Without a backward glance, Kaleb left his brothers and the others to their own devices. He knew they didn’t need his help in making the start of another year special. Whether they were in it for love, for fun, or just because, his brothers were going to enjoy themselves.

And the only thing he could hope was that they didn’t burn the place down with the heat they produced.

Chapter Twenty Six

♂

Jared


New Year’s Day

Sitting in the airport terminal waiting for a flight that had been delayed by another two hours due to weather was not Jared Walker’s idea of a good way to spend New Year’s Day.

It wasn’t like he had much of a choice though.

Looking around, he noticed the weary travelers, all probably eager to get back home. The holidays were coming to a close, life was going to resume as normal, and families were going to go back to spending their time chatting via social media in order to keep up with everything that was going on. At least until the next set of holidays arrived and they’d do it all again.

For Jared, the holidays were officially over and getting to Coyote Ridge was the only thing he could think about.

Checking his cell phone, Jared smiled at the text he just received.

You landed yet, boy?

Boy? That was Uncle Curtis. It didn’t matter how old they were, Curtis was always referring to his sons and his nephews as “boy”. And the term was endearing, something he’d spent his life hearing. Thankfully, after what had turned out to be a shitty two years, Jared was looking forward to starting over and the opportunity he was being presented with was one he couldn’t pass up.

He tapped the keys on his phone in response:

Plane delayed

He’d been texting back and forth with Curtis for the better part of the last week, working through the logistics of getting him to Coyote Ridge. As luck would have it, Jared was being offered a second chance to start over.

Knowing that he had to get away from the soap opera that his real life had turned into and start over, Jared had talked to his father, Gerald. That conversation had resulted in a phone call to his Uncle Curtis and Jared had learned that his management skills would actually come in quite handy with his cousins’ business.

So, after a conversation with his cousin Travis, Jared was on his way to work for Walker Demolition. According to Travis, they had recently taken on another venture and really needed someone to come in and focus on the demo company.

Jared had jumped at the opportunity and here he was, hanging out at the airport waiting on a plane to take him to his new life.

Text when you get on the plane. I’ll pick you up at the airport

Jared nodded at his phone as though his uncle could see his reply.

Will do.

Instead of spending New Year’s Eve with his family or out on the town, Jared had spent the night, and the better part of New Year’s Day morning, in an airport, waiting to get on a flight out of El Paso. Unfortunately, the weather wasn’t agreeing with all of his well-intended plans.

He could only hope things were about to start looking up.

♂♀

Curtis

Curtis glanced down at his phone, reading the response from his nephew before shoving it into his pocket. When he woke up that morning, he fully expected to be heading to the airport to pick Jared up; however, he’d received several texts through the night letting him know that the plane was delayed.

It was still delayed.

Hell, at this rate, Curtis could’ve driven up to El Paso to get him faster.

He felt sorry for the boy. He knew Travis was anxious for him to get down there, anxious to have someone who could come in and put their sole focus on keeping Walker Demolition thriving now that the resort was about to open. That didn’t mean the boy had to spend the holidays in the damn airport.

Travis’ original plan was to talk one of the twins into stepping into the role. When they offered the job to Brendon and Braydon, both of them had laughed their asses off. The memory of that conversation made Curtis grin.

“Seriously, Bubba?” Braydon asked, grinning as he glanced back and forth between Travis, Sawyer, and Curtis. “Y’all trust either of us to take that on?”

“Why the hell wouldn’t I?” Travis argued.

“Oh, I don’t know. Maybe ‘cause you’ve said it,” Braydon said with a laugh.

Curtis watched Travis’ expression, noticing how his oldest boy turned a fascinating shade of pale.

“Well, if you want it, it’s yours,” Travis said gruffly.

“No thanks,” Brendon said, leaning back in his chair like he didn’t have a care in the world. “If anything, I’m waitin’ for you to offer me a job at the resort.”

“The resort?”

“Yup,” Brendon smiled deviously, glancing over at Braydon. “Ain’t that right?”

“Yup,” Braydon confirmed. “From what we’ve heard, there’s plenty of trouble we can get in over there.”

“Hey, what about Jaxson?” Brendon asked, his expression going from joking to serious.

Curtis had originally suggested Jaxson, his sister Mary’s oldest boy, but he quickly learned Travis’ and Sawyer’s opinion on that. And, they had a good point. Jaxson was so close to the boys, he wasn’t sure Ethan or Brendon or Braydon would actually take him seriously.

Ironically, Jaxson was the one to come to Curtis, and it wasn’t because he was looking for a job. As it turned out, Curtis’ brother Gerald’s oldest boy was having some problems, and they were hoping Curtis could help. Based on what he learned from Jaxson and then from Gerald, and after he explained the story to Lorrie, they had invited Jared to come down and stay with them.

If only Jared knew what he was getting himself into, Curtis thought as he looked into the kitchen to see Lorrie putting something into the refrigerator. If the boy needed some extra special motherly love, he was about to get it. Which meant, at the very least, the boy would be fed well and often.

“Are you almost ready?” Lorrie called as she closed the refrigerator door and turned to face him.

“Whenever you are,” he replied, grabbing her coat and his from the rack near the door. Patting his pocket, he made sure he had his phone. As soon as Jared let him know he was boarding the plane, Curtis would be off to the airport to await his arrival.

As he helped Lorrie into her coat, he inhaled deeply. “Woman, dinner smells fantastic.”

“Well, the beans have to cook just a little while longer, or I’d offer you some now.”

“I’m sure I can wait.” He hoped he could wait. Hell, with Jared’s flight still delayed, he hoped they made it home in time for dinner.

♂♀♂

Kylie

“You look like hell, boy,” Curtis told Sawyer when he joined them at Moonshiners a little after one in the afternoon.

Kylie was kind of thinking the same thing. If she wasn’t mistaken, Sawyer was still wearing the same clothes he had on the night before. And the sunglasses that he sported in the dark bar didn’t conceal much.

“Thanks, Pa,” Sawyer groaned as he made his way toward the back.

Kylie sat on the stool between V and Gage, the three of them watching Brendon and Travis play pool. They’d been there for the better part of the afternoon, just hanging out. At noon, Brendon had called to remind them that they were all supposed to meet at the bar. Little did Kylie know until then that this was another one of the many Walker family traditions.

According to Travis, everyone, including Lorrie, would come to the bar on New Year’s Day for a couple of hours just to spend time together. Travis had explained how Lorrie liked the idea of being able to spend time with her boys on the first day of the year and Travis said they had never argued with her logic.

So, they were just passing the time until they would all head back to Travis’ parents’ house for dinner. The menu tonight: cornbread, black-eyed peas, and brisket. Kylie still couldn’t believe just how much Lorrie liked to cook. But then again, with seven boys, it probably came natural for her.

Travis came over to the table to stand at her side when it was Brendon’s turn and he wrapped an arm around her, pulling her back against his chest. She leaned her head back, looking way up as he leaned forward and gave her a quick upside down kiss. Sitting back up, she smiled at Gage, resting her hand on his thigh.

The holidays were almost officially over, and the last few weeks had produced some of the most wonderful memories for her. Having been welcomed into such a loving family was more than she could’ve imagined and having the pleasure of spending so much time with them was something she knew she’d look forward to for years to come.

Her free hand moved to rest on her belly as though it had a mind of its own. As another thought took root, Kylie smiled again. Maybe this time next year, they’d be celebrating more than just the holidays.

♀♂

Lorrie

Lorrie had to admit that she didn’t spend much time at Moonshiners, but every year, on New Year’s Day, the boys would invite her and Curtis to join them, and since the very first invitation, she had never said no.

And just like every other time, she was enjoying herself immensely, completely consumed by the welcoming atmosphere, the love that rolled off of her boys and the people that loved them. The gift of her family was truly the only thing in the world she needed. A blessing that she thanked God for every single day.