Page 62 of Rocky Mountain Home

“Can’t. They’re doing a big push to move to the summer grazing lands, and need all hands on deck.”

She changed the topic, or more accurately, brought it back to the same one. “Jaxi emailed again. Invited us up for the Coleman Canada Day party—said you could tell me about it. But I guess that’s out.”

“Sorry, but it is. I wouldn’t do that to you your first shot out of the gate. That’s the entire Coleman family, with all four clans, and friends, and anyone else brave enough to drop in, gathered in one place.”

Dare shuddered. “Okay, I’m thankful we can’t go. I’m more comfortable in smaller groups.”

He didn’t bother to answer that one because small groups were not likely at any Coleman event.

She glanced at him, mischief in her smile. “You’re going to miss our Canada Day tradition, as well. I’ll tell you the dirty details after you’re back, though, so you have ammunition to tease my brothers.”

Jesse raised a brow. “Sounds intriguing.”

“Heart Falls annual charity auction is held on Canada Day. It used to be pies and quilts and a parade, but a couple years ago someone added a bachelor auction. It’s now the bane of the boys’ existence—and it’ll be Dustin’s first year. Luke’s been gloating because being engaged to Penny gets him out of the danger zone.”

Jesse had to laugh. “Since you and I are together, I’m safe as well. But seriously, maybe I should pull some strings to be here. I want to see what woman in their right mind would bid on Dustin.”

“Don’t put down the Duster-dude. I bet he gets the cute votes like you wouldn’t believe.”

Jesse looked out over the land, that sense of being moved forward against his will was back. Maybe it had never gone away.

“You realize Jaxi’s not going to give up until we make an appearance.” He caught Dare’s eye, wondering at her stony expression. “Unless you really don’t want to go, we should probably give in sooner rather than later.”

She picked a bit of lint off her pants, pulling her gaze from his. “Is there a reason you don’t want to go? Because we don’t need to if they’re trouble, and you’re trying to avoid it.”

“God, it’s nothing like that.” Jesse rested his elbows on his knees and fought to explain what he could. “My family is great. I was just looking for some space from them is all, so it’s been rough to wrap my head around going back. I’m sorry if I gave the impression that they’re terrible people.”

She shrugged. “I was trying not to make crazy assumptions. I know you said you missed them, so they couldn’t be all bad.”

“They’re great,” he answered firmly, kicking himself for yet another stupid decision gone wrong. “Let’s set a date. I’m done work at Bar M July fourth, so we could go the week after, if that works for you. Before I get set into the schedule here on the ranch.”

“I’m sure it’s okay.” Dare twisted her fingers together over and over. “I’m a little nervous to meet them.”

Jesse laughed. “They’re likely to never want you to leave. I’ll have to peel you from Jaxi’s clutches when it’s time to go.”

Her face folded into a grimace briefly before she pulled herself together and smiled weakly. “A week, or a weekend?”

“Three days at least,” he suggested. He was proud the words sounded cheerful in spite of the churning in his gut.

She nodded. “You want to email them?”

He should, but damn if he could face that task after having up and left without any warning last February. “You go ahead and tell Jaxi to expect us on the seventh. She’ll be in her glory organizing things.”

Dare agreed, and Jesse leaned back and rocked in the silence that fell.

He was going home.

Going back with a fiancée and with a baby on the way. His brain was still trying to wrap itself around that idea, and now he had another irritating voice inside his head he was desperately trying to ignore. The one drily pointing out that no matter how tough this was going to be, he was glad he’d been forced into it.

Admitting that?

Never.

Chapter Eleven

Blog post: Packing Problems

Stupid thing to admit, but I don’t have a suitcase. Never seemed to need one, which says something about my usual happily homebound status. But I’m heading out for a few days and thus you get to enjoy Packing Adventures With A Newbie.