Summer Nights (Fool's Gold #8)

“She has the maternal instincts of a rock.”


Annabelle thought about the petite graceful dancer she’d watched as a kid and compared that image to the woman sitting in front of her. Charlie was tall—maybe five-nine or -ten, with broad shoulders and lots of muscle. She drove an engine for the Fool’s Gold fire department, handled training of the volunteer force. She was competent, smart, loyal and a great friend. But she couldn’t imagine a woman like Dominique having a daughter like Charlie. And based on the little Charlie had said, theirs hadn’t been a loving relationship.

“Because of her, I never thought I should have kids,” Charlie admitted. “I was afraid I wouldn’t know what to do.”

“Is that changing?” Annabelle asked.

“Sort of. Maybe. I don’t know. Let’s not talk about me anymore.”

Heidi leaned toward her. “I was scared of love, too,” Heidi said. “Of losing control, of being hurt. I wasn’t even sure love was real. But now, with Rafe, I know it’s worth it. What we have is so much stronger than the fear. I can give my heart and trust him completely. I never thought I would be able to say that about anyone.”

Annabelle ignored the twinge of jealousy. Although she’d been married, she’d never experienced what Heidi described. With Lewis, she’d been flattered and grateful he’d even noticed her. Later, when he’d suggested they get married, she told herself what she felt was love, but she knew now her feelings had been nothing more than a desperate attempt to prove that someone, somewhere could love her. Only she’d been wrong. Lewis had only cared about himself.

She wanted the kind of passion she saw with Heidi and Rafe. Wanted to be with someone who loved her for her and whom she could love with all her heart. She wanted the dream.

Charlie’s cell phone rang. She pulled it out of her pocket and glanced at the screen, before answering. “Now?” she asked, then paused to listen. “I’m at the ranch, with Heidi and Annabelle. Uh-huh. Yes, I have my list. I’ll make the calls on the way. We’ll be right there.”

She hung up and looked at them. “Montana is having her baby. It’s time to go to the hospital.”

* * *

“CAN YOU EXPLAIN THIS?” Shane asked his brother in a low voice.

“No. One second I was at the ranch, minding my own business and now I’m here.”

“Tell me about it. You know, it’s gotta be something with the town.”

Not anything mystical. Just a force more powerful than either of them were used to. Nothing else explained why they were in the Fool’s Gold hospital maternity waiting room. The most confusing part was neither of them knew the mother-to-be or her husband.

“We should go with it,” Rafe said in a low voice. “It’ll make Heidi happy.”

“Something that matters more to you than me,” Shane grumbled.

His brother grinned. “You got that right.”

Shane shoved his hands in his jeans pockets and glanced around. The large waiting area was crowded with plenty of people he recognized and a few he didn’t. From what he remembered, Montana was an identical triplet. Back when he’d been a kid, he’d known her brothers, but hadn’t had much time for the younger Hendrix siblings. He spotted two other women who looked alike and figured they were the sisters.

From where he was standing, he overheard one saying to the other, “Sasha’s pilot was picked up for a midseason replacement. It’s a police ensemble with him playing the new rookie. He’s going to be a national heartthrob about two days after it first airs.”

“Finn will be so proud,” the sister with short hair said, then laughed.

“Are you Shane?”

He turned and saw a tall brunette with curly hair standing next to him. She held a child in her arms. A little girl maybe a year old.

“Hi. I’m Pia Moreno. I coordinate the festivals in town and I understand you’re helping Annabelle with her horse dance.”

“I’m teaching her to ride,” he admitted. So far they hadn’t gotten to the dancing.

“Good. Now there’s a parade route of about a mile. The horse will just be walking for that. The actual performance comes at the end.”

He felt that strong need to bang his head against a wall starting up at the base of his neck and spreading. “Parade route?”

“Didn’t Annabelle mention that?”

“No, she didn’t.”

As Khatar had appointed himself Annabelle’s love puppy, Shane had figured he might as well use him in the ceremony. But a mile-long parade route meant getting him used to riding around people.

“I’ll get you a copy of the route,” Pia told him. “It’s very straightforward. A couple of streets and you’re there. We’re going to have a raised platform so everyone can see the sacrifice.”