“Brenne MacAllen, is that you?”
“It is, Peggy Parsons. How’ve you been?”
Peggy was riding a pinto horse with a shaggy mane. Brenne couldn’t remember the last time she’d seen Peggy, let alone in the saddle. She’d gotten a job and moved away to the east coast years ago and only came back to Whiskey River for the occasional holiday. “I’m surprised to see you,” Alex’s sister said, “but I guess I shouldn’t be. Dad said you’ve been hanging around the farm a lot these days.”
“I’m working for your brother.”
“Right,” Peggy drawled. “Doing what exactly?”
“Helping with this horse.” Brenne’s emotions were always in flux these days, and she was trying to keep her tone level. She was several years younger than Peggy, and when they were kids, the girl had often lorded her age over her, bossing her around and making her feel inferior. We were just kids then. People change, she reminded herself.
“That horse must need a lot of help,” Peggy replied skeptically. “He looks okay to me.”
“Peggy, no offense, but when is the last time you were in the saddle before you came back home this time? Are you riding a lot of horses out there in Pittsburgh?”
“Boston,” she corrected, her face tightening.
“Right. My point is, I’ve got no reason to lie about this horse and what I’m doing with your brother.”
“That’s not what my father said,” she countered. “He said you two were up to something in the barn the other day.”
“Your father got it wrong. I’m not the type to date my brother’s best friend. I leave that to other women.” Brenne couldn’t help the attitude that snuck into her tone. Peggy had dated her brother Johnnie back in high school, something Alex had not been happy about at the time.
She was expecting Peggy to dig her foot into the pinto’s flank and head off, but it turned out that people could change. She laughed instead, shaking her head. “You might not believe me, but I’ve missed you, Brenne.”
“Missed me? Why in the heck would you miss me?”
Peggy let out a long sigh. “No one talks like you do in Boston. No one has your spirit. We might not have always gotten along, but I’ve come to respect you, Brenne. You’re Whiskey River, through and through, and I guess I’ve been missing home.”
“That explains what you’re doing here in the middle of January.” Brenne realized she wasn’t the only one who was mid-crisis. “I’m sorry about my tone. And I can assure you, there’s nothing going on between me and your brother.”
“That’s a shame,” Peggy said. “He could do worse.”
It was Brenne’s turn to laugh. “Looks like I’m not the only one with spirit.”
“You sure you’re not into Alex? You’d be the only single lady I know who isn’t.” Her horse snorted, trying to lead her toward a bush that was thick with inviting leaves. Peggy reined it in, barely. “Come on, Snickers, you’re killing me here.”
“Better get Snickers back in his stall and fill up his feed bucket. And to answer your question, I’m sure. Uptight nerds are not my thing.”
Peggy giggled. “He is a nerd, right? Have you seen him in his lab coat? Huge nerd alert, am I right?” The pinto made a lunge for the bush, and Peggy let out a curse. “Looks like I better take your advice. See you around, Brenne.”
“See you around.”
The ride back to the country clinic was short, and Brenne was a little sad when she had to dismount and take the saddle off Ghost’s back. She was brushing the horse down when her phone buzzed in her pocket.
It was Lou, and Brenne could tell right away that whatever she was about to say, it would be big. “Brenne, your brother made me promise not to say anything to anyone and I agreed, as long as I could tell my best friend. So what I’m about to say, you’ve got to keep extra silent about.”
“Cross my heart and hope to die,” Brenne said. “What is it?”
“I’m pregnant!”
“Holy frijoles!” Brenne almost dropped her phone. “Congratulations!”
“I still can’t believe it. I’ve never been so excited! There is so much to do. I’ve got to set up a nursery, sign up for birthing classes, buy a crib—”
“Don’t worry,” Brenne said with a chuckle. “You’re going to have a lot of help. I’m so happy for you and Johnnie.”
“Me too. I’ve always wanted to be a mother. I’m over the moon!”
“When are you going to break the big news?”
“Johnnie says if we wait for your mother’s birthday, we’ll save on buying her a gift because grandchildren are all she really wants.”
Brenne laughed. “That sounds like my brother.” They talked for a few more minutes, then Brenne hung up, promising to make sure her baby shower was the talk of the town.
Brenne’s happiness for her friend made her movements lighter. She briskly brushed the horse, then settled him back in the stall with a full food bucket and plenty of fresh water. “I’ll see you again soon,” she told Ghost, then locked up the clinic.
She waved to Peggy, who was walking back to the main house, as she pulled down the driveway leading from the clinic. Peggy waved back, and Brenne realized she was glad to put away her resentful feelings toward Alex’s sister. She wasn’t the same girl she’d been a decade and a half ago, and Peggy wasn’t either.
And it sounds like she wouldn’t be opposed to me dating her brother. Unlike her brother himself.
Brenne’s smile slipped. Having Peggy on her side when she thought she still had a shot with Alex would have been one thing, but now that she knew there was no chance of ending up with him, making up with his sister felt almost ironic. It figures.
Her thoughts turned to Lou, her brother’s bride and one of the sweetest souls she’d ever met. She was about to become a mother, about to welcome another MacAllen into the world. Lou was close in age to Brenne, and she was already happily married and starting on a family. Brenne, however, couldn’t even keep a casual sexual relationship going.
Guess I’m a slow learner.
One day she’d hoped to raise a family of her own, boys and girls that had her good looks and their father’s brain. And good looks. After half a lifetime imagining what your kids would look like with your crush, it was hard to visualize them any other way. But their imaginary father isn’t interested in their future mother.
Which means they’ll never exist.
Brenne felt sad enough to bring a tear to a glass eye. It wasn’t far to the driveway leading to the MacAllen ranch, but she took her time, trying to banish the ghosts of her future. The problem with ghosts is that they linger.
CHAPTER 13
ALEX
“Alex Parsons, you’re staying for supper and that’s that.”
“Yes, Mama May.” The MacAllen matriarch wasn’t the type of woman one said no to easily.
Mama May smiled and gave a brisk nod. “Good. It will be ready shortly, so finish up in here and wash up.”