Chapter Six
Carson skipped breakfast on Sunday morning.
The whole family would only want to talk about one thing and that was what happened in Spokane between him and Abby.
He wasn’t ready to face any of them this morning, especially Willow and Cooper.
He’d have to endure their teasing during lunch later today at Arlene’s anyway.
Right now, he was still too … shaken, freaked out, unsettled, he wasn’t even sure what to call the emotion whirling inside of him.
Last night he’d wanted to kiss her to show her what was between them wasn’t something that would just disappear, but he hadn’t expected a mere kiss to scramble his mind to such an extent he’d stopped thinking where they were and what he was doing.
If it hadn’t been for the car that had driven past them, he wasn’t sure whether he would’ve stopped.
In answer to his text, she’d sent him an emoji with eyes rolling, but he’d had his hands on her, he knew she was as unsettled and upset as he was.
What was the right word? Not really upset, no, but maybe slightly disconcerted about what was happening between them.
If he wasn’t mistaken, she’d also needed a cold shower last night.
He was checking on the calves, his camera around his neck, when Dylan found him.
Wordlessly, his brother handed him a sandwich. “Isabella sends this.”
“Thank you, but I had coffee.” He accepted it anyway because it looked tasty.
“The cousins, they mean well, you know that don’t you?”
Taking a bite from the sandwich, Carson nodded. “I do, but seriously, I don’t want anyone reading my mind this morning.”
“Lustful thoughts?” Dylan chuckled.
Carson barked out a laugh. “Man, you have no idea.”
“So are you going to see her again?”
“I’ve asked her to see if she could do something to the state of my house.”
Dylan’s eyebrows shot up. “You’ve what?”
“You’ve heard me.”
“I just can’t believe it.” Dylan frowned. “If you are even considering tidying up your house, you seriously have it bad for this woman.”
Carson threw up his hand. “I don’t know what I’m feeling. Of course, I’d like to see her again but maybe she has a point. We’re very different and besides, her life is in Seattle and she’s leaving soon.”
Dylan was still frowning. “Look, Bro, Abby is my wife’s friend.
The two of them are like family, always talking on the phone.
You probably know that, like June, she was in foster care too.
We might not have had a particularly nice childhood, but I don’t think we can even imagine what they had to go through as kids.
Not feeling safe, never having anything you can call your own, not really belonging anywhere—those were part of their childhood, part of who they are today.
If you really feel something for Abby, I’m all for it, but if you’re not sure, walk away.
Because if you hurt her, you’ll have me to deal with. ”
The others joined them at that point, saving Carson from answering. Irritated, he walked over to the pen where the calves were kept. They’d survived the first night of weaning, but mothers and calves were complaining bitterly.
This bond between mother and child wasn’t something he’d really understood before the first time he’d worked with these animals.
His mother hadn’t exactly been the motherly type.
He couldn’t remember her ever reading him a story or cuddling him, for instance.
His dad hadn’t been a hugger either, but on the rare occasions he’d put a hand on Carson’s shoulder, he’d known his dad was proud.
There had been a place to call home, though, albeit not the perfect home, and he’d had parents. A brother. A family.
His parents hadn’t been happy, at least not that he could remember, and he hadn’t known what a happily married life looked like before he and Dylan had moved to The Weston Ranch. His cousins were all seemingly blissfully married and obviously adored their significant others.
Was it something he wanted, though? Married to one person for the rest of his life? Have sex with just one woman?
What if the woman was Abby?
His mind racing in all directions, he sighed. Like she’d said, they were so different. She was city, a neat braid, white wine, and decluttering, and he was ranch, beer, and untidy. There was no way she could be happy here and he would never survive in a city.
Anyway, it wasn’t as if he’d even been thinking about having a serious relationship, let alone getting married. It was just … meeting Abby was messing with his brain.
Looking out to the mountains, he shook his head. He wasn’t really a tactile person, but when he was with Abby, he couldn’t stop touching her. And the way she reacted …
Damn, this was so not the time and place to be daydreaming. Anyway, once she’d seen his house, he doubted whether she’d agree to declutter it.
He shook his head. He probably wouldn’t even have to say anything, she’d be running back as quickly as possible to Seattle.
Maybe he shouldn’t go to Arlene’s today. It’d give Abby time to talk to June and the rest of the family without having to cope with Willow’s remarks. He knew she meant well, but it did get a bit much at times. Did Abby even know about how weird the family actually was? Hopefully, June had told her.
It would also give him time to process this whole thing while he roamed the ranch, taking pictures. Did he really want to start something with Abby knowing she was leaving soon?
*
Abby walked slowly, admiring the beautiful trees lining the street.
Red maples, Craig had said. Annie had explained to her how to get to Arlene’s house, but she wasn’t in any hurry to join the Westons.
June had insisted that after lunch Abby should return with her and Dylan to the ranch. She’d bring her back later.
She’d hidden away in her room this morning until she’d had to leave for lunch.
Annie hadn’t said anything, just told her she would enjoy the walk.
Annie was so sweet, she didn’t want to hurt her feelings, but seriously, she wasn’t used to the openly curious questions people around here apparently felt free to ask a complete stranger.
Carson was so different from any man she’d met before.
That was probably the reason why she was so …
so smitten. The men she’d dated were nice enough, but their playing field was the city, their main concern the next promotion, the next million, the next thing.
She honestly couldn’t even remember one of them.
Carson though, hadn’t talked about himself at all, yet he exuded a confidence that men of his age in the city lacked. At least the ones she’d dated.
Groaning, she looked up at the clear sky. She’d never been smitten before. Oh, she’d had crushes, but what she felt when she was around Carson Weston, what she was feeling walking down the street right now, knowing she’d see him in a few minutes, was not something she’d experienced before.
Like a schoolgirl, she was giddy—that lightheaded feeling, being constantly slightly off-balance and excited for no reason.
She was close to Arlene’s house when the sound of a vehicle behind her had her turning her head. A dark gray truck was approaching. Her heart missed a beat, but it wasn’t Carson’s truck, it was June and Dylan.
“Want a lift?” June called out.
“No, I’m almost there!” Abby said.
She exhaled slowly as they continued to Arlene’s house. She had a few more minutes. She desperately needed those few more minutes to prepare herself to face Carson.
By the time she crossed the street to get to Arlene’s house, there were three trucks parked in the driveway, and all the members of the Weston family were still on the porch talking and laughing, along with quite a few dogs.
June ran closer when she saw Abby. “Oh, I’m so glad to see you,” she cried out and hugged her. “You okay?” she asked softly in her ear.
“I’m fine, really,” Abby whispered.
“Good. Carson isn’t coming today, so you can relax.”
The jittery feeling on her tummy settled, her heart resumed its rhythm. Carson wouldn’t be here today, she could finally relax.
June pulled her toward the porch steps. “You are in for a treat. Arlene is the best cook.”
“Welcome, Abby,” Arlene called out.
“Thanks, Arlene so much for having me. You have a lovely home.” From her handbag she took a small gift and handed it to Arlene. She’d brought a few presents along to give to June’s new family. “Just a small gift to thank you.”
Arlene hugged her. “That is so sweet of you, thank you. Come on in. I can’t wait to open this. It’s so beautifully gift-wrapped.”
“It’s just something very small, a multifunctional cloth,” Abby said as she followed Arlene into the house. “The Japanese call them furoshiki. Foru means bath and shiki means something to spread out.”
Oh, my word, she was talking way too much, but she couldn’t stop now.
“Uhm … the public bath has been part of the Japanese culture for centuries. People used to wrap everything they needed for a bath in a big, square cloth which they’d spread on the changing room floor to stand on while undressing.
Anyway, you can wrap a bottle of wine or candles or anything odd-shaped. They’re also reusable.”
“How charming.” Arlene looked slightly overwhelmed.
“Sorry, I get so excited about what I do.” Abby smiled.
“So, is this all part of what you do?” Arlene asked.
“Don’t get me started,” Abby warned with a smile, “I won’t stop. I’ll tell you all about it over a cup of tea one day.”
It was, as June had promised, a lovely lunch and Abby smiled and chatted with everyone, but her eyes kept straying to the door.
What was wrong with her? She should be pleased Carson wasn’t here, not disappointed. Disappointed? That was ridiculous. Why would she be disappointed?
As her head turned toward the door again, she caught Willow’s eyes.
Quickly looking away, she turned to speak to June.
Willow couldn’t possibly know what she was thinking, could she?
It wasn’t just a little disconcerting that she read minds as June had mentioned.
Being the subject of her scrutiny was downright disturbing.
“So what time are we leaving for Bozeman?” Arlene asked. “Abby, let me pick you up and we’ll meet the others at the ranch, what do you say?”
“Why don’t you come for breakfast?” Willow asked as she got up, her eyes dancing with mirth. “We can leave afterward?”
“What a great idea,” Arlene said as everyone got up from the table. “Abby, June has probably told you about Isabella, who cooks for all of us. Well, her breakfasts are out of this world.”
Without anyone saying anything, they all moved to the kitchen where amidst teasing and laughter, the dishes were washed and the kitchen tidied up.
Nobody was organizing the process, and Abby had to bite her lip not to take over.
To her surprise, it went quickly. Within half an hour, all the dishes were washed, the counter tops cleaned.
Again, she had to put her hands in the pockets of her jeans not to start decluttering, but at least everything had been put away.
Abby made sure she stayed close to June and made a point of not looking at Willow. Saying goodbye and rounding up the dogs seemed to take a while but eventually they were all outside.
Arlene turned back. “June, just wait a moment please?” As Arlene disappeared into the house, Abby said goodbye to Cooper and Becket and their wives and dogs—they’d all arrived in the same truck. By the time she’d finished, Dylan was ready to go.
“If you don’t mind stopping at the guest house?” Abby asked as she got into the truck. “Everything I need for taking the measurements as well as the storage containers I’ve brought are in my car.”
“Of course,” June said. “You’re the one helping us.”