Chapter Four
As Abby got out of June’s car, she sighed. “Oh, June, what a lovely house. I love the big front porch.” Was that barking she heard? Well, she was on a ranch.
June took her arm as they moved toward the house. “It is quite similar to the house you’ve always wanted. Although if I remember correctly, your dream house has green shutters and a big porch?”
“Yep. One day.” Abby was smiling as they walked up the stairs.
The barking was closer, more excited.
“Have I mentioned we have a dog?” June’s hand was on the door. “She’s about six months old and not fully grown yet …” As she opened the door, a dog charged toward them, barking.
Inhaling, Abby stepped back quickly. No dogs had been allowed where she grew up, so she didn’t know them. She’d always been a bit wary, though. And this one was so big.
Kneeling down, June crooned while she stroked the dog. She put out a hand to Abby. “Come and meet Daisy, she’s the sweetest girl, I promise you.”
Hesitating, Abby approached, her eyes on the dog. Daisy sat back, panting.
“What … what does the panting mean?” Abby whispered. “She’s not getting ready to eat me, is she?”
“Of course not,” June chuckled, her one hand still on Daisy. “Come closer, kneel next to me.”
Slowly, Abby joined her friend on the floor.
“Now slowly put out your hand,” June said. “Daisy, meet my friend Abby. She’s afraid, but it’s just because she doesn’t know yet how sweet you are.”
As if Daisy understood every word, her mouth widened in what could only be described as a smile.
Delighted, Abby relaxed and slowly put out her hand.
Daisy sniffed her hand before she came closer, tail wagging and body wriggling.
“That means she likes you.” June smiled. “Scratch behind her ears, she loves that.”
Barking, Daisy jumped up against Abby and before she could catch her breath, her face was thoroughly licked.
Laughing, June pulled Abby up. “I knew the two of you would like each other. Let me show you the house before we have tea.”
Abby frowned. “Oh, I thought we’d start right away.”
“Don’t be silly. It’s Saturday, we’re not working on weekends.
There is more than enough time next week if we start on Monday.
We haven’t had time to talk in forever. I know you’ve seen the wedding photos, but I want to tell you about the wedding so you’re going to have to look at them again.
” She laughed. “I want to know everything that has happened to you over the past few months.” She cocked her head, spreading her hands in front of her.
“There’s something different about you.”
Abby quickly bent down to pat Daisy again. “Nope, sorry. Same old me.”
“Abs?” June said. “I know you. Something happened. Come on, this is me, June. Your oldest friend.”
“Okay!” Abby threw her hands in the air before she started pacing.
Maybe if she talked about it, she would settle down.
It’s not as if June would ever meet the cowboy she couldn’t stop thinking about.
“I met this guy in Spokane last night. Of course, I shouldn’t have gone out again and of course, I shouldn’t have stepped into a bar … ”
“A bar?” June repeated, clearly stunned. “You went into a bar, alone?”
“I know, right? I never do things like that. I don’t know what came over me.
But there I was, drinking something I’ve never had before.
This guy was sitting right next to me and …
his eyes.” Shaking her head, she continued pacing.
“It was just so weird. There was something about him and I … well, when he asked, I went with him to his hotel room.”
June’s eyes widened. “And?”
“And we … we made love. I can’t even call it sex because it was so much more. He was gentle and thorough and I … I’ve never felt like that, June. Ever.”
“So who is this mysterious lover who has given you such a glow?”
“I don’t know!” Abby cried out. “I said no names. At the time I didn’t want to know. All I know about him is that he’s nice and sexy and drop-dead gorgeous and oh, not very tidy.”
“So what happened this morning?”
“I … I fled without saying goodbye.”
June stared at her for another moment. “You feel something for this guy?”
“Yes … no … I don’t know! It was probably just the weird circumstances and the drink I had …”
“You’re sober now, aren’t you?”
Abby nodded.
“But you’re still thinking about him?”
“It’ll pass. It has to. It’s ridiculous to think I feel something for someone I’ll probably never see again!”
“You know I’m here if you want to talk about it, okay?”
Rubbing her face, Abby grimaced. “Thanks, but I want to try and forget about what happened as soon as possible.”
“Well, tonight we’re all going to Grey’s Saloon.
I promise you it’ll take your mind off last night even if only for a while.
It’s really something. The first time I saw the classic Western storefronts in Main Street, I thought I’d been transported back in time.
Grey’s Saloon is another typical building from that time.
And then on Sundays we have lunch with Arlene. ”
“Who is Arlene again?”
“She’s the cousins’ mother.”
“I don’t want to intrude on family …”
“But you are family,” June said. “My family.” She grinned. “There is something else I have to tell you before you meet the rest of the family. I thought it best not to mention it before you’re here.”
“Why does that sound ominous?”
“Not ominous. The word the people of Marietta use to describe the Westons is weird. I didn’t understand why until I met them.”
“So what do you want to tell me?” Nothing could possibly be stranger than what had happened to her last night.
“Well, some of the members of this family are … fey. Something they’ve apparently inherited from their grandmother.”
Staring at her friend, Abby tried to make sense of what June was saying. “Fey?”
“Yes,” June giggled. “It is a bit disconcerting, I know. You need to be very guarded about your thoughts, especially around Willow. She, Cooper, and Luke, Hayden’s son, all have the ability to know what you’re thinking or feeling.
Literally. Don’t ask me how it works. Willow apparently also knows when something bad is happening to people close to her.
Cooper talks to animals and he’s a healer.
He helped me when I was ill earlier this year and when Dylan was charged by a bull … ”
“What? Charged by a bull? Does that happen?”
“It’s a ranch. There are cattle and these things happen, I’m told.”
Stunned, Abby stared at June. There was weird and then there was what June had just told her. “And you’re okay with all this weirdness?”
“Oh, yes. It took some getting used to, but they’ve welcomed me with open arms into the family. I found my home, Abs, just when I’d given up hope of ever doing so.”
Abby hugged her. “I’m so happy for you. You look very happy.”
“They all mean well, I promise you. Come on, I want to show you the rest. The house has two bedrooms.” She walked into the first door on their right.
“This one I’ve used as a temporary study, but Dylan has added a huge office for me to the house.
I’ll definitely need your help when planning what I want where.
Ooh,” she hugged Abby again. “I can’t believe you’re here. ”
Taking Abby’s arm, June moved down the corridor. “And this is our room.”
Abby peered inside, already making plans to declutter the space. “I know what we should do here. Is there a place where we can get stackable storage baskets or boxes? I’ve brought a few foldable closet organizers, but it won’t be enough.”
“I knew you’d know what to do. We can go to Bozeman, maybe make a day of it.
It’s just about half an hour’s drive. Oh, Abs, Dylan is just wonderful.
Kind and caring and a great lover.” She giggled.
“I love living and working here. You know I had no idea what life on a ranch was like but now I can’t imagine living anywhere else. ”
As they walked back in the direction of the living room, June looked at her. “You don’t want to try and find out who your mystery guy is?”
Abby shook her head adamantly. “Of course not. I’m very happy with my life. Come on, show me your study.”
“And you’ll join us at Grey’s Saloon tonight?”
“Okay, yes, thanks. Maybe I’ll stop thinking of what I did last night!” Burying her face in her hands, Abby groaned.
June laughed. “Well, I’m very proud that you finally forgot your life plan, even if it was only for one night. Life happens, Abs, whether you have a plan or not.”
“I’m not ever giving in to impulses ever again!”
“Well, this town has quite a few attractive single men, you never know.” June chuckled.
“Can we please not talk about men anymore? Annie mentioned Grey’s Saloon and offered to give me a lift. I could meet you guys there, if that’s okay?”
“Okay, great. This way.”
Feeling slightly relieved that they’d stepped off the topic for now, Abby followed her friend.
*
Everyone else had already left by the time Carson had showered and put on clean clothes Saturday evening. Picking up George, he headed out. “It’s better to drive myself, anyway. I didn’t get much sleep last night and will probably only stay a while.”
George just yawned. Sniffing his new home had been exhausting. Laughing, Carson put him in the truck. “I still have to tell you about this blonde I met last night.”
George listened to his voice for a while, but by the time Carson parked in front of Grey’s Saloon, the puppy was asleep.
He picked up the puppy, cuddled him under his jacket and got out of his truck.
Well, maybe finally telling someone, even if it was George, about the woman who had been on his mind all day long, might help him put her out of his thoughts.
As usual on a Saturday night, Grey’s Saloon was busy.
As he looked around trying to find his family, friends greeted him and he was stopped a few times to talk.
Finally, he caught sight of his brother and hurried closer.
Their good friends, the Millers and the O’Sullivans, were sitting at an adjacent table.
“Finally.” Dylan slapped him on the back. “You haven’t met Abby yet, have you?” Dylan motioned to someone behind Carson.
“No, I haven’t …” he said, and with George still hugged tightly against him, he turned around.
A pair of gorgeous, stunned green eyes met his. He blinked, but the same woman was still standing right in front of him. It was her—the blonde from last night.
Eagerly, he searched her face, the braid, dangling over her shoulder, touching one of those gorgeous breasts. “You?” slipped out before he could stop himself.
“I don’t believe it,” she muttered, stepping back quickly.
“You two know each other?” June asked surprised.
Abby averted her eyes. “We bumped into each other in Spokane yesterday.”
“Well,” June said as her head moved between Carson and Abby. “Abby, this is Carson, Dylan’s brother, and Carson, this here is my friend, Abby Swanson.”
“Abby.” Smiling, he picked up her hand. “I love your name. It suits you. I’m very pleased to meet you.”
For another moment, Abby stared at him before she pulled back her hand and turned away. “Excuse me,” she said and disappeared among the other people.
“She the one you talked about?” Willow asked, but he barely heard her.
Stunned, he moved to follow Abby, but June put a hand on his arm.
“You were with her last night?”
He nodded.
“Give her a minute. I’ll make sure she’s okay.”
*
Abby had no idea how she found the bathroom but as she stumbled inside, she sagged against the first wall. Her breath was coming out in gasps, her whole body was on fire.
The cowboy she’d made love to last night was here. In Marietta. What was more, he was her best friend’s brother-in-law. Carson Weston. Living on the same ranch.
Panicking, she looked around her. What were the chances? She couldn’t stay here, she had to get back to Seattle as soon as possible.
The door opened and a very worried-looking June walked in. When she saw Abby, she rushed closer. “Abs, are you okay?”
Abby couldn’t immediately get a word out. She had to swallow a few times before she could speak. “It’s him. The guy I was with last night.”
June nodded. “I know.”
“How?”
“Your face kinda gave you away. Also, I asked Carson.”
June’s words were drowned out as the door opened and more people entered.
“I … I can’t stay here …” Abby began.
June shook her head adamantly. “Don’t be silly,” she whispered.
“Something happened between the two of you. Don’t you think you should find out what it is?
Carson is a super nice guy, I can vouch for that.
Why don’t you relax, talk to him, and get over the awkwardness.
” She grinned. “It’s pretty funny if you think about it. ”
“There’s nothing funny in meeting a guy you thought you’d never see again. Especially if you had sex with him.” The last words were way louder than she’d intended.
June giggled. “Well,” she whispered, “if you don’t want the whole of Marietta to know what you did last night, I suggest we return to the table.”
Inhaling deeply, Abby followed her friend. He was here. In Marietta. A kaleidoscope of butterflies woke up in her tummy. He was here! And his name was Carson Weston.