“I’m JJ Walker,” JJ said. “Conrad is my cousin, and I run Seven Sons now that my daddy is retired. I added a bunch of land to it a couple of years ago, and we raise longhorns there now.” He nodded, and looked at Tate. “And Tate is married to my sister, Clara Jean.”
“Right,” Tate said. “CJ and I live on and run the produce farm for Wilde & Organic, and Clara Jean also runs the grocery store.” He looked at the man next to him, but voices in the hall interrupted them.
Angel entered first, and Finn sucked in a breath. Dawson came after her, but the room had fallen silent.
It was Libby who finally blurted out, “Angel Marshall, you’re pregnant.”
Angle froze as if her feet had grown roots right there in the concrete floor. “Uh.” She glanced over to Henry. “You didn’t tell them?”
He grinned at her. “They hadn’t gotten to me yet, sweetheart.”
Angel sighed like announcing her pregnancy was the worst thing that could happen to her. She put one hand on her belly, though it wasn’t particularly bulging yet. But she was definitely pregnant enough for him to see.
“Yeah, Henry and I are having another baby in March.”
Libby’s chair scraped as she got up. “Congratulations, Angel. That’s great.”
Angel looked tired, actually, but Finn went to hug her congrats too. She hated the spotlight on her, though, so Finn quickly tapped Link on the shoulder.
“Oh, right,” he said. He moved his hands as he spoke. “I’m Lincoln Glover. I run Shiloh Ridge Ranch. Partially. I handle the agricultural aspects on the ranch.” He smiled at Wilder. “I’m related to Wilder, who runs the ranch with me, and Mitch, who has his Deaf Academy with his wife.”
Mitch shook his head, his hands flying too. Link grinned at him and spoke back. “Mitch says they’re not married yet, but I told him they act like they are.” Link half-rose out of his seat and reached for something in the middle of the table. “He brought invites for everyone. They’re getting married one month from today.”
While Link handed those out, Wilder said, “I’m Wilder Glover. Link introduced me, and that’s about all there is.”
“Really? That’s all the news from Shiloh Ridge?” Finn asked.
“We’re doing news?” Wilder asked.
“Might as well.” Finn picked up his last of his potato chips at popped them into his mouth.
“Well, I think we’ll have two engagements coming from Shiloh Ridge before long.” He looked down to Conrad and JJ. “Gunnison and Camilla are pretty serious, and believe it or not, Rock and his girlfriend are inseparable. I’m pretty sure Uncle Bear has told them to get married already, because he’s sick of chaperoning them.” He chuckled, and Finn did too.
Russell—Rock—Glover was quite a bit younger than him, and Finn couldn’t imagine getting married so young. Of course, JJ and Tate had both been younger than Rock when they’d gotten married, so love could happen at any age.
“Wow, Rock,” Brandon said. “Good for him.” He leaned over and said something to Lenore, who smiled softly.
“He’s so stubborn,” Wilder said with fondness in his voice. “But you should see him with Clover. They’re disgustingly cute together.” He looked at Dawson, who’d gotten food and sat down without a word. “Your turn, Dawson.”
The man had just taken a bite of his sandwich, and he looked blankly at Wilder.
“I’ll do us,” Brandon said. “That’s Dawson Rhinehart, and I’m his younger brother, Brandon. We work at Hidden Hills, where our other brother, Duke, runs things. Daws is pretty important there, but I’ve been hiring myself out to other places for a while.”
He glanced over to Lenore. “Right now, I’m working with Lenore Sawyer at her homestead northeast of town.” He smiled at her, and they had some unspoken conversation that clued Finn in to the depth of their relationship just before Brandon added, “We’re seein’ each other too, and if anyone—literallyany single oneof you—says evenone wordabout it, something—well, something will happen.”
Brandon looked around at the group, and the intensity in his eyes told Finn to say nothing. Everyone else seemed to get the same message, because Henry said, “I’m Henry Marshall, and Angel and I run Lone Star, which is a huge boarding stable closer to Amarillo. And we have several acres of our own closer here to Three Rivers. She’s due March sixteenth with our little girl, and Paul and Brielle went to the hospital last night to deliver their first baby boy. She’s three days overdue and pretty miserable, so I think they’re both happy to be there and not here.”
He looked at Mitch, who signed a few things. “He says his intro’s already been done,” Link said. “But he’s Mitchell Glover, and he runs a Deaf Academy—Signs for Success—over on the Eastern highway.”
“I’m Libby Jenkins,” Libby said. “I run Three Rivers Ranch.”
“I’m Tyson Greene,” Ty said. “I don’t have a ranch or a farm, and I really don’t know why I’m here.” He pierced Libby with a glare, and then Finn. “Other than Libby and Finn won’t leave me alone, and they keep insisting I should be here.”
“You’re working with your momma at Bowman’s Breeds,” Libby said. “You’re just jumping the gun before she’s ready to retire.”
Ty scoffed and reached for his can of Diet Coke.
“I’m Colt Franklin,” Colt said, lifting one hand in a mini-wave. “Not Colton. It’s literally just Colt. I’m not related to anyone here, and I took over for my mom at the apple orchards at the beginning of this year. She’s still around a lot, though, because she watches my son while I’m at work.” He nodded, not getting into the messier details of his life.
