Page 15 of Lost With You
Not long later, Dylan drove into the area where they’d launched the aluminum canoe yesterday. A small crowd stood by the riverbank.
Dylan grunted. “Looks like we’ve got a bon voyage party.”
A few members of the crowd turned at the sound of the Jeep’s tires biting the gravel. They moved as a group to meet them where Dylan parked, close to the water.
She said, “Friends of yours?”
“Mostly family.” He shoved the door open and shot her a wary look. “Did I mention I have seven siblings?”
“Seven?!”
“Brace yourself, Casey. You’re about to meet the MacCabe clan.”
The crowd rushed the Jeep, shouting greetings. Children of stair-step ages swarmed. Teenagers hung back, absorbed in their phones. A group of adults, some clutching cups of coffee, sauntered over, while several folks lagged behind with an elderly man in a wheelchair. One broad-shouldered bull separated and surged toward Dylan, catching him around the torso. The attacker heaved Dylan up onto the hood of the Jeep. Dylan shoved him off, and by the time Casey rounded to the driver’s side to see what was going on, the two of them were wrestling like mountain goats. The kids shouted and giggled, but the rest of the clan formed a circle around the pair as if this was all in good fun.
Casey sensed curious attention as she joined the crowd. The most intense of stares was from a slim, pretty, thirtyish woman.Girlfriendwas Casey’s first, knee-jerk thought, until she took a closer look and saw the strong stamp of MacCabe genes on her features. The woman jerked a well-placed elbow into the side of the man beside her, and then that man nudged the one beside him. Within minutes, the wrestlers no longer held the full attention of the crowd.
She painted on a friendly smile. Dylan could have given her more warning, but she was used to introducing herself to strangers.
“Hi. I’m Casey,” she said, stepping up to the pretty blonde. “Casey Michaels. I’m taking Garrick’s place on Dylan’s expedition.”
The blonde’s mouth dropped open. “Wait—what?”
Oops. Had she said something she shouldn’t? By the ripple effect of her words, Casey realized that Dylan hadn’t told everyone about the switch. Was it supposed to be a secret? Or did Dylan just not have time to make a phone call last night?
The wrestlers pushed off each other, noticing the sudden slackening of attention. Dylan’s gaze traveled between her and the blonde, and his grin dimmed.
“Hey, everyone, thanks for coming, though you could have left this one at home.” He gave his brother a friendly push and stepped into the crowd. “You all know how long I’ve been working to get this venture going and how well I’ve ignored all of you urging me not to do it”—laughter all around—“so I’m happy to tell you that despite one last hitch yesterday, everything is now a go. Iamlaunching this canoe today.”
A few people clapped encouragement. Others murmured snarky comments. Half the crowd glanced her way in expectation.
“Those of you hoping Garrick would be here today, showing off his pecs—I’m looking at you, Anne—I’m sorry to say you’re going to be disappointed. He fell off a cliff yesterday and broke his arm.”
Female gasps, up and down the line.
“He’s okay,” Dylan added, raising his hands, “but he had to bail on this camping trip. Hard to paddle with only one arm. Fortunately, I found a worthy substitute. Meet my new partner, Casey Michaels.”
The broad-shouldered bull shouted, “Dylan!” and smacked him on the back. “You dog, you!”
“Casey showed up at an opportune moment,” Dylan said, “and she was gracious enough to offer to join me.”
“You lucky bastard.” The bull stepped toward her, holding out his hand. “I’m Bill MacCabe. This jerk’s older brother.”
Bill’s grip made her wince, but it was hard to not like the affable giant. “Pleasure to meet you, Bill.”
Dylan materialized at her side. “I apologize ahead of time, Casey, for the asinine things my family is about to say. They’re loud, nosy, and lacking in social graces.”
“Not all of us.” The thirtyish woman who’d been eyeing her turned with wary patience. “I’m Anne, the older, smarter sibling. Still wondering if this whole excursion is a good idea.”
“Oh, it’s a cocked-up idea,” Bill said, barking a laugh. “Crazy as hell. But I sure wish I could take time off from work to go with you, bro.”
Dylan shook his head in a way that screamedyounger brother, and she felt a little stab in her heart for the easy camaraderie of this sprawling family.
She had so little family left.
“Casey,” Anne said, touching her arm. “How did you get messed up in this, exactly?”
“I’m a freelance writer.” Casey shrugged as if this was all par for the course, hopping into a tent with a stranger for three weeks. “I was assigned to write up the story of this expedition forAmerican Backroads,but when I came by for an interview yesterday, Dylan was ready to shut the whole thing down. So I volunteered.
