Page 51 of Secret Heart
Yeah, I’m sure Caleb’s been hovering like mad since Ethan started working shifts with the ranch hands again this week. We’d all told him to take another couple weeks, wait until after the annual camping trip with the Bennetts, but he’d insisted on getting ahead of some of the maintenance projects knowing Paul, Jake, and Kyle will be pulling longer hours while we’re gone next weekend.
“Well I just wanted to check and see how everyone was adjusting,” Molly’s cloying voice sets my nerves on edge as I drop my phone back into my pocket. “Having such a huge star in town has been such alovelysurprise.”
Her eyes cut to me when Mom doesn’t answer fast enough. The urge to just lay her out with a well-placed right hook hits me so damn hard. I shove my open hand into my pocket to resist it. Before I can figure out what to say that won’t start a whole new train wreck of gossip, the doors of the Rustic Roast open, the bells jingling merrily above the threshold.
The Bennetts walk in like they belong here, their clothing more practical than most of the tourists taking up seats around the room. I slide Penny onto my hip, deftly avoiding the rest of her destroyed pastry, and cross to them without a single word to Molly. That’ll probably bite me in the ass later, but I can’t care right now.
Mom follows behind me after only a few heartbeats, quietly escaping the conversation, too.
Faedra smiles as we approach. She holds out her hand palm up in greeting to Penny.
“She has gottensobig since Thanksgiving,” she says warmly.
I manage a smile. “So has Rue.”
Rue was born the week before Penny. Logan chuckles behind Faedra, kissing the red curls at the crown of Rue’s head and adjusting his hold on her. She looks at us for a moment and then twists her face into Logan’s shoulder the same way Penny does when she isn’t interested in being social.
“How was the drive and flight?” Joan asks.
“Easy as always,” Carter says. “It was almost easier timing it with the girls’ last day of school rather than waiting a couple weeks.”
He pushes his glasses up and then expertly grabs Dahlia’s wrist a second before she tries to bolt across the room.
“Juice,” she says, holding her hand out. Her lips push into a pout and she stomps. “Juice, Dada.”
“Give us just a few minutes, Dahlia baby,” Carter croons. “And then we’ll get you juice and let you go see the mini goats.”
He glances up at me and scrunches his nose, realizing the goats might not be available to interact with today.
I smile and nod, setting the worries to rest. “Emily and Melissa are ready. They’ve been making sure the animals are up for attention all morning.”
“Goats!” Dahlia claps. Then she makes a couple goat sounds before cheering again.
I focus on Jude and the two older girls who stand with him, their arms around his back.
“Emily thought you girls might want to try a trail ride this year,” I say.
Iris grins and nods. “Yes, definitely! Can I ride the one with the brown spot on his forehead that looks like a heart?”
“You’ll have to ask Emily,” I say. “She’s the one who makes sure they aren’t overworked.”
It’s her favorite part of Misty Mountain, though she’ll never tell Melissa that. It’ll only make Melissa feel guilty for having Emily join on to help her run the business side of things.
“Is Brielle with the baby?” Rose asks.
She’s always the first to ask about Brielle. The two of them have one of those bonds that only happen every once in a while, something bigger than family ties. When I nod, she purses her lips and then sighs.
“Papa, will you go, too?” she asks, looking up at Jude.
His eyes crinkle with a large smile.
“Of course, darling,” he says. “I think Father and Mom want to go, too. Is that all right?”
Rose nods, looking over her shoulder at Logan. He runs a hand through her hair, and she leans into the touch. They look nearly identical now, even more so than last year, with their bright blue eyes and blond hair. Rose has Faedra’s narrow chin and freckles, though. All four of her daughters do. Iris is the perfect blend of her and Jude. Dahlia’s the only one that got Carter’s olive skin and brown eyes.
Carter walks with Dahlia and Joan to the counter, ordering a swath of drinks and snacks. Jude and the twins join them as Miranda sets the various drinks on the counter for pick up.
“Rue’s going to be needing her second nap soon,” Logan says after everyone has a drink in their hand. “If you’re going to go see the animals at Misty Mountain today, we should probably get moving.”
