by Vivian Arend
He was moving toward them an instant later.
Joel hadn’t even glanced at her, completely focused on his conversation with their cousin Trevor. Still, he automatically stretched a hand out to curl it around Dare’s hip. Only his fingers brushed her belly, and just as Jesse arrived, Joel and Dare both realized their mistake and sprang apart as if jet-propelled.
For one second conversation fell quiet as everyone waited to see what would happen. Dance music pulsed, hot and heavy, but no one spoke. Vicki turned from where she’d been hidden behind a couple of the girls, concern in her eyes.
Jesse was utterly shocked to discover honest amusement bubbling up inside. He reached out and caught hold of Dare’s fingers, tugging her against him and lifting her chin.
“Wrong Coleman,” he teased before pressing a light kiss to her lips.
Her cheeks were bright red when he pulled away, but her eyes sparkled. “Maybe I should take Vicki up on that offer to put a bell on you.”
“Maybe you should, but you better make it a big bell.” He winked as she tapped him lightly on the chest. “An enormous bell, so it goes with all the other things about me that are bigger than life.”
“Like your ego?” Joel tossed out.
Laughter rang from the group, a sense of relief on the air, but when it came down to it, Jesse was more focused on pulling Dare onto the dance floor and into his arms than worrying about a silly mistake.
She settled against him, the strange and yet familiar Buckaroo bump between them as he guided her around the dance floor.
“That was pretty impressive,” she offered. “You know, you not going all caveman.”
“Just let me know if Joel and I need to coordinate our clothing in the future.”
“How about you and me coordinate our un-clothing in a couple of hours?”
He liked where this was going. “Are you trying to seduce me, Ms. Hayes?”
“I’m offering to fuck your brains out, Mr. Coleman.”
He glanced at his watch. “Oh, look at that. It’s time to go home already.”
Jesse picked her up. Right there in the middle of the dance floor, he swung her into his arms and marched toward the door. Applause broke out from the Colemans and others in the bar.
Dare clung to his shoulders, laughter escaping her lips. “What are you doing, you crazy man?”
“Bullshit on hanging around for a couple of hours after you make an offer like that. I’ve decided to save the caveman behaviour for the moments that matter the most. This definitely counts.”
Dare didn’t argue as he settled her into his truck. “Take me back to your cave,” she offered.
So he did.
Dare thought she would miss Heart Falls more, but the truth was she heard from Ginny nearly as often as before, just without the random drop-ins and thievery of chocolate from her pantry. She got text messages from the boys on a regular basis, and a phone call every week from Caleb, who refused to enter the technical revolution.
The girls Skyped her. Sasha chatted up a storm about everything they’d been doing. Emma made Dare teary-eyed as she held out her favourite stuffy like an offering then hugged it fiercely. They both whined about the babysitters Caleb seemed to be running through like sand, Sasha with loud, determined phrases like “mean and stubborn”, Emma with all too evocative eye motions to back up her sister’s complaints.
Her blog was going strong, and the new Ranching with Buckaroo section was a big hit. More than that, there’d been a special kind of joy getting to know the other Coleman women better, especially Vicki.
It wasn’t as if Dare had been living in a cave. She’d had friends at school. She’d had all of the Stone family, but having to step into a new setting where everyone else seemed solidly connected had forced Dare to step out from behind the computer screen.
A screen which had to be located a little farther away on a weekly basis as Buckaroo took up more and more room.
Dare caught herself now and then staring at her belly in surprise. Not as if she could forget it was there, but still, sometimes she did. She went to roll over in bed one night, and it seemed easier to put a hand under her belly to help turn—it was weird having a body that wasn’t quite hers alone anymore.
Suddenly they were two-and-a-half months out from Buckaroo Arrival Day, as Jesse had begun to put it. Somehow Dare refrained from stepping on his toes every time he made some comment about BAD to the bone.
When his phone rang during breakfast, Jesse checked the display then answered it, his expression more confused than anything. “Hey, Travis. Did I miss something on the schedule? Am I late?”
Dare and Vicki exchanged glances.
“Time?” Dare asked quietly.
Vicki shrugged. “Could be.”
Jesse hung up, his expression complete puzzlement. “All he said was ‘Ashley’s in labour’, then he hung up.”
“It’s time.” Vicki popped to her feet and hurried to the fridge. “I have a basket ready for you to take.”
Dare was eager to go and scared to death. She turned to Jesse who was sitting like a lump at the table in stunned silence. “Come on. We gotta get over there.”
This time Jesse and Joel exchanged panicked glances before Jesse turned back. “Are you out of your ever-lovin’ mind?”
“Nope. I told you this,” Dare reminded him. “Remember? I said Ashley thought it would be a great idea for me to get a little more experience with what having a baby was like, since I have no idea. Well, other than cows and cats and ranch animals, but human babies are different.”
She had him by the hand and was tugging him to his feet, the reluctant sack of bones that he was. “I thought that meant we were going to babysit sometime. With supervision.”
“It means Ashley, who is having a homebirth, decided since she was already going to have a bunch of people around, she doesn’t mind having us watch what goes on to deliver a people baby.”
Dare guided Jesse toward the front door.
Behind them at the table Joel was laughing out loud. “You really know how to have a good time, bro. You can keep Travis company after he faints.”
“I don’t know if this is a good idea,” Jesse complained again.
She shoved him into a chair and pushed his boots at him. “Neither do I, but we’re doing it. Get a move on, and I might let you hide out if you really feel squeamish.”
Vicki handed him the basket, and they were in the truck and headed over to the house across the coulee from the homestead.
A veritable party boatload of trucks and vehicles were parked there, and when they went to the house, Ashley’s mama Tina was waiting for them.
“They’ve got everything set up in the studio.” She pointed to the building behind the house. “I’ll be over in a little while. Just making some tea.”
Jesse slowed his pace. “We don’t need to rush. I’m sure this is going to take a long time.”
Maybe he was right.
“If I slow down I might chicken out,” Dare admitted, holding his hand tightly enough he couldn’t get away. Tight enough she couldn’t turn on her heel and escape.
They pulled to a stop outside the door, and he took a deep breath. “Okay, I first thought you were crazy, but considering there’s no getting out of doing this with Buckaroo, you’re right. I’m not looking forward to it, but knowing a little more what will happen will make it easier down the road.”
They’d been taking prenatal classes, but that kind of knowledge wasn’t the same.
Of course, what they found in the studio was nothing like the hospital birth that Dare planned on having. The large, open-air studio space at the top of the stairs had been given a few key additions. Like usual, the sun streaked in the windows creating golden rectangles that decorated the hardwood floor, but in one corner a king-size mattress had been added, covered with blankets towels and pillows. Beside that a group of upright wooden chairs, as if waiting for a musical ensemble to gather. Outside on the deck, though, was the sta
r of the show. A wood-fired hot tub big enough to hold a half-dozen people.
Jesse grinned as he stepped forward. “You guys put a hot tub in Ashley’s art studio?”
“We were told to decorate the place the way we wanted, and if you hadn’t noticed, Ashley has a decidedly hedonistic mindset.” Cassidy was in the hot tub, holding Ashley against him. Her head rested on his shoulder, bikini-covered breasts and the round of her belly bobbing against the surface of the water like three islands in the ocean. “It’s not quite the proper temperature at the moment, but it works for today.”
Ashley lifted a hand and waved. “Hey, guys. You made it on time.”
Dare stepped toward the edge of the tub and slipped a hand in. “That feels comfy. Is it nice?”
The other woman nodded. “You really need to hit the swimming pool. All the support when you’re ninety percent stomach is incredible. Makes it easier for the back rubs, because right now it feels as if I’m being squeezed into a tiny little space while a million knives stab into my lower back.”
“But hey, Dare. Don’t worry, this giving-birth thing is a breeze,” Travis muttered from the other side of the hot tub.
Ashley held up her middle finger. “Love you too, asshole.”
“Just saying.” Travis came to the side of the tub and caught her fingers, pressing a kiss to her knuckles. “Maybe you should consider not freaking out the other pregnant lady.”
Ashley’s eyes brightened. “She’d rather know what to expect than have rainbows and sunshine lollipops tossed at her.
Dare wasn’t sure. “Although, lollipops are nice.”
Behind Ashley, Cassidy laughed, the sound turning into soothing encouragement. “Breathe, Ash. Breathe.”
Ashley obeyed, a long, slow inhalation followed by a purse of her lips as she blew air at Travis. Staring into his eyes as she worked through the contraction.
Everyone got caught up in the rhythm, the whole room breathing in unison until Ashley let out a sigh and relaxed back into Cassidy’s arms. “Whoa, that’s one more done. They’re getting stronger.”
Skyler, Ashley’s mom was there, reaching into the tub to brush a hand over her belly. “You comfy, sweetie?”
“Yup.” Ashley motioned at her mother. “Mom is a midwife, so she gets to pull double duty.”
“Your mama—Tina,” Dare said. “She was making tea. She said she’d be out in a minute.”
Skyler laughed. “No, she won’t.” Dare must’ve made a face because the woman took pity on her and explained more thoroughly. “Tina is not much into childbirth. That’s why I had Ashley. When she was born, Tina went out drinking.”
“I volunteered to follow that tradition,” Travis offered, “but I was told in no uncertain terms I needed to be here. There were words like cut off for life and cut off for real bandied about.”
He was joking, because as the contractions continue to hit it was obvious Cassidy and Travis were the only support team Ashley really needed. Cassidy offered soothing words of comfort, and Travis acted as an anchor, occasionally bullying Ashley into doing the next thing.
“You’re doing good cop/bad cop with her,” Jesse pointed out quietly when Cassidy stepped aside to dry himself. Travis had taken Ashley from his arms and carried her to the side of the room to use the towels there.
Cassidy took a deep breath as he glanced across the room to where Ashley stood, the situation teetering at the point where the baby’s arrival was imminent.
“It’s what she needs right now. Although frankly, if Travis orders either of us to jump, we’re pretty used to asking how high.” He grinned at Dare. “Don’t get me wrong, we like it.”
Dare’s cheeks flushed as Cassidy excused himself and headed across the room. He stopped and wrapped his arms around both Travis and Ashley, and it seemed as if Dare was watching something holy and intensely private. As if Travis and Cassidy were gathering an infusion of love and pouring it into Ashley to help her finish the important task before her.
Cassidy kissed both of them on the cheek, then headed across the room to help Skyler wrestle with a low, wide-seated chair.
Travis had an arm around Ashley, walking slowly in a circle with her. Dare was called forward to pace beside them, Ashley giving a running commentary of all the things she expected the guys to do in the future to make up for her current condition.
“Daily foot rubs?” Travis asked.
“I’d demand hourly, but the ranch might complain if you had to stop that often.” Ashley waved a hand magnanimously. “I don’t want to put your family out.”
Her joking lightened the tension, as did her comments about the artwork in the room and wanting to finish some projects. Toward the windows and open work area, a number of Ashley’s pallets and easels stood, partially finished projects right there in the open.
“I thought artists were shy about people seeing their stuff,” Jesse said.
Ashley waited until she was done panting through another set of contractions before offering a tired grin. “Jesse, what have I ever done to make you think I’m shy?”
She had a point. Travis had a hand on the towel wrapped around her waist, but other than a bikini top, she was without another stitch of clothing.
“Art is something different than seeing body parts,” Jesse insisted. He had hold of Dare’s hand, squeezing as he tried to appear calm even though it was clear to Dare he was as floored by all this as she was. “Speaking of body parts. I really hope Travis and Cassidy plan to let me live after today, right?”
Ashley rocked to a stop, air escaping through her teeth as she grimaced. When she could breathe again, she stuck out her tongue. “I’m wearing a bra for your sake. My hou-ha doesn’t count. It’s most definitely not a sexual organ at the moment.” She tilted her head back to gasp at Travis. “Oh, my God. I think it’s time.”
He and Skyler led her to where Cassidy was lowering himself into the strange, low chair. She settled in his lap, between his thighs. Cassidy wrapped his arms around her then let Ashley get herself comfortable, gripping his arms as Travis moved into position in front of her and their gazes locked.
Dare and Jesse stood to the side, and he slipped his arm around her shoulder and pulled her close, murmuring in her ear. “You doing okay? It’s not too much?”
“I’m going to have to do this. I don’t know if I’m more scared now or less, but I think I’m happy I’m here.”
And then with Jesse’s arm holding her tight, Dare got to watch as Ashley got down to serious business. Her mom helped Travis catch the baby while both men encouraged Ashley with sweet words, and strong words, and exactly what she needed.
The expression on Cassidy’s face was enough to make Dare’s throat tighten—the sheer glow of pride and happiness as a little girl was laid in his and Ashley’s arms.
Ashley stroked a finger over a teeny cheek, the baby’s cries barely more than protests from a cooing dove. “Welcome to our family, sweet one.”
Cassidy pressed a kiss to Ashley’s temple as he carefully picked up one of the baby’s hands. “She’s beautiful.”
Travis caught her other fingers in his, sliding up so he could put an arm around Ashley and Cassidy’s shoulders. “Of course, she is. Love made her.”
Dare was torn. It was impossible to look away, and yet after everything they’d witnessed during the birth, this was the moment when it felt as if she was intruding on something far too private.
She glanced up at Jesse to find his expression unreadable. Tension had taken root in his body as he watched the tableau before them.
Then he cleared his throat softly. “Congratulations. That was the most incredible thing I’ve ever seen.”
Three sets of eyes turned toward them briefly, a smile on Ashley’s face as if she’d completed a marathon—exhausted, yet satisfied. “It’s the most incredible thing I’ve ever done.”
Cassidy and Travis nodded briefly before turning their attention back on Ashley and the baby.
Dare had to know. �
��What’s her name?”
Cassidy forced his gaze up. “Daisy. Daisy Joy Coleman.”
She and Jesse took their leave, but Dare doubted that the three new parents even noticed, too wrapped up in each other. Sweet words of love drifting between them, three sets of arms cradling that tiny life as they officially welcomed Daisy into their hearts and lives.
They stopped at the house and let Tina know. She nodded, then picked up a thermos that sat waiting on the table and headed briskly toward the studio.
Dare and Jesse sat in silence on the ride back to the trailer. More mysteries of Buckaroo’s imminent arrival had been answered, but there was a different, intensely powerful question that refused to let her alone.
A question that refused to be ignored.
Buckaroo would arrive when he was good and ready, and while she wasn’t looking forward to it, she could handle the physical work of labour and delivery.
Jesse would be her support. He could be both good cop and bad cop for her, she was sure of that as well. He’d proven repeatedly he only wanted what was best for Buckaroo.
What she was trying to ignore was the part inside her that wondered if their friendship and his resolve to be there for Buckaroo could ever be more.
If she would ever have someone—Jesse—look at her the way Cassidy and Travis had looked at Ashley.
Chapter Twenty-Six
September arrived. Vicki started a countdown calendar for Buckaroo, much to Dare’s amusement.
“I think you’re more excited than I am,” Dare said.
Vicki didn’t deny it. “I am excited. All babies are special, but your belly is the one in my living room most evenings.”
Dare laughed. “If my expanding belly is your biggest source of entertainment, we need to get you out more.”
One of the biggest things about sharing a small living space was they had to get really good at minding their own business to provide privacy for the other couple. Yet in spite of how much time they spent bumping elbows with Joel and Vicki, Jesse’s Mr. Clean imitations only flared every now and then, which Dare took as a good sign.
