by Reece Butler
“I was cleaning the equipment shed,” replied Sam. “Something you were supposed to do last week.”
“It’s Sam who’s holding back, Mom,” said Trey, ignoring the comment about uncompleted work. “I like having Katie around. She works hard, has a brain, and a sense of humor. She’s got a spark, as well.”
Sam’s cock twitched at the thought of putting her spark to good use.
“We need a wife who grew up on a ranch or farm,” he said abruptly. “Someone who understands that work doesn’t stop just because you’re tired.”
“I heard Katie spent summers on her grandmother’s farm until her parents put her to work in their family business,” said his mother. She glared at him. “She’s no spoiled princess.”
“I didn’t know about the farm, and I never said she was spoiled.”
“I love those munchkins, but they wipe me out. Bye, Mom.” Trey kissed their mother’s cheek. “I’ll say hi to Katie for you.”
“You still want kids, after playing with Ben’s?” asked Sam.
“Of course.” Trey smirked. “My kids will be well behaved.”
“No,” corrected Sam. “Mine will. Yours will be as wild as you, running all over the place.”
“Nope.” Trey shook his head. “Their mother will wrangle them. That’s why we need a strong, confident wife, not a dishrag like you’re looking for.” He grinned. “We need someone like Katie. You ready to get down on one knee in front of her, big brother?”
“Damn, it Trey, the woman only got here yesterday.”
“So? Have you seen anyone better in the last ten years?” said Trey over his shoulder as he headed for Sam’s truck.
“I’ve been too busy working this ranch to look for a woman, and you know it!”
“Now that Trey’s decided to stay around, you’ve got time to look.” Mom patted his chest. “I’ve got your grandmother Elliott’s ring in my jewelry box. I’ll have it cleaned and the setting checked so it will be ready when you, or your brother, proposes to Katie.”
“Mom—” he said, drawing out the word.
“Don’t use that tone with me, Samuel Henry Elliott! You may be a foot taller, but I am still your mother. I love you, even though you act like a fuddy-duddy stick-in-the-mud.”
He pulled off his hat, ran his fingers through his hair, and set his hat back with a deep sigh. “I don’t need psychoanalyzing.”
She patted his chest again. “I love you, Sam. You’ve been a worry since I lost your fathers. I feel like I’ve lost you as well. You don’t seem happy, ever. At least try to laugh a bit with Katie. She won’t be here long, so what’s the risk?”
“I’ll think about it, Mom. I love you. Always have, though I didn’t show it much.”
“I know,” she replied with quiet dignity.
Sam found himself giving his mother a gentle hug, the first in he didn’t know how long. He climbed behind the wheel and slammed the door. Trey was sulking, looking out the side window. Sam ignored him, driving to the Roadhouse without speaking.
* * * *
Trey twitched, holding back things he’d wanted to say for a long, long time. Ben and Amy had a good life. The kids were great. He wanted that life, and he wanted it soon. He’d wasted enough time and was ready to start the next chapter of his life. To do that, he had to straighten a few things out with Sam. This was the first time his brother had come close to being open to listening. He’d even hugged Mom!
“You didn’t even have the decency to talk to me after Dad died,” he said. “You just left those damn notes on the fridge.”
Sam, faced closed and tight, kept on driving, two miles under the speed limit. His eyes checked the road and the mirrors but never went near him. Trey undid his seatbelt and faced him.
“I did every damn thing on those lists, every damn time and you said nothing to me unless it was a complaint!”
“Nobody cared about the ranch but me.”
“Bullshit! Mom cared. I cared. The whole damn valley cared! They wanted to help and you turned them all down flat.”
Sam hunched over the wheel. “Yeah, you did what you were told, and not a damn thing more.”
“How did I know what you wanted, when you wouldn’t even talk to me?”
“You should have known—”
“For God’s sake, Sam, I was sixteen when Dad got killed in front of us. Mom was a wreck, and you wouldn’t talk. You were my big brother, the one I’d always looked up to. For the second time we’d lost a father. All of us were going through the same thing, and you shut me out.”
Sam hit the wheel with the heel of his palm. “I didn’t mean—”
“I thought you hated the sight of me because I looked like Dad.” Trey’s throat was so tight it hurt. “You were gone before the sun came up. You stuffed your face with whatever was on your plate, dumped your dishes in the sink, and walked out again. You didn’t even thank Mom for cooking. She’d watch you go, and then she’d hurry upstairs to her room while I cleaned up. I don’t know if you paid attention, but I heard her crying. Lots of times.”
Sam sagged against the seat. “I don’t remember much from back then. I was so worried about keeping the Rocking E going that I didn’t notice anything else. I did what I thought was right, taking care of the ranch.”
“Yeah, you worked, alone, and ignored me, Mom, and Ben.”
“All I could think about was that if I didn’t get the work done, we’d lose the ranch,” Sam said quietly.
“There’s no way our uncles would have let that happen. They offered to help, but you pushed them away. Just like you did me and Mom.”
“I guess I figured you were old enough to take care of yourself.” Sam ran his fingers through his hair. “I must’ve been like a zombie, just going through the motions.”
“I felt like I’d lost both my father and my older brother at the same time.”
The only sounds were those made by the truck.
“I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you,” said Sam. He spoke to the steering wheel, his voice rough.
It was years late, but it eased Trey’s fury and frustration. He’d been so mad at the time. Looking back, he realized Sam had been lost and alone. At least Trey’d had lots of family to turn to. Sam had turned away, instead.
“You went crazy,” said Sam, “taking off every time you could. I thought you hated the place.”
“Why would I want to hang around? You were like a robot with your own personal thundercloud raining on you. No matter how bright and sunny, you managed to turn things negative. Any time someone said something good you had to warn them of how it might screw up. Thank God I answered when Ben called to tell us about James being born. If you’d said those things to him instead of me, he’d never have let you see the kid.”
“The statistics on accidents in the home—”
“James and Emily are not statistics, Sam, they’re little kids.”
Sam twitched his shoulder. “Maybe I was a bit jealous,” he muttered. “They seem so happy.”
“Ya think?”
Trey sighed. Sam liked to think he was a rock, invincible. But even granite could be chipped away. His brother was like one of those geodes where the outside was rough, hard, and ugly. But if you took your time and chipped through it, you found something special inside. Sometimes a chisel would break it apart with one blow. Maybe Katie would be that chisel? For now, Trey would keep chipping.
“You know why Mom moved out right after I finished high school and never came back?”
“I figure the memories were too much. She loved both of our fathers, a lot. Being on the ranch reminded her they were gone, and she’d never have the life they’d planned.”
“Nope.” Trey slowly shook his head. “At Dad’s funeral she promised me she’d stay until I finished school. She said it stabbed her heart to see you hurting so much. She thinks you blame her for Dad’s death. She couldn’t stand seeing you bitter, despising her.”
Trey shot forward as Sam jammed on the brakes
. He slammed the truck into park and stared at Trey.
“What the hell?”
Trey stared back. He raised his eyebrows in silent challenge.
“That’s bullshit!”
He waited, for once calm and controlled while Sam flew off the handle. All sorts of expressions flicked over Sam’s face before he settled into his usual frown.
“Why would Mom think I blamed her for what Dad did?”
“Dad won his all-state championship buckle for Mom when he was seventeen. He couldn’t afford an engagement ring unless he won the buckle, and he wouldn’t ask her to marry him without one. She said she didn’t care, but it was important to Dad. When their big anniversary came up, Dad said he’d won a buckle for her before, and he was going to do it again. Mom thinks you blame her for not stopping him from competing at his age.”
“Mom couldn’t have stopped dad from doing anything he set his mind on,” replied Sam. “And he did win before he got thrown off, landed on his neck, and died. Right there.” Sam sighed then scrubbed his face with his hands. “Why didn’t she tell me? I didn’t want her to leave.”
“When the hell would she tell you?” demanded Trey, suddenly furious. “You wouldn’t look either of us in the face. She had lost a husband for the second time. She had no one to lean on anymore. Ben did what he could, but he lived in Bozeman. Mom couldn’t lean on you because you weren’t there, physically or emotionally. I did what I could, but I was a kid, and hurting just as bad. At least in town she had friends nearby.”
Sam’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed. He blew out his breath.
“At least we went to the grief counselor, the one you refused to go to,” Trey added accusingly.
“I went. Later.”
“Once!”
Sam slumped in the seat. “You think if I told Mom I never blamed her, that she might come home?”
“She got over that a long time ago.” Trey made a sound of disgust. “She won’t visit because the Rocking E homestead looks like shit. Mom had gardens, she kept cookies in the jar, fresh flowers on the table in the summer, and her feet didn’t stick to the kitchen floor.” His expression matched the sound he’d made. “Mom doesn’t want to come home because it’s not her home anymore, and we haven’t made it ours. Yeah we live there, but our hearts aren’t in it. And it shows.”
“Sounds like you’ve got all sorts of answers,” said Sam, trying not to sound too much like a pissed-off kid. “What do we do about it?”
“Seriously?”
“Of course I’m serious! I want Mom to feel that she’s welcome any time. I miss her,” he added quietly.
“We have Katie clean the place up, plant flowers, hang curtains, that sort of thing. Replace the crappy appliances and put down a new floor. Then we invite Mom over.”
“Why should we have to invite her? She’s our mother. It’s her home.”
“It was her home. The only way she’d come is if…” Trey got an idea. He turned toward Sam, grinning widely. “We’re paying Katie to clean but she insists the haying is her contribution. A great way to thank her would be a party. We haven’t had one on the Rocking E since before Dad died. It would be a good time to do it, with the place clean thanks to Katie.”
Sam nodded thoughtfully. “We hold a going-away party for Katie right after the haying. Mom couldn’t say no to that. We won’t be able to fix the floor by then, but she won’t care if the place looks homey and is filled with family and friends.” He nodded. “We tell Katie we’re going to have a party. Only we say it’s so Mom can see what the Rocking E looks like all cleaned up. I like that.”
Trey put his hand on the door handle. “Last one in buys the beer.”
Chapter Eleven
Tom White had pulled a beer for Trey before Sam set his butt on his usual stool. Tom poured him a coffee, knowing he never drank if there was a chance he’d get behind a wheel. Sam had taken keys from a number of his cousins over the years. They were mad at the time, but they got home alive.
“Where’s Katie?” asked Tom. “Getting ready for tonight’s karaoke party?”
“Damn, I forgot all about that!” Troy slapped the polished wood counter. “We’ll have a drink, then go home and tell her she has a date with us tonight!”
“Katie’s an employee,” replied Sam. “We can’t tell her to go out with us. And anyway, she’s a mite irritable today.”
“I expect you’re the reason for the irritation?” asked Tom.
If it had been one of his cousins he might have replied rudely. Because it was Tom White he swallowed his comment.
“Marci says she’s a good singer,” continued Tom. “She’d like karaoke.”
“Good to know.” Trey drained his glass of beer and carefully set it on the bar. “Since Katie’s helping at the haying, it would be good for her to meet people tonight.” Trey nudged Sam with an elbow. “And it’ll make the cousins jealous.”
If they showed up with Katie, especially if she wore something snug, it would drive the cousins nuts. He wouldn’t mind them being jealous of him for a change. Katie had made her choice last night. She wouldn’t be hanging out with anyone but him and Trey.
“They won’t be jealous if Katie’s dancing with them instead of you,” warned Tom.
“Katie wouldn’t do that,” said Trey. He paused, eyebrows almost touching. “Would she?”
“Tell the guys she’s in line to be your wife and they’ll back off,” said Tom.
“Katie’s nothing like the wife I need,” said Sam.
“She can cook,” said Tom, “is great with kids, gets along with pretty much anybody—”
“She’s overeducated, opinionated, and is the size of a teenager,” replied Sam. The statements were true, but she was far more as well. She worked hard, stood up for herself, and could laugh, and that mattered a lot around here. She also made him feel things he didn’t like admitting to.
“I thought you were looking to get married?” asked Tom.
“Yeah, but not Katie.” Sam shook his head. “She wouldn’t make a good ranch wife.”
“Maybe not,” replied Trey slyly. “But I wouldn’t mind something short-term. She’s small, but that’s one hell of a body she’s got. I can’t wait to see her in one of Aunt Marci’s dresses. Katie’s way bigger in the bust department.” Trey swayed on the stool, hand over his heart. “Hoo, boy!”
Sam shot him a warning look. No one should suspect anything had happened last night. It was private. Especially since Katie was ticked off and giving out vibes that she wasn’t interested in anything more from them. Trey was good with women. He’d find a way to turn her around. He’d better!
“You do realize it’s rare to find a woman with brains and looks who can cook, take care of kids, and doesn’t object to the idea of sharing two men.” Tom aimed his comments at Sam. “The chance of an available female, especially one like Katie, stopping in Climax is pretty low. It’s almost as if somebody set this up just for you.” His eyes narrowed. “Remember what happened with Lila? Maybe that ancestor of yours decided Katie was right for you.”
“You think Great-whatever-granny Beth sent Katie to us?” asked Trey eagerly. “’How do you invite a ghost?”
“She’s buried with the rest of the ancestors. Go talk with her, thank her, and tell her she’s welcome here. I’d prefer if you don’t mention it to my wife. Dorothy’s uneasy with spirits.” Tom frowned, thinking. “Though maybe Beth could tell Dorothy a few things to ease her mind.”
Such as?”
“Whether certain people ended up in hell, if it does exist.” His mouth twisted. “I’ve got a few on my list that I’d be happier knowing were roasting in pain for eternity,” he added softly before turning away.
Sam had seen and even talked with Beth. It was weird talking to someone when you could see through their body. Sam couldn’t deny things existed that he couldn’t see or touch, but he didn’t have to like it. And he didn’t have to accept that Katie was sent to Climax by someone who’d been d
ead for sixty-five years. If that was the truth, he wanted to ask Beth why she’d let that SOB attack Katie.
“Granny Beth wouldn’t have sent someone who wasn’t perfect for us,” said Trey.
“She’s got an MBA, for God’s sake,” Sam replied with disgust. “She’d be wasting her education living here. Katie turning up was sheer chance. She told Aunt Marci she’ll stay until after the haying, then go home. She’s got some job lined up already.”
Sam had way too much to do to think about Katie. Yet not thinking about her was impossible. She messed him up during the day and wrecked his sleep at night. He had to solve the problem. When the haying started he had to be one hundred percent alert and aware, working in the moment to keep everyone safe. He couldn’t do that with a raging hard-on. It would be painful to drive a truck and impossible to ride a horse, which was what he’d be doing sixteen hours a day. Even now, though it made him furious, his cock fought to rise at the thought of curves she’d shown them last night.
There was only one way to fix the problem and that was to get her out of his system. That required getting her naked when she was well rested so she didn’t pass out again. They’d share some great sex, and he’d be able to concentrate during the haying. Once that was over he’d reconsider the equation.
“Earth to Sam.”
Trey’s hand waved in front of Sam's face. He slapped it away.
“Your concentration’s all shot to hell.” Tom shook his head, frowning. “One of the reasons you were chosen as hay boss is because you can focus. You’d better do something or we’ll put someone else in charge. The MacDougal twins would do a good job.”
Cold fury blasted away all thoughts of sex. Being chosen was his reward for years of denial, working day and night while Trey played. Hell, while all his cousins played! Any interest in sex flew like snowflakes in a blizzard.
“I was chosen to do a job,” he said between gritted teeth, “and no pint-sized female is going to stop me!”