really?” Their waitress, a pleasant enough looking young woman with dark raven hair slipped her pen behind her ear and cocked out a hip. “That’s so nice.”
Suddenly Dare understood everyone’s aversion to the word “nice” because it meant a hell of a lot of things, none of them…well, nice.
The group at the table behind them caught Marion’s attention, and she turned to speak with them, leaving Dare to the waitress’s tender mercies.
“You and Jesse moving back to Rocky?” Laura hadn’t yet perfected her casual-yet-digging-for-information tone.
“Just a visit for now,” Dare slipped in with a pointed smile, handing back her menu. “Burger and fries, please. No onions.”
Laura’s gaze skipped over Dare as if assessing her curves. “You can get a salad instead of fries, if you want. No charge.”
Oh, honey, you really don’t want to go there. “Thanks, but fries are fine.”
“Sure. So, you guys need to drop in at Traders while you’re here,” Laura informed her before smirking widely. “Tell Jesse that Heidi’s working there again.”
It wasn’t worth the energy to react. “I’m sure he’ll be thrilled,” Dare drawled.
Laura sauntered off as Marion turned back to resume their conversation. Dare had to give it to the woman—Jesse’s mom had perfected the art of small talk, and the entire meal whizzed past without another awkward moment.
But after lunch Dare was happy to be guided over to the Stitching Post, Hope Coleman’s quilting store. The store was closed for the afternoon, and an impromptu gathering of a few Six Pack women had been arranged. Vicki wasn’t there, but Beth and Hope were, as well as Jaxi with the baby, to Dare’s surprise.
“You’re already out of the hospital?” she asked, not sure if she were more shocked or terrified by this turn of events.
Jaxi shrugged. “If things go well, everybody is out pretty quick these days.”
Oh boy.
Thank goodness distraction was at hand in the form of brightly coloured fabric.
“Do you sew?” Hope asked, balancing her son on her hip. Colt held a stuffed horse that was made of a million different fabrics. He snuggled it tightly as he leaned his head on his mom’s chest, thumb firmly inserted in his mouth.
“When I have to,” Dare admitted. “They covered the basics in school, so I can deal with buttons and repairs. I’d like to make a few things for the baby, if you can suggest some simple projects.”
Hope’s face gleamed. “I knew I liked you.”
A soft snort rose from Beth, and she glanced over her teacup at Dare. “Welcome to the Coleman clan. You just earned your first badge.”
“Oh, come on,” Hope protested. “She’s engaged to Jesse. She’s earned at least three others by now.”
“Definitely.” Jaxi grinned, holding up fingers as she made suggestions. “Knowing Jesse? She’s a shoe-in for the extraordinary patience, a wicked sense of humour, and”—she glanced over her shoulder to check that Marion was out of earshot before turning back with a grin—“physical endurance.”
A snicker escaped before Dare could stop it. “Sounds about right. Do I get a sash to put the badges on?”
Justin rooted against Jaxi, puckering his lips and making sounds of complaint. Without a pause the other woman lifted her shirt and offered her breast, and the baby went from protesting to gulping in contentment.
Jaxi glanced up. “A sash? No way. We tattoo them on your ass.”
Dare didn’t want to stare at Jaxi and the baby, but she was fascinated at how easy Jaxi made it look.
Which reminded her all over she had no idea what she would be doing in a few months. “Ah, branding iron, then,” Dare quipped.
The other women laughed.
“Come with me. I’ll show you a few beginner quilting options.” Hope tried to put Colt down in the playpen beside where Marion had just settled, but he clung to her, sounds of protest rising. “It’s okay, my little man. Mommy’s going to be just over there with Auntie Dare.”
A low thrill pulsed in Dare’s chest at Hope’s naming of her. It made no sense. She already was Auntie Dare, but for some reason, this felt different.
“Will he come to me?” Dare held her arms open, but Colt tightened his grip on his mom and buried his face against her with a cry of panic. “Or…maybe not.”
Hope sighed then led Dare toward the back of the shop. “Don’t take it personally. He’s being a mama’s boy lately, and no one but me will do. It’s driving Matt crazy.”
Dare tried to think back to when Sasha and Emma had been little, but not much about their babyhood had been normal. “No problem. My nieces cuddled with anyone, but I get that’s not typical.”
Hope adjusted Colt then pointed out a few different patterns on display. Dare tried to concentrate, but to be honest, she was distracted by secretly watching Colt, and the baby, and the other women in the room.
Beth and Marion were discussing something animatedly. Jaxi was listening to them without contributing, reclined back on the couch, one hand stroking Justin’s head as she nursed him. Dare couldn’t pull her eyes away.
A soft laugh rose from her side. “We’re a bit overwhelming, aren’t we?”
Dare met Hope’s gaze. “A little, but not in a terrible way.”
Hope nodded. “That’s good. Being not terrible.”
Dare laughed, and they rejoined the group.
“You know you’re welcome to visit anytime,” Marion offered sweetly.
“I’m sure we will,” Dare said. “Everyone has been great.”
She held her tongue regarding Blake’s mixed-up contribution.
“You’re family,” Marion informed her. “You and Jesse belong here in Rocky. Why, if you feel like moving north, I’m sure we could do some house rearranging. We do that all the time.”
“Mom.” Jaxi’s tone held a world of warning.
Marion turned to her with an innocent expression. “What? You know we do.”
Beth and Hope exchanged glances as Jaxi gave their mother-in-law a firm frown. “I wasn’t talking about the houses. You promised. Don’t push.”
Marion sighed dramatically, winking on the sly at Dare. “See what I have to put up with?”
It was awkward, and yet not, because it was all done in the kindest of ways. Dare’s phone rang, and she excused herself, stepping away to near the shop door to get some privacy. “I’ve been expecting you to text.”
“Yeah, well it’s been busy, and I can mind my own business,” Ginny offered.
A very undainty snort escaped Dare at the idea of her sister-by-choice attempting to keep her nose out of any situation, let alone one as interesting as this. “Yeeeeeeah, no. I can’t see that one.”
Ginny hummed for a second then spoke again. “I’m trying to curb my curiosity?”
“That one I’ll buy. How’s everybody?” Dare turned on the spot to gaze back to where Ma
Ginny dove into her report. “The girls are driving Caleb mad. He’s been interviewing babysitters, but so far every one of them Sasha has declared unfit for one reason or another.”
“Then they probably were,” Dare pointed out. “The kid’s a pain in the bootie, but she’s damn smart.”
“I know, which is why Caleb hasn’t hired anyone yet.”
“Wait—why does he need a babysitter, and why is this the first I’ve heard of it?”
“Because you’ve had other things on your mind. The other why is because I gave him hell and told him he had to stop depending on me and you. Not that we don’t love the girls, but he needs to plan ahead. You can’t drop everything on a moment’s notice forever. In other news—remember Dustin went on his date for the bachelor auction, and the woman sent him flowers afterwards?”
Ginny was changing the topic, but Dare let it go this time. “It was cute.”
“He spilled the beans that she did it again—in fact it’s been five days in a row, and he’s a little freaked out.”
Dare could picture Dustin’s face, as well as the teasing he was probably getting from the other boys. It was all so familiar and predictable she felt as if she were there seeing the things that Ginny described.
She fit there. Heart Falls was home, and always had been.
“Tell me honestly,” Ginny insisted. “On a scale of one to ten, how are the Colemans?”
Dare hesitated. “All over the place.”
“Well, that was clear as mud.” Ginny took a deep breath. “And Jesse?”
“Nine point five to a negative twenty-three.”
Ginny swore. “He put his boot in it, did he?”
Yes, and no, and…
“We’re good,” Dare insisted, thinking back to the morning and being cuddled up in bed with his arms around her. She could hardly complain about his attentiveness then.
She also couldn’t deny something was weird. Curiosity itched at the back of her brain. The man she’d met in February, and the man she’d spent time with in Heart Falls, were not the same man she’d been catching glimpses of over the past twenty-four hours.
Let it drop? Probably not, but she also wasn’t going to try to describe her concerns over the—
“Hellllllooooo.” Ginny’s call was louder than polite, and Dare grimaced.
“Sorry, distracted,” she offered in apology.
“I get it. I shouldn’t keep you, but I miss you.”
“Miss you too. We’ll be home in a few days and I’ll tell you everything.”
Ginny offered her approval. “I’ve got stuff to tell you when you’re home, as well.”
“Did you change your mind about the bachelor dude you bought?”
“I refuse to answer on the grounds that…on the grounds that—well, that wasn’t even close to the topic I have a secret about.” Ginny cleared her throat. “Gotta run. Take care of yourself, and if you need me to text Jesse to remind him to behave, let me know.”
“Love ya, Truth.”
“Love ya, Dare,” Ginny echoed before signing off.
Dare tucked her phone away slowly. Ginny had secrets? That was so…odd. They didn’t have secrets from each other. Ever.
She thought back to the boys’ proposals and grimaced. Okay, maybe a few secrets.
A strange sensation joined the rest in her belly. Things were changing, and there seemed to be no turning back the tide.
Was it even worth trying?
Jesse stared over the railing, itching to join in as a crew of hands took off, driving a herd from the barns and corrals where they’d been contained during a vet visit.
Getting to help with chores would’ve been a way to keep his hands busy and his mind off the chaos his life had become. A temporary distraction, but one that would help. Only two more days, then he and Dare would get back in his truck and head south, and he wouldn’t have to play pretend anymore.
Another truck pulled into the yard and he paced toward it. His cousin Rafe gave a friendly wave as he parked.
Rafe climbed out of the cab then reached in to help lower Laurel to the ground. The delicate blonde gave Jesse a quick wave before hurrying to join Dare and Vicki at the other end of the corral railing.
Rafe watched after her for a moment then strode to Jesse’s side.
No hesitation. His cousin hauled him in for a backbreaking hug, smacking his hand between Jesse’s shoulders as he growled a greeting.
“I’m glad you came home, you jerk.”
Jesse laughed. “I see being married hasn’t improved your sense of humour.”
Rafe stepped back and eyed Jesse critically. “You don’t look any stupider than before you left, but then again, you’d set a pretty high standard to beat.”
“Shut up,” Jesse muttered.
“Shutting, I guess.” Rafe glanced toward the girls. “That her?”
“Dare? Yeah. You want to say hi?’
“Definitely.” Rafe took off at a pace that covered the distance between the groups in an instant.
Jesse followed a little more reluctantly. His gaze met Vicki’s, and she shifted awkwardly as he approached, her eyes averting and flitting over the landscape behind him.
It was all he could do to stop from turning around and letting Dare introduce herself.
Instead he focused on the face he figured was safest—Laurel wore the same sweet smile she’d always offered him. As if she wasn’t quite sure he was harmless, but she was amused by him in spite of herself.
Somehow looking at the nonjudgmental acceptance Laurel offered brought everything back into perspective.
Fuck being a wimp. He moved in on the group and pulled Dare possessively against his side before offering Laurel the cockiest grin he could. “Mrs. Coleman.”
Rafe’s wife of all of a few weeks flushed prettily, and Jesse’s grin deepened as he winked at his cousin. They were a good fit, those two.
Laurel’s gaze flitted between him and Dare. “Congrats on your engagement,” she offered before speaking to Jesse. “I’d say the Colemans were falling like flies, but you were the last man standing.”
Dare glanced at him. “Seriously? You’re the last one?”
“Last man,” Rafe clarified. “There are three Whiskey Creek Coleman cousins not hitched or engaged yet, but they’re all girls.”
“Women,” Laurel corrected him.
“You’re fighting a losing battle on that one,” Vicki informed her. “I get my revenge by making sure to call them ‘boys’ whenever possible.”
Laurel turned to Dare with a question about her family, and the three women chatted easily as they sauntered toward the arena where Joel and Matt were leading out the new horses.
Jesse and Rafe wandered behind them, distance widening until the two groups were far enough apart they couldn’t hear the others’ conversation.
“How’s the visit been?” Rafe asked.
Jesse grunted, stepping toward the fence as if there was something vital to examine.
“That good? Damn,” Rafe muttered, joining him at the rail.
Did he want to bitch? Jesse kicked at the ground and considered. Of course he did, but should he? It wasn’t in line with his “keep a bold face and don’t let anyone see the truth” line he’d been trying to pull off.
“It’s been fun,” Jesse lied, gesturing toward where the girls had stopped a good twenty feet from them. “She’s having a great time.”
Dare was examining the new breeding stock with interest, her face shining, and for a split second that knot in Jesse’s belly eased a little. She was having fun—at least more fun than yesterday, and he was glad.
Then Vicki said something that made Dare laugh, the two women’s faces bright as they stood next to each other, and tension spiraled upward in Jesse’s belly as quickly as it had vanished earlier.
When it came to fucked-up situations, this was at the top of the list.
Rafe coughed, waiting until Jesse glanced his way to ask firmly, “You want to talk?”
Jesse faked it best he could. “Nothing to talk about.”
“Course not.” Rafe counted on his fingers. “You left here without much of a plan in February. It’s now July and she’s five months pregnant.”
“Congrats, you can add.”
“And you have a magic truck that lets you live in one town and work three hours away.” Rafe examined him with deepening concern. “I had your address, remember? I know where you were, and she wasn’t around for a lot of those months.”
“She’s around now.”
“Clearly.”
Jesse slapped his hands on his thighs. This was the only family member who had any idea why he’d left in the first place. As far as he knew, Rafe had never said a word to anyone else, or given anyone any explanations for his leaving beyond what Jesse had approved.
He also knew the kind of hell that Rafe had gone through without breaking, and he trusted the man.
Which was why he let his frustration rule and snapped back the truth that hopefully no one else in Rocky Mountain House would ever hear.
He spoke quietly, though. No way did he want this discussion overheard. “What do you want me to say, Rafe? You want me to up and announce I got a total stranger pregnant, here, welcome her to the family…?”
Rafe’s expression darkened. “No, because Dare doesn’t deserve that bullshit. I get why you’re doing what you’re doing, but what I was trying to say—badly, I guess—is that you don’t need to lie to me. If you need a safe place to talk, I’m here. But if you’d prefer to suffer in silence, at least have the decency to not piss on the tree you’re trying to protect.”
More cryptic bullshit. Jesse glared at his cousin. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
Rafe folded his arms over his chest. “You’re keeping quiet about your relationship with Dare, but it’s pretty clear you’ve got issues with something or someone here in Rocky. The way you act every time Vicki is around, it’s as if you want people to realize this isn’t about you disapproving of the woman.”
-->
