Page 35 of Deacon (Men of Clifton, Montana #52)
“Hey, pumpkin,” he said softly. “You can’t run out here, cars come and go too fast. You could get hurt.”
Ellie crossed her arms, shook her head side to side, and muttered, “No.”
Ava pressed her lips together. “Terrible twos,” she murmured, half to herself.
Deacon glanced up at her with a sympathetic raise of his eyebrow. Then he turned back to Ellie. “You can hold my hand or Mama’s, but you’re not running off. We don’t want you to get hurt. Which will it be?”
Ellie’s little brow furrowed in thought. After a long blink, she sighed, stood, and took Deacon’s offered hand. The three of them strolled across the asphalt toward the low building, the heat radiating from the pavement under their sneakers.
Inside, Ava took Ellie’s hand and led her into the bathroom.
Ava unfolded the changing table, wiped the molded plastic clean with a scented wipe, and clicked Ellie’s shoes off.
The toddler wriggled as Ava peeled back the wet pull-up, but it was only damp.
Within moments, a fresh pull-up and a quick spritz of powder later, Ellie was buttoned into a clean outfit and giggling as she bounced on her toes.
After washing their hands, Ava took Ellie’s hand and steered her out the door, and into the small lobby where a tall, backlit rack of glossy brochures stood. Deacon was leaning against it; one foot casually crossed over the other. He straightened and smiled when he saw them.
Before Ava could speak, Ellie slipped free and dashed to him, arms outstretched. “Dad-dy!” she squealed as he scooped her up .
He kissed her forehead. “Hey, baby girl.”
“I need to use the restroom. I won’t be long.” Ava smiled.
“Okay, darlin’, we’ll be outside.” Deacon nodded toward the exit.
Ava ruffled Ella’s curls. “Be good, sweetie.”
“Bye-bye, Mama,” Ellie called, waving one pudgy hand.
Deacon nodded, then carried Ellie outside.
Through the glass, Ava watched his strong stride and Ellie’s contentment being carried.
The sun streamed behind them, painting the ground in golden patches.
She smiled at her daughter’s tiny, eager face, and for a moment, the rest stop felt more like a small oasis on their long journey, before the road called them onward.
****
Deke stepped off the gravel beside their vehicles onto the earl y‐ morning grass, flecked with the first chill of autumn.
He gently set Ellie feet down on the asphalt.
“You can run here close to the truck, but nowhere else. The grass is too damp,” he said, sliding onto the worn plank of a picni c‐ table bench, its wood gray and cracked from years of sun and rain.
Ellie’s curls bounced as she nodded, then she took off in delighted circles, her small sneakers skimming the asphalt.
Deke rested his elbows on his knees and watched her tumble onto the ground, then spring up and continue her joyful dance.
He felt a warm ache in his chest as her laughter rang out against the backdrop of rustling leaves and a low wind that carried the scent of fallen pine needles.
A soft voice broke his reverie. “Is that your little girl?” Deke looked up to see a woman standing a few feet away. Her red hair caught the sunlight in fiery highlights, and her green eyes shone with curiosity.
“Yes, ma’am,” he said, rising to his full height.
“She’s gorgeous. She has your eyes.” The woman smiled, tucking a loose curl behind her ear.
“She does.” Deke’s lips curved into a pleased grin.
“How old is she?”
He smirked. “Two.”
The woman laughed, a clear, warm sound. “Oh, I just went through that. My husband and I have three children: two boys and a girl, ages seven, five, and three.”
“How do you manage all that?” Deke shook his head in admiration.
She shrugged playfully. “We both work at it.”
A man’s voice called from down the road. “Darlene?” Both Deke and the woman turned to see a tall man approaching, his stride relaxed, a wel l‐ worn baseball cap on his head. The woman glanced back at Deke.
“That’s my husband, Brian.”
Brian stopped beside them, offering a smile. “I should’ve known you’d be wherever kids were,” he teased, then nodded at Deke. “She loves children. We’d probably have ten more if it were up to her.”
Deke laughed, shaking his head in disbelief. “Ten more?” He looked around at the empty clearing. “Where are yours?”
“We left them with Darlene’s parents for a little getaway,” Brian said, chuckling. “It’s good to step away once in a while.”
“Speak for yourself. I miss them already,” Darlene admitted, her eyes softening as she glanced at the distant tree line where geese flew low across the sky.
“See? We haven’t even been on the road for an hour.” Brian nudged Darlene’s shoulder and looked back at Deke.
“I do.”
Brian held out his hand. “Well, you have a wonderful trip, wherever you’re headed.” They shook hands firmly, then Brian tipped his cap and walked back toward the row of cars on the other side.
Darlene lingered beside Deke. “Be careful out there,” she said, voice gentle but sincere. “Some folks think they own the road.” She gave him one last smile before turning to join her husband.
Deke touched the brim of his hat. “Yes, ma’am. You too.” As the couple’s SUV disappeared around a bend, he lowered himself onto the bench and waited, the wind tugging at his flannel shirt.
“Ten kids? Hell no,” he muttered, watching Ellie chase a falling leaf.
Ava dropped onto the bench beside him. “Who was that?” she asked, brushing her hair from her face.
“Just a couple being nice,” Deke said, stretching his arms.
“Couple? I only saw a woman.”
“They have three kids, seven, five, and three, and her husband said if it were up to her, they’d have ten more.” Deke raised an eyebrow.
Ava laughed, shaking her head. “Ten? Oh, hell no.”
Deke chuckled. “That’s what I said.” He stood and held out his hand to her. “Let’s get back on the road. Ellie? Come on, sweetheart, we’ve got to go.”
“‘Kay!” Ellie sprinted toward them; her arms flung wide. Deke scooped her up and tossed her high into the crisp air. For a heartbeat she seemed to hover, wid e‐ eyed and astonished, before a burst of giggles lifted her cheeks. “More!” she cried.
Ava watched, amusement in her eyes. “What is it with men? Tyler’s always tossing her and his kids into the air.”
Deke shrugged, cradling Ellie against his chest. “It’s fun?”
The little girl’s laughter trailed behind them as they got into their vehicles and turned toward the open road.
****
Upon arriving in the charming town of Clifton, Ava’s eyes roamed eagerly over the quaint streets, her anticipation bubbling over as she imagined exploring every nook and cranny.
The storefronts seemed to beckon her with their inviting displays—a bakery with the sweet scent of freshly baked goods wafting through the air, an ice cream shop with vibrant tubs of creamy delights visible through the window, a cozy candle store flickering with warm, aromatic light, and a coffee shop exuding the rich aroma of roasted beans.
Yet, it was the antique store down the street that truly captured her interest, promising treasures from the past waiting to be discovered.
However, the mouthwatering aroma drifting from the local diner was irresistible, causing her stomach to churn with hunger despite the snacks she’d nibbled on earlier at the visitor center.
With a quick press of the call button on her steering wheel, she reached out to Deacon. His voice came through the speaker.
“What’s up?” he inquired.
“You’re going to have to get us burgers from that diner. The smells are absolutely driving me in sane,” she replied with a grin, delighted by his responding chuckle.
“If you think they smell good, just wait until you taste them. I can pick us up some Monday after I get off work,” he assured her.
“That sounds perfect,” she agreed, savoring the thought.
“Okay, that’s what I’ll do then.”
Ava ended the call with a satisfied smile, anticipation mingling with a flutter of nerves as they pulled into the driveway of Deacon’s house.
Her stomach twisted with a mix of excitement and anxiety, but it was a necessary step to ensure they could both be with Ellie, but the fear of failure loomed large.
What if things didn’t work out? Would Deacon resort to legal battles, or could they find a way to manage the logistics of travel amicably?
“You have to give this a chance,” she whispered to herself, determination mingling with hope.
She glanced into the rearview mirror to find Ellie peacefully asleep, her small head resting gently against the side of her car seat.
As the SUV came to a halt in front of the house, Ava turned off the engine and quietly stepped out, opening the back door with care.
She unbuckled Ellie, lifting her sleeping daughter into her arms. Deacon appeared by her side.
“Is she asleep?” he asked softly.
“Yes, I’m sure she’ll take a long nap,” Ava replied, her voice barely above a whisper.
“Let me show you the house, then I’ll grab some boxes,” he offered.
“Alright. As soon as I put her down, I’ll be back to help. Can you show me her room?” she asked, her heart full as she carried Ellie toward the house.