“What sins I have committed are mine and mine alone,” Rosita said. “Surely, people around here aren’t that short-sighted – still.”
“We never were,” Drew said.
“I didn’t come here for all this nastiness,” Rosita huffed. “I came here to see my family.”
“You have another family,” Jose said. “A child and a husband. Go spend time with them.”
“You have a three-year-old great nephew that you’ve never seen,” Rosita said. “I’ve tried calling, you hang up. I assume you threw my letters away, too.”
“You assume correctly,” Jose said.
Rosita took a deep breath. “I had no choice, but to come. Uncle Jose, we are family. I want you, Aunt Maria, and Antonio to meet little Carlos. He’s with the nanny now at the hotel outside of town. I brought him all this way so you could meet him. See him. He’s your sister’s grandson.”
“No,” Jose said bitterly.
“Papi,” Antonio began. “The child is innocent.”
“I know that,” Jose said quickly as he turned to look at his son. “It is unfortunate that he has to pay for his mother’s sins, but life isn’t fair, as you know.”
“I see,” Rosita said with a frown.
If this woman hadn’t broken Adrian’s heart and driven him to beat a man nearly to death, Faith would have felt sorry for her.
“Take your child and go back to California,” Jose said to Rosita.
“The least you could do is allow Antonio to introduce me to his lady friend,” Rosita said and looked at Faith.
“Faith, this is Rosita, my cousin,” Antonio said and placed his hand on Faith’s shoulder. He whispered in Faith’s ear, “Follow my lead, if she learns that Adrian has moved on, she will stay and cause trouble.” Antonio smoothed his hand around Faith’s shoulders.
Faith didn’t react to Antonio’s touch.
Rosita quickly whirled around Jose. She stood in front of Faith and offered her hand.
Faith took it, playing along.
“It’s nice to meet you, Faith,” Rosita said and let go of Faith’s hand. “How long have you and Antonio been seeing each other?”
“Um, a few weeks,” Faith answered.
Rosita gave her a little smile. “You’re pretty. Please treat my cousin right. He’s a good guy.”
She has a hell of a lot of nerve telling me that.
“Yes, a very good guy,” Faith said with a tight smile. Faith wanted to kick her ass.
“It’s time you left,” Jose sneered.
“I’ll walk you to your car, Rosita,” Antonio said.
“She found her way in. She can find her way out,” Jose said.
“It’s the gentlemanly thing to do, Papi,” Antonio said and took his hand from around Faith’s shoulders. “I’ll be back,” he said to her, playing the role of boyfriend.
“Gracias, Antonio,” Rosita said. She looked at Faith. “I hope we’ll see each other again under more pleasant circumstances.”
Faith just nodded at her.
“Come on, Rosita,” Antonio said.
Faith watched them walk out of the bar.
Jose snatched his beer mug off the bar with aggression. He spurted in Spanish and took a big gulp from his mug.
Faith exhaled and turned on the bar stool to look at Drew.
“She’s gone, Jose,” Drew said. “No reason to dwell on it.”
Jose swallowed. “I’m afraid she might show up at the BBQ tomorrow.”
Faith’s eyes widened. “She wouldn’t dare.”
“She would,” Jose said. “If it was something in it for her. But, I think she is happy with her rich husband. She probably hasn’t given Adrian a second thought in years, but you never know with that chica. How in the world did my sainted sister give birth to such a banshee?”
Antonio came back into the bar. “She’s gone. She had a rental car. Thanks for going with the flow, Faith. I know Rosita. If she gets wind of Adrian seeing someone, she will throw a monkey wrench in it just for sport.”
“I understand and thank you for…protecting Adrian and me, I guess. I mean, I don’t know what we are to each other, but we do like each other,” Faith said.
“Good,” Jose said. “You’re a decent woman. Not like my horrible niece.”
“Did she say how long she was staying in town?” Faith asked.
“She had hoped to stay for a week, but since Papi made it clear that we still want nothing to do with her, she’s planning to go home tomorrow. Her husband owns a plane. She can come and go as she pleases,” Antonio said.
“Good,” Jose said.
“Yes,” Faith said. “But, should one of us tell Adrian she’s in town?”
“No!” Jose, Antonio, and Drew exclaimed at the same time.
“Okay, okay,” Faith said. “But, I’m already keeping it a secret that I know what went on between Adrian and Rosita from Adrian and the rest of the family.”
“One more isn’t going to hurt,” Jose said and patted her hand. “I know you don’t owe my family or me anything, but please, senorita, don’t open old wounds. My family and the Matthews are slowly becoming close again.”
“I don’t think they ever blamed your family for what Rosita did,” Faith said.
“I know, but after it all happened, there was a chill in the air. Then, after Arn and Dana died, the chill became a gap. Antonio and Joey used to be good friends. They used to hang out all the time,” Jose said. “That stopped.”
“It’s okay, Papi,” Antonio said. “I don’t think Joey and I have that much in common, anymore. People grow. People change.”
Chapter 24
Faith was full of worry and trepidation. She should just get out now while the going was good? She adored Adrian, but this was more drama than she wanted to deal with. She wasn’t the type of woman to fight and claw for a man. If a guy liked her, and she liked him, great. If a man didn’t want her, she moved on. One thing her mom taught her was that there wasn’t a man on earth that was worth a woman going through constant hell for.
Yet, Adrian and the Matthews family have been good to Faith. If anything, she had a nice place to live and it was cheap. Aunt Bea had helped Faith secure a job with benefits. She couldn’t cut and run. Not yet. Maybe she was worried over nothing. Adrian wasn’t carrying a torch for Rosita, right?
As Faith drove Aunt Bea’s station wagon into the garage, she made a decision. She wasn’t going to tell Adrian that Rosita was in town, but she was going to tell somebody. She needed an ally; someone who could advise her and knew the situation better than anybody. Faith needed several somebodies to collaborate with.
Faith got out of the car and closed the garage door. She walked to the front door of the house.
“Hey Faith,” Steve said as he jogged to her. “How was Drew’s?”
“Interesting,” Faith said. “Where’s Adrian?”
“Ray’s truck broke down out in the county,” Steve said. “Adrian went to go get him. He’ll be back in an hour.”
“Good. I need to talk to you, Joey, and Aunt Bea – without Adrian around,” Faith said seriously.
“Why am I getting the feeling that you are going to tell us something we aren’t gonna like?” Steve asked with worry in his tone.
“Probably, because it is something that you guys aren’t going to like,” Faith said solemnly.
Twenty-minutes later, Faith, Aunt Bea, Joey, and Steve were in the den. Faith had just finished telling them that she knew what happened with Adrian and Rosita and it wasn’t Adrian that told her. She also told them that she knew Adrian almost went to prison for beating Maurice Lewis up for sleeping with Rosita, and then stealing her from him.
“Why are you telling us this?” Joey asked seriously. “You know. Okay?”
“I’m telling you because Rosita is in town,” Faith announced.
Aunt Bea went pale.
“Shit!” Steve shouted and shot up from his seat.
Joey groaned loudly.
“How do you know?” Steve
asked darkly.
“She waltzed into Drew’s tonight. She tracked Jose and Antonio there. She wanted to make peace with her family. Jose had refused and sent her on her way,” Faith said.
“Good for him,” Joey said.
Steve went to the bar. “I need a glass of bourbon. Anyone else want a drink?”
“Nope,” Joey said.
“I’ll take a half of one,” Aunt Bea groaned.
“Rosita told Antonio that she was leaving tomorrow since Jose made it clear that he still didn’t want anything to do with her or her child,” Faith said.
Steve walked from behind the bar and gave a quarter glass of bourbon to Aunt Bea. “Well, there’s nothing wrong in making sure that she leaves tomorrow,” he said darkly, and then took a long draw from his glass.
“What are you going to do? Run her out of town on a rail?” Joey asked.
“She’ll be lucky that’s all I’ll do,” Steve said.
“Don’t,” Aunt Bea said. “If you go to her like a bat out of hell, it will just tweak her nose to show up here. I don’t want that girl ruining the BBQ.”
“I just thought I should let you guys know,” Faith said. “I don’t know if….Adrian should know or not.”
“He definitely shouldn’t,” Steve said. “He hasn’t been this content in years. That will change if he knew that whore was loitering around town.”
“I agree,” Joey said. “We just have to hope that she was telling the truth about leaving tomorrow.”
“I agree with that as well,” Aunt Bea said and took a swallow of her drink. “It’s getting late. I need to be up by eight tomorrow. The vendors will be here to set up tables and chairs for the BBQ. I also have to warm up the chili and brief the cooks that will be running the grills and smokers.”
Faith wasn’t sure if this was the best course of action, but she was outnumbered. Besides, it’s not like she was a part of the Matthews family. Faith didn’t have a vote. She was an outsider they had adopted. Nothing more.
Chapter 25
Balloons of different colors hovered in the yard. Cars and trucks were parked along the dirt road leading to the Lone Wolf Ranch. A dunking tank was set up on the far side of the land along with a bouncing gym and outdoor games for the kids. Hired cooks filled the air with meats that were in smokers and on grills. A live band played county music over the sound of chirping birds. Two outside bars were set up. The bartenders filled drinks and popped caps off of beer bottles. The wait staff carried trays of bourbon and branch. Women in skirts, jeans, and sundresses twirled around on the dance floor with their partners. Texan men wearing cowboy hats covered the lush green land of Lone Wolf Ranch as far as the eye could see.
The BBQ started at one o’clock, but people began arriving at 12:30 in hopes to get a taste of Aunt Bea’s chili. Faith had made cornbread to go with it. The guests loved it as well.
Aunt Bea’s chili and Faith’s cornbread was gone within an hour. It was hot out, so Faith decided to change into a white sundress. It came above her knee. She wore white heeled sandals. Faith walked out among the sea of guests.
“Yummy,” Steve said as he approached her.
She laughed. “Thanks.”
“Why did you change?” Steve asked.
“I got a little too hot in blue jeans and boots,” she said.
“You look delicious,” Steve said and put his empty glass on a passing waiter’s tray. “You want to dance?”
Faith took the music into consideration.
Like he was reading her mind, “It’s a slow song, not the two-step.”
She smiled. “All right.”
Steve escorted Faith to the dance floor.
****
Adrian and Joey were enjoying a glass of bourbon and branch with some good ole boys from the next town. It was a beautiful day for a BBQ.
Luke Warrington approached them. “Hey, fellas.”
The men greeted him.
“Great BBQ as usual,” Luke said to Joey and Adrian. “Aunt Bea’s chili gets better every year and the cornbread – did she try something different with that?”
Adrian smiled. “My little lady made the cornbread.”
“And the potato salad,” Noah, a black man from the next town, said. “I haven’t been able to stay away from that stuff.”
“Take my advice, Adrian,” Mr. Doyle, a farmer from the next town, said. “Marry that girl.”
The men chuckled.
During the past few weeks, Adrian had grown to care for Faith – a lot. It excited him and scared him all at the same time. Her sweet smile, her easy personality, and her honesty struck him to his core. Being married to a woman like her would be a dream.
“I’ll take it under consideration,” Adrian said with a smile.
“You better do more than that,” Daryl, the black guy who owned the barber shop in the next town, said. “Women, these days, can’t cook anymore or even know how to let a man be a man. I talked to Faith earlier. You won’t have any problems with her.”
“Didn’t she make the dessert, too?” Noah asked.
“She made the strawberry cake and two chocolate cakes,” Joey answered.
“Excuse me, fellas,” Mr. Doyle said and headed for the dessert table.
“I’m with Mr. Doyle,” Daryl said. “I’ll catch up with you boys later.”
The men laughed.
“I’m going to follow the guys’ lead,” Noah said. “Oh, and Adrian, you better secure that woman for yourself before another man wises up and snatches her from up under you.”
“Advice noted,” Adrian said as he raised his glass to Noah.
Noah walked to the dessert table.
“I’m glad to have a moment alone with you two,” Luke said.
“Oh yeah,” Joey said.
“I’ve decided to sell the ranch,” Luke said. “Before I get a realtor involved, I was wondering if the Matthews boys would be interested in buying it.”
Adrian and Joey’s eyes widened. They looked at each other with shock on their faces.
Adrian adjusted the Stetson on his head. “Hell, Luke, that ranch has been in your family for three generations. Are you sure you want to sell it?”
“Absolutely,” Luke said with conviction. “The only reason I kept it after my father died was because it was what he wanted. I like oil. My oil company in Dallas is doing better than expected, and I want to devote my time to that. I already have a place outside of Dallas that is about fifty acres. That’s more than enough for me. Running the Warrington Ranch has become a burden. I would like to sell it to someone who would preserve the land and raise cattle on it like my ancestors did. I figured the Matthews family would do that.”
It made sense. The only thing that separated the Warrington Ranch and the Lone Wolf Ranch was the property line.
“How many acres is your place? Two thousand?” Joey asked.
“Two thousand five hundred and fifty-two precisely,” Luke answered. “It could all be yours for three million dollars.”
Joey’s eyebrows rose at the prize. “Three million dollars is a lot.”
“We’re talking about a lot of acres, Joey,” Luke said. “Plus, I’m throwing in the cattle, the helicopter, the equipment, and the ranch house.”
“How many heads of cattle?” Adrian asked.
“Two hundred and thirty. All young and fertile. Plus, three bulls in their prime,” Luke answered. “The helicopter is only three years old. The house needs some work, but all three of the barns and corals are in great shape. The stables are in good condition, too. I also have three contracts with food companies to supply them with beef; those are worth one million dollars all together,” Luke said. “If you buy the ranch, it will pay for itself in a couple of years. The contracts won’t end for five years. I just renewed all three of them.”
If what Luke said was true, it was a decent deal. “I would like to take a look at the property before we agree to anything,” Adrian said.
“All three of us should take a lo
ok,” Joey said.
“Not a problem,” Luke said. “I’ll be there tomorrow at one. Is that a good time?”
“It is, for me,” Adrian said.
“Me too,” Joey said. “I think Steve is free, too.”
Luke grinned. “Excellent. If you like what you see, and I’m sure you will, we can make a deal by the end of the month.”
Expanding the ranch has always been Adrian’s dream. If they can secure the Warrington Ranch, they could triple their stock and service more vendors.
Luke swallowed the rest of his beer. “I’ll see you boys tomorrow. Now, if you will excuse me, I’m going to see if I can get some of that potato salad that Noah was raving about.” Luke left them.
“It sounds good,” Joey said. “But, chopper or not, three million dollars is still a little steep.”
“That’s because you’re cheap,” Adrian said with a grin. “Nevertheless, we might get him down a couple of hundred thousand. We’re not hurting for money. We can pay for it.”
“What about the house on the property?” Joey asked. “Luke admitted it wasn’t in good shape.”
“Go talk to Lance,” Adrian said and nodded in the contractor’s way. “See if he will meet us at the Warrington Ranch tomorrow. He’ll be able to tell us if the house is sound.”
“All right,” Joey said and walked off to speak with Lance.
Adrian looked out on the dance floor. Faith was dancing with Steve.
Chapter 26
Faith and Steve swayed to the music and chatted. Faith spotted Adrian walking towards them. He looked like a stud in his black Stetson, tight blue jeans, black boots, and white dress shirt.
“May I cut in?” Adrian asked as he approached them.
“Sure,” Steve said. He let go of Faith and tried to dance with Adrian.
“Get the hell out of here, Steve,” Adrian said with annoyance and stepped to the side.
Faith and Steve laughed.
“It’s been a pleasure as always, Faith,” Steve said and walked away.
Adrian placed his hands on Faith’s waist. He shook his head. “My brother, the joker.”
Faith wrapped her arms around Adrian’s neck. “How ya doin’, cowboy?” she said in a flirtatious tone.
The Rancher Page 11