“Who’s Badger?”
Tansy grinned. “Thaddeus Livingston Calhoun the Third, who prefers to be called Badger.”
“So would I,” Aleck said. “Scottish, is he?”
“Has kinfolk from there,” Rory said. “Never thought much about his roots until recently. Now he’s into it, researchin’ tartans and crests. He and Hayley, that’s his sweetheart, just started watchin’ Outlander with Damaris and me.”
“Why does the name Badger sound familiar?”
“He’s co-owner of—”
“Badger Air.” Aleck finally put it together. “Couldn’t remember where I’d heard that name before.”
“He’ll be there tonight. He’s kind of an honorary member of the family.” Rory glanced at Tansy. “Sure you can’t make it?”
“I’m afraid not. I promised Michael I’d work the next three nights. He’s counting on me. And thank you, by the way, for driving my truck in.”
“Happy to do it. Thanks to your rescue effort, Damaris put in some quality time on her laptop today and I was able to help clean up after the storm.”
“Good. How’s the road?”
“Bumpy as hell, and you have to drive around some of the deeper puddles, but it’s doable, especially in a bigger rig like mine. I had to be careful with your wee truck, but it should be better by around noon tomorrow if you want to come out.”
“Thanks for the update, but I wasn’t planning on it.”
“Why not?”
“I…have several chores I should take care of.”
“She doesn’t want to intrude,” Aleck said.
“Intrude?” Rory stared at Tansy in confusion. “How could you think you’d be—”
“I’ve sort of monopolized him since yesterday. He came to see you, and so I wanted you two to have some time together without me.”
Rory glanced at him. “And you’re fine with that?”
He shrugged. “I guess she has a point.”
Taking off his hat, Rory scrubbed a hand through his ginger hair. “I can see you’re tryin’ to be considerate, lass, but if you’ll pardon me sayin’ so, your head’s full o’ mince.”
“You think I’m crazy?”
“Aye, I do, no insult intended. After all you went through to get this brother of mine alone for a couple of hours, why give up the chance to see him during the day tomorrow? He’s leavin’ on Friday, y’know.”
“I do know. But wouldn’t you like to have some bro time with him?”
“Sure I would, but I was figuring on includin’ Damaris in whatever we do. He came as much to see her as he did to see me. It’s not like Aleck and I will go off by ourselves and swap stories we wouldn’t want ladies to hear. That’s not how we roll. Am I right, big brother?”
“Aye.” He glanced at her. “I do want you out there, lass. I promise to be fit company if you’ll consider it.”
“You been causin’ trouble?”
“No, he hasn’t.” Tansy smiled. “He just doesn’t like the idea that he has to leave on Friday. It makes him a bit…erratic.”
“I know exactly how to fix that.” Rory gave him a look that said he was up to something. “Come out around noon, lass. He’ll be in fine shape by then.”
She laughed. “How can I resist an invitation like that?”
“Then you’ll drive out?” Aleck didn’t much care what Rory had in store for him if it meant he’d get to see Tansy tomorrow.
“I will.”
“Excellent.”
Rory gazed at them and nodded. “That’s better. Got some keys for me, lass?”
“They’re under the seat.”
“Didn’t get around to tellin’ him.” Too busy covering up the heart I’m wearing on my sleeve.
“We’d better shove off, then. Need to decide on a set list if we’re goin’ to perform tonight.”
“Right.”
“See you tomorrow, Tansy.” Rory touched the brim of his hat and started around to the driver’s side of his truck.
Aleck gave himself a few more precious seconds. She wore rubber thongs on her feet. And there were those multi-colored toes. He loved her so much his chest hurt. He closed the distance between them and gave her a quick kiss. “I’m glad you’re comin’ out to the ranch tomorrow.”
“Me, too.”
He strode to the truck, which was already running, and climbed in.
Rory took his foot off the brake. “Glad to see you kiss her. Beginnin’ to think you two had a fight or somethin’.” He pulled out and drove down the back alley that led to the street. “What erratic nonsense were you up to?”
“Stupid stuff.” Aleck looked in the side view mirror and she was still there, shading her eyes against the sun, watching them leave. Then they rounded the building and he couldn’t see her anymore. His stomach hollowed out. He missed her already.
“You’re in love with her.”
He let out a gusty sigh. “I am.”
“Then why did you agree with her plan to stay away from you tomorrow?”
“Because I’m in love with her.”
“Huh?”
“I don’t know what the hell to do. I can’t imagine leavin’ on Friday but I can’t stay, either. It’s tearin’ me up inside and I thought she might need a break from me.”
“Clearly she doesn’t.”
“Guess not. Oh, and by the way, she’s in love with me, too.”
“Did she say that?”
“No, but I know she is. I didn’t say it to her, either, at least not in English.”
“What then? Swahili?”
Aleck snorted. “Gaelic.”
“Oh, because that isn’t weird.”
“It didn’t feel weird at the time.”
“Not to you, the bampot who took it into his head to start spoutin’ Gaelic.”
He choked on a laugh. Okay, so it was funny.
“No wonder she suggested not comin’ out to the ranch tomorrow. Did she recommend you see someone?”
“No.” He grinned. When his brother got on a roll, there was no stopping him. “I’m sure she knew what I was up to and I guess she thought it made some kind of idiotic sense.”
“Idiotic is right. I know you took it in school and you’re proud of it and all, but that doesn’t mean you should start throwin’ out phrases helter-skelter. It’s not like French or Spanish. You’ll freak people out.”
“She wasn’t freaked out. I’ll bet she’s lookin’ up I love you in Gaelic on her phone right now.”
“Or she’s lookin’ up warnin’ signs of aberrant behavior to find out what kind of kook she’s mixed up with.”
That did it. He laughed until the tears came. When he could talk again, he glanced at his brother. “Thanks, Rory.”
“For what?”
“For fixin’ what I messed up. And makin’ me laugh about it.”
“You’re welcome. For a minute there I thought you were takin’ yourself seriously.”
“I sometimes have a problem with that.”
“Really? I hadn’t noticed.”
“What’s your evil plan for gettin’ me straightened out before she shows up tomorrow?”
Rory chuckled. “You’ll find out.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Thanks to Rory helping him find his lost sense of humor, Aleck had a great time at the cookout. Steaks grilled over an open fire, more side dishes than he had time to sample and plenty of beer made for well tidy scran.
Damaris and Rory stuck close to make sure he met everyone. He did a fair job of keeping them all straight now that he wasn’t jetlagged, even though nearly everyone there was new except Quinn, Aunt Kendra, Brendan and Jo.
Toward the end of the meal, Gage and Emma’s little boy, Josh, started making the rounds of the grownups. The fair-haired toddler had everyone in the palm of his chubby hand. He took full advantage of it, moving from one doting relative to the next. His newlywed parents looked on with a smile.
Rory got up. “Another beer before our g
ig? Keep you nice and relaxed during the performance.”
Damaris peered at him. “Are you nervous? You don’t look nervous.”
“I’m not, but I wouldn’t object to another beer.” He loved being around these two. They were so comfortable with each other. Reminded him of his ma and da.
“Three beers, comin’ up.” Rory took off in the direction of the claw-foot bathtub filled with ice that served as a beverage cooler.
“How’re you guys doing?” Aunt Kendra left her spot and perched on the section of bench Rory had just vacated.
“Great.” Aleck gestured to the picnic area. “What a bonnie setup.”
“I love it, especially this time of year. Have you had a chance to talk to Badger?”
“Not long. Got introduced, but that’s about it. He’s from the South, right?”
“Atlanta. He’s excited about learning the pipes. He saw the video Ryker took of you playing When a Child is Born.”
“Ryker took a video? I didn’t know that.”
“He did his best to be subtle. Didn’t want to throw you off. He showed it to Badger today and now Badger wants to serenade Hayley with a bagpipe tune at their wedding.”
“When’s the wedding?”
“September.”
“This September?”
“Uh-huh.”
“I’d hate to discourage him, but that’s not much time.”
“Much time for what?” Rory came over and handed him a beer. “Can I get you somethin’, Aunt Kendra?”
She glanced up. “No thanks. I took your seat.”
“Keep it. I need to stretch my legs, anyway. Who’s runnin’ out of time? Besides my brother, o’ course.”
“Badger. He wants to be able to play the pipes for the wedding.”
“In September?” Rory shook his head. “He’s a determined guy, but—”
“Maybe somethin’ simple.” Aleck sipped his beer. A couple of his earliest pieces were appropriate and might work. “He’d have to practice a lot between now and then.”
“It’s not impossible,” Rory said. “Nothin’ is, but still. I wonder if he’s told Luke about this plan. It’s not just his and Hayley’s wedding, but Luke and Abigail’s, too.”
“A double weddin’?”
“Oh, yes.” Kendra grinned. “Virginia, Hayley and Luke’s mom, has been dreaming about this double wedding for more than a year. The kids have been dragging their feet. They finally all agreed to it, and she’s ecstatic.”
“Isn’t she a weddin’ planner?”
“Listen to you, Aleck McGavin.” Damaris gave him a friendly nudge. “With that recall, someone might mistake you for a lawyer.”
He chuckled. “That they might.” He took another swallow of his beer and turned to Kendra. “When do you want Rory and me to play?”
“Anytime you’re ready. Looks like everyone’s about finished with dinner. Soon Josh will need something to distract him.”
“He sure is sociable.”
“Yep. I should warn you he brought his kazoo. He takes it everywhere and will likely be inspired to play when he sees you perform. But he’s not very loud.”
“I’ll drown out that wee lad I’m afraid. Maybe we can invite him to play when it’s just Rory drummin’. Rory can soften his sound better than I can.”
“See how it goes. And maybe you’ll have a chance to talk with Badger when you’re done.”
“I’ll make certain of it.” He finished off his beer and glanced at Rory. “Showtime.”
After they brought their instruments out to the picnic area, Aunt Kendra gave them a brief introduction. They’d decided to save their tartan gear for the parade. Aleck had figured out how to play while wearing his Stetson, so Rory wore his.
Right before they started, Rory looked over at him. “A cowboy on the pipes. Looks better’n I thought it would.”
“You don’t look so bad, yourself.” He grinned. “Craic mhaith, laddie.” He started tapping his foot.
His brother rolled his eyes. “Won’t even ask.”
“Good times, Rory. Good times.” And they were off, making music together again, playing to an enthusiastic audience that whooped and hollered at the end of each number.
Aleck invited Josh up midway through the set, and the little boy rocked out on his kazoo, accompanied quietly by Rory. He could make those sticks whisper when he chose to.
Naturally the little guy didn’t want to leave the limelight. Rather than reduce the kid to tears, Aleck let him stay. Josh didn’t seem to mind that his efforts on the kazoo were obliterated by the commanding sound of the Highland Pipes.
They finished up with the Skye Boat Song for Damaris’s sake, but several other lasses in the group became dreamy-eyed over that tune. Judging from the response at the end of the set, they’d met expectations.
Aunt Kendra hurried up to thank them, followed by the entire Sawyer contingent. Emma and Gage couldn’t say enough nice things about the thrill they’d given Josh.
High on the energy of the crowd, Aleck turned to his brother. “That Skye Boat Song? The lasses love it. We should keep it in.”
Rory smiled. “You mean for all the other times we perform in this town?”
He blinked. “Sorry. Took a wee trip down memory lane.”
“Not that I wouldn’t love you to bring the pipes over each time you visit, but—”
“Totally impractical.” He laid them on the nearest vacant picnic table.
“That was amazin’!”
Southern accent. Aleck turned and held out his hand. “Badger, right?”
“Hey, good memory.”
“Need one around here.”
“No kiddin’. This is my fiancée, Hayley Bennett.”
“Pleased to meet you.” Hayley was nearly as tall as he was.
“Same here. I especially loved the theme from Outlander. Badger and I are watching it with Rory and Damaris.”
“So I heard.”
Badger eyed the pipes lying on the table. “Kendra said she told you I was interested in learnin’ how to play.”
“She did. It’s a great instrument. Lots of history behind it.”
Badger nodded. “Been researchin’. Really want to learn how to play.”
“I’d be glad to give you a few tips to get you started.”
“That would make me happier than a pig frog in the Okefenokee Swamp.”
Aleck smiled. “Is that good?”
“Very good. Pig frogs rock. That’s what I’m comin’ back as.”
Hayley laughed. “Then you’d better enjoy our life together in our current incarnation, because this chick isn’t coming back as a pig frog.”
“That’s what you think, darlin’. You’ll want to once you know more. But we’re gettin’ off the subject. Tell me, Aleck. How long will it take me to learn to play? I mean, so I can perform a tune at our wedding.”
“Aunt Kendra said you’re gettin’ married in September.”
“Yessir, September fourteenth, under a Harvest Moon.”
“Nice.”
“We think so. Anyway, I’ve been diggin’ into my Scottish background and when Rory showed me that video, I got it into my head that I want to play somethin’ as part of the ceremony.”
Aleck gazed at him. “How disciplined are you?”
“Are you talking about my protégé?” Quinn joined the group. “Because I can vouch for Badger’s dedication when he wants to learn something new. He took up scratchboard art last year and he’s already selling it.”
Badger smiled. “Thank you kindly, Quinn. But I seem to have some talent for that. No tellin’ if I have any talent for this.”
“One way to find out,” Aleck said. “Give it a try. I’ll steer you in the right direction. We can text, or do video chats, whatever works for you.”
“I appreciate that. I wish you weren’t leavin’ so soon, though. I think one of the reasons I learned scratchboard art so fast is face-to-face lessons with Quinn.”
“Believe me, I
’d love to stay longer.” Understatement of the year. “Maybe you can find someone around here who’d give you that kind of help.”
“I might. But there’s something special about learnin’ from a family member.”
Family member? Badger wasn’t related to him or Quinn…oh, wait. Rory had said Badger was just like family.
“I can see I confused you with that statement,” Badger said. “The thing is, I’m a heck of a lot closer to the McGavins, the Sawyers, and the Bennetts than I am to my folks.”
And clearly the affection was mutual. Aleck nodded. “I’d be here for you if I could.”
“In any case, you’ll come for the weddin’, I hope.”
“Well, I—”
“Worst case scenario, if I can’t play a decent tune, I’d love to have you do it. I want bagpipes at this weddin’, come hell or high water. I’d be happy to pay to fly you out if you’ll come.”
“But didn’t you just see that video this mornin’?”
“That’s a fact. It was love at first sight between me and those pipes, just like I fell for Hayley the minute I laid eyes on her. Don’t know if you’ve ever experienced that.”
What had Badger heard? Judging from his steady gaze, he knew about Tansy. “Aye.” He took a deep breath. “I definitely have.”
“So you’ll come to the weddin’?”
“I’ll call my boss in the mornin’ and see if I can take vacation time.”
Rory gripped his shoulder and squeezed. “Well done.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Tansy took the ranch road at a snail’s pace to protect her truck’s shocks. Good thing she’d started out early. Not that starting early had been a problem. She’d been awake and ready to go at dawn, but she wasn’t expected until noon so she’d spent a restless morning.
Aleck had texted her not to eat lunch because they were packing one to take on the trail. She couldn’t wait. Coming out here to go riding with Rory and Damaris was a comforting and familiar routine. Adding Aleck to the mix turned it into a celebratory event.
When she reached the end of the road, she glanced toward the barn where Jim Underwood was moving among four saddled horses tied to the hitching post. The lanky foreman waved and she tooted her horn.
A Cowboy’s Destiny: The McGavin Brothers Page 15