Page 74 of Rocky Mountain Home

Vicki snickered for the briefest second before turning it into a cough as she reached for a glass of lemonade.

Dare bit her lip to stop from laughing as well, instead offering the safest answer. “Roads were fine.”

“I hope you have a wonderful visit, even with this little mix-up at the start. I thought maybe tomorrow I could take you around town for a while.” Marion beamed at her before getting slightly flustered and focusing down at her glass. “If that’s okay.”

“I don’t think we have any set plans, so if it works for Jesse, sounds great to me.” Dare gripped her lemonade tighter and sternly warned herself against enjoying her time too much.

“If you’d like to come out to the barns while you’re here, we have some new horses,” Mike offered. “We could all go for a ride.”

“We can take her down by Whiskey Creek—”

“—and along the ridge—”

“—and there’s the lookout point—”

“It all sounds wonderful, and I’d love to go for a ride.” Their enthusiasm was making her exhausted and thrilling her to death.

Jesse’s mom opened her mouth, and Dare was sure it was to issue more invitations to more activities when an old-fashioned phone tone sounded, and both Mike and Marion jerked upright.

Marion scrambled in her pocket and pulled out a cell phone, answering it excitedly. “Blake?”

The baby.

Marion listened for a moment as happiness bloomed over her face. “Congratulations to you both. I’m glad to hear Jaxi’s doing well.”

Marion continued to speak quietly with Blake, with Mike leaning in to listen.

Vicki nudged Dare in the side to get her attention. “Told you we’d get the news soon,” she gloated.

“You did,” Dare agreed before teasing back. “Gee, you’re like an all-seeing mystic.”

Vicki snorted, then placed her fingers against her temples and hmmmed as if she were communing with unseen forces. “I see…I see you about to be invited to visit the baby at the hospital.”

Damn. “Not funny,” Dare muttered, tempted to poke the other woman back.

Vicki arched one brow. “You doubt the all-seeing mystic?”

Before Dare could respond, Marion interrupted. “Vicki, could we ask a favour?”

She and Dare both faced the older woman whose smile seemed set to full brightness.

“I take it there’s news?” Vicki eased her chair back as PJ laid his hands on her thigh and demanded to be lifted up.

Marion nodded. “Justin Michael has safely arrived, and they’d like us to come to meet him. I thought we’d take Darilyn now, then once the girls get home from day camp, we’ll bring all the children to meet their baby brother when it’s gotten a little quieter. If you could stay with them until we’re back?”

“Of course.” Vicki flicked a glance at Dare that said a blunt I told you so, hands steadying PJ’s as he stole a sip of lemonade from her glass.

“We’re going to go see them already? Didn’t she just have the baby?” Dare felt a little like a football in the middle of the game of pickup. Or was it rugby? One way, then the other, as if she had no choice in the matter.

“The baby arrived over an hour ago, and everything was straightforward, so Jaxi insists people come soon as they’re ready.”

“Of course, she does,” Mike said, offering a dry smile. “I bet Blake’s just as eager to show off his son.”

“I can stay with Vicki to help take care of the kids,” Dare tossed out, not even thinking what she was saying.

“Nice try, but not going to work,” Vicki muttered softly.

“Nonsense,” Marion said. “Vicki is more than capable of handling the children on her own, and I know Jaxi’s been looking forward to meeting you.”