The next day, he sat on the sofa staring into the fire crackling in the hearth behind the screen. After last night, he wasn’t sure if he should see Delaney anymore. It would just bring more heartache. She left this morning before he’d even woke up and that had to be early because he was up before dawn every morning. When a knock sounded on the door, he frowned as he looked at it. Pushing himself up, he walked to the door then opened it to see Jake standing on the porch.
“Hey, Jake. What can I do for you?”
“Take a ride with me,” Jake said, standing there staring at Trent with his hands in the pockets of his sheepskin coat.
“A ride?”
Jake smirked. “Don’t worry, I’m not going to take you somewhere to get rid of you.”
Trent grinned. “Good to know. Come in for a minute while I get my boots and coat on.”
He opened the door wider, and Jake stepped inside. Ginny ran to him, wiggling her whole body.
“I didn’t know you had a dog.”
“Well, I didn’t when I got here. She was out in the yard the night we had the ice storm, right after I arrived. I asked around town and even had Dr. Garrett check her for a chip, but no one claimed her, and there was no chip. I decided to keep her.” He shrugged. “She’s a good dog and house trained. I know I should have checked with you and Becca—”
Jake held up his hand. “It’s fine,” he said as he leaned down and pet the dog.
“Her name is Ginny, after my mother.”
“She looks to be an Australian Shepherd. Gabe and Liv both have one. Liv is Wyatt’s wife, and her Aussie is from a litter that Gabe’s dog had,” Jake said.
“She is an Aussie. I thought so too, and Dr. Garrett confirmed it.”
Trent tugged his boots on, stood, and stomped his feet into them then walked to where his hat and coat hung. After putting them on, he nodded for Jake to lead the way. They stepped onto the porch, and Trent pulled the door closed then walked down the steps and climbed into Jake’s truck. Jake got in, started it, then drove to the main road, and turned right.
It was a damn nice truck, and it looked to be brand new. Trent inwardly sighed. He bought his truck new ten years ago, and although it was a nice truck, there was nothing like having a new one. As the miles flew by, he wondered where they were going, but since Jake hadn’t volunteered any information, Trent knew asking wouldn’t get him an answer. But the answer came when Jake slowed the truck and pulled into a cemetery.
“Uh, why are we here?” he asked.
“I think it’s time you met your father.”
“Jake, I don’t think this is a good idea.”
“Too bad. I do.”
Jake drove up a winding road then came to a stop and looked over to Trent.
“It might give you a little closure.”
Trent swallowed hard, nodded, but couldn’t seem to move. Jake stepped from the truck, but Trent stared out the windshield then after taking a deep breath, he opened the door, stepped out, shoved it closed, and followed Jake as he walked past several headstones and came to a stop. Trent didn’t want to step any closer. He wasn’t sure how he felt about being here. Jake never took his eyes from the headstone and didn’t say another word. It was as if he knew Trent needed the time to get there. Sucking in a deep breath, he blew it out, and it formed into a puff of air in front of him. It was cold but no snow was falling and none in the forecast. He slowly walked to the headstone, stopped beside Jake, and looked at the name. Josiah Stone. His father. The emotions running through him had him clenching his gloved hands and gritting his teeth so hard, he was surprised his molars didn’t crack. The name beside his father’s read, Clarissa Stone.
“Dad was a good man. I know that’s probably really hard for you to understand, but he was. He loved Mom. I don’t know what happened that he sought out your mother, but it is what it is. I have no doubt you’re my brother.”
“Wyatt doesn’t think so.”
“It’s not that he doesn’t believe it. He may be a hothead, but he’s a good man. He was the youngest and Gabe, and I knew he was Mom’s favorite. That’s probably why he’s finding this hard to accept. He was only twenty-six when she died, and it really tore him up. It hit all of us hard, but Wyatt was just shattered. He fell apart. I have no doubt he’ll come around. He just has to come to terms with it. The thought that Dad cheated on her is killing him.”
Trent nodded, removed his hat, then squatted down by the headstone, and ran his hand over the letters in his father’s name. He blinked back tears, but one rolled down his cheek.
“I wish I could have known him. You three turned out to be good men, and that’s because of him.”
“And your mother made you a good man, Trent.”
Trent stood. “She lied to me for years. She told me he was dead. I didn’t know how to feel when I found out that he wasn’t. All I knew was that I had to find him and when I get here, I find out he is gone. If she had been honest with me, I might have been able to meet him.”
“I can’t begin to know what she’d been thinking. It’s just something we’ll probably never know.”
“Well, I’ll be leaving soon so it really won’t matter, will it?”
“Maybe it won’t matter, but I want to keep in touch with you. You’re my brother.”
Trent looked at him and could see the truth in his eyes. Trent nodded. It would be nice to keep in touch with his brothers, but he knew he’d never really fit in with them. They were close, and Trent had thrown a wrench into their family. He put his hat back on.
“We’ll see. Can you take me back to the cabin now?” He turned to walk to the truck and Jake fell in beside him.
“Becca and I would love to have you over for dinner one night before you go.”
Trent stopped in his tracks and looked at him. “I’d rather not, Jake. It’s nothing personal, but I feel like an outsider around all of you. Maybe if I visit again, we can get together.”
He briskly walked to the truck, climbed in, and waited for Jake. Trent watched him through the windshield as he turned and looked back at the headstone then headed for the vehicle. Trent knew they were all confused about how this happened but once he was gone, they’d never have to think about it again. He was sure Jake knew as well as he did that he would never return to Clifton.
“There’s one more place I want to take you then I’ll take you back to the cabin,” Jake said as he started the truck.
“Where?”
“To Gabe’s place. When Dad died, he had thirty-three hundred acres. It was split between the three of us. I didn’t want the original house, so Gabe took it. Wyatt and I built our homes on our share of the land.”
“I see,” Trent murmured because he had no idea what he could say.
His father had left his other sons land, but he got nothing. He would have loved to have inherited some property then he could have had the ranch he’d always wanted. He wasn’t the type of man to be jealous about what others had but maybe if he’d been involved in his father’s life, he would have gotten something. Trent blew out a breath. He’d never have it now.
“I just want to share the house we all grew up in with you and Gabe has some photo albums.” Jake glanced over to him then back to the road. “You can see pictures of Dad.”
Trent remained silent. He didn’t care about seeing pictures of a man who’d left him behind and never acknowledged his presence. Another son he had but didn’t want anything to do with. He fisted his hands inside the pockets of his coat and clenched his jaw. He knew Jake was trying to do right about all of this and Trent admired him for that, but he really didn’t want to see any pictures or the house his brothers had grown up in. It just showed him what they had, and he didn’t.
“I’d just rather you just take me back to the cabin. I have no desire to see any photos of…him.”
Jake pulled the truck off the road, threw the gear into Park, and looked over at him.
“Are you sure? I’m not trying to show you anything other
than pictures of our father.”
Trent nodded. Jake must be a fucking mind reader. He could feel Jake staring at him, so he looked back at him.
“Yes, I’m sure.”
Jake huffed out a breath, put the gear into Drive, and pulled onto the road. They rode to the cabin in silence until Jake stopped in front of the cabin. Trent reached for the handle to open the door then looked at Jake.
“I appreciate you taking me to the cemetery.” He stepped out and closed the door then walked to the steps of the cabin when Jake’s voice stopped him.
“I’m sorry about all of this, Trent.”
Trent turned to see Jake sitting there with the window down.
“It’s not your fault any more than it’s mine, Jake. We know who’s to blame in all of this, our father. I’ll be leaving in a few days, and you’ll never hear from me again.” He put his hand up when Jake started to speak. “I think it’s for the best.”
He watched as Jake nodded, put the window up, and drove off. It was just too damn hard being around any of them. To see how close they were and how he’d never be a part of. It didn’t seem a damn bit fair to him, but he wouldn’t cause any more problems for them. Even if he were entitled to something of theirs, he’d never ask for it. He’d just go home to Billings and get back to work on the ranch. His brothers got their dreams fulfilled but Trent never would. Damn it. He could hear Ginny barking as he stomped the snow from his boots on the porch. He opened the door, and she spun around in circles, happy to see him. Trent squatted down to rub her ears.
“Hey girl, wait until you see the big ranch you’ll get to run on when we get home.”
Ginny sat down and stared up at him, her tongue hanging out. She looked so happy to see him, and he knew she’d love the ranch. She’d get to run with the other dogs, and in all likelihood, get into trouble. Trent straightened up, removed his hat and coat, and then walked to the French doors to let her out. She ran outside, stuck her nose in the snow, and pushed her way through it. Trent smiled as he watched her. Running his hand around the back of his neck, he knew he needed to see Delaney. Once he’d made up his mind, he let Ginny back in then headed for the shower. His muscles were tense, and it was because he would tell her tonight that he was leaving tomorrow. There was no more reason to stay. He wished he had never come here at all or at least, went home when Sam had told him Josiah was dead. But you wouldn’t have met Delaney.
“True but then, I wouldn’t have fallen in love with her, and neither of us would have broken hearts,” he muttered as he turned the shower on, stripped, and stepped inside the stall. It would all be over soon.
After he finished with his shower, he entered the bedroom to dress then he sat on the side of the bed, put socks on, and looked at Ginny sitting at his feet staring up at him.
“I wouldn’t have you if I hadn’t come here. You know that, right?” He grinned when she moved closer to him then he shook his head and huffed.
“I hate telling her I’m leaving. I want to be in her life, but even if I could take her with me, she’d end up hating me because I’d just be abandoning her. She’d be alone, and Delaney loves people.” Trent ran his hand through his damp hair. “What can I do? I can’t stay here, and she can’t go with me.” Ginny barked then put her paw on his knee. “I know you love her too. I do love her, damn it. I should have just left when I found out my father was dead. Hell, I should have checked before even coming here. Yeah, I know I’m repeating myself, but it’s the truth. I wouldn’t have hurt Jake, Gabe, and Wyatt and I sure as hell wouldn’t be hurting Delaney. Shit. The thought of telling her I’m leaving makes my gut ache.”
Trent stood then walked to the kitchen to get some food in his belly. After, he would relax a little but then he’d go see Delaney, and hurt the one woman he would always love.
Chapter Twelve
A knock at her door startled her. Lanie glanced at the clock to see it was nine and she wasn’t expecting anyone. She slowly crept to the door, turned the porch light on, and looked out the peephole to see Trent standing on the porch, so she opened the door.
“Hi, I wasn’t expecting you tonight,” she said as she stared up at him.
“I decided at the last minute to come by. Can I come in?”
“Of course.” She opened the door wider to let him in. He strode through the doorway bringing the cold in with him, then spun around, and looked at her. Lanie shoved the door closed. Something was wrong.
Trent removed his hat then his coat and placed them over the back of a kitchen chair. He ran his hands through his hair.
“Trent? What’s wrong?”
“Nothing really. I just…wanted to see you.” He stared at her.
Lanie walked to him and stopped in front of him. His dark eyes held sadness, and she wondered if one of the Stone brothers had hurt him in some way.
“I’m glad you came by—” His lips halted her words when he grabbed her arms, pulling her close and kissing her hard and deep.
She moaned as his hands slid down her back to grab her ass. He squeezed it and pulled her against him so she could feel his hard cock behind the fly of his jeans. He turned her, so her back was against the wall then he pulled her T-shirt off over her head. She tried to reach between them to unsnap his jeans, but he was pressed tight against her. Tearing her mouth from his, she kissed his neck, loving the feel of his lightly whiskered neck and jaw.
“I need you so much,” he murmured against her ear.
“I need you too, Trent. Let’s go to the bedroom.”
“No. Here. Now.” He dropped to his knees and tugged her lounge pants down. She stepped out of them as she looked down into his eyes. He put his fingers inside the elastic of her panties and pushed them down her legs, and she kicked them across the room then he leaned forward and ran his tongue through her curls to her clitoris. Lanie fisted her hands in his hair. He spread her legs and continued to move his tongue along her slit and she couldn’t stop from trembling. Gasping, she held on to him. He was relentless until she cried out as her orgasm tore through her. Trent stood, picked her up and sat her on the counter then unsnapped his jeans, and lowered the zipper. After rolling on a condom, he spread her legs, pulled her close to him, and thrust hard into her. She groaned as he began to move. She wrapped her legs around his waist and hooked her ankles together. This was his emotions taking over, but right now, she didn’t care. Lanie needed him as much as he needed her. Because all too soon, it would be over for them.
****
The orgasm hit him hard. It would be the last time with her. Trent leaned his forehead against hers and took deep breaths. Neither of them moved for a few minutes. He stepped back from her and lifted her off the counter, but when her knees buckled, he caught her and held her with one hand while he pulled his jeans back up.
“Are you all right?”
“Yes,” Delaney said breathlessly.
He nodded then turned and walked down the hallway to the bathroom to dispose of the condom. Staring at himself in the mirror, he dreaded having to tell her he was leaving.
“You’re an idiot, Donovan,” he muttered, then walked out of the bathroom.
When he entered the living room, she was sitting on the sofa, dressed, with her legs curled under her. He wasn’t sure what to do. Running his fingers through his hair, he took a seat in one of the chairs, refusing to meet her eyes.
“You’re leaving, aren’t you?”
He looked at her. “Yes.”
“So, what was that?” She waved her hand toward the kitchen. “A fuck for the road?”
“Don’t talk like that,” Trent said through clenched teeth.
Delaney jumped up and put her hands on her hips.
“Why not? It’s the truth isn’t it?”
“I came here to tell you I was leaving but once I saw you—”
“How touching. Just go, Trent. We agreed in the beginning that this would be no strings. You should have had the balls to tell me before you fucked me.”
�
�Delaney, it’s not like that. Look, I’ve told myself over and over that I can’t take you with me, but I love you so much that I’m willing to try it if you are. You know how isolated the ranch is, but we could try—”
“No,” she whispered.
“What?” He was sure he heard wrong.
“I am way too scared, Trent. I’m so afraid of being alone. Brett left me, and you would too. You have no idea how much his betrayal hurt me. I was devastated. I hated being alone and I’d be there just waiting for you to come home when there would be days you wouldn’t. You said yourself that you’re gone for weeks at a time and I know the loneliness would get to me. I won’t know anyone in Billings except you and you’d be gone all the time. My parents are moving here. I can’t do it. I’m sorry.” Tears rolled down her cheeks.
“You could visit them. Why won’t you at least try?”
“Why won’t you?” she shouted. “You could stay—”
“I will not stay here and start over. The only thing here I want is you but apparently, you don’t want me. Are you still in love with him?” He feared hearing the answer.
“No! Trent, I love you. You have to know that. You have family here.”
He laughed. “That’s where you’re wrong. I don’t have any family here. I will never fit in with them. Do you think this is easy for me? You have no idea how much I don’t want to walk out that door. I hate that you won’t go with me. It’s ripping my heart out because I am so in love with you, but now I can’t be with you. Damn it, it’s killing me, and I can’t do a fucking thing about it. You’re the woman I’ll always love until I take my last breath. I was willing to try, Delaney. Apparently, I love you more than you love me.” He ran his hand through his hair again and tried to swallow the lump in his throat. Looking down at her, all he wanted to do was take her in his arms and never let her go, but he couldn’t.
“That’s not true. I love you more than anything! Why can’t you stay and find work here? I know you don’t want to start over but what if you asked Jake—”
Trent Men of Clifton, Montana Book 9 Page 13