Back To Country (Country Love #4)
Author: Vicki Green
Chapter One
Nash
Life has a way of takin' bad things and turnin' them around to be good. The bad things are pretty hard to get through. Hell sometimes they just about make you wonder if life is worth livin'. Losin' Pa just about killed me. It was hard enough not havin' a ma. I was pretty young when she passed away, so I don't really remember her. At least Pa was there and the men who worked for him. I grew up in a lovin' family, but I guess bein' raised without a ma made me tougher than some. Then harder times fell. I had decisions to make. Continue here with Pa's ranch, the place I grew up, or do somethin' different. Start over. Hell if that wasn't a tough thing to do. I'd seen about this town in Montana, so I'd talked about it with Manuel, the man who I grew up to know as kind of a second pa to me, Pa's right hand man, and we made the move. Wasn't easy, at first, but I'd found a nice size piece of land, with a house almost like a plantation. It was really too big for just me, but I'd hoped I'd meet a gal – someday, and have a family. I was lucky all the men were willin' to move with us. Good bunch of fellas.
After we moved and got the horses and cows settled, I met a lot of nice folks. I pretty much felt comfortable here soon after. Now my neighbors, they had some tough times – had to help 'em out a bit, but it only made us closer pretty fast. They're good people and in a short time we've become family. I needed that.
I haven't had time for any gals in my life, for quite some time. Not since college. But as soon as I settled into the town, okay really as soon as I got to town, I couldn't keep my eyes off a particular owner of the coffee shop there. She came here from the city a while back. Her friend Sadie and she own it. Thing is, this Tina gal may not know a lot about country, but she's beautiful and kinda shy. She tries not to act like it around guys. I've watched her. See, she's the best kind of beautiful. Outside sure, but, also inside. Yet, she doesn't know she is. Now, I've asked her out 'cept she's always so busy at her shop and with Sadie just havin' twins, she never has time to get away. It's gettin' pretty frustratin'.
So many times I've had a hankerin' to go into town, walk straight into the coffee shop, take Tina by her arms, and kiss the hell outta her. What stopped me? Fear? Nerves? Maybe. Mostly because it's always busy so she's never alone. I love the friends I've made here, but damn if they're not always around. I mean, what's it gonna take to be able to take Tina out and get to know the gal I want to be mine? Last night, I had her alone for all of ten minutes, offerin' to drive her to the hospital to see Shiloh since she was havin' her baby, but all she did was sputter and choke on her words. Then Trevor and Prie walked into the shop sayin' they were takin' her. Guess I'll have to figure out another way to get her alone. 'Round here, don't think it's gonna be that easy.
When I get up to the hospital, everyone's in the waitin' room on the maternity floor where the nurse directed me. Trevor and Memphis are talkin' over in one corner, while Tina, Prie, and Sadie are sittin' in the middle row of seats. Tina's eyes flash up to mine then look over at the gals quickly. She's a fireball. Her mouth has no filter, but then she changes quickly and is shy every time I'm near her. I love that I make her feel that way. Love the way a soft blush covers her cheeks any time I smile at her. Love that she finds it hard to form a coherent sentence when she talks to me. When we bonked heads over at Colby's house after the weddin's – yeah, they do things a little different here. Two weddin's in one night, thanks to Trevor proposin' to Prie right on the spot. I reached out to steady Tina after hittin' heads, and a strange feelin' surged through me. It was the weirdest thing. I've never felt anythin' like it. I dated some in high school and college. Hell I even had a girlfriend the last couple years in college but nothin' ever felt like that. In fact, Blair my ex-girlfriend – just thinkin' her name makes me shiver, all of a sudden has been textin' and emailin' me in the last few months. Not sure why. Said somethin' like she'd heard I'd moved out here to Montana, gotten myself set up on a ranch, and wanted to come see me.
No.
Fuckin'.
Way.
The woman's a tad crazy, if ya ask me. Turns out, she'd ended up bein' a leech, wantin' only two things from me. Sex and money. After Pa passed, it was no secret I'd inherited his small fortune, everythin' he'd made with his hard work and sweat. 'Course, up til then, I hadn't heard from her. Not once. Bad thing is, her pa was good friends with mine. Old college buddies. He seemed to be a good man. From what I've learned, he's got his own mess of health problems. I'll be damned if she thinks she's comin' back into my life now. Ain't got time for her nonsense.
"Nash!"
I smile as I walk over to the guys and stand before them. "Hey, ya'll. How's our gal doin'? We got a baby yet?" It strikes me that we don't even know if it's gonna be a girl or boy or their name. Colby and Shiloh have never let on. Guess they want it to be a surprise.
Memphis looks up at me and smiles. "Nope, not yet. Colby was in here a while ago and said it could be any minute."
Any minute a new life will enter this crazy world. Back in the day, workin' on our ranch in Texas, I'd thought 'bout havin' kids someday. I'd love to leave my family's legacy to someone. Don't matter if it's a girl or boy. I walk over and sit down on the other side of Memphis, makin' me a bit closer to Tina, who's sittin' at the end of the row of chairs with the gals. Her eyes twitch over to me and back to them and I have a hard time containin' my smile. She feels me, just like I feel her. There's no doubt in my mind. Sounds enter the room and I tear my eyes away from her, reluctantly, and see Colby walkin' in, a big ol' smile on his face. Everyone stands and starts walkin' toward him, eagerly awaitin' news. I stand and join them just as he claps Memphis on his shoulder.
"He's here! Colt Matthew Carter, weighin' in at seven pounds, nine ounces." My smile rises as I watch Memphis punch his arm, Trevor givin' Colby a pat on his back and the gals chatter all around us. A son, one that will continue his family's legacy one day. I'm happy for them.
"Congrats, Colby. A son. He'll do you right proud," Memphis says still smilin'.
Colby's smile can't be matched though, his energy and pride showin'. "I gotta get back to them. They were cleanin' him up so I haven't gotten to hold him yet, but I wanted to come tell our family the news." Family. Guess that's 'bout right. Everyone in here is so close and considered family. Just don't know if I'm included in that. Haven't been here that long to really be called that – in my eyes. Probably just sayin' that 'cos everyone else is. Would love to fall into that group, one day. Suddenly, I feel a strong hand on my shoulder, and I look into Colby's eyes. He speaks to me and then looks at everyone else too. "I'll let ya'll know when you can come see him." He pats my shoulder and then turns. I'm a bit shocked as I watch him leave the room. Maybe he does feel I'm part of the family. Shakin' my head, I follow everyone back to sittin' down, the room filled with chatter and laughin'. The feelin's in the room have changed from intense waitin' to happiness in a split second.
It didn't take long before a nurse walks into the room, tellin' us that a few of us at a time can go see the baby. Of course, bein' the gentlemen we are, we tell the girls to go first. We could tell they were bitin' at the bit to get their hands on the baby. They all walk through the room, headin' toward the hallway. I notice Tina lookin' back at me from over her shoulder before they walk through the doorway. Her hair is still curly from the weddin's tonight, still hangin' long down her back. God, she spurs fire in my veins with just a look.
"What's got ya all flustered there, Nash?"
I turn my head, reachin' over my shoulder and rubbin' the back of my heated neck, and look at Trevor. He's got this all-knowin' look on his face, smilin' big. "Nothin'. Don't know what you're talkin' 'bout." Shit! He knows. Not sure why I want it to be a secret. Not like anythin's gonna happen any time soon. If ever. Not if I can't get her alone.
"Yeah, yeah. Not like every time ya see Tina ya don't get this look 'bout ya." He winks, his smile spreadin'. He walks over and sits down. Memphis is lookin' up at me from his chair, smilin' to beat the band too. I start walkin' over to them and stop.
"Is it really that obvious?" I rub my neck again, suddenly noticin' my hearts beatin' pretty fast, and my whole body feels really warm.
Memphis chuckles. "Well, maybe not to everyone but we've gotten to know ya pretty well. Ain't nothin' wrong with what you're feelin', Nash. Tina's a pretty gal. Would make someone a mighty good girlfriend."
"Or wife," Trevor adds, still smilin' big.
"Aww, cut it out, guys," I say, my own smile plastered on my face. I sit down next to Trevor and he play punches my arm. I quickly try to think of somethin' to change the subject and look over at Memphis. "How's Jared and Evie doin'? They sure are cute kids." Nice save. I think.