of charge. He had to get his recompense somehow.
An hour later, Keegan was strolling into Curtis and Lorrie’s two-story farmhouse, lured by the aroma of roasting meat and the delicious scent of fresh-baked cornbread.
His first stop was over to Lorrie to plant a hello kiss on his aunt’s soft cheek.
“Would you mind adding a few place settings to the table?” Lorrie asked, smiling up at him. “We’ve got a few additional guests comin’ this evening.”
“Of course. Mind if I ask who?” Keegan grabbed three more plates and three sets of silverware.
“Frank and Iris,” she said pleasantly. “And they’re bringin’ their grandson, Eric.”
Keegan had been seeing quite a bit of his Uncle Frank these past few months. He wasn’t sure why that was, but he was glad for it.
He set out the extra plates and silverware in various spots reserved for those who dropped by unexpectedly. After delivering the additional settings to the enormous dining room, Keegan returned to the kitchen.
“How’d your afternoon go with Brody and Matthew?” Curtis asked, stepping into the room.
“Good.” He smiled. “Blanket fort.”
Curtis shook his head in that disbelieving way, a big grin forming on his aging face. “I talked to your daddy today.”
“Did you?”
“Said they’d be comin’ down for Christmas this year.”
“Yes, sir, he promised us they would,” he told his uncle. “I tried to get ’em down for Thanksgiving, but Mom was excited to spend it with her brother.”
Keegan’s father was the oldest of the Walkers as well as the only one who had settled down outside of Coyote Ridge. They’d been begging their parents to simply move here, but there was always one reason or another why they couldn’t. Considering his other brothers and his sister were finally relocating, he figured there weren’t going to be too many more excuses they could use. Perhaps the lure of some grandkids of his own would get his parents here.
From that point onward, there wasn’t a whole lot of in-depth conversation taking place at the weekly meal. Curtis and Lorrie’s kids soon descended, bringing along all the grandkids until the house was packed full. Keegan answered all the questions directed his way: How’s life on the ranch? You get the floors done yet? then asked some of his own: How’re things with the kids? How’s work? Anything new you want to brag about? That sort of thing.
He was busy chatting it up with Braydon and Brendon when Kaden walked in. The first thing Kaden did was seek him out, their eyes meeting across the room. It was just something they did. Since they’d been old enough to go separate ways, they always found their way back together. Not only was Kaden his twin brother, he was also his best friend.
Kaden offered a clipped head shake, an answer to his silent question: Did Bristol come with you?
Keegan couldn’t deny he was disappointed not to see Bristol on his brother’s arm. He thought for sure Kaden could sweet-talk her into joining them. Didn’t seem to be the case.
Last but not least, Frank and Iris arrived with their grandson, Eric, and surprising them when Reese and Brantley were right behind them.
“Welcome, welcome,” everyone greeted, dragging the newcomers into the fray.
Once dinner was finished, Keegan and Kaden made their exit after saying their goodbyes.
“We goin’ home?” he asked his brother, waiting for Kaden to tell him how things had gone with Bristol. He’d managed not to hound him for the past couple of hours, respecting her wishes for them to keep their interactions a secret for now. If he’d so much as brought up her name, someone would’ve overheard, and they’d never hear the end of it.
“Yeah.”
“And Bristol?”
Kaden glanced over at him from behind the wheel. “Said she was tired.”
“That why she didn’t come to dinner?”
Kaden grunted, which Keegan knew was a sign that he wasn’t happy.
Unable to hold back any longer, Keegan asked what had happened.
He listened as Kaden told him about his arrival, finding her scantily clad, the two of them getting busy on the couch.
That was the thrilling part.
The not-so-thrilling stuff came after that.
“I invited her for dinner; she declined. Said she’s not ready for anyone to know about us, then tacked on the part about bein’ tired,” Kaden said.
Keegan’s teeth clamped together, but he fought back the anger. “She say how long she expects that to last?” He looked over at Kaden. “I do plan to tell Mom and Dad about the baby. It’s only fair.”
Another grunt from his brother.
“You know, I fuckin’ knew that—”
“Keegan, don’t,”