Page 95 of A Rancher's Vow

She eyed him. “Are you planning on distracting Tucker?”

Dustin’s grin widened. “Hell, yeah. Might try to lighten his pocketbook a little as well.”

Charity put her fingers to her mouth as if shocked at what she was hearing. “You dastardly wicked villain. Planning to fleece your poor, preoccupied brother-in-law.”

“Ain’t it great?” Dustin threw back his head and cackled maniacally.

His outburst set her off, and they spent the rest of the evening sending each other into fits of laughter.

A day later, Charity knocked her fingers against Dustin’s knee. He sat on one of the porch chairs, pulling his boots on. “You guys aren’t meeting at Luke’s for another half hour. You don’t need to walk me to your sister’s house now.”

“I know.” He rose to his feet and offered his hand. “I don’t have to, but I want to.”

Not much she could say about that. “Well, okay.”

He grinned.

They strolled slowly, hand in hand, across the meadow between the cottage and the two houses above Big Sky Lake. Almost all of Silver Stone’s living quarters were built to the south of the lake, starting to the west with the main house that Tamara and Caleb lived in. Her borrowed cottage was just to the east of them. The barns and arenas and the bunkhouse lay in the middle more to the south. To the far east were the two homes that sheltered Kelli and Luke, and Ginny and Tucker.

The only building to the north of the lake was a smaller cabin nearing completion that was the future home of Ashton Stewart and his wife Sonora.

The entire collection of homes looked as if they’d grown up from the land. Natural and a part of the terrain instead of unsightly outcroppings.

Charity raised a hand to fend off the sun glaring up from the still water of the lake as Patchwork Annie bounced past them.

“That has got to be the happiest creature in the world right now.” Charity gestured to the dog who was prancing between her, Dustin, and the nearest interesting thing to sniff with the abandon of a pup.

“She’s done an amazing job of guarding you, but yeah. She loves me best.” Dustin winked. “It’s my charming ways.”

“It’s the fact you’re super clumsy when you eat,” Charity countered. “I swear you had a small fit yesterday. The size of burger thataccidentallyflew her way was embarrassing.”

“Spoiling her is a bad habit.” Dustin stopped on the back stoop and pointed Annie to the side. She happily joined Luke’s and Tucker’s dogs in the warm shelter off the path.

Charity braced herself before opening the door. All the Stone ladies in one place at one time, and she was about to be a part of it.

They are nice people, she reminded herself as the door swung open.It will be fine.

It was like opening onto a loaded stage with all the performers waiting for their cues. Not only the ladies were there, but their husbands, as well.

Plus, a lone single female. Charity had been introduced to Darilyn Coleman earlier that afternoon. They’d fallen into a frank discussion regarding blogging and children’s right to privacy that had reassured Charity that Dustin was right about his foster sister Dare not being amommybloggerof the dangerous sort.

Which meant Charity had all the names to put with the faces.

But, oh my God. So. Many. Faces.

Tamara caught Charity by the arm and pulled her farther into the room. “You’re just in time. World war three is about to break out.”

“It’s not a war,” Tucker insisted from where he stood hovering over Ginny. “I decided to have a casual game of pool with my best friend and my brothers-in-law. That’s all.”

“On the same night I’m having girls’ night out?” Ginny demanded.

“Coincidence,” Tucker claimed.

“Bullshit.” Ginny glared up at him. “Fine. Go play at Luke’s house. That’s only fifty meters to the south.”

“If you think I’m going farther than shouting distance from you right now, you’re fucking delusional,” Tucker growled.

Ginny caught him by the collar and pulled him toward her, not the least stymied by the enormous swell of her belly. It took a little creative bending on Tucker’s part, but an instant later he was accepting her kiss, while around them loud cheers rang out.