"They're back," John announced as he watched Carter and Tate tear off out of the house like two wild dogs. He wasn't sure if the fact that their visitor was a girl or just that they had a visitor at all that had the boys so worked up. Whatever the reason, they'd been hovering near the windows for at least the last twenty minutes, eager to get the first look at the new arrival. John turned towards the table, surprised that Beth wasn't rushing out the house right after Carter and Tate. After how irritated she was not to have gone with Rip and Rachel, he would have thought she'd be the first one outside to greet them. Instead she was staring intensely at the screen on her laptop, using one finger to scroll through whatever had captured her attention.
"They're back," John repeated, louder than the first time to make sure Beth heard him. She lifted one finger into the air, gesturing that she was almost done. John crossed the room, moving to stand behind her chair. He wasn't sure what Beth was reading, but he saw Rachel's name mentioned several times in the text.
"What are you doing?," he asked, the displeasure clear in his tone of voice. Beth looked up, giving him an irritated glance before she turned back to her laptop.
"Just running a quick background check," she admitted. John shook his head. Sometimes his daughter's suspicious nature annoyed him. But there was no doubt that she'd saved them many times over by assuming the worst of people. In this instance he didn't see the need for such precautions. If Rachel was lying then she was the best actress he'd ever seen.
"And…," John asked.
"Well she's not a market equities spy," Beth said. "Everything she said about herself was true. She pays her taxes. She's never been arrested. The only time she's even been in court was to get a divorce. Her parents died two years ago in a hit and run accident." Beth scrolled down a little further. She was about to snap her laptop shut when she noticed something else of interest. It was another court case featuring Rachel Miller and her ex-husband, Daniel BlueThunder. Beth recognized his name from the divorce case. "...She has an order of protection against her ex husband. Maybe I should run a background check on him."
"Maybe you should get off that computer," John suggested. "Now you know she is who she says she is. Don't go prying into her life any more than you already did." While he didn't think that running a background check on Rachel was necessary, he also didn't think it was the worst idea Beth ever had. But now that she got full confirmation that they weren't being scammed or misled in some way, it was time to let it alone. Beth had crossed the line into just being nosy some time ago. If Rachel wanted them to know about her marital problems, she would tell them. It was rude to go digging into her private life like that.
"Fine," Beth said, groaning as she lowered the screen of her laptop. Not that she wanted to find someone solicitous in Rachel's history, but the promise of some juicy information about her ex-husband had Beth practically salivating to read more. And his last name sounded familiar, though she wasn't sure exactly where she heard it before.
Beth chuckled a little to herself when she noticed that even Kayce, who generally liked to pretend that he was above such childish behavior, had moved towards the front window to get a peek at the woman that was walking up towards the house with Rip. Rachel had been given a sort of temporary celebrity status, at least in their house. And Beth counted her good fortune of having been out on the porch when Rachel showed up, so that she got to meet her before everyone else. Beth's first impression of the woman was that she was kind and forthright, qualities that Beth usually didn't appreciate in a person. But as a potential sister-in-law, Rachel seemed just right. They didn't need any more vipers in the family, that was certain. Having Monica around helped to even the balance. But Beth was certain that Kayce's wife could use some help guiding the family moral compass in the right direction. God knows that certainly wasn't her role in the family dynamic.
After meeting her biological mother went so poorly, Rachel didn't have high expectations when she tracked her brother down. She was still reeling slightly from the warm reception she'd received. And it was obvious that news of her arrival had spread through the family like wildfire. Because when she followed Rip into the house she was not only greeted by John and Beth, who she'd already met, but another couple as well. Kayce was Beth's younger brother. He and his wife Monica were the parents of the younger of the two boys that took off for the barn with Dakota. Rachel was happy to meet them. And grateful to John, who pulled her discreetly aside on their way into the dining room and told her that Monica lost her baby and they'd had a funeral for the boy earlier that day. Not that Rachel would have said anything to offend them, but now she was able to consciously watch what she said to the couple. Having lost a baby herself some years before, Rachel knew how devastating the pain could be, especially when it was fresh.
Since everyone had greeted her so politely, Rachel was surprised when another woman joined them at the table without introducing herself. Beth very dismissively told Rachel the woman's name was Summer, as though she wasn't important enough to warrant a proper introduction even though she was seated at the table with them and clearly not part of the hired help. Rachel could tell even before the woman spoke that she was not from Montana. And she wondered what her place was in this family. It appeared as though she might be associated with John in some romantic way, though since she looked a little young for him Rachel wasn't sure. Before she could inquire further, the kids came thundering in from outside.
Dakota stopped behind her mother, leaning down and hugging her. Rachel leaned into the girl, enjoying the little bit of affection her often moody daughter was willing to dole out.
"This is my daughter Daokta," Rachel said, unsure if she ought to try and introduce everyone at the table to Dakota. It seemed like a lot of people for her daughter to meet at once.
There was an open chair to Rachel's right. But Dakota ignored it, heading further down the table and taking the seat next to Carter. She then whipped her phone out and began taking what looked to be about several dozen selfies. Rachel bit back her grin when the young man next to her daughter squeezed in, pressing his cheek against hers so they could both be in the pictures. She saw her amusement with their antics was mirrored in the expressions of the rest of the adults at the table. And when Tate rose from his chair to squeeze in on the girl's other side, his father started to laugh.
"HEY!," John hollered from the head of the table. "No phones at the dinner table!"
Dakota lowered her phone slightly, her head popping up as she stared at the man in shock. She assumed that as a guest, she would be immune to such rules. And not only that, but her mom never made her put her phone away at home.
"Dakota," her mother added, "...put it away right now, or it's mine for the night." Dakota quickly lowered her phone, stuffing it into her pocket with a huff of indignation. But her irritation at being scolded quickly gave way to excitement as a stocky man in a black apron entered the room with a giant platter of food.
He set the side dishes down first, mashed potatoes and green beans that looked and smelled like they were cooked in bacon fat. And a large tray of fresh biscuits. After setting those bowls down, the man disappeared, returning from the kitchen with two large platters of meat. One look at the spread on the table and Rachel wondered how everyone at the table managed to eat this well and not weigh five hundred pounds each. She was practically drooling just from the smell alone.
"Thank you so much," she said, addressing the man with a big smile. "This looks amazing! What are all the different meats?"
"Yes," Summer added, "Gator, tell us what you killed for dinner tonight." Rachel was surprised at the other woman's venomous tone. It was almost like she was intentionally insulting the food that was being served. Something that even a child would have enough manners not to do. Rachel could distinctly remember choking down a piece of mostly raw calf liver while she was pregnant to avoid insulting her former mother-in-law.
As the chef explained what the different meats were, Summer continued on, her comments becoming worse and more derogatory as she continued with her tirade. Rachel glanced around the table, noticing that she wasn't alone in her distaste for the woman's running commentary. Aside from being rude, she was also misinformed about the natural behavior of the animals she seemed to have such compassion for. But since she was a guest and uncertain of the woman's place in this family, she kept her comments to herself. Her daughter had no such reservations.
"If you don't like what's for dinner," Dakota announced, clearly repeating something she'd heard from her mother many times, "...then go in the kitchen and make yourself a peanut butter and jelly sandwich." Beth had the unfortunate timing to have been taking a sip of her wine when Dakota spoke up. And she choked, gagging on the liquid as she barked out a laugh. Monica giggled harder than she already was.
"I don't eat gluten. And I have a peanut allergy," Summer announced, bringing on another round of laughter from the table.
"What do you eat?," Rachel asked. If the woman didn't eat meat or dairy or any animal products, and didn't eat anything with wheat in it, that didn't leave many available dinner choices. Someone with that restrictive of a diet probably ought to consider cooking something separate for themselves instead of just showing up at the table and expecting to be accommodated. At least in her opinion.
"I'll tell you what she eats," Beth offered. "Dick!" Beth glanced across the table, focusing her narrowed eyes on Summer. "Since you swallow, are you even really a vegan?"
Anyone that had managed to maintain their composure during the previous conversation pretty much lost it after that. Tate looked more confused by the comment. But Dakota and Carter nearly fell out of their chairs laughing. Summer rose from her seat, throwing her napkin down on her empty plate before she stormed from the room.
"Can we eat now?," Tate whined. His father must have felt the same way because he wasted no time in leaning forward and beginning to fill his plate.
"Yeah," Dakota added, "...pass me one of those murder chickens, I'm starving."
