Homeward bound cowboy, p.15
Homeward Bound, Cowboy, page 15
“What does Josie think about all of this? You know your children will all share in this one day.”
“As will your children and Dev’s, if he has any. I don’t care about a dynasty with everyone fighting for a bigger piece of pie like some of the other big ranches have fallen prey to. I care about what is best for our family. And you are part of that but, make no mistake, you’ll work hard for it. I’ll take the cattle operation. You take the horses. And I mentioned the main house as your base simply because it’s sitting unused, and it has the largest stables close by with the show arena. And should you have a family, it has plenty of room for that, too. But if you want to build your own place…there’s lots of land, also.
“Given time, I think we’ll work through all this. Don’t think I’m making this offer out of anything other than what is right. I’m sorry that your mother and you weren’t treated better by our father. But don’t confuse that with pity, by any means. For better or worse, we’re brothers. I choose to go from that point.”
Rio’s hand met his and they shook. “I’ve got some things to think about. I’ll give you my decision tomorrow. But I thank you for the way you and Josie have handled this.”
Chance drew his hat on his head. Then he reached into his pocket and brought out a key ring with a half dozen keys on it. “The house, barns, gates…just a few of the ones you’ll need. Only thing left to say is…welcome home, brother.”
*
Welcome home…home. Rio kept hearing the words in his mind as he drove away. They stayed there all the way until he stopped the pickup in front of the Braxton ranch house…its sprawling stone walls shaded by the huge pecan and oak trees that had stood sentinel to its history for generations. He slowly walked up the porch steps and halted in front of the massive wooden door. The first key he chose was the correct one. Rio took two steps inside and then stopped. There was a tightening in his chest, and he took a deep breath in and then blew it out. A sudden emotion had overcome him. And the one thought in his head was about his mother.
His surroundings were a far cry from where he had grown up. His mother had deserved such a fine home in her life. Rio walked into the living room with its leather furnishings and Western landscape paintings. He recognized the fact that just one of the paintings could have sustained their little family for a year or more. And then he realized another truth. While the difference in the lives of these Braxtons and the one he and his mother shared were vastly different, the one he shared with his mother had been the right one. He had been raised to appreciate more with less. He knew the value of a dollar generated by hard work rather than abundance by inheritance. And he had been loved. The place was beautiful, but it wasn’t a home. It wouldn’t be a home without the right people in it. And that led his thoughts in another direction. He needed air. And he needed Dee. Both things were interchangeable in his mind.
There was no way that Dee wanted to speak with him again…she had made that painfully clear. The only other option was to head for the barn. He saddled his horse. He felt the need for space. So he rode hard and fast and then he pulled up on a high ridge, the ranch extending as far as one could see in every direction and beyond. What would his mother say? Was this what he wanted for a future? Was this where his destiny lay…on this land?
Chapter Fifteen
The headache would not go away. Dee recognized it for what it was—stress induced. Sleep had been nonexistent. The alarm clock was too shrill and came too soon that morning. Once arriving at the hospital, she had been on autopilot, and that had gotten her through the last three days. Her lunch hour was coming up and she looked longingly outside the window at the sunshine and blue sky. Maybe she’d take her lunch over to the park across the street and get some fresh air. At least that was a plan.
Dee passed up an invitation to lunch with a couple of other people and kept to that plan an hour later. Quiet was what she needed. The noise in her head, and that of the workplace, needed to go away so she could just breathe. And while she had tried to keep all personal thoughts from her mind, she had only fooled herself. How many times had she looked at the clock on the wall of whatever room she was working in at the time? Not to mention the slim one on her wrist. She was waiting for something…but what?
And now, the chiming of the bell in the tower of the town’s courthouse served as another reminder of the passing hours. If she thought the passing of time would lessen the pain inside her, she had truly fooled herself. The ache around her heart only seemed to deepen. Her mind kept wanting to center on Rio, but she kept yanking it back to whatever present she was in at the moment. It was a tug-of-war going on between brain and heart and she was caught in the middle.
Why couldn’t she just chalk up the last few weeks to a lesson learned…again…and move on? What did it matter to her what was decided in the lives of the Braxtons? Josie had texted her a brief note that Chance and Rio were meeting with the attorney again today…but why should she care? Rio would either stay or go. And the odds were that he would leave. He had said as much. And that was how her luck generally ran. So let it go. Let him go.
“Is this a private party or can anyone join?” Marissa Flanagan was walking toward the bench where Dee sat in thought.
Dee pushed the dark thoughts away and gave her friend a welcoming smile. She moved over a bit and nodded at the space. “Take a load off.”
Rissa didn’t wait for another invite. She sank down on the seat with a sigh. “It’s been a day and a half and it’s only halfway over.”
“Busy morning?”
“Busy early morning. I had to deliver a foal over at the Jenkins farm before dawn. The mare had problems, but we were able to save them both. Then it’s been back-to-back surgeries. How goes it with you? I pulled in over at the post office and saw you sitting over here looking like you had the weight of the world on your shoulders. Anything I can do?”
Dee shook her head and gave Rissa a wry smile. “I’m sure our mutual friend may have shared some of the latest news with you.”
“Oh, that,” she deadpanned. Then she gave her a smile of commiseration. “I know a little bit of the situation with Chance and Rio and their familial connection issue. I’m shocked but not surprised.”
“How so?”
“Well, we all know about Royce Braxton. And there were always rumors about those business trips of his. At least, he had the good sense to take his affairs away from Braxton…at least he spared his wife and sons that embarrassment. The law of averages caught up with him…and he found himself with another child.”
“Only he didn’t find himself with that child,” Dee spat out. She couldn’t help the anger she felt at how cold-hearted a man could be with his own flesh and blood. “He walked away and left that child when he needed a father the most. He could have helped out the mother and made a difference and—” She saw the way Rissa sat quietly, watching her rant, and she cut off the rest of the words. “Sorry about that.”
“No apologies ever needed between us. You’ve listened to more than a few of my venting rants over the years. But, I agree on all points. I don’t know all the story, of course, but you do, and I’m sorry I don’t know what to say or do to help any of you all during this mess. Just know that I’m here anytime you want to vent…and if you need to hit someone, I volunteer Josie. She’s got a tougher hide than me.” That brought both of them to wide grins. Dee was grateful for her friends. They had gotten her through some tough times.
“You’ve already helped just by being you and sitting here.”
“How’s Rio?”
Her grin faded away. “I don’t know. When last I saw him, he was confused. He has some decisions to make I assume.”
“Decisions?”
“If he’ll stay in Braxton or leave. At least that was his original plan when he arrived. But then, none of us knew then what his real reason for being here was. I doubt that even he knew all of it himself.”
“But you two have grown closer…surely, he has to consider all of that, too, in any decision. Talk it out with you…” Her voice trailed off.
“Afraid that won’t be happening. I more or less told him I wanted nothing more to do with him after he told me the truth. Pretty sure he’ll want to get out of Braxton as soon as he can.”
Rissa shook her head. “Oh, Dee. I’m so sorry to hear that. And I’m shocked. I really thought he might be the one. You’ve been different ever since he arrived. Are you sure you and he can’t get past this?”
“He lied to me, Rissa. He knew about Thomas. I told him how that made me feel. I won’t be lied to again. Yet, he knew all along that he was lying to me about why he came and who he was. The truth had to come out and it would hurt not only me, but my friends…and he did it anyway. How am I supposed to feel?”
“Hurt. Disappointed.” Rissa nodded. “But he had a pretty big reason for coming here. And he couldn’t very well ride into town with a loud speaker proclaiming it…not news like that. I’m playing devil’s advocate here, for sure, but seems it isn’t quite as black and white as you might want it to be. And maybe Thomas, and your history there, is tainting any objectivity you might have had otherwise.
“But it’s a sad situation all the way around. You have to do what you think best. I’m certainly the last person to give anyone advice on love.” She stood, shaking away memories that were best kept locked away. “There’s a new comedy at the cinema. Let’s go see it tonight. And we can eat junk during it and then go afterward over to the Grease Pit. We’ll have loaded burgers and super thick malts. Nothing is better for heartache than the Grease Pit’s food.”
“There’s nothing better for a heart attack, you mean.”
“Don’t split hairs and ruin my appetite. And we’re going. I’ll pick you up at seven. Bye!” She was gone without a backward glance.
Her hands were clamped over her ears so she couldn’t hear Dee’s excuses. Dee shook her head. But then she found a small smile on her face. Life was going to go on whether she agreed or not. And maybe it began with a kernel of smile. That was what friends were for.
*
Three days later, Josie met Rissa and Dee for lunch at the diner. They made small talk while they perused the menus and then gave their orders to the waitress. Once their drinks had arrived, Josie didn’t waste time.
“Rio is staying. He and Chance came to an agreement about a division of duties for the ranch. And Rio has moved into the main house. He made the decision that Braxton will be his home.”
“And how is that working so far?” Rissa asked.
Dee remained silent, her brain replaying the words Rio is staying over and over.
“Well, Rio’s been here a few weeks. But now that he’s part of the family…it’s strange, how it just fits somehow. He and Chance are a lot alike in how they think, and they’re making a good team. Emmy has her new uncle wrapped around her little finger. He’s really good with kids…go figure.”
“What about Dev? Does he know he has a new brother?”
“Phillip sent a letter to the last address we had for him in Florida, but there’s been no reply.”
The food arrived and Rissa took a break in her questions. Dee was well aware that Josie kept watching her even while she talked. And Dee was intent on keeping her demeanor noncommittal…non-emotional. It was just three friends enjoying lunch together. Keep it normal.
“So, what’s the favor you said you needed to ask us? It really must be something to have you invite us to lunch…on you.” Dee spoke, with a nonchalance she was far from feeling.
“We have the annual sale coming up. The office crew has most of it in order as they always do, but this year is special. Chance wants to also host a reception afterward for many of the people from town. He wants to introduce Rio to everyone. Make it all official. There’re rumors flying around as usual, but he wants to get ahead of it and get the facts out there. Rio’s not exactly at ease with it, but he’s willing to get it over with for the sake of the business.”
“Where do we come into all of that?” Rissa asked the question before Dee could.
“I hoped you two would help me put it together. The others are so busy with the sale that I hate to ask them to take on anything else. It’ll be fun…we’ve put together parties before. Can I count on you both?”
“I’m in,” Rissa replied. “You guys helped me out enough over the years. And I do love a good party.”
They both looked at Dee. “I’m not so sure that Rio would want me to have anything to do with it. You both know we decided to keep our distance. And thank you for understanding how I feel about that.”
“Rio is fine with it. He and Chance both know that I planned to ask you two to help out. But if it’s too much for you, then…”
“Forget I said anything. If he’s good with it, then so am I. You and Chance and I have been friends for years, so naturally, we’re going to be together in social situations. We can behave as grown-ups. And this is as good a place to start as any.”
“That’s the spirit,” Rissa said. “It’s going to be fun!”
Dee smiled, but inside she doubted she would agree with that sentiment. But, if Rio was evidently moving onward, then so could she. And there would be a lot of people there given that a crowd always turned out for Braxton Ranch events. They probably wouldn’t even run into each other.
*
That thought came back to laugh at her the next afternoon. It began when she looked up from the desk in the ER reception area and saw Josie come through the doorway. A step behind her came Rio. Seeing him was so unexpected, it caught her off guard at first. Thankfully, Josie brought her back to the present, and Dee’s professional mode kicked into automatic gear.
“We beat the ambulance? Where’s Chance and Tom?”
“Slow down, Josie…breathe. What’s this about Chance?”
“There was an accident with a piece of equipment when they were loading the round bales of hay onto flatbeds in the field. One slipped and Tom jumped out of the way and somehow, he got hit anyway. Mary’s in Austin, visiting their daughter, and I’ve been trying to get her on the phone. Chance called and said the ambulance was leaving and they’d meet us here.”
“You have a seat and I’ll go in the back and see what the ETA is. I’ll keep you updated as soon as I know something.”
“Shouldn’t they already be here? How—”
Rio stepped to her side. “Dee’s right. Let her find out what’s going on, and we’ll sit over here and wait. Nothing we can do until we know the facts.”
Josie nodded. Dee left her in Rio’s capable hands. She appreciated the way the man had stepped forward and gently managed to get Josie to do what was best.
She left them and went through the double doors, then down the corridor to the center of the ER. In the distance, there was a faint sound of an approaching siren. Dee checked in with the nurse at the console and found out that it was the ambulance with Tom on board. The receiving team was ready in the second trauma room when the gurney came through the doors. Chance wasn’t far behind as he had ridden in the ambulance with Tom. He saw Dee and stepped to join her.
“You look a little pale, Chance. Josie and Rio are in the waiting area. Why don’t you go join them so Josie will calm down? It’ll be a little while until we get a definitive report. I’ll come find you all when we have something to report.”
“Thanks, Dee. I’m glad Rio came with her. I know she’s worried.”
She smiled and patted his shoulder. He went to join the others.
It was almost three-quarters of an hour before Dee was able to join the small group waiting for news. She had sent word out every fifteen minutes via one of the other nurses, while she had remained with Tom as the doctors worked and ran tests. She accompanied the ER doctor out to the group, which had grown as friends heard the news and came to be of whatever support they could.
The report was relatively good. There was no internal damage. Tom had come out of the fall with a glancing blow that bruised him up quite a bit and broke his left arm. The doctor excused himself and Dee smiled at Josie.
“Once we get him settled into a room, you and Chance can have a couple of minutes with him. But you heard the doctor. He’s going to be just fine. He’ll have some mending to do, and I’m sure Mary will make certain he does just that. I’ll let you know when you can see him.”
Josie hugged her. “Thank you for staying with him. I know your shift ended a while ago.”
“No problem. I wouldn’t go anywhere with Tom in the ER until I knew he was going to do just fine. Why don’t I go down to the cafeteria and get you something to drink? These vending machines in here leave a lot to be desired.”
“I thought the cafeteria was closed right now?”
“It is, but I do have a little pull around here.” She grinned. “I’ll be right back.”
“You’ll need help carrying it all. Lead the way.” Rio stepped forward.
She couldn’t make a scene or seem ungrateful for the offer with others around them. Besides, he was only trying to help Josie and Chance. She turned and he followed.
The cafeteria was on the other side of the hospital and one floor up. Neither of them felt the need to engage in conversation, and she was glad of that. She had tried to not allow her gaze to settle on the man when he came through the doors with Josie earlier. It was easy to keep her eyes away from him while the doctor spoke to the group. But she was aware of him…his every move, nuance, hint of cologne. Dee wished the time would hurry up and come when his being near wouldn’t even register on her radar. If that time ever would come.
