Page 72 of Brooke's Bliss
Rachel’s expression softened.“Damn, I didn’t think aboutthat.See, I’m being selfish.”
“Admitting how you feel isn’t selfish.You’re under a lot ofpressure, and you think you’re letting Max and Rye down by not being happyabout the current arrangements.But they’re worried, too.My brothers love you.You are the sun in the sky to them, and they would never want to hurt you.Talkto them.I can watch the kids for a night or two.”
“Maybe you could even switch houses.”That had come from thewindow.The open window.Beth McNamara-O’Malley stopped in front of it, and shewas holding a big basket.“Rachel, you have a delivery, and I apparently shouldmake an apology.”
She moved to the front door, and Brooke went to greet her,Rachel following behind.Now she could see there was a basket and a lovelybouquet.A dozen red roses.It looked like her brothers were going all out.
Beth was a petite woman with long brown and gold hair and asweet face.“I think they included every snack food known to man.”
Rachel sniffled and took the basket as Beth set the flowerson the bar.“That’s so sweet of them.I’m surprised they’re not on the doorstepdemanding I come home.”
“Max dropped it off and asked me to look out for you whileyou rest.He said there’s a note in the basket,” Beth explained.“Rachel, I’mso sorry.I didn’t realize you were struggling, but I should have.With Nellpregnant and Callie taking fertility treatments, you can’t count on them theway you could.I know Jen’s been working on the school and trying to convinceStef to have another kid.I was thinking of myself, though you should know Ilove the hell out of those boys and I always would have offered them thehouse.”
Rachel wiped a couple of tears and offered Beth a hug.“I’mglad they have you because I think Brooke needs this place for a little while.”
Her work here was at least halfway done.Though it suckedthat she probably had to forgive her brother.
Beth stepped back.She was dressed in overalls and lookedready for a day of installing dry wall or chinking a cabin.“She’s welcome forhowever long she needs.Honestly, I know Trev and Jamie were kind of hopingthey would take a bigger role here.Bo is the nominal foreman, but he wants tohave more time to spend with the kids and us.I guess offering this place iskind of an incentive to stay around.I know they like to roam.”
But did they?Oh, now that she thought about it, maybe Shanewasn’t irritated with Bay’s declaration of…longing, wanting?Bay had kind ofaccused him of lying about the reasons they left Kingman Ranch.
Had he liked it there?Had a girl there?Had Bay beenirritated at having to leave her behind?What if it had started to get seriousand that was why Shane had decided to escape in the middle of the night.
She let that thought go.If Bay had a girl there, he wouldhave mentioned it because he didn’t lie well.He tended to say whatever was onhis mind, and that meant she took what he said at face value.
Shane would have gently explained to her that he didn’t feelthe same way as Bay.
So this might be about leaving their last job.
“What do you know about why they ended up here at the G?”Brooke asked.“Also, would you like some coffee?I don’t actually think theboys drink it much.They left me a full pot this morning.”
“I would love a cup,” Beth said as she followed them backinto the kitchen.She sat down beside Rachel as Brooke poured the coffee.Itwas kind of nice to have a place where her friends and family could come in andhave a cup of coffee and talk and not have to deal with the fact that therewere only two chairs because nothing else fit.“I know they left their lastranch pretty quickly.The way Shane told it, they weren’t comfortable there.”
“This is Kale Kingman’s ranch, right?”Rachel picked up hermug.“Haven’t there always been rumors around him?”
Beth nodded.“Trev met him once and said he wouldn’t do anybusiness with him.He talked Jamie out of a couple of ventures Kingman offeredus.I don’t think any of our business partners chose to work with him.”
The Circle G was a part of a ranching cooperative with acouple of ranches in Texas.They used organic principles and worked on the ideaof quality over quantity.The Barnes-Fleetwood Collective had become a majorsource of beef for upscale restaurants and hotels.
She was so curious.Kingman was a flamboyant figure, thoughhe likely wouldn’t appreciate the title.He was known for doing things up big,and he often admitted to playing around in politics if it helped his business.“Why?Was there something shady about him?”
“Not on the surface, but Trev has a bit of an instinct forpeople who hide their darkness well.Not that I think Kingman’s trying.Hedoesn’t mind admitting to screwing people over, though he says it makes him thesmarter businessman,” Beth continued.“Bo would have fallen for it immediatelybecause my man only sees the best in people, but that’s why Trev’s the Dom andwe are his happy, well-loved and protected subs.Bay and Shane had done someseasonal work here before and they’d been reliable, so when Stef asked if therewere positions, we made a couple.I worried they wouldn’t stay after thebeginning of the year, but they’ve seemed intent on hanging around.I’m hopingthis relationship with Brooke seals the deal.”
Brooke shrugged.“Well, it’s not like I have anything betterto do.Maybe I should chuck it all, move back to Bliss, open a daycare, andlive out my life here.”
“Okay, I know that sounds bad right now…” Rachel began.
Beth snorted and took the coffee Brooke offered her.“She isnot going to do that, but you and I need to sit down and find a solution to ourchildcare problems.School only lasts nine months out of the year.We stillneed breaks in the summer.I say we call a meeting.No one’s shot a son of abitch recently.”
Ah, the women’s meeting.It usually involved tea and cakesand discussions of what to do the next time an outlaw MC came to town or aserial killer or the mafia.It often also was about the women of the townfiguring out how to help when problems arose.“We’re going to have more andmore kids in the next couple of years.River told me she and Jax are trying.Nell and Rachel and Hope are about to add to the baby boom.”
“Laura and Rafe and Cam are looking to adopt again,” Racheladded.“And I truly believe Stef is going to come around.I talked to Seth atStella’s last night and with Logan finishing up his doctorate, they want tocome out more, and Georgia is merely waiting until her body heals before tryingagain.”
She’d heard all about Georgia’s plans on the plane trip.“She wants like six kids.Logan goes a little pale when she talks about it.Seth wants to compromise on three at most.But my point is the only reason wehaven’t had big kids’ group activities available right here in Bliss wasbecause there weren’t many kids.And Mel’s alien camp does not count.”
“But now we’re going to have enough for it to be goodbusiness to offer summer programs,” Rachel mused.
Beth took a long sip of coffee and glanced down at herwatch.“I have to get going.Hale is picking me up.We’re meeting with Jesseand Cade about adding on a room to their cabin.But it’s a surprise, so don’ttell Gemma.They’ve saved up and they’re basically going to make their oldbedroom their office and Hale and I are putting in a new primary bedroom and abath to die for.With extra closet space.It’s going to make me want torenovate.”
