Page 75 of The Cowgirl's Chosen Love
“After nine months of nausea, you deserve a break,” Karen said, stealing the baby from Lisa again.
Tamara lifted a finger at Lisa. “Please don’t do anything to get Caleb more worried.”
“I won’t,” Lisa assured her.
Time passed quickly. Tamara got a message from Caleb that they finished with breakfast, but he was taking her dad on a tour around the ranch. He said they’d be back by the time Julia arrived.
When a well-used Ford truck pulled into the yard two minutes before the top of the hour, all three sisters were ready or, more truthfully, almost quivering with anticipation as they stood by the backdoor.
Lisa turned to her sisters with a smile. “Pretend you’re nice.”
Karen snickered. “You’re such a brat.”
“But no longer theyoungestbrat,” Lisa pointed out. “Julia has that privilege.”
“Oh my God, that’s right. That means I havetwolittle sisters to torment me,” Tamara said dramatically.
Lisa pulled the door open before Julia had a chance to knock just as Karen made a mock gagging noise.
The newcomer on the porch eyed her suspiciously. “Can you speak?”
Tamara snickered. “Airway is open. She’s breathing and she’s got good circulation.”
Julia stepped in and pulled off her toque and gloves, glancing around the room at both Karen and Lisa before returning her gaze to Tamara. “I see why you did the double take the first time you spotted me. How’s that sweet baby doing?”
Tamara’s smile bloomed. She pointed to the bassinet on the kitchen table. “He’s amazing. Gorgeous and perfect, and I couldn’t be happier.”
“Thanks for helping him arrive safely.” Karen stepped forward and held out her hand. “Hi, Julia. I’m Karen. It’s nice to meet you.”
Julia moved instinctively before stuttering to a stop. “This is a little overwhelming,” she admitted.
Screw it. Lisa went with her gut, opening her arms and drawing Julia into an enormous hug. “Get used to it. There’s a whole lot more of us, but we Whiskeyteers are of course thebestpart of the Coleman clan.”
Tamara made a rude noise. “I can’t believe you’re still trying to make that nickname stick.”
Her decision had been a good one. Julia had been stiff as a board as she leaned into the hug, but by the time they let go, both of them were more relaxed.
The other woman smiled at her. “Thanks.” Then she frowned. “What’s a Whiskeyteer?”
As the other girls laughed, Lisa led Julia into the living room. “Remember I told you all the Coleman ranches have different names? We’re Whiskey Creek.”
Understanding lit Julia’s face. “That’s cute.”
“See? See?” Lisa jumped on the faint praise. “Someone who shows true appreciation for my genius.”
“How much did she pay you to say that?” Karen grumbled. “Never mind. Just a heads-up, Lisa may be smart, but she’s also dangerous. Do not get in a betting war with her.”
“I’ll try to remember that,” Julia said with a smile as she settled onto the couch. She glanced around again. “And just to be upfront, I’m a little nervous about meeting your dad.”
“Our dad,” Lisa corrected softly. “He’s not…scary.”
It seemed the softest word she could use that wasn’t an outright lie.
“I think he’s probably more nervous about meeting you than you are of him,” Karen admitted. Her lips tugged sideways for a moment. “He had no idea you existed. And I think he’s embarrassed his daughters know he was fooling around at some point.”
“Intellectually we get that our parents have sex, but it’s nothing that we ever truly want to look at straight on.” Tamara went to the bassinet and lifted the baby into her arms. “I mean,ick.”
It was a valid point and as they continued to talk about other things, like Julia’s apprenticeship, the tension eased out of the room.
