Chapter Twenty #2
"But you've been getting time with her now that you're back."
"Yeah. I felt bad all this time that I wasn't here for her. Now that I am, it turns out she doesn't need me."
"Oh, she does. Just not living in her pocket."
Blane gave him a wry smile. "I know. I'm not pushing it. What about you? How are things with Harper?"
"They're going well. I'm able to do a little more every day now, so I feel like less of a burden on her. I was thinking I could try driving next week, too. That way I won't—"
Blane scowled at him. "I hope you're not about to say you won't need me to drive you. If it comes down to it, I'll snitch on you to Trip and he'll ban you from getting behind the wheel."
Emmett barked out a laugh that he immediately regretted as the pain shot through his chest.
"See," Blane said with a smirk. "You're not ready to drive yourself. And I cleared the decks for the next couple weeks, at least. So even if you insist on driving, I'll be right there riding shotgun."
"All right. I give in. I'll keep asking you to drive me, but we'll reassess next week, okay?"
"Okay." Blane jerked his head to where Hallie was standing talking to Ty's girl, Shayna. As they watched, Laney and Janey joined them. "She's your temp vet?"
"She is."
"And what are you hearing about her?"
"No complaints so far. In fact, Wendell Hollis called me to say he wasn't happy to have some young girl—his words, not mine—sent out to do his herd check.
He was going to turn her away when she arrived, but she talked him around, did her job, and chatted with him afterward long enough and smart enough that he had to call me to let me know she's all right.
Even said that if any of the old-timers complain about her, I should tell them he recommends her. "
Since Hollis owned one of the largest and longest-established herds in the valley, his endorsement carried real weight.
Blane looked over at her again. "She must be good."
"More than that—she knows how to handle ranchers. That's something they can't teach in vet school."
"Looks like you landed on your feet, then. Will you keep her around?"
Emmett pursed his lips. "I've been thinking about it. I know Janey would like to."
"If she can handle ranchers, you could send some of yours her way—give yourself a little more time. For the girls. For Harper."
"Maybe so."
Blane raised his eyebrows. "Didn't think you'd agree with me so easily."
"About taking the time, or about Harper?"
"Taking the time. Don't worry, bud; I can see what's happening with Harper."
"You can?"
"Yep. Can you?"
Emmett nodded slowly. "Yeah."
"You okay with it?"
"I am. I never thought I'd… It seemed like… I don't know the words. I didn't ever want to replace Emily."
Blane's eyebrows drew together.
"And I couldn't. I still don't want to," he hurried on.
"Damn straight you couldn't. That was never the question. There'll always be an Em-shaped hole in all our lives, but that doesn't mean there's no room for someone else—a Harper-shaped place beside you."
"And you don't… shit, I don't even know what word to choose."
"You don't need to choose one—I know what you mean.
I won't say I don't mind; that's not true.
I mind that Em's not here anymore—I miss her, too.
And I hate that you guys didn't get to live the life you could have.
But Em's gone. And you're here." He glanced over to where Harper was now laughing with Cash and Jim.
"And Harper's here. And I think she can be good for you. "
Emmett hated to ask, but he had to. "Has Alana said anything? About Harper? About me and Harper?"
"Yeah, we had a good chat on Friday night. She didn't ask me not to tell you, but I figured I wouldn't say anything unless you asked."
"I won't pry, then. I want her to know that she can turn to you."
"She does. She always has. And I won't break her trust, not even for you.
Well, maybe I would, if I thought it'd help you both.
But that's not the case here. What I'm saying is that you've got nothing to worry about.
She likes Harper—liked her before you ever did.
And she can see that the two of you could be good for each other.
I guess… I guess her concern is about how big that Harper-shaped place at your side might grow to be. "
"She can't think that I'd love her and Tanya any less because I love Harper, too." The words were out before he even knew they were coming. Something pulled tight under his ribs — not the ache he'd gotten used to. Something else.
Blane's eyebrows shot up, and Emmett realized that he’d said it out loud.
"She doesn't think that," Blane told him.
"She'd never think that. She's just not sure what the new shape will be.
And that's fair—like I told her, I don't know either, and I don't know how I feel about it.
But I want you to have another chance." He met Emmett's gaze.
"At love. I didn't use that word—didn't think it was an issue yet, anyway. "
Emmett stared at him. "Neither did I. I didn't mean to say that. I don't know where it came from."
Blane's expression remained cold for a few moments before he finally said, "Sounded to me like it came from the heart."
~ ~ ~
"Look at that—do you think they're okay?"
Harper looked over to where Shelley was pointing—at Emmett and Blane. Blane looked momentarily shocked, then… perhaps not angry, but certainly not happy. Emmett, on the other hand, looked… just plain shocked.
As she watched, they kept talking, and the moment—whatever it was—diffused.
"I'm sure they're fine," she told Shelley. "If anyone watched our expressions when we're catching up, they'd see us go through a whole range of emotions—even when we're talking about nothing in particular."
"True." Shelley glanced over at the men again before she turned back to Harper. "And since we are catching up—what's going on with you?"
"Everything's fine," she said with a smile. "We had a kind of date on Friday night, and it was wonderful."
"Aww, I'm glad. And how are things with the girls?"
"They're going well. Tanya's easy. She's such a little sweetheart, she just wants to see everyone happy—and half the time she's off in her own little world anyway."
"And Alana? Are things… less easy with her?"
"No. It's not that. It's just with her being older, you know?"
"I don't, but I imagine it must be harder for her—to see her dad with someone new."
Harper nodded, scanning the side of the barn. She soon spotted Alana with little Maya; they were picking wildflowers. "I think she's all right with it. She thinks she's all right with it, but I'm sure there will be moments."
She jumped in her seat when a large hand came down on her shoulder. "Damn, Blane—you scared the life out of me!"
"Didn't mean to. I'm leaving now. I wanted to say goodbye."
She raised her eyebrows. "Do you mean you want a word before you go?" She started to get to her feet, but he smiled.
"No. I meant what I said—I wanted to say goodbye."
"Okay. Uh, thanks, I think. See you soon, I guess."
His whole face transformed when he laughed.
"You want to be careful," she told him. "Acting all jovial like that, I might get the wrong impression."
"And what would that be?"
"That you're not so scary and possibly even fun."
He smiled through pursed lips. "I'll keep on laughing, then. I'm gonna head out, but I didn't want to go without saying anything to you."
"But not anything in particular?" she asked with a smirk.
"No, nothing in particular—just letting you know that you're on my radar."
"And you'll be watching me?"
He chuckled. "No! Stubborn woman. I'm trying to make a gesture here. If I left without having said a word to you all afternoon, you'd probably take that to mean something."
"You're right. I would. So, coming to say a word—even if it's only goodbye—I'm supposed to take that to mean something else?"
"Yeah."
"What exactly? So I don't get the wrong idea."
He narrowed his eyes at her, but she could see a glint of humor in them. "This was me trying to let you know—subtly—that we're on the same team. I can see that subtle isn't going to work with you, though."
She gave him a bright smile. "Oh, it will—later. Somewhere down the line, when I'm as certain as I can be that you're not going to tear me limb from limb for stepping out of line."
"Fair enough. And for the record, I'd never harm you."
"Not physically, maybe."
He held her gaze for a moment. "We good, then?"
"We are." She smiled warmly. "Thanks, Blane."
He smirked. "Sure thing. And hey—if I don't run into you before then, I’ll call you about the details for opening night."
She raised her eyebrows.
"We're all going to be there for the opening night of Alana's show. I asked her about tickets and who's riding with who—she told me to ask you, so I will."
She had bought a block of tickets for Emmett's group of friends, and she'd been coordinating rides, but hearing that Alana had referred Blane to her undid her a little. All she could do was nod.
Blane surprised the hell out of her when he winked. "Yeah, it caught me off guard, too. For what it's worth, I'm glad."
"Hey, Uncle Blane!"
He turned, and Harper smiled when she saw Tanya running toward him.
"Dad said you're leaving—and you didn't say goodbye to me yet."
When she reached him, he scooped her up and held her high above his head, making her laugh.
"As if I'd leave without saying goodbye to you, Button. I was going to come find you after I said goodbye to Harper."
He set her down, and Tanya grinned at Harper. "He's not allowed to go without saying goodbye, did you know that?"
Harper looked up at him. "I didn't."
"Yeah, it's the rule in our family. Right, Uncle Blane?"
He shot Harper a sideways look. "That's right."
Tanya wrapped her arms around his middle. "We'll see you soon, yeah?"
"You will." He nodded at Harper. "And you."
~ ~ ~
It was late evening by the time they got home.
Emmett was glad they'd stuck to the rule about not leaving homework until Sunday night this week.
He'd hate for the girls to have to start it now.
From what he could tell, everyone had enjoyed their day.
Tanya looked beat; she'd been running around with Nat all afternoon.
Alana looked tired, too—she'd chatted with everyone and spent a lot of time with the smaller kids.
Little Maya adored her, and it seemed to him that Everly's boy, Ashton, had a crush on her.
He could live with that, since Ashton was even younger than Tanya.
Once they were all in the kitchen, Harper put the cake Ty had sent home for them in the fridge. "Does anyone want anything?"
"I'm good, thanks," Alana said.
"Me too. Wasn't it a great day?" said Tanya. "I love that we're all like one big family."
"Yeah, me too," said Emmett.
"What about you?" Tanya asked Harper. "You know everyone now, don't you?"
"I do. And as someone who's never had a family, I love seeing the way all of you are with each other."
"Hey!" Tanya frowned. "You shouldn't say all of you—it's all of us." She went and wrapped her arms around Harper's waist. "You have family now, Mama Bear!" She laughed as she stepped back.
The air stilled.
Harper's smile froze in place.
Emmett didn’t move. Couldn’t.
It was Alana who spoke into the silence. She smiled, but her voice wavered as she said, "I'm going up now. I need a shower. I'll see you in the morning, guys."
"Goodnight," Tanya called, utterly oblivious to the way her words had just landed.
Emmett finally dared to look at Harper. He didn't know what he expected, but when she shook her head slightly, he knew it wasn't that.