by SJ McCoy
He made his way over to where Al was sitting in the passenger seat of Shane’s truck. He was sitting sideways with the door open and Gina stood beside him. She looked worried. Al looked exhausted; more than that, he looked old. He’d been in a state when they arrived. He’d been doing what he could by himself to try to keep the fire under control with the hose, but it had obviously taken its toll on him—physically and emotionally.
His face was streaked with soot, his eyes seemed bright white in contrast as he looked up at Mason. “Thanks, son.”
Mason nodded. “You had it under control, it wouldn’t have gotten away from you.” It was important to him that Al shouldn’t feel helpless—or old. Mason had known him all his life and he was sad that the wiry vigorous man he’d known now had to live inside the body of an old man that sat huddled before him. Gina shot him a grateful smile.
Al shook his head. “I’d have been screwed without you fellas. I could barely hold the hose up by the time you got here. I think I’d have thrown myself in the fire if I’d had to wait for this lot.” He waved his arm toward the fire crew who were still hosing everything down.
“Dad!”
Al shook his head again sadly. “Sorry, Gina love, but I’m not what I was and I don’t want to be what I am. If I was a horse I’d want a bullet in my brain before you put me out to grass.”
Gina’s eyes filled with tears and Mason had to swallow a lump in his throat. He held her gaze as he said. “You might not like what you are now, Al, but I think you’ll love what you’re going to be.”
Al scowled at him. “I can’t do riddles right now, Mason.”
Gina smiled; she understood what he meant. “What he means, Dad, is that we hope you’re going to love being a grandad.”
Mason had to swallow that lump down hard as he watched Al’s transformation. The beaten old man who’d been sitting in that truck lifted his shoulders with a grin. He slid down and grabbed hold of Gina’s hands and spun her around in a little jig. “You’re going to have a baby? My little girl’s going to have a little one of her own? Gina, love!” He wrapped her in a hug and Mason had to swipe at his face as Gina laughed through her tears.
“Yes, Dad. We’re having a baby. You’re going to be a grandad.”
Al beamed and his chest puffed out. “I’m going to be a granddaddy.” He turned to Mason. “And you’re going to be a daddy!”
Mason nodded. He didn’t dare risk any words just yet, he’d probably blub like a baby.
“And we’re going to need you,” said Gina.
Mason chuckled at the way Al’s grin vanished. “I ain’t changing no diapers!”
“Of course you aren’t. But I need you to teach our little one to be a rancher.”
Al shot him a worried look, but Mason knew where she was going with it, and she was right. “That’s what his daddy’s for.”
“No, his daddy’s going to teach him about horses and the stud. Mason’s not a cattleman, Dad. You know that. I need you to teach him…”
“Or her,” said Al. “It might be a her.”
Gina laughed. “I hope not.”
“Aww, you weren’t that bad, love.” Al winked at Mason and they both laughed as Gina bristled.
“I was a damned sight better than any son you might have had and you know it. What I’m worried about is having to teach a daughter of mine how to deal with you two!”
“What do you mean?” Al exchanged an indignant look with Mason.
“I mean my daughter will be a strong and independent young lady. Just like her momma. And neither of you is very good at dealing with that. You’re both Montana men to the bone.”
Mason scowled at her. “You mean we’re real men. And I thought you figured out that you prefer a real man.”
Al winked at him. “Me too.”
“I do.” Gina laughed. “I love you both for what you are. I just wish it didn’t make you overlook what I am so much. I’m strong and I’m capable, I can take care of myself and I can take care of the two of you—and my daughter will be the same way.”
Mason nodded. She was right, he’d come a long way in accepting just how strong and capable she was, but he hadn’t managed to squash all his instincts to protect her and take care of her—he doubted he ever would, it was just a part of who he was. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders. “We don’t overlook what you are, G.” He smiled at Al. “We’re just men who need to feel like we’re up to the job of taking care of you.”
She smiled up at him. “And you are.”
Al nodded. “And we’ll help you take care of the little one, love.” He looked over at the smoldering remains of his barn and shook his head. “Until you told me about the baby, I was thinking everything was over. It felt like everything that was left of my life was going up in flames along with the barn….”
“But, Dad!”
Al waved a hand at her. “It did. Like I said, I’m not what I used to be.” He looked around the place.
The barn was gone, the house looked run-down, though Mason hadn’t noticed that till now. The fence that lined the driveway was in need of repair.
Al’s face brightened again. “I was thinking it was the end, but now I know I’m going to be a granddaddy, it feels like a new beginning. So, the barn burned down? So, what? The house didn’t. I didn’t. None of the animals were in there.” He shrugged. “I didn’t lose anything important.” He grinned. “What was that bird called?”
Mason looked at Gina; he had no idea what bird Al might be talking about.
Gina did though. She smiled. “A phoenix.”
Al nodded, “Yep, that’s me. That’s what I feel like right now.” He looked at Mason. “I used to read her a story about one of them birds when she was little. It was her favorite story. See, the phoenix was this big strong bird. It did all kinds of good things in its life and then it got old and it died, burned right up in a ball of fire, it did. She cried every time we read it.”
Gina nodded. She had tears in her eyes as she said, “But you made me keep reading past the sad part when I wanted to give up.”
Al nodded. His eyes were glistening, too. “Yup.” He looked at Mason. “And damn if that bird didn’t come back to life, all new and young and strong again. It emerged right out of the ashes of its own fire.” He stared over at the barn and nodded to himself. “A new life out of the ashes.”
Mason tightened his arm around Gina’s shoulders and she smiled up at him. He smiled back, feeling almost grateful for the fire. Losing the barn was a small price to pay for giving Al a new lease on life. The feeling didn’t last long.
Chance came to join them, a grim look on his face. “I just talked with Frank.” He jerked his head toward the Chief of the fire crew.
“What did he say?” asked Al.
Chance held Mason’s gaze for a moment. He was asking whether he should be straight up.
Mason nodded. Whatever Frank thought, there’d be no hiding it from Al.
Chance’s eyes were two narrow slits as he said, “He thinks it was started deliberately.”
“What?” Gina looked stunned.
Mason wished he could feel stunned, but he didn’t.
“He said it’s similar to a couple of fires they’ve been called out to in the last few weeks.”
Al looked angry, but not surprised. “Let me guess, one of them was at the O’Connell place.”
Chance nodded.
Mason raised an eyebrow at them.
“You haven’t heard about that one?” asked Chance.
Al blew out a deep breath. “That buddy of yours, Preston. He’s not just up to his old tricks anymore. He’s going big time.”
Gina shrugged Mason’s arm off her in agitation. “What do you mean? What happened at the O’Connell’s? And why would he go after you. Dad?”
Al shrugged. “I may have taught him a lesson a couple of weeks back.” He wrinkled his nose in disgust. “I couldn’t stand him when you were all kids. He was a mean, snot-nosed, sneaky little basta
rd then and he hasn’t changed one bit.” He looked up as the others came to join them, and Mason knew the change in him was for real.
“What’s going on?” asked Carter.
Al stood up tall and straightened his shoulders as he looked around at Carter, Beau, Shane, and Cassidy. “I want to thank you all for coming out to help. But it seems like you’ve got Guy Preston to thank for being here.”
Carter nodded. Mason would guess that he’d already reached that conclusion by himself. Beau didn’t look too surprised either. Shane and Cassidy looked more shocked, but that was hardly surprising. Shane never saw bad things coming till they bit him in the ass.
“But why, Dad? Why would he do this to you?”
“Like I said, I taught him a lesson a couple weeks back.” He shrugged. “And then he came around here trying to scare me…”
“Dad! You should have told us!” Gina looked horrified. Mason was too, but he could understand Al wanting to handle his troubles himself.
“He’s just a bully, Gina. I know how to handle them.” He looked over at the barn. “At least I can till they break out the crazy. I heard the rumors that he’d started the fire at the O’Connell place, but I don’t think I really believed it.” He shrugged. “I do now.”
Frank came over to join them.
“How did he start it?”
Frank made a face. “I have to pretend I don’t know who you’re talking about, Al. But I will say that I’ve been working with Luke Wallis. He’s investigating another couple of fires. Yours looks as though it was started in the same way they were, and my guess is that the same person is responsible.”
“Cut the crap, Frank,” said Chance. “We’re all friends here, no one’s going to quote you. How did Guy fucking Preston start this?” He looked as though he’d kill Guy with his bare hands if he could find him.
“Calm down, son.” Al put a hand on his shoulder. “They’ll figure it out. No one’s been hurt…”
“Yet.”
“And they won’t be, he’ll be brought to justice before he goes that far.”
“My kind of justice says he’s the one who’ll be getting hurt.”
“No!” Carter stepped in front of Chance and got right up in his face. “I told you. He’s not worth it. Calm the fuck down, Chance. I won’t see you ruining your life just to get vengeance on that piece of shit.”
Everyone stared at Carter. It wasn’t like him.
Chance stared him down and for a long moment Mason wondered if they weren’t going to get into it. They were two stubborn angry men, both motivated by what they believed to be important.
It was Chance that broke the stand-off. He let out a short laugh. “Thanks, Carter.”
Carter nodded. “I understand; believe me, I understand. But for all I’m supposed to be the dumbass of the family, I’m smart enough to see that you going after him will only end badly for you.”
Gina nodded. “You mustn’t, Chance.”
“He’s right,” said Mason. “If you hurt him, you can bet your ass you’ll be the one in trouble with the law, and you don’t need it.”
Chance nodded. “I know, but I can’t make any promises.”
“Are we done here?” Frank looked relieved that he wasn’t watching a fist fight.
Al nodded. “Unless there’s anything you can tell me?”
“Like I said, it seems it was started deliberately. In two separate spots. I’m going to be talking with Luke and I’m sure he’ll be out to see you in the morning.”
“Okay. Thanks, Frank. And thank your guys for me.”
Frank nodded and went back to his crew.
~ ~ ~
Chance could still feel the adrenaline coursing through his veins as they rode in silence back to the ranch. He hated Guy Preston with all his might. He’d hated him since he first came to Paradise Valley all those years ago. He’d been fresh out of prison then. He’d met Dave Remington through a youth offender rehabilitation program. Dave had seen something in him and given him a chance. He’d brought him home to the ranch, taken him in, made him a part of the family. And Chance’s loyalty to his family knew no bounds. He would not see them hurt. He agreed with Al that Preston had been a snot-nosed kid back then and he’d taken an instant dislike to him. But, unlike the others, he’d always believed that Guy was dangerous. Maybe it took one to know one, but there was an underlying vicious streak in the man that Chance had always believed could come to the surface someday. It seemed that day was here, and Chance wasn’t prepared to wait around to see just how vicious he might get.
“Jesus, guys!” Shane was looking over at him and Carter. “Any chance you could calm down and kiss and make up or something.”
Carter gave him a puzzled look. “We already did.”
Chance nodded. Carter might have gotten up in his face back there, but Chance understood why. He loved the guy for it—he certainly didn’t hold it against him. Carter was looking out for him, trying to protect him from himself. Though Chance doubted he’d be able to.
“It doesn’t feel like it from where I’m sitting,” said Shane. “You’re both giving off major, I’m going to kill someone vibes. I can feel it from here.”
Chance smiled. “Don’t you worry your pretty head, little one. We no doubt are giving off those kind of vibes, but it certainly isn’t at each other.”
Carter nodded grimly.
“Oh. Good.” Shane looked lost. “What can we do? How do we stop him? How can we get him locked up?”
“Stopping him doesn’t involve getting him locked up as far as I’m concerned,” Chance muttered.
“Can you quit with that shit?” Mason spoke over his shoulder from the driver’s seat.
Beau turned in his seat to look back at them. “Yeah. The last thing we want is you getting into trouble. We need to be smart about this.”
Carter shook his head. “Don’t look at me for smart. I just provide the muscle.”
“And don’t look at me,” said Chance. “I just see red and I only know one way to deal with scum like that. Count me with Carter. I’m brawn not brains.”
Beau held his gaze. “Weren’t you the one who said we should have put our brains and brawn together years ago? Well now we’re going to, and we’re going to make one hell of a team.”
Chance couldn’t help giving him a grudging smile. He’d always known that Beau was smarter than the rest of them, but he’d always kept his distance—especially from Chance. Chance had tried for the first few years to win Beau over, but a guy could only take so much flat-out rejection and resentment before he gave up. It was hard to believe that they’d gotten over so many years of bad history in the last few months. Even harder to believe that in another few months he was going to be Beau’s best man. “What have you got in mind?”
Beau sighed. “I don’t know yet, but I’ll come up with something.”
Chance had no doubt he would. “Well, can you hurry up about it? Otherwise I’m going to have to deal with him my way.”
“You’re going to have to have a bit of patience,” said Mason. “I want you to promise me that you’re not going to go after him.”
Chance didn’t answer. He didn’t do promises. And even if he did, that was one he doubted he’d be able to keep.
Mason seemed to realize his mistake. He was one of only a couple of people on earth who knew why he didn’t make promises. “Okay, let me rephrase that. I’m begging you not to go after him—not to do anything—till we can all figure out what to do for the best.”
Chance still didn’t want to answer.
“Come on,” said Beau. “We’re a family. We work together. None of us can just take it into our own hands and ignore what the rest want.”
“Damn, you played that one well.” Chance gave him a grudging smile. If anything could stop him it was the reminder that this was about the family. And coming from Beau. Well, that made it even more poignant.
Beau grinned at him. “Thank you.”
“So what are we go
ing to do to work together?” asked Shane. “Where do we go from here?”
“From here, we all go home and get some rest,” said Mason as he turned into the driveway at the ranch. “I’ll talk to Luke in the morning and see what he can tell us. Can you all make it out to the cottage tomorrow after work?”
“We’ll be there,” said Chance, knowing he spoke for all of them.
When they pulled up at the cabin, Corinne and Summer came out to greet them. Gina and Cassidy arrived a couple of moments later. Chance didn’t need to stick around for all the updating the girls and goodbyes. He had somewhere he needed to be. He caught Carter’s eye.
“Are you going?”
He nodded and made for his truck. Gina caught up to him just as he was about to pull away.
He rolled down the window.
“Thanks, Chance.”
“What for?”
“You’re going back up there, aren’t you?”
He nodded. She knew him too well. Al had insisted that he was fine. Said he was going to go to bed and sleep like a baby. Gina and Mason had wanted him to come home with them or at least let them stay with him, but he’d flat out refused. He was a stubborn old bird. Chance would have done the same if he were Al. He wouldn’t want anyone watching over him like he needed a babysitter. But still, Chance wasn’t taking any risks. He was going back up there and he was going to stay the night. If Al turned him away, he’d park his truck back out on the road and sneak back and spend the night under the porch. But no way was he leaving the old guy by himself tonight.
Chapter Five