He fired off the name as if he were the firearm, and Holly Ann picked him up saying, “His daddy’s bringing him. They’re not here yet.” She reached for a cookie. “Willa?”
“He can have one.”
Holly Ann gave him a cookie, and Etta turned toward the oven as the timer went off. She pulled out the tray of tin foil miniature meat loaves she’d made, then a second one. The other oven held two more trays, and she started piling the packets from one tray onto the first, deftly sliding in two more trays a few moments later.
The homestead filled with voices as she did that, and when she turned to face the group again, she found Bear had come in with Ranger and their little boys, Sammy and the rest of her kids now flowed toward the big picnic table, and a handful of Shiloh Ridge’s cowboys stood in the arched doorway.
She needed to get some of these people eating. She pulled the step-stool out from beside the fridge and stepped up so she stood taller than everyone in the huge room. “Everyone,” she called. “There’s hot food ready, and we can start eating.”
August appeared in the doorway, and Etta nearly fell off the stool. Her voice definitely went mute as August smiled at her. She could only stare at him, because he was just so handsome, and she’d enjoyed her time with him so much.
She felt all the eyes shift toward him, and he lifted his hand, his gaze sliding away from her and across everyone else. Etta cleared her throat and managed to say, “Ranger? Will you call on someone to pray?”
She got down from the stool and fell back against the sink, her heart pounding in her throat, ears, and stomach. Get it together, she told herself.
Ranger said grace himself, and then everyone waited. Etta realized she usually went over the food, welcomed everyone, and then faded into the background while she took a baby for someone who needed twenty minutes to eat without another human being on their lap.
“I made tin foil meatloaves,” she said. “They’ll have a little hash brown casserole in them, and there are more coming out of the oven soon, so don’t be shy.”
She got back on the stool, more in control of her emotions now. “Baked beans are here. Apple cider and sweet tea. If you want lemonade, you’ll have to go to the outside fridge or next door to Bull House, where Ward and Dot have a secret stash.” She grinned at her brother, who hovered not two feet from his very pregnant wife.
Dot was due three days ago, and still there had been no sign of the baby. She looked miserable, despite the smile on her face.
“Holly Ann brought cookies, and they’re limited, so please just take one to begin with.” Etta reached for one right now, actually. “Let’s eat.”
She got down off the stool and slipped into the background as people started to queue up and take the aluminum foil packets, baked beans, chips, and drinks.
She took a bite of the cookie, instant happiness filling her mouth with the sugar and chocolate. She had skills in the kitchen, but Holly Ann existed in another league. She caught Sammy’s eye, and she chin-nodded toward the arched doorway.
Instead of running straight to August’s side, Etta moved toward Sammy and reached for Heather. “I’ll take her. I ate a bowl of baked beans before they came off the heat.”
“Okay,” Sammy said. “I’d love to meet August, if you aren’t opposed.”
“I’m not,” Etta said. “Come with me.” She finally faced him, and he’d come inside the kitchen now. “Heya, Heather,” she cooed at the baby. “This is August Winters.”
The smile on her face felt genuine and real, and she moved her gaze from the baby to the man she would call her boyfriend.
“Hi, August.” She leaned up and kissed his cheek.
“It smells great in here, Etta,” he said, one hand landing on her hip and drawing her closer even as he kept the distance between them.
“Meat and potatoes,” she said as if she hadn’t put any effort into the meal. “Where’s Hailey?”
“She saw a couple of boys out front with a dog, and that was that.” He beamed at her. “I can grab her when it dies down a little bit.”
Etta nodded and shifted her weight so Sammy could step forward. “This is Sammy Glover,” she said. “She’s been in the crazy the longest as the first in-law that joined us