The Outsider Series

Chapter 12-2

It was three hours before Brad pulled down the dusty driveway leading to his ranch. Jed had chatted briefly with Brad before leaning the front seat back to sleep.

The squared-out dirt parking lot in front of the house seemed filled with vehicles: a couple of older pickups, an older flatbed, Andy’s dark truck, a fancy SUV he presumed belonged to Neil, and his mom and dad’s car.

“What the heck…?” Jed was speechless when he noticed that the once bare area he’d cleared for the new round ring for the lessons was filled with what looked like six guys carrying wood, ladders, working to construct a roof.

“Diana, what the hell is going on? Who are all these guys, and what are they doing?” Jed turned in the leather seat to see his wife’s wide eyes.

“Jed, don’t be mad at Diana.” Brad pulled in front of the small house and parked.

The front door flew open, and out stepped Becky, carrying Danny. Rodney followed behind. Jed glanced at Brad, then back at Diana. He yanked open the door and stepped out. He glanced at the workers and his brother Neil, who waved from the barn.

“Hey, little brother. Welcome home,” Neil shouted and strode toward him.

Danny reached for Jed. His big eyes, for a moment, appeared frantic. Jed quickly reached for him and hugged him, deeply breathing his baby scent. “Oh, I missed you, Danny. Look how big you’ve grown.” He kissed him again.

Danny reached up his chubby hand and patted Jed’s chin, his cheek. “Da da.”

“Did you hear that, Diana? He called me Daddy.”

Diana slid her arm around Jed’s waist, pressing closer to him. “He missed his daddy. And so did his mommy.”

For a moment, their eyes connected, and he saw the pain she tried to hide, and all the worry, too.

“How are you feeling, son?” Rodney rested his hands on Becky’s shoulders. They both stood in front of Jed.

“I’m good, just tired.”

Neil patted his shoulder. “You look a little pale. You feeling okay?”

“Would everybody please stop? If I’m pale, it’s because I’ve been stuffed in some hospital bed with no sun.”

“Hey, Jed. Glad you’re back,” Andy shouted from the corral.

“Thanks, Andy.” He looked back at his dad and then Brad. “So what’s with the roof and all the workers? What’s going on?”

He gazed down on Diana, who seemed to stiffen. Her round cheeks pinkened, and she licked her lips. “Jed, don’t be mad.”

He wasn’t mad—he was annoyed because everyone kept sticking their noses in his business, and he’d had enough. “What is it with you guys? You don’t think I can look after my family?”

“Jed, come in and have lunch. Everyone, come on in. Then, after we eat, we’ll discuss this.” Becky reached for Danny and then gave a meaningful glance to Diana, who was still nestled beside Jed.

Diana rested her palm on his chest. “Jed, your mom’s right. This can wait.” She nudged him until he relented.

He let out a heavy sigh. “Fine.”

Rodney and Brad followed.

“Neil, go tell Andy to come in and have lunch with us. I have some sandwiches for his men, too.” Becky had a way of organizing everyone and of soothing ruffled feathers, namely Jed’s.

Jed was seated at the kitchen table, a plate of sandwiches at the center.

“Jed, do you want coffee?” Diana filled a plate for him, and she watched him anxiously.

“Diana, stop fussing over me. Come here.” He held out his hand. He didn’t care that his cousin, two brothers and parents were there hovering.

She hesitated for an instant, then strode around the table, put her hand in his. Jed slid back his chair, and she perched on his lap.

“Stop waiting on me. You’re looking tired. There’s dark circles under your eyes. You been sleeping, seen the doctor yet?” he asked.

“What doctor? Why does Diana need to see a doctor?” Andy asked as he stood on the other side of the table, holding a ham sandwich, and then took a bite, shoving nearly half the sandwich in his mouth.

Neil, looking rather un-Neil-like, dressed in Jed’s old t-shirt and faded, ripped-at-the-knees blue jeans, and appearing a little scruffy, as if he hadn’t shaved for a day or two, took a large bite of his own sandwich as he strode beside Andy and slung his arm around his shoulder. “It appears my little brother has gone and gotten his wife knocked up again, which, the proud uncle-to-be that I am, is going to give me another nephew or niece to spoil.”

Andy had the oddest expression on his face before taking another bite of his sandwich, and then he said, “Congratulations. That’s great news.” But he didn’t sound all that happy.

Neil grinned that charming, dashing smile that had his whole face lighting up, a smile that drew everyone to him. He was the life of the party, always had been, and Jed knew as he glanced from Neil to Andy that something more was going on.

“Grab another sandwich there, cous, and let’s get back to work.” Neil slapped Andy on the back.

Andy shook his head. “No, I’m good.” He crammed the last bite in his mouth and jabbed a finger toward Jed. “Take it easy for a bit. Glad you’re back and on the mend.” Then he strode out the door, where Neil waited. Neil’s cell phone rang, and he reached in his back pocket and answered it as he strode out the door.

Rodney and Brad sat on the sofa together, each with their own plate, Becky in the rocker. Danny was in his playpen in the corner, jabbering away as he shoved his toys in his mouth and then played with each one.

Jed ran his hand up Diana’s back. “You didn’t answer me, Diana. How’re you feeling?”

“I’m just tired. I’m sure I’ll be able to sleep better tonight now that you’re home.”

Jed reached out and traced the dark circles under her eyes with his thumb, and the tiny lines around her eyes appeared to deepen. Jed pulled her hair loose from the ponytail she’d bound it in.

“Jed, no, I can’t work with it hanging in my face.”

“Leave it. I love it.” He ran his fingers through her deep red locks, which drifted past her shoulders in waves almost down to her waist.

A throat cleared behind him. Jed dropped his hand and stared at Brad, who helped himself to another sandwich. “Do you have time to talk?”

Diana scooted off Jed’s knee. “Go talk to your brother, Brad. I’m going to get Danny changed and cleaned up.”

Jed watched his wife’s derriere, which sweetly filled out her tan capris as she bent over and picked up their son. Before she walked away, she gestured sharply with her head toward Brad, and Jed felt three pairs of eyes burning into him.