“I was careful, and this discussion is over. Isabel is pregnant and we’re not going to dissect why and how.”
“Understood.” Nick glanced over at him as he picked up a large knife. “Didn’t mean to intrude. In your shoes, I wouldn’t want that, either.” Focusing on the cutting board, he began whacking at the head of cabbage. “Hey, this is more fun than I expected!”
“Easy, Nick.” Jake laid a hand on his arm. “Chop, don’t pulverize.”
“Oh. Then this is good enough?”
“Perfect.” Jake rescued the mangled remains of the cabbage. “Appreciate the help.”
“Anytime. I didn’t realize cooking was so physically rewarding. I need to do more of it.” He headed for the fridge. “Cider, Jake?”
“Sure. I’ll be done here in a minute.”
“CJ?”
“Thanks, but I’m still working on this one.” Much as he’d love to get toasted, he needed all his brain cells for this crisis.
Nick brought two bottles to the table and twisted the cap off one. Pulling out a chair, he spun it around and straddled it. “What’s the plan, bro? How can we help?”
“Don’t know, yet.” He’d never been so glad to be a part of the Brotherhood. No matter what, they’d have his back. “Isabel’s coming here so we can talk face-to-face.”
“That’s good. When?”
“As soon as she can book a flight. Which reminds me. I need to call Henri and see what she has in the way of cabins.”
Jake turned from the stove. “Better do that now. We’re pretty full.”
“Right.” CJ took out his phone to call Henri Fox, the woman who’d started out as his boss ten years ago and had gradually become the mother figure who’d seen him through some tough times. This was shaping up to be another one.
Nick picked up his cider. “Gonna tell her why Isabel’s coming?”
“Not on the phone.” He sat up straighter and put the phone to his ear. “Hi, Henri. It’s me.”
“How’re you doing, son?”
“I’m okay. Listen, Isabel’s coming for a visit. Do you have a cabin available?”
“Lucy called five minutes ago. I’ve already reserved a one-bedroom. Last one we had.”
“Thank you.”
“Lucy said Isabel’s in the family way.”
He gulped. “Henri, I swear that I—”
“You don’t have to say a word. My boys aren’t careless about such things. Stuff happens. You’ll be fine, CJ. Isabel and the baby will be, too. It’ll work out.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He wasn’t nearly that confident, but he appreciated the sentiment. “I’ll cover the cabin rental. You can take it out of my paycheck.”
“I won’t be doing that.”
“But it’s my—”
“Not exactly. You aren’t the only one affected by this change in circumstances.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’m claiming grandmother rights to this child.”
He blinked. “I did not see that coming.”
“I never wanted to put pressure on any of you, but I’ve been hoping for babies eventually. Seth and Zoe gave me a taste when they brought little Hamish up for the wedding. Isabel’s part of the family, now. I don’t charge family members rent.”
His throat tightened. “Thank you.”
“Give yourself time, CJ. I predict before too long you’ll start getting excited about this news.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Nope. He’d never been this terrified, not even when he’d been lost in a blizzard with no cell phone.
“Do I have your permission to tell the Babes?” Her closest friends had formed a barrel-racing group called Babes on Buckskins. She made it sound like they’d be thrilled, too.
“Uh… I guess so.”
“Great. Then I’ll let you get on with whatever you were doing.”
“You mean quietly freaking out?”
She chuckled. “Like I said, give yourself time. Let me know when you have Isabel’s ETA. ’Bye, son.”
“’Bye, Henri.” He disconnected and checked the phone for a text. Nothing yet. He laid it on the table where he could see the screen.
Jake came over and took a seat. “She already knew, didn’t she?”
He nodded. “Isabel called Lucy after talking to me. Lucy contacted Henri.” He glanced at Jake and Nick. “She’s claiming grandmother rights and wants to tell the Babes.”
Both guys smiled.
“See?” Jake raised his bottle in a salute. “Somebody thinks this is good news.”
Nick laughed. “She’ll make a helluva granny.”
“Wish I could say the same about my chances of being a decent father.”
Nick’s gaze was sympathetic. “We’ll all be here for you, bro.”
“I appreciate the moral support. But the only one with actual experience in fatherhood isn’t available.”
“Sure he is.” Nick held up his phone. “We can have a virtual Seth in no time.”
“A virtual Seth. That’s funny.”
“It is funny. People don’t look quite right in those video chats.” Nick shrugged. “But it’s still better than not seeing him at all.”
“We can hold off on that. This baby is seven months away.” He swallowed. “And likely will be born in Seattle. I probably won’t get much chance to—”
“Whoa, there, partner,” Jake said. “Back up the negativity bus. You don’t know how much contact you’ll have with the little tyke. Point of fact, you don’t know anything.”
“I know Isabel’s pregnant with our baby. And I also know I’m not ready for fatherhood.”
“Understandable reaction,” Nick said. “Most guys would feel as if they—”
“I’m serious. I have no clue how a dad is supposed to behave. I never knew mine. Sure, I had Charley. We all did, but we were practically grown when he and Henri took us on. It’s not the same as being responsible for a tiny, vulnerable human.”
“I suppose not.” Nick picked at the label on his bottle. “I didn’t know my dad, either.” He glanced up. “He cut out before I was born.”
“I wish mine had.” Jake took a gulp of his cider.
“That’s what I’m saying, Jake. If any of us had been lucky enough to have a wonderful, supportive dad, we wouldn’t have ended up at the Buckskin Ranch.”
Jake’s gaze was steady. “And that’s our reward for being survivors. We’ve learned to roll with the punches. Like I said, you’ve got this.”
Chapter Two
CJ. Isabel’s breath caught. He hadn’t seen her yet, which gave her a moment to admire the father of her unborn child.
