Banner chuckled."There's no chance of that, and you know it.Oh!"
Harper followed his gaze when he jerked his chin toward the long line of pickup trucks out back.He was smiling as he watched a young woman climb out of the latest arrival.
"You didn't tell me the new vet was coming."
"And how was I supposed to know?"Jim asked."And why would I tell you if I did?"
Banner chuckled."No reason.But I think it's time for me to go and drag Boone out of the bunkhouse."He tipped his hat to Harper."It's good to see you.I'll catch up with you later.And, you know, if you're not busy next Sunday, you should come home and have lunch with us."
"He's right, you know," Jim said as they watched Banner stop and talk to Ford before carrying on toward the bunkhouse."You should come—if you can."
"Then I will.I miss you."
Jim waved a hand at her."Then stop it.You have enough going on—and by the look of it, I'd guess it's going well?"
She nodded slowly, smiling as she watched Emmett with Trip and Blane.Trip was pointing him toward one of the picnic benches, trying to make him sit.Blane looked like he was teasing him.She laughed out loud when Blane said something to Alana, who laughed as he squatted down and she hopped onto his shoulders.She kept laughing as he spun around with her up there.
Jim chuckled beside her."It's good to hear her sound like a little girl again.She was quiet for the longest time after we lost Emily.Used to be a bundle of mischief and giggles while she still had her mom."
Harper didn't know what to say to that.She nodded and continued watching Alana with Blane—the smile on Emmett's face as he watched them was the best thing she'd seen in a long time.
"You're lucky Blane took a shine to you."
She swung her head to look at Jim incredulously."Where on earth did you get that idea?"
Jim grasped her arm as he laughed."Don't look at me like that.Sure, he's like a guard dog, but if he didn't think you were up to the job, you wouldn't have gotten near Emmett and the girls till his ribs were healed—and that can take months."
"He wasn't exactly thrilled to have me around."
Jim grinned."If you're waiting for Blane to ever look thrilled about a damn thing, you'll be disappointed.He let you in, Harper.If he hadn't taken a shine to you, you'd still be in my cottage.He's been Emmett's friend since before either of 'em could say the word."His smile faded and he met her gaze."He and Emily were the ones who knew Emmett best."
Harper looked away, watching Tanya and Nat walking down to the pasture to see the horses."I bet Blane loved Emily."
"Aye, he did—we all did.I'm not going to pretend we didn't.Blane gave her a hard time at first, though.She won him over—didn't take any of his shit.And they had a special bond."
Her heart sank.
"Don't look like that.I think it's the same bond that'll bring you and him close over time, too."
"What do you mean?"
"They both loved Emmett."
Harper dropped her chin.
"I know, I'm an old fool, saying the words when it's not my place.But it strikes me that you need to hear 'em.That's what you've got me for.You might never have had anyone in your corner—not anyone who'd stick around, anyway.You have me now."He gave her a wry smile."And I'll stick around for as long as I can, and when I go it won't be because I wanted to."
She took his hand and gave it a squeeze."Banner and his brothers are so lucky you and Kitty took them in."
"I'd say we were the lucky ones.And, you know, we always wanted a girl, too."He chuckled."Those boys were a lot, especially when they first came to us, young and wild.They were half grown by the time we met them."He gripped her hand."I wish we'd known all them years ago, before the boys came along, that there was a little girl out there in the big city."He straightened up and sat back."I may be a sentimental old fart, but I wish we could have given you a home when you were a young'un."
Harper had to blink the tears out of her eyes."I wish that too, Jim.More than you can imagine.But over these last few months, you've made me feel like I had a home."
"Aye, because you do, and you always will, whenever you want or need it.You hear me?Don't forget that.I hope you won't need it."He looked over at Emmett."Hope you'll make a new one of your own with him and the girls, but even then, you can always come home to the ranch when you want to."
She sniffed."Thanks, Jim.I've avoided saying it—didn't want to embarrass either of us, but I love you."
He sat up a little straighter still and nodded."Yeah.Me too.And look, here comes Cash."
