“You did.”
“At the time I didn’t think so.”
“Her parents came to see me when I was in the hospital.”
Jace hadn’t heard this before. “And?”
“Her mother told me that Rosa never loved me and that she’d only stayed with me because she was afraid of me. She also told me that Rosa had been in love with someone else for months, but she knew, if she told me who it was, I’d kill him.”
“Jesus.”
“There was more.”
More? Jace wondered what more there could possibly be.
“She cursed me. She said I’d never find love, because I didn’t deserve it. I spent a lot of years believing she was right.”
That part, Jace understood, because it was the way he was beginning to feel.
“I don’t know if I’ll ever get over the guilt of what happened that night. She died because of me. There’s no denying that part of it.”
“It was an accident, Tucker. I’m just as responsible for it happening as you are.”
“You weren’t driving.”
“I might as well have been. I was the reason you were in such a rage, although you didn’t know it at the time.”
Tucker was quiet again, for a long while. “I understand why you didn’t tell me,” he finally said.
“I don’t. It’s unforgivable that I didn’t.”
“I don’t agree, Jace. In fact, if the situations were reversed, I doubt I ever would’ve told you.”
“That doesn’t make sense.”
“Rosa is dead. We can’t go back and undo it. I’ll always feel guilty about the accident. I’ll always feel responsible for her death, but what happened was just as much her fault as it was yours or mine. More so.”
“I can’t accept that, Tuck. It was my fault. That’s the part I can’t get over. A better man never would’ve gotten involved with his brother’s girlfriend. It wasn’t casual, I spent more time with Rosa than you did.”
“Why didn’t I see it, Jace? She was unhappy with me. If she hadn’t been, she wouldn’t have had time to spend with you. I wonder where the hell my head was the whole time.”
Jace had wondered then. Which was why he’d been so surprised when he heard Tucker tell their dad he wanted to marry her. He honestly hadn’t believed they were very serious.
“I don’t think I spent much time listening to her. She had you for that. I just did what I wanted, what I thought was best for her; I didn’t bother to ask her what she thought was best.” Tucker rubbed his hands over his face. “I can tell you, Blythe doesn’t put up with that shit for a hot minute.”
Jace laughed. He knew Blythe well enough to know she wouldn’t. She wasn’t unlike her sister in that regard. Whenever Jace assumed he knew what was best for either one of them, Bree was the first to tell him he didn’t know jack.
“I forgive you, Jace.”
Jace gripped the steering wheel as tight as he could, and struggled to stop his tears. He’d longed to hear those words, but now that he had, he realized his brother’s forgiveness was only part of it. He needed to forgive himself, and he wasn’t sure he ever could.
There was no sign of Lyric when Bree walked into the house in the glen. It wasn’t surprising. Lyric was almost always off working one part of her business or another. Bree had never met anyone who worked as hard as Lyric did.
The house was stuffy, which told her Lyric probably hadn’t been there in days. She walked through the rooms, opening windows.
She unpacked, checked her email, and went to the market to stock up on groceries.
When she came back, she’d run out of excuses. She’d put it off long enough. She had to do it. She had to tell Jace she decided they shouldn’t see each other again.
9
It wasn’t that simple. She knew she’d have to see him. As he said last year, they’d always be a part of each other’s lives. Her sister, his brother, their baby. There wasn’t any way around it.
At least for the time being, it would be easy. She’d be here for another year, and then she’d leave Colorado. It was a decision she made before she left Idaho, before she said goodbye to Red and promised to come back as soon as she could. That was step one, at least for now. After her year at the academy was up, she planned to return to Idaho and make a life for herself there.
She and Jace might see each other occasionally. Maybe holidays, if he could get away from the ranch in Montana. Otherwise, she’d make herself scarce if she knew he was in town.
They’d both done what they needed to do. She mourned Zack. It wasn’t as though grieving ended, she understood that. But she’d made progress. She was no longer in denial; that was the main hurdle she’d overcome.
And Jace? He’d reconciled with his brother, and they were in Crested Butte together, arranging to make a deal to partner with their cousins in rough stock contracting on the Flying R Ranch.
Blythe told her about the plan. She and Jace hadn’t talked yet. They’d left messages for each other, but hadn’t connected.
The contracting deal had been an easy one to make. Billy had laid the groundwork before they arrived. The initial idea behind the partnership changed, though. Rather than Ben Rice and his brothers going into business with Billy, Jace and his parents, Tucker was added as a partner in the new venture too.
There were barns and a practice pen already in place at the ranch. They’d need to add fencing strong enough to manage the bulls, front and back chutes, and a few other things, but it wouldn’t take them long to get the Crested Butte operation running at full capacity.
“Lotta babies around here,” Jace said to Billy during dinner at Ben and Liv’s.
“Another one comin’.”
“Oh, yeah? You and Irene been breedin’?”
“That’s a damn crass way to put it, Rice, but yeah, we’re havin’ a baby ’bout eight months from now. And you know, everybody but you calls her Renie. Hearin’ you call her Irene…”
Jace understood without the words needing to be said. Whenever he called her something other than Renie, it was a reminder of when Jace had believed he was in love with her. It probably reminded Billy of the same thing. “Congratulations,” he said. “This is big news, ’specially for somebody as old as you are.”
Billy scowled at him, then shook his head, and his scowl turned into a grin. “Gotta give Willow a little brother or sister before she gets too big to wanna play with ’em.”
Willow was Billy’s daughter with another woman who had passed away. Jace heard that Renie adopted the little girl soon after she and Billy were married.
Jace looked over to where Renie played with Willow. Ben and Liv’s baby girl, Caden, and Cochran were playing too. Willow was a little older than the other two, but they were close enough in age that they would grow up as playmates and friends.
Jace wondered if he’d ever have kids of his own. He hoped so. Maybe even one day soon. He wasn’t getting any younger himself—in just a few months, he and Tucker would turn thirty.
He walked out to the front porch and hit redial on his phone. He and Bree had been playing phone tag, and he needed to talk to her.
“Hey, pretty girl,” he said when she answered.
“Jace, how are you?”
“Better now that I hear your voice. It’s been too long since I have.”
“Where are you?”
“At Ben and Liv’s. They hosted dinner for the crew. Did Blythe pass on the news ’bout the deal we got goin’ down here?”
“She did, and congratulations. Not just about that. I’m so happy you and Tucker have worked things out.”
“Yeah,” he sighed. “I can’t believe I haven’t talked to you about it. I sure have wanted to.”
When she didn’t answer, Jace wondered if their call had dropped.
“Bree? You still there?”
“I’m here, but I’m awfully tired, Jace. Can we talk more tomorrow?”
“Uh, of course we can. You okay, Bree?”
&n
bsp; More silence.
“Come on, talk to me. What’s goin’ on?”
“I’ve given this a lot of thought…”
Jace felt sick to his stomach. Was she really about to say what he thought she was?
“Jesus,” he muttered.
“Jace, please, hear me out.”
“What’s happened, Bree? I thought we were both workin’ out our shit so we could see what might happen between us. You tellin’ me I was wrong about that?”
“Here we go, Jace. Do you realize what you’re doing?”
“What am I doing, Bree?” Sarcasm dripped from each word he spoke.
“Forget it. Why do I need to say anything at all? As usual, you’ve got it all figured out. Have a great life, Jace. Maybe we’ll bump into each other over the holidays.”
This time Jace recognized the silence for what it was. Bree had disconnected the call.
That hadn’t gone the way she’d wanted it to at all. She’d wanted to explain that she’d given it a lot of thought and realized how little they had in common. If she’d had the chance to explain, maybe he would’ve understood. Then again, maybe not.
The first time someone shows you who they are, believe them. It was a quote from Maya Angelou, and this wasn’t the only time she was reminded of it. When she met Jace, he was overbearing, unwilling to listen to the opinions of those around him, and generally, a pain in the ass. Just the way he’d been a few minutes ago.
“I gotta get out of here,” Jace said to Tucker.
“Hold up a minute.” Tucker had Cochran in his arms, and the baby was almost asleep. He handed him to Blythe.
“What’s goin’ on?” Tucker asked.
“I’ve been spending some time with Bree. You know, Blythe’s sister.”
Tucker nodded his head.
“I think she just dumped me.”
“Ya think?”
“Nah. I don’t think. I know. Shit.”
Tucker’s head was down. “You wanna run.”
“Yeah, I do. Not far though. I just gotta get away from all these babies and all this damn…happiness.”
Tucker laughed. “Come on, bro. Let’s ride instead.”
Jace followed Tucker to the barn. “You think we should ask somebody before we take one of their horses?”
“We’re takin’ two. And no, we’re good.”
They didn’t talk for most of the ride. When they did, Jace spoke first.
“I brought Irene out here on a day that she was fixin’ to run herself.” He laughed. “I got dumped that day too.”
Tucker didn’t respond.
“Come on, Tuck. Say whatever you’re thinkin’.”
“I got nothin’.”
“Really? Nothing? Nothing at all? Or nothing you wanna say?”
“I’m about the last person on earth who should be giving anyone advice about women. It is by the grace of God that Blythe loves me.”
“But…”
“Nope. I mean it. I got nothin’. Just about anybody else in that ranch house could give you better advice than me.”
Ben walked into the barn just as he and Tucker finished getting the horses settled back in.
“Hey, Ben,” said Jace. “Hope you don’t mind that we went for a ride.”
Ben smiled. “Better than one of ya leavin’ town without thankin’ my Livvie for dinner.”
Tucker laughed. “Exactly the reason I got him on a horse instead of lettin’ him get in the truck. Didn’t want Liv to think both of your cousins were rude assholes.”
“I woulda’ come back.” Jace grinned. “Unlike you.”
“Good to see you two givin’ each other shit again.”
Jace’s eyes met Tucker’s. Words weren’t necessary. Both felt the connection; it was solid for the first time in a very long time.
“How’s Blythe doin’?” Tucker asked Ben.
“Tired. I think she’s ready to take a nap alongside Cochran.”
“You got a minute?” Jace asked Ben after Tucker left the barn.
“Got nothin’ but time out here on the ranch.”
“Can I ask about you and Liv?”
“I can talk about sweet Liv all day and all night. She’s my favorite subject.” Ben smiled again.
Jace doubted he’d ever known a guy happier and more in love than Ben Rice. Except Billy and Tucker, and his dad. Jeez, it seemed as though every guy he knew was happy and in love.
He’d heard most of the story of how Liv and Ben met. He’d also heard that Ben had had to work mighty hard to convince Liv they were meant to be together.
“How did you finally win her over?”
Ben sat down on a bale of hay, closed his eyes, and leaned his head back. “It was fate more than it was me if you wanna know the truth. I just about gave up plenty of times.”
Ben stood and rubbed the nose of the horse in the stall closest to them.
“If this horse could talk, he’d be able to tell you how hard it was for me to convince her we belonged together. Isn’t that right, Micah?”
Liv’s horse nickered as though he understood what Ben was saying.
“She was convinced she wasn’t enough for me, crazy as it sounds. The truth was, we both had some cookin’ left to do when we first met. Wasn’t just her; it was me too. You couldn’t have told me at the time though.”
“Yeah?”
“Oh, yeah. Once I decided she was the girl for me, I wouldn’t take no for an answer. Until I was finally forced to.”
“How’d you end up back together again?”
“I’m telling you, it was fate. Every time either one of us gave up, fate would throw us back in front of each other. We both decided we might as well start paying attention.”
“You know who Bree is, right? Blythe’s sister.”
“Yeah, I do. Sad that, losing her husband.”
“We spent some time together, but now…”
“Talk about someone who’s still got cookin’ to do.”
“What do you mean?”
Ben continued to rub Micah’s nose. “You should talk to Liv about this. Nobody understands better than she does.”
Jace remembered hearing that Liv lost her husband before Renie was born, also in a war, also in the Air Force. He supposed Ben was right. Liv could shed a light on how Bree felt, unlike anyone else.
“Think she’d mind?”
“You don’t know Liv very well if you have to ask. You said you spent some time together. What does that mean?”
“My mama and Blythe conspired to get the two of us together. Bree was at a dude ranch in Idaho. One that I visited, thinkin’ they had a bull for sale that my daddy wanted me to go and bid on.”
“No bull?”
“No bull.”
“Then what happened?”
“We spent a few days together. Talked about our lives. I credit Bree with helping me realize that I had to do whatever it took to fix things with Tuck.”
“What about her?”
“We both knew she wasn’t ready for another relationship. I mean, we both wanted it, bad. But, we agreed to wait. When I left Idaho, it was with the understanding that we’d go off, work on our shit, and try to find our way back to each other.”
“That doesn’t sound so bad. You’re workin’ things out with your brother. She’s doin’ what she needs to do. What’s the problem?”
“When I talked to her a couple hours ago, I think she was tryin’ to tell me she wasn’t interested any longer.”
“Wait a minute. You think that’s what she was trying to tell you?”
“I didn’t give her much of a chance to talk.”
Ben leaned his head back and laughed. He laughed so hard that Jace couldn’t help but laugh himself.
“What’s so funny?”
Ben leaned over and rubbed Jace’s shoulder. “You’re a Rice, son. Through and through. Liv’s gonna love this.” Ben continued to laugh.
“I’m glad you think my pain is so hysterical.”
“Y
ou know that isn’t why I’m laughing. I’m laughing because you sound so much like me. And I’ll tell you, you’re what? Twenty-nine?”
“That’s right.”
“I was forty-three before I realized I should keep my damn mouth shut once in a while. You’re years ahead of me. Be happy about that.”
“I have a feeling it’s too late for me with Bree.”
“Maybe. Then again, if you think about it, you were crazy about Renie. Am I right?”
“I was.”
“And you had a thing for Blythe too for a while.”
“Yep. You have a point?”
“When it’s right, it works. And when it isn’t, it doesn’t. If I remember correctly, you were pretty broken up about Renie. Didn’t take you long to move on.”
“Bree’s different,” Jace scowled.
“You know, I get the sense she is different.”
“I don’t want to move on from her.”
“Then don’t.”
When Bree came out of her bedroom the next morning, there was a man sleeping on her couch.
“Who the hell are you?” she screeched before she had a chance to think about it.
He rolled over and pulled the blanket up, over his bare chest. “I’m Bullet, ma’am. Lyric’s brother. I’m sorry if I scared ya, bein’ here.”
Lyric came flying out of her bedroom.
Bree held up her hand. “I’m sorry, Lyric. I didn’t realize you came back last night, and I didn’t mean to be rude to your brother.”
“Ah hell, don’t apologize to me. I was just about to apologize to you. We didn’t get in ’til almost four in the morning. I shoulda’ woke you up to tell you he was here.”
Bree walked over and held out her hand to the bewildered-looking man on her couch.
“I’m Bree,” she said.
He reached out from under the blanket and shook her hand. “I guess I already told you my name. It’s nice to meet you, ma’am. Lyric’s told me a lot about you.”
The three of them stayed in the same place, each waiting for the other to move. It dawned on Bree that Bullet might not have much clothing on under that blanket.
“Excuse me,” she said and went into the kitchen. “I’ll get some coffee started. Bullet, do you drink coffee?”
Stay with Me (Cowboys of Crested Butte Book 4) Page 10