Rocky Mountain Haven (21 page)

Beth pulled away and composed herself for a moment.

He waited. With what was written on her face, this wasn’t anything he wanted to miss out on having her share.

“I can’t even explain it. Telling you I love you seems inadequate. I love your family and how they’ve welcomed us in. Things like your parents having my folks over at Christmas, making sure everyone was friendly and accepting—you can’t understand what a gift that was after how my husband treated them for years.”

“Bastard.”

She pressed her fingers to his lips. “And I’m not bringing him up except to point out how much better this is. Richer. Warmer. Safer. So if you think it’s time for the next stage of the game, I trust you.”

The light in her face didn’t only shine out and turn her ten kinds of beautiful, it warmed him through and through.

They slipped into the living room, hand in hand.

His ma lifted her head, and he caught another glimpse of family that made him even happier. Robbie was curled up in her lap, body draped against her, hair wild as he slumbered.

“I told you he’d be asleep already.” Beth squeezed Daniel’s fingers and made as if to release him. He held on tight and tugged her across to the couch between his parents’ recliners.

“You’re not stealing him away yet, are you?” Marion Coleman rocked slowly, adjusting her grasp on the boy, her smile growing wider if anything.

“You’re not going to get him out of her arms without a crowbar, I’m thinking.” Mike’s chair squeaked slightly as he slid forward and headed to the liquor bottles on the side table. “Either of you want a drink? It’s a quiet party, I know, but we’re able to have a celebration of our own right here. Not as wild as what the rest of your brothers are up to, I bet.”

“I’m having a wonderful time, Dad. No need for the noise and craziness to make me happy.”

Beth’s bright laugh was quiet enough to not wake Robbie. “As if it was anything that could be considered quiet in here earlier. I’m sorry, Marion, the boys were so excited at dinner, I really didn’t…”

“Hush.” Marion waved her fingers in dismissal. “Trust me, they were nothing on our six back in the day. And frankly, I think it was mainly Blake and Daniel causing all the ruckus tonight, and not your angels.”

Daniel bit his lip as he accepted a glass from his father. Yeah, the noise of laughing and happiness wasn’t something he’d complain about. That wasn’t the part he wanted to change, and that’s what he had to make clear.

“You folks okay if I bring up a question I’ve got? Regarding the ranch?”

Mike and Marion exchanged glances.

His dad sat back down and looked over at the couch, examining Beth and Daniel closely. “Sounds serious.”

Daniel took a deep breath. “Serious but nothing too worrisome, I hope. I’ve wanted to run something past you for a while, and I think I’ve got the numbers figured out. You know how you mentioned it might get tight when the twins finished school? Trying to support everyone on the profits from the ranch?”

His dad sipped his drink. He nodded—didn’t say anything though, and for a moment Daniel hesitated.

Just because his dreams lay in a different direction didn’t mean the ranch wasn’t a fabulous place to make a living. This change wasn’t supposed to be a poor reflection on his father or his abilities.

“You’ve done good, Dad. Real good over the years, in the decisions you’ve made. Things like setting up the workshop and diversifying our livestock. You’ve never stood still and that’s why we’ve done so well. But with the changes in the market, you’re right. Finances will get tight, and I doubt there’s any way the ranch can support seven families, if at some point we all settle down. It’s not like in Grampa’s day—we can’t split the land any more without losing the advantage of having a big parcel. So I’ve been wondering—what would you think of me moving into something else?”

“You want to leave the ranch?” Marion rocked her chair steadily, sadness on her face.

“Not to move far away. If I was to run the workshop full time, I could actually increase the orders we take in. There’s the possibility we could end up making more money than we are now, but I’ve got to be full time in the shop. Juggling two major endeavors would just get us in trouble.”

Mike’s slow smile eased Daniel’s fears. The twinkle of amusement that flashed in his father’s eyes a moment later piqued his curiosity.

“You know, it’s funny to watch you and your brothers tiptoe around me. I never thought I was the intimidating kind of father, but heck if you all don’t still take it real careful anyway.”

Daniel looked him in eye. The confession was easy to make. “It’s not that we’re afraid of you, it’s that we respect you.”

The pleasure on Mike’s face was easy to read. He coughed lightly for a moment, taking a sip of his drink before continuing. “You’ve obviously given this a lot of consideration.”

“I have.” The words spilled out now that Daniel had started. “And while I’ve loved working with you over the years, I just don’t enjoy ranching like you do, sir. Not like Blake and Travis especially. Or maybe I should put it the other way. I enjoy the woodworking so much more, and since I think there’s a viable living there, I want to propose a buyout.”

“Well, I can’t say as this is a real surprise to me. Before we make any firm decisions, I need to see some numbers. But, son, it’s your life and you’ve got to be doing what’s going to make you happy. If it works financially to all our advantage, who am I to say no? You still think on keeping the shop here? Or moving her to a new location—?”

“Enough.” Marion broke in. “You can talk through all that later. I want to know the important stuff first. Like, where do you plan on living, and it had better not be too far away.”

“Ma.” Daniel grinned at her. “I’m not thinking about going anywhere except maybe into town.”

She wrinkled her nose then shrugged. “You’re the one who’s got to live there, so I won’t mention how much you’ll miss hearing the frogs in the spring. Always your favourite thing.”

He snorted. “I’m never going to be more than five years old to you, am I?”

Marion shook her head, her gaze darting over Beth. The questions were there in her eyes, but she held her tongue, and Daniel was grateful. Yeah, he had ideas that direction as well, but it wasn’t the place or the time. Yet.

The New Year was going to bring all kinds of wonderful things to him—to
them
—and he could hardly wait.

Chapter Eighteen

The look of disgust on his brother’s face made Gabe’s lips twitch as he fought to hide his amusement.

“It’s just mean.” Rafe growled out the words before twisting away and heading for the door.

Gabe felt for him, but there was not much he could do. “Don’t pout. You heard Dad as clear as I did—you’re working with him first thing in the morning. Going to a party tonight isn’t going to fly. Unless you think you’re good to get up at four a.m. and be alert enough to—”

Rafe kicked the garbage pail by the edge of the kitchen sink, the metal clanking as it struck the counter. The discord of the echo bounced off the walls of Gabe’s apartment like an out-of-tune cymbal. “I know why I can’t go out. Just, there’s all week to do the repairs in the barns. I don’t see any reason we’ve got to put in such an early day tomorrow.”

There was no reason Gabe could give him. No reason other than their dad had made the decision to work like a maniac, which meant they had to as well. “It sucks, but it’s life. Find something else to do tonight. Call someone. Text them, or organize a game online, or something.”

Rafe gave him another dirty look. “It’s New Year’s Eve. I
had
plans, remember? They’re all cancelled since I’m not allowed to grab a truck to get into town, and you’re being a shit and refusing to take me along with you.”

His kid brother might be feeling the weight of the world right now, but it wasn’t going to change Gabe’s mind. “Sorry, I highly doubt a seventeen-year-old would be welcome where I’m going. And besides, you’re operating machinery in the morning. I’m not keeping you up until all hours and then putting you behind the wheel.”

All the air went out of Raphael as he leaned unhappily against the door. “You sure you don’t want to stay home and play cards with me for a couple hours? It’s New Year’s Eve and I’m headed to bed like a baby. Having you stick around would make it a whole lot better.”

“I’ve got plans.”

Rafe wouldn’t look him in the eye, and Gabe felt like the shit his brother had called him. It had to be miserable, but the reality was their dad still had the right to call the shots in the kid’s life.

Heck, in his life too, at least as it related to the ranch.

He’d been researching the best he could during downtimes from working. There was much to learn, and Gabe wasn’t about to bring up the idea of changes until he could make the benefits clear to their father.

So for now, they ran things the old-fashioned way. Which meant their father Ben was in charge, with no discussion, no arguments. Gabe, and Rafe when he was out of school, were the obedient labour.

Gabe sighed. “It’s a hell of a thing, but at least you know dad will be slaving just as hard as us all week. He’s just got…unusual timing.”

Rafe groaned and slouched harder.

Inspiration struck. “Hey, you want to crash out here tonight?”

Rafe looked up from under his bangs. “In your apartment?”

“Sure. I’ll be home late, but you can use the bedroom, and I’ll hit the couch when I get in. I don’t mind.”

Maybe a little space to himself would make up for some of his brother’s disappointment.

“Well, it’s not the party, but since I didn’t actually have a date…” Rafe straightened, his normal enthusiasm returning in a rush. “Can I have a few beers?”

Gabe resisted the urge to roll his eyes. “One, since part of the reason for you to stay home is so you’re not hungover in the morning. Go—grab your stuff, and I’ll call Mom and let her know what’s happening. I’m sure she’ll be fine with it. She can smooth it over with Dad. Just, for God’s sake, set the damn alarm and don’t bloody well sleep in.”

Rafe raced out the door and across the distance to the main house, without pulling on his abandoned winter coat, and Gabe shook his head. Oh, to be young and full of energy, bouncing back that quickly from disappointment.

A couple hours later Gabe was wishing he’d stayed at home with Rafe.

He stepped over another couple on the floor groping each other madly and wondered where the hell all the bodies had come from. Debauchery was alive and well at the turn of the year.

“Happy Fuckin’ New Year.”

The call echoed back from a dozen throats too inebriated to enunciate properly. Gabe shook his head and wondered why he’d even bothered coming.

Because a twenty-nine-year-old sitting alone at home with his kid brother on New Year’s Eve is beyond pathetic?

There were small pockets of sanity scattered throughout the room. Even though they both had a woman on their laps, the Six Pack twins were sober enough to be holding a verbal contest with a few other guys, including two of the Moonshine Colemans. Hell, everywhere he looked there were Colemans sprinkled in amidst the rest of the partiers. The notable absences were the Whiskey Creek girls, Blake, Daniel, and his own brother, Rafe.

Gabe eyed the room, feeling far wearier than he should. Maybe he would head home early.

A hand slapped on his shoulder, and he twirled to face Matt. Great, just what he needed.
Not
.

“You’ve become a bit of recluse, cousin.” Matt gave him a tired smile before turning his gaze back into the room behind them.

Awkwardness had settled between him and Matt ever since he’d seen Helen in Red Deer and kept it to himself. Maybe he’d been wrong in his suspicions, but the whole thing never sat right after.

“I was thinking about packing it in. Not in a partying mood tonight since the chores are gonna be there in the morning no matter what time I hit the sack.”

Matt grimaced. “I hear you. I’m on first shift too, in spite of Blake being snuggled up early with Jaxi.”

“Yeah, well, you’re assuming they’re going to sleep, and that’s probably bullshit.”

His cousin nodded. “Hey, before you go, help me find Helen, will you? She’d been putting the drinks back pretty hard before we even came out, and now she’s gone missing. I haven’t seen her for nearly an hour.”

“She didn’t go outside, did she?”

“Nahhh, her coat and boots are still here, but I’ve looked around the house once already. I wonder if I’m walking in a circle and missing her.”

Gabe headed the direction Matt aimed him, unwilling to suggest that if Helen was shitfaced, her coat and boots being left behind were no indication of anything good. She’d be far more likely to go wandering outside without them while drunk.

Music shredded his eardrums. The driving pulse echoed off the walls and competed with raised voices. Lighting was low throughout the old house, the main residence for the oldest two cousins on the Moonshine side of the Coleman clan. They lived with a couple friends, and while he’d been offered a place with them, Gabe had easily turned down the invitation. His tiny apartment wasn’t fabulous, but it was better than living in this kind of raucous chaos on a regular basis.

He paused outside a closed bedroom door, suddenly awkward. The things he did for family…

Gabe knocked, got no answer, then pushed the door open to make sure Helen wasn’t passed out on the floor or something. The first room was empty, and he breathed a sigh of relief. All his Zen-like calm vanished a moment later when he swung open the master bedroom door and froze.

He’d found her.

There was a second music system playing in the room, the drums in the current song pulsing out a tempo echoed in the sexual display before him.

If it had been anyone other than Helen, he might have thought the scene was hot—maybe even stepped closer to get a better view. He had no issues with a woman taking control of her sexuality. No matter now dirty, rough or how many partners she wanted, it was her own damn business.

But this was
Helen
.