Caleb's Blessing(47)

Of course Diane’s eyes fell right on them, but I have to say I was more concerned about that flash of whatever it was I saw in her eyes, than I was about her spilling the beans before we were ready.

“Are you?” she pointed at the stuff in Amanda’s hand, but the smile she wore didn’t quite reach her eyes.

“False alarm. Whew dodged that bullet. Not that I wouldn’t love to have your babies some day, just not right now. How about you Diane, should we be celebrating? Looks like you’re off to the doc’s as well.”

I couldn’t even look at her because I’d give us away, but all I could think is ‘who’s this girl?’

I don’t think I’ve ever heard her string that many words together at once, and I’m sure I’ve never seen her vamp it up, what an actress.

I wondered if Diane had sense enough to wonder what we’d need all that information for if it were just a false alarm, but then again knowing her, she’d only hear what she wanted to.

She’d been holding off on motherhood for the past five years, but there’s no way she’d let Amanda beat her in that race.

“I’m not going to the docs, I was just...” She started to explain her presence but I wanted to be gone.

“It was great seeing you Diane we’ll catch up later. I’ve got a shit load of work waiting for me back at the ranch but I can’t come into town without having a piece of Millie’s pie.”

She looked at her watch and gave us another suspicious look, but I was already pulling Amanda away.

“Where’d you find the airhead babe?”

“Oh I use to have to drag her out a lot in my old life. She comes in handy when dealing with insufferable females who thinks the world revolves around them.”

“I’m not sure it worked this time, Diane’s no fool.”

“I’m sorry to tell you, but your sister in law is a damn fool.”

“Why’d you say that?”

“She’s blind to everything around her, her only interest is in herself, yet she wants to reign supreme over everyone and everything in her orbit. She’s the Marie Antoinette of Texas.”

“Didn’t that one lose her head?” I opened the door to the diner and led her in.

“To some there are worse things than death.” She looked over her shoulder when she said that.

“Hey there you two, I never got a chance to say bye last Saturday after the party, it was a real nice shindig you kids put on.”

“Hey Millie, my girl had a hankering for a piece of your pie.”

“Well now ain’t that the way of it?” The two of them hugged like long lost friends before we were ushered to a table in the window.

It was early yet but there were a few breakfast stragglers hanging around the place.

A few came up to our table to shoot the breeze or more like ogle my woman, but it was okay, she was going to have to get used to it, as the new Mrs. Dunbar.

That’s the thing about small towns, everyone was very much aware of the order of things, and those who were in the know, would understand what her place would be with my ring on her finger.

I put Diane out of my mind and hoped for the best, and by the time we were headed back to the ranch, my mind was full of my kid again.

I realized I might have to share our news with the guys sooner than I thought because I wanted her looked after when I had to be away from the house. I figured at least another day or two, instead of the weeks I’d been hoping for.

“Took you two long enough, you ready Ms. Amanda?” Mikey came waltzing over to the truck before I could get the damn key out of the ignition.

If I didn’t know that he was over his little infatuation weeks ago, I would stay planting my foot in his ass.

“Ready for what?”

“Oh Caleb I forgot, Mikey’s taking me to the peach trees, I wanna get some to can and he said now is the best time.”

I glared at the little sneak but he was already busy helping her down from the truck. Fucking kid is always trying to steal my girl, and she’s so innocent she thinks he’s just a boy.

“You watch yourself Mikey and make sure nothing happens to her or it’s gonna be your ass.”

“What’s gonna happen boss? We’re not gonna be off the land, come along Ms. Amanda before grandpa has a conniption.”

Grandpa my ass! Oh well, at least I might get some shit done around here for a change. It seems lately that I couldn’t stand to have her out of my sight for longer than two minutes and that did not a full day of work make, which my boys were only too happy to tell me.

I put the morning out of my mind completely as I got busy around the place. I was happier now than I had been since retiring, in fact this was the happiest I’d ever been.