Chapter 23
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
The Ranch
“Poet!” Declan greeted the moment I came downstairs.
I smiled at Hadley’s husband and then gave him a hug. “Hi Declan.”
“How are things?”
“Things are good,” I said. “Surprisingly.”
He nodded and took a sip from his bottle of beer.
“And you?” I asked, glancing at the silicone wedding band around his finger. “How’s married life?”
“Fun.”
I grinned. “I’m glad to hear it.”
“What else is he going to say with me around?” Hadley asked, with a raise of her eyebrow at her husband and a smile on her face.
We wandered into the kitchen where Salem and Cas were standing in a corner. They looked like two peas in a love pod who’d forgotten there was an entire world going on outside of them.
Salem’s fiancé gave me a quick hug. “Can I get you something to drink?”
“Just water, thanks,” I said.
The kitchen was full of people. Muddy was bustling around getting platters of food ready. Jane and Hadley helped her. Mr. Powell sat at the kitchen table, nursing what looked like sparkling water.
No sign of Brooks.
I pulled out my phone and shot him a text.
Me
Where are you?
His reply was almost instant.
Brooks
porch.
“Everyone into the dining room,” Muddy said as she carried a geometric-print salad bowl. She looked at me. “Where’s Brooks?”
“He’s on his way,” I lied. “I’ll wait for him outside.”
She didn’t reply as she brushed past me into the dining room. Everyone followed her, like a trail of ducklings.
I slipped out the front door and closed it softly behind me. Brooks was sitting on the porch bench, and I slid into the spot next to him. His hand immediately went to my thigh.
“What’s wrong?” I asked. “Why are you out here?”
“I just needed a minute,” he murmured.
“Overwhelmed?”
He nodded.
“Not a fan of crowds.”
He shook his head.
“This isn’t a crowd,” I explained. “This is a family.”
“I’m an outsider.”
“Not anymore.” I squeezed his hand. “Come on. The first time is the hardest.”
“If that doesn’t have a double meaning.”
I stood and held out my hand to him. He took it and rose.
Everyone was already seated by the time we made it inside. There were two spots at the end of the table near Muddy that had been left open for us.
“Hi Brooks,” Muddy greeted with a welcoming smile.
“Hello,” he said, his voice low. He hastily removed his cowboy hat. “I’m sorry I’m late.”
“You’re not late,” Salem said, trying to put him at ease. “We’ve been playing musical chairs for the last five minutes.”
Brooks pulled out a chair and gestured for me to sit and then he took the seat next to me. His large hand immediately went to my thigh. I covered his with my own.
Muddy started the conversation with a statement directed at me. “So, I hear you’re going to move to Huckleberry Hill and open a bookstore.”
I looked at Salem across the table and then to Hadley who was next to me. “You told her?”
Hadley handed me the basket of biscuits. “Of course we told her.”
“Why wouldn’t we tell her?” Salem asked with a frown.
“Maybe because it was my news to share when I was ready?” I asked in exasperation.
“Sugar, I already knew you were going to move here. It’s not a surprise. As for the bookstore? Of course you’re going to open one,” Muddy said. “I called that months ago.”
“Months?” I asked in surprise.
“I’m Muddy, remember?” the older woman said with a wry grin.
“She’s witchy,” Salem explained to Brooks.
“She knows all,” Hadley added.
“She knows everything before the rest of us do,” Cas said, taking the platter of chicken and holding it out to Salem.
“You can forget about having any secrets if Muddy is involved,” Declan said from the other side of Hadley.
I glanced at Brooks.
His expression was tight, and his posture was stiff.
“Can we talk about something else?” I begged.
“Sure,” Salem said, passing the platter of chicken to Jane. “Cas and I have news.”
“You’re pregnant,” Hadley drawled.
“Har-har,” Salem quipped.
“You set a wedding date,” Mr. Powell said.
Salem shook her head. “No. We got married.”
Silence descended.
Jane lowered the platter of chicken to the table and then quickly shot up before running out of the room.
Mr. Powell looked after her in confusion and made a move to stand, but then he quickly sat back down to face his spirited daughter. “You got married? When?”
Cas wrapped an arm around Salem’s shoulder and pulled her to him. “This past weekend.”
“You found time between bull-riding events to get married?” Muddy asked.
“Yes,” Salem said, notching her chin up. “Can we not make a big fuss about this?”
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” I muttered.
“What?” Salem demanded.
“This is just like you,” I snapped. “You got married without me? Without Wyn?”
Mr. Powell’s eyes flashed with anger. “Without your father?”
I nodded vigorously. “You went and got married without any of us. You didn’t even have Hadley there?”
“Hadley was there,” Hadley interjected. “And Declan.”
“So that’s how this is going to be from now on, huh?” I asked. “The four of you are a unit while I’m—we’re—”
Brooks took my hand and engulfed my cold fingers.
“Should you check on Jane?” Salem asked Mr. Powell.
Mr. Powell’s jaw clenched. “Jane’s fine. You—you are the reason I’m going gray.”
“Dad—” Salem began.
“That’s two, two of my daughters that I didn’t get to walk down the aisle,” he said quietly. “You didn’t think about that, did you?” His gaze slid to Cas. “First you knock her up and then you have the fucking audacity to marry her without me present?”
“Connor,” Muddy said.
“No, he’s right,” Salem interjected. “Only Cas wanted to have a wedding and I’m the one who said no. I’m the one you should be mad at.”
“The shotgun?” Declan asked Muddy.
“Hidden,” she assured him.
“Good,” Declan said with a nod.
“You kids are un-fucking-believable,” Mr. Powell snapped. He looked at me. “You will not do this.”
“Do what?” I demanded.
He pointed to me and then to Brooks. “You’re having a wedding.”
“We just started dating. We’re not getting married,” I said in exasperation.
Brooks’ hand tightened on mine and he piped up confidently and said, “Yet.”
I shot Brooks a glare. Now was not the time to lay claim in front of everyone.
“I’m not your daughter,” I said, turning back to Mr. Powell. “You can’t tell me what to do.”
“Oh no,” Hadley muttered.
“That’s like waving a red flag at a bull . . .” Salem trailed off.
“You’re my daughters’ best friend. You’re family, Poet,” Mr. Powell said, but then he pinned Brooks with a stare. “You hurt her, I hurt you. You get me?”
“Yes, sir,” Brooks said. “I get you.”
“Are you sure you don’t want to check on Jane?” Hadley reiterated.
“He’s not going to hurt me,” I said in aggravation. “He’s braving this wild family dinner and just told everyone we’re getting married.”
“Congrats, man,” Cas drawled. “Welcome to the crazy.”
“Glad to be here,” Brooks said with a flicker of his lips.
“Dad,” Salem said. “Jane. My news made her leave the table.”
Jane reappeared into the dining room. “Your news didn’t make me leave the table. Congratulations, Salem. I’m happy for you.”
She slumped down in her chair, looking wan and shaky.
“You don’t look happy for me,” Salem said. “You look terrible. You coming down with something?”
“Rude,” Jane said as she reached for her glass of water with a trembling hand. Unfortunately, she knocked it over and it spilled.
“I’m so sorry!” Jane shattered into tears.
Mr. Powell handed her a napkin and took her free hand while she dabbed her eyes.
“What the hell is going on?” Salem demanded.
Mr. Powell looked at her. “I thought you of all people would recognize the signs.”
“The signs?” Salem asked stupidly.
“She’s pregnant, you dork,” Hadley said to her twin.
There was another round of silence and then Salem shot her dad a glare. “Pot, meet kettle.”
“What’s up with this family?” Cas asked in shock. “Everyone gets pregnant.”
Muddy started to laugh and then she rose and went to Jane and gave her a hug.
“You didn’t know?” Jane asked, looking up at her.
“Of course I knew,” Muddy said. “I’m Muddy.”
“Wait a second,” Salem said. “Jane is pregnant?”
“Yes,” Mr. Powell said. “And we’re very happy about it.”
“Yeah, yeah. We all are.” Salem nodded. “What I want to know is how?”
Brooks leaned close to me and whispered, “Should we be here?”
“Yes,” I said. “Now hush, I don’t want to miss anything.”
“You of all people don’t need a pop-up book,” Muddy said to Salem. She moved from Jane to her son and gave him a hug.
“No, I just mean, you got a vasectomy,” Salem said to her father.
“He did?” Hadley asked. “When? And how did you know about that, and I didn’t?”
“I overheard him and Mom talking when I was ten. Then I googled what it was,” Salem said.
“You didn’t tell me,” Hadley said.
“Yeah, we definitely shouldn’t be here,” Brooks said as he scooted back from the table.
“Sit,” I commanded. “Stay.”
“I’m not a dog,” he grumbled.
“Vasectomies fail,” Declan said slowly. “I’m guessing that’s what happened.”
Muddy shook her head. “No. That’s not what happened.”
Mr. Powell raised his brows. “I’m pretty sure that’s exactly what happened.”
Muddy shook her head again, more emphatic. “A few months ago when you were in the hospital, I had everyone praying for you to be completely healed.”
“Wait, are you claiming that the power of prayer fused his vas deferens back together?” Salem asked. “That’s crazy.”
“Okay, this is devolving,” Hadley said. “And I agree with Brooks. We should not be talking about this at the dinner table.”
Salem volleyed a look at her father. “Well, Dad, you should probably set a wedding date.”