by Robin Kaye
He’d heard her say it a million times, but the only place he felt close to his parents was at the ranch. He could still picture his mother by the stove or reading to him in the meadow, his father helping him build his fort or fixing the generator. For Ben, that was where all the memories of his parents were. Where they would always be.
She studied him. “I’ve always worried about you, you know—losing both your parents at such a young age. You were taken away from everything you knew and thrown into a much different world.”
Ben took a sip of his coffee, set it down, and stared into it. “I was fine.” The last thing he wanted to do was talk about this. It brought back too many memories—bad ones. No one wants to think of their parents flying into the side of a mountain.
Patting his hand, Kate silenced him with a nudge. “You went from being homeschooled to private school. From being an only child running around the mountains to one of five living under the same roof in town, with your grandfather introducing you to world leaders and grooming you to take over his empire. That’s a lot of change and pressure for a little boy.”
“I had you and Gramps. I was fine.”
“You’ve always been a chameleon.” Kate sighed. “No matter who you met or where you were, you seemed to blend right in. I kept waiting for you to react, to lash out, something… I thought for sure you would end up on a shrink’s couch for the rest of your life.”
“But I didn’t.”
Kate sipped of her coffee before dabbing her lip with a napkin. “I can’t tell you how many sleepless nights I had worrying about you. I thought for sure you were burying your pain and would finally snap and show us who was really behind that chameleon persona. It never happened. It took me a while but I’ve realized that you are just comfortable in your own skin. No matter where you are, who you are with, you have a God-given ability to relate to anyone. Though, I don’t think it would hurt you to see a shrink. You’re far from perfect.” She studied him in that way she had that made people want to confess all. “And you still have that little problem.”
Ben wanted to roll his eyes but didn’t since Kate wasn’t above giving him a smack upside the head. “What problem?”
“You, Benjamin Joseph Walsh, are a card carrying commitaphobe.”
Ben laughed. “Gina says I’m OCD and now you tell me I’m afraid of commitment? How can you say that? I just got married.”
“Yes, but not because you’re committed to your wife. The only thing you’re committed to is that ranch.”
“I need the ranch, Kate. It’s mine.”
She gave Ben a big hug before she released him. “You and Joe are on your own with this one, Benji. I’ve decided to stay out of it. You’re a grown man and so is Joe, although sometimes you both make me wonder.”
Ben bent down and gave her a kiss on the cheek. “Thanks, Kate. If it makes you feel better, I don’t like it much myself, but he’s given me no choice. You know how much that ranch means to me.”
“Maybe Joe will learn a lesson about interfering in other peoples’ lives. It would serve the old goat right. Still, I’m worried about your relationship if this blows up in both your faces. He needs you, Ben. I know it seems like he’s going to live forever, but he’s slowing down. He needs you to pick up the slack or he’s going to have to find someone else to do it.”
“That’s why I’m here. I figure I’ll telecommute when I can, and when I can’t, I’ll be here.”
“Have you called Karma and the boys to tell them you’re home?”
Ben lifted the top off a pot she had simmering on the stove. “Not yet. This smells great. What is it?”
“Elk stew. Hunter went and filled my freezer and your grandfather’s in one trip.”
“I figured I’d go over to Humpin’ Hannah’s and surprise Karma if she’s working tonight.”
“She is, but I still don’t know what a girl with a college degree is doing tending bar.”
Oh, the same argument Kate had had with Karma since the day she graduated. “She’s making great money, more than she’d make at an entry-level job.”
Kate stirred the stew. “Sure she is but entry level means she wouldn’t stay at that pay level for long. She’d do better as she worked her way up the corporate ladder. But no, she’s all about getting paid the big bucks now.”
Ben shrugged. “Karma’s a smart kid. She knows what she’s doing.”
Kate thumped the wooden spoon on the side of the big pot with more force than necessary. “I don’t like her working there until all hours.”
“I know, but the boys keep an eye on her. The three of them are there all the time.”
Kate shook her head as if to clear it. “So, how long are you staying?”
“I don’t know. I’m in no rush to get back to New York.”
“And your wife doesn’t have a problem with that?”
“Gina knows the deal. It’s business.”
Kate held up her hand. “Stop, I don’t want to hear anything else. All I want to know is that you are okay with it. That’s all I care about.”
“I’m fine with it.”
“Good then. Why don’t you take your bags up to your room while I set the table?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“And you better actually put your clothes away. I’m not your personal maid.”
Ben smiled as her lecture followed him down the hall. It was good to be home.
***
The phone rang and Gina reached for it, flipped it open, and growled.
“Hi, honey, I’m home.”
She rolled over and pushed her satin sleep mask off her eyes onto her forehead. “Who the hell is this?”
Ben’s deep voice came through the phone. “You’ve forgotten about me already?”
Gina opened one eye, the blue numbers on the clock said 11:43. “Ben? Why are you calling this late? You better have just survived a plane crash or I swear I’ll make you wish you had.”
She heard his soft chuckle. “Aw, you were worried about me, weren’t you?”
Gina sat up and pushed the feather pillows behind her. “Yeah, that’s why I was sleeping so soundly.”
Tina rolled over and groaned. “Who is it?”
“Go back to sleep. It’s just Ben being a pain in the ass.”
“Gina, who the hell are you talking to in bed?”
The first thing that came to mind was that it was none of his business, but since they’d agreed to forgo bed partners of the opposite sex, or in his case, the same sex, she figured she should answer him. Still, it didn’t mean she had to like it. “My sister. Sam works nights so I invited her to dinner and she ended up sleeping over.”
“You have seven bedrooms and you’re sleeping in the same one?”
“Yeah, so? It’s not like we’re sharing a twin. This thing is as big as our first apartment.”
“Kinky. I like that about you.”
“Yeah, you would.” His gravelly voice gave her goose pimples. She rubbed her bare arms and tried to control her temper. “So is there a reason you called me in the middle of the night and woke me out of a dead sleep?”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t realize the time. I just thought you’d like to know I arrived in Boise safe and sound.”
“I know I should say thank you, but right now, I’m not feeling that charitable. I’m glad you didn’t crash is about as nice as I get at this hour.”
“I guess that’ll have to do. Sleep well, Gina, and have a great day tomorrow. I’ll give you a call tomorrow night.”
“You will?”
“Yes.”
“Do me a favor, then.”
“Sure, what do you need?”
“If you’re going to call me, do it before 11:00 my time, or the next time I see you, you’ll have a real brush with death.”
His low chuckle rang out until she hit the end button. She missed having a real old-fashioned telephone. There was something so satisfying about slamming the phone down on an annoying caller.
&n
bsp; Tina rolled toward her. “He sure is attentive for a relative stranger.”
Gina scooted under the down duvet. She’d never slept in a bed this comfortable or under sheets this fine. She doubted they’d come from K-Mart. They felt glorious on her bare arms. “I think he just gets off on yanking my chain. Plus, he’s staying with his grandfather who thinks he interrupted our honeymoon. Calling me to say he arrived safely just makes it look good for the old guy.” Only his grandfather wasn’t there earlier to witness that über-confusing, not to mention meltingly hot, kiss. She still couldn’t figure out what that was all about. Not that she was thinking about it.
“Oh yeah, that’s why he mentioned the kink factor. He sounded weirdly jealous.”
“You heard that?”
Tina pushed her hair out of her eyes. “It’s not like I’m in the next room. He sounded equal parts turned on and mad.”
“Tina, he was joking. Besides, we made a deal not to see anyone for the first year. I’m hoping the marriage doesn’t last that long, but we both agreed to give up men just in case the old guy gets curious and sends someone to check up on us. The marriage has to look legit.”
“That must be difficult to explain to your boyfriends.”
Gina laughed, but there was no humor in it. “I guess it’s a good thing I don’t have any, and, at the moment, neither does he.”
***
Ben hung up the phone and laughed. Gina really didn’t like being woken up. He’d completely forgotten about the time change. For some reason, he just needed to talk to her.
“Were you just talking to that wife of yours?”
Ben looked up from the sandwich he’d been throwing together to find his grandfather pouring himself a Jim Beam.
“Her name is Gina and didn’t your doctor tell you to knock off the booze?”
Big Joe slicked back what was left of his white hair and scowled. “I’m eighty years old. When you get as old as me, you have the right to tell your doctors where to stuff their advice. I have one or two a night. It’s medicinal. How do you think I’ve survived this long?”
“I figured it was sheer orneriness.”
Gramps shrugged. “Yeah, I’m sure it’s that too. So, tell me about the little missus. You got any pictures of the wedding? You know, the one I didn’t get an invitation to?”
Ben bit the corner off the sandwich and chewed. Damn, he’d never even thought of getting wedding pictures. At the time, the only thing he could think of was getting through it. He did remember Rosalie snapping a picture or two with her camera phone. Hardly a wedding album. “I don’t have any pictures with me. I’ll get some though.”
His grandfather didn’t look as if he believed the marriage ever took place. He should have thought about bringing proof. “Gina’s a tiny little thing.” He put his hand out to show how short she was. “She has jet-black, short hair and the most amazing honey-colored eyes. She’s well-built but man is she tiny.”
“You sound like you’re talking about a car. I thought since I sent the jet over for you, you’d bring her along. You’ve been married all of what, two weeks? Is the honeymoon over already? That doesn’t bode well for the marriage.”
“Gina doesn’t like flying. As a matter-of-fact, she’s never been on a plane.”
Big Joe sat on a stool at the breakfast bar across from Ben. “Women are like horses. You have to break them early. It’s about time you started. You need to bring her out here, show the little lady her new home, and introduce her around to the family.”
Right, like that’ll ever happen. Ben couldn’t imagine Gina in Boise. He shook his head. “Gramps, Gina’s a New Yorker. She’s not the Idaho type. She has her own career in Manhattan and she’s not interested in giving all that up to live here.”
“Then why in the hell did you marry her?”
“You wanted me married, I got married. Besides, I spend a lot of time in the city. We’ll have plenty of time together and plenty of time apart.”
“Boy, what you don’t know about marriage could fill Hell’s Canyon. You have to build a marriage the way you build a log cabin; you gotta start with a good strong foundation. It sounds to me like you’re building your marriage on a pile of sand. Come the first windstorm, it’s going to fall apart. You mark my words. I was married to the same woman for almost forty years. We didn’t stay together that long by flying away from each other two weeks after our weddin’ day.”
Ben took a pull off his beer. “Gina’s a modern, independent woman. Things are different now, Gramps. She has her life and I have mine. It works for us.”
“Yeah, then who was she talkin’ to when you were on the phone with her? It’s a little late on the East Coast to be keepin’ comp’ny.”
Ben set his beer down on the counter. “She invited her little sister over for dinner to show her our new house and since Tina’s husband works nights, she stayed over.”
“In the same bed?”
“Gina’s a little intimidated by the size of our house—we bought a five-story brownstone in a really nice section of Brooklyn and she’s never lived in such a big place. She told me our bed is bigger than her first apartment. It’s good Tina stayed over. She and Gina are very close. I felt bad leaving her there alone the first night in our new home.”
Grandpa Joe took a sip of his drink. “She wouldn’t be alone if she was where she should be, here with you.”
Ben looked up from his sandwich. “Give her a break, Gramps. You’ll meet her eventually, and when you do, I know you’ll love her. She’s a real spitfire.”
Gramps grumbled. “I don’t know about you, but it’s about time I got these old bones of mine into a nice soft bed.” He drained the last of his whiskey. “I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Night, Gramps. Sleep well.”
“The board meeting is at nine. Don’t be late.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll be there.” Not that he had much of a choice. Ben watched as his grandfather shuffled out of the kitchen. He would swear the old guy was beginning to shrink. He took a sip of his beer and wondered when his life had gotten so out of control. Okay, scratch that, he knew when. His grandfather’s eightieth birthday.
Ben checked his watch and smiled. He took the last bite of his sandwich, rinsed his dish, and put it in the dishwasher before he chugged the last of the beer and tossed it in the recycling bin. He knew if he left a mess, Kate would box his ears. It was a good time to go over to Humpin’ Hannah’s and see Karma. He shrugged on his shearling-lined denim jacket and grabbed his keys. The metal keychain smacked against his new wedding ring. That was something else he’d have to get used to.
***
Ben pulled the door of Humpin’ Hannah’s open and the sounds and smells of his home away from home hit him. The band played a cover of “Walk this Way.” Karma worked the crowded bar, her wild blonde hair shining under the overhead lights. He pocketed his keys and pulled out his billfold before slapping a twenty on the bar to get Karma’s attention.
“Benji!” She ran around the bar and jumped up on him, wrapping her legs around his waist the way she had ever since she was big enough to jump.
Ben gave her a hug and set her down.
“I wasn’t expecting you! What are you doing here?”
Ben sat on a stool. “I just flew in a few hours ago. I have a board meeting in the morning.”
Karma turned, worked her way back behind the bar, and looked around before filling a mug with Pale Ale. “Is the little woman with you?” She slid the beer toward him.
“Are you kidding? Gina in Boise? Not likely.”
Karma scrunched up her nose. “Too high-brow for us rednecks?”
Ben laughed. “Definitely not. She’s just a city girl who’s never set foot west of New Jersey and apparently never wants to—a definite plus.” He took a sip of beer.
Karma gave him another crinkled-nose look.
“I got married to get my ranch, not for companionship. The last thing I need is to spend any more time with my
wife.” He brushed his hair from his forehead and took off his jacket. Just the thought of Gina was enough to raise his body temperature twenty degrees. Not a good idea. The further away he stayed from her, the better.
Karma turned to the other bartender. “Kevin, watch the bar. I’m taking a break. You,” she pointed at Ben, “come with me.”
Ben followed her through the tables to the office on the other side of the room. She unlocked the door and turned on the lights. “Shut the door behind you. We need to talk.”
“That sounds ominous.” He took a seat and set his beer on the desk. “I guess this is my night for the third degree.”
Karma sat at the desk and poured herself a shot of tequila. “I still can’t believe you actually went through with it. You married a total stranger.”
“It’s a business agreement, Karma. Nothing more.”
She tossed back the shot and poured another. When she came up for air, her angry eyes met his. “Is that what you’re going to tell your next wife?”
Next wife? He’d never planned to have one wife, no less two.
“You hadn’t thought of that, have you, Ben? What happens when you fall head over heels and have to explain to your true love that you were married before? Or worse yet, that you are married. That’ll go over real well.”
Him in love? “Not likely.”
Karma slammed her glass down on the desk. He was pretty sure she left a dent.
He sat a little straighter. “What is your problem?”
“You really don’t get it, do you?” Karma walked around the desk, leaned against it, and kicked his boot with hers. “I love you, Ben, like a brother. I always have. You, Trapper, Hunter, and Fisher have always been my heroes—I’ve looked up to you all my life. Every guy I’ve ever dated is compared to the four of you. Marrying a woman you hardly know in order to trick your grandfather and get a piece of land is the first decision you’ve made I don’t respect. I’m disappointed in you, Ben. I thought you’d man up and tell Grampa Joe where to stick it. But you didn’t.”
“That ranch means everything to me. You know that.”
“I didn’t think it meant more than your honor. And what does it say about Gina? What kind of person is she that she’d marry you for money? Is Gina the person you want to be tied to, at least legally, for the duration of this fiasco?”