Arch interrupted from behind us. “South America? Europe? I don't know how I feel about you treating sick people all over the world. What if you catchsomething?”
I put on my haughtiest expression as I turned in my seat to face him. “And what do your feelings have to do with it, Archibald Beaumont?” If I let him get rolling he'd be overbearing and controlling—typical big brother. It was best to cut him off before he gathered anysteam.
“I worry about you, Linda. What if you get into some third-world country or remote home out in the wilderness and get kidnapped orkilled?”
I slumped my shoulders. “The likelihood of that happening is slim tonone.”
Ellie piped up. “After last year, I don't pooh-pooh on any possibility. If I hadn't taken some self-defense, my stepbrother could've really hurtme.”
Craziness. “Arch told me a little about it. Is he still in psychiatriccare?”
“Yeah, he'll be in there for another decade or so.” She shook her head ruefully. “And I won't have to deal with my stepmom for at least that long. Raquel got the maximum twenty years for insider trading, though my lawyer said she'd probably serve half that. And it turned out my stepsister was involved in it all. She got ten, so she'll probably be out in five. I doubt I'll ever hear from any of them again, so I'm happy.” She grimaced. “I didn't mean to go into my life story. I told you all that to encourage you to get some self-defense training or a carry permit. They transfer to a lot of states, and that way you could carry wheneverpossible.”
Ellie gave me a meaningful stare, as if she could convince me I needed to learn to protect myself by peering into my soul. “I appreciate your fervor, Ellie, but I'm covered. I've taken a ridiculous number of self-defense classes, and I have a carry permit in eighteen different states. I'm as covered as I canbe.”
“Good. So, what else? Is there anyone special in yourlife?”
I appreciated her attempt to try to connect with me. She’d be good for mybrothers.
I sighed. “No. That's one thing about being on the move constantly that I don't like. There’s never any time to get to know anyone.” I threw my hands in the air. “I have no idea where I want to eventually put down roots. I always assume that when I meet the right guy, the rest will fall intoplace.”
Ellie sighed, eyes dreamy. “It did forme.”
We spent a moment in silence before Todd ran up to Ellie, dragging a handsome man behindhim.
“Ellie!” he shouted. “We have to dance. Come on.” He turned to the general crowd milling about. “Gray!” he shrieked, shrill and excited. “Get your butt overhere.”
I burst out laughing. Todd was a hoot. Everyone needed a Todd in their life, though maybe in smalldoses.
The guests mingled, drinking and laughing, while Ellie and her cohorts cut a wide path on the dance floor. I sat at the bride's table and sipped wine, contemplating my love life. Every man I'd met in the last year had been lacking. Too boring. Not boring enough. Too mild-mannered. Too vain, or not vain enough—regular bathing was a necessity. One guy wouldn't stop talking about rebuilding his car. I’d tried, but nobody stacked up to my bookboyfriends.
Todd ran over to the table and grabbed my hand. “Come on, dance with us.” He pushed me into Wes's waitingarms.
“Hey, little sister, I've missed you.” He kissed mycheek.
“I've missed you, too.” I loved all my siblings, but Arch and his best friends held a special place in my heart. They’d never minded me tagging along after them and always made me feelspecial.
“Are you happy? I thought you guys always said you wouldn’t do the poly lifestyle?” I figured they’d settle in Texas, far away from home, and have perfectly normal lives. Two-point-five kids and allthat.
“I’m ecstatic. It won’t be easy, but at least we know what we’re in for. What does normal matter when you’re happy?” His face radiated bliss as he swayedme.
“Then I’m happy for you.” I looked at his feet, planted firmly on the floor. “I see Gray still hasn’t convinced you to learn todance?”
“I was almost convinced late last year but I persevered. This is as close to dancing as I get.” I smiled at hisdetermination.
The rest of the evening flew by with visits from my large family. Most of our brothers and sisters made it in for the wedding, with only our oldest brother, Eric, missing. He was one of the siblings who would be taking over the farm, and he was in the barn with his favorite horse. She was about to deliver a little colt orfilly.
Once I made it to my old bedroom for the night, I logged on to my company’s website to see what time my morning flight departed. I had time off coming up, but I’d promised them I’d do two more weeks before taking myvacation.
After confirming my flight for North Dakota, I logged off and got ready for bed. I’d have to wake up early to get to the airport in time to make it throughsecurity.
Sleep eluded me as I tried to settle into the comfort of being in my childhood bedroom. I reflected on my years on the farm. We were an unconventional family, but happy. Some of my brothers and sisters—as I called all the kids I grew up with—rejected the poly life our parents introduced us to. I’d embraced it. Over the years I’d had a few poly relationships, but nothing had panned out. After my last breakup, I’d signed up for the traveling nursesprogram.
Sleep finally came, and then, of course, the alarm clock buzzed too quickly. Never having been a morning person, I tried to throw it across the room. Thank heavens, at the last second I remembered that my alarm clock was also my cell and snatched my arm back, phone intact. Best not make that mistaketwice.
Bags packed, hearty farm breakfast eaten, and a surplus of family kissed goodbye, I made my way to my rental car with Arch carrying my luggage. “Be careful. I worry about you traipsing around the worldalone.”
“I’m fine, big brother. Don’t worry aboutme.”
