Rocky Mountain Devil

by Vivian Arend

  “I can see that.” Pastor Dave smiled. “I get to work more civilized hours, and usually indoors.”

  He asked a few more questions, mostly about what Rafe had on his plate for the next while, never once veering into territory that made Rafe uncomfortable.

  Which was uncomfortable in a whole different way.

  He hadn’t planned on it, but it seemed the most natural thing to raise a few questions of his own. Laurel loved her family. It would be good to be forewarned if there were changes on the horizon.

  “How long are you planning on staying in Rocky?” Rafe asked, jerking to a halt as he realized the question came out wrong. “I mean, don’t most pastors move around a lot? You and Mrs. Sitko have been around Rocky for a lot of years.”

  “Depends on the church,” Pastor Dave said. “Some like their pastors to move often, but in Rocky we’ve got a community that has roots that go deep. It’s better to keep a man here that knows the people, and cares for them.”

  “Makes sense.” Rafe cleared his throat. “And I wasn’t asking because I hoped you’d leave, or anything. I just know Laurel likes having you around.”

  Implying he didn’t? Man, he was on track to win all the awards for making a fool of himself.

  Fortunately, the other man smiled. “We plan on being around for a long time. Rocky Mountain House is our home, and the people here are in our hearts. Including you, and your mom, and the whole lot of your family, if you want to know the truth.”

  Rafe chuckled. “That’s a pretty big list. Just saying.”

  “I’ve got a big heart. Just saying.” Pastor Dave leaned a shoulder against the outer pen wall as he looked Rafe over. “You got something on your mind?”

  The words burst out before he really thought them through. “You know I’m seeing Laurel.”

  The other man nodded.

  All his possible follow-up sentences seemed over-the-top rude as he considered them in turn. He wasn’t asking permission. He wasn’t going to stop, so there didn’t seem to be any reason to ask if Pastor Dave had a problem with it.

  So he went on a completely different tack, ignoring the fact he was wildly changing the topic back to something safe.

  “Well, that’s good you’ll be around. People can get pretty set in their ways after a certain time. Hard to change what comes naturally like that.”

  “What comes naturally?” Pastor Dave hesitated. “You’re talking about character. The who you are when the going gets tough.”

  Rafe shrugged. “I suppose.”

  “I’d say that’s not set in stone, not even when people get old.” Laurel’s father considered his words carefully. “People make decisions all the time about who they’re going to be, and it doesn’t matter if they’re eight or eighty—people can change. A person can decide he wants to be a man of strong character, but he won’t get there by wanting it to happen. He’ll get there because it’s a part of him through and through. It’s a goal, and more. It’s what he believes in, and more.”

  Belief. Damn. This was where Rafe was going to lose any goodwill he’d built up with the man, but the point had to be made. The image of his Uncle Mike flashed to mind. His brother, for that matter. “I know a whole lot of men who don’t go to church who have strong characters I admire, so it’s not just about believing.”

  Pastor Dave raised a brow. “I didn’t say that. You don’t have to believe in church, or religion, but you need to have faith in something.”

  “…or I’ll fall for anything?”

  “No, without faith, a man gets cold inside and dies.”

  The words struck with the impact of a sledgehammer. Rafe could picture his father standing before him. Eyes—cold. Soul—brittle.

  Pastor Dave went on, seemingly oblivious to the fact Rafe was fighting to stand. “Whatever you believe about how we got here, men need certain things to keep alive. Air, water and food for the physical body. The brain needs challenges. But the heart, our soul”—he tapped a fist against his chest—“that needs a connection to others, and a reason to go on. That’s the road that gets narrow—picking which path you’ll walk through life, and who you’ll walk with. If you step into bitterness, it’ll coat your boots like cowshit. You can scrape it off, but the odor lingers. Clings to you, even if you look clean and shiny on the outside. And every step you take, you leave traces of shit behind.”

  As if he’d been passed something a little bigger than he knew how to handle, Rafe stood in silence for a minute before eyeing the other man. “You’re not exactly how I remember you.”

  “Because I said shit?” Pastor Dave laughed. “Been preaching for nearly thirty years to men who work the land. Shit comes up fairly often.”

  Rafe nodded, not sure what to say next.

  Fortunately, Laurel’s father patted his shoulder, turning them both toward the door. “I’ve taken up enough of your time. And Corinne will be expecting me home soon.”

  “Tell Mrs. Sitko if she’d like to come see the lambs, she’s welcome.”

  There wasn’t much more said after that. Pastor Dave got in his car and headed into town, and Rafe stood motionless in the yard, feeling a little like he’d been run over by a semi.

  He must have been out there long enough to get Allison’s curiosity up. He blinked and discovered his sister-in-law next to him, head tilted to the side as she looked him over, amusement in her eyes.

  “What?” he snapped.

  “You’re pretty cute, all embarrassed from talking to your girlfriend’s daddy,” she teased.

  “I’m not embarrassed,” he protested.

  “Shell-shocked, then. Did he ask what your intentions were?”

  Rafe rolled his eyes. “I’m glad this is so amusing to you. And no, we didn’t talk about Laurel.”

  “Interesting.” She backed up. “Come join us for supper. I made lasagna.”

  He wasn’t about to turn that down, even knowing he’d have to put up with a whole lot of comments through dinner.

  He didn’t mind. The distraction was appreciated, although he knew he’d be thinking about Pastor Dave’s words for a long time to come.

  Chapter Seventeen

  “It made sense to carpool,” Laurel said to her friend, somewhat apologetically. “We’re going the same direction.”

  Nicole shrugged, adjusting her seat so she could pop her feet up on the dash. “I don’t have a problem with it, but a shopping trip with the four of us is a funny combination. That’s all I’m saying.”

  Laurel turned into the driveway at Trevor Coleman’s place. “Becky’s often in the library going through magazines and books. When she heard we were sneaking away midweek to Red Deer for the day, she asked if she could come along.”

  They’d hit it off, her and Becky. Laurel had been honoured when the other woman opened up and shared some of her past, but the rough life Becky had faced until recently wasn’t common knowledge. Nic wasn’t in the know about a lot of the details, and she didn’t need to be.

  And Laurel’s struggles with her issues of faith paled when she considered the hell Becky had lived through. The woman had come out the other side without breaking. It was inspiring, and it was humbling, and it made Laurel all the more pleased to be counted on Becky’s list of friends.

  “Oh, I get the connection with Becky. I think Ashley Coleman is a bit of a stretch, even for you,” her friend said with a smile. “Although, you do seem to have developed the ability to make just about everybody fall in love with you.”

  Laurel pulled to a stop beside Trevor’s big truck. “Except a few, you mean.”

  Like Ben Coleman, who glared at her as if she were possessed every time he spotted her, even from a distance.

  “It’s your puppy-dog eyes,” Nicole said as they got out of the car and headed for the front porch of the old house.

  Becky was waiting on the porch swing, and she wasn’t alone. Her boyfriend Trevor Coleman from the Moonshine clan had an arm stretched along the back of the swing, and she was tucked agai
nst him, her legs curled up on the bench. He was making it rock, and the two of them looked as if there was nothing more perfect they could be doing at that moment.

  It wasn’t the freshly painted house trim, or the clean-scrubbed porch boards Laurel was a little jealous of. The two of them were obviously together, on so many levels.

  Becky turned toward him. “I’ll miss you today.”

  He kissed her, fingers cupping her chin as he took his time, lips moving slowly but thoroughly over hers.

  Hot. Very hot.

  “Tick-tock, tick-tock, haven’t got all day,” Nicole teased, clapping her hands rapidly. “Enough with the kissing, already.”

  Trevor didn’t stop what he was doing, just let one hand drift upward, raised middle finger aimed toward Nicole as he silently continued to kiss Becky.

  Laurel laughed. “And that’s all he’s got to say on the matter.”

  Nicole leaned toward Laurel as they ignored the couple on the swing. “So was Ashley hanging out at the library when you issued the invite as well?”

  “Yes,” Laurel answered primly. “You’d be surprised how many people actually read in this town.”

  “Hey. I read,” Nic protested. “Especially since you started the wine and chocolate nights.”

  Too funny. “I notice you remember the wine and chocolate parts, but not the reading club part of it.”

  “What was Ashley reading? How to survive testosterone overdoses?”

  “She’s doing an art mural for us in the children’s area,” Laurel said.

  Her friend snorted. “Your idea?”

  “Yes.”

  “Hiring Colemans—isn’t that against some kind of nepotism rule?”

  Laurel resisted the urge to roll her eyes. “I don’t see me married to her, do you? This is why you need to read more—you’ve been watching too many cheesy sitcoms.”

  The two on the swing finally broke apart, a flush colouring Becky’s cheeks. “We’re supposed to wait here for Ashley. I guess she wants to drive.”

  A moment later another enormous four-by-four truck joined them, Ashley waving from behind the steering wheel before she popped out and marched up to them, jamming a cowboy hat on top of her long blonde hair. “Hey, ladies. Everybody ready to burn the place down?”

  Nic jerked a thumb over her shoulder. “If those two are finished kissing…”

  Ashley folded her arms over her chest, looking Becky and Trevor over with interest. “Oh. In that case, no rush.” She gestured for them to continue. “Go on.”

  “I’d say we were done, but it wouldn’t be true. Never going to be finished kissing my Rodeo,” Trevor murmured.

  Becky rose to her feet, fingers tangled with his as she made her way to the top of the stairs and to the truck. “Down, boy.”

  He chuckled, lifting her into the back seat as the rest of them climbed into the enormous beast of a vehicle. “You sure you want to drive this monster, Ashley? Because you’re welcome to take mine, you know.”

  “As if yours is any smaller.”

  Nicole snickered.

  “Shut up, you,” Ashley said with a laugh. “It’s okay, trust me—I know how to drive big beasts. Lots of practice. Ahem.”

  Another snicker escaped Nic.

  “Don’t start up yet, Ash, they’re kissing again,” Laurel warned.

  Becky’s soft laugh carried through the truck cab as she whispered goodbye to Trevor. He closed the door and backed away, waving to them, then stood there and watched as Ashley turned around and headed out.

  “Sorry about that,” Becky said.

  From her position behind the wheel, Ashley made a rude noise. She glanced in the rearview mirror at Becky. “What did I tell you the last time we talked?”

  “Too much for me to be able to remember?” Becky admitted.

  “Never apologize for kissing. At least remember that one,” Ashley said.

  Nicole twisted in the front passenger seat, one arm on the backrest so she could see all three women. “Okay. I’m tour director. Shopping is on the agenda. And lunch. Who needs to go where?”

  “I need a craft shop and a lumber mill,” Ashley said. “Oh, and the junkyard.”

  Laurel couldn’t resist. “Doing some decorating?”

  Ashley looked both ways before turning onto the main highway. “I’m starting on Christmas presents.”

  “At a junkyard?” Becky was obviously amused. “You have way way more artistic ability than me.”

  “Says the woman who makes pictures with teeny tiny bits of fabric.”

  “You quilt too,” Becky pointed out.

  “Mine are different,” Ashley insisted. “I throw fabric at the wall then stick uncomfortable things to it. Your quilts are soft and pretty, and I’m going to cheat this year during the Coleman Christmas exchange and make sure you get my name.”

  “You guys pick names?” Nicole asked.

  “Have you seen the size of the gathering on Boxing Day?” Ashley said in a shocked tone. “I had no idea that getting involved with Travis and Cassidy meant I was signing up for a biannual dose of insanity.”

  “It can’t be that bad,” Laurel protested.

  “Oh, really? You can let me know down the road if you change your mind about that, little Miss Freshman Coleman Woman. By the way, Becky, Laurel’s taken over newbie status from you. You’re off the hook for teasing—it’s her turn.”

  Heat rushed Laurel. “There’s nothing official between me and Rafe.”

  “Yet.” Three voices echoed back simultaneously.

  She turned to Becky. “I expected them to be terrible teases, but you too?”

  Becky answered the question with another question, pressing a finger to her lips as if considering before speaking. “Hmmm, how come I’ve seen your car drive past our place so many times in the last month? You know, headed toward Angel land?”

  “Wow, and I’ve seen her car parked outside Rafe’s rental at least a few times. A few dozen times,” Ashley deadpanned.

  “And here I was wondering at how often Rafe’s truck was outside her apartment.” Nicole twisted a little further to offer a cheesy grin. “Yeah, you two aren’t spending any time together. None. Nada.”

  Laurel let the happy feelings inside bubble before trying to change the topic. “So where else do we need to go? After the thrill of the junkyard?”

  “Where do you need to go, Becky?” Nicole asked.

  The young woman flushed bright pink. “Ummmm…”

  Ashley chuckled evilly. “Does this mean you want to hit another toy store?”

  “Ashley,” Becky whispered in shock. “I don’t… I mean, don’t talk about… I mean—”

  “What? I think it’s safe to talk about sex in this group. Nicole is living with Troy Thompson, and I’m damn sure that boy’s got the moves. Laurel is seeing Rafe, who is a Coleman, which means the man’s got the libido of a bull, which means with all the time they’re spending together there is surely some spectacular hanky-panky going on. You are with a Coleman, ergo, ditto on the tomfoolery, and me…” She tilted her head to the side and batted her lashes at Becky in the rearview mirror. “Okay, you’re right, then there’s me, pure as the driven snow. Oh, horrors, don’t mention the s-e-x word.”

  “You’re so bad,” Becky said with a smile.

  “Just spit it out, woman. We’re all friends here.”

  “Not toys, but something pretty to wear, is that right?” Laurel asked, the magazine articles she’d found Becky peering at a dead giveaway.

  “Ooooooh, like lingerie?”

  Becky nodded. “Yes. I want to get some pretty things. I want to surprise Trevor.”

  It wasn’t a bad idea, although Laurel was stumbling a little mentally over Ashley’s assumption that she and Rafe were already a lot more sexually involved than they were.

  The fooling around they’d been doing was fun—really fun—and Laurel had no intention of complaining. Except it seemed Rafe was a touch too intent on keeping them going slow. It was Oct
ober already—they’d been a couple officially for a month, after she’d been dreaming about him all summer.

  Maybe she needed to push the agenda a little harder.

  The hour-long drive to the city passed quickly enough with shared stories and laughter about nothing in particular. They hit a half a dozen places and had a nice lunch before finding a parking spot at the mall where Ashley led them straight to Victoria’s Secret.

  Trying on lingerie with Ashley was a full-out production. Bra shopping usually involved Laurel hauling a couple hangers off the rack at Walmart then hoping they fit.

  She got measured this time, and suddenly there were a lot of pretty bras that made the limited amount of chest she had look spectacular.

  The other difference was she usually went shopping by herself. By the time they’d been in the store for half an hour, Ashley wasn’t the only one walking out of their private change rooms into the larger area with the mirrors to show off what they were trying.

  “Holy moly.” Laurel elbowed Nicole to get her attention as Becky shyly stepped out to get their thoughts on an outfit. “It’s illegal to look that good.”

  Becky didn’t quite seem to know where to put her hands as she stood before them wearing virginal white. Little bows were attached to the barely-there garment in strategic places that would be perfect to drive Trevor wild.

  “It’s beautiful,” Nicole said.

  “You’re beautiful,” Laurel added. “You’ve got to get that. Trevor won’t know what hit him.”

  “You think?” Becky wiggled on the spot before lifting her gaze to Laurel’s. “It makes me feel like a present waiting to be unwrapped.”

  “You buy that and if you wear it often, you’ll never have to give Trevor another gift for the rest of your life.”

  “Not that she’ll be wearing it for long,” Nicole pointed out.

  “True.” Ashley joined the conversation as she slipped into the room. “You’re a knockout, Becky. Sweet, sweet and sexy. And I think Laurel here needs to follow your example.”

  “What are you…ohhhhh. Whoa.” Laurel stuttered to a stop as Ashley held out a pile of clothing to her. A very skimpy pile.