Page 138 of Rocky Mountain Home

“It’s what she needs right now. Although frankly, if Travis orders either of us to jump, we’re pretty used to asking how high.” He grinned at Dare. “Don’t get me wrong, we like it.”

Dare’s cheeks flushed as Cassidy excused himself and headed across the room. He stopped and wrapped his arms around both Travis and Ashley, and it seemed as if Dare was watching something holy and intensely private. As if Travis and Cassidy were gathering an infusion of love and pouring it into Ashley to help her finish the important task before her.

Cassidy kissed both of them on the cheek, then headed across the room to help Skyler wrestle with a low, wide-seated chair.

Travis had an arm around Ashley, walking slowly in a circle with her. Dare was called forward to pace beside them, Ashley giving a running commentary of all the things she expected the guys to do in the future to make up for her current condition.

“Daily foot rubs?” Travis asked.

“I’d demand hourly, but the ranch might complain if you had to stop that often.” Ashley waved a hand magnanimously. “I don’t want to put your family out.”

Her joking lightened the tension, as did her comments about the artwork in the room and wanting to finish some projects. Toward the windows and open work area, a number of Ashley’s pallets and easels stood, partially finished projects right there in the open.

“I thought artists were shy about people seeing their stuff,” Jesse said.

Ashley waited until she was done panting through another set of contractions before offering a tired grin. “Jesse, what have I ever done to make you think I’m shy?”

She had a point. Travis had a hand on the towel wrapped around her waist, but other than a bikini top, she was without another stitch of clothing.

“Art is something different than seeing body parts,” Jesse insisted. He had hold of Dare’s hand, squeezing as he tried to appear calm even though it was clear to Dare he was as floored by all this as she was. “Speaking of body parts. I really hope Travis and Cassidy plan to let me live after today, right?”

Ashley rocked to a stop, air escaping through her teeth as she grimaced. When she could breathe again, she stuck out her tongue. “I’m wearing a bra for your sake. My hou-ha doesn’t count. It’s most definitely not a sexual organ at the moment.” She tilted her head back to gasp at Travis. “Oh, my God. I think it’s time.”

He and Skyler led her to where Cassidy was lowering himself into the strange, low chair. She settled in his lap, between his thighs. Cassidy wrapped his arms around her then let Ashley get herself comfortable, gripping his arms as Travis moved into position in front of her and their gazes locked.

Dare and Jesse stood to the side, and he slipped his arm around her shoulder and pulled her close, murmuring in her ear. “You doing okay? It’s not too much?”

“I’m going to have to do this. I don’t know if I’m more scared now or less, but I think I’m happy I’m here.”

And then with Jesse’s arm holding her tight, Dare got to watch as Ashley got down to serious business. Her mom helped Travis catch the baby while both men encouraged Ashley with sweet words, and strong words, and exactly what she needed.

The expression on Cassidy’s face was enough to make Dare’s throat tighten—the sheer glow of pride and happiness as a little girl was laid in his and Ashley’s arms.

Ashley stroked a finger over a teeny cheek, the baby’s cries barely more than protests from a cooing dove. “Welcome to our family, sweet one.”

Cassidy pressed a kiss to Ashley’s temple as he carefully picked up one of the baby’s hands. “She’s beautiful.”

Travis caught her other fingers in his, sliding up so he could put an arm around Ashley and Cassidy’s shoulders. “Of course, she is. Love made her.”

Dare was torn. It was impossible to look away, and yet after everything they’d witnessed during the birth, this was the moment when it felt as if she was intruding on something far too private.

She glanced up at Jesse to find his expression unreadable. Tension had taken root in his body as he watched the tableau before them.

Then he cleared his throat softly. “Congratulations. That was the most incredible thing I’ve ever seen.”

Three sets of eyes turned toward them briefly, a smile on Ashley’s face as if she’d completed a marathon—exhausted, yet satisfied. “It’s the most incredible thing I’ve ever done.”

Cassidy and Travis nodded briefly before turning their attention back on Ashley and the baby.

Dare had to know. “What’s her name?”

Cassidy forced his gaze up. “Daisy. Daisy Joy Coleman.”

She and Jesse took their leave, but Dare doubted that the three new parents even noticed, too wrapped up in each other. Sweet words of love drifting between them, three sets of arms cradling that tiny life as they officially welcomed Daisy into their hearts and lives.

They stopped at the house and let Tina know. She nodded, then picked up a thermos that sat waiting on the table and headed briskly toward the studio.

Dare and Jesse sat in silence on the ride back to the trailer. More mysteries of Buckaroo’s imminent arrival had been answered, but there was a different, intensely powerful question that refused to let her alone.