Patty's Homecoming, page 26
part #1 of Montana Wranglers Series
“You boys are killing me,” she muttered. “And you both know me well enough to know that I will stress about it until you tell me what it is that you have planned for me, darling.” She knew they had plans that they were keeping from her and it was driving her crazy too.
“Patience is a virtue,” Blake said, not for the first time since she’d known him. And always in that same tone, the one that said, you should know better by now, Patricia. He shot her a look that said the same damned thing his tone had. “You’ll know when it’s the right time and not a second before. And don’t try to get it out of Corbin, which I know you are thinking about doing. He won’t spill until the time is right.”
“Damned straight I won’t. My nuts are very literally on the line here so my lips…they be sealed.”
“Well hell’s bells,” she muttered. “Dammit, Blake.” She was going to blame Blake on this one because he wanted her to be left in the dark on this. “You are killing me here,” she muttered. “Killing me,” she repeated with a smile.
“You’ll live,” he said, shaking his head at her. Shooting her another look, Blake returned his attention to the road soon enough. “A little surprise has never killed anyone, neither has the wait. Besides, I think you’ll quite appreciate it, so why not wait it out until we’re ready to spring it on you?”
“Oh, damn you for making sense,” she grumbled, very lightly. “You are right. I know that whatever surprise you have planned for me I’m going to love, so yeah.” She sighed and shook her head. “I love you boys.” She grinned and added, “And we are going to have a baby. That means I get to do up a nursery.” She had been itching to do one but had held off—now she didn’t have to.
“Just remember, no overdoing it,” he said softly. Reaching over, he took her hand and gave it a squeeze. “We’ll do all the heavy lifting but the rest is up to you. We won’t argue with whatever your vision is as long as you swear that if you need something moved over ten pounds you ask us. Period.”
“Don’t worry.” She put her hand on her belly and grinned. “I totally plan on taking full advantage of having you gentlemen waiting on me hand and foot and doing all the heavy lifting for a while. Very much so. I can’t wait.” She rubbed her belly again and grinned. “I’m so happy.”
“You say that now,” Corbin chuckled. “I have a feeling that will change come month nine of this venture. That and you won’t be so happy with us gentlemen around that same point.” Blake let out a laugh at that and nodded in apparent agreement.
“Oh I’m sure, and if it doesn’t change then I’m positive that it will change when we are in labor. By the way, I want drugs. Lots of really good ones when it’s time to give birth. I don’t want to feel pain, just the happiness and joy that you are supposed to feel when your baby is born.”
“Right, lots of drugs,” Corbin nodded. “Uh, I do have one question though. Because this is something I’ve heard before, don’t know if it’s true, but I figure I’ll throw it out just in case. What happens if they give you the drugs and the labor takes too long and they can’t give you another dose? What then?”
“Oh, do not even go there. I mean it. If I can’t have drugs then I might just hurt you and I mean it. Do not even think to jinx us like that,” she muttered darkly. “Because you would really, really not like me if I had to deal with having our baby without drugs.”
“Women do it all the time,” Blake had the audacity to say. “Not saying you should or have to, but it can be done. Besides, there are other ways to get through the pain of birth besides drugs. Quite a few that, apparently, actually work.”
“Well that’s something we will worry about later. First let’s worry about telling Daddy and then we will get our asses home so that we can celebrate and you boys can show me your appreciation of having your baby,” she teased them.
“I don’t know why you’re so worried about telling your father, Tisha.” Corbin tugged on her hair lightly. “You shouldn’t, you know. Worry, that is. He’ll take it well and be extremely giddy about it all. If we get out of there at some point tonight, we’ll be damned lucky.”
“Oh I know that he will be over the moon with this revelation.” She wasn’t worried about that. “I’m worried that he’s going to go so over-the-freaking-top with wanting to ensure my health, safety, and all that fun stuff that we will have only a few minutes alone during this pregnancy.”
“I wouldn’t get up in arms about that yet. There are ways to ensure that he gives us plenty of time alone,” Blake told her. They were on the highway heading for the ranch. Another ten or so minutes and they’d be back on her dad’s land. “The right word or phrase dropped at just the right moment in the right tone will ensure that he leaves us be when we need him to.”
“I dunno.” She had grown up with the man and when he wasn’t meddling in her brothers’ lives, he was all in hers. “I love him but that man is tenacious. Like whoa.” She shrugged, however. “But I will believe you. If you say that you can ensure we have our time, I believe you.”
“All we really need to do is turn his attention to his sons,” he said. “After all, his baby daughter has men in her lives, a baby on the way, and a future that’s developing rather well. And his sons are seriously slacking in even the dating department.”
Patty smiled. “Well.” She drew the singular word out. “I know why,” she confessed very, very quietly. “Do you guys recall Bethany Hanson?” At their looks, she laughed. “She was a very plump, short girl with braces. My best friend in school.” When recognition caught them, both she nodded. “She’s had it bad for the brothers all our lives. I mean like crazy-stupid bad for them,” she whispered. “And what’s more, I’ve seen the same look in their eyes as she carries.” She toyed with Blake’s fingers, thinking about her friend. “She moved just before I left for New York. We have kept in touch. She’s become an amazing woman.” She shrugged and then added, “And never lost her feelings for those boys, even if they never made her think that she was even a blip on their world’s radar. Kinda like you and Cor,” she teased. “I ran, thinking that there was no chance, and so did she. But”—she paused—“I think that is why the brothers haven’t really had anyone serious. Because they both feel something for her but neither of the idiots were willing to track her happy ass down and make her see reason.”
“Hmm,” Blake hummed, and then a slow, evil, grin curled his lips. “Methinks I have the perfect plan to ensure your dad stays off our scent trail. And its name is Bethany Hanson. You need to call her, invite her back, baby shower I think would be the most plausible. We’ll put your dad in charge, have it at his place, insist the brothers are there for it of course. It will be a mixed event—your friends, our friends, and those three throwing looks at one another. We point this out to your father and set him loose. Like a dog after a bone, he’ll hound them until they get their asses in gear and do something.”
“That sounds good to me.” Patty laughed. “That, and if I ever get married I want her to be my maid of honor. We’ve been friends all our lives, so it only makes sense,” she dropped in there, hinting. Dammit, she hated to hint but she wanted her baby to be born when she was wed and not before. Yes, it was only a piece of paper, but it was one that was important to her. Dammit.
“Ah, you’re just so cute when you’re not being subtle,” Corbin said with a chuckle. “Do you really think we’d ever let you be an unwed mother? Geez Tisha, a little faith in us would not go amiss, you know.”
“Well you guys never said anything about it,” she muttered. “I mean come on, have either of you ever said a single word about wanting anything legal with me? I mean yeah, only one of you will be on the legal marriage certificate but I would really like to be able to marry you both, even if only for our families?”
“Six years, four months, three days and twenty-two hours ago, give or take…you blew us off and then disappeared again,” Blake said. “So yeah, we’ve been a little hesitant to bring up the topic again. Especially since the time before that, one year, eight months and sixteen days, got us the same reaction.”
Patty’s eyes were wide. “Holy hell.” They had been keeping track. “Wow. Okay.” She shrugged and then smiled. “Well now you know how I will react and I don’t think that you can deny me wanting to be in your lives. I mean come on, I have your child inside of me so come on, mister,” she teased. “You know you guys want to ask me something.”
“When we’re ready.” Blake shot her a look. Slowing the truck, he turned into the long drive that would lead right up to the main house. “First things first, dealing with your father. After that we may discuss your constant need to run from us every time we’ve brought up the subject of getting serious with us in the most permanent of ways.”
“Oh good heavens.” She sighed. “You are so bad,” she said with a grin. “But I forgive you because I love you so much,” she told him honestly. “But I really, really do want that,” she told him honestly. “Just putting it out there so that you boys know what I want and what I need.”
“Understood, but you should understand, if we ask again, there is only one answer we want to hear.” He slowed down and then came to a stop in front of the house. Looking to her, he squeezed her fingers lightly. “Let’s go, we’ve been spotted and you know we only get so long before he’ll be out here demanding to know what we’re doing.”
“Is that maybe?” she asked with a grin. Shaking her head, she moved and kissed the silly man. Against his lips she whispered, “The answer will forever be yes.” Brushing her nose to his, she turned to slide out of the vehicle so that they could go and talk to her dad.
Chapter Sixteen
Inside the house, they had to endure the “ritual.” Coffee, pie, or cake depending on their preferences, idle chitchat, and then they were finally all pinned under Daniel’s stare. “So, what do you have to tell me?” the older man demanded. How her father knew anything never failed to shock and amaze her. Of course, her men both looked at her, their expressions schooled to reveal nothing, and were leaving it to her to tell her old man.
Patty looked to the men and laughed. “No way. I told you that you had to tell him.” At their continued stares, she sighed and relented. “Daddy.” She smiled. “I love you, you do know that right?” At his gruff nod she laughed. “Well it seems that I wasn’t told that the antibiotics that I was given before coming home would throw my birth control out of whack.” She waited, and at her dad’s continued confused stare she said, “You will be a grandfather in a few months. I’m pregnant.” And she waited.
Silence reigned for a good long while as Daniel seemed to be processing. Then his eyes got big, his lips curved in a grin and he let out a huge hoot as he jumped up to his feet. Dancing around, he kept up the yelling in pleasure before he swooped in toward her. He even shoved Corbin out of the way, nearly tipping him and his chair right over. But he hauled her up out of her chair without even a look to him and hugged her tight, spinning her around in his arms.
Patty was laughing, happy tears rolling from her eyes, and she hugged her father back. When she pulled back she grinned up at him. “But”—she patted his chest and smiled—“that’s not for several more months. In the meantime, I plan on enjoying every single moment with my guys that I can. In fact, I’m going to make them take a vacation with me so that we can get ready for this life together.”
“Of course, of course.” He nodded, stroking her hair. “You have made me so damned happy, baby girl. Oh God.” He stared at her, tears welling. “My baby’s going to have a baby,” he said and hauled her into his arms again, his hold tight.
Patty laughed and nodded. “Yes, I’m going to have a baby.” She hugged him close, tightly and then pulled back slightly. “Thank you, Daddy.” She smiled. “For being just as happy about this as I am. As the guys are. Thank you for being in my life,” she said with a smile.
Nodding, he kept stroking her hair. “My baby’s having a baby,” he said again. Shaking his head, he took a deep breath and nodded once more. “I am so proud of you, baby girl. Now if only your lazy brothers would get their acts in gear and step up to the plate and give me some more grandbabies I’d be a very happy old man.”
That had her laughing and she shook her head. “Well, Daddy, one day I will tell you a big secret. Maybe that will help you help them?” she asked happily. “But for now I think that I am ready to get home, take a nice long, hot bath, and take the meds the doctor prescribed me.”
“Of course, go,” he said with a smile. Pressing a kiss to her forehead, he squeezed her arms lightly. “Get home and rest, you will need a lot of rest. Your mother seemed to nap nonstop for the first months of each of her pregnancies. Listen to your body, no matter what. It will tell you when you need to sleep or if something isn’t right. Don’t listen to the doctors, make them always listen to you. That’s it, that’s all I’ve got for that topic. I basically was just a gofer for your mother and her cravings.”
“Thank you, Daddy,” Patty said with a smile and gave him another hug. “Don’t worry Dad, I will make sure that they take very, very good care of me. I will make sure that they get me everything that I might want or need,” she assured him.
“I have no doubt, you are so much like your mother,” he said softly. “And I only mean part of that in the good way,” he added in a low tone before looking around. Then he looked up, waited about five seconds, and let out a breath. “I’ll pay for that one later, I’m sure.” He grinned. “Go, go home and celebrate, then rest. Lots of rest.”
Patty nodded and, after giving her father another hug, moved into Corbin’s arms this time. Hugging him, she lay her head on his shoulder and sighed happily. “All right, boys, take me home?” She looked up lovingly at Corbin and then to Blake. Grinning, she added, “And I get to take a nap while you boys work out your schedules so that we can take our vacation.”
“Uh, right, vacation.” Corbin looked at Blake. Something passed between the two men, something she didn’t quite understand, a guy thing obviously. “We’ll definitely be working on that, absolutely.” he nodded. Turning her, he basically bum-rushed her for the door and outside. Blake was not on their heels, interesting to note, especially when she caught him talking to her dad and her father was nodding slowly with a smirk on his face.
Frowning, Patty looked up at Corbin. “Come on. You are telling Dad about whatever you boys have planned, but you aren’t letting me in on it? For real? That’s just mean. Really, that’s just plain and simply ornery of you boys.”
Laughing, he shrugged and hustled her into the truck. “Who said we were sharing plans with him? Blake could be putting part one of our plan to keep him from driving you insane into the works. You never know until you ask him, right?”
“That’s just not right and you damn well know it. He won’t tell me anything until he’s ready. That man puts a mime to shame with how silent he can be at times. Come on, Cor, tell me please?” she begged. She hated, absolutely hated, not knowing everything at any possible given in time.
“Nope, no can do. I like my balls attached to my body, as well as other body parts. Did you know that Blake can get damned graphic and gruesome when he’s threatening someone? He had me gagging he was so very clear on what he’d do to me if I so much as breathed a word of it to you. All I can say is…you’ll approve.” He then pressed his lips together, tightly, and shrugged.
She only grunted. Dammit, what were these boys planning? “Okay, and when will I know just what it is that you boys have planned for my personage? Can you at least tell me that to get me a little out of my misery, please?”
He hummed softly as he stared at her, his eyes narrowing. “Well,”—he drawled the word out long, really long—“I suppose I could throw you a bit of a bone there. All right, but you can’t tell Blake that I gave you even this much.” He waited until she nodded frantically. Shooting a look to the house, he leaned into her a bit. “So, you should know what’s going on sometime from this moment up to, and including, the year twenty-twenty.” His eyes were dancing in merriment, it was clear that he wasn’t going to tell her anything either.
All he got for his words was a low growl of displeasure from her and a tap of her foot. Her anger and frustration all but rolled off of her, and the damn man just grinned like a fool.
When Blake finally joined them, he took one look at her, one look at Corbin, and rolled his eyes. Shaking his head, he started the truck and pulled away from the house. He didn’t head for the main highway, but for one of the many back roads that led from the main ranch to their little slice of land.
As they pulled up to the house he shot her another look, one of those she couldn’t read but either meant trouble or trouble. She was kind of hoping for the second. She liked it when they led her into trouble. It always ended so well for her. Of course, if it was the second then it could be bad, a distraction. A wonderful distraction but a distraction all the same.
Both men slid out of the truck as soon as they parked, the engine still dying as they turned to wait on her to pick which way she was going to slide out. Hmm, Blake was unreadable but Corbin had a sneaky little smirk on his face.
Chapter Seventeen
Christmas day
Patty shifted nervously from foot to foot. When her father came up behind her she relaxed slightly, her grip on the tulips easing but only a bit. She watched as Bethany walked down the aisle, and didn’t miss the looks her brothers gave her either, which had her grinning. “See, I think that you need to talk to your sons about Bethany. Make sure that they see that she’s taken care of while here. What do you think, Daddy?” She was as nervous as a cat in a rocking chair factory and didn’t know why. This was what she wanted, she wanted to marry her guys, but heaven’s sakes she wasn’t so sure that she was ready to walk out in front of all the people who showed up at the church for her wedding to Blake, legally, and then after on the church steps, her commitment ceremony to Corbin.
