Page 46 of Call it Fate

“Um, well, I think they’re going to be barn cats.”

“What’s a barn cat?”

“They’re going to help me out by keeping unwanted critters like mice away from my barns.”

“Oh.”

“Besides, they’re too young to be separated from their mom. But, if you’re careful, you can peek in on them and see how they’re doing. They just opened their eyes for the first time last night.”

“Cool! Can I go, Mama?”

Halfway wanting to keep him there as a buffer, I excused him, and he took off, barely taking the time to push his chair in and calling a fast “thank you” to Marta, Chase’s housekeeper, who, fortunately for me, walked into the room just then.

“That was delicious, Marta. When are you going to leave this guy and come work with me?” I grinned at the older lady who’d worked at the farm longer than I could remember. I pushed away from the huge kitchen table and patted my full belly

Marta had cooked a feast, as she always did when we had our family gatherings at Chase’s Silver Creek Farm. It was a double treat to come here on Sunday mornings, not only because of the family time but to have someone else cook.

“Hey, are you trying to ruin me?” Chase pointed his forkful of sausage at me. “This entire farm would fall apart if it weren’t for her. She’s more important than I am.” He winked and nodded at Marta. “Just ask her.”

“He’s right.” She grinned at her boss. “I’ve been here longer than he’s been alive. I helped change this one’s diapers. Heck, I’ve changedallyour diapers.” Her eyes glanced around the table, even nodding at Mama. “I’ve spent most of my life here, and I don’t plan on leaving anytime soon unless this one,” she tilted her head at Chase, “gets married and has someone else to take care of him.”

“Well then, you’ll be here the rest of your life, cause you’re the only woman I’ll marry,” Chase commented before he stuffed another bite of scrambled egg in his mouth.

Cameron rolled her eyes, but the rest of us laughed. Chase’s aversion to marriage was legendary, but none of us understood why. He’d make an excellent husband and father.

Chase snagged another sausage patty as Marta began to clear the table.

“Where do you put all that food?” my mother joked.

He smothered his waffle in syrup as he winked at her. “I’m a growing boy, Mama Rae.”

She chuckled as she gathered her dishes. “I’m going to check on Iain and make sure he isn’t pestering Tabby too much or that he doesn’t try to sneak one away in his shirt for us to find at home later.” She directed her attention to me and waggled her finger. “Not that I think it would be a bad thing for a boy to have a pet.”

I shook my head, rolling my eyes. “It’s the last thing I need to add to the mix right now.”

Mama shrugged one shoulder. “Just sayin’, that’s all.”

Once she left, Chase pushed away his plate and leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms with a scowl that would make the Grinch proud. “So, please tell me this Zach is a friend of Iain’s and not the asshole who knocked you up and cheated on you.”

I was surprised he didn’t already know. “You mean my mom didn’t tell you?”

“Not a word other than you had some things to take care of and didn’t want Iain around for it. What’s going on, Em?”

I blew a raspberry. “Iain’s dad unexpectedly showed up.”

There were a few seconds of silence, then the explosive fallout.

“He just fucking showed up? I hope you told him to go fuck himself.”

“It’s not like that—”

“I’m calling Marcus. We’ll make fucking sure he pays everything he owes you and then some.”

I shook my head, but he wasn’t listening. Part of me appreciated his adamant defense of me. The other part panicked, especially with his next words.

“I’m gonna track that asshole down and kick his ass.”

I’d never heard Chase talk like that before. Usually, he was pretty mild-mannered. I guessed I’d underestimated what Zach’s presence might mean to some of my family.

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