Brody (Texas Boudreau Brotherhood Book 3)

the glass, tracing her finger along the lines of condensation on the glass, which was still full. Her stomach still felt tied into knots every time she thought about Evan, out there who knows where. With every fiber of her being, she wished and prayed he was far, far away, and nowhere near Shiloh Springs. But the logical part of her, the part that knew how her ex thought—screamed he was headed toward Shiloh Springs—if he wasn’t here already.
“A map? To where?”
“That’s a good question. I don’t think anybody mentioned it.”
Before she could say more, the back door swung open and Jamie raced through, pigtails flying. “Mommy, the mommy kitty let me play with her babies—Aunt Milla!”
Beth laughed as Jamie threw herself into Camilla’s lap, wrapping her arms around her aunt’s neck in a near stranglehold. “Guess she missed you.”
“Not as much as I’ve missed her. It is so good to see you, sweetie!”
Jamie giggled. “Everybody has funny names for me here. You call me sweetie. Uncle Brody calls me Honey Bear! I like that one, because I love honey. Mommy gave me butter and honey toast this morning.”
Camilla’s tear-filled eyes met Beth’s over the top of Jamie’s head, and she mouthed the words “thank you.”
Beth gave her a wink, and picked up her tea, taking a sip. Never once had she doubted Camilla’s love for Jamie, and Jamie adored her aunt. It felt right to let Camilla spend time with Jamie. None of the fiasco she called her life was Camilla’s fault, and she refused to blame the other woman for the actions of another.
Glancing toward the open kitchen doorway, she spotted Nica standing on the porch, cautiously watching Beth and Jamie. She motioned for Nica to come in, but she shook her head, jerking her thumb over her shoulder toward the yard. Mouthing the words “I’ll be back,” she stepped off the porch, leaving the door ajar.
“Mommy, can I show Aunt Milla the baby kitties?”
Camilla’s hand smoothed over the top of Jamie’s head, tucking a loose wisp of hair behind her ear. “You have baby kittens? I love kittens. Are they pretty?”
Jamie nodded her head vigorously. “And soft. Ms. Patti and Mr. Douglas also got horses, and dogs, and chickens, and cows. The kind with horns. Uncle Dane let me pet one of the baby cows. Oh, and they got a donkey! His name’s Otto.”
“Otto? That’s a funny name for a donkey.”
“He’s called Otto, a nickname for ‘he ought to know better’.” Ms. Patti walked in from the hall, a crooked smile coloring her words. Her affection for the critter was obvious from her playful tone. “That darned donkey gets into more trouble because he knows not to do some of the things he does, and yet he mule-headedly does them anyway.”
“Camilla, this is Patricia Boudreau, the matriarch of the Boudreau clan. Ms. Patti, this is my friend, Camilla Stewart.”
“Welcome to Shiloh Springs, Ms. Stewart.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Boudreau. I’ve missed seeing Beth and this little munchkin.” Her fingers dug into Jamie’s sides, and she howled with laughter, squirming to get away from Camilla’s teasing.
“How long will you be staying in Texas?”
“Well, I had only planned a day or two. I was bringing some papers the attorneys needed Evan to sign. I offered to bring them, thinking to kill two birds with one stone—make sure my brother signed everything, instead of stalling again, and getting to see Beth and this little troublemaker.”
Ms. Patti smiled at Jamie’s squeak of protest. “I happen to like troublemakers. They make the best kind of friends.”
“Jamie, why don’t you go and wash up? Make sure you scrub your hands and face really well.”
“Okay, Mommy.” She swiveled around on Camilla’s lap. “You’ll be here when I come back, right?”
“I’ll be here.” She made a cross symbol over her heart. “I promise.”
Jamie held out her hand, her tiny fingers curled. “Pinky swear?”
Camilla chuckled, and looped her little finger with Jamie’s. “Pinky swear.”
Without another word, Jamie scrambled off her aunt’s lap and raced toward the stairs, all three women watching her go.
“I don’t know how you have the energy to keep up with the whirlwind. I’m exhausted and I’ve only been here five minutes.” Camilla took a long drink of her tea.
“Jamie only seems to have one speed, and it’s full throttle. She loves the yard at Tessa’s cottage, our new place. Lots of space to run around and play. A big backyard, lots of grass. I haven’t had a chance to meet the neighbors yet, but Tessa said they’re all friendly and they’ll keep an extra lookout for Jamie.”
“From what little I could see driving through town, it seems charming. I’d love to explore it, if I have the time.” Camilla stood, smoothing down the ruffled cotton maxi-style skirt she wore. “Speaking of which, can you recommend a hotel or motel, some place to stay while I’m here?”
Beth sucked in a breath of surprise. “Oh, no! Within everything going on with Evan, I totally forgot you were staying with me—us.”
“It’s okay, Beth. You didn’t plan on having your world turned upside-down by my brother again, and having to leave your home. I’m grateful you have some place safe to stay until the authorities catch him.”
“You can stay here.” Beth had almost forgotten Ms. Patti was in the room, until she spoke.
“Ms. Patti, while that would be great, you don’t have the room. Not with Nica and Heath being here, along with me and Jamie. Brody told me Ridge and Shiloh are both going to be here soon. I appreciate the offer, but…”
Ms. Patti smiled, and Beth caught the calculating gleam in her eyes. She couldn’t help wondering if Ms. Patti was up to something more than simply an offer of a bed for her friend.
“I actually meant Ms. Stewart could stay at Dane’s house.” She turned to Camilla. “Dane is our son. He runs the day-to-day operations of the ranch, and lives in the foreman’s house here on the property. I’m sure he wouldn’t mind sharing