Whispering Rock (Virgin River #3)(49)

“How about you?”

“Oh-ho.” He laughed. “I feel it pretty good. That girl really does it to me. She always has. It’s just going to take some time to know if it’s permanent or just something that happened to us.”

“You’re not taking any chances, are you?”

“Of course not. And I mean, absolutely not. I don’t want you to worry. I don’t want you to think I’m a total idiot who never heard a word you were saying.”

Jack put his hand over Rick’s forearm. “I don’t think that.”

“Thanks.” Rick was quiet for a minute or so. “It’s nice, Jack. When there isn’t a lot of pain. When there aren’t any tears. Nice.”

“Yeah,” Jack said. “You hunting with us? Or you just going to spend your whole leave working on your complexion?”

Rick grinned. “I’m hunting,” he said. He drank a little of his coffee. “We’re not doing that much hunting, are we?”

The whole town of Virgin River looked forward to the visits of the Marine brothers—they brought such an air of camaraderie and celebration when they came. The first to arrive in his truck with camper shell was Zeke, who came from Fresno. He was in town by early afternoon. Just a couple of hours later came Joe Benson and Paul Haggerty together, pulling a fifth wheel behind a truck—they were good friends who often worked together, Paul building Joe’s houses whenever possible. Then came Corny, who drove in from Washington State but hailed from Nebraska—thus the nickname. Next, Phillips and Stephens—Josh and Tom—both from Nevada, right on the other side of the Sierras. By 6:00 p.m. everyone was present, even Rick, and the din in the bar was raised to an all-time high.

Doc Mullins was in the midst of the throng, enjoying his one whiskey of the day with the guys, David was being passed from Marine to Marine, jostled as if being weighed, Rick was getting an awful lot of free advice and Mel, Brie and Paige were hugged so much they felt their bones crunching. Of course, others from town made brief appearances, wanting to be a part of the reunion for at least a little while, but not wanting to get in the way. Connie and Ron and their friends Joy and Bruce put in appearances. Harv dropped in for a beer after work, as did Doug Carpenter and Fish Bristol.

Paul dropped an arm around Mel’s shoulders and asked, “Why the long face? Aren’t you having fun?”

“I hate hunting. I can handle ducks, but not deer. I mean, I don’t want to pass judgment—I just wish my husband didn’t shoot deer.”

“Oh, Mel, don’t worry. I’ve been hunting with your husband—the deer are completely safe.”

“Melinda, we’ll have venison all winter. You’ll love it,” Jack said.

“Don’t worry, Mel,” Paul whispered. “He’ll never get a thing. They can smell him coming.”

Some people came into the bar and Mel immediately recognized Vanessa, her newest patient. The older gentleman with her must be her father. She left Paul’s side and went to her immediately, embracing her in welcome, and was then introduced to Walt, her dad.

Paul just stood where he was, glassy-eyed with a faraway smile on his lips. Vanessa! His best friend’s wife. Then Vanessa spotted him and went to him instantly, arms open wide. He hugged her, rocking her back and forth a little. Then he held her away from him and stared approvingly at her belly, which was growing nice and round. “I had no idea you’d be here,” he said, refusing to take his arms from around her.

“I wanted to surprise you. My dad’s retirement ranch is just down the road and I’m staying there while Matt’s in Iraq. Mel’s going to deliver my baby.”

“When?”

“A few months. Gosh, it’s so good to see you. I haven’t seen you since—”

“The wedding,” he answered. “God, Vanni—you’re gorgeous.” He touched her belly. “Jesus, he kicked me.”

“We don’t know what it is yet.”

“Gotta be a guy,” Paul said.

She was joined by her dad, his hand out to Paul in greeting. “General, good to see you, sir,” Paul said. “Let me introduce you two around,” he said.

Several of the guys knew Matt, but the only person in the room to have already met Walt, General Booth, was Mike. Because of his investigation of teens, he’d been to the Booth household. And although the general invited them all to address him by his given name, only the women seemed so inclined. For these Marines, rank had its privileges. General Booth declined the offer to join the hunting party, saying he might take them up on that the next time. After about twenty minutes of introductions and conversation, Paul grabbed Vanessa’s hand, dragged her off to the table nearest the hearth and sat her down there to talk, to catch up. He wanted to hear all about Matt, about her little brother Tommy, about how she liked living way out here, so far from everything.

And she wanted to know everything that was going on with him. Paul, thirty-five like Matt, had left the Marines after four and remained in the reserves while Matt stayed active. Paul had finished his degree and joined his family’s construction company in Grants Pass, Oregon, not far from the California border. “And are you seeing anyone?” she asked him, grabbing his hand across the table.

“Nah, not really. Until someone as pretty as you comes along, I’ll just keep looking.”