Page 18 of She Autumn Be Mine

“On that note.” All eyes turned to Willow. “I might have an idea. Eldon was in a state this week realizing he’d gotten carried away with the pumpkin planting this year. Come fall he’ll have too many pumpkins. Which got me thinking—oh, never mind. It’s a silly thought.”

“Out with it. I want to hear,”Ash encouraged.

“What if we put on a pumpkin patch at the ranch for the kids and families around here? Nothing fancy—let them pick their own pumpkins, do hayrides, serve up cider and pie and pumpkin treats.”

“Don’t forget apples, too,” Ivy winked.

“We could have a Copper Cup booth, and get Avery and her friends serving pumpkin-spice lattes,” Harper suggested.

“We could make the best use of the fall weekends September through October before the weather completely turns. And some of the proceeds could go into a special fund to support our veterinary costs for the horses.” Willow watched the idea take hold around the table.

Beside me, Autumn smiled into her glass. “Is it always like this here?”

“Pretty much. Careful or Ivy will put you on the planning committee,” I chuckled, leaning in, the floral fragrance she wore going right to my head.

A DJ took over making announcements. “It is time for the best man to make a speech.”

No one jumped up to take the mic from him. Knox looked around, as did most of the people in the room. The best man had famously become one of the Montana Frostbite’s top players. He’d be easy to spot.

“Maddox? Maddox Alexander? Speech time,” the DJ prompted into the mic. But still he didn’t show up.

“Where is he?” Ivy stood, glancing around the room.

Poppy rushed over to her. “You sat Maddox next to me on the seating chart, but he’s been MIA since the ceremony.”

“He’s not here?” Ivy grabbed her hand and off they went to deal with it.

“Well, Knox. You’re off the hook. Guess your brother didn’t want to embarrass you in front of everyone with funny stories about your childhood.” The DJ volleyed and everyone laughed. “Change of plans. Put your hands together for our happy couple who will now have their first dance.”

Out on the floor, the lights dimmed, the music swelled, and the whole tent enjoyed Knox and Daisy two stepping around. People tapped their glasses for them to kiss. The song faded into the next, and the DJ invited everyone to dance.

Knox and Daisy left the floor and came up to our table, flushed from two-stepping, but clearly concerned. “Has anyone seen Maddox? I can’t believe he’d disappear on us like that,” Knox said.

“Ivy and Poppy went to look,” Colt stood. “Need help?”

“I should go with them. I’ll be back,” I turned to Autumn.

“Me, too,” the Sheriff offered.

“Autumn and I will be here.” Harper waved us off.

A while later, our search turned up no sign of Maddox, car gone, and texts and calls unanswered too.

“Incredible,” Knox shook his head. “If he’s off fucking around with some woman somewhere… I swear I hardly know my brother anymore, not since he let his success in hockey go to his head. He acts like he’s unbreakable. I don’t want to wish this on him, but maybe it’d be a good thing if he got taken down a notch or two somehow.”

I left the group of them to get back to Autumn. I caught the tail end of the discussion she was deep into with Harper.

“I think Avery walked by ten months old. Austin won’t be far behind her. That little bugger will probably run by the time he’s one,” she laughed at the boast.

Autumn winced. “Stetson’s fourteen months and still not walking. I think Jake carries him around too much.”

“Can’t blame me. The kid is too darn cute. He loves it when I put him on my back and trot around the room like a horse,” I jumped right into the conversation and sat back down.

“But you must let kids develop naturally,” Harper continued, like a walking encyclopedia for baby development, moving on from there to booster shots to when to feed solids. “If you need the name of my pediatrician, let me know. He set up a new practice in Lewistown.”

“Oh. I’m sort of between insurance right now.” She looked down at her hands. Harper meant well, but I needed to save Autumn from this. With a softer tune playing on the dance floor, now was my chance.

“Dance with me?” I asked, hand out, palm up.