by Vivian Arend
Good thing he loved a challenge.
In the meantime, though, tonight had been one solid foundation block in his return to not just Rocky but to the family. He looked around the room as general conversation resumed and let hope sweep in.
Hope and the deep-seated need for connection he’d missed so much without ever wanting to admit it.
14
If Blake wandered a little slower than usual from where the tractors were neatly parked outside the main barn, he’d blame it on too little sleep rather than too much on the brain.
They were having a bumper crop of calves this year, and while that was a thing to celebrate, not even a full Coleman crew could keep up. Plus, rather than make anyone else do extra shifts, Blake had taken to dealing with the emergencies the family called in by himself.
March was going out like a lion, storm clouds brewing on the horizon. He wasn’t about to send Trevor out somewhere remote on the possibility his cousin got trapped and couldn’t make it back to Becky and his barely three-week-old baby for a few days.
Which also put the rest of the Moonshine clan off the list. Blake wasn’t about to be the one to blame in case Anna or Melody went into labour early, and then there was Lee and Rachel with their babies—
He caught himself snickering. “Isn’t just the damn cattle having a bumper year. The Coleman breeding program is overproducing kids too.”
“You say that anywhere near one of the Coleman women, and you’ll be relegated to hot dogs with the kids for a year instead of enjoying steak.” Matt joined him, brushing his hands together before tucking them under his armpits. “Jeez, it’s gotten nasty cold.”
“Uncle Randy said the weatherman predicts a huge snowfall sometime in the next three to four days,” Blake warned.
“Lovely. And how many more of the cows we’ve got on Mark’s grazing land plan to hide their babies just for shits and giggles?”
“All of them.” Blake ducked his brother’s half-hearted swing. “Damn, you’re getting slow.”
“It’s the lack of beauty sleep.” But Matt said it without any serious complaint. Just the comment of a man who knew this was par for the course at this time of the year.
By the time calving season was done, they’d all be so tired, they’d be sleepwalking. Eventually the seasons would change, and spring would arrive, and they’d get to do the next thing. Preferably after a good solid week of sleep.
Blake clapped a hand on Matt’s shoulder. “Good thing you started out prettier than the rest of us.”
Matt snorted. He pointed ahead. “That Uncle Mark’s truck?”
The vehicle was becoming more familiar.
For the first couple weeks after he’d arrived in town, Uncle Mark had mostly stayed over at the Whiskey Creek place. He’d come to visit Blake’s Ma and Dad, and Blake had heard that he’d been over at Randy and Kate’s as well. The visits had been slow, though. A trickle instead of a full-out assault on becoming involved with the family.
Which was definitely not what Blake had expected after Jaxi had given him the lowdown from Laurel that very first day.
Just this week Mark had shown up a few more times in places where Blake was. Usually tagging along with George, helping out with whatever tasks his uncle was assigned to.
“What’d you think of him?” Matt wasn’t the type to want to discuss the topic for no good reason.
Blake turned and gave him a little more attention. “Specifically?”
“Oh, don’t give me your sphinx face. You know as well as I do the girls have been chatting this up all over text and the phone lines. You think him being interested in Auntie Dana is a good thing?”
“Interesting question, coming from you.” Blake held up a hand. “And I don’t mean that in a shitty way. I mean it—”
“You mean it took a hell of a long time to figure out which family member was the one worth spending time with. It’s true. Everything that I dreamed of having with Helen ended up coming true with Hope.” Matt stared at their uncle’s truck thoughtfully. “I think this is different. My case was being too distracted by expectations. Helen and I were boyfriend and girlfriend, therefore we should do the next thing, then do the next thing. I never stopped to open my eyes wide enough to realize I was following tradition rather than being with the person who wanted to be with me.”
“You think Auntie Dana and Uncle Ben were right together?”
“Dad said they were. At least at first.” Mark shrugged. “I think it took a hell of a lot of guts for Uncle Mark to come back here, and the last few weeks have shown he’s not an overbearing asshole. Or at least not right out in public, he isn’t.”
“That’s a pretty low bar to start approval at,” Blake said with a chuckle.
Matt grinned. “I guess my point is, I changed, and that’s what made me the right person for Hope. Maybe it’s taken this many years for Mark to become the right person to be a part of this family in more ways than one.”
The man they were discussing popped out of the barn. He spotted them and gave a wave, marching forward with a steady gait that spoke of a strong body and a clear conscience.
“He did a damn good thing helping Becky,” Blake said quietly. “And he did it when there was no possible reward for his actions. To be honest, that says more to me about his character than anything he’s done recently.”
Matt met his gaze. “You’re right. You’re absolutely right.”
“It happens sometimes,” Blake said dryly. He turned to his uncle and offered a greeting. “We’re wandering slowly. Need help with something?”
Mark shook his head. “I was hoping that I could help you.”
Jaxi passed the final plate to Becca to place on the table before lifting her gaze to Blake’s. She spoke softly so that the children rushing around to get the dinner table ready couldn’t hear. “So, Uncle Mark wants to be added to the work schedule? As in, he’s planning on going back to taking a full draw from the family finances?”
“He’s always taken a partial amount for the parts of the land that were co-owned by all the Colemans. But no.” Blake caught her by the wrist and hauled her against him for a moment, soothing his own concerns in the way that she instantly nestled against him, a perfect fit. “He said he’s here and he wants to work. He said we’d figure out the financial part in an official meeting in a month or so, but that he’s got no dastardly plans for any of us to worry about.”
“Oh, that’s reassuring,” Jaxi said dryly. “I’m so glad he says he has no dastardly plans.”
Blake snickered, tilting her chin up so he could press a kiss to her lips. She relaxed, the tension draining out of her as he took what he needed at that moment.
“Mooooommy. Daaaaaddy. We’re hungry.”
“And you’re kissing again.”
Jaxi’s lips curled into a smile under his. “We have very observant children.”
“I noticed that,” Blake said with a tease, glancing toward the kitchen door. “Is the table set?”
“Yes. Except we need pickles.” Lana marched past them to the refrigerator, jerking the door open and reaching inside with an experienced air. She glanced back at them then waved a little hand imperiously. “I got this. You can ring the bell.”
“Why, thank you, princess,” Blake said politely. He winked at Jaxi then led her into the dining area. “Who’s my bell ringer tonight?”
Rae pointed as Becca said, “Justin.”
Blake scooped his son out of the playpen and with great delight handed him the metal stick that went with the dinner bell. “Ring away.”
Justin went to town, squeezing his eyes tight as he whaled on the triangle that had called so many Colemans to share sustenance at this table.
And not just food, Blake realized all over again, but the feeding of the deepest kind of need a man could have. Lust was a hunger, pride as well. But this was bigger.
This was food for the soul.
PJ marched to his chair, both hands plastered over his ears. Becca hel
d the door for her sister as Lana carried in a glass bowl filled to heaping with sliced pickles. Rae pulled out the chair for Jaxi like the queen that she was.
The absolute monarch of this love-filled place.
Matt’s question came to mind again. What did Blake think of Mark pursuing a relationship with Auntie Dana?
Maybe it didn’t matter so much what Blake thought. Did he understand why the man wanted it? He glanced around the table that was surrounded with his children and covered with food that had been prepared with love. He looked into Jaxi’s eyes and saw amusement and strength and so much connection—
What Blake couldn’t understand was why Mark had walked away in the first place.
But then again, maybe leaving hadn’t been Mark’s idea.
Blake finished the meal, gave Jaxi a kiss of thanks, then helped wash the dishes. Rae and Becca chattered the entire time they worked at his side, but his earlier thoughts distracted him enough, he figured he may as well follow through.
He waited until after homework was done, and after the kids were tucked into bed, before scooping Jaxi up and giving her a tight squeeze. “I’m going out for a little bit. Want to stop in and chat with Rafe for a while.”
Jaxi nodded, but she seemed a little distracted. “Trouble?”
“Not at all,” Blake assured her.
“Okay.” She went up on her toes and pressed her hands to his chest, leaning in and nuzzling against him like a cat. “I’ll be here when you get home.”
That was the kind of promise he liked. “I won’t be late.”
“Even better.” She headed off to the computer station at the side of the room. “Got some stuff I wanted to look up, anyway.”
She was already focused on the screen before he had enough layers on to be willing to face the winter’s chill.
He didn’t even feel guilty for the partial lie that he’d just told. He knew damn well that Rafe and Laurel were out tonight and that pulling into the Angel homestead meant he should find his aunt by herself.
Maybe he was out of line, but ever since his da had basically passed the baton back in January, Blake had been struggling to figure out what it meant. What he was supposed to do.
Uncle Mark showing up had been a doozy of a puzzle, but this small moment seemed clear. He had to find out from Auntie Dana if she wanted some extra protecting.
The Angel homestead always had a cozy glow to it, but the place was worn at the edges. Rafe and Laurel had worked hard to try and turn things around, but the years of neglect by Uncle Ben meant some things could only be temporarily patched until they could be rebuilt.
Blake grabbed the package he’d brought as an excuse off the seat beside him and made his way to the door.
Auntie Dana opened it almost immediately, surprise in her eyes. “Blake? Something wrong?”
He shook his head, stepping in as she backed away to let him enter before too much warmth escaped into the bitter chill. “Jaxi found a few more things you might like. I thought I’d bring them to you.”
His aunt looked him over, her gaze going suspicious. “Well. That’s very considerate.”
Drat. Jaxi had seen Laurel earlier that day. This was probably the second package Dana had received.
Being sneaky was not Blake’s forte.
He took a deep breath and decided to lay it on the line. “I wanted to let you know I heard about Uncle Mark’s…intentions. If you have any problems…with him… Or if there’s ever anything else that I can do—just let me know.”
Auntie Dana’s cheeks flushed fire-engine red as if she’d been standing in front of an open stove for a good hour. “Well.”
She opened her mouth to say more when suddenly, to Blake’s horror, another voice rang out.
“Blake Coleman. Did you just stick your nose into your aunt’s business without her asking you to?” It was his mother, Marion.
“I’m pretty sure I heard it too.” His aunt Kate said, amusement ringing in her voice. “Dana, did you put out an ad for a knight in shining armour and not tell us?”
Dana lifted her gaze skyward for a moment before stepping back far enough, Blake spotted his mother and other aunt settled at the kitchen table. They had cups of tea in front of them as well as a cake, and it was very clear he had interrupted one of their hen parties.
Hell, no getting out of this without feeling like he was twelve years old. He grinned. “The offer stands. And now I’ll go mind my own business.”
“That would probably be a good idea,” Auntie Dana said with a nod. “Give my love to Jaxi.”
“Blake.” His mother again.
He paused with one foot out the door. “Yes, Ma?”
“Tell your father I’ll be home by ten.”
Which was, as he figured out later, Marion’s way of getting revenge on him. Because when he pulled into the yard at his father’s to offer the quick message, he found Uncle Randy there as well, the two of them playing cards.
His dad looked him over. “And your mom gave you this message to pass on to me?”
“Yes, sir.” Blake really did feel twelve years old and getting sent to a timeout.
“Which means you saw your mom tonight,” Randy pointed out, his grin widening. “Which means you were over at Dana’s.”
His dad tilted his head to the side and looked almost sympathetic. “Oh, Blake. Tell me you didn’t do something I’m going to hear about for the next umpteen days.”
“I didn’t do something…” Blake began to repeat dryly before caving into a sheepish smile. “The Coleman ladies are scary. They barely look at you, yet they know exactly what you’ve done.”
“Both generations,” Randy said with a nod. Then he held up a hand and raised an additional finger. “Three generations. Heck, four if you count back to the original matriarch, who I bet never let Stan get away with a single thing either.”
Mike raised his glass in the air. “To the all-powerful Coleman women.”
Blake was still chuckling when he made his way home. He pulled Jaxi away from the computer to enjoy a celebration with his own wonderful Coleman woman.
15
Gabe had spent a lot of years being called an angel, but he’d known it wasn’t true. He was just as prone to anger as the next man, but he’d worked hard to still those urges when the time hadn’t been right.
If he was going to get himself a label, he wanted it to be patient.
Then Allison wandered around the corner of the barn, her bright eyes glancing up to meet his, and he knew the right word was blessed.
He hadn’t deserved her. Hadn’t deserved any of the good things that had come over the past years, but he would take them whether they were his by rights or not.
Allison slipped in next to him, curling under his arm as he pressed a kiss to her temple. “This is a nice surprise.”
“I’m only here for a minute.” She pulled the baby monitor out of her pocket and shook it in the air. “We have a miracle happening. They’re both down for a nap at the same time.”
“Why are you wasting it on me?” he demanded. “Go sleep.”
She squeezed him quickly then held out his phone “You forgot this in the house at lunch. I was trying to message you.”
Well, damn. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s April. We’re all a little sleep-deprived,” she said with a laugh. “I couldn’t figure out why the coffee table was vibrating.”
He slipped the phone in his pocket. “Do I need to read the text?”
She shook her head. “Just remind Rafe he’s having supper with us. Laurel and Dana have something at the church tonight, so I figured he may as well stay and help eat stale leftovers.”
Which was a bunch of nonsense. Allison’s family might use a talented chef at their local restaurant, but she had her own recipes that knocked his socks off. Plus, she liked cooking, so it was a good thing he had plenty of hard physical labour to keep him in shape. “Will do.”
She went to give him a quick kiss, but Gabe wasn’t h
aving any of that. He caught her tight and lingered over the connection. The sweet, giving way she lifted up on her toes and enthusiastically gave back set his heart pounding and pushed away the cold.
He enjoyed the moment, and the next as she stepped away, his gaze pinned to her swaying hips. Even somewhat hidden under the layers, he couldn’t keep his eyes off.
One contented sigh later, he headed back to work and the strange tangle of discomfort he needed to deal with.
Discomfort caused by working alongside his uncle.
Gabe couldn’t fault Blake for the scheduling—he’d tried his own hand at it once and knew it was complicated as all get out to keep everyone lined up and working efficiently.
But it sure seemed as if Uncle Mark had been on Angel land a lot over the past couple weeks.
First, though, Gabe got a hold of Rafe on the phone, trying to push away the uneasy edge poking at him. “What time do you think you’ll be done?”
A nicker of a complaint rang in the background before Rafe answered. “Another couple of hours for sure. Add in a good forty-five minutes to get back to your place. That okay?”
“Definitely. Allison wanted to remind you you’re sticking around here. She’s got a liver-and-lima-bean casserole she wants to feed you.”
“If Allison made it, I’ll eat it.” Rafe chuckled. “Honestly, right now, if you made it, I’d eat it. I’m starving. What is it about the cold weather that makes my appetite triple?”
“It’s your growth spurt,” Gabe teased his little brother. “When you finally get out of adolescence—”
“Shut up.” But Rafe said it with a laugh before going a little more serious. “What’s Uncle Mark up to today? Do you think Blake’s deliberately putting him out at our place? What do you think of him?”
“He’s dealing with supplies. Yes. And I’m not sure yet.” Gabe hesitated and then expanded on that last one. “Okay, that’s not quite true. I like him, Rafe. He is a damn hard worker. I mean we’ve worked around Uncle Mike and Uncle Randy for years, but it’s kicking my butt to keep up with Mark.”
