Page 8 of After this Summer (Seasons in Montana: Summer #11)
BEAU
PRESENT DAY
R ing, ring, ring.
I can’t help the smile that graces my lips as I pull my phone from my pocket. There’s a chance it could be someone else, but considering I work with most of my family, the chances are small.
That just leaves…
“Hey, Stunner,” I croon, turning my face up toward the sun as my eyelids flutter closed. “I didn’t expect to talk to you till later. Everything all right?”
We’d all gathered at my parents’ house today, my mother making enough food to feed half the town as we looked over the drone photos my cousin Reid had taken of the property so we could see what can be cleared to expand the pastures for the horse sanctuary.
“I need you to not be mad,” Indie says, her voice small as my blood turns to ice in my veins, my body going rigid at every worst-case scenario racing through my mind. “And I need you to not say I told you so.”
“I don’t know if I can promise that yet, Indie, not till I know what happened,” I manage, my throat drier than a desert as I wait for her to respond.
“I’m fine — we’re fine—but there was an incident,” she says slowly. Carefully. Like she’s weighing her words to make sure she delivers them exactly right.
Dragging my hand down my face, I swallow a growl before opening my eyes to see everyone has stopped and is watching me.
“I need you to talk faster before I can’t keep my promise.”
“Did you make me a promise, Heartthrob?”
“Indie…”
She chuckles and if I wasn’t so amped up I’d probably be relieved by the life filtering back into her voice—strong instead of shaking.
“I needed more boxes and Daisy said she had extra. I went into town to get them but I,”—she swallows hard enough for me to hear—“I fainted when I got out of the car and she called an ambulance.”
“You—” I stagger back a step, Harlan catching me by the elbow and steadying me as I process that statement. “You…”
“I wasn’t thinking. I just wanted to get a head start on packing, but I forgot it’s not just me anymore and…”
“But you’re okay? Our baby is okay?” I choke out.
“We’re fine, Beau. I promise. They’re keeping me for a while to make sure everything remains that way but?—”
“I’m leaving now.”
“I—” There’s a muffled sob that breaks my heart, and I squeeze my eyelids together to keep my own tears at bay. “I want to tell you that you don’t have to but I can’t. I want you here. I need you here.”
“I’m on my way. And I’m bringing you home.”
“Tell me again later when I can appreciate you goin’ all caveman on me.”
“Noted but I need you to tell me again that you’re all right—that you’re both all right.”
“You can talk to the doctor when you get here if you don’t believe me.”
“I do, it’s just?—”
“I get it. I heard the heartbeat and it’s strong and perfect but I get it.”
“I’ll be on the road in thirty.”
“Please be safe. I used up all our worry today.” She yawns and I can picture her curling up in the hospital bed with the blanket fisted in her hand and tucked under her chin.
“Rest. I’ll be there soon.”
She says goodbye and disconnects the call, my phone hanging limply in my hand.
“Keys,” Harlan says, holding his hand out, and I nod as I fish them from my pocket with zero hesitation. There’s no way I can drive right now, and I’m thankful Harlan has my back. He hasn’t been in Wintervale long, but he’s already proven himself—he’s family.
“I need you guys to come with me.” I turn to look at Reid and Jesse. “ I was supposed to pack up her apartment this weekend. ”
“What about—” Lake starts but I shake my head.
“I need you and Pen to clear a spot in the barn and get my house ready. Put all my shit in the barn; I don’t care. I just want her to feel like she’s home.”
“So not the apartment,” Lake confirms.
“Fuck the apartment,” I snarl, watching my brother’s lips twitch.
“Your house then. We’ll take care of it,” Lake says, pressing his lips into a firm line, but I’m already ten steps ahead of him. It’s going to be a ton of work, but I need her here and safe and with me.
I’ll deal with whatever shit she wants to throw my way about it and then I’ll make her come until she forgets why she’s mad.
Because whether she knows it or not, the game changed today and that makes Indie Kade mine…for as long as she’ll have me.