Page 113 of Rocky Mountain Home
and C) the only woman Jesse was mixed up and confused around was Vicki.
The logical conclusion was he had left to avoid being around her.
Only Dare also knew that Jesse wasn’t faking it when it came to enjoying the time he spent with her. The sweet kisses and caring gestures were real. She had no illusions that he was in love, but he did care for her and Buckaroo.
Ergo…
Jesse had been in love with Vicki when he left last winter.
Maybe she was taking a bit of a leap, but it made sense, and it put her on a strange teeter-totter. After Jesse had admitted that he’d taken off without a word, she’d understood better Blake’s reaction—if one of her brothers had up and left on a whim without warning, when he came back for a visit Caleb would’ve tied the offender behind a tractor and used them to dig furrows.
But if Jesse had left so he didn’t come between his brother and Vicki—
Back to Dare’s dilemma. What did she do with this suspicion?
If they were returning to Heart Falls in a day or two, it would be different. But that afternoon she’d got an email from Ginny that had sent her thoughts spiraling.
Hey Dare,
Wanted to talk to you about this when we stopped in, but Caleb never gave us two seconds alone.
It sounds as if Buckaroo and you are going to be fine. I’ve got all my fingers and toes crossed for one hundred percent positive news soon. That said—have you thought about moving to Rocky?
I know, weird comment, and I’m not coveting your cottage or anything. Thing is, I’ve got a line on a really great opportunity. Yes, this is the secret I never got to tell you about. There’s a CSA association that does worldwide apprenticeships. One year of travelling to organic community gardens in France, Germany—heck there’s one in Thailand and a couple in South America. I didn’t say anything when I applied because I figured it was a long shot, but I got word the other day that I’ve made the short list. I am so freaking excited.
Only trouble is, Caleb needs someone around to help with the girls. He’s gotten pretty used to having you and me, but it’s time for him to get a full-time nanny. I thought maybe if he realizes you won’t be back permanently that might light a fire under his ass and he’ll stop defaulting to us. I haven’t told him yet about me going away because I wanted to tell you first.
You can work anywhere—you’ve said that a million times. You said Jesse’s got work with the Colemans again. Just wanted to put the thought out there. I’ll support you whatever you decide.
I should know within the next couple weeks if I got one of the positions. If I do, I’m on the road as of September 1. And…I’ve already decided if I don’t get the position I’m going to travel anyway. Which means whether you’re here or you’re there, I’m going to miss you like hell, but it’s time for me to do the next thing.
This is all probably a bit of a shock, and I’m sorry. I hope you know I love you with everything in me, and I don’t want you to feel as if I’ve abandoned you. But you’ve got someone who cares about you. You’ve got a baby on the way. Between Jesse and Buckaroo, our world is going to change shortly, anyway.
I don’t know, maybe this is me taking my step out into the big world in the hopes that I can find someone to be with and raise a family with. And yes, have a great big adventure in the meantime.
Still love me?
Ginny
The world was changing. Dare was excited for Ginny to have a neat opportunity, but should she stay in Rocky? It wasn’t something she could decide in an instant, not with the flow of humanity through her hospital room.
Jesse stopped beside the bed, stretching an arm across the mattress to put himself directly in front of her. “That’s a pretty neat trick. You look too damn serene for the level of chaos in here.”
She examined his face, trying to read him. “The ability to daydream anywhere is both a gift and a curse.”
He brushed his knuckles over her cheek then stepped back, barely covering a yawn.
“It’s nearly eight. Why don’t you head out with the rest of your family?” Dare suggested. “I’ll probably hit the sack early. You can catch a couple of hours’ sleep before you go back to work.”
He nodded. “I might do that.”
She glanced over and saw Marion examining them, face folded into a frown before she marched over to Blake and spoke firmly.
Jesse chuckled, and she turned her attention back to him. “What?”
“Sometimes your face is very expressive. Yes, my mother scares the living daylights out of me as well.”
“She can be very intense,” Dare agreed with a whisper. “I like her, don’t get me wrong, but I wouldn’t like to get on her bad side.”
