Page 8 of She Autumn Be Mine

“But you agreed. This is a prime matchmaking opportunity for certain singles we know. So it’s assigned seating,” Ivy retorted. “Right, Autumn? I mean who would you rather sit with, the pastor’s table with his wife and their church friends, or Jake’s table? Although, that Cash is kind of a cutie. Maybe I should invite him⁠—”

“Jake’s table will be fine,” Autumn insisted.

“Yep. She’ll sit with me.” My response came out gruff, all pairs of eyes turning my way.

“What about me? Who am I sitting with?” Poppy inquired.

Ivy consulted her notes. “Knox’s brother just informed us he won’t be bringing a plus one. How about I seat you with him?”

Poppy gasped, clapping her hands in front of her. “Did I ever tell you you’re my favorite sister?”

“Please don’t get your hopes up about Maddox. You’re a little young yet for him, and he’s a playboy and a hockey player,” Daisy shot back.

“It’s dinner at your reception, not like we’re going to be married tomorrow,” Poppy snorted and rolled her eyes.

Amidst their arguing, I leaned down close to Autumn’s ear. “Ready to leave?”

She nodded enthusiastically. “Ladies, I have to go. Need to get Stetson down for the night. See you at the wedding.” She rose expertly without waking the baby and followed me to the truck. On the way, I gathered the diaper bag, and waved at Cash, who had a beer in hand, still talking to Ash.

“I’m happy for Daisy and Knox, but wedding discussions were getting intense tonight.” Autumn yawned. “Thanks for the save, Jake.”

“You’re very welcome.”

“And for driving, bringing us here, changing a diaper. Hope the guys don’t give you a hard time about that,” she chuckled.

“Let them. I don’t care. I’d change a hundred diapers in front of them.”

“You’re too good to me, Jake.” She gazed up at me at the passenger door as I opened it for her, hair in a messy bun and baby dribble on her tee—didn’t matter; I could get lost in her blue eyes if I let myself go there. “You really impressed the girls—and me.”

“I promised to watch over you. Even if it means diaper duty.” I understood the mission, the promise to Trig, but there was something more building under the surface.

“Right. Duty.” She nodded with a strange look on her face. I could question it, but Stetson stirred, crying awake.

I pulled him into my arms, gently rubbed his back, and shushed him, slowly getting him calmed down and into his seat. She climbed in the front and buckled up.

“You have a way with him,” she observed with another yawn when we got on the road. “I’d even say he’s got the big SEAL wrapped around his tiny finger.”

I peered back at Stetson through the rearview mirror. My life had certainly taken a turn the minute they showed up in it, but I was right where I wanted to be.

“I’d say you both have me wrapped around your fingers,” I finally admitted, only no response came back from her. A quick glance confirmed… she’d fallen asleep.

THREE

Waited

Autumn

Apparently it was a big deal when the rodeo came passing through Forest Grove. Back in Wyoming, I’d never paid much attention to rodeo things. I hadn’t ever seen one or knew a thing about it. My ex came from the largest cattle ranching family, very well-to-do people. But certain things were beneath them, like rodeos.

They’d probably have had a heart attack if they knew Stetson’s first birthday party was a buckaroo barbecue.

I’d been supposed to have the night off, then Smitty heard the rodeo crew would be stopping at the Sapphire that night and it was suddenly necessary to call in every worker he had.

I could use the money. The only hitch was finding a sitter. I’d already had Jake watch Stetson three times this week, and the guilt of eating up another of that man’s evenings sat on me like a weighted blanket.

I’d stopped downstairs at the Copper Cup to peruse the community board and see if there were any teens who offered to babysit, when Harper saw me. As my landlord and the mother of a six month old, plus the owner of the Copper Cup and wife to the county sheriff, she had a knack for sensing when someone needed something in this town. That was how her teenage daughter came to sit for me tonight.

I worried about a stranger watching Stetson. But when Avery showed up with a backpack of board books, green eggs and ham and all, and her recent CPR certification, I calmed. She pulled out a stuffed puppet using a silly voice, and Stetson became enamored at once.