Page 71 of A Cowboy's Bride
“Are you serious?” Tansy said, more squeal than anything. “Are youserious?”
Sydney and Petra exchanged another glance. “Do you think they have Duolingo go for Tansyland? It would be handy to become more fluent,” Sydney complained.
Except a second later it hit, and Petra gaped at her sister-in-law. “You’re pregnant?”
Julia grinned.
The good news triggered a round of hugs while curious gazes danced over them. There were a few whispers behind hands and more than a few smiles directed toward their table as they settled back down.
“Your secret is out,” Tansy warned. “Lunchtime at Buns and Roses isn’t exactly the most secure moment to share tidbits of information you want to keep quiet.”
Julia just grinned. “I thought Zach was going to explode having to keep his mouth shut until now. I told him I was going to update you guys today, and he’s been on the phone ever since, bragging his head off. I’m surprised no one forwarded any of you a message and beat me to the punch.”
“They’re probably there, but we’re polite and don’t check our phones while we’re visiting.” Sure enough, when Petra checked her phone she had messages from all three of the Skye brothers and Jinx. “Jinx says to tell you congratulations.”
Julia leaned forward slightly. “Tell her thanks. We want to have you guys out again soon. How’s she doing?”
“Amazing. She’s blooming.”
It wasn’t Petra’s place to share all the details, but she was very grateful for some of the changes that had happened over the past couple of weeks.
Jinx had decided to start meeting with Kevin. There’d been signs of lots of tears after the first session, and while of course Kevin wouldn’t say much because of confidentiality, he had, with Jinx’s permission, shared some positive news.
“She was right to leave when she did before the worst happened. She’s got a good head on her shoulders, and she’s very clear that the situation wasn’t her fault.” For some reason Kevin had looked at Aiden right then and dipped his chin before finishing. “It’s still going to take time, and there will be moments when she might have upsetting flashbacks, but she’s doing all the right things. Now we need to give her time.”
Petra realized she’d been staring into space, lost in remembering. She smiled at her friends and focused on the good news she could share. “Jinx hasn’t had a panic attack in ages. She and Sasha are setting up a children’s Halloween party at Silver Stone ranch in the afternoon next Sunday. Sasha’s little brother Tyler gets scared easily, and Jinx decided she was too old to go Halloweening anyway, but a non-scary event would be fun to help with.”
“Sasha already arranged for me to make Halloween cake pops for the event,” Tansy shared.
Conversation changed to Halloween costumes and favourite spooky dishes. Petra ate the delicious food and drank her tea and soaked in the company of three wonderful women who had her back. But she was still wondering what it was that lingered at the back of her mind and bothered her so much.
She was still thinking about it as she drove into the parking space outside High Water ranch house. She automatically glanced over to check and see whose vehicles were there. Jake’s was missing, but the other three guys must be around. Although Declan’s truck didn’t mean he was necessarily anywhere in one of the buildings. The man took off on horseback every chance he got. Even though the weather had begun to turn and the air held a chill that warned of coming snow, Petra was pretty certain he’d be somewhere out on the land.
Kevin and Jake were putting up trim in the artists’ studio. With a nail gun in Kevin’s hand, and Jake at the cut saw, they moved smoothly and efficiently around each other, the bang of the brad-nailer echoing off the walls.
Petra waved but didn’t bother to interrupt them. She slipped downstairs, walking past the rooms that would end up as spaces for the men who needed somewhere to stay en route to their better lives. She paused in each doorway, calculating how much still needed to be done, but everywhere signs of progress continued. Not tomorrow, not next week, but soon enough. It had all happened so quickly.
That uneasy sensation returned, and she let her feet carry her around the corner as she desperately tried to untangle the mystery.
The mini suites for the three brothers were also coming together. One of them looked ready to move into, except for the missing plumbing hardware in the bathroom.
The second and third were stalled at an earlier stage.
Somewhere to her left, a sharp metallicclangrang loudly. Following the sound, she discovered Aiden cursing at a pipe in what would be the bathhouse.
When he thumped the fitting a second time with the wrench head, she laughed. “Is this a new way to use a wrench?”
He jerked to a stop an instant before smacking the pipe again. “You never saw that.”
Oh, but she had. Petra glanced around the windowless room and decided she knew a good way to forget whatever it was that was bothering her. She backed up to the door and locked it behind her. “What will you give me to keep me from telling?”
Aiden’s grin widened. “What do you want me to give?”
She paced toward him, draping her fingers over his shoulder as she circled slowly. “I’ve noticed you’re getting bossier.” She plucked the wrench from his hand and laid it carefully on the folding worktable.
He twisted to face her. “You like me bossy.”
“Sometimes,” she agreed. She traced a finger down the placket of his shirt, pausing at the top of his jeans. “Okay, usually.”
