“Or five—she’s newly divorced or widowed and is contemplating going on the marriage market again. Which I doubt is the issue, or we would have heard.” She frowned at her hand. “I need a manicure. Remind me to make an appointment.”
“You forgot reason number six,” Raney pointed out.
Mama turned to look at her.
“If you have the puffy eyes from Daddy’s side of the family. Len thinks they make her look tired all the time.”
“They’re not that bad yet.”
“They will be. And the change will be less noticeable if she does it now rather than if she waits until they’re like Daddy’s.”
“You might be right. I’ll admit I considered a tuck here and there after your father died.”
“You obviously decided against it.”
“Obviously?”
“What I meant was—”
Mama chuckled. “I know what you meant. Back then, I had no intention of ever trying to replace your father, so I didn’t truly contemplate surgery.”
“Are you considering it now?”
“Not yet.”
Not yet? “What does that mean?”
“It means there may come a time when I will consider it.”
Raney was intrigued. And a little shocked. “You met someone on the cruise.”
“I met many people on the cruise, although none stood out in that way. But I did learn one thing. I’m not too old to have fun. And sometimes the most fun of all is having someone to share that fun with. Now, who is this Grady person and why has he been staying at the house?”
Raney spent the next fifteen minutes reassuring Mama that Grady seemed to be a good guy, had been sending money for the baby, had offered to marry Joss, but so far, she’d refused, and promised he’d be back a few days before the baby was due, which was soon.
“He’d better. It’s his baby, too. I suppose he expects to stay in the house.”
“He did before.”
“We’ll see. Has she decided on a name?”
“Something musical is all I know.”
“Lord help us. Now tell me about Dalton.”
Having expected the question, Raney didn’t react. “What about him?”
“Did he behave himself?”
“Dalton always behaves himself. He was an excellent—if unnecessary—protector, and put Grady through a full interrogation when he showed up at the house. Plus, he and Rosco have done so well in the local cutting shows, they’ve both gotten offers.”
“That’s not what I meant.”
Knowing from many previous experiences that her mother could read minds, Raney didn’t look at her or respond to that. Slowing down, she turned into the gate and drove toward the parking area behind the house.
“Then tell me about the offers,” Mama said, trying a different tack.
“They don’t matter. I’m not selling Rosco and Dalton’s not leaving Four Star.”
“He told you that?”
“Twice.”
“That’s promising.”
“What do you mean?”
Instead of answering, Mama pointed at the crowded parking area. “Is that Grady’s car?”
Raney recognized Joss’s and Len’s cars, but not the boxy BMW parked in the Expedition’s usual spot. “I don’t know. When he came before, he brought Joss’s car back from Houston.”
“Park by the gate. It will be easier to unload and we can switch the cars around later. I’ll text Glenn to have one of the boys come take the luggage inside.” As she opened the car door, Dalton hurried out of the side door by the kitchen.
“Hey,” he called, looking more relieved than happy to see them. “Glad you’re here. Things are popping. Good to see you, Mrs. Whitcomb.”
“Popping? What do you mean?”
Len rushed out behind him. “Thank God you’re here. Joss’s obstetrician wants us to take her to University Medical in Lubbock.” Seeing Mama’s look of alarm, she raised her hands in a calming gesture. “It’s okay, Mama. Nothing bad. She’s fine. The baby’s fine. But he thinks she’s breech and may be coming early, so he’s being cautious. They have a good neonatal center there and lots of doctors on staff. There’s no rush. We can take her tonight or in the morning.”
As was her custom, Mama immediately took over. “We’ll go tonight. If we put the seats down in the Expedition, she’ll be able to stretch out. Dalton, please see to it. Len, bring your car, too, in case you have to get home. How long do you think we’ll need to be there?”
“At least a week is my guess,” Len answered.
“Don’t worry about things here, Mrs. Whitcomb,” Dalton said. “Hicks and I can run things while you’re gone.”
“I may need for you to drive us.”
“I can drive,” a new voice said.
They all turned.
Grady came from the direction of the veranda. While he introduced himself to Mama, Raney cornered her older sister.
“The truth, Len.”
Speaking in a voice that wouldn’t carry back to Mama, Len said, “The truth is Joss is a little hysterical. This isn’t an emergency, but the small clinic in Aspenmont isn’t that well equipped if there’s a problem. And if the baby is breech, there could be a problem.”
Mama left Grady and Dalton to unload her luggage and came over to her daughters. “Len, tell me everything you just said to Raney. No secrets.”
The woman had eyes in the back of her head.
“I’m the one who pushed for Joss to go to Lubbock,” Len admitted. “The baby might be breech. This is only a precaution, Mama. The Aspenmont doctor has already set up an appointment with an obstetrician at University Medical. If Joss isn’t ready to be admitted, we’ll go to a hotel nearby until she is. It shouldn’t be for long. She’s already dilated six centimeters.”
“Do we need to go tonight?”
“That’s up to Joss. And you, Mama. You must be tired after your flight. Her appointment with the hospital obstetrician isn’t until one o’clock tomorrow and the hospital is less than two hours away. We can leave first thing in the morning, and you can get a good night’s rest. Like I told Raney, this isn’t an emergency. We have plenty of time.”
“I’ll go talk to Joss,” Mama decided. She gave Len a flustered once-over. “Are you sure you’re
