Chapter 38
Chapter Thirty-Eight
The Ranch
Archer parked the truck in front of the main house and then looked at me. “Your face.”
“What’s wrong with my face?” I asked.
“You look like you’re trying to keep a secret.”
“I am trying to keep a secret,” I announced.
“Why don’t we just tell them?”
“We can’t tell them before we tell Lenni,” I insisted. “And I think I’d like a few days before we tell her.”
“Wyn,” he said with a sigh. “You puked twice this morning. What makes you think you’ll be able to keep this under wraps for any length of time? And do I have to remind you that we tried to keep our relationship on the down low and she saw you come out of my bedroom?”
“You’re babbling,” I said with a smile.
“I am not babbling. Men do not babble.” He paused. “We rant.”
I snickered.
“Anyway, we should probably get out of the truck, yeah?” Archer asked, reaching for the doorhandle.
“I need to go to the bathroom,” I said. “Why don’t I meet you in the barn.”
He nodded.
“Did we ever decide what we’re telling Lenni about why we came back early?” I asked.
“That we saw everything we wanted to see and that we missed her,” Archer said. “Right?”
“Right.”
He leaned over and brushed his lips across mine and then he got out of the truck.
I headed up the porch steps and entered the quiet house.
I loved the home Hadley and Salem had grown up in.
It was cozy and inviting. Squeaky stairs, a well-used fireplace, aprons stained with the remains of family meals.
Generations had been raised in their home.
I placed a hand on my belly.
After I went to the bathroom, I headed into the kitchen for a glass of water. While I stared out the window, my eyes focused on the chicken coop. Muddy held a basket and every now and again, she tossed scraps at the tiny raptors.
I took a sip of water and then set the glass down and went to the sliding back door. I wasn’t ready to tell anyone else I was pregnant, but for some reason, I wanted to confide in Muddy.
I was just about to call out to her when Poet’s grandfather came to the chicken coop fence. She turned and met him with a warm smile.
And then I watched as they kissed.
I must’ve made a noise, because they quickly broke apart.
Muddy’s face was flushed. In embarrassment at being caught or passion, I wasn’t sure.
“Sorry.” I winced. “I didn’t mean to interrupt.”
I turned to leave.
“Hang on there,” Muddy commanded. “What are you doing here? You’re supposed to be in Libby at the wood carving festival.”
I rubbed the back of my neck and intentionally didn’t meet Grampy’s eyes. “Yeah, we, uh, got bored. Missed Lenni. So, we came back.”
“You got bored,” Muddy repeated slowly. “Just the two of you. In the throes of a new relationship?”
I swallowed.
“I’m just gonna . . .” Grampy gestured behind him.
“Oh great, you’re going to leave me to handle this alone?” Muddy asked him with a raise of her brow.
“Yep.” Grampy smiled. “I have faith in you.”
She sighed as she watched him walk away, but then she turned her attention back to me and waited.
“What?” I demanded.
“You want to tell me something?” she pressed.
“Do you want to tell me something?”
“You already know the something,” she muttered. “You just saw the something.”
“How long have you and Grampy been sneaking around?” I asked.
“A few months.” She met my gaze head on. “But not because we think it’ll upset the balance of the family.”
“So, you’re sneaking around because . . . why?”
“The thrill of getting caught, of course. Makes everything hotter, don’t you agree?”
I laughed. “So, you knew Archer and I were sneaking around?”
“Of course I did.” She shrugged. “He would give Brooks the weakest excuses to borrow his truck every day. No sandwich on the planet is that good.”
I rolled my eyes. “The sneaking around didn’t last very long on our end. We weren’t very good at it.”
“Not really the same when there’s a child involved, is it?” she asked with the directness she was known for. “I’d appreciate it if you kept what you saw to yourself. We’ll tell people in our own time.”
“Tell people? You mean you two are—”
“In a relationship. Yes.” She frowned. “Sounds strange, doesn’t it? Better than saying I’m using him for sex, I guess.”
“Muddy!” I gasped.
“What? You think you won’t want it at my age? Think again. Just remember; hip stretches are life.”
“I hope to be as cool as you one day.”
She beamed. “Good to have goals, right?”
“Right.”
“You sure you didn’t want to talk to me about something?” Her gaze dropped to my belly.
I looked at her, my mouth gaping open. “You know already, don’t you?”
“Do I?”
“Of course you do! You’re Muddy! You know everything.”
“Not everything.” She shrugged. “I don’t understand physics or politicians. I don’t understand why people are obsessed with snail mucus as a beauty care product. But life? Yeah, I know a thing or two about that.”
“It’s supposed to boost collagen production and help with skin rejuvenation. Snail mucus, I mean.”
“Huh.” Muddy touched her wrinkled cheek. “So, you’re pregnant.”
“How did you know?” I asked.
“The same way I knew you and Archer would be together.” She shrugged. “I just knew.”
“You ever think of opening your own match-making business? Matchmaker Muddy.”
“There’s an idea.” She smiled. “I’m happy for you both.”
“We’re not telling anyone yet. I mean, we’d like to wait until after Poet’s wedding if we can. And Lenni really should be the first to know.” I bit my lip as worry overtook me.
Muddy patted my arm. “Give her some credit, yeah?”
“What do you mean?”
“You know exactly what I mean. Lenni’s a tough cookie. And I think you might be surprised by her reaction.”
I hugged her to me. “Thank you.”
“What for?”
“Just being you.”
She squeezed me tight and then released me.
I headed toward the barn. Lenni was sitting on a bench, drinking something out of a dark brown glass bottle while Brooks showed Archer a horse’s hoof.
“Hey,” I greeted, my eyes darting around.
“Hi.” Lenni smiled. “Archer said you guys missed me and that’s why you came back early.”
“He is completely correct on that.” I took a seat next to her. “What are you drinking?”
“Muddy’s homemade ginger beer.” She held it out to me.
I took the bottle and had a little sip.
“That’s amazing,” I said.
“I know. I had an upset stomach earlier,” she said. “Now I feel fine.”
Her words, so casual, so meaningless to anyone else, had my heart stuttering.
I met Archer’s gaze and sighed. He nodded slightly.
“You want to go for a ride?” I asked her. “You, me and Archer? There’s a secret spot I want to show you guys.”
Archer cleared his throat.
I glanced at him and frowned in confusion.
“Maybe we should take a side-by-side?” he suggested.
Brooks’ gaze bounced from Archer to me. “Why would you take a side by—oh . . .”
“Oh? Oh what?” Lenni asked.
I glared Brooks into silence. He effectively clamped his mouth shut. To Lenni, I said, “You ever ridden in a side-by-side?”
“No.” She frowned. “It’s kind of like a golf cart, right? Can I drive it?”
“I doubt your feet could reach the pedals,” Archer said.
“Okay but when they do, can I drive one?” Lenni asked, all too eager to grow up.
“Maybe,” Archer said.
Lenni frowned. “That’s adult speak for no.”
“I’m driving,” I announced. “Because neither you nor Archer know where I’m taking you.”
Archer exited the horse stall and went to the wall hooks at the back of the barn. He grabbed a set of keys and a horse blanket. “Let’s go.”
Lenni bounded after Archer like a golden retriever puppy. When I was alone with Brooks, I looked at him. “Not a word. To anyone.”