18. Lawson

EIGHTEEN

"Good, you are all here." You never can tell who's here and who isn't. Most everyone parks their truck by the barn and walks up the pathway Mom insisted be built. We all grumbled when it was being built, but now we all use it, especially the lights at night. When the barn and arena are shut down, there's not a lick of artificial light besides them. My parents were big on keeping the ranch God's country as much as possible, and seeing the stars at night is part of it.

"Where else would we be?" Dad questions. A couple of hours ago, he and JW dropped my truck back off, so he knew we'd be coming back, but I didn't tell either of them much else.

"I knew you and Mom would be here." All five of my brothers and two sisters-in-law turn their head our way. Juniper is beside me, my arm draped over her shoulders, and she's squeezing the tips of her fingers into my sides. She's as nervous as a filly weaning off her momma.

"Well, this is a pleasant surprise. Juni, my girl, are you feeling better?" Mom walks in from the living room with Case on her hip. Damn, I haven't seen my nephew in a few days, and he's decided to hit some kind of growth spurt.

"I'm much better. Can I hold him?" Juniper walks to my mom, hands out, and Case lurches his small body toward her. I watch as my woman holds my nephew, secure in the knowledge it won't be long till our baby is the one she's holding. Damn, it's a hell of a time for my dick to perk up at the thought.

"You look good holding a baby, Juniper," Tallulah says with a Cheshire cat smile as she nudges my brother Dean, "doesn't she?"

Dean is oblivious to what she's getting at. He's too busy shoveling food into his mouth.

"Damn, a man goes to a cabin with his woman for two days, and his mom makes his favorite breakfast." Dean whips his head my way, then to Juni. I made sure to let Dad know eggs were off-limits for the time being. He didn't question a thing, probably because two and two equals four. Mom isn't dumb either—six boys, a grandson, and now two, about to be three, daughters. She knows.

"When did that happen?" Lane asks before Dean can.

"Uh, well, I've been sick, and Lawson found me passed out in the clinic. He wasn't too impressed with Doc informing him Lawson wasn't on my paperwork. So, your brother, um… kidnapped me to his cabin. And well, I'm pregnant." Juniper closes her eyes, bracing for what everyone is going to say. "And yes, your brother is the father."

"No shit, he's the father. Congrats, y'all," Ryland says first.

"And another one gone, and another one gone, another one bites the dust," fucking Trey sing-songs. "It ain't ever gonna be me. Love you both, but this guy will stay on uncle duty for all of eternity." Shithead. He can keep on thinking that. When he least expects, he'll meet the woman who has his dick in knots and can't get her out of his head. I can't wait for the day.

"Thank you both," Juniper says. Dad decides to head to my woman first. There's no navigating the crowd drawing around all of us. Dean wraps his arms around Tully, holding her back from going to Juniper.

"Come here, baby boy, and give me a darn hug. I'd pinch you, except I love Juniper like my own. And while you're my blood, do not screw with my girl, you hear me?" Mom makes her way to me. I look from her to Dad, watching as he whispers something in Juni's ear, making her smile and tear up. I'm about to go to her. "Oh no, you don't. Let your daddy be. I'm proud of you. You're my baby. The first boy who taught me to be a mom. I may have raised you, but you also raised me and your daddy. Now, make her happy, love her like only a Johnson can, and give me lots of grandbabies."

"I'm not messing around. Already love her, have my baby inside of her, and we've already talked about having more. Though I can't sell her on six, I think a well-rounded four is what she'll agree with me on." She pats my chest, tears of her own gathering at the corners. It's a good thing Juniper and Mom have me used to tears, or I'd be losing my shit right about now.

"Good, I'm glad. Remember, she's not bedridden as long as she isn't sick. I know it's hard for you and these tough guys to realize we're stronger than we look, but we are, and don't you forget it." I bend down, kiss my mom on the cheek, and then she's off being a busybody, except we all know her. Wherever the girls are, she'll be, and seeing as Dad is heading back to his place at the head of the table, Mom is moving to Juniper with Birdie right behind her and Tully, too.

"I guess the reason for the truck wasn't a secret after all if Mom and Dad already knew." JW has two cups of coffee in his hands, one for me and one for him.

"I sure as fuck didn't. Are we really surprised, though? Our parents have the scent of a hound dog," I tell him, taking my mug. I've slowed down on the coffee intake seeing as how Juniper did mention caffeine needs to be limited to so many milligrams or whatever a day.

"Got that right. You need anything, let me know. I figure we'll be moving her into your place soon?"

"Damn, probably. We haven't touched on every subject just yet. My place is bigger, but I'm also trying to have patience."

JW scoffs. None of us have that character trait when it comes to getting what we want. Hell, six weeks about killed me, but since my memories were hazy, I didn't have much of a leg to stand on.

"I give it a week, two tops." Everything is either a joke or a bet between all of us. It's a good thing we're older and more mature. I let out a snort. Yeah, there's absolutely zero truth to that statement.

"I wouldn't bet on it. Juniper usually doesn't budge." Except when it comes to me using my mouth, fingers, or cock. Even then I've still gotta work her up, bring her down, and do it all over again until I get the answers I want.

"Sure, we'll see about that. I'm out of here. You need anything? I'm heading into town," he offers.

"You mean you're headed to Whisked Away to get your fix?" JW isn't fooling me or anyone in this room. We all see how the pretty woman blushes, how she shies away when he's near, and how my brother doesn't have a lick of a sweet tooth unless Maeve brings cinnamon rolls around. Then he's like a dog with a bone, and no one can get near them or her, for that matter.

"Fuck off. See ya around, and congrats. Happy for you and Juni." We hug, then he heads in one direction, and I head in another. Finally, Juniper has some breathing room away from the family. Maybe now they'll let me have my woman for a tad longer before she insists on heading to work.