by Claire Adams
I held out my hand, and he took it in a tight grip. “I’m pleased to meet you, Sir,” I said.
He nodded once, the way Emma always did. “I’ve heard plenty about you over the last few weeks, son,” he said in a low, gruff voice. “Chicken’s done.” He turned to start putting it on the plate.
“Can I help with anything, Sir?”
“Just by eating it,” he replied.
We walked over to the table, me sticking as close as I could to Emma. We sat down, Kasey and Mr. Flowers on one side and me and Emma on the other. The table was laid with all manner of sides — baked beans, potato salad, macaroni salad, corn on the cob — and glasses of iced tea that were sweating all over the checkered tablecloth.
“As you can see, the girls were busy this morning,” Mr. Flowers said.
Smiling as a pretty blush colored her cheeks, Emma took the plate of chicken from the center of the table, serving me a piece and then herself before handing it to her sister. She did the same with the rest of the sides. I found, staring at all this food, that I was starving half to death. I hadn’t eaten a damned thing since the night before.
“Emma tells me you raise horses,” Mr. Flowers said.
I nodded. “Yes, Sir. I have quite a few on the ranch. We raise them, train them to race, and sell them. I only have two that I’d never sell off.”
“Did you really get that big old farm at eighteen?” Kasey asked, her light eyes shining. She had on a lot of makeup. Not that it looked bad, it was just hard to get used to because she looked so much like her sister and Emma didn’t wear a stitch of the stuff. I liked that about her. She and Lacey had that much in common. They liked to be dirty and sweaty at the end of a long day, and makeup just didn’t fit in with that.
“I did,” I said, relaxing some more. Talking about things I cared about helped. “My daddy passed, and I took over from there. I had some help, of course.”
We all dug into our food, keeping up the conversation, so it felt natural. I tried to keep from sneaking glances at Emma, but I could see her smiling at the edge of my vision. Kasey kept bringing up funny stories about her adventures as a waitress in Austin, at one point I nearly spit out a mouthful of tea. Mr. Flowers just watched his daughters laughing and talking, a calm, pleased look in his eye. He didn’t talk much and only asked a few questions. Even Emma was mostly quiet. I talked to Kasey the most out of everyone. She kept the table smiling and laughing, me included.
At the end of the meal, I rose to help the girls clear the dishes. “You gotta hand wash in this damned house,” Kasey grumbled.
Emma laughed. “She acts like we just laid out the last supper.”
“I’m happy to help with the washing up,” I said.
Emma lifted a dark eyebrow to cap off a surprised expression.
“What? My mama died when I was young. My daddy and I split the chores inside, same as we did outside. I did my fair share of dishes.” I rolled up my sleeves. “Tell me what you want me to do, wash or dry.”
“You got yourself a good one, Em, if he’s willing to clean up!” Kasey turned to leave the kitchen, nearly running into her father in the process. She shrieked, and everyone in the kitchen jumped. “Daddy, you scared me!”
“You help your sister wash up,” he said, completely unaffected by her outburst. “Pete, can we have a word out back?”
I turned to look at Emma, but she only smiled and shrugged. I followed Mr. Flowers from the kitchen to the backyard. He closed the door behind us and motioned for us to sit down in a pair of wooden chairs on the back patio. He stared out at the rear of his property, not looking over at me, which helped me to calm down a little. I felt like some kid trying to take out my sixteen-year-old girlfriend, not a grown man who owned his own business and several hundred acres of land.
“I’m sure I don’t have to tell you how special my girls are to me,” he said.
“No, Sir.”
“It’s been just the three of us for a long time. I worry that the girls think they can’t move on with their lives and leave me behind.”
I didn’t know what to say to that.
“Emma likes to make everybody happy before thinking of herself. Her mother was the same.” He was quiet for a moment, but it was a casual, comfortable silence. “That’s why I’m glad she’s found a place for herself and someone she cares about.”
I swallowed the lump rising up into my throat. He looked over at me, his light eyes more open than I’d expected. He nodded to me once, and I nodded back, hundreds of unspoken words passing between us in an instant before he glanced back out to the yard again. I looked over my shoulder and into the house. I had a clear view of the kitchen where Emma and Kasey were laughing and talking as they did the dishes.
“I’m glad, too, Sir.” I had to think of the best way to express the flood of feelings that welled up in me whenever I looked at Emma. “I truly care about your daughter. I don’t know how the farm got along without her. Or how I did.”
Mr. Flowers nodded again, only once, and we sat in a companionable silence until the girls came out to tell us the dishes were done and it was time for dessert.
Chapter Thirty
Emma
Monday
I ran by Daddy’s place on the way to work to drop off a few odds and ends I’d borrowed over the last couple of weeks. I was just going to run them into the house — he was always out back working with the horses before the sun rose, so I didn’t want to trouble him during his thinking time — but there was a light on in the kitchen. Kasey was digging around in the pantry, dressed in a night shirt and shorts, her hair pulled back into a messy ponytail.
“What are you doing up?” I asked her.
“I woke up so hungry, I couldn’t go back to sleep,” she said and pulled a box of cereal off the shelf.
“You damned near ate your weight in lemon meringue pie last night after dinner,” I said.
She laughed, and so did I. “You know how much I love your lemon meringue pie. It was your own damned fault for making it in the first place.” She reached into the box, pulled out a handful of cereal, and started munching on it. “What are you doing here first thing in the morning?”
I shrugged. “I had some things of Daddy’s I wanted to get back. And, it’s okay if I get to the farm a little late this morning. I’ll still be there before sunup.”
Kasey groaned, rolling light eyes that looked much bigger without all the liner and mascara. She could have been fifteen standing there in front of me, her cheeks and forehead fresh and clean of their usual foundation, powder, and blush. “I don’t know how you get up that early every morning.”
“I get up the exact same time we did growing up.”
“We didn’t have a choice then!”
I laughed. “I don’t have a choice now if I want to keep my job. Besides, I’m excited to see the new horses today. Lacey ran up to just outside of Dallas over the weekend to buy a pair of fillies. Today will be our first day getting them used to the ranch.” I’d hardly slept the night before, thinking about how much fun we had in store today.
Kasey’s face got serious, her smile evaporating as her eyes stayed steady on mine. “You need to be careful about that girl.”
I tugged my eyebrows together, scowling just a little. “What do you mean?”
“That Lacey is always hanging around all the time. Pete’s your boyfriend now. You need to put your foot down.”
“No, things aren’t like that. Lacey and Pete are pretty damned close to brother and sister. You should see them together. They fight like cats and dogs.”
She put her box of cereal down on the counter and dropped a hand onto her skinny hip. “Emma, ain’t nobody like brother and sister who ain’t actually brother and sister.” She stared hard at me, the heat in her gaze keeping me from arguing. “You need to get that snake the fuck out of your garden before it’s too late.”
I blinked, shocked by her directness. It took a minute to get myself together enough to come up with a r
esponse. “I’m really not worried about that, Kasey.”
“Well, you should be. Boys and girls can’t be friends without one of them having feelings for the other. Just keep your eyes open is all I’m saying. I like Pete a whole lot. I could tell Daddy did, too. I’d hate for this girl to ruin it because she decides she wants him all to herself.”
I drove on to Pete’s house, unable to shake the conversation with my sister. It was a relief to get to the ranch and outside of the nest of poisonous thoughts in my head. He was in the barn already, getting the stalls ready for the new horses.
“Morning,” I said.
He looked up from the stall door he was messing with, grinning the way he always did when he saw me coming. “I thought maybe you slept in.”
I laughed at the idea of not being up a few hours before the sun rose. I couldn’t remember ever having done that, not even at school. “I ran by my daddy’s house on the way over, and my sister was up.” I stopped short of telling him what we’d talked about and the things Kasey had said. I wanted to because now it was bothering me something fierce, but I knew I didn’t have anything to worry about. Why get Pete upset for no reason?
“Lacey should be in a little later today with the new horses,” he said.
“I’m so excited to get them out here.”
“Me, too,” he replied. “I’ve got a few things to do in town before she gets in.”
“I’ll finish getting this place ready and hold down the fort until you’re back.”
He stopped to kiss me on his way out, and I closed my eyes to enjoy the clean smell of him. I liked him sweaty, but it was nice just smelling his soap and clean skin.
As soon as he left, I got busy with the horses. They had to be fully groomed today before they went back to their stalls for the night, so I needed to budget my time properly. If Lacey was coming back from Dallas tonight with new animals, I couldn’t depend on her to help work or clean the horses today. I got them out to the corral for feeding and watering, then busied myself with mucking out their stalls. We were a few horses down for the moment, so it didn’t take as long as usual.
On a good day, the hours just melted away in flurry of sweaty activity. Today was one of those days. By the time I groomed the last horse and put him away in his stall for the night, the sun had nearly given up on the day.
I realized with a start that Lacey had never arrived with the new horses. I frowned at the empty stalls I’d prepared. Maybe Pete knew what had happened.
I left the barn, telling the horses goodnight before I slid the alleyway door shut. I ran out to the car to leave my hat in the front seat, leaning into my car to drop it onto the passenger side. I glanced up through the windshield just in time to see Lacey come out of the house with Pete right behind her.
The relieved grin at seeing she was okay froze on my face at what happened next. She turned back to Pete, who took her into his arms and hugged her, pulling her in tight to his body as she buried her head in his chest and put her arms around him. They were swaying together as Pete dropped his chin to kiss the top of Lacey’s head, his lips lingering in her blonde hair.
I sat down hard on the driver’s seat, all the wind knocked out of me watching them clinging to each other. I blinked my burning eyes, refusing to cry over this. Kasey was right. I was the one who didn’t understand what the hell had been going on right in front of my eyes.
I closed the car door, making the lovebirds spring apart on the porch and stare my way. I didn’t wait to hear their goddamned excuses and lies. I just started the engine and drove away.
Chapter Thirty-One
Pete
Tuesday
I took my regular seat on the porch, a mug of cooling coffee in one hand and Riley curled up on the floor. I finished the coffee with no sign of Emma. She’d come late the day before. She must’ve decided to do the same thing today. I’d been sorry to miss her last night. I saw her drive off, but she didn’t stop to say goodbye, which wasn’t like her.
I went in for more coffee, taking it back out onto the porch. I stood at the railing, sipping the hot liquid and looking out over the front of the property line while the sun came up. It was light out and still no Emma. I checked my watch, but I knew by the light what time it was. She was really late.
I went to the barn, getting busy with the horses. She’d kick my ass up one side of the property and down the other if I didn’t keep them on the schedule she’d kept since her second day on the farm. Lacey was out today, too, so it was just me moving the horses to the corral to be fed and watered. I cleaned out the stalls, which I usually only had to do on the weekends when the girls weren’t here. Over the last few weeks, Emma had taken to coming by on Saturdays and sometimes Sundays to help me out, the two of us joking and laughing while we saw to the animals.
Once the horses were out, I saddled up Elroy and took him on a ride around the property, just getting an idea of what needed doing today. I put him back in the corral forty-five minutes later and took the next horse out, riding to the far corner of the property and back. I had to get some of the back field mowed again; we’d had a fair amount of rain during the prior week, and the grass was growing like I hadn’t cut it in weeks.
I took the tractor out there and worked the rest of the day away. Focusing on the field helped, but I couldn’t stop worrying over Emma. It wasn’t like her not to come into work. I hoped she wasn’t sick, but I didn’t want to crowd her. I knew how independent she was and how much it bothered her sometimes that I was both her boss and her boyfriend. I wasn’t sure if I could call as just one without being the other at the same time. I didn’t really care that she’d missed work — if she’d decided to take the day to go hang out in Austin with Kasey, it wouldn’t have bothered me in the least — I just wanted to know she was okay.
By the time the end of the day rolled around, I’d made up my mind to call her if she hadn’t called me already. I didn’t like carrying my cell phone and only kept it on me when I was traveling. She could’ve called me this afternoon, and I never would’ve heard.
I put the horses up, making sure to feed and water them the same way I’d seen Emma do. They were clearly disappointed to see me at the end of the day instead of her, but I didn’t know what to tell them. I was disappointed, too. And worried.
I walked up to the house and went inside to the kitchen. I could plainly see no one had left me a message on the machine. I pressed the button anyway, cursing myself for being a damned fool as I did it. I picked up the phone and dialed her number. No one answered. After a few rings, it went to her answering machine.
“Hey, Emma, it’s Pete. I just wanted to make sure you’re okay. I missed you today. I’ll see you when you get in tomorrow.” I hesitated, feeling like I should add more, but I didn’t know what. I hung up the phone, not feeling good, but it was what it was.
I went to the fridge for a beer. I already knew I wouldn’t be able to eat much tonight. I went out to sit on the porch. It sure was lonely on this damned farm without the girls. Shit.
I looked down at Riley. He wasn’t much, but he beat nothing at all. “I sure hope Emma’ll be in tomorrow, old boy.”
He raised his head, dark eyes staring up at me, and thumped his tail once.
I reached to scratch his scruffy old head. I hadn’t been this lonely in a long time. I just needed to get a good night’s sleep tonight. Things would look better in the morning after Emma got here.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Emma
Wednesday
I got out of bed at the usual time, showered, and dressed like I was going to the ranch, even though I knew there was no way in hell I could be around Pete and Lacey after what I saw the other day. I didn’t know what would be worse: the two of them pretending like nothing was going on between them or them coming right out with what was happening and expecting me to be okay with it. I didn’t plan to stick around long enough to find out which they’d pick.
I understood that meant things between Pet
e and I were over and that I’d need to find another job as soon as I could. I had savings — Pete had paid me decent money. I didn’t like losing him or my place on the farm, though. I thought we’d had something special, or at least the beginnings of something special, but the way he was holding Lacey made it crystal clear to me that what I’d thought we had was only special to me. He was in love with Lacey and always had been. I didn’t need to be around that. I couldn’t.
I spent the day working on my own property for once. It was a fraction of what Pete had — even Daddy’s much smaller property made mine look tiny — but it felt good to take my mind off Lacey and Pete on that porch, hugging each other like they were the last two people on Earth. I tilled my tiny garden and planted a few different types of vegetables. I still helped Daddy with his garden, but I didn’t see why I couldn’t have one of my own, as well.
By the time the afternoon ended, I was as sweaty as I always got on the ranch. I went in for a shower in time to hear my phone start ringing. I froze, dreading another call from Pete. I didn’t want to talk to him ever again. He and Lacey could live long happy lives together for all I cared; I just wanted them to leave me the hell alone. But it wasn’t Pete. It was Jack.
“Hello?”
“Hey, Emma, how are you?” he asked. Just hearing his voice made me feel a little better. I hadn’t told anyone what I saw. I was sure I’d tell Kasey eventually, but it was just too painful right now.
“I’m good, Jack. How are you?”
“I can’t complain.”
“Are you in town?” I asked.
“I am, actually. I wanted to see if you were free for dinner tonight?”
I hadn’t planned to do much more tonight than wallow in a pool of self-pity, but getting out of the house would be healthier. And, I needed to eat. I agreed to meet him at our regular place in an hour.
I jumped in the shower, washing away the day’s hard work, and got dressed, not putting on anything special, just a sundress and some sandals, same as I’d wear around the house on the weekend if I didn’t have work to do. The diner wasn’t dressy, and Jack didn’t expect much. I didn’t even bother with drying my hair, just pulled it back into a ponytail and got on my way.