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He let out a sigh and shrugged. “Right now, I just need to get through the summer heat.”
After working on the barn, he’d asked the brothers if he could offer a hand at the ranch, not for pay, but for the experience. He didn’t admit that part to Allison. She’d probably have a fit. He wanted to learn as much as he could about ranching, and Sam and Ryan ran one of the most successful ranches in the Midwest.
“I just don’t get why you can’t take a break at night.” She abruptly stopped talking, pointing out the window. “There’s like, a girl and a baby outside, walking up your driveway.”
Shoot. He had tried to talk to Hannah at church, but she had neatly avoided him. He’d rattled through all the things that could’ve made her upset with him, because the last time he’d seen her, everything seemed fine.
“She’s a friend.” But the way Hannah had stayed on his mind, he wondered if he could really say that truthfully.
He could see the hair rise on the back of Allison’s neck, her claws flexing as she checked out Hannah from afar.Uh oh.
“How do you know her?”
He watched as Hannah put Mae on her hip and climbed the stairs. The sound of her footsteps alarmed Millie, who jumped up and ran towards the door, snorting and making a fuss.
“I still can’t believe you have a pig in the house.”
“Hannah,” he said as he opened the door, not waiting for her to knock. He could feel Allison’s eyes drilling into his back. “How are you?”
“I want you to know that Emma and I are okay.” She stood tall, her shoulders squared. She reminded him of a teacher staring down a naughty student. “We don’t need your charity. So please, if you don’t mind, stop talking about me.”
Allison’s mouth dropped open. “Who is this woman, Jake?”
Hannah’s eyes widened when she noticed Allison.
“Hannah, I don’t understand. Did my sister say something to you the other day?” He thought about the Fellowship Hall after the church service, when he’d noticed Hannah and Julia talking by the coffee station.
“Your family keeps offering me work. I’m not a charity case.”
He rolled back all the conversations he’s had with his mother. She had asked him about Hannah. He’d had no idea that what he’d said would get back to her or upset her so much.
“Jake?” Allison now stood beside him in the doorway. “Why don’t you introduce us?”
“Allison, this is Hannah, she’s working for the Boudreaus.” He gestured. “Hannah…” He looked away, wishing he’d mentioned her earlier. “This is Allison.”
“Hisgirlfriend.” Allison crossed her arms against her chest ostentatiously.
Hannah’s eyebrows lifted and her mouth fell open. Slowly, she reached out a hand to Allison and said, “Nice to meet you.”
“Look, Hannah, I’m sorry.” Hereallyhad been a jerk this time, and it made him squirm. “I never meant to embarrass you. It was before you started babysitting, and I felt bad that I got you fired.”
Her lips flattened. “Then, please let your family know I’m all set.”
She turned crisply and marched down off the porch before he could say anything more. He was about to go after her, try to explain, but realized that he’d just sound like a broken record.
He probably should’ve been more worried about Allison, because when he turned back to the house, she was steaming mad.
“Whoisthat woman? How do you know her?” Her voice was low, her fists clenched against her hips.
“I told you, she’s Hannah Destin, she works…” he trailed off, looking out the picture window for a last glimpse of Hannah and Mae. They were gone.
“I was just trying to help her out.”
“I don’t know why you’d let her talk to you like that, if you were only trying to help her out.”
He decided to just let it rest.
“Should we go meet Josh and Veronica?” he asked, hoping to divert her attention.
