Chapter 16
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
T he plan was in motion. Rance’s convincing story had worked and at this very moment Lucky and Oksana were giving Kieran and Rance a lift to Rance’s cabin. And getting an earful. Sara would have loved to listen in on that conversation.
Were they speculating on whether Lani would go along with the scheme? Sara wanted that answer, too, but she wouldn’t get it until she was tucked into the privacy of the bedroom they shared.
That might not happen for a while. Angie, Dallas, Brit and Trent had stayed on after the rest had left. So had Margaret, Brit’s mom. The whole Armstrong family hadn’t been together since February and Brit’s pregnancy gave them plenty to talk about.
Desiree and Andy served the Bailey’s Sara’s parents had brought as a house gift and everyone gathered around the fireplace. The evening was chilly enough for a modest fire and Dallas tended it, gently feeding the flames to provide atmosphere without overheating the room.
Under different circumstances, Sara would have relaxed into the moment. Dallas crouched near the hearth nursing a fire reminded her of all the times her big brother had appropriated the job back home.
Trent’s happy smile had returned after years of misery, and that was wonderful to see. Her earlier fears that the situation with Brit would be a trainwreck had disappeared. He was head-over-heels and Brit clearly returned his love. They’d make great parents.
Everyone was so relaxed and happy that guilt pricked her. Sneaking around wasn’t her normal behavior, but this cozy setup with her parents and her sister in the kids’ wing of the ranch house created a virtual chastity belt.
It wasn’t like she and Kieran could take a rain check, either. It was now or never. Rance’s scheme was her only alternative for satisfying their longing for each other without creating a ruckus. Even one night of bliss was worth the risk.
Her dad had brought a mocktail version of Bailey’s for Brit, and Sara would have preferred that. But doing anything out of the ordinary wasn’t a good idea so she’d taken a small glass of the regular stuff and was drinking it slowly.
She’d need all her resources to drive that big black truck if by some miracle Lani bought into the plan. Rance must really believe this caper would win him points with Lani if he was willing to risk Midnight Thunder.
“By the way, Sara.” Desiree glanced at her. “I didn’t want to say anything while Kieran was here, but fixing that headstone won’t be as easy as I imagined. We’d be better off just getting a new one.”
“How long would that take?”
“Weeks. Maybe longer. It was probably the same time frame when I ordered the other one, but I was too busy with Rance and Lucky to notice. That’s been my only experience. Angie’s dad was buried in a family plot back East. I had no idea you couldn’t just get one in a few days.”
“One of our dental patients advised me to take care of everything now,” Margaret said. “And not leave it for Brit. Great advice. Have I done it? No.”
“Same.” Sara’s mom lifted her glass in Margaret’s direction. “My parents have everything organized and prepaid. Sadly, Harry and I have made zero preparations for our eventual demise.”
“I’m glad we haven’t,” her dad said. “The way things are going, you and I will be planted right here.”
“That’s terrific news, Dad.” Dallas beamed at them.
“Don’t get too excited, son. Your mom and I don’t plan on kicking off anytime soon.”
“That isn’t what I meant. I just?—”
“I know. You’re eager for us to make the move. I guess this is the time to announce that we’re meeting with a real estate agent when we get home. The house will be on the market by next month.”
“Woo-hoo!” Brit lifted her glass. “That deserves a toast. To Grandpa Harry and Grandma Vanessa moving to Montana!”
Sara touched glasses with everyone she could reach and ignored the twinge of sadness. Her childhood home would soon belong to strangers. She’d been in the habit of dropping by for dinner at least once a week.
Sometimes she and Lani had coordinated so they’d both be there. She glanced at her sister, who met her gaze and gave a little shrug, like what can you do ?
“The market’s hot right now, Dad,” Trent said. “What if the house sells right away? Have you decided where you’ll?—”
“Oh, that. Desiree says we’ll always have our room here. Or we can live with you and Brit, or Dallas and Angie.”
“Oh.” Trent exchanged a look of panic with Dallas.
“I kind of like the idea of floating between the two places, fancy free, no lawn to mow, no roof to repair, no taxes to pay. We’d kick in for groceries, and?—”
“Harry, stop it.” Their mom gave him a swat. “Your boys are freaking out. We’re not living with you guys. Or Desiree. She tried to give us land but we forced her to take money for it. We’ll be building a cabin on Rowdy Ranch.”
Both couples let out a collective sigh of relief.
“And,” their mother continued, “instead of hiring a contractor, Angie, we’d like to hire you and Kendall.”
“Wow!” Her eyes widened. “We accept! I can’t wait to tell Kendall. We’ve talked about whether we could handle an entire house. I think we can.”
“Harry and I have every confidence in you two.”
Desiree let out a happy sigh. “I love how this is working out. Is it wrong of me to want all of you to come live here?”
Andy gave her a smile. “It’s not right or wrong, Dez. It’s just you. You want to gather all your chicks under your wing.”
“So true. But don’t mind me, Lani and Sara. I understand that you have jobs you love and friends you care about.”
“But it’s sweet of you to want us,” Lani said.
Sara nodded. “And we’ll visit a lot more if Mom and Dad are living here.”
“I’ll look forward to that. Now if only Kieran… but that’s much more complicated. Sure would be great, though, especially for Lucky.”
“He’s not the only one,” Angie said. “Kendall and I want to hire him.”
Desiree’s eyes lit up. “Did you ask him?”
“Not yet, but Wagon Train Handywomen needs another person, especially if we’re going to expand into home construction. We’ve been quietly looking around. Then along comes Kieran. He’d be perfect.”
Brit grinned. “You might want to reconsider the name.”
“We’ve already thought of one. We’d become Two Handywomen and a Dude. If we drop Wagon Train from the name we can go after business in nearby towns.”
Desiree’s eyebrows rose. “Trying to keep up with Lucky?”
Angie just smiled.
“I love it.” Brit looked at Trent. “What’s our resident marketing expert think?”
“I say go for it. Only make it Two Handywomen and a Cowboy.”
“Except he isn’t one,” Lani said. “He told me he’s never been on a horse.”
“Minor detail. He’s already bought the hat. I guarantee someone will get him on a horse this week.” Trent looked straight at Sara.
She took a breath. “It’s an exciting idea.”
“You’re not crazy about it, though,” Angie said. “Why not?”
“I just think… he might want to do it, but I can’t imagine him leaving his grandmother and it doesn’t sound like she’d come with him.”
“I’d completely understand if that’s his choice. You could be right that she won’t budge.”
“I’m only going by what he’s said.”
“Then you think if I offered him a job, I might put him between a rock and a hard place?”
“Kind of. Yeah.”
“I won’t mention it yet. I’ll tell Kendall not to say anything, either. We’ll see how the next few days go.”
Sara’s anxiety eased. “That sounds good.” Angie’s offer could absolutely put him in a bind. The McLintocks were a dazzling bunch. But his granny was his top priority. His loyalty to her was one of the things that made him special.
“Now that we have that semi-settled and the fire’s almost out…” Dallas polished off his Bailey’s and stood. “We should probably shove off, honeybunch.”
“Yep. Sure was nice to hang out, though.” Angie got up, too. “Looks like we’ll all be here for Christmas.”
“I have Harry and Vanessa’s solid promise,” Desiree said, “so if Lani and Sara can?—”
“Oh, we’ll be here. Right, sis?” Lani glanced at her.
“Yep. Wouldn’t miss it.”
The gathering broke up after Dallas and Angie left. Within twenty minutes, Sara was headed down the hall with Lani.
She gave her sister dibs on the hall bathroom they shared. If the discussion went as she hoped, she wouldn’t be changing into her PJs tonight.
As she sat on her bed and waited for Lani’s return, she went over her pitch, but a little voice in her head kept distracting her. Was she also putting Kieran in a bind?
While she was wrestling with that, Lani came back in wearing her pjs.
“The bathroom’s all yours.” She tucked her clothes in a laundry bag.
“I have something I need to talk to you about.”
Turning, Lani gazed at her. “I knew it. Rance has been acting weird. You’re acting weird. He kidnapped Kieran. What are you guys up to?”
Sara told her.
“Oh, good Lord! Rance expects you to drive his big truck for the first time on the ranch roads by yourself at night?”
“Yes, but that’s not the part that worries me.”
“It’s the part that worries me. I don’t?—”
“Then you don’t object to the idea of me and Kieran?—”
“Look, I’ve been watching you two and you’ll find a way before the week is over. I’d rather you guys are in a safe spot and supplied with condoms instead of out in the woods with the bears and playing Russian roulette with your cycle.”
“I wouldn’t have risked getting pregnant.”
“Okay, but don’t pretend you wouldn’t sneak into the woods with him because you’ve already done it once. And he’s from Ireland. He knows less about bears than we do.”
“Then you like this plan?”
“I wouldn’t say like, but it’s okay, except the truck-driving part.”
“There’s no other way to work it, but that’s not why I’m hesitating. I’m afraid I’ll?—”
“There is another way. Rance can come here, get you, drop you at his cabin and then drive back here to spend the night. Then he can do it in reverse before dawn.”
“That’s so many extra trips. Extra time and extra gas. I can’t ask him to do that.”
“I can and I will. That’s the only way I’m greenlighting this thing. You’re a good driver but that truck is massive and there are no streetlights or signs out here.”
“But—”
“I wouldn’t risk it myself and I’m sure as hell not going along with a plan that puts you in that position. I’ll be happy to call him and say so.” She reached for her phone on the nightstand between the beds.
“You have his number?”
“Only because he grabbed my phone when I had it open and added himself. I just haven’t taken the time to delete it. And his texts are kind of funny.”
“Wait. Don’t call him. I’m not even sure I should go.”
“Why not?”
“What if he falls in love with me? But he can’t leave Ireland? Then I’ve put him in a bind, just like I was worried Angie would with her job offer.”
“What if you fall in love with him?”
“I sort of have already. But I’m prepared. I can handle it.”
Lani rolled her eyes.
“I can . I just don’t know if he’s thought it through. Also, he’s gotta be exhausted. I need to call him. For starters, we probably should postpone this until tomorrow night.”
“Then call him.” Lani flopped back on her bed. “If you decide to go for it, have him put Rance on.” She blew out a breath. “I can’t believe he expects you to drive Thunder. What was he thinking? Oh, yeah. I keep forgetting. He’s crazy.”