After a quick lunch, Gage led the way over to the park. He couldn’t wait to get there so everyone could meet Emma and Josh. Yesterday afternoon in the bakery had been awkward as hell, but today would be much better.

No doubt some folks, including members of his family, were speculating what would happen next. He wished them luck guessing that because he didn’t have a clue. He was taking it one day at a time.

This afternoon, though, promised to be a wagonload of fun. When he’d heard about the flag football project, he’d been one of the first to sign up. He looked forward to every game, but today Emma and Josh would be there, making it more special.

He parked in line with the other vehicles near the field and Emma pulled her SUV in next to him. Players and spectators mingled along the sidelines as they set up folding chairs and beach umbrellas. Several had brought coolers.

He met Emma by the back door next to Josh’s car seat. “Is it okay if I take him out and carry him over there?”

“Sure.” She gestured toward the crowd. “So many people! I had no idea.”

“It’s become a popular spectator event.” He opened the car door, took out the baby backpack and set it on the ground. Then he unbuckled the straps holding a cooing, bouncing Josh. “I think somebody’s ready to party. He has the hat for it, too.”

“He knows when I put on his hat he’s going outside, which he loves. He’s been babbling the whole way over. Are all these people going to play?”

“Only the ones dressed like we are.” He lifted Josh out and tucked him in the crook of his arm while he closed the door and picked up the backpack, slinging it over his other shoulder. “You can tell who’s just here to watch because they’re wearing boots and jeans.”

“I’m seeing a pattern in the way the players are dressed. The shirts are either red or white.”

“That’s our version of team jerseys. They’re the Rowdy Reds and we’re the Wacky Whites.”

“So I’m on your team?”

“Yes, ma’am. I asked Kendra to assign you to the Whites. Is that okay?”

“It’s okay.” She grinned at him. “But for all you know, I could be lousy at this.”

“We’ll take our chances.” He glanced at Josh, who had gone silent. The baby’s eyes were wide as he looked around. “He’s not scared, is he?”

“Nope. He cries when he’s scared. He’s just taking it in. He’s never seen so many people before. His big outing is to the grocery store, and I time those trips for when it’s not crazy busy.”

“Just so he’s not overwhelmed.”

“I’ll let you know if I think he is. Here, let me take the backpack. You don’t have to—”

“Actually, I do if I want to show off my daddy chops.”

Her eyebrows arched above her sunglasses. “Your daddy chops?”

“Indulge me, please.”

“All right. Thank you.” She fell into step beside him as they started toward the field. “Why don’t you point out your family members so I can start memorizing names?”

“Good idea.” He surveyed the crowd.

“I’ve already found Kendra, so is the guy next to her your dad?”

“That’s him. And see the tall woman with the long black hair standing near Dad?”

“Uh-huh.”

“That’s my sister Roxanne, and her fiancé Michael Murphy is the guy with his arm around her waist.”

“Roxanne and Michael. Got it.”

“Wes and his girlfriend Ingrid should look familiar since they were both in the bakery yesterday.”

“I do recognize them. Okay, so that’s Wes and Ingrid. You have one more brother. Where’s he?”

“Pete’s the guy talking to Wes.”

“Pete’s blond?”

“Right. He’s the only one of us who inherited my dad’s light coloring. I could point out all the McGavins, too, but—”

“I’d better stick with just your family for now.”

“Makes sense. But I have a tip for identifying Kendra’s five sons.”

“Let’s hear it.”

“Remember how blue her eyes are?”

“Yes, I noticed that. Amazingly blue.”

“In Eagles Nest, that color of eyes is called McGavin blue, and her boys inherited it. If you see a guy with eyes like hers, guaranteed he’s one of her sons. She has five of them.”

“Will they all be here?”

“Maybe not. One’s a volunteer firefighter and two others lead trail rides for Kendra, so it all depends on who has time off.”

“I’m sure I’ll figure out who’s who as we play. One other thing. How come some of your family’s wearing white and some red? Aren’t you all on the same team?”

“A few people thought it would be fun to mix it up. Couples can choose to be on the same team or not.” He shifted Josh in his arms. “How’re you doing, buddy? Ready to go meet Grandpapa Quinn?”

“Pa-pa!”

Gage stopped in his tracks. “Emma, did you hear that?”

“Yes.”

“Has he ever said it before?”

“I don’t know. Maybe. Not often. But I don’t think—”

“I know. It’s not like he knows he’s talking about his grandfather. But if he says it to my dad and my dad buys it, let’s just let him think Josh knows what he’s saying.”

She smiled. “Sure, why not?”

He wanted to kiss her for that. Hell, he’d been wanting to kiss her for a dozen reasons. This was just the most recent. “Thank you.”

“Anytime.”

They’d been spotted. People quickly looked over their shoulders but were polite enough to turn around again instead of continuing to stare. Emma thanked her lucky stars that she was used to meeting new people and answering questions. Bartending had prepared her for just this kind of scenario.

So had the road trip with her friend Janet, which had opened up possibilities that wouldn’t have occurred to her if she’d stayed in Green Bay. When she’d hit Montana, she’d decided this was the place where she’d plant herself and grow.

But she never would have predicted an accidental pregnancy with a dashing cowboy who was only supposed to be a fling, someone to warm a handful of winter nights.

He was good with Josh, though, better than she’d expected. He carried his son with pride as they approached the knot of people waiting beside the large blue cooler and a collection of unoccupied folding chairs. Once someone in the group had seen them, the rest had stood.

Gage made straight for the tall, broad-shouldered man with the awestruck expression in his gray eyes. “Dad, I’d like you to meet Josh. Josh, this is your Grandpapa Quinn.”

The little ham belted it right out. “Pa-pa!”

Quinn gasped. “Did he say what I think he did?”

Gage shrugged, playing it cool. “Sounded like it, Dad.”

“Will he come to me?”

“Not sure. Let’s ask. Josh, want to go see Grandpapa Quinn?” He stepped closer to his dad. “I promise he’ll spoil you rotten.”

“Will not.”

Next to him, Kendra had her phone out. “Don’t be ridiculous, Quinn. Of course you will. Look at that little goober.”

“What do you say, buddy?” Gage moved a little closer. “Want to make a new friend?”

“Hey, Josh,” Quinn said quietly. “Come give Papa a hug. I’ll make it worth your while.”

“Oh, dear God,” Roxanne said. “He’s already bribing the kid. Dad, have you no shame?”

Quinn chuckled. “None whatsoever. I want to hold my grandson. Come on over, Josh.” He raised his hands to shoulder height and wiggled his fingers. “My family wants a photo op.”

Without warning, Josh launched himself in Quinn’s direction.

Gage gently transferred the baby to Quinn as phones lifted along the sidelines to record the moment.

Emma cursed her own lack of planning. Her phone was in the backpack Gage had slung over his shoulder. But Kendra was snapping away, so she’d likely share whatever she’d taken.

A photo might not capture what was happening with Quinn, anyway. He’d gathered Josh against his chest. Her son was gazing up at him as if trying to figure out how this new person fit into his life. Then Quinn leaned over to murmur something to Josh that was clearly meant to be private.

Emma strained to hear it, anyway. Sounded like I’ll love you forever, little buddy. Her throat tightened. If Gage hadn’t come to see her, none of this would have happened. But he had, and because of that, her son was in the loving arms of his grandpapa.