Page 2 of A Montana Childhood Promise (Sagebrush Ranch Sweethearts #3)

CHAPTER TWO

What was happening?

Jane pressed her hand to her chest when she was certain no one was paying attention to her. She gulped in a few deep breaths and shook her head at her silly reaction to Noah.

Seriously, he was just… Freckles—the kid who tagged along on every outing she and Mack had taken. The cutie pie who had made her laugh with his declaration of getting married when they reached their mid-twenties.

She’d agreed because he’d been adorable. And let’s face it, she hadn’t thought she would have still been single. People in her community had a tendency to get married by twenty-two. That was the average.

But she’d been wrong.

Her younger sisters were already married with kids. They’d each been married by twenty and immediately started popping out grandbabies for her parents—a fact that her mother had continued to remind her.

It was one of her flaws. Okay, not a flaw, per se, but it was one of the ways she’d disappointed her parents. No marriage. No children. And the question of what she wanted to do with her life consistently came up.

Jane’s heart was still dealing with the aftershocks of the flutters Noah had forced on her even as she attempted to shift her thoughts elsewhere. She didn’t need to be married or have kids to be valued.

Nope. She’d found value in her life by accomplishing other things.

She’d joined the peace corps right out of high school and spent a couple years serving people in other countries.

Then she’d moved back home and started working for a new charity that focused on helping veterans.

They didn’t get nearly enough aid, and those who did had to jump through thousands of hoops just to get housing they could afford.

Heart slowing, Jane breathed a sigh of relief. Noah’s interaction had thrown her for a loop. She hadn’t expected his touch to elicit such a reaction. It had all been fun and games until she chose to get close to him and tease him a little.

Big mistake.

Thankfully, she wasn’t still reacting to him. Her heart had settled, and so had her breathing. Looks like it had been an isolated incident.

Jane started on her way toward the bride and groom. Even though she’d told Noah she wasn’t going anywhere, she knew better than to stick around. The last thing she needed was for her body to betray her.

Mack’s smile immediately lit his face when she approached. He pulled her in for one of those guy-hugs, where he clapped her on the back before stepping away to let her give his new wife a hug as well.

“You look stunning,” Jane gushed. Lacey was one of those girls who could have been a model in another life: someone who couldn’t help dragging the attention of every guy in a ten-mile radius, someone Noah would probably like.

Nope. She wasn’t going there. Jane didn’t care if Noah’s type was someone like Lacey. He could have any type he wanted. For now, she could be grateful that she was a literal ‘plain Jane.’

Lacey gestured to Jane’s simple black dress. “You look great, too.”

Jane waved her off with a mumble of thanks. Lacey was just being nice. She turned to Mack, folding her arms as she changed the subject. “So what are the plans now? Are you going to stay here? Or will you two be moving?”

They glanced at one another, and Mack’s grin widened. “My uncle gave us a parcel of land. Apparently, he’s planned out giving all his nieces and nephews a chance to stay close.”

“So, it’s like a family compound?”

Mack chuckled. “Yeah, I guess it is.”

“Seems like it’d be nice. I’ve lived in places that feel that way, but they weren’t family.” She winked at Lacey. “At least not by blood.”

Mack snapped his fingers. “That’s right. Jane here has been involved in charities forever. She’s always been like that—sacrificing herself for others.”

Lacey gazed at Jane with what could only be described as admiration, and it made Jane squirm just a little. “It’s nothing, really.”

“Nothing?” Mack laughed. “You’re the most selfless person I know.”

She shook her head. “There are others who are more selfless. Take the guy who started the charity I currently work for. He funds the whole thing.”

Mack tilted his head with interest. “Are you sure? That doesn’t sound right. Charities are usually funded by events and galas.”

“Or by several people on boards or something, right?” Lacey interjected.

Jane shook her head again. “From what I understand, no. It’s one guy who’s got a heart of gold and deep pockets. I don’t know what he does for work, but it’s got to be big. How does a guy fund something like that all over the country?”

At Lacey’s questioning stare, Mack added, “Jane moved here to work at a local charity office that just opened up. She was transferred.” He turned to Jane. “Remind me who the charity is for?”

“Veterans. We try to get them housing, food, clothes—whatever they might need to get back on their feet. Doesn’t matter if they just got back from being overseas or if they’ve been retired. Our hope is to make sure any man or woman who served our country is taken care of. It’s the least we can do.”

“That’s really honorable,” Lacey murmured. “I didn’t even know something like that existed.”

Mack nodded. “Our grandfather served in the army once. Thankfully my folks took him in when he needed someone to look after him. Back then, this charity didn’t exist. It’s nice to know that things have gotten better.

” He turned his eyes to Jane, and like the crack of a whip, he changed the subject.

“So. Did you leave anyone behind? You haven’t mentioned any men in your life. ”

Jane rolled her eyes. “I’m pretty sure I told you there wasn’t anyone.”

“No,” he drawled. “You said you’d come to my wedding, but you didn’t have a plus one because you just moved here.

” His eyes shifted over her shoulder to presumably take in someone behind her.

She didn’t know how she knew, but she figured it was Noah.

Mack smirked at her as if he could read her mind.

“Seems you and Noah had a good time dancing.”

She fought a blush, recalling the strange way her body had behaved when Noah had held her close. “Don’t tell my mother that.”

He arched a brow in question.

A sigh burst from her lips, and she gave Lacey a knowing look as if the sole fact they were both women was enough to have them relating to one another. “My mom isn’t exactly thrilled that I’m still single… and childless.”

Lacey snorted. “Moms can be hard.”

Apparently, Lacey could understand.

Jane nodded. “It’s like my ability to get married and have children is all that makes me valuable.”

Both of the individuals before her frowned, and she immediately regretted venting about her ridiculous problems. There were bigger issues in the world than her finding someone and settling down.

She waved a hand dismissively. “Anyway, enough about that. I came over here to tell you congratulations and that I was going to head out. I’m still not completely unpacked.” She grimaced and then laughed.

Mack’s expression didn’t lighten up. He reached forward and took her hand in a way he hadn’t since they were practically kids. “You’re enough, Jane. Don’t let your parents convince you otherwise.”

Her breath caught in her throat at his words. He would never know just how much she’d needed to hear that. She certainly wouldn’t tell him. Jane was nothing if not strong. She nodded, swallowing back the emotion that threatened to burst from her throat.

“We should hang out some time—share all of our sordid stories of overzealous parents. I assure you, I’ve got some doozies,” Lacey said with a smirk.

Mack’s disgruntled expression said he agreed on that front, and it made Jane more than a little curious.

Whatever they’d dealt with had been enough to make Mack dislike his in-laws.

But then his face split with a smile, and he leaned closer.

“You know, you wouldn’t have to deal with your parents if you took Noah up on that pact of yours. ”

Jane snorted. “Please don’t bring that up again.” She could feel her cheeks heating against her will, and by the looks of it, Lacey was well aware of the childish promise she’d made. “That was ages ago. We’re both adults and very different from when we were kids.”

“I don’t know,” Mack murmured, rubbing his jaw. “Noah might still be the same.”

He earned an elbow to his side at that comment. A grunt burst from him, and he shot his wife a wounded look. She simply gave him one of her own that said he needed to be nice.

Jane chuckled despite herself. If there was one thing for certain, she wouldn’t be telling Mack anything about the way Noah had made her feel. His little brother was most definitely different from when he’d been a kid. He was taller, broader, more filled out—and he smelled like a dream.

His cologne and aftershave were just the right amount of musk and spice.

It didn’t burn her nose like some of the men she’d spent her time with.

And the way his muscles rippled beneath her hand when she’d placed it on his upper arm made her more aware than she ought to have been regarding what he did for a living.

Cowboys worked hard, and it showed. They sported muscles that desk jockeys could only dream of.

The mystery benefactor for her charity probably had nothing compared to Noah Reese.

She might be interested in men who were willing to give up their time and money to help others, but she couldn’t deny how nice it felt to be held by a man who could literally sweep her off her feet.

“Earth to Jane,” Mack called.

Her eyes snapped to her friend, finding him smirking at her like he’d caught her doing something wrong. What had they been talking about? Shoot! It wasn’t Noah, was it? Would Mack realize that she might be developing a small crush on the boy of her past?

“Don’t,” she warned.

“I didn’t say anything,” he said innocently enough.

Lacey, to her credit, glanced between the two of them with confusion. Well, at least she hadn’t figured anything out. And unless Mack voiced it, she wouldn’t be getting confirmation on anything, either.

Jane cleared her throat and pulled at her hair, twisting the ends around her fingers as she desperately sought out another topic of conversation—one that would allow her to shift into her goodbye again.

How had Mack managed to drag her back to talking to him?

She turned to Lacey. “How about you give me your phone, and I’ll put my number in it? We can get together after your honeymoon is over.”

“Oh, we’re not going anywhere.”

Jane lifted her own brows and shot Mack a surprised look.

He merely shrugged. “We’re going to save for a bigger vacation and take Bridger with us.

” His arm snaked around Lacey’s waist, and he pulled her closer to him.

“I married into a family, and I’m more than happy to share my joy with them both.

There will be plenty of time to spend with just the two of us. ”

There was no way her heart wouldn’t swell at his confession.

That had to be the sweetest thing she’d ever heard.

And clearly, it had been a decision between the two of them.

Mack wanted to make his wife happy—and he didn’t want his new son to feel left out.

The kid couldn’t have been more than five or six years old.

It was hard for a child that age to understand why his parents would want to spend time away from him.

Lacey handed her phone over, and Jane put her number in. Then Lacey called Jane’s number, and they both smiled. It was nice to know she’d have a friend here—someone besides the people working at the charity offices.

Jane wiggled the phone in the air. “It’s a date.”

Lacey beamed.

“Anyway, I’m going to slip out before it gets too late.”

“It’s the middle of the afternoon,” Mack pointed out.

“You know me. I’m gonna procrastinate until it’s dark, and then I’ll fall asleep on top of one of my many boxes.” She waved then slipped behind a crowd of people, secretly grateful that Noah hadn’t managed to track her down.

By the time she’d gotten home, she’d missed a second call from her mother. While at the wedding, she’d had her phone silenced, and now that she was in her apartment, she knew she’d need to make a call so her mother didn’t have something else to complain about.

“Jane! I’ve been trying to call you!”

“Sorry, Mom. I was at a wedding.”

“Oh?” she asked. “You already got to know people well enough to be invited to a wedding?”

It took more effort than Jane was proud of to fight the eye-roll that threatened. “No, Mom. It’s Mack. I told you, Mack Reese lives in this town.”

“Oh. Right.” Her tone dripped with disdain. “He’d been such a nice boy. But then he met those?—”

“What were you calling about?” Jane interrupted. “I take it that it was important.”

“Oh! Yes! Ruth just found out that she’s expecting.”

“Again?” Her youngest sister just had a baby nine months ago. She was popping out babies faster than a bunny rabbit.

“Isn’t it wonderful? Baby number three.”

Three babies in three years was a bit much for Jane’s liking, but then Ruth had always been interested in having a large family.

When they’d been younger, she’d insisted she wanted ten of them.

Jane had foolishly thought Ruth was joking.

But here she was, getting ready for another one.

“Yeah, Mom. Wonderful,” she murmured dryly.

It was just one more tally against Jane. At this point, she might not even have kids, and she could tell that was exactly what her mother was trying to say without doing so outright.

“You meet anyone yet?”

Yeah, so she didn’t think Jane could get to know anyone quick enough to be invited to a wedding, but she could meet someone who was marriage material? How backwards was that?

Jane sighed. “Not yet, Mom.”

Her mother’s sigh was more than enough to darken Jane’s moderately good mood.

Before she could say anything more, Jane broke the silence. “Hey, I’m kinda busy. I’ve got some stuff to do today, so I’m going to have to let you go. Tell Ruth congratulations. I’ll make sure to visit after the baby is born.” She didn’t wait for a response. “Love you, Mom, bye.”

With that, she hung up the phone and tossed it on the couch.