by Maree, Kay
“I don’t want to do anything,” Cody sighed.
“Then, why are you here?”
“I came by, and I saw lights on. I thought someone was breaking in and came to investigate.” She stiffened at his revelation.
“It was only Austin. We had a chat. He’s not doing too well. But I am guessing you already knew that?”
Guilt clawed at her, and a lump formed in her throat. Austin had called her just as the first round of calf-roping started. He had asked her to come home, but she had been too busy. She should never have been too busy for her son.
“Adam didn’t come,” she stated. She hadn’t been overly surprised. He had let the kids down many times, and her hundreds of times before that. She had almost come to anticipate it. In a way, she was relieved. The thought of spending the term break on the farm alone, without them, had her almost breaking out in hives. She knew that was selfish, but she had spent the past twelve years being their primary caregiver, and the last three being the only one.
“He’s feeling abandoned,” Cody went on. “I just sat with him for a bit. He went to bed about half an hour ago.”
Callie turned the door key over and over between her fingers. “Thank you.”
Cody rose to his feet and silently moved toward her. She could smell his musky aftershave, and it did things to her, made her want him. He had to leave.
“It’s the least I could do,” he gave her a half-smile. “I think those kids are better for me than I am for them.”
“Yeah. I know what you mean,” she replied quietly.
“Good night, Callie.” He leaned forward and dropped a kiss on her forehead before pushing past her and going down the stairs.
“Good night, Cody,” she replied without turning to see him. It was easier that way.
If she had to watch him walk away again, she knew she would cave and call him back.
~*~
Trucks revved their engines, cattle shuffled in the yards, and bottles clanked as the clean-up began. Around the outskirts, weary faces rose from their swags and packed tents away. Callie made her way to her little office. Soon, she would close the door and forget about rodeos for a while, but now, she had to make sure everyone was paid, the books were balanced, and all the loose ends were tied.
“That boy sort his shit out yet?” Wal called out from the doorway, as she shuffled things around on her desk.
“Pardon?” she asked, surprised to hear the old man’s voice. He had been a friend of her dad. Attended every rodeo. An old cowboy, these days he just watched.
“I can see when a man’s got it bad for someone, and oh, brother, has that boy got something for you,” he nodded, knowingly.
“Don’t know what you’re talking about, Wal.”
“Don’t think these old eyes don’t see things, Missy.” He tapped the side of his face. “Y’know, I reckon the ol’ boy would be proud of you, right about now.”
She knew by ol’ boy, he was referring to her father. “I hope so, Wal. I do,” she sighed.
“Right you are.” He tipped his hat. “See you next year.”
As he turned and limped away, leaning heavily on his cane, she hoped she would see him again, but she was doubtful. He didn’t look well. His wife had passed a year before she had returned to the Bend, and his health had gradually declined since. “The man is dying slowly from a broken heart,” her dad had told her. She wasn’t sure if that were true, but it hurt hers to see it.
~*~
Callie rubbed her eyes and leaned back in her chair. After everyone was paid, she had enough to make the bank payment she had arranged, with a little left over.
“Hey, boss lady,” Cody called from the door.
Looking up, she found him leaning forward with a steaming hot mug in his hand, which he placed down in front of her.
“I thought you might be able to use this. I called past the house; the kids said you had left before sunrise.”
“Lots of work to do,” she said as she lifted the hot coffee to her lips. “Thank you. You’re a lifesaver.”
“Is there anything I can do?”
“You know I can’t afford to keep you on,” she admitted dryly. “You’ve been a great help, and I appreciate all you’ve done, but I told you at the outset that I only had enough work for you until after the show.”
“You just said you have a heap of work to do, and it will be lambing season soon. I never finished that fence on the east boundary.”
“There’s no money, Cody,” she spat, defensively. “Dad left Carrillo Estate with a huge debt. He was a great man, but business wasn’t his strong suit. I didn’t know how bad it was until after he passed, and I finally sat down with an accountant to look at the books. He hadn’t paid his taxes for several years, and he owed the bank heaps.
Apparently, just after Adam and I married, Adam had him borrow against the estate for a business investment. It went belly-up, and dad lost all his money. Neither of them ever told me.”
“Shit! Can’t you sell up?”
She shrugged. “It’s not worth it. I’d end up still owing the bank. Besides, I promised dad on his death bed I’d stay on and run the farm. I’ve got the rodeo running in the black, that pays enough for the kids and me to live off, just. I’m hoping to build up the stock over the next few years and start making a dent in the debts. Right now,” she drew her hands down both her cheeks. “Ugh!”
“I’m sorry.”
She shrugged. “Me too, but I just have to stick with the plan. For now, at least, I’m going to have to do it alone.”
“I understand,” he stared at his feet. “I just wish things had turned out differently.”
“Me too,” she whispered, almost inaudibly.
“I guess I better go start packing my stuff.” He turned and walked back to the door.
Why did he keep doing that? Keep walking away from her? Why did she keep letting him?
“Cody,” she called to his back and rose to her feet, but he didn’t turn. Chasing him through the door, she reached him as he opened his car door. “Cody. Please wait.”
When he turned, a pained expression marred his handsome face, and it took a moment for her to find her words.
“Thank you for everything. For what you did for the kids and . . . stuff. I’m sorry you have to go.”
“Well, I wouldn’t have to if you let down your guard for a minute. Maybe swallow that damn stubborn pride of yours and admit you were wrong.”
“Why would I do that?”
“Because you are wrong. Because I was never interested in anyone but you. Because I fell in love with you, and now it’s too late.”
His words hit her like a raging bull, and she swallowed the lump that formed in her throat. A million thoughts raced through her head, and yet for once in her life, she was at a loss for words. This was the last thing she had expected him to say.
“When I landed in Harlow’s Bend, I thought it was a shit hole. I thought I’d stay for a bit, then move on. I didn’t know you. I didn’t know what it felt like to want to spend my every waking minute with another person. I didn’t know what it meant to want more for someone else.” He sucked in a deep breath.
His clear, blue eyes searched hers, and she wanted so much to tell him she felt the same, but he was leaving. He could say whatever he wanted; he was about to walk away forever.
“Why are you saying all this now?” she asked, cocking her head to one side and shielding her eyes from the sun.
“You never gave me a chance before. Hell, I didn’t even know before. Callie, I would do anything to make you see it now. I’ve never known this feeling before, and to be honest, it kinda scares me.”
“What am I meant to do with that?”
He reached for her hand, and she let him. His rough skin grazed her thumb, sending goosebumps over her sun-kissed skin.
“I don’t know. Maybe tell me you feel something for me too? I see the look in your eyes whe
n your kids do something new. I know that’s love. Every time you walk in the room, I feel the same about you. I want to shout to the world, that’s my girl, and I love her. I want to wrap you in my arms and never let you go. Protect you. I want to stay in Harlow’s Bend and make it my home. I don’t want to leave. You make me want to stop moving, and I want to grow old with you. I want to be a granddad one day, to your children’s children. To our children.”
If you want to sell up and move back to the city, then I want that too. I want whatever makes you happy. I want to be your person. When you need someone, I want to be that someone.” He pulled their joined hands to his chest and placed them over his heart. “I think that means love. Don’t you?”
“I . . . I don’t know what to say,” Callie stammered out past the lump in her throat.
“Then, don’t say anything. Just kiss me. That’s all I need.”
Taking a step forward, Cody’s hand snaked around the back of her neck, pulling her closer, his warm lips finding hers. The taste of his morning coffee still lingering as she fell into him. He loved her. That was all she needed in the world.
~*~
“You’re staying?” Grace squealed and bounced excitedly on the balls of her feet. “I knew you guys would work it out.”
“Well, it took a bit of convincing,” Callie chuckled, squeezing Cody’s hand.
“Are you alright with that, Austin?” Cody asked.
Austin shrugged his shoulders. “I guess.” A small smile tugged at the edges of his lips, giving away the fact he was trying to cover his cool façade.
The sound of tyres on the gravel had them all turning to see the new Mercedes as it snaked its way down the drive.
“Who’s that?” Callie asked, confused.
“It’s dad,” Austin cried, leaping from the veranda without using the steps as the car pulled to a halt in front of the house.
“Did you know he was coming?” she asked Grace, who gave her a blank stare.
The driver’s door opened, and Adam stepped out, wrapping his suit-clad arms around his son, before lifting a hand to wave at Grace.
“I didn’t know you were coming,” Austin squealed.
“I wanted to surprise you,” he said, leaning back into the car, as the passenger door opened and a woman stepped out. “You remember Leesa?” he asked.
Callie nodded and clung a little tighter to Cody’s hand. Leesa had been Adam’s secretary. The cliché of him hooking up with his secretary as soon as she was out of the picture hadn’t been lost on her.
“Hi Gracie,” Leesa smiled before nodding at Callie with a smirk.
“This is for you,” Adam beamed at their son before handing him a large box he had retrieved from the back seat.
Taking the box, Austin moved to rest it on the bonnet of his father’s car, and Callie couldn’t hold back the giggle as Adam quickly scooped it up and placed it on the ground. Lifting the lid, Austin retrieved a white ball of fluff.
“A puppy? You got me a puppy?”
“Well, it’s for you and Grace,” Adam corrected. “Do you like it?”
“It’s hardly a farm dog,” Cody mumbled into her hair, just loud enough for her to hear.
“Can we keep it here?” Austin asked excitedly.
“Of course,” Adam agreed. “There is no yard for it in my new apartment.”
“You moved?” Callie heard herself asking.
“Yes. Leesa and I got married last weekend, and we thought it might be nice to buy a new place. Together.” He smiled at the other woman. “Something new for the two of us.”
“And her kids,” Grace added.
“You got married?” she asked, surprised. “Last weekend?” When you dumped your son at the last minute, she wanted to add.
“We did,” an excited Leesa held up her left-hand sporting a massive glittering diamond.
“Well, congratulations. Obviously, that was more important than coming to see your kids,” she spat out bitterly.
“Why weren’t we invited?” Grace added.
“It was just a small affair,” Adam waved away her question as if it weren’t important.
“Were her kids there?”
“Of course, they were,” Leesa agreed, seemingly oblivious to the hurt she was causing.
Adam shuffled awkwardly. At least he had the decency to realise how uncomfortable the situation was.
“We . . .” he waved his hand to his new wife, “Leesa and I thought you guys might like to come and stay for the last week of your holidays?”
“No, thank you,” Grace blurted, gaining herself an evil look from her brother.
“Can I bring the puppy?” Austin asked.
“No,” Leesa snapped.
“Yes,” Adam corrected her. “But you will have to be responsible for taking it outside.”
Leesa stared at him, but he ignored her.
“Here, hold the pup, Grace. I’m gonna pack.” He dumped the dog in his sister’s arms.
“And you must be?” Adam closed the space between them and held out his hand to Cody.
“Cody,” he said, shaking her ex-husband's hand.
“What you do, Cody?”
“Whatever needs to be done.”
“He’s a cowboy,” Grace called out as she scratched the puppy's neck. “I think we should call it Yolanda.”
“A cowboy, huh?” Adam stifled a laugh.
“He’s moving in with us. He’s going to help me run the farm.” Callie smiled up at her man. She knew it would upset Adam, but she didn’t care.
“Um, Callie . . .” Adam’s eyes darted from left to right. “Can we have a word in private?”
“Why? There’s nothing you can’t say in front of Cody and Grace. Unless it’s something you don’t want your wife to hear?”
He cleared his throat, clearly uncomfortable with what he was about to say. “Okay. Do you think it’s wise to have someone move in here with you and the children?”
“I don’t see why not. You don’t seem to have a problem moving someone else in, and marrying them.”
“That’s different.”
“Different, how?” she goaded. He had always been that way. Felt the rules were different for him.
“It just is,” he spat. “Carrillo is worth a lot of money.”
“So you think Cody is using me? Is that what this is?” Her gaze flashed to Leesa, who leant against their brand new Mercedes picking at her fake nails. How ironic, he was concerned Cody was using her for money.
“I just hope that you have something legal in place. That’s all,” he ground out through gritted teeth, realising her insinuation.
“I don’t know what you think he’s going to get, Adam. After you left my dad in debt to his eyeballs, Carrillo isn’t worth anything, but you would know that, wouldn’t you? After all, you had your lawyers draw up our divorce settlement in your favour. You stole my father’s money.”
“I did no such thing,” he spluttered.
“No? You just took all he had, and sunk it into a bad investment.”
“He knew what he was getting into.”
“He was trying to make sure his daughter was looked after, Adam. Which is more than I can say for you.”
Adam’s eyes flashed to Grace stroking the dog on the veranda while Cody’s arm snaked protectively around Callie’s waist.
“I look after my kids.”
“With your two hundred dollars a month child support payments?” she scoffed. “You must have some pretty creative accounting work going on there, Adam. You can afford new cars and new apartments. Meanwhile, your kids have to go to a public school while I work my butt off to take care of them. What school are Leesa’s kids going to? Huh?”
“It doesn’t matter,” he shook his head. “Besides, you chose to move here.”
“That’s not the point. The point is, you don’t get to turn up here, telling me what I should and shouldn’t be doing. Who we can have in o
ur lives, and who we can’t.”
“No, the point is, she,” he pointed to Leesa, whose head popped up when she realised he was talking about her, “is twice the wife you ever were. She makes me happy. She is an amazing mother, a great cook. All you ever cared about was your precious farm and your horses. Well, you got it now, haven’t you? Huh?”
Cody tensed and took a step forward. “I don’t care who you think you are, but I won’t have you coming here and speaking to her like that.”
“What, tough guy?” Adam smirked. “Are you gonna punch me? Why don’t you get on your horse and ride away? Leave my family alone.”
“They’re my family now, mate. You had your chance, and you blew it.”
“Are you ready to go, buddy?” Adam called, looking past them both.
Callie turned to see Austin drop is duffle bag in the dust behind her.
“I think . . . I want to stay here.”
“What? What do you mean? Come on,” Adam waved his arm in the air.
“No,” Austin’s eyes darted from his dad to Cody. “I heard what you said.”
“It’s okay, Aus,” she tried. “I know you’ve been looking forward to seeing your dad. Go.” Callie moved to her son, leaving Adam and Cody to stare each other down. She hated that her kids were being dragged into Adam’s jealousy.
He shook his head. “Grace tried to tell me, and I didn’t believe her. He doesn’t love us.”
“Is that what he told you?” Adam charged toward him, shaking a finger at Cody.
“No.” Austin shook his head vehemently from side to side. “It’s what you said, Dad. You think you can turn up here, buy us a puppy, and that will make up for the past two years that you couldn’t be bothered coming to visit?” He walked back to Grace and plucked the puppy from her arms. “You are very cute,” he said sadly, roughing the fur on the puppy’s head as it excitedly licked his chin. “Here,” he said, holding out the dog. “Take it back. We don’t need you or your gifts.”