Chapter Thirty-One
THANKSGIVING AT THE ranch wasn’t like any holiday Crew had ever attended.
It was a full-blown production with the Whiskeys and all of the ranch staff and clients, everyone dressed in jeans and sweaters, without a pretense—or any alcohol—in sight.
People moved through the room, carrying serving dishes, platters, and baskets out of the kitchen, calling out instructions and heckling in equal measure.
It was loud and chaotic and somehow also appeared seamless, as if they’d been doing this together their entire lives.
In the middle of all of it was Birdie, dressed in hip-hugging mustard-yellow bell-bottoms that clung to her curves and a maroon flowered top that had a deep V-neck, flared sleeves, and tied just above her waist. She moved through the room like she belonged to every person in it, stopping to hug one of the older ranch hands, to kiss Hazel’s pudgy cheek, and to poke Doc in his side, only to dodge his swatting hand and laugh as she scurried away.
She stole Lucas’s cowboy hat as she whipped by and plopped it on Hyde’s head before snatching a bite of something off the platter he was carrying.
She was so damn captivating, Crew couldn’t look away.
She wasn’t there on a daily basis like most of them were, and yet she was deeply rooted in the community.
She came and went like the wind, spreading happiness like confetti.
She was loved by everyone, and she gave it back just as fiercely.
Crew was grateful to be among the lucky ones who were part of her world and part of the ranch.
He dragged his attention back to the kitchen and headed for Dwight. “What’s next?”
Dwight shoved a platter of green beans into his hands. “Watch the gravy boat behind you.”
Crew nodded and turned just as Birdie darted into the kitchen, quick as a sparrow, and snagged a biscuit from a basket Sasha was holding. Before she made it two steps, Dare wrapped his arms around her, slinging her over his shoulder.
“Open the oven, Dwight,” Dare boomed as Birdie shrieked. “I’ve got the bird. She’s a little bony, but I think we can make it work.”
The kitchen erupted in laughter.
“Put me down, you overgrown scarecrow!” Birdie hollered, arms and legs flailing.
Cowboy strode past, plucked the biscuit out of Birdie’s hand, and bit half of it off.
“Hey!” she cried. “That was my emotional support biscuit!”
“Was,” Cowboy said around the mouthful.
“Don’t worry, Bird. We’ll baste you with butter first,” Dare promised.
“If one drop of butter touches me, I’ll shove that baster where the sun don’t shine!” Birdie shot back.
More laughter rang out. Dwight eyed the mayhem and said, “With that mouth, she might be too spicy for the table.”
Dare set Birdie on her feet, giving her hair a ruffle.
She smacked his arm. “Watch it, or I’ll replace your coffee with decaf and watch your soul leave your body.”
Crew laughed with the rest of them, warmth spreading through his chest. Birdie glanced his way, her eyes catching his just long enough to share the secret smile that made him ache to taste those sexy lips before she spun away, grabbed the other half of the biscuit out of Cowboy’s hand, and shoved it into her mouth.
Laughter ensued as she snagged another basket and carried it out to the dining room. Crew carried the green beans out to the buffet and then went back for more.
He was about to put another platter down, when Birdie, Simone, and Juliette came out of the kitchen with their hands full of serving dishes.
Simone and Juliette went to the other buffet table, and Birdie slipped in front of Crew, her ass grazing his thighs.
She glanced over her shoulder, eyeing him playfully, and like a moth to flame, his body ached to press forward, but he held himself in check.
“Hey there, new guy,” she said tauntingly. “You gonna help or just stand around looking pretty in that Henley that screams cuddle up with me by the fire?”
He gave her a look that he hoped didn’t translate to how badly he wanted to kiss that sexy smirk off her lips.
She giggled and headed over to Juliette and Simone.
Crew shook his head, laughing under his breath as he set down the platter.
“My girl’s a firecracker, isn’t she?” Wynnie said as she stepped beside him and began straightening platters. “She and Dare love stirring things up.”
“You must’ve had your hands full when they were younger.”
“You have no idea. And it wasn’t just those two.
It was all of them.” Her eyes brightened like Birdie’s often did.
“They were always into something. I can’t tell you how many times we woke up to Cowboy guarding the girls’ bedroom doors with his plastic rifle or Dare and Doc patrolling the porch outside Birdie’s window because she thought bears could find her in the middle of the night, and then there were the sheet forts set up in bedrooms.”
Crew smiled as memories of making sheet forts with Robbie and sleeping on his floor when he was scared rolled in. “Those are good times for kids.”
“Sure are. Then there were the baby goats,” Wynnie said fondly.
“That sounds like trouble in the making.”
“It was,” she said. “We’d rescued a handful of baby goats, and someone snuck them into the house.
By the time I found them, they’d eaten sheets and books, and there were goat droppings everywhere.
And those poor goats were wearing the girls’ tutus and pink scarves.
Some of them even had socks on, and their fur was decorated with Magic Marker stars and hearts. ”
“Oh, man.” That screamed of Birdie, but he didn’t dare say it.
“That’s not the best part,” Wynnie said.
“We knew right away that it was Birdie who had done it. Sasha wasn’t a rule breaker, and if it were the boys, the goats would’ve been decked out in camo.
But when we rounded up the kids and asked them who was responsible, Dare took one look at the fear in Birdie’s eyes and stepped forward, saying he did it.
He made up a story about how he thought it would be funny and tried really hard to sell us on it.
Birdie looked at him like he was her hero, and when Cowboy and Doc saw that, they stepped up, insisting they’d done it, and made up ridiculous stories about why.
Suddenly the three boys were arguing about who was responsible, when we knew damn well it was our little firecracker. ”
He pictured Birdie looking up at her brothers the way Robbie used to look at him. “What’d you do?”
“Probably not what you think. Birdie was looking at them with so much love, we didn’t have the heart to tell them we knew the truth.
” Wynnie smiled and said, “Even if we had, I have a feeling they’d have argued with us.
Those boys have been guarding our girls’ hearts since the day their pretty little faces came into this world. ”
Crew looked across the room at Birdie giving Cowboy a hard time about something, and his chest went tight. He didn’t want to come between Birdie and that kind of love. He knew better than anyone that some kinds of love were too sacred to break.
“They’re lucky to have each other,” he finally said. “And in case I haven’t said it recently, I’m lucky to be here. Thank you.”
Wynnie patted the back of his shoulder and said, “We’re the lucky ones, honey. We’re glad you’re here.”
THE ROOM SMELLED like Thanksgivings from Crew’s younger days as everyone settled around the long wooden tables, conversations still pinging off the walls.
Crew took a seat at his usual table, his attention lingering on Birdie across the room.
She was sitting between Sasha and Lucas, with the rest of her family.
Her hair fell forward as she leaned in to listen to something Lucas was saying.
Her gaze flicked to Crew’s, an apologetic smile tugging at her mouth.
Rebel lowered himself to the seat beside Crew.
Crew glanced at him. “How’s it going?”
“A’right.” Rebel’s gaze sharpened, and he leaned closer, lowering his voice. “I know what’s going on.”
“What’s that?”
Rebel looked around, then said, “Birdie’s my family. When her brothers can’t step in, I do,” he said evenly. “I’ll honor her need to keep this quiet, but if you hurt her, you’ll have me to answer to.”
Crew held his stare, wondering how the hell he’d found out. “I respect that, but if you think I’d ever hurt that incredible woman, then you need to get to know me better, and I’m happy to help that happen.”
Rebel studied him for a moment before giving a curt nod. “We’ll do that,” he said as Hyde dropped into the seat on Crew’s other side.
“Man, I could eat a horse,” Hyde said, rubbing his hands together. “But I’d prefer a sexy lady.”
The guys around the table laughed, but Crew’s jaw was too tight to fake it.
Across the room, Tiny rose from his chair, red bandanna tied around his forehead, leather vest in place. The man was as consistent as the day was long, and Crew found immense comfort in that.
The room quieted almost instantly, giving Tiny the respect he so greatly deserved.
“This holiday is about gratitude for the abundance of things we have,” Tiny said, his serious eyes taking in the faces around each of the tables. “But we don’t need a holiday for that.”
“Damn right we don’t,” Doc said, and murmurs of agreement rang out.
“People come and go from this ranch for different reasons, seeking direction, purpose, or simply a place where they belong,” Tiny continued.
“And I’ve learned something from every single person who has trusted us enough to spend time here.
From every man, woman, and child who has shared meals with us at these very tables.
Everyone has issues. Lord knows I do.” He tossed a teasing glance at his kids.
“I can’t seem to get rid of five of mine. ”
Laughter rose around them.
“I moved out!” Birdie chimed in.
“And you’re back here scarfing meals every week,” Cowboy called out, inciting more chuckles.