Chapter 4
4
M id-morning Friday, the High Water ranch house already looked a lot more like a home. By some weird magic, the shipment of mattresses and bedroom furniture Jake had ordered weeks ago arrived only a few minutes before the towels and linens.
Aiden and Jake took a pause from drywall work in the artists’ retreat space and spent a couple of hours assembling beds and arranging furniture. They’d gone with simple choices, and everything in the bedrooms was mix and match. By the time Declan stopped in for his third cup of coffee, he gave a slow nod of approval as he marched through the rooms to see what they’d accomplished.
“Not bad.” Declan stepped toward the window in the room where Aiden’s gear was shoved in the closet to get it out of the way of the new twin bed. He peered outside and made a noise. “I’ll adjust that yard light so it doesn’t shine in this room all night.”
“Good idea,” Jake guided them toward the kitchen. “Did you finish the idea list of outdoor furniture? Or find a place for a firepit?”
“Got a start on the list. I’m still not sure I’ve hit the right amount between too sparse and too busy. But the spot I picked is dead on. One of you should come and check after lunch so you can tell me I’m a genius.” Declan glanced around hopefully before his expression fell. “Do we have plans for lunch? Jake, you set the schedule.”
“I phoned over to Buns and Roses,” Jake admitted. “I know we’ve got stuff in the fridge, but once the furniture all arrived, we’ve been going full tilt ever since. I’ll cook supper.”
Aiden checked his watch. Thirty minutes to go until lunch still, but they may as well plan this now. “Does one of us need to swing over there to grab food at noon?”
Jake shook his head. “Tansy said she had somebody who could run it over for us, but not to get in the habit because they didn’t offer a full-time delivery service.”
“Sounds fair,” Declan said with a nod. “I like her.”
“You like anyone who kisses you on the cheek,” Jake teased. “Big brother to how many women now?”
Declan shrugged. “A lot of the reason why High Water will work is because we’ll be able to scare the crap out of the people who need it, but the innocent know they can trust us.”
Which was a sobering pull back to reality about exactly who would be coming to live in the rooms they were setting up.
The sound of a car in front of the house brought Aiden’s attention to the window where a familiar car had pulled to a stop. He swore softly. “Don’t kill me. I forgot to mention I got a text this morning from my contact with Alberta foster care, Danielle. She said she planned to stop by today. No other details.”
They all turned to the window. Jake sighed heavily. “We’re nowhere near ready, but we’ve made a good start. She probably wants to reassure herself we actually bought a place.”
Declan put his coffee cup down on the island and headed toward the front door. “No use in standing here wondering.”
Aiden met Danielle as she stepped from her car, glancing around at the house and barn. In her late fifties, she was neatly dressed in a smart outfit that would fit equally in a family setting or a boardroom. He’d met her while volunteering with troubled teens at his previous job in the Crowsnest Pass area, and he knew she had a passion for doing what was right, even if it meant colouring outside the lines.
“Danielle. Good to see you again.”
“And you.” She gave him a quick hug. “I know this is sooner than you expected, but I was passing through after a meeting in Calgary. I thought I’d take a chance and see how things were going.”
“We’ll let you take a look around,” Aiden suggested. “If you’ve got any suggestions, you let us know. There’s been a lot happening and some things to catch you up on, but first off is making sure you’re okay with our plans.”
Danielle greeted both Jake and Declan then opened the trunk of her car to display a pair of boots. “I know it’s probably the least ready, but I’ll admit that the animal rescue holds a great deal of charm for me. You got any cats or dogs around for me to say hello to? My husband is allergic, so this is the only chance I get for some creature cuddle time.”
Declan tilted his head toward the barn. “Come on. I’ll give you a tour and show you what we’re planning for the men’s dorms.”
“When you’re done, come back inside. You can check the house then join us for lunch,” Jake offered. “I ordered more than enough, and she’ll be bringing it by just before noon.”
“Wonderful.” Danielle took another quick glance around before holding up her boots. “Let me change, then I’ll be ready for my tour.”
Wasn’t much they could do in the living room to make it cozier. They had chairs at the kitchen table and not much else yet, so Aiden didn’t bother trying. Danielle understood how this worked. How you could only do so much at a time.
Jake put plates and cutlery on the table, though. “We should at least try to make a good impression,” he mumbled when Aiden laughed. Then they both worked on their own tasks until Danielle and Declan were back.
Aiden took her for a quick walk-through. He was very thankful they’d tucked away all their stuff because with the new beds all made up with comforters in a soft blue, everything looked, well, pretty. Welcoming.
Danielle stopped and looked at the primary bedroom for the longest time then joined them at the kitchen table. “Okay, in case you’re worried, I’m impressed. I can tell you’re serious about making this a place of refuge and a stepping stone to better lives. Thanks for keeping my trust.”
“Making High Water a safe spot for those who need it is our priority,” Declan assured her.
“Whatever checks and balances you need in place, we’ll go along with,” Jake repeated. “We want that, so that everyone feels safe.”
She met Jake’s gaze. “Thank you. I know, and I wouldn’t have started this in the first place if I didn’t trust you all at a gut level. So here’s where I admit I came over with an ulterior motive. I know you absolutely are not ready—there’s no way you could be.” Danielle paused and seemed to go off in a different angle as she directed her next question at Aiden. “When does the housekeeper move in?”
Some sixth sense made him hesitate. He didn’t want to admit they’d had zero luck in finding someone. “Not for a bit.”
Danielle sighed, settling back in her chair as if exhausted. “It was a long shot, but I had hoped that by some miracle you already had someone in place.” She met each of their gazes in turn. “There’s a young woman I heard about who’s in a bad situation. She’s sixteen, and I’d like to get her out in the next twenty-four hours, but I can’t bring her here unless you have a woman on-site.”
The front doorbell rang followed by the door slowly swinging open and Petra walked in, arms wrapped around an enormous box. “Hey, guys. Sorry about that. I leaned on the door, and it opened. I brought lunch.” Petra spotted Danielle and blinked. “Hello. I’m sorry. Didn’t mean to interrupt.”
Beside Aiden, Declan had bolted upright and now shot to his feet. He hurried forward and took the box from Petra. “Perfect timing. Thanks so much.” He spun and dropped the food on the nearest counter then to Aiden’s surprise, his brother wrapped an arm around Petra’s shoulders and marched her to the table right beside Aiden’s chair. “Petra, this is Danielle.”
“Nice to meet you,” Petra said. She smiled, but her confusion was clearly rising.
A hand landed on the back of Aiden’s collar as Declan all but hauled him to his feet. Not knowing what was going on, Aiden went willingly enough and ended up standing beside Petra.
His brother stepped back and gestured to the side. “Danielle, I’d like you to meet Petra. Aiden’s fiancée.”
It was partly her fault for not paying attention. Petra had been more interested in sneaking a peek at Aiden than giving the other woman at the table her full attention. But— what ?
“Um—”
“Like Aiden said, there’s been a lot happening, and this is part of it.” Declan twisted to face her and Aiden, winking with the eye that was away from the older woman. “Isn’t that right?”
Petra still wasn’t totally sure what she had heard. It sounded an awful lot like the word fiancée , but that made no sense.
The next moment, though, Aiden slipped a hand around her waist and tugged her against him. “I’m thrilled that Petra said yes.”
He turned and pretended to nuzzle her neck even while whispering frantically. “Please go along with this. I’ll explain everything as soon as I can, but it’s important.”
Well then. Petra glanced between Danielle, Declan, and Jake, noting with some amusement that each of them had a vastly different expression on their face.
Declan continued to stare in his somewhat stone-faced matter but with an earnestness that made Petra pause. Jake looked horrified. He’d pasted a smile on his lips that made him look slightly ill.
But it was Danielle who turned the tide for Petra. The older woman was genuinely relieved and happy. “Oh, I am so pleased for you, Aiden. And for you, Petra. Aiden’s a wonderful man.”
“I think so too,” Petra offered sweetly. Only she slipped an arm behind Aiden so she could pinch his butt.
What. The. Hell?
Danielle leaned forward and spoke softer. “I assume this means she knows everything that’s going on with the shelter and all the requirements we discussed.”
“We’re still working through the final details,” Aiden said quickly. “But the bottom line is if you have someone who needs a safe place to hide, we’re ready to have her come to the ranch. Petra will be here.”
The urge to curse the entire group soundly and walk away without another word vanished after hearing needs a safe place to hide . “Aiden will fill me in on everything I need to know,” Petra assured Danielle.
The older woman nodded firmly and pushed to her feet. “Thank you for the offer of lunch, but with this good news, I’m going to carry on to make sure I get everything done as quickly and quietly as possible. I’ll text the details as soon as I can, Aiden. As always, if you need anything, let me know, and my husband and I will see what we can do.”
Getting Danielle out of the house became a symphony of movement. Aiden tugged Petra farther back into the house, allowing Jake and Declan to escort Danielle to her car.
The instant the front door closed, Petra jerked free from Aiden’s grasp and raced for the living room window.
Aiden ended up right beside her, the two of them staring as if making sure the woman had truly left.
“I’m pretty certain I need to kick somebody’s ass right now,” Petra said as calmly as possible.
“That makes two of us.” The anger in Aiden’s voice was clear. “I’m very thankful you didn’t call bullshit and stop that in its tracks, but trust me, Declan blindsided me as well.”
Petra met his gaze. “Really?”
“He was the only one of us to think fast enough on his feet. I just about messed it up before I realized what he was doing.”
“What the actual fuck?” Jake nearly roared as he re-entered the house hard on Declan’s heels. “They’re engaged? What’s going to happen when Danielle discovers that’s a damn lie?”
“That’s a problem for down the road. We’ll figure it out.” Declan marched up to Petra. “Sorry for dropping that on you. Thanks for not mucking it up. Come have lunch, and we’ll explain what’s going on.”
“I’d appreciate that,” Petra offered. “And for the record, the only reason I’m not hightailing it is that comment about getting somebody to safety. You bought an animal rescue.”
“It still will be, partly.” Aiden gestured toward the table. He waited until she sat before taking a chair opposite her. “But we’re also quietly building a safe house. Somewhere for people who slip through the cracks for whatever reason. We plan to give them a home here for as long as they need.”
“A safe house?” Petra thought through what she knew of the social system. “That doesn’t seem the kind of thing you do within a few months of buying a place without a lot of red tape involved.”
“Which is why we’re avoiding the red tape,” Jake confessed with a grumble before meeting her gaze. His dark grey eyes focused sharply. “Look, I worked in criminal services for over fifteen years, and far too often I saw people who just needed a bit of a break to be able to turn their lives around. But the system isn’t set up to make that happen, either because of a lack of resources or a lack of give a damn.”
“I’ve done a lot of volunteer work with problem teens,” Aiden offered. “It’s nearly impossible for someone who’s willing to put in the work to find a new path when they’re stuck in a bad family or a bad situation that’s not of their choice.”
Declan cleared his throat. “Since we’re spilling all the beans, we’ll let you know that we’ve got the resources to commit to this, and a willingness to make it work, even if it means saying fuck it to red tape. If that’s not something you’re comfortable with, I get it. But we would ask if you could stretch your morals for a short period of time. One of the parameters we agreed to was always having ladies working the ranch so that any women who needed to retreat had peer support. We’re in the process of hiring a live-in housekeeper and cook, but until they’re in place, it sounds as if we need you.”
“But as Aiden’s fiancée?” Petra glared at Declan. “What the hell?”
This time, it was Jake who sighed. “No, that was a brilliant move. Danielle’s still in the system, secretly working on our behalf. She’s not going to agree to a random woman we temporarily drop into place at a moment’s notice. We’ve helped her help others in short-term situations over the past few years. While she trusts us, she’s also rightly put in checks and balances. We promised she could vet the housekeeper before we brought them on, but a fiancée is different. None of us would get involved with a person who wasn’t able to join our venture one hundred percent.”
Petra sat back in her chair, mind whirling. Of course a fiancée made sense—if she truly was one. “What a tangled mess.”
Aiden leaned forward, hands pressed to the table. “I’ll do anything I can to make this work for you for as long as it’s necessary. Declan’s right. I hope you don’t walk away for the sake of whoever it is that Danielle thinks needs our help in the next twenty-four hours.”
Damn the man. Petra met Declan’s gaze. “First, fuck you. You’re quick on your feet but also a complete jackass. I’m torn between admiring you and wanting to kick you off a bridge.”
“Join the club,” Aiden and Jake said with near-perfect synchronization.
Petra snickered then pointed toward the box on the counter. “You’d better feed me. I think the adrenaline rush is wearing off, and I’m going to balk fast if I don’t get some food into me.”
Jake opened the box and put food on plates while Declan grabbed drinks from the fridge.
Aiden shifted position closer to Petra’s side. “You okay?” he asked softly.
“Oh, I will be. I guess, somehow.” She met his gaze. “This is one hell of a situation, but I’ll do it. You’re all so clearly telling the truth, and I have a soft spot for people who step across lines to do things the system can’t fix.”
Relief shone on his face. “Sorry we got you into this.”
“Yeah, and you’re going to be even more sorry. But we’ll talk about those details when it’s just the two of us. We’re going to need a little bit bigger plan than Declan realizes.”
Aiden nodded. “Food first? That’ll give us time to talk about what our overall plans are here for Hell or High Water. High Water to the community.”
Oh, she liked that. “That’s a very evocative name.”
Aiden took a couple of sandwiches then passed her the platter. “It’s meant to be. The three of us have had experiences that mean we know what it’s like to face an ultimatum and be willing to do anything to come out the other side whole.”
“Okay.” Petra waited until everybody had filled their plates. “Tell me the plan so I know what I’ve signed up for. At least temporarily,” she said quickly to Declan. “Because you need to keep looking for that Danielle-approved housekeeper, got it?”
“Of course.” Declan said firmly.
As far she could tell, it was a rock-solid promise.
She sat back and enjoyed Tansy’s excellent lunch while the three brothers painted a picture of what High Water would look like, and she listened as closely as possible.
The animal rescue would be the connection to the community. The artists’ retreat house, with small group workshops scattered throughout the year, would bring in money to help fund the ranch. Running both of those plus the rest of the ranch chores would create jobs for the temporary guests to do while they prepared for their next step.
All the while, though, a part of Petra’s brain was trying to decide what on earth she was going to tell her family and friends who knew the engagement was a lie. A small deception. A temporary situation for the greater good.
God, that sounded pathetic even in her brain.
Nope, she wasn’t doing this on her own. Aiden was going to have to help her. But the more the brothers shared, the more she came to realize she couldn’t walk away.
Not now.