Taming His Brat

by Piper Stone

  “My kind?” Zeke took several long strides closer, hissing under his breath. “Just what kind is that?”

  “What is all the commotion, son?”

  Rex took a step down the stairs, not bothering to look at his father. “Don’t worry about this, Dad. I can handle it.”

  “What are you boys doing here?” Garland asked, moving to the edge of the railing.

  Zeke gave the older man a smile. “Just some needed work around your place, sir.”

  “Zeke, while I appreciate your thoughtfulness, I think you made a mistake. Can’t afford to have any work done at this point.” Garland flanked Rex’s side.

  “I understand, sir. Just know that we’re volunteering both our time and materials,” Zeke said, his eyes never leaving Rex.

  “Over my dead ass body,” Rex said through clenched teeth.

  Garland placed his hand on his son’s shoulder. “Why? Is this about selling the ranch, ‘cause I’m gonna fight tooth and nail not to allow that to happen.”

  “Let me handle this, Dad.” Rex moved to within a few inches of Zeke. He noticed a vehicle barreling up the driveway, dirt and gravel dust flying from the rate of speed. “Now, you have about one minute to tell me why you’re really here before I call the police.”

  Zeke sneered as he shook his head. “I know you’re a hothead, Rex, but this isn’t about you. This is about your dad.”

  “Look, you asshole!” Rex snarked. “One last chance. Who authorized this?”

  “I don’t like your tone!” Zeke got in his face. “As a matter of fact, I don’t like you at all. You think you’re something special just like you always did.”

  “Whoa!” one of the men shouted.

  Rearing back, Rex was ready to throw a punch when he noticed both Cooper and Angie racing in their direction. “What is she doing here?” His words were directed to Cooper. Sweat beaded along his hairline as everything seemed to drop into slow motion.

  “Cooper and Angie authorized the work,” Zeke shot back.

  “What are you talking about?” Garland asked, moving past Rex onto the grass.

  “You?” Rex pointed at her. “You authorized this?”

  Cooper took a deep breath as she slowed to a walk, her body language pensive as she closed the distance. “Zeke is right but I’m responsible for this, not Angie. All I wanted to do was help.”

  “Help?” Rex huffed after a few seconds. “All of you. Get the hell off this property.”

  “Wait, let me explain. Please,” Cooper wrung her hands as she peered up at him.

  “There’s nothing you can say and nothing I want from you. Leave. Now!” Rex glared at her before turning his hateful gaze toward Zeke. There was no doubt the way the man was looking at the woman he... That he’d loved. The gut-wrenching realization was too damning to tolerate. He wasn’t going to play the fool any longer.

  “Hold on now, Rex. Let the little lady talk.” Garland exhaled. “There’s obviously something going on here.”

  “This is all my fault. Zeke is just trying to help out,” Cooper said in a clipped tone, moving in front of Zeke.

  “Sorry, Dad. There’s nothing she can say that will matter. Just leave,” Rex stated with as much conviction as he could manage, trying his best to ignore her. His heart ached, his mind muddled with trying to figure out why she’d do this. What kind of angle could she have? Did she get some kind of a commission getting her new boyfriend to fix up the place to sell? This just didn’t make any sense to him.

  “Rex, listen to Cooper. You have no idea what she’d been doing,” Angie encouraged.

  “Sorry, Angie. This is none of your concern.” Rex’s hands were clammy, his heart racing. He couldn’t listen to any more of this bullshit. “You have one minute to get off this land. All of you!”

  Zeke held up his hands. “You heard the man, boys. Get our shit and let’s get the fuck out of here. The man is an ungrateful pig.”

  “Rex. You need to let me explain,” Cooper pleaded as she reached out.

  Rex jerked away. “That means you too.” He turned sharply, walking up the stairs, echoes bouncing in his ears.

  “Rex. Don’t do this,” Cooper pleaded.

  His answer? Storming into the house and slamming the door. Rage enveloping his system, he walked into his father’s kitchen, raking his arm across the counter. The sound of breaking glass did little to soothe his nerves. “Fuck. Fuck!”

  He remained in the same position even as he heard the front door closing and footsteps heading in his direction. Then there was silence, the kind of deafening quiet that forced a lump in his throat. “What? Just say it.”

  “I didn’t raise you to be that way, son.” Garland kept his voice little more than a whisper.

  “Yeah? And what way is that?” He wanted to lash out, making certain his father knew that his upbringing had all been at the hands of his mother. Biting his tongue, he kept his eyes pinned on the counter.

  “You don’t know what Cooper is doing and instead of asking, you assumed. Now, I don’t know what she is planning or why, but I know for certain she cares a lot about you.”

  Rex chuckled, finally glancing at his father. “Is that why she’s with Zeke?”

  “Zeke?” Garland shook his head. “For an intelligent man, you’re not very smart.” He walked closer. “I saw the way she was looking at you. Hell, the sparks between you could light up the entire county. She’s in love with you, son.”

  The words hung in the air.

  “Just like you are. You adore that woman, yet you treated her as if you didn’t care about anything she had to say.”

  “That’s because I don’t,” Rex managed. He heard his father’s ragged laugh.

  “Bullshit. If you’d get that boulder off your shoulder and actually listen instead of assuming for a change, you might just realize how special that woman is.”

  Rex had nothing to say.

  “Oh, that’s right. You know it all. Don’t you, son?”

  Swallowing, he dug his nails into the Formica.

  Garland sighed. “I always wanted my son to be just like me and you know what? That’s exactly what happened. I pity you, boy. You’re going to end up alone and lonely, just like your old man.”

  Every step his father made as the man’s boots bounced on the hardwood floor made him cringe. For once, his father was right.

  * * *

  “You’re making a mistake, son.”

  Rex was exhausted, every muscle and bone in his body aching. Sleep had been minimal; every time he’d closed his eyes, he’d seen Cooper’s face and beautiful copper-colored hair. Clenching his hand around his coffee cup, he had no stomach for the nasty taste. “Yeah, maybe so. She made her choice.”

  “She did no such thing.” Garland stood staring out the kitchen window. “She had the same expression as the moment your mother finally fell in love with me.” Chuckling, he took a sip of coffee, as if waiting for Rex to say anything.

  “Love isn’t always enough, Dad. It just isn’t.”

  “What if I told you that she’s willing to put everything on the line to save this ranch?”

  Rex lifted his head, studying his father. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  He kept his gaze locked on the backyard and from where Rex sat, he could see a smirk on his father’s face. “It means, son, that sometimes things aren’t always what they appear to be.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “Didn’t expect you would. This is something that Cooper needs to tell you, if you’re not too stubborn to go and talk to her.”

  Bam! Bam! Bam!

  “What the hell? It’s not even nine in the morning.”

  “Just go see who it is,” Garland suggested.

  “If you set me up, I swear to God.”

  “No, son. Not my place to interfere. You’re doing a fine job digging your own grave.”

  Huffing, he pushed the coffee away, taking his time getting out of the seat. He didn’t make it to the front door b
efore the visitor knocked again, this time harder. “Hold on. Jesus.” He barely got the door open when Angie barged inside. “Angie. What are you doing here?”

  “She’s gone.”

  “Cooper?” It felt like a knife was thrust into his gut. She couldn’t be gone.

  “Yep and my guess is permanently,” Angie snapped. “And it’s all your fault.”

  “My fault? She decided on another man. How the hell is it my fault?”

  “You’re such an asshole sometimes. Pigheaded. Even a jerk. I just can’t believe this. All our hard work and she just threw it all away.”

  Rex watched her pacing and heard his father’s approach. Perfect. Now his dad could tell him ‘I told you so.’ He might start drinking this early in the day. “Will you just tell me what’s going on?”

  “Hi, Mr. Sullivan. Sorry to drop by so early.”

  “Angie. No problem. I appreciate your call last night. Put everything into perspective,” Garland answered.

  Rex shot his father a look. “Where did Cooper go?”

  “New York. My guess is she’s going to be getting on a plane in about an hour. That is if you don’t stop her. She loves you, you big lug head. She isn’t dating, seeing, or fucking Zeke. I hired his company to work on your father’s ranch, fixing up the buildings and repairing the corral.”

  “Why would you do that? I don’t understand.” An odd wave of heat raced down Rex’s spine. As he glanced back and forth between them, he knew without a doubt his father had at least some inkling what was going on. “We can’t afford to have work done on the place. I’m going to do anything that’s necessary.”

  “If you get your head out of your ass, son and let her finish, you might learn something that is just about the best thing I’ve heard in a long time.” Garland leaned against the wall, his arms folded and his eyes twinkling.

  Angie glanced at her watch. “We don’t have much time so here goes. Cooper had an idea to help you and your dad, getting volunteers to work on the ranch.”

  “What, to sell it?”

  “Would you please shut up?” she demanded. “Damn it, Rex. She had me hooked on this idea to turn the ranch into a dude ranch for children and their families with cancer. That’s what she’s been working on for days. We have hundreds of volunteers, approval from the county, livestock being held in your name, and contractor supplies from all across the state. Even the marketing firm she interviewed with the other day is on board, creating an entire campaign. You have no idea how many people are eager and excited to help you. Yes, we have a few obstacles to overcome but can’t you see she had her heart in the right place? I mean, don’t you get it? Don’t you understand what Cooper is trying to do? Give you both your life back. She loves you. I’m not entirely certain why, but she does. She. Loves. You.”

  The words hung in the air like a heavy weight on his heart.

  Huffing, she ran her hand through her hair. “Say something. Anything!”

  “I don’t know what to say,” Rex whispered, the words echoing, strangling him.

  “Don’t just stand there, cowboy. Get your ass moving.” Angie pointed toward the door.

  “Tell him the rest, Angie. He needs to know all of it,” Garland suggested. “Angie called me a little while ago. I told her to come, hoping you’d listen to some reason.”

  Rex sucked in his breath, trying his best to comprehend everything.

  Angie shrank back before digging into her purse. “Are you always such a hardhead? I think she can tell you better than I can. She left me this note with her father to give to me. This is how I knew she was leaving. This is... Oh, just read it.”

  Rex glared at the folded paper before reaching out, his hand shaking as he wrapped his fingers around it. Unfolding it, the first glimpse of her handwriting brought another stab to his heart.

  “Why don’t you read it out loud, son? I think it might do all of us some good.”

  He heard his father’s now comforting tone and almost broke down reading the first few words. “Dear Angie. I know my bestie, and you’ll ask questions. I wanted you to know that I’ve decided to take the position in New York. I love Rex with...” He closed his eyes, taking several deep breaths.

  “Go on, Rex. You need to hear this,” Garland said quietly.

  Rex wiped his eyes before continuing. “I love Rex with all my heart, but I don’t think we’re meant for each other. I believe in everything we planned and I know Whitehorse Dude Ranch is going to be a success. What I didn’t get a chance to tell you is that my father threw a bombshell into everything the other day. He never told me that I had a trust fund. He wanted his little girl to stand on her own two feet. My father is a shrewd businessman, even to the detriment of his own company. I’m worth a lot of money and I’m the investor we needed. Please don’t tell Rex or his father about the mortgage being paid off or that I’ve placed monies into a fund to get the dude ranch off the ground. He’s a proud man and...” Unable to focus his eyes or finish, Rex was shaking, his throat entirely closed off.

  Garland walked closer, gripping Rex around the shoulders. “What did I tell you, son? She’s a keeper.”

  “She... did this?” Rex finally asked.

  “I had a call from Mr. Tyler at the bank. I also talked to her father, who confirmed. I guess she believes in you.” Angie opened the door. “If you hurry, you just might make it. If not, you’re going to regret the decision for the rest of your life.”

  Rex took one last glance at his father, before grabbing his keys. He could only pray to God that he made it in time.

  Chapter Fourteen

  “Come on! Get moving!” Slamming on his horn, Rex had one more block to go before turning into the entrance for the airport. Traffic was a bitch, moving at a snail’s pace. Sweat beaded down both sides of his face, running into his eyes. He wiped the salty beads away furiously for the second time and turned up the air conditioning. “Please. Move!” Yelling at the other drivers wasn’t going to do any good. Angie had checked on flights, calling him to say there were two possibilities. Both leaving within fifteen minutes of each other.

  And all he had left was twenty.

  He was going to make it. Damn it. As the traffic started moving, he hovered over the steering wheel, panting like some freaking dog. Yeah, maybe that was the best way to classify himself, a lowlife dog. He’d allowed his ego to interfere with either his heart or his mind. When he was able to make the turn, he almost rear-ended a truck before passing it, moving way over the speed limit, but he didn’t give a shit whether or not he got a ticket. He was on a mission.

  There was no parking close. Nothing. All the gods were against him. When he did find a spot, he barely had it in park before cutting the engine and jumping out of the cab. He took off running, weaving in and out of people and jumping the curb. Once inside, he was completely out of breath as he glanced at the departure board. One was boarding right now. “Fuck!”

  He knew without a doubt he looked like a crazy person as he waited to go through the security check, dumping his keys and change, even taking off his belt before he was able to walk through, one boot tapping against the linoleum. The second he rushed through, the alarm gave everyone a pause as well as stern looks coming in his direction.

  “Sir, step this way,” the agent told him, pointing to the side.

  “You don’t understand. I have to get to the departure areas for American Airlines, flights fifty-five and four-ten. I have to stop her.” Yeah, his voice rang out like a beacon of terrorism. “It’s the woman I love. She’s the only reason for my happiness.” He could barely talk, anxiety gripping his vocal cords like a tight vise.

  “I understand, sir. Just step over here and this won’t take long.”

  Several of the other passengers watched him with interest as he tried to figure out what was causing the alarm, digging through his pockets. “Please. I’m running out of time. I love her. She can’t get on the flight.”

  “Which one?” a voice came from somewhere behind hi
m.

  He snapped his head, still panting. “I don’t know. She’s going to New York.” His dog tags. That had to be it. Yanking them from under his shirt, he’d forgotten that he’d put them back on just that morning. “Here. This has to be the issue.” He was giddy like a kid as the agent ran the wand across the chain. The buzzer sounded.

  “Take that off and let’s go through this again.”

  Anger and joy, love and sadness all melded together in the heaviest amount of emotional baggage he’d felt in a long time. Rex kept his cool as he yanked off the chain, kissing the tags as if for good luck. Maybe his buddies were with him in spirit knowing he had to do this.

  With no alarm, he grabbed his things, hearing a few claps as he bolted up the escalator, taking stairs three at a time. He scanned every person as well as the direction signs, finally finding the first flight, the notice indicating that the plane had already started boarding. He stood taller than the majority of the people, at least thirty passengers who hadn’t boarded yet, recognizing no one. Racing to the counter, he slapped his hand down. “Can you tell me if Miss Cooper Dawson is on the plane?”

  “Sir, we can’t tell you that for security reasons.”

  He glared at the tiny blonde, doing his best to curtail any nasty words. “I need to see her. She’s the love of my life. She’s the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with. Only she doesn’t know it yet.”

  The blonde’s eyes grew wide and after hesitating and giving him a solid once-over, she took a glance down at her computer. “All I can tell you is that we don’t have anyone by that name.”

  “Thank you! You rock!” Maybe he had time. Maybe.

  Rex had to push his way through passengers, stumbling twice, his mind reeling with near madness until he found the correct boarding area for the second plane. “Cooper!” Almost the second he ran into the area, the sign lit for boarding, an announcement made and everyone stood up. “Shit. Shit. Cooper!”

  He was now pushing, trying to see over the large crowd as passengers began making their way into the boarding corridor. “Cooper Dawson!”

  Men and women looked in his direction, so many eager faces. But none of them was Cooper.