“Hi, Caleb. How are you?” The little boy smiled at her then put his head on his mother’s shoulder.
“He’s a flirt,” Liv said then handed Caleb off to Wyatt.
“Let’s go, sweetheart. Have a good day, Lanie.” Wyatt put his fingers to the brim of his hat as he held his son then held the door for her.
“See ya, Lanie,” Liv smiled at her and followed her husband and son.
“Bye.” Lanie watched them walk away as she held the door open. They were both wonderful people. Wyatt was so gorgeous, but he loved his wife and son more than anything. She frowned as she watched him walk away and a thought tried to enter her head, but she couldn’t quite grasp it.
Lanie wanted a man like that, a man who would love her above all others and never cheat on her. Would she ever have it? Trent popped into her head, but she quickly shook that thought away. He was leaving to go home to Billings, and she knew she’d miss him when he left. He was a man she could easily fall for, but she didn’t want another broken heart. If she fell for him and he didn’t feel the same, she’d be so hurt when he left. Why was he here though? What kind of business did he have in Clifton? Maybe he was purchasing cattle for his boss but wouldn’t he have said that’s why he was here, and she hadn’t seen a cattle trailer at the cabin. That was another thing. Why was he staying in the cabin? Did he know Becca or Jake? Shrugging, Lanie stepped inside the diner, and everyone called out or waved at her. She headed behind the counter and took her coat and hat off then hung them up. Connie and Owen were both in the kitchen.
“Hi you two,” Lanie said.
“Hi, hon. Ready to get to work?” Connie asked her then a frown marred her brow.
“What’s wrong?”
Connie walked to her and stopped in front of her then smirked.
“You and Trent must have enjoyed the pie.”
Lanie gasped. “Why do you say that?”
“The hickey gives it away.”
“He gave me a hickey? He is so dead!” Lanie gasped and quickly put her hand up to her neck then narrowed her eyes at her aunt. “I have a turtleneck on, so you can’t see a hickey,” she hissed.
“Don’t need to see one now,” Connie said with a shrug then laughed as she walked out to the counter.
“Oh, my God! You’re horrible,” Lanie said, and she didn’t care who heard her.
“You’re just now figuring that out?” Owen said while he flipped burgers.
Lanie stared at him then laughed when he winked at her. Taking an apron down from a hook, she pulled it over her head then walked out to the counter and picked up the coffeepot then moved around the room giving refills. When the bell over the door jingled, she glanced over and stared when Trent entered the diner. He took a seat at the counter and picked up a menu.
“Can I get some coffee, Lanie?”
“Huh? Oh, sorry, Mr. Barton,” she said then poured coffee into his cup.
Lanie turned to head back to the counter when she looked Trent’s way again, and he was staring at her. One side of his sexy lips rose then he looked back to his menu. She walked behind the counter and put the coffee pot back on the warmer and watched as Connie walked to where Trent sat and listened to their conversation.
****
“Hey, Trent. Can I get you a coffee?”
“Yes, ma’am, and can I get a western omelet with hash browns?”
“You sure can. Did you get the apple pie I sent you?”
“Yes, ma’am. Thank you.” Trent grinned.
“Did you like it?”
Trent shifted his eyes to Lanie to see her looking at him, and then he looked back to Connie to see her trying not to laugh.
“Yes, ma’am. It was the best damn pie I ever had.”
When Lanie snorted, Trent looked at her and winked. She burst out laughing then disappeared into the kitchen. He looked at Connie to see her grinning and shaking her head.
“I’ll try to send you another one.”
Trent chuckled. “I’d appreciate that.”
Connie walked away chuckling and put his order up on the wheel and spun it around then waited on customers. The bell jingled, and Trent glanced over to see Tessa Garrett enter. She waved and smiled at everyone as they called out to her. It reminded him of the TV show, Cheers, where everyone would call out when a particular character entered the bar but here, it was to everyone. She smiled at Trent and took a seat beside him.
“Do you mind if I sit here?” she asked him.
“No, ma’am. I wanted to talk with you anyway.”
“Me? What about?”
“I have a dog I believe someone dropped off. Looks to be full-blooded Aussie. She doesn’t have a collar, but I was wondering if I could bring her in and you could see if she has a microchip.”
“Oh, of course. I don’t know of anyone missing an Aussie, but I can check for you. Just bring her in anytime. What if she doesn’t have one? Are you going to take her to the shelter?”
Trent could tell by the way Tessa nibbled in her bottom lip that she was hoping he wouldn’t do that.
“I was planning on keeping her if she doesn’t belong to anyone. I did ask around town, but Delaney suggested I have you check the dog for a chip.”
“I’d be more than happy to do that for you. Gabe Stone has an Aussie, but I just saw her the other day. What color is the dog you have?”
“She’s a blue merle with one brown and one blue eye. Cute as can be.”
“She doesn’t sound like any dog I’ve seen. I’m the only vet. I take care of Clifton, Hartland, and Spring City now but that doesn’t mean I see all animals. Some people never take their pets to a vet.”
“That’s true. I’ll bring her in one day if that’s all right.”
“It is. Anytime will be fine.” Tessa smiled at him then her smile grew when the door opened, and Trent glanced over to see the sheriff. Again. Trent had nothing to hide, but the man seemed too astute, and he’d probably figure something out the more he looked at Trent.
“Hi, angel,” Sam said then kissed his wife.
Trent grinned when he saw the blush pour into Tessa’s cheeks then he nodded at Sam.
“How are you, Trent?” Sam put his hand out to him, and Trent shook it.
“I’m good, Sheriff. You?”
“Call me Sam. I can’t complain when I have this beautiful woman as my wife.” Sam grinned.
Trent laughed. “That’s true.”
Connie set Trent’s breakfast down in front of him.
“Enjoy, Trent. Tess, what can I get you?”
“I think I’ll have the western omelet too, Connie. It looks so good,” Tessa said as she glanced at Trent’s plate.
“I’ll have the same,” Sam said as he took a seat on the other side of Tessa.
Trent picked up his fork, dug into the omelet, took a bite, and groaned making Tessa and Sam laugh. Clifton was a great town, and the people were terrific. Trent glanced around for Delaney and saw her talking with customers. It’s too bad he wasn’t sticking around, but there was nothing here for him in Clifton. Except for a green-eyed brunette who set his blood on fire. But he’d have to find a job, and the thought of starting again as a ranch hand or even herdsmen didn’t appeal to him. There was nothing wrong with that; it was just that he’d been a foreman for nine years and he didn’t want to start over. Who said she’d want you to stay anyway? Just because you have fantastic chemistry between the sheets doesn’t mean it would lead to anything. As messed up as his life was right now, he didn’t want to add to it by involving a woman. Even that gorgeous woman he couldn’t seem to tear his eyes away from. She looked over at him and gave him a sassy wink making him chuckle. Tessa and Sam both looked at him. Feeling a bit self-conscious, he cleared his throat and picked up his coffee to take a sip.
****
Jake knew he couldn’t put it off any longer. It was time for his brothers to meet Trent. Their other brother. He was not looking forward to this at all. Wyatt could be a hothead. He was a damn good man wh
o loved his wife and son, but he had one hell of a temper, and both Jake and Gabe had been on the wrong end of it a time or two but never Olivia or Caleb. Those two had him wrapped around their fingers.
The first thing Jake needed to do was call Trent and see when it was convenient for him to come to the ranch then he’d call Gabe and Wyatt. He wanted them here without their wives and kids, and he knew that as soon as he told them that, they’d know something was up. Damn it. This was going to screw up everyone’s life. Jake knew Trent was their brother, he didn’t doubt that, but it still made his gut ache thinking that their father had cheated. Was Trent’s mother the only one or had there been others?
“Son of a bitch,” he muttered as he pulled his cell phone from his pocket and after finding Trent’s number, he hit Send and listened to it ring then finally Trent answered.
“Hey, Jake.”
“Trent. I, uh, think it’s time we all got together. Can you be here in an hour? Is that a problem?”
“No problem. I can be there then. Have you called Gabe and Wyatt?”
“Not yet but they’ll be here.”
“All right, Jake. I’ll see you in an hour then.”
“See you then,” Jake said then hit End. He wanted to throw the phone but didn’t. He flopped down in the recliner and smiled when Hattie climbed up onto his lap. His heart melted when she laid her head on his chest and patted his cheek.
“Da-da,” she said.
“I love you, baby girl.” Jake kissed the top of her head.
He wasn’t looking forward to seeing his brothers. Any of them. He still found this hard to believe, but he did not doubt that Trent was a Stone. Even Becca saw it, and Jake had to admit he did too.
“Damn it, Dad. Why did you do this?” he muttered.
Chapter Seven
Trent blew out a nervous breath when he pulled into Jake’s driveway. He drove up alongside the porch and put the shifter into Park. After shutting off the engine, he sat there staring out the windshield but not seeing a thing. His stomach was in knots, and he really dreaded this. How would Gabe and Wyatt take this? It would disrupt their lives, and Trent didn’t want to do that. He should have just left when Sam told him Josiah was dead. Why did he have to talk to Jake? Nothing could come from this other than hurting everyone. Taking a deep breath, he threw the door open, stepped out, shoved it closed a little harder than necessary, and walked up the steps. The door opened before he had a chance to knock and Becca stood there smiling at him.
“Hi, Trent. Please come in. Let me take your hat and coat.”
Trent nodded, stomped the snow from his boots, stepped inside then took his coat and hat off and handed them to her. She hung them on a peg and turned to face him.
“Follow me. Jake is in his office.”
“Is, uh…”
Becca stopped and looked up at him. “No, they’re not here yet. Please don’t let any of them upset you. You have to know it’s been a shock to Jake and although Gabe will probably keep his feelings hidden, Wyatt will tell you exactly what he thinks. He’s a tough one. The only people who can keep that temper of his under control are his wife and son. But don’t back down from him. I know both Gabe and Wyatt will be hurt, as Jake was, but remind them you’re not here to hurt anyone or cause trouble.”
“I will. I should have just left when I found out Josiah was dead.”
“No. I don’t believe that. You have three brothers, and you should all know each other. Come on, Jake’s waiting.”
Trent nodded and followed her down a hallway to a large office. They walked in to see Jake standing in front of a window and staring out. He turned when they entered the room.
“Hey, Trent. It’s good to see you again,” Jake said as he walked to him and put his hand out.
Trent shook his hand. “You too.”
“Once Gabe and Wyatt get here, I’ll bring in some coffee.” Becca smiled at him then looked at Jake.
“That’s fine, Red.” Jake took a seat behind his desk and waved for Trent to sit in one of the wingback chairs on the other side.
For some reason, Trent felt like he was in the principal’s office and he never liked being in there. He had no idea what to say as he rubbed his sweaty palms on his jeans. Jake looked just as uncomfortable. Then he heard voices, shot to his feet, and turned toward the door as two tall men entered the room. They resembled Jake, as well as him he supposed. He saw them frown then look at Jake.
“What’s going on, Jake?” the one with the mustache asked.
“I’ll tell you in a few minutes. Trent, this is Gabe, and this is Wyatt.”
Both men shook his hand, but Wyatt narrowed his eyes at him.
“Nice to meet you, Trent,” Gabe said with a grin.
“You too, Gabe. Wyatt.”
Wyatt didn’t say anything, just took a seat in one of the chairs. It was as if he knew he was going to hear something he wasn’t going to like.
“Have a seat, Gabe,” Jake told him, and Gabe sat but raised an eyebrow at his brother.
“Jake? What the hell is this about?” Wyatt asked him.
Jake took a deep breath then took his seat as did Trent and he was glad he was sitting beside Gabe and not Wyatt.
“Trent’s from Billings. He came here looking for his father, but once he got here, he found out he’d passed away a few years back—”
“What the hell does that have to do with us?” Wyatt growled.
“Trent’s father is…our father,” Jake said.
Wyatt shot to his feet. “That’s bullshit. A damn lie.”
“No, Wyatt, it’s not. I read the letter Trent’s mother left him when she died, and I saw the birth certificate.”
“I don’t care what you saw. There is no way Dad would cheat on Mom.” Wyatt turned to look at Trent. “So, did you come here looking for money? You sure as shit look like you need it.”
“That’s enough, Wyatt,” Gabe said standing up.
“It’s not enough! I don’t believe this and how could you, Jake? So what if Dad’s name is down as his father, that doesn’t mean a fucking thing.”
“Wyatt Stone, stop it,” Becca said when she entered the room carrying a tray with a coffee carafe and cups.
“Becca, this doesn’t concern you,” Wyatt snapped.
“The hell it doesn’t. Trent is family—”
“Not mine.” Wyatt stepped closer to Trent and stared at him.
“If you can’t see that Trent resembles you then you’re blind. He has black hair and the same dark eyes as you—”
“That doesn’t mean shit! Trick Dillon has black hair and eyes as dark as mine. Does that make him my brother too? Come on, Becca,” Wyatt scoffed.
“Trick doesn’t look like you at all and Trent has the Stone looks. Same nose, lips, dimples, and smile. Face it. He’s your brother whether you like it or not,” Becca yelled.
“I sure as shit don’t like it. I don’t believe Dad would do that to Mom.” Wyatt turned to look at Trent. “Unless your mother just spread her legs for him—”
Trent punched Wyatt on the chin knocking him back a few steps then Wyatt straightened and came after him, but Gabe and Jake grabbed him.
“Stop it!” Becca shouted.
Trent shook his hand trying to alleviate the pain in his knuckles. Hell, he hadn’t meant to hit him, but no one says something like that about his mother. Ever. He looked at Wyatt with Gabe on one side of him and Jake on the other holding him by his arms.
“I apologize, Wyatt. I shouldn’t have hit you. Hell, I shouldn’t have come here at all, but I did. I wanted to know about my father, not hurt any of you.”
“Yeah, well, you did. None of us believe this about our father,” Wyatt said between clenched teeth.
“I do Wyatt, so you need to accept it. Trent is our brother.” Jake looked at Trent then let Wyatt go, as did Gabe.
“I’m not listening to any of this. He wants something. Maybe he thinks he can take some of our land or money.” Wyatt stepped toward Trent
when Gabe grabbed his arm again, but Wyatt jerked away from him. “I’ll be contacting our attorney to make sure you don’t get a dime, and if I hear of you talking about this to anyone, I’ll finish this fight.”
Wyatt bumped into Trent with his shoulder and walked out the door. Trent slumped down onto the chair. Jake and Gabe resumed their seats. All of them jerked when they heard the kitchen door slam as Wyatt left.
“I don’t like this, but even I can see the resemblance. What do you want to know about Dad?” Gabe asked him.
“I don’t know. I can see he was a good father by the way you’re all upset about this. I should just go.” Trent stood. “It doesn’t matter anymore anyway. He’s gone, and I wasted my time and hurt you all.” He moved toward the door but stopped beside Becca who had tears in her eyes.
“Trent, please stay. Wyatt will come around. Thanksgiving is very soon, and we’d love to have you with us for dinner.”
“I appreciate that Becca and you’re sweet to ask, but it would just cause tension. I’ll be going back to Billings soon as long as you don’t mind me staying in the cabin until then or I can get a hotel room in town.”
“Of course, I don’t mind. Stay as long as you’d like.” Then she shocked him by hugging him. Trent wrapped his arms around her then stepped back. He gave Jake and Gabe a nod then walked out. In the kitchen, he pulled his coat on and slapped his hat onto his head.
Once outside, he pulled his gloves on, walked down the steps, and then climbed into his truck. Damn, he never should have come here. He had messed up their lives. Trent had always been the type of man to stay away from trouble. He’d gotten into enough of it when he was in his early teens but straightened up and did well in school after that. Stress was something he didn’t need, and he certainly hated causing it. This had been such a mistake. He started the truck, drove out the driveway, and headed for the cabin. He was seeing Delaney tonight, and he really needed that. She could make him forget his fucked up life. He wrapped his hands around the steering wheel until they ached. His knuckles were sore too. He shouldn’t have hit Wyatt because it solved nothing but Trent didn’t like what he’d said about his mother. She was a good woman and didn’t deserve to be talked about like that. He was just as upset as Wyatt. Did they all think he wanted money from them? He didn’t. He’d only wanted information on his father, and he still didn’t get any, other than that his sons had obviously loved him. They were hurt that the man they’d put on a pedestal had fallen from it.
Trent Men of Clifton, Montana Book 9 Page 7