The Family Gathering (Sullivan's Crossing #3)(3)

But he was damn sure taking it slow.

*

Cal called everyone. Sierra and Connie came straight over with their golden retriever, Molly. Maggie’s father, Sully, came after he had closed up the general store at his campground, Sullivan’s Crossing. Maggie arrived with the baby and walked into a party atmosphere.

Since Dakota’s arrival was unannounced and Cal wasn’t prepared, everyone brought something to the table. Sierra had a platter of chicken breasts swimming in barbecue sauce and a big seven-layer salad, Connie brought beer and some of the cold green tea Sierra favored. Sully brought some broccoli sealed in a foil with garlic, olive oil, onions, mushrooms and pepperoncinis. They put it on the grill with the chicken. Cal supplied baked potatoes.

“How long are you staying?” Sierra wanted to know.

“I don’t know,” Dakota said. “I’ve been using the last few months to explore.”

“Unfortunately, ain’t nothin’ to explore around here,” Sully said.

“Oh, Cody,” Sierra said, using his nickname from when they were kids. “Don’t listen to Sully! I think I got my brain back hiking around here. Cal did the CDT for a month.”

Dakota raised his eyebrows. “Did I know that?” he asked.

“I can’t remember. But yes, I took the Continental Divide Trail north from Sully’s place. I walked and camped for about two and a half weeks, then turned around and came back.”

“Because I was here,” Maggie said with a smile and lift of her chin. “And he wanted me. Bad.”

“I wish I could do that,” Connie said. “Longest I’ve been out there is four days. Sierra, we gotta do that. Go out there for a couple of months.”

“I don’t know,” she said. “I’m so addicted to daily showers...”

“I have to decide where I’m going to stop exploring,” Dakota said.

“As in, settle down?” Cal asked.

“I don’t know if that’s possible,” he said. “After the Army? I might not have the temperament for staying in one place.”

“Are you going to hang around at least awhile?” Sierra asked hopefully.

“You bet,” he said. “I’ll be around awhile. Maybe I can help out.”

“You can babysit,” Cal said.

“Now, that’s one thing I’m pretty sure I can’t do,” Dakota said. “I’m good with kids, but it’s best if they’re college graduates.”

There was a round of moans and laughter.

By nine o’clock Sully had gone back to the Crossing, Maggie and Elizabeth had gone to bed and it was only Sierra, Connie, Cal and Dakota. The men were having one more beer. Sierra, in recovery, a year and a half sober, was drinking her green tea.

“I’ll have to go to two meetings tomorrow after spending the night with you big drinkers,” she said.

Cal laughed at her. “Three of us had eight beers in six hours. As celebrations go, it was pretty tame.”

“If it bothers you...” Dakota began.

“It doesn’t,” she said. “But I’m going to feel a lot better than you tomorrow morning.”

“Since you’re going to feel so good tomorrow, want to take me out on the trail?” Dakota asked. Molly rose from her sleeping spot, shook herself awake and leaned against Dakota’s thigh. Waiting. “Does this one go hiking?”

“Sometimes I take Molly and Beau, Sully’s lab. But I can only stay out there a couple of hours at most if they’re with me.” She stood. “I’ll come for you at 8:20. Come on, Connie. Time to put the baby to bed.”

Dakota and Cal snapped to attention.

“Molly,” she said. “I meant Molly.”

“Shew,” Dakota said. “If there was another one, I was going to run for my life!”

“There’s just Elizabeth,” Sierra said. “And they won’t commit to whether they’ll add to the family. And I’m definitely not in the game.”

“Oh? And why is that?”

“Duh. Our crazy father and his genetic code, for one thing. Come on, Connie. It’s past our bedtime.”

Dakota looked at his watch. “This is a real lively crowd,” he said, standing to say good-night. He kissed his sister’s cheek. “See you in the morning. By the way, you’re looking good.”

“Thanks,” she said, beaming. “So are you. A little shaggy, but good.”

Dakota flashed her a grin. Behind his dark beard, it was dazzling.

Sierra combed her fingers along his cheeks, through his beard. “Little gray coming in here, Cody.”

“I earned it,” he said. He kissed her forehead. “See you in the morning.”

*

In the seventeen years since Dakota left his family behind for the Army, the time he spent with them was infrequent and brief. Cal and Sedona tried to keep up with him. He visited them for important events—Cal’s wedding to Lynne, then his wedding to Maggie. When Sedona’s children were born, he checked in. He never stayed long. Sierra, who was so special to him, had been a wild card until she found sobriety. He had visited for a couple of days at a time, that’s all. He didn’t want to get too attached to them.

This time was different. The second, third and fourth days came and went. He hiked with Sierra, then Cal, then just the dogs. He dug out Sully’s garden for spring planting. They repaired the grills and picnic tables and talked all the while. Sully was very cool for an old guy. He admitted he came home from Vietnam with some PTSD and asked how Dakota had fared in that regard. “Oh, I’ve got PTSD all right,” Dakota said. “Probably more from my personal life than my military experience.”