Page 12 of Coming Home Country
My lips curved into a smile as my gaze shifted toward Mac, knowing he was trying to fit in. You could still tell by how he carried himself that he was a transplant and not country born and raised like the rest.
When Penny pulled back, I focused on reconnecting with her. “Tell me everything. Are you still living on the ranch? Do you have anyone special in your life?”
Even in the firelight, I could see her cheeks pinken as her eyes darted to the opposite side of the bonfire to where Tripp stood with the men.
I was going to shake that boy if I ever got him alone. Grown man or not, I was still older, and he needed some sense knocked into him.
Penny ducked her head. “No. No one special, but I am still here on the ranch. Just finished school to become a livestock vet, which comes in handy during foaling season around these parts.”
The Sullivans were stock contractors for rodeos, specializing in breeding bucking horses since Jett had competed in that event before retiring to become a rancher.
“That’s amazing, Penny!”
Her blush grew deeper at my praise. “I’ve always loved animals, so it seemed like a good fit. It’s challenging work sometimes but rewarding just the same.”
A tiny wail pierced the air, and I spun around to find a woman standing a few feet behind us, bouncing a baby.
Recognition tickled at the back of my brain. I knew her, but it took a minute to place the name.
Finally, it clicked.
“Harper Coleman?”
The baby’s cries grew louder with each passing second. “It’s Winfield now,” she corrected, a weary smile on her face. “Sorry about the noise. He’s hungry.”
Penny vacated her spot on the hay bale. “You can have my seat to feed him.”
Harper’s eyes flickered with uncertainty as she glanced across the fire to where the men stood together. “Actually, I might head to the car. I don’t want to make anyone uncomfortable.”
“Nonsense.” Penny placed a hand to her chest. “I’m not uncomfortable. Are you, Bex?” She clearly didn’t understandwhyHarper might be reluctant to nurse with an audience.
I tried to set her mind at ease. “Pretty sure your husband, the town doctor, and an EMT won’t be fazed a bit if you want to feed him here.”
Lips twisting to the side, Harper stepped forward, dropping down beside me with a sigh.
Leaning in, I kept my voice low as I added, “And we all know Tripp’s not looking.”
That got a laugh out of her, and she bumped shoulders with me since her hands were full. “No, he’s not.”
Juggling the baby in her arms, she maneuvered her top until she was able to get her breast out, and within seconds, the screaming was replaced with the sound of greedy sucking.
“Lord,” Harper breathed out. “What I wouldn’t have given to leave him at my parents’ with the others. But he won’t take a bottle.”
Outside of my mother, Aspen was the only person in Rust Canyon I’d kept in contact with all these years. With a town as small as this one, there was only one school for K-12, one class per grade. Though Harper and I were the same age, we’d been more like acquaintances than friends. But her presence tonight meant she was part of the bridal party, and we’d be spending the week together, so it wouldn’t hurt to get to know her better.
“How many little ones do you have?”
“Grady here”—she dipped her chin toward the breastfeeding baby—“makes three. Aubree, my oldest, is six and a half, and Barrett turned three last week.”
Three kids before thirty. That had once been my dream.
“And you said Winfield, so that means you’re married to . . .” There were three brothers in that family—all older than us—so I didn’t want to guess the wrong one.
“Colt,” she supplied.
“Got it.” I nodded. “The tall, dark, and handsome one.”
“Aren’t they all?” Harper teased, and we both burst out laughing.
