Love Everlasting (Kingston Novel Book 3), page 38
The sound of Billy’s loud voice pulled Cassidy from his thoughts. For that timely rescue, he nearly thanked her…until he noted the way she was glaring at Derrick.
“You just had to bring her up, didn’t you?!”
Derrick raised a brow. “Bring what up?”
Van put his arm around his wife’s shoulder and pulled her tight to his side. “We haven’t heard from Etta since we left her at Tucker’s house. Blaine’s been mighty worried about her.”
Blaine nodded even as her eyes welled up with tears.
Though Billy was still glaring at Derrick, she pointed a finger in the direction of Van’s wife. “That’s what I’m talking about! You just had to go and get her crying again!”
Dwayne wrapped his arms around Billy even as he laughed. “Behave. Blaine can’t help it she has a tender heart.”
“It’s the baby,” Miranda stated with nod. “All I wanted to do was cry at the beginning.”
“What a pile of horse sh—”
Dwayne placed one hand over Billy’s mouth cutting off her words. “No cussing, sweetheart.”
Billy jerked her face away and narrowed her gaze on her husband. “I wasn’t going to cuss…much,” she clarified. “What I was going to say before you stopped me was that it was a pile of horse dung. I’m carrying and I ain’t going around crying!”
That bit of news caused a smug smile to appear on Melvin’s face even as he nodded.
Dwayne laughed. “I thought you didn’t want anyone to know just yet?”
“I didn’t, but Miranda’s reasoning is off,” she muttered.
“Melvin doesn’t seem surprised by your news,” Michael pointed out.
Melvin’s smile widened. “I already knew.”
Billy swung her gaze in his direction. “You didn’t,” she growled out.
Melvin laughed. “Abby told me nearly two weeks ago.”
To Billy, both Melvin and Abby were like parents to her. They had been at the ranch long before she was born. She loved them with all her heart, but there were times….
“Hellfire!” she muttered.
That’s all it took. The porch was suddenly filled with a choir of congratulations. Along with that came the teasing and ribbing about Billy having yet another set of twins.
“I’ll take as many sets of twins as Billy wants to give me,” Dwayne stated proudly.
Abby and Sally stepped out onto the porch just in time to catch the tail end of the congratulations and ribbing. They each held a steaming pot of coffee their hands.
Right behind them followed Trumen Coback and his wife, Kathy, followed by Gimble Osgo and his wife, Annie.
The husband and wife teams had worked side-by-side with each other for more years than any of them could remember. Trumen and Gimble had spent a good share of years working with Derrick. But when Friday married Ralph, the four of them came to Colorado to join the Sander/Ingham ranch.
Annie carried a tray filled with glasses, while Kathy carried another with some extra glasses and a tall decanter of bourbon.
“Abby thought some of you might need something stronger than coffee,” Kathy stated placing her tray on one of the tables that graced the wide porch.
Abby took a seat next to Melvin. Her old blue eyes pinned on Billy. “I see you finally got around to telling everyone your big news,” she stated.
Billy met her gaze. “I swear, ain’t nothing a secret around here.”
“Cassidy’s marriage was,” Michael pointed out.
“Don’t make me get Billy riled,” Cassidy replied as he met Michael’s smiling face.
“And why would Billy get riled?” Michael asked with another smile.
“You know she gets that way when one of her men get trampled on…and that’s exactly the trail you’re headed down.”
Michael laughed. “Point taken.”
“What’s goin’ on?” Gimble asked as he came forward to greet Derrick.
“We received news that Cassidy was dead. Well, that’s what his widow is telling everyone,” Derrick replied even as he ignored Cassidy’s glare.
Trumen shook his head in obvious disappointment. “I ain’t never knew ya was married, boy. Ain’t nothing to be ashamed of.”
Cassidy gritted his teeth. Taking off his black Stetson, he raked his fingers through his long hair and then slapped the hat against his leg. He was really wishing he could slap something else, but a brawl on Billy’s porch would probably upset her.
“Can we all settle down and try to figure this out?” Dwayne stated in a reasonable tone.
“You figure it out,” Cassidy stated, putting his hat back on. “I have to leave. If my father is headed to Dodge then that’s where I need to be.”
“It’s nearly dark,” Ralph pointed out.
“I know, but maybe I can reach Dodge before my father.”
Billy started shaking her head. “I don’t like this.”
Cassidy found his first smile. “What you don’t like is having another one of us leaving. I recall the lecture you gave when we all returned from Tucker’s place.”
Ralph laughed. “She was long winded that day.”
Billy tried to pry Dwayne’s hands off from around her. “I don’t see any reason any of you have to leave the ranch again.”
Dwayne turned Billy around so he could look deep into her dark brown eyes. “Would you really want to put Cassidy’s pa through unneeded pain?” he asked. “What if it was one of our children? Cassidy needs to do this and you know it.”
Billy hated it when he made comparisons using their children. “I still don’t like it,” she muttered.
“He can send us word when he gets there,” Dwayne told her even as he met Cassidy’s gaze. “Ain’t that right?”
“I’ll keep you informed,” he replied.
“And what if you need help?”
Cassidy smiled at Billy. “You’ll be the first to know.”
Author Information:
Glenda Diana has been writing for over 30 years. Through her stories readers can travel from Regency England to the Wild West of America.
When not writing, Glenda enjoys spending time with her children and grandchildren. She also enjoys crocheting, sewing, and cooking.
To find more books by Glenda Diana please visit her website at:
www.glendadiana.com
Glenda Diana on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/glendadianaauthor
Glenda Diana, Love Everlasting (Kingston Novel Book 3)
