Beau (Remington Ranch Book 4)

by SJ McCoy

  Beau nodded. “Any time you want. In fact, I’ll get you a key made.” He led Chance back out through the reception area. He knew Wanda had been eavesdropping by the stunned expression on her face which she quickly tried to cover with a smile.

  “I’ll be back in a while, Wanda.”

  She simply nodded, apparently lost for words for what must be the first time in her life. Beau grinned to himself as Chance put his hat back on and tipped it at her. “Have a great day.”

  Once they got to the Mint they settled into one of the booths at the back of the bar. After the server had brought their drinks and taken their order, Chance raised his glass. “Cheers.”

  Beau smiled. “Cheers.” He realized he didn’t know what to talk about with Chance. He didn’t want to talk about the ranch, he hoped that they could just leave well enough alone on that score.

  Apparently Chance felt differently. He held Beau’s gaze. “Listen, I wanted to say thank you…”

  Beau held a hand up. “There’s no need. I wanted to say I’m sorry…”

  Chance shook his head rapidly. “No! I get it. I felt the same way you did.”

  Beau nodded. “Okay so how about we close that chapter and move on?”

  “Sure.”

  Beau knew they’d said all they needed to, more words wouldn’t make things any clearer. He smiled, but he wasn’t sure what else the two of them might have to talk about. He went for the only thing he could think of. “What’s the news on your dad?”

  Chance nodded. “He’s doing well by all accounts. I talk to him on the phone every night.” He stared off into the distance for a moment before turning back to Beau. “I’ve never done that in my life till now.”

  Beau nodded. He didn’t know much about Chance’s family or his history with them, but he’d always figured it must be pretty bad. He couldn’t imagine living so far away from his own family.

  Chance’s smiled disappeared in a hurry, his eyes narrowed and his lips pressed into a thin line. “That’s enough to put me off my burger.”

  Beau looked over his shoulder. Shit! Guy Preston had just walked in with a very young looking blonde. Beau turned back around, hoping that Guy might not see them. Of course that was too much to hope for.

  “Well, if it isn’t my old friend Beau.” Guy came to stand over their table.

  Chance looked like a wild animal about to attack. Beau could only hope that he wouldn’t.

  “What do you want, Guy? We’re having lunch.”

  “I can see that. What I can’t figure out is why. I thought you were the only Remington who had any sense. At least enough sense not to hang out with lowlife like that.” He jerked his head toward Chance, who Beau could see had his fists clenched and looked about ready to pounce.

  “That is my brother. So fuck off, Guy.”

  He didn’t know who looked more surprised at his words, but it felt good saying them. Guy sneered. “I really thought you were smarter than the rest of ‘em, Beau. But you’re just the same. Well, you listen and you listen good. I’m going to take him down, I know what he did. And he isn’t going to get away with it. You get in my way, I’ll take you down with him.”

  Chance stood up. “Do not threaten me or him or anyone else, unless you’re prepared to get into it right here, right now.”

  Guy took a step back with an ugly smirk on his face. “I’ll say when and I’ll say where. This was just a warning. You won’t see it coming.” He turned on his heel and left.

  Chance started to go after him, but Beau caught his arm. “Leave it, Chance. He’s not worth it.”

  For a moment he thought Chance might punch him. He was so wound up. Thankfully the wild look faded from his eyes and he nodded and sat back down. “Sorry.”

  “No worries. I get it, but he’s just not worth it.”

  “You didn’t see April, you didn’t see her little kid, Marcus, when we left here. They were both scared of their own shadows. I don’t know what that bastard did to them, but I do know he needs to pay for it.”

  Beau nodded. He’d known that April had had a rough time being married to Guy, but he had a whole new perspective on it now. He thought about Corinne and Ruby in that situation and it made him almost as mad as Chance. “He does, but beating the crap out of him in here wouldn’t make him pay. It’d only land you in trouble. There has to be a smarter way to do something.”

  One side of Chance’s mouth lifted in a wry smile. “We should have teamed up sooner, you and me. With your brains and my brawn we’d be a force to be reckoned with.”

  Beau liked the sound of that. All he’d ever really wanted was to be included. He’d always seen Chance as the one who pushed him out, but it wasn’t really true. The thought of the two of them being a team made him smile.

  “Anyway. You’re right. We shouldn’t waste our time on him. Tell me what’s going on with you? How are things with Corinne and the kid? She’s a real cutie.”

  Beau smiled. “She is. Things are going great. In fact, things are going really great. I…” Was he really going to tell Chance before he told his brothers? He knew he was as he mentally corrected himself—his other brothers. “I’m going to build us a house down at the ranch.”

  “Wow!” Chance raised his eyebrows. “It’s serious then?”

  “It is. She just needs some time. It’s hard for her to jump in because she’s got Ruby to think about.”

  Chance smiled. “I understand how that goes. It was the same for Missy with Dan.”

  “Do you know what Dan did to convince her?”

  Chance smiled a very genuine smile. “It was awesome. His ex showed up at Missy’s birthday party. She was trying to cause trouble and he put her down in front of everyone. Then he made this big whole speech about how he knew what love meant, and how much he loved Missy and Scot. And he went down on one knee, right there with everyone watching, and asked her to marry him.”

  Beau shuddered. He couldn’t imagine doing something like that. “I’m guessing he’s the outgoing type?”

  Chance laughed. “He couldn’t be less outgoing if he tried. He’s a geek, a bit of a nerd. He’s awesome! That was what made it so special. He went so far outside his comfort zone, there was no way she, or anyone else, couldn’t see not only that he meant it, but that he wanted it with all his heart and soul.”

  Beau nodded. It did sound great, but he had no idea what he could do to show Corinne that was how he felt.

  Chance smiled at him. “You’ll figure it out.”

  “I hope so.”

  ~ ~ ~

  Corinne parked the car in the only space she could find on Main Street. She’d come up to town on her lunch break to get some supplies for the ranch and now she just needed to stop into the post office. There was quite a line and she checked her watch as she joined it. She didn’t want to take too long. She had a lot to do this afternoon. She thought she recognized the girl at the head of the line, but she couldn’t place her. It seemed the girl recognized her, though. She was making her way back out when she stopped. “Are you still here then?”

  “Excuse me?”

  “Don’t think Beau will waste too much time on you. He can’t stand kids, you know.”

  Corinne watched her leave. She did recognize her now. She’d been the one at the Mustang when they’d had lunch there. The one Beau had said he’d dated. Apparently she wasn’t too happy that he’d moved on. She sighed.

  The guy in front of her turned around and gave her a friendly smile. “Don’t worry about Angie. She can be like that. And I mean, you can’t really blame her after what Beau did, can you?”

  Corinne had no clue what to say, she just stared at him.

  “Oh, shit. Did I just put my foot in it? You didn’t know?” They’d reached the head of the line now. “Sorry,” he said before going to the counter.

  Corinne’s mind was reeling. What on earth was he talking about? What had Beau done? She took her turn at the other counter and watched the guy while she did.

  They
ended up being finished at the same time and he walked out beside her. She didn’t want to ask him what he meant, even though part of her was dying to. It was Beau she needed to ask, not some stranger.

  Once they were outside he put a hand on her arm. “Just forget I said anything.” He smiled and Corinne wanted to pull her arm away, there was something creepy about him. His smile made her think of a wolf. “I’m sure you’ll be fine.”

  What the hell did he mean by that? She didn’t get a chance to ask even if she’d wanted to. He was already walking away and she sure as hell wasn’t going to run after him. She hurried back to her car, just wanting to get out of here and back to the ranch. As she was opening the car door a truck honked its horn and she looked up to see Chance raise his hand as he drove by. She was starting to understand how everyone knew each other’s business in this place. Everywhere you went someone saw what you were doing!

  She couldn’t help wondering all afternoon what the guy had been talking about. She tried to put it out of her mind, but it kept gnawing at her. What might Beau have done that would warrant Angie being so mad at him? By the time she was done with her day, she’d determined that she needed to ask Beau as soon as she saw him.

  His truck was already parked outside the cabin when she got home with Ruby.

  “My Beau’s here!” she squealed.

  On the one hand, Corinne was thrilled that Ruby adored Beau. On the other, and especially with the doubts that had been seeded in her mind this afternoon, she had to wonder whether it was wise to let her get so attached. The last thing she wanted was her daughter getting her heart broken if things went wrong between them. She daren’t even think about her own heart. She knew now that she’d given it to Beau somewhere down the line without even realizing it.

  He greeted them at the door with a smile. “There are my two favorite ladies.”

  Ruby ran to him and he swung her up into the air, making her giggle. “How was your day, pumpkin?”

  “It was good. How was your day?”

  Beau nodded. “Mine was good too. And how about you?” he asked Corinne.

  She smiled. “It was okay.” She just couldn’t fake jolly and happy. That man’s comments were gnawing at her. She had to know. “Ruby. You go and get changed.”

  Once she’d gone Beau came to close his arms around her. “I made us dinner.” He looked so proud of himself.

  She wanted to just relax and enjoy the evening with him, but she couldn’t yet. Not until he put her mind at rest. She pecked his lips and pulled away.

  “What’s up?”

  “Nothing.” She sighed. “Well, something. And I feel bad about it.”

  He looked concerned. “What? Tell me.”

  “I ran into Angie in the post office today.”

  “Oh. What did she have to say?”

  Corinne made a face. “She said you wouldn’t be with me for long because you can’t stand kids!”

  He laughed. “Well, you know you’ve got no worries there.”

  She nodded. She did. It made her realize how far they’d come that she had no doubts about his feelings for Ruby. “It wasn’t what she said that bothered me. After she’d gone a guy told me I shouldn’t mind her, but that I couldn’t really blame her after what you’d done.”

  His smile was gone. “Why, what am I supposed to have done?”

  She shrugged. “I was hoping you’d tell me.”

  “I have no idea.”

  “Don’t, Beau. Please just tell me. Whatever it is, I don’t think I’d care. I just don’t like the feeling that you have some horrible secret.”

  He shook his head. “I would tell you, if I knew what I was supposed to have done.”

  She sighed. “Okay then.”

  “No. It’s not okay. You obviously don’t believe me. I promise you, sweetheart. I’m not hiding anything. Angie and I went out a few times. Then she messed things up for Carter and Summer and I just didn’t ask her out again. She asked me a few times, and I said no and I’ve tried to avoid her ever since. That’s the entire history.”

  “Okay.” Corinne didn’t want to force him to explain anything. She shrugged. “Maybe it was just gossip.”

  He put a hand on her shoulder. “If there’s gossip about me, I want to know about it.”

  She shrugged again. “Well, I can’t help you. I don’t even know what it is.”

  “Please don’t.” His eyes were pleading with her.

  She nodded. “I’m sorry.”

  He closed his arms around her. “So am I, but I don’t even know what for.”

  She hugged him tight. “Don’t worry about it.”

  “I do, though. I worry about you. I worry about what you think. I worry about how I can prove to you that I’m for real. And then something like this happens and there’s nothing I can do or say to prove anything to you.”

  She sighed. “I’m sorry. All I can do is believe you.”

  “I hope you can.”

  So did she.

  ~ ~ ~

  After they’d put Ruby to bed, they sat on the sofa. It had become something of a routine that by the end of the evening they both just needed to veg out for a while. Beau had his arm around her shoulders. He wanted to feel close to her, but she still felt a little distant. He stared at the TV, but wasn’t really watching the show. His mind was still caught up in what Corinne had asked him about. What the hell was he supposed to have done? And who had said something like that anyway. Then it dawned on him.

  “You know the guy who spoke to you in the post office?”

  “I thought we were going to leave that alone.”

  “I can’t sweetheart—any more than you can. So what did this guy look like?”

  She shrugged. “He was tall. Brown hair.”

  Beau nodded. For the second time in a couple of weeks, he realized it wasn’t just a guy, it was the Guy. Guy fucking Preston. He’d made all his brothers’ lives hell at one point or another. Now it seemed Beau himself was his latest target. It made sense, too, especially after their little encounter at lunchtime.

  Corinne looked up at him. “What is it?”

  “I think I know who it was. Guy Preston has had it in for all of us since we were kids. He’s the reason Mason and Gina broke up for nearly ten years. He tried messing with Shane and Cassidy. Now it looks like it’s our turn. If I know him he’s just trying to mess with your head to cause trouble between us.”

  “Why would he do that?”

  “Because he’s a Grade A asshole. That’s why.”

  Corinne didn’t look convinced.

  “I know it sounds like schoolyard stuff, but that’s the way he operates. Don’t buy into it, sweetheart, please. We can talk to Gina and she’ll tell you just how much damage he can do.”

  “Okay.”

  Beau smiled. Although he was pissed that Guy was trying to mess with them, he was at least relieved that now he knew what he was dealing with. He squeezed his arm around her shoulders. “This is going to be like a test for us.”

  She looked puzzled. “What do you mean?”

  “I mean, I’m going to need you to trust me. You said you need to know that we can get through life’s bumps in the road together. Well, if I know anything about Guy it’s that he’s going to throw us some bumps. We’re going to have to be strong together to get through it.”

  She nodded uncertainly. “I’m not sure I understand, but if we’re going to grow stronger and closer for it, then bring it on, I guess.”

  Beau hugged her a little tighter. He could only hope that they would grow stronger and closer.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Corinne looked up at the sound of a knock on the door. She been working on the staff roster all morning and was glad of the interruption.

  “Hi, I hope you don’t me dropping in,” said Gina.

  Corinne smiled. “Not at all. It’s good to see you, and I could use a break.”

  “Can you take long enough to come outside for a while?”

  Cori
nne got up, she didn’t need asking twice. It was a beautiful day.

  They walked down toward the barn. “I just wanted to come see you while I had chance,” said Gina. “We never get to hang out, and I’d like to.”

  That made Corinne smile. “I’d like that, too. I’m still finding my feet here, and between work and Ruby I haven’t done much of anything else yet.”

  “Other than Beau,” said Gina with a smile.

  Corinne giggled at the implication. “Well, yes, I have been doing Beau rather a lot.”

  Gina laughed. “Good for you. That’s probably what’s managed to loosen him up.”

  Corinne nodded, surprised not to feel embarrassed. She didn’t know Gina that well and here they were talking about her sleeping with Beau, but it felt right. She chuckled. “You mean helped him get his head out of his ass?”

  “I wouldn’t have put it quite like that, but since you did. Yes! You’ve done him the world of good. And Ruby, too. Watching the two of them together is just so cute.”

  “It is, isn’t it? They seem to bring out the best in each other.”

  Gina nodded. “Do you mind if I ask you something?”

  “What?”

  “I know it’s none of my business, but how serious is it?”

  Corinne sighed. “It’s serious. I guess I’m just a little cautious.”

  “Which is understandable, in your position.”

  Corinne nodded. “Why do you ask?”

  Gina gave her a rueful smile. “I don’t know. Maybe spending so much time with these Montana men has rubbed off on me. I guess I’m trying to look out for him. I worry about him. I’d hate to see him get hurt. He seems as though he’s all in. And, the old Beau, at least…well, I don’t think he’d realize if you didn’t feel the same way. He’s always been one to go after what he wants and not necessarily see that other people might want something different. Like I said, I know it’s none of my business, but I just had to know. I wouldn’t want either of you getting hurt.”

  Corinne nodded. She was glad Beau had someone who cared enough to look out for him and she knew Gina was trying to look out for her too. “No, I do feel the same way. And he is being understanding of me and what I need. You’re right, he’d like to go after what he wants, but he’s prepared to go more slowly because he knows it’s what I need.”