Vivian Arend - Rocky Mountain Rebel

Joel stilled. Really listened. Hell. “You feel left out, don’t you?”

“Oh, screw that.”

“No, that’s what you said, you miss spending time with me.”

Jesse dragged his hand through his hair. “No. Yes. Hell, I don’t know anymore.”

Joel shook his head. This was something he’d never anticipated, and yet suddenly it made sense. “Jesse, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to leave you out. It’s just that Vicki…”

Damn. He was stuck. He couldn’t tell Jesse about her fears regarding their reputation without sharing things with his twin he had no right to share.

“Yeah, that’s the problem, isn’t it? Vicki.”

“Stop pouting like a two year old,” Joel snapped. “I’m trying to figure out what I can say to fix this, but you’re making it damn tough when you’re being a spoiled ass.”

All the good things about the family that Joel had been so proud to show off to Vicki, the opposite emotion seemed to be staring him down right now.

Jesse was jealous. That was the only possible answer, and there was no solution for it. The fact was whichever of them had gotten involved with someone first, the other was going to be left out.

The days of living in each other’s pockets were over.

“Jesse, I’ll work on being around more, but I can’t guarantee I’ll hang out with you as much as I used to. It’s not that I don’t enjoy your company, but I like time with the others too.”

He wasn’t doing this well. Jesse stiffened even more, his usually happy smile fading away. “So that’s it, then. You’re going to give up on family for a girl.”

This was ridiculous. It was obvious Jesse wasn’t listening and didn’t want to hear, so Joel wasn’t going to try to explain anymore. “I’m not giving up on family, Jesse, but I don’t want to stay a kid. And growing up means changing. No matter how much you dislike that, it’s true.”

Jesse nodded, lips set together. “I’ll see you around then.”

He yanked open his truck door and jumped in. Joel stepped out of the way to avoid being sprayed with gravel as Jesse gunned it out of the parking lot and fishtailed onto the highway without stopping.

Stupid, immature asshole. Regret filled Joel, though, that there was a chasm between the two of them. But bar dropping Vicki completely and going back to being at Jesse’s beck and call, he didn’t see a solution.

Even come the spring when Vicki was gone, he didn’t want to return to being Jesse’s stooge. He liked doing stuff with his brother, but he didn’t want to have to rescue him, or bail him out, or follow meekly behind for the rest of his life.

It was time to grow up. This was just the start. What would it be like down the road when he fell in love?

The thought made this weird sensation twist inside, both imagining Vicki being gone, and finding someone new. He was enjoying his time with her very much, and as he rejoined her inside, scooping her up and placing her in his lap to the great amusement of his cousins, Joel found a little respite from his tension.

Vicki cupped his face gently. “You okay?”

He should have been the one asking her, and here she was, caring for him. It was humbling. “Jesse’s sorry. He didn’t mean to do anything to hurt you.”

Joel didn’t feel at all guilty for putting words into his brother’s mouth. It wasn’t strictly a lie. Jesse hadn’t thought through his actions, like everything else he was doing without thinking lately.

Vicki smiled and accepted his kiss, wrapping her arms around his neck as she melted against his body.

“Get a room,” Travis shouted.

Joel pulled back so he could rest his forehead against hers. “Sounds like a great idea to me. What do you say we do that a little later?”

Vicki blushed, and Joel grinned, turning to the table and pouring a beer, ready to spend a few more hours with family.

At least the part that was acting like family right now.

Chaos reigned in the living room of his parents’ house. The nephews hadn’t unwrapped their presents, they’d torn the paper to shreds, egged on by Jesse. The scent of Christmas dinner lingered in the air. Joel had to loosen his belt a notch to deal with the slight bit of overindulgence he’d partaken in.

But the biggest present he had was seeing his family together and happy. Or as happy as they got these days.

Travis leaned back in one of the La-Z-Boys, the two smallest of the nephews swarming over him as they attempted to get him to join them for a game. Blake and Jaxi’s toddlers were alternately crawling through the wrapping paper and having the brightly coloured bits of paper pulled from their mouths, or they were dancing in that weird toddler way to the music he’d put on just for them. Christmas tunes with sort of a Chipmunk twist, adding a strange flavour to the setting.

Everywhere he looked people shuffled around the room or were seated at the massive family table. The after-dinner drinks had come out, bottles stacked to one side. Blake and their dad had cleared a space to play crib and were hard at it.

Vicki wandered through the chaos all wide-eyed, which made Joel smile.

He was glad she was having fun. That had become his number one goal over the past weeks. Jesse, on the other hand, had remained a standoffish stick-in-the-mud, going out of his way to avoid Joel during the most basic of chores.

The contrast burned, but there didn’t seem to be anything he could do to make things better.

Blake laughed, laying his hand down in defeat as he got skunked for the third time. “You have the best luck at cards, Dad.”

Mike Coleman raised his glass, the ice cubes clinking together. “You’re too easily distracted. Once you’ve got six kids, then we’ll get closer in skill level. Ouch.”

He rubbed the back of his head where Jaxi had elbowed him as she walked past.

Jaxi turned, her arms full of dirty dishes she was taking to the kitchen. “When your son figures out a way to carry and deliver the next three children, you can talk to us about having six kids, got it?”

She disappeared past the swinging door, and Blake and Mike exchanged glances. Mike cleared his throat. “So. You’re stopping at three?”

Blake shrugged. “Give her a few more months to forget childbirth, and she might change her mind. Right now she’s still at the wake up in the middle of the night and punch me stage. Like it’s all my fault she was pregnant.”

Mike laughed, but both of them got really busy when Jaxi reentered the room.

Blake rose to his feet. “Chores. Who else is joining me on this blustery winter day? Jesse? You’re up, aren’t you?”

Joel stepped forward. “I’ll come out—and Vicki, I want to show her something.”

If he’d expected his twin to say thank you for taking over the cold task, he’d have waited a damn long time. Jesse didn’t so much as acknowledge his offer, just went back to pouring a drink before he plopped down beside Travis, the TV remote in his hand.

Joel ignored him, although he did notice their dad watching with disapproval.

Vicki nodded. “Give me a minute to change?”

“Meet me in the west barn when you’re ready.” Joel grabbed his coat before joining Blake on the journey across the yard.

The snow had arrived in style a week before Christmas Eve, lying in thick drifts everywhere. They’d used the tractors to push the roadways clear. There were narrower trails between the barns, paths stomped down by the nephews’ enthusiastic feet when they visited Gramma and Grampa and headed to the barns for some all important fort-building and kitten-chasing.

Blake pulled on gloves, glancing over as they headed forward. “So, you and Vicki, things going okay?”

Joel nodded. “Yeah, she’s a great girl.”

“She is.” Blake cleared his throat. “I’m sorry I was an ass back when she first started hanging around.”

“No problem. You’re not still an ass, that’s the important part.”

Blake snorted. “Yeah, one at a time in any family, isn’t that the rule?”

“God, I hope so.” He couldn’t imagine if Travis was being a shit right now as well as Jesse. His twin was bad enough.

Blake asked him something, and he had to get him to repeat it, distracted by Jesse’s continued childish behavior.

“Are you serious about her?”

“Who?”

Blake cranked open the barn door and the heat of animal bodies and the sounds of the flock made him raise his voice. “Who the hell do you think I mean? The tooth fairy?”

Shit. “Vicki? She’s a friend.”

“Yeah, a close friend.” Blake passed over a coverall. “You’re being careful about sex?”

Good grief. “A lot more careful than my big brother who, if I recall correctly, had his wife pregnant before they got married.”

Blake had the grace to look a little embarrassed. “Yeah, well, slightly different situation.”

Joel paused in pulling up his coverall. “What the hell does that mean?”

“Don’t get your britches in a twist. I was a lot older than you when Jaxi and I got together. If this thing between you and Vicki is serious, that’s your business. Just, don’t rush. In the big scheme of things you both have a lot of time.”

Joel gave his big brother a smack on the arm. “Good to know your heart is in the right place.”

“Hey, I love the kids, and I love being married, but when I was your age, I wasn’t ready for it. I want the best for you, and for Vicki, whatever that means.”

Joel nodded. He’d been thinking about it a lot lately himself. “Thanks. I appreciate it, and you’re right. We’re young, and we’re not rushing, so relax.”

They divvied up chores, Blake taking off for the other barn to deal with the horses.

Joel snuck in a few tasks before the door opened and Vicki entered.

“Joel?”

He waved. “Over here.”

She hung onto the door, looking around cautiously.

He straightened up. Damn. He’d forgotten. “Don’t worry. This barn is full of sheep. And lambs, right now. Not a horse in sight.”

“Thank you.” Vicki paced forward. “Is it stupid that they are not the same thing? Sheep don’t freak me out.”

“Good, because you’re going to be getting a big dose of them for the next while.”

Vicki narrowed her eyes. “You making me do your chores again, Joel Coleman?”

“Of course. I’m no dummy.” He picked her up and spun her in a circle, her laughter streaming out louder than the bleating and rustling of the sheep.

“Put me down, you big oaf.” She banged on his shoulder with her fist.

First he kissed her lustily, taking pleasure in her eager response. Yeah, they’d had no lack of enjoyment in the bedroom. And on the kitchen counter, and in the shower… The list was getting rather extensive now that she had a private place with the apartment and a sturdier bed for them to play on.

He lowered her slowly, rubbing them together as he did so.

“Hmm, nice. Is that my Christmas present?” Vicki blinked innocently. “Or do I get more?”

Oh yeah. Now he didn’t want to do the rest of his chores. “You have more than one present, if it comes to that.”

Her eyes sparkled. “Sounds good to me. So, boss. What’s the lesson for today?”

It was the most brilliant of plans. “You get to wrestle sheep.”

Vicki stared in disbelief. “Really? Like, why?”

He grinned. “You’re not afraid of them, right?”

She thought it through, hard. “I don’t think so. I mean, I don’t usually have tons to do with them, but they’re just another stinky animal of the smaller and more shaggy variety.”

“I’m not even going to argue with you on the smelly part.”

That didn’t sound good. Vicki squared her shoulders and thought positive thoughts. “So far you’ve been an awesome teacher, Joel. I trust you. Do your worst.”

He took a moment to strip off the coverall he wore over his regular jeans and shirt before he grabbed her by the hand and led her deeper in to the barn. “My worst is going to make you happy.”

“Usually does.” She nudged him, pleased to see that sexy grin of his break out.

The past months had been incredible. He’d meant every word he’d said in the cabin about being there for her, and for the first time in her life she felt as if she had a best friend.

With bonus screaming hot sex. Life was about as good as it had ever been, and she owed it all to Joel.

She’d gotten a Christmas card from Lynn, and a phone call. Her sister was doing well, and still excited about the adventures every day brought. Vicki agreed. This was wonderful, finally moving forward.