Page 102 of Rocky Mountain Home

“She’s feeling good. Comfortable, at least.”

“I bet she’s scared.”

Jesse hesitated. He was going to toss off something noncommittal, but from the expression on Blake’s face, his brother was serious, Jesse let out a long slow breath. “I think she’s a lot more scared than she’s letting on, yeah, but the baby’s moving lots. She was pretty upbeat when I left her with the girls.”

“How are you doing?”

“Me?”

“You,” Blake confirmed. He made a face. “Nothing I hate more than having to sit helplessly when Jaxi’s hurtin’.”

That unanswerable ache inside flickered up, but Jesse pushed it away, knowing somehow that his brother would let this one ride if he switched topics. “I know I was a bastard last February, and there’s been a million times I wished I’d done that differently, because it was shitty to leave you a man short with no notice. I’m sorry.”

He wasn’t expecting Blake to outright forgive him or say that everything was fine, which was good because he got what he expected.

“You’re right. You should’ve done things differently, but we can’t change that now.” Blake folded his arms across his chest. “What do you need, Jesse?”

“I need work,” he said.

His brother raised a brow.

Jesse looked him in the eye. “I don’t expect any favours, but I don’t know how long Dare will be in the hospital. It’s only until Monday for sure, but what if it’s longer? I don’t want to sit on my ass and twiddle my thumbs. I need to work, not only because I need to take care of her. Because I’m going to go stir-crazy waiting until we know what’s happening.”

Blake eyed him, leaning back in his chair and staying silent.

“I mean it. You need me to clean stalls 24/7, I’ll do it. I can’t tell you how long I’ll be around, so wherever you have tasks to be done. You know I can deal with just about anything, but put me where you need me the most.”

Because whatever happened, he was going to make sure that Dare was taken care of. Right now that seemed to mean he needed to be here in Rocky Mountain House.

For the first time a crack appeared in Blake’s iron-solid walls. “I can give you some jobs. Only between when you need to be with Dare, so before and after visiting hours.”

“I want time with her, yes, but she doesn’t need me there all day,” Jesse pointed out. “You know Mom and Jaxi and the rest will want to visit.”

Blake made a face. “True. But you need to stay within cell phone range.”

“Starting tonight?”

His brother hesitated. “If you’re ready. There’s a crew headed out at eleven to the west grazing lands to pick up some cattle and move them to summer fields. They’ll be back before seven.” Blake stood and opened a thin cupboard with keys to the tractors and combines and all the rest lined up in neat rows. He pulled a set off the hook and tossed them to Jesse. “You can drive the trailer. Kent Parken is lead on the transfer.”

The ache in his gut had spread until his chest and throat were tight. Before Jesse’d fucked up and left, he used to run lead, and Kent had been the hired hand.

Regret was the only emotion he felt—well, regret and gratitude that Blake was giving him a chance.

Jesse rose to his feet. “Thanks. I won’t make you sorry.”

Blake nodded tightly. “Jesse…”

Jesse paused in the doorway, turning back to wait while Blake considered his words.

“Tell Dare we’re here for her. Anything she needs. She just has to ask.”

God damn. The sincerity and the caring and the—

That hard knot in his chest was going to close off his throat one of these times. “I know she’ll appreciate it.”

I appreciate it. The words hung on the tip of his tongue. Why were they so damn hard to say?

Jesse gathered himself up, checking his watch. He had time to stop off at the trailer for a quick shower and to get changed before returning to the hospital.