Rivers end boxset volume.., p.109
River's End Boxset Volume 3, page 109
“Knowing you gave up Asher to fully pursue this path, and I’m sorry it came to that, but we’re all very proud of you, Daisy,” her dad confessed during her second year of law school. No doubt, Shane was waiting to see if she stayed with it.
“Asher’s incessant pushing deserves the credit; he made me commit myself and do it,” Daisy replied.
“You still went ahead and did it. As your dad, I was thrilled to see you living up to the potential I know is inside you and reaching for all the things you want from life. More important to me is the latter. If settling down with Asher had been your choice, I naturally would have supported you. But this? The law makes you glow whenever you talk about it. It keeps you engaged and enthusiastic. I used to wonder if maybe life was just too easy for you. Maybe we all underestimated your need to be challenged before you bother pursuing things.”
She blinked and felt shocked when her dad said that to her. She never considered the possibility she might be above average in intelligence. But the farther she went with her studies, the deeper she wanted to go. She exceeded all the parameters of her assignments, not to get good grades but rather because she had to learn entire fields of study before she was satisfied. She found a subject she wanted to spend her life pursuing.
She proved herself to everyone. Being at the top of her class was where she shone like a diamond.
When graduation came, no one was prouder than Daisy for achieving a career that could absorb her unceasing restlessness. Her family promoted her success with parties, toasts, celebrations, hugs and plenty of gifts. There was no doubt she had their unconditional support.
Asher sent her flowers and a necklace with a locket. He inscribed it with her graduation year, and the note that came with it said, “Wishing you the world—Asher.”
Daisy fisted the small round locket and tears rolled down her face. It was so nice of him to remember her and write something sweet. He was not bitter. After the sacrifice they both made and subsequent consequences. Daisy put on the locket, which framed a miniature picture of her and him inside it. For now, she would wear it. Maybe for always.
Asher never failed to see her full potential, which she’d underestimated. She had to have a dynamic job just to keep her pumped and engaged. Editing books online, all alone inside a house in the middle of nowhere was a recipe for disaster.
Daisy’s career path spurred her with a zealous passion that eased the ache caused by lost love and tragic choices that were inevitable. She worked in downtown Chicago at a center that provided free legal counsel to women.
Starting with her first job, she met Palmer through an online dating site. He was a few years older than her and an investment banker. Their first date was pleasant. He was handsome and kind, motivated and ambitious.
The first time Daisy slept with him, she cried afterward. Startled and concerned, he apologized repeatedly, and she explained why. Asher. The only sexual encounters she’d had since Asher were a few intoxicated hookups. Sex with Palmer was the first time it mattered after Asher. She wasn’t trying to prove to herself she was over him, but it was all the same, a critical turning point. Daisy had to admit she was moving on. She lived in a large city and was working at a job she loved while freely expressing all the crazy parts of her personality. She even had a boyfriend in Palmer Cavato, who was very much the same as she was.
Asher’s days passed by working himself to the bone, i.e., until his muscles ached and strained. Between working for the Rydells and himself he never had a spare second. The house he bought needed to be gutted and he had to almost build it from the inside out. He dumped tons of cash into the money pit it turned out to be.
But he relished the task and every moment he devoted to it. He knew so little and had to learn many skills, mostly by trial and error. He never hesitated to ask his dad, Jack or Ian Rydell, even the local hardware salesman for advice on any number of unforeseen repairs that cropped up in the course of the re-model.
He watched how-to videos and applied them. He endured casualties too. He cut a finger while fixing a broken bracket on one of the tractors that required a trip to the ER for stitches. He almost got electrocuted while figuring out the new well system. He broke an arm by falling off the roof when he forgot to properly secure himself. That put him out of commission for so long, he was all but itching to get back on it.
He had to stay busy and physically accomplish something every day until he was totally exhausted to avoid insomnia at night. He had no down time and no free time. They were both unnecessary and unwelcome. Any relaxation brought fresh thoughts of Daisy.
Asher could not bear to think of her now. So, his work became a hobby and his main source of joy. He was young, strong, and hungry with ambition. Now that he owned some land, some stock and an old house, it was just as Daisy foresaw, glorious. It meant much more to Asher though. He respected its long existence on earth and was proud to restore it as it was. It not only provided motivation, giving him something to do at all times, in the end, it healed him too.
He kept track of Daisy’s career. He knew all about her law school in Chicago and had a general idea of how well it was going. He knew about her internship and that she graduated at the top of her class. He heard about her first job and that she was dating Palmer. He heard it was serious too. He knew everything.
It hurt him a lot. But he wanted Daisy to be happy. And she couldn’t be happy with him.
His regret gnawed and tore at him.
Asher dedicated himself to fully restoring the old ranch. As each task brought it further and further into being a working success his satisfaction and pride rose a notch. His success was known only to his parents and sister. But it meant the world to him.
Even though he was without Daisy and didn’t have a graduation ceremony to mark his progress, he wished she knew how far he came. This place and all of its pieces were what made him the man he was.
The greatest tragedy in his life was that those pieces never aligned with her path.
As for his personal life? That became obsolete. Being physically busy at building his own future, so isolated and far from others, rarely bothered him. He figured he had the best romance once with Daisy. If he couldn’t have her, why bother with anyone less? It demanded too much stress and time, so he didn’t think about seeking companionship. That was never part of his personality.
Hence, why he chose to live and work on the old ranch. He preferred the solitude of the mountains and trees for company rather than any one person.
Besides that, his family remained close and he saw them more often. More frequently now than in years past. As his nephews got older, he did more things with them. Asher was the fun uncle. He took them motorcycle riding in the spring and summer, and they rode the snowmobiles in the winter. They loved to spend nights at his house, endlessly exploring old stuff, on the wide-open land and prairie that became their playground. Asher had very few rules. He let them eat sugary treats and drink pop and watch horror movies. They asked to come over all the time.
They were his company. The best company he could ask for. He didn’t need a woman.
Not anymore.
His herd of cattle started to grow. One day, he was visiting a local rancher to discuss the purchase of more cattle when a voice called out, “Asher Reed?”
Turning, he found a woman walking up to him. She wore jeans and chaps, cowboy boots and a flannel shirt with a hat. She looked like a rodeo performer. When she swiped off her hat, some stray brown hairs fell on her forehead in curly wisps. “I’m Kyomi Wade. Tom Wade’s daughter? A friend of your dad’s?”
“Oh. Right. Yeah. How the hell are you?”
“Good. I was living with my mom in southern Oregon for several years and just moved back to be with my dad. Helping him out with his cattle ranch. He’s getting older now and his health is fading. Surprised to find you here. When did the Rydells take up cattle?”
“They didn’t, not yet. I got my own place, the old Riesling spread. Do you know it? Up there outside of Tarlton?”
“Hell, yeah. That’s good land. You own it?” Her eyes widened and twinkled with respect. No woman ever reacted like that when he announced his ranch acquisition. He detected some longing in her tone and what else? She was impressed.
“Yeah. I had help from my parents. They own most of it and my dad often helps me out… and I have a long way to go before I turn a profit or even make enough to quit my day-job working for the Rydell River Ranch, but there is potential that someday it will support me.”
“Damn. Neat. Congratulations. I’d love to come and see it. That old house was so incredible. Shame to see it empty and crumbling with the passage of so much time and so many rodents.”
“Nah. Not anymore. I’ve begun restoring it.”
“Seriously? I have to see it now. Do you mind? I mean, sorry, but I just got excited. We used to go up there a lot when I was a kid to go sledding.”
Sledding? Yes. It was an excellent sledding hill. Daisy showed him that. He nodded and smiled. “Yeah, it still is. Tell you what? Why don’t you bring a thermos of hot chocolate and I’ll show you the house and the sledding hill?”
“I’ll do you one better and make it vodka.”
“Okay, now you’re talking.” They shared a long grin.
She was pretty. Plain, but trim and strong. There was something attractive in her sharp chin and pointed nose. Muscles covered her arms. This woman could obviously hold her own, even on a ranch. He gave her a more interested glance. “Tomorrow? Say two o’clock? Bring your sled for the day? And I’ll scrounge up some dinner?”
“I’d love that. And I’m not a picky eater.”
“Okay, then it’s a date?”
Date? Did he say that? Did he want that? She wasn’t Daisy. No. Not at all. The antithesis of Daisy. But that was the point, right? Asher genuinely enjoyed the few moments they spent together. The sparks of attraction and other things they had in common made sense since she came from a ranch. She must have been willing to be there. He believed so.
“Are you here to buy some head of cattle too?”
“Yep. Taking over for my dad.”
Right. So, she wouldn’t have to leave him for something different. Or better. There was nothing better, in Asher’s estimation, than working your own land. But not for Daisy. The big city with lots of people everywhere was her version of better.
“Then yeah, I’ll see you. It’s a date.”
She gave him a small smile and a nod that was straightforward, but the gleam in her eyes glimpsed her undeniable interest.
They both enjoyed a smooth, easy, casual date. There were no long silences or awkward conversations. No differences in their view of the world, it seemed. Her uncanny interest in his ranch was real and elaborate. She could not pretend to know the things that only another rancher would ask about. They had fun sledding and drinking vodka later with their burgers. Eventually, they ended up in the bedroom.
Which was good and satisfying.
Nothing unusual or extraordinary. Not against the wall. No tender embraces after. Pleasant. Nice. Satisfying. For both of them.
The way it should be. How grown-ups had relationships. Asher was inexperienced with relationships when he’d started dating Daisy. He never denied that. She was younger but managed to teach him many things. She groomed him to become a mature, wise, and fair boyfriend. But now, he was much older and more mature.
“Do you want to do this again?” he asked her the next morning as she prepared to leave.
She paused and replied, “I would if you tell me who she is.”
Surprised by her answer, he gaped at her. “Whom do you mean?”
“The woman you were thinking about. The one you aren’t over yet. You were deciding if you wanted to do this with me, possibly to spite her.”
Kyomi was sharp and could easily read him. Asher wasn’t trying to hide anything. He was open, transparent, and adult. He was not ignoring today or how it could affect tomorrow. Asher was also not denying reality.
“Daisy. Daisy Rydell. I was in love with her for two years. We only separated because of clashing lifestyles: she could no more settle here than I could handle the big city. We parted amicably, but we were both heartbroken. I don’t want to lie but she might have been the love of my life. I’m not sure I can ever feel that way again. I would like to see you again, now that you know that, however. It’s your decision so please don’t ignore me. I’m not kidding or understating anything.”
Her eyebrows lifted and she studied him during his entire speech. Then she sniffed and folded her arms over her chest. “I like your honesty. I like you telling me that and putting it on me. I can make my own decision and live with that. My focus is on my dad right now and keeping our place from going under. I don’t expect to be anyone’s ideal date and all that. But I sure as hell enjoyed last night and I’m glad to know you. So, yes.” She put her hand out as if to shake on it. He stared at her face, stunned she accepted his explanation and offered her hand. She wiggled her fingers. “Let’s shake on it. Deal’s a deal and no one can be disappointed no matter how it goes. We can talk if something changes for either of us.”
His smile was genuine as he set his hand out to shake hers. Honest, forthright, hard-working, and family-oriented. She was struggling to save a legacy that only she valued and probably would ever know about. He’d have done the same thing. They were so similar that Asher could relax and trust her.
He knew she would do as she said and keep her word. She wasn’t afraid to voice her feelings with him. Sharing a stark but open honesty, they allayed each other’s loneliness while engaging in a mutually pleasurable sex life.
He knew she understood he didn’t love her, but he enjoyed the hell out of her body, her mind, her company and the sheer presence she created in his life. She supported him without any guilt and no explanations were required as to what he was doing and why.
She also loved his ranch as much as he did. Her keen interest was almost more important to him than the sex they liked so much.
“Have you bought seed yet? If you do, get it from Old Man Stinlers. It’s better quality if you ask me.” She spilled volumes of tidbits and trivia, tips and methods, which were invaluable to Asher, giving him something no one else could provide.
A few months after they started dating, a knock interrupted their dinner. It was rare and unusual to have guests drop by, so they looked at each other with obvious surprise. The snow was deep, and it was dark and frigid outside. “Who do you suppose that could be?” she asked.
Asher set his fork down and crossed the room to open the front door. On the porch, he found Hunter standing there.
Hunter looked like he’d been dragged up the hillside by one of his steers. Opening the door wider, he glanced past him, but Hunter was alone. “Hunter? What the hell are you doing all the way out here?”
“Can I come in?”
“Oh. Sure. Of course.” He allowed Hunter to step inside. He was tall like his father, Ian, with a rugged air and red hair. They had the same unusual, ice-blue eyes. Hunter’s habit of wearing immaculate attire was forgotten and the clothes he wore were sagging and drooping. The suit jacket was gone, and his tie was undone and hanging unevenly. His hair was rumpled as if his hands repeatedly ran through it. After observing his untidy attire and his bright, red-rimmed eyes, Asher was sure something was drastically wrong with Hunter.
“What happened?” Asher asked without preamble.
“She… she was fucking her stepbrother the entire time I knew her. All of it. From the minute we first started dating. I was the patsy so no one would guess what they were doing. Their stupid stooge. I was so blind and stupid by falling for it all—”
His voice trailed off when a movement caught his attention. Asher turned. “Oh, Hunter this is Kyomi. This is my cousin, Hunter. He’s Ian and Kailynn’s son.”
Kyomi nodded hello. “Well, it sure as shit isn’t nice for us to meet obviously, considering. I’ll just ah… go now. Give you some time together.”
Wasn’t she awesome? Asher gave her a quick kiss. “Good luck, Hunter,” she said as she turned around and left them alone.
Hunter glared at Asher. “You have a new girlfriend?”
“I guess. Not like Daisy. We’re just enjoying each other. Not sure I’d call her a girlfriend. Just a great, understanding girl.”
Hunter dramatically flopped on the nearest chair and leaned forward with his head hanging nearly to his knees. “Must be incredible. I might have to try that sometime. First, Daisy and now a fuck-buddy with no games or ulterior motives in mind?”
“It’s not like that, either. She’s not like that. So stop. But go back to what happened, Hunter. Obviously, we’re talking about Francine, right?”
“Fucking Francine,” he muttered, staring at his hands before shoving them into his hair again. “I need lots of alcohol. I sobered up to drive here. No damn ride-share or taxi will drive a fare into the woods out here. Christ, Asher couldn’t you try to be less reclusive? Do you use an outhouse too? No wonder Daisy couldn’t hack living here.”
Sighing, he found the bottle of vodka that Kyomi left and two glasses. It would be a long night. “No outhouse. And Daisy hacked life here just fine. She wanted other things. So back to Francine and her stepbrother. Did I catch that right?”
“Yeah. Been fucking him for ten years. Since they were seventeen. Isn’t that gross? Like incest. She’s in love, she claims, and she used me from the very beginning. I was too smitten to see it. Or through her. She married me and never stopped fucking her goddamned stepbrother.”
“Well, that’s a story on its own.”
“Yeah, yeah. Can you imagine the gall and nerve?”
“I’m sorry. That’s messed up. They should have never dragged you into it.”
“I thought—”
His voice cracked. Sympathy and compassion flooded Asher since he knew exactly what Hunter thought. And hoped for. What he believed in was now destroying him. He thought he found someone he could love forever and instead, he was used and abused. Hunter believed he and Francine shared a lifestyle and common goals.
