Page 9 of Love Me Again

“I really like how you seem to think pregnancy is a catching disease, Boone,” Lou muttered. “But I’d also like to hear your answer to Gavin’s question.”

Boone scowled at her. As far as his two sisters-in-law went, Cora was sweet and wonderful and liked him. Lou had been a friend of the family too long not to treat him like a baby brother.

He didn’t appreciate it.

“Long story,” he grumbled.

“I ain’t got nowhere to be,” Gavin said cheerfully. “You, Shane?”

“You really left Lou’s grandma to weather the storm by herself?” Boone said, hoping the edge to his voice would put Gavin’s back up and distract everyone from him.

“Mrs. Fairchild is staying with Em in town,” Gavin replied, referring to Lou’s sister who ran a bakery in Gracely and lived above the store.

“Don’t fall for the change of subject,” Lou said, elbowing Gavin gently in the gut. “How are you married? You got drunk in Vegas?” Lou suggested.

Boone said nothing, though the accusation rankled.

“Shane didn’t mention a baby in tow, so I guess you didn’t knock her up,” Gavin said, patting his own wife’s stomach proudly.

It was meant to be a joke. Boone knew that and usually knew how to be the one saying obnoxious, pointed things that pissed someone off. And since he was usually that guy, he should certainly know better than to snap any sharp responses that gave away just how pissed the suggestion made him.

And still… “That’s enough.”

Gavin held up his hands in surrender. “Okay. Message received.” He leaned into Lou, stage whispered. “I think he might actually have wanted to marry her.”

“Of course he did,” Shane said quietly. Seriously. His gaze never leaving Boone’s face. Whatever humor Gavin and Lou found in the situation, Shane didn’t share it.

Go fucking figure.

“Far as I can tell, Boone only runs away from the stuff he really wants.”

Boone couldn’t glare at Shane.

Not when he was right, and the rightness of that cut right to the heart of too many things to name.

But he didn’t have to answer his oldest brother either.

He needed to track down wherever his mother had hidden Josie. And stop whatever machinations Deb Tyler-Donahue probably already had started in motion.

Still in borrowed clothes, Josie was led out of the back of the house and into a little UTV that Molly expertly drove across snowy fields with even more snow falling around them. Josie held her bag that someone had fetched from her truck, and a tub of necessities Deb had insisted she take on her lap and questioned just how far she was going to let this go.

Molly pulled to a stop in front of a little cabin tucked into a cove of trees. It was far away from the main house because the Tyler Ranch was a sprawling place. It was much smaller than the main house, but it was pretty and cozy, particularly in all the picturesque snow with the impressive Rockies in the distance.

Molly hopped off the UTV, easy as you please, grabbed a shovel from the back, and scooped out the little path that led to the door. “I’ll try to scrounge you up some boots. What’s your shoe size?”

Josie answered rotely, even though borrowed boots didn’t make sense. None of this made any sense.

“Come on. I’ll give you the tour,” Molly said, gesturing for Josie to get out of the UTV and follow the path up to the cabin door.

Feeling a bit like a ghost, Josie followed instructions carrying her bag and the tub. She trudged through the newly scooped out path and up to the door.

“You’ll be well and truly trapped in here if we get even half as much snow as they’re expecting, but the generator should kick in if the electricity goes out.” Molly pushed the door open, gestured Josie to step inside ahead of her.

It was cold in here. The furniture was covered, but when Molly flipped the switch next to the door, lights popped on. “This landline works. The number to the house is listed right here.” She tapped a weathered piece of paper taped to the wall. “You know how to tend a fire?”

Josie stared at the woman—who technically was her sister-in-law. “I don’t understand what’s happening. You’re all treating me so nicely. Like I’m your family, but I’m not. Boone is… He’s yours.”

“Sure,” Molly replied with a shrug. She reached out and took the tub from Josie’s tight grip. She put it on the counter. “But he married you, and that makes you family.”