Page 125 of Rocky Mountain Home

Jesse glanced back at the saddle and realized he hadn’t checked the equipment as thoroughly as he should’ve. He adjusted the length quickly on both sides of the saddle so he wouldn’t end up with his knees around his ears as he rode. “Who was the last one to use this saddle? They must be about three feet tall.”

Joel laughed. “You’re going to break our nephew’s heart. Every time Nathan shows up he checks his height against the markers on the main support beam, but he hasn’t started his growth spurt yet. Last time he looked, Robbie had passed him.”

Jesse finished the adjustments and mounted smoothly, guiding the horse to Joel’s side. “That’s gotta be hell on his ego, to have his younger brother taller than him.”

“I don’t know, was it hell on yours when I grew taller than you?” Joel taunted.

Jesse elbowed Joel on his way past before clicking to his horse and heading down the path toward their task. “That must’ve happened in some alternative universe. Sorry, bro, but as far as I remember you and I sprouted the same time. Damn near to the minute, according to Mom.”

“I don’t know that we’ve had all of us in a lineup for a while,” Joel mused. “Which one of us is actually the tallest? I don’t mean between you and me. Didn’t Daniel have about half an inch on the rest of us?”

It was a curious thing to ponder, but Joel was right. Jesse wasn’t sure where they’d all settled out.

It wasn’t just when it came to their height. “I haven’t had a chance to catch up with Daniel yet. How’s the workshop doing?”

“Making a living. He tied the shop back into the ranch finances. Said he wanted to give the boys a chance to ranch if that’s what they wanted down the road. Who knows. With all of the kids starting to show up, by the time Daniel’s ready to retire, there might be some other Colemans who want to work with their hands in a different way.”

Jesse glanced over at his twin. “Is that something you’re thinking about?”

“Hell, no.”

“Hey, I didn’t think so, but I thought I should ask.” Jesse offered a chastising laugh. “I’m a little out of touch, and I don’t like it.”

Joel didn’t say anything for a minute, and they rode in silence, until they reached the field and found a half-dozen hands working to separate out the calves from their moms, the veterinary truck standing outside the gate.

He offered Jesse a quick grin. “Just remember that I’m always right. There’s not much else you need to know.”

Jeez. Jesse stuck out his tongue and pretended to gag before focusing on more important things. “I know I can out rope you.”

“Loser pays for drinks at Traders,” Joel snapped back.

“You’re on.”

In the end they decided it was a tie, although Joel argued long and hard that the one calf they both dropped a rope on should have counted as his.

They’d gotten the message from the girls, but still headed home to get washed up before making their way to the original Six Pack homestead.

“If you’re willing to drive me to work most days,” Joel said, “I’ll be able to leave the truck for Vicki.”

“We’re heading to Heart Falls tomorrow, and when we come back, Dare will have a vehicle too. That means three vehicles between the four of us. We’ll figure it out.”

Walking in the door at Blake and Jaxi’s was like walking into a memory. The house smelled amazing—like all those days when he’d been a teenager and his mom had ruled the roost. Rich barbecue sauce and apple-pie scents mixed in the air. Only instead of a mess of oversized men’s boots on the shelves by the door, there were dozens of pink and purple shoes barely the size of his palm. Bright pastel-coloured rubber boots were lined up neatly outside the door, and a multitude of hooks had been added in a second row at little-people height.

Jesse hung up his coat over Dare’s then stepped into the warmth of the dining room.

Even here things had changed. There was music playing in the attached living room, but it was some upbeat kid’s song instead of country music. A high chair had been pulled up to the long pedestal-style table along with a strange clip-on contraption. The highchair wasn’t too unusual—his mom had one in the storage room that got hauled out whenever it was needed. As little people moved in on him, Jesse found himself smiling.

He glanced at Blake who was stretched out in a recliner, rocking baby Justin. “Girls smell a lot better than boys,” he commented. “But I don’t think they make any less mess.”

Blake rocked all the way forward until he hit his feet. “I hear it gets worse before it gets better.”

“I ordered a boy,” Jesse informed his oldest brother.

A soft laugh escaped Blake. “Good thing whoever arrives is exactly who we need.”

“Blake. Can we get a hand in here?” Vicki called from the kitchen.

Blake untangled Justin from his arms and held the baby bundle toward Jesse. “Here. I’m being summoned.”