Page 7 of She Autumn Be Mine

“That sounds romantic.”

“It will be, trust me,” he chuckled, but a motorcycle’s roar broke into our conversation and disturbed the peaceful evening.

The big old chopper’s engine grew louder, coming up the hill. Someone had put a small fortune into rebuilding it judging by the chrome, even as dusty as it was. I shifted Stetson in my arms and covered his ears. He wailed at the scary noise until it growled to a stop at the top.

“Who the hell is this?” Carter scowled, spine straight. I’d forgotten he’d had a run-in before with some of our local biker gang.

When the dude dismounted and took off the helmet, he shouted over. “Jake McCall? That you?”

I instantly recognized him. “Hey, stand down, guys. That’s my old buddy, Cash, from the Navy,” I explained.

Cash came right over and we shook hands.

“What are you doing here?” I grinned. To Carter, I explained, “I’ve been through hell and back a few times with this guy on various missions. Most of which we’re not authorized to talk about.”

“That’s right. We were never there. We didn’t see or do anything.” Cash laughed loud and boisterous as always. “You said to look you up in Montana if I was ever passing through. Here I am. I asked around town where I’d find you. What a pretty ranch.” He eyed a woman approaching, wiggling his brows. “Beauty all around.”

Only the woman was Autumn, running over to us in her cut-off denim shorts, cowboy boots, and a tee tied at her waist. I took an eyeful of her—but so did Cash. My jaw ticked.

“Well, hello darlin’. I’m new in town. Care to show me where people here have some fun?” He cranked up the charm, smoldering at her. He always had more game than most men did.

“I’ll take the baby off your hands.” Autumn’s cheeks turned pink, ignoring him, and pulling the baby from me into her chest.

“Are you married with a kid, Jake?” Cash asked, eyes wide.

“No. We’re just friends,” Autumn supplied a little too fast for my taste, then she hurried away back to the women.

“Good. I’ll keep that in mind,” Cash commented, eyeing her backside a little too long, before turning toward my disapproving face. “What? Did I say something wrong?”

I couldn’t move or speak, practically seeing red by the way Cash came on to her.

Carter jumped in, my wingman like usual. “It’s complicated, but I think Jake has his eyes on her, so I’d back off if I were you. I’m Carter by the way.” The two shook with firm grips, sizing each other up.

“Hands off the single mother. Message received.” Cash stepped back, nodding my way. “Let me guess. You’re still shy around women?”

“Not all women,” I found my voice coming to my defense. “How long are you here for?”

He’d been called the playboy of our unit for a reason, but the guys had one rule. We always put friendship before women. So I shrugged it off. He didn’t know my feelings for Autumn. Hell, I needed to sort those out myself.

“Don’t have any plans. If you know where I could pick up some short term work and a place to stay, I’d appreciate it.”

“Ever worked on a ranch?”

“No, but I spent some months with a logging outfit over in Washington. Can swing an axe pretty good.”

“I can take you over to meet the ranch foreman, Ash Rhodes, if you like. He can talk to you,” Carter offered, thumbing to the other side of the fire ring.

“Thanks. And Jake, let’s catch up soon.” He pointed at me as they headed off.

Seeing him brought up memories of missions won and lost, of things I’d seen that couldn’t be unseen. All of it a dark cloud that was hazardous to stay under too long. So my eyes searched the hill until they landed on the brightest spot, Autumn and the baby. Stetson fussed in her arms, yawned, then put his head down. He’d be asleep soon.

These days, working on the ranch, being outdoors, and yes, the faces of the two of them, brought some peace to my world.

She tucked him in tighter under her chin, resting her cheek on his soft head. When her eyes met mine, lingering there without a word, I knew the look. She was ready to head home, and I’d take her. Because it wasn’t just what a friend would do. It was what I did.

I strolled up, catching some of the conversation floating around her.

“Ivy, I just don’t see why we need a seating chart at my wedding. It’s in the orchard, two weeks from now. A simple country wedding, that’s it,” Daisy protested, shaking her head.