Page 117 of Dust Storm

“Well, why didn’t you say anything?” she exclaimed.

“I didn’t know how long it would be and I didn’t want to get everyone into a tizzy,” Becks said as Nate helped her up, bracing her elbow and back.

Gracie gasped. “You mean you’re gonna have the baby, Aunt Becks?”

Becks nodded with a watery smile. “Seems like it.”

Nate was older than me, but I had been a father for thirteen years. I felt a sense of pride watching him dote on Becks and help her out of the kitchen.

Ray lifted his beer. “Mazel tov.”

CJ and the ranch hands joined in, toasting them.

Becks made it to the door before she had to pause and breathe through a contraction. My throat tightened as Nate knelt in front of her, letting her rest her forearms on his shoulders. He kept a protective hand on her belly.

Nate looked up and his eyes met mine.

I gave him a nod, not needing to say anything else.

Momma hurried after them with a grocery bag full of food so they wouldn’t be hungry.

“Is Aunt Becks gonna have a boy or girl?” Bree asked as dinner resumed.

“We’ll just have to wait and see,” I said. “They decided not to find out until the baby’s born.”

“Did you find out if we were girls or boys before we were born?” Gracie asked.

I nodded. “Yeah. Your mom wanted to know right away.” A wistful smile forced itself onto my face. “She was so excited to have girls.”

“Do you want children?” My dad asked Cassandra.

She choked on a sip of water and laughed. “No. I can’t think of anything worse than pushing out a baby.”

“Kidney stones,” CJ said.

I chuckled. “Not even close.”

Ray piped up. “Getting kicked by a bull.”

I thought it over. “Once or for thirteen hours straight?”

He glowered. “Fine. Babies are worse.”

“Do you want more babies?” Gracie asked me around a massive bite of mashed potatoes.

“Don’t talk with your mouth full,” I reminded her, hoping that would derail that conversation.

Every once in a while, Bree and Gracie got on a streak of begging for another sister.

They were very clear that it had to be a girl, though. No boys allowed.

Gracie swallowed. “Will we ever have another sibling?”

Just fucking great.

My brothers snickered behind their beers. Even Cassandra cracked a smile.

“You’re about to have a baby cousin. And Uncle Nate and Aunt Becks live here on the ranch so it’ll be like having a sibling.”

---