Chapter 50
CHAPTER FIFTY
Town
“Your mouth is stained with huckleberry juice,” I said to Hadley.
She looked at me from behind her sunglasses. “Just lording my pie-eating win over you.”
Hadley placed a hand on her belly, which had finally popped.
“Today is glorious,” I said as I looked out over Silver Street.
“The Huckleberry Festival all weekend and fireworks over the lake tonight,” she said. “What could be more perfect?”
I peered at her. “You know something.”
“I know nothing,” she said with a teasing grin. “When is the crew due to arrive?”
I lifted my wrist, complete with cast, and pointed at her. “You do know something, otherwise you wouldn’t be changing the subject.”
“Even if I knew something, which I don’t, I want to talk about your job.”
I shook my head and shot her a grin. “Fine, we can play that game. The crew is arriving in three days and all the rooms at The Regal Beagle are booked for the week.”
A month ago, I’d pitched the idea to use our family ranch for the Rudolph Lancaster photo shoot. They not only loved the idea, but they were happy to work around Cas’s event schedule.
“I still can’t believe you and Cas are going to be the faces for Rudolph Lancaster’s western line,” Hadley said with a laugh. “That’s so wild.”
“It is,” I agreed. “But hey, you gotta go where life takes you, huh?”
I placed a hand on my stomach. I wasn’t showing yet, but I no longer fit into my pants. My due date was nearly two months after Hadley’s and I still had trouble believing that our babies would be so close in age and that we’d get to raise them together.
“Cas hasn’t brought up marriage in a while,” I said.
“What’s a while?”
“Two weeks.” I frowned.
“Yeah, that is weird,” she admitted. “But maybe he’s just tired of you saying no.”
“I won’t say no,” I mumbled.
“What was that?” she pressed.
“I said, I won’t say no this time,” I admitted. “I’m ready. I was ready after the fire, and told him so, but he just shrugged and hasn’t brought it up again.”
“He’s not gonna want to wait,” Hadley said. “The minute you say yes to his proposal, he’s gonna get your ass down to the courthouse.”
“Fine by me. I’ve never wanted a wedding.”
“True, you haven’t,” she agreed. “Still, I think you’d make a beautiful bride.”
“Hmm. You made a beautiful bride, Hadley.”
“I did, didn’t I?” She grinned. “Sweet Teeth?”
I nodded and looked at my watch. “We’ve still got about twenty minutes until the lumberjack competition.”
“We need to get there early and grab front row seats. Then we have to call Wyn and Poet so they can enjoy the view,” Hadley said.
We headed in the direction of the bakery which had had a line out the door all day since they opened. “They should expand. The building next door is vacant.”
“They don’t want to expand,” Hadley explained. “Cole and Gracie are talking about having another baby. That’s a lot to add to life on top of an expansion, you know?”
“Another baby, really?” I asked in surprise. “Bella’s only a little over a year.”
“Well, they want them close in age.” She shot me a pointed look. “Almost like something we did on accident.”
I grinned. “Does this mean family planning will always include each other?”
She laughed. “I wouldn’t say no to that.”
“How many do you guys want?” I asked.
“Two is a good number, I think. Subject to change, of course.”
“Two is good,” I agreed.
We got up to the counter and ordered what was left of the pastries.
“Sorry,” Gracie said. “You caught us in between batches.”
“No worries,” I said. “Are we saving you a seat at the lumberjack event?”
“Hell yeah.” Gracie laughed. “Cole entered this year; I’ve got to see him swing an axe.”
“Pretty sure there’s about to be a population explosion in Huckleberry Hill,” I said.
“Remember a few years ago when there was a snowstorm?” Gracie asked. “The power was out for three days. How many babies were born nine months later?”
“Muddy said at least fifteen,” Hadley remarked.
“Well, what else are you going to do in the dark while you’re trying to keep warm?” Gracie asked.
“Yeah, and you’re definitely not running out for condoms in the middle of a snowstorm,” Hadley said with a laugh.
Hadley and I took our bakery bag and headed out onto the street. The lumberjack event was held in the town’s park at the edge of downtown, which meant the walk was only a few blocks.
Folding chairs had been set up in several rows and people had already begun to arrive. Hadley and I snagged two seats in the front row and we set our purses down onto the chair next to us for Gracie.
Hadley’s phone buzzed in her lap, but she had a mouthful of pastry so I answered it for her. Wyn and Poet appeared on the screen.
“Did we miss it?” Wyn asked. “Please tell me we didn’t miss it.”
“You didn’t miss it,” I said. “We got here early and found prime seats. Don’t worry, we’re close enough to see sweat and chest hair.”
“Yay.” Wyn grinned. “I’m a sucker for chest hair.”
“So am I,” Hadley said.
The three of us chanted at the same time, “We know.”
Hadley giggled. “Declan’s chest hair was my downfall.”
“Literally. You literally fell on him,” Poet said.
“You guys are still planning on making it out here in a few months, right?” Hadley asked.
“Yeah,” Poet said. “I’ve got Labor Day Weekend off.”
“You won’t have to stay at The Regal Beagle,” Hadley said. “Cas moved into Salem’s room.”
“Hmm, thanks, but we’ll stay at The Regal Beagle,” Wyn said.
I frowned. “Why?”
Poet and Wyn exchanged a look.
“What?” Hadley demanded.
“We don’t want to hear your dad and Jane going at it,” Wyn finally said.
“What?” Hadley and I exclaimed at the same time.
“Oh please.” Wyn rolled her eyes. “That kick to your dad’s head did something to him. I swear, he’s like a new man.”
“A new man, how?” I asked.
“He’s rocking a mustache,” Poet said.
“Okay?” Hadley frowned. “I don’t get it.”
“Some women have a thing for chest hair. Other women have things for facial hair,” Wyn pointed out. “And your dad looks like he knows how to—”
“Stop. Right. Now,” I commanded. “We’re in a public place and we know people here. We don’t need to talk about our father’s mustache.”
“Save a horse, ride a mustache. That’s all I’m saying,” Wyn said.
Someone tapped me on the shoulder. I turned and smiled. “Hey, Lucy.”
“Hi,” Lucy said. “Who are you two talking to?”
“Wyn and Poet.” I angled the phone toward her so she could see our friends.
“When are you girls coming back to town?” Lucy asked. “Things have been boring since you left.”
“Boring? With Salem there? I find that hard to believe,” Wyn teased.
“She’s been domesticated,” Lucy said with a wink. “Plus, with Amber moving to Coeur d’Alene, there’s nothing going on. We need some more spice around here.”
“Lucy, how do you feel about mustaches?” Poet asked.
“I think they’re delightful,” Lucy said.
“I couldn’t agree more,” Wyn said with a raised brow.
“Fine,” I sighed. “You’ll stay at The Regal Beagle when you guys come.”
“You’re coming to town!” Lucy exclaimed.
“Labor Day,” Hadley said.
“Oh good. I’ll make sure to order those special candies you like so much, Poet. And you’ll text me the soda you like, Wyn?” Lucy asked.
“Will do,” Wyn said.
“Thanks, Lucy,” Poet said.
“Wait, you guys text?” I asked in surprise.
“Of course!” Lucy said. “You two are so busy now, I gotta make sure they’re not out of the loop.”
Hadley and I exchanged a dumbfounded look.
“Oh, the boys are showing up,” Lucy said, her attention moving to the front of the show.
I gave Hadley back her phone and she turned her cell so Wyn and Poet could watch. Declan and Cas sauntered up first and took their places next to one another at two wood piles. Cole and Gideon followed.
Chelsea, Wade’s girlfriend, saw me and waved. There was still a free chair next to Hadley and she immediately sat down.
“Wade’s not doing the competition?” Lucy asked her.
Chelsea shook her head. “He and his dad are crazy busy at the mobile bar right now. Their summer mocktails are flying off the proverbial shelves.” She looked at me. “No Muddy? Or your dad?”
“This isn’t really our dad’s type of event,” I said. “And I have no idea where Muddy is actually. Do you know where she is, Hadley?”
“Nope.” Her eyes flitted away from mine and my gaze narrowed at her.
“When he was younger, this was definitely your father’s event,” Lucy said. “He won several times. Impressed the hell out of your mother, if I recall.”
Gracie joined us, cheeks flushed and hair askew. I touched her face. “Bakery oven, you ran here, or something else?”
Her hands went to her face. “All of the above. Plus, Cole texted me something naughty . . .”
She flashed her husband a grin and waved to him. He waved back.
“Oooh, we’ve got some new blood this year,” Eloise said as she took the seat next to Lucy. “Are those the Monroe boys? Where’s the other one?”
“Chase went to Waco to visit his girlfriend,” Hadley explained.
“All right, ladies,” Eloise said. “Let’s start the betting.”
Cas unbuttoned his shirt and took it off to reveal muscles and ink and a chest I wanted to run my tongue all over.
The other contenders removed their shirts and tossed them aside.
“Oh my,” Lucy said. “This just got interesting.”
I looked at Hadley and grinned. Her eyes were glazed and she couldn’t look away from Declan.
“So, I’m starting to think two isn’t enough,” I teased.
Hadley chuckled and glanced at me. “I think you’re right. Five sounds good to me.”
I turned my attention back to Cas just as he grabbed an axe that had been sunk into a log and pulled it out. His arms bulged and flexed, making the ink on his skin dance.
He looked down at me and winked.
I snorted. “Five? I’m going for six.”
Mr. Bixby stepped up to the podium and said, “Lumberjacks, take your spots. Everyone else, place your bets.”
“Twenty bucks on Harlan!” Wyn screamed from the phone.
“Who said that?” Mr. Bixby asked.
Hadley raised her hand. “We’ve got a long-distance bidder.”
“The first lumberjack who chops their entire pile of wood wins the grand prize,” Mr. Bixby announced.
“What’s the grand prize?” Poet asked.
“A gift certificate to Sweet Teeth, a free haircut from Pouffant, and a trophy,” Gracie said.
“Gentlemen, assume your positions,” Mr. Bixby said.
I took out my phone and began to record. “For posterity. And spank bank material.”
“Lower your voice, we’re in public,” Hadley stated. “But also make sure you get some shots of Declan for me.”
“Don’t worry, honey,” Lucy said, raising her cell phone. “I’ve got you covered.”