Earth and Sky

Hunter said in an exaggerated Wild West accent.

    Grant chuckled. “And you were pretty excited afterward as well.”

    Hunter nodded, remembering how he hadn’t been able to sleep when they’d finally managed to find their bed. Grant had suggested he needed to be more worn out, so they’d had sex in the safety of their room, Hunter’s room, with Hunter on his knees and his face buried in the pillow because he couldn’t stop moaning.

    “We really should get our own place,” Hunter said quietly.

    “Why don’t we get some wood and stake out the perimeter? You have the plans, right?” Grant suggested.

    “There’s a few feet of snow outside,” Hunter replied, stating the obvious.

    “But it gives us something to look forward to.”

    Hunter had to admit it sounded tempting. With his livestock secure, he would have time to think of other things, and the house was at the top of his list. “I’ll need to order the wood if we want to start building as soon as the ground clears.”

    “Not to mention we need help. We can’t do this alone, Cowboy.”

    Hunter nodded. “Yeah, I know, but Flynn and Gable offered their help, and Tim and Hugh are going to help too. I think Hugh wants some excuse to get out of the house instead of playing nursemaid to Izzie.”

    Grant chuckled. “She is starting to look like a beached whale.”

    “Yeah, she probably feels like one too.”

    Hunter’s pensiveness clearly wasn’t lost on Grant. “Are you thinking about Miranda?”

    Hunter shrugged. He hated to admit it to Grant, but he was thinking about her and how guilty he felt over not being there for her. “She’s having my baby, Grant. And she has nobody to lean on.” He nodded at Izzie, who had finally settled on the couch close to Hugh.

    “Then you should go see her,” Grant stated without hesitation.

    Hunter sat up to take a good look at Grant’s expression and realized Grant wasn’t kidding.

    “I mean it, Cowboy. You’re no use to me all morose and bad-tempered. Go over there and talk to her. The better you get along with her, the better it’ll be for the kid. Unless you don’t want to be a part of your child’s life.”

    “I do!” Hunter was quick to answer. “I want nothing more. I wish we could raise it here, on the ranch, like we’re doing with your kids. One big, happy family. But Miranda won’t even pick up the phone.”

    To Hunter’s surprise, Grant got up and walked into the hallway, only to return with their coats. “Let’s go.”

    “Where…?”

    “I’m taking you into town, to pay Miranda a visit.”

    “Grant, I don’t think—”

    “Shut up, Cowboy. If the mountain won’t come to Mohammed, Mohammed must go to the mountain. Or something like that.”

    Hunter didn’t put up an argument. He was overcome by nerves, though. Could he do it? He looked up at Grant standing there, gesturing for him to put his coat on.

    “I’d rather stake out the house,” Hunter joked. Seeing Grant roll his eyes and shake his head made him give up his feeble attempt at protest. Grant was right, he couldn’t keep putting this off.

    All the way into town, he was glad Grant was driving, because he couldn’t even get his own thoughts organized, let alone get them from A to B without hitting something. His heart sank when he saw Miranda’s house. The curtains were drawn and the mailbox was overflowing.

    “Damn,” Grant cursed, glancing at Hunter with compassion. They both realized the reason Miranda wasn’t answering her phone was that it seemed she hadn’t been home in a long time.

    “Her mother lives across town,” Hunter said, vaguely remembering Miranda mentioning it once.

    It took them two hours and a lot of asking around to find the house Miranda’s mother lived in. As they exited the truck, they were greeted by a morose-looking woman.

    “You Hunter?” she asked.

    Hunter nodded.

    “She don’ want to see you.”

    “Is she okay?” Grant asked when Hunter didn’t say anything.

    “As good as she can be, given the circumstances, I suppose.”

    “The circumstances?” Grant asked.

    “And who might you be?” the woman asked.

    “I’m Grant, Hunter’s… friend.”

    The woman didn’t answer. Instead she turned to Hunter. “You can come in.” Then back to Grant. “You stay out here.”

    Hunter looked at Grant for support before walking inside, but all Grant dared to do was wink.

Chapter 39

    The wait outside was endless. Grant paced on the sidewalk