Page 66 of Rocky Mountain Home

He laughed. “By now, Blake and Jaxi are probably holding him or her, and Jaxi’s bossing around all the nurses and making suggestions to help them run the ward more efficiently.”

“You know I have very little idea how the baby thing works,” Dare informed him, suddenly worried she needed to live up to his sister-in-law who seemed a paragon of motherhood. “Like, way closer to zero than one hundred. So please don’t expect me to be a super mama like Jaxi—”

“Oh God, no,” Jesse said quickly, his grin real as he looked her over. “I don’t expect anything from you except you loving the kid for all you’re worth. Jaxi’s just…Jaxi. She’d tan my hide if she thought I was spooking you off.”

“She’s mentioned that phrase a time or two,” Dare admitted. She took a deep breath. “Moms?”

Jesse groaned. “Caught that, did you? I’ll give you the details later, but how about we get you settled in? You can put your feet up for a few minutes.”

They were pulling into a parking space in front of a double-wide trailer, so there wasn’t much she could offer other than “okay”.

He dropped their bags on the porch just as a second truck pulled into the yard, Vicki frowning at them over the wheel.

Jesse coughed, then turned to face Dare. “Going to track down my brothers.”

It was Dare’s turn to frown. “You’re not even going inside?”

She was talking to air. Jesse was behind the wheel, truck engine revving. He backed up rapidly, tires spinning as he raced for the exit, and the truck vanished down the driveway.

Dare and Vicki glanced at each other simultaneously. Silence hung on the air.

“He’s eager to catch up with his brothers,” Dare offered as an excuse.

The other woman didn’t answer, just turned to the door and carried in the bags, heading down a narrow hallway. She pushed open a door with her shoulder then placed the bags on a small but neat bed that was covered with a gorgeous quilt.

“It’s pretty. Thanks,” Dare said.

The other woman nodded. “You ready for lunch?”

Dare was all but empty inside. Jesse had to be starving, but it was his own fault for leaving her so suddenly. She offered Vicki the brightest smile she could muster. “Please.”

Vicki paused in the doorway before smiling softly. “Hey, I know this is a lot, but I am happy to meet you.”

Dare nodded. “Thanks.”

“I’ll get lunch started.” The other woman shuffled her feet for a moment before gesturing down the hall. “Washroom is that way if you need it, and there are towels on top of the dresser.”

The door closed softly. Dare let herself collapse back onto the bed, staring at the ceiling as if the answers to life, the universe and everything would be found there.

No such luck.

She splashed water on her face, sucked in a deep breath for courage then wandered to the kitchen.

Vicki had the fixings for sandwiches out and was hard at work, the scent of tomato soup floating on the air.

“Smells great,” Dare offered.

“Thanks.” Vicki stared at the sandwich she was making as if getting mayonnaise to the edges of the bread was of vital importance. “By the way, congratulations on your engagement.”

“Thanks.”

Polite platitudes again. Ugh.

Silence returned until Dare couldn’t take it any longer. She peeked around the room, desperately looking for some safe topic to break the awkwardness.

Her eyes fell on the oversized pickle jar on the counter that was covered with several stickers proclaiming Swear Jar.

It was over half full of coins.