is, I don’t think it’s good. We’ll need to get the girls occupied so we can talk to him alone.”
“Do you want me to call and see if Sarah or Kari can pick them up?”
“No, hold on,” I flipped my phone open and dialed my friend Grunt’s number, putting it on speaker phone so Sierra could hear. He answered on the first ring, “Hey, brother. You and your old lady at home? I need a favor.”
“Talk to me,” Grunt mumbled. “What can I do for you?”
“Can I send Leia and Lexi over to your place for a bit? Marcus is on his way over and has something to talk to us about. He said we need to be alone.”
“Sounds serious,” Grunt grumbled. “The gang’s all here, send them over. Shannon is making tacos for dinner and then we’re going to roast some marshmallows over the fire pit and the kids are going to make a fucking mess eating s’mores. Both your girls are welcome.”
“Thanks, brother,” I told him. “We’ll be by to get them as soon as we can.”
“No hurry,” Grunt told me. “Let them stay a while. We’re going to get a lesson about constellations from the boys this evening, they might learn something new. God knows I will.”
“Okay,” I laughed. “I’ll see you in a bit.”
Grunt hung up and I flipped my phone closed again. I glanced out the window on Sierra’s side of the truck and saw the girls on the fence of the corral saying hello to the horses.
“I’m worried,” Sierra told me. “What if something went wrong?”
“We’ll find out soon enough. Let’s get our stuff out of the truck and send the girls over to Grunt’s house. I’ll start some laundry and head out to the barn to take care of the horses if you’ll scrounge something up for us to eat.”
◆◆◆
SIERRA
“Okay,” I jumped out of the truck without waiting for Rowdy to open my door and grabbed one of the bags out of the back as I walked toward the porch.
“Girls!” I yelled out for them. They both came running and helped us carry their things inside to the laundry room. I knew the minute Rowdy suggested that they go over to Grunt’s house because both girls ran through the living room at top speed.
“Mom! Rowdy said we have to go to the store and buy some boots for me tomorrow, but I can wear a pair of Leia’s tonight,” Lexi told me as she rushed by. “I want red boots!”
“We’ll see what colors they have tomorrow, honey,” I told the air since Lexi was long gone down the hallway.
Rowdy came out of the laundry room and smiled over at me, “We’ve got to get you some boots too, babe. And they come in every color of the rainbow, just so you know.”
“I have to go see my friends about my wedding dress tomorrow and Kari called and said she scheduled my doctor’s appointment. Do you still want me to go to that?”
“That horse has already left the barn, sweetheart,” Rowdy said as he put his arms around my waist. “But if you’d feel better about it, go and I will, too. I trust you. What are you cooking?”
“I’m making a quick dinner for us to eat before I help you in the barn. It will be ready in about five minutes.”
“What is that?” Rowdy asked me as he peered over my shoulder.
“Chicken and broccoli over noodles. You had everything in the pantry and freezer.”
“I did?”
“Yes,” I laughed. “Not exactly what I would have chosen to use, but it will work.”
“How did I have the stuff for chinese food?”
“Chinese food doesn’t just magically appear that way, it starts the same as every other dish.”
“Okay,” I felt Rowdy shrug behind me and then he rested his chin on my shoulder. “I’m definitely going to have to trust you on that.”
“How did the two of you not starve?”
“Canned food, frozen food, and spaghetti,” Leia answered as she walked into the kitchen. “I know we’re eating at Grunt and Shannon’s house, but I think whatever you’re making smells delicious and I’m so glad you are marrying us, Sierra. I thank you, my stomach thanks you, and my taste buds thank you.”
“It kept you alive this long, didn’t it?” Rowdy dropped a kiss on my shoulder and moved away. He swept Leia up in his arms and started tickling her. When Lexi came in, he grabbed her, too, and soon both girls were giggling. “I am way outgunned