Oh, Baby
Chapter 1
New Year’s Eve, Heart Falls
A shriek of laughter rang from the back deck. Lisa glanced up from where she was preparing hot boozy drinks to discover her youngest sister had both hands raised, pleading for mercy.
“I give up. I didn’t mean it. I will never do it again—Zach. No.” Julia shouted again, louder this time, as her boyfriend—sort of husband/the guy she was living with—lifted her onto his shoulder and spun her in a circle.
“Sneak attacks are good and fine, but you’re supposed to sneak up on the other team, Mischief,” Zach told her even as amusement shook his words.
That’s when Lisa noticed the remains of a snowball scattered across Zach’s broad shoulders and tangled in his brown hair. He all but bounced his way to the side of the deck, chuckling evilly the entire way.
Julia screamed for real as he tossed her off the edge then dove after her, while puffs of snow shot skyward. Earlier that day Josiah had used the tractor to move some of the recent massive snowfall into a pile right up against the deck, creating a safe but frigid sliding spot for their New Year’s Eve family gathering.
Lisa was so pleased to welcome all her sisters and their partners for the final celebratory gathering of the year. It promised to be a wonderful chance to catch up with everybody, including Julia and Zach, who had just returned from their holiday getaway in Hawaii.
Even as Lisa glanced around with deep satisfaction, she was self-aware enough to admit something wasn’t right. Some problem was tickling at the back of her brain—
She’d worry about it tomorrow. Right now, there was too much family and chaos to enjoy.
Another snowball flew past her, smacking hard into the glass beside the back door.
Lisa’s oldest sister, Karen, shouted with a laugh, “Dammit, Finn. Stop dodging. If I break a window, Lisa will have my head.”
Finn Marlette stepped out from around the corner, his usually unreadable expression as close to a smirk as Lisa had ever seen. “Sure, ma chérie. Blame your target for moving.”
The next instant he gasped as a multitude of snowballs pummeled his forehead and torso. They shattered, raining around him as if he were the center feature in a snow globe.
“I yield.” He put his hands in the air. One final missile exploded against his chest, and he turned a mock glare toward Lisa. “Hey. I raised the white flag.”
Lisa brushed the snow off her hands then reached for the tray of hot chocolates laced with peppermint schnapps that she’d prepared. “Strange. I could’ve sworn I threw that before you admitted defeat. There must be some sort of time-bending mischief happening, right here in my backyard.”
“Strange, my ass.” Karen snickered as she moved aside to let Lisa pass. “Good throw, sis.”
“Why, thank you.”
It took a while, but eventually they had all gathered around the fire pit. Four couples wrapped up tight in layers of clothing and blankets in spite of the flames flickering before them.
Lisa curled her fingers a little tighter around her mug, leaning against the strong, steady torso of her favourite person in the whole wide world. Without skipping a beat, Josiah Ryder slid an arm around her, cuddling her close even as he responded to the question Finn had just asked.
Tucked into the cushioned loveseat on her opposite side, the cream-coloured terrier who owned her and Josiah wiggled into a slightly more comfortable position. Ollie rested her chin on Lisa’s leg so she could stare up at them both with her usual devotion.
Cozy. Comfortable. It was an evening full of family, and as conversation drifted easily amongst them, Lisa reflected on how much things had changed over the past year.
She had to admit that while they’d had their ups and downs, it had all been worth it.
A year ago, she’d been living at her sister’s home, helping take care of her family while Tamara dealt with a difficult pregnancy. Now seated across from Lisa, Tamara’s shiny yellow glasses glinted in the firelight as she laughed at something her husband, Caleb, said. The two of them held hands, the simple connection as big and solid as any neon lights, declaring they were together.
Karen and Finn sat to their right, and Julia and Zach to their left. All four of the Whiskey Creek women were gathered in what was definitely not Whiskey Creek.
It seemed safe to declare that Heart Falls was now their home.
Zach cleared his throat. “Not to interrupt the celebration, but—”
“—but you’re going to do it anyway,” Finn finished in his measured drawl. He waved a finger. “Don’t ever say you don’t like to be the center of attention.”
“Can I help it that I’m so memorable and intriguing?” Zach pressed a hand to his chest. “Natural charm added to deliberate modesty equals one spectacular specimen.”
Finn made a gagging sound. Beside him, Karen smacked him softly with her mitt, but she snickered as the banter continued for a bit longer.
Josiah leaned against Lisa’s side, positioning his lips near her ear. “Those two are dangerous together.”
“You’re just happy somebody else is being a drama queen,” she teased.
A snort escaped him, drawing attention from the rest of their crowd.
Josiah grinned innocently. “So, Zach. You were saying?”
The other man offered a wink. “Julia and I got back late last night from Hawaii.”
“That would explain the tans,” Tamara offered dryly. She twisted slightly, leaning forward to speak directly to Julia. “Could you poke him so he’ll get to the point?”
“We got divorced.” Julia blurted the words but held up a hand as confused questions began to rise. “It’s okay, because we’re going to get married. I mean married again, for real. Only this time not in Vegas and not fueled by tequila.”
Lisa’s mind spun through the statement, analyzing and coming to one very fine conclusion. Her sister’s accidental marriage being on and then off was a good thing. “If that means what I think it means, congrats.”
Zach grinned. “Thanks.”
A round of well-wishing went around the loop, and everyone stood to exchange hugs and the rest of it.
They had just finished settling back into their chairs when Zach caught Julia’s fingers and pressed a kiss to her knuckles. “Also, she asked me to marry her.” His grin outshone the fire as he looked around at the other guys, definitely gloating. “Just because you needed to know that.”
Josiah coughed lightly and glanced at Finn.
Finn glanced at Caleb.
The sturdy cowboy with a heart of gold and a gruff exterior eased back in his lawn chair, fingers once again tangled with Tamara’s. “Well. That’s a fine thing.”
“Isn’t it just? I figure it’s a pretty big sign that we’ve got something special here.” Gloating. Yup, Zach was definitely gloating.
Caleb nodded. “Damn right. You know, when Tamara proposed to me, I figured that was one of the—”
“She proposed to you as well?” Zach looked almost disappointed for a moment before he perked up. “That’s awesome.”
“Karen offered to propose,” Finn informed him. “Just in case you’re keeping track.”
“Well, damn. It seems as if the Whiskey Creek Colemans like to do things a little less traditionally.” Zach was the first, but only seconds later, every set of eyes had turned toward Lisa and Josiah.
Oh, hell no.
Beside her, Ollie jerked to alert, probably sensing Lisa’s increased tension. She ran a hand over the pup’s head, soothing her to cut off the whine that had begun.
Lisa deliberately stared her way around the circle. “Josiah and I have discussed the marriage topic but came to the conclusion that our relationship does not need any institutionalizationism.”
Karen snickered. “Please promise you’ll finish two more of these drinks and then repeat that word. I want to hear you tie your tongue in knots.”
It was too tempting to resist—Lisa stuck out said tongue at her oldest sister and soaked in the ensuing laughter.
They sat together for the next couple of hours, sharing stories. Offering up plans for the coming year.
“Business as usual for me at the Heart Falls veterinary clinic,” Josiah offered. “Thank you for your continued support of my services.”
“You offer a family rate. We appreciate it,” Finn said sincerely.
“The family keeps growing. I’ll have my hands full with Tyler, along with Sasha and Emma. It’s Sasha’s last year before becoming a teenager, if you can believe it.” Tamara raised her brows at Caleb. “I hope you’re ready for this.”
“Of course we are. Besides, if she gets any ideas about straying off the right path, we’ll sic Kelli on her.” Caleb said it with an absolutely straight face. “If we tell her Kelli said she needs to clean up her act, it’ll be as if God spoke.”
Karen laughed. “Let’s hope that continues to work. But your kids are great,” she assured Caleb before turning to meet Finn’s gaze. “We’re going to get Red Boot ranch operational by the spring. Test run a few smaller groups then head into full operation by the middle of summer.”
“If that’s what the foreman says, then it’s got to be true.” Finn dipped his head. “She’s a smart cookie, that one.”
Karen beamed.
“I’m staying on as medical officer,” Julia said proudly.
“I love getting to work with you,” Karen returned, smiling at the woman who had only come into their lives during the past busy year. “Zach, did you decide if you’re moving ahead with your brewery idea anytime soon?”
“Still researching,” he admitted before offering a chin tilt in his best friend’s direction. “Finn and I want to make sure Red Boot ranch is in the black before I take on too much else.”
The group of them rang in the New Year, cheers rising skyward as the clock ticked past midnight. Everyone turned to their partner for a good-luck kiss, and as Josiah pulled her close, Lisa was definitely counting her blessings.
His lips against hers were warm and yet demanding. There was no getting distracted when he wanted her full attention. Except for—
An excited yip sounded by their ankles, and Josiah’s mouth curled into a smile before he’d even finished the kiss.
Their foreheads touched briefly. “Somebody else wants to say happy New Year.”
Lisa swooped down and grabbed Ollie, cuddling the pup between her and Josiah. “Yes, you need to be part of the celebration as well,” she told the little terrier seriously. “Happy New Year, Ollie.”
She pressed a kiss to the dog’s head then lifted her gaze to meet Josiah’s.
“Don’t let your sisters see you do that,” Josiah warned in a whisper.
“Too late,” Julia whispered in return as she walked past, tugging Zach with her.
It wasn’t much later that everyone left, headed back to their own homes. Tamara to a nine-month-old baby boy and the rest of her and Caleb’s family she cared for as a full-time mom. Karen was off to the big ranch house she and Finn were renovating while getting the ranch up and running. Julia and Zach were the last to go, discussing ideas for building a place of their own as well as dealing with their tasks for Red Boot ranch.
Lisa and Josiah put away a few things before leaving the rest for the morning.
“What do you think about starting the new year right?” Josiah asked the question with a voice that had gone deep as he crowded her down the hallway toward their bedroom cautiously, to avoid kicking Ollie, who kept pacing underfoot.
“That’s a wonderful idea,” Lisa said with great enthusiasm. She wrapped her fingers around his collar and smiled up demurely. “It’s very important to get at least eight hours of shut-eye, so we should probably hit the sack right now and go straight to sleep.”
He slipped their bodies into alignment and let her know exactly what kind of activity he had in mind. “Tease.”
“Never.” Lisa said softly. “I love you. Last year, this year, and every moment into the future.”
Ollie was sent to her bed in the corner with a firm directive to stay. The agenda after that faded into loving. The night had been as close to perfect as possible from beginning to end.
Only when Lisa woke, sun shining across the bed and turning the first day of the new year into something shiny and bright, the problem that had been itching the back of her brain revealed itself crystal clear.
Everyone in her family had goals set for the coming year. Everyone had a job to do. Everyone.
Except her.
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