Page 28 of Hometown Cowboy
Darby mouthed “what,” frowned and watched them go. Simon crossed his arms in the corner near Gabe, looking uncomfortable. Gabe’s own expression was curiously blank, almost robotic.
He flipped the lamb and added some seasoning. “I know this town excels in rumours, but the one I heard today will really knock your socks off.”
He glanced at her and, seeing her confusion, placed the tongs on the side of the barbecue and faced her.
“I hear through the grapevine that you’re pregnant, which is absolutely ridiculous. I mean, you’re not even dating anyone.”
Darby’s mouth fell open. Literally, actually fell open. She stood in front of her brother, stunned beyond belief.
“I, uh, have no idea what to say to that.”
“Because it’s not true.” Gabe was blunt, right to the point, striking home with unerring accuracy, hitting her deep in the gut.
How was she supposed to respond? And if he’d heard that, who else had?
Had Ryan?
Darby grimaced and stepped back. Heck, no. That would be just perfect.
She wasn’t answering that question. Not directly. Then she wouldn’t technically be lying. She almost groaned aloud at that. Of course, it was still a lie. No. Rather, a diversion.
Yes, a diversion.
“And who is it that I attribute this fantastic bit of news to? Mildred Appleton?”
Gabe tilted his head and tried to smile but failed catastrophically. “However did you guess?”
Darby let out a shrill laugh, one that didn’t cover her roiling emotions in the least. “Of course it was. I had a disagreement with her at the supermarket today. Obviously, she’s in the mood for stirring trouble.”
Gabe’s shoulders dropped and his eyes narrowed in sympathy. A harder light shone from them. “Even so, you didn’t answer my question. Regardless that Miss Appleton can be a touch… painful, why would she be specific about pregnancy?”
Dammit! Trust Gabe not to be distracted from his line of questioning. She had to get around it without outright lying to him.
“Because she saw me buy a pregnancy test.” At the utter shock on both her brothers’ faces, she clarified, “For a friend.”
Gabe looked confused, then he spun to face the kitchen door of his house, eyes wide in shock.
Emma’s voice piped up from inside, proving she and Amy were listening to every word. “Notfor me, and I know that’s exactly what you’re thinking, Gabe Jameson!”
He looked back to Darby and Simon with a grin.
“And I’m not telling either of you who it is. It’s none of your business,” Darby continued. “So, don’t ask.”
Gabe’s frustration was short-lived. “Fine. Gossip never was my strong suit.” He bumped her shoulder with his. “At least I don’t have to go out and biff anyone for knocking-up my sister, eh?”
Laughter smattered all around as Emma and Amy came back out with plates laden with food. She placed hers on the table and flopped into a seat facing the barbecue.
“Thought you were getting some wine, Em?” Simon asked.
Emma shrugged. “Nah.” Her gaze clashed with Darby’s and held it tight. A slight, knowing smile flickered across her lips. “Didn’t feel like any, after all.”
Chapter Thirteen
Darby lifted onefoot out of the bath water and watched as the bubbles slid slowly down over her ankle toplopgently back into the full claw-foot tub. They took on an iridescent hue in the flickering candlelight, the interplay of colours mesmerising as they changed.
Emma knew Darby had bought the tests for herself and hadn’t said a single word after the comment about the wine. Darby glanced at her own wine glass sitting on the bathtub caddy, filled to the brim with hissing and popping soda water.
She absently wiped some of the tiny fizzing bubbles from the cover of the book that lay beside the glass and smiled. There was no reason she couldn’t be a bit fancy about it while being reduced to drinking the plain stuff, just in case.