“There we go. We’ll all be warm in no time now.” Dad dismounted and helped Ross get the foal up on his horse.
At least the exhausted baby was too tired to struggle. Minutes later, they were riding back to the barn with the mud-caked foal lying across Ross’s lap.
“I’m so glad we found him,” Dad said. “He definitely wouldn’t have lasted until morning. We’d have found him drowned.”
“Thanks for helping. It was a lot easier to get him with your help. And he’s too exhausted to walk.”
“Kind of like old times, when you were a kid, helping me and your papaw on his ranch. Once we get him settled, I’ll help you load the truck too.”
“I’m glad you’re here, Dad.” And Ross meant it from the bottom of his heart.
Things would get tough over the next few days. His folks would likely be upset that Ron never told them about the twins. That Ross had known over the last month and kept it from them. But the truth needed to come out. His parents had been robbed of being grandparents. It was high time they knew the truth.
Once they made it back to the barn, they settled the mare and foal in their stall with lots of fresh hay for warmth and put out extra oats for sustenance. The mare contently licked her offspring and he was starting to respond.
“He’ll be fine.” Dad patted Ross’s shoulder. “Ready to load that truck?”
“You can go on to the workshop through those big double doors. I’ll run to the house, let them know we found them and be right back.” Ross trotted toward the house, splashing as he went. Careful not to bust it on the wet steps, he made his way up on the porch and knocked.
Stacia opened it quick, as if she’d been waiting on the other side.
“We found them. They’re okay. The foal was stuck in the mud at the edge of the pond.”
“Oh the poor baby. Are you sure he’s okay?”
“He’s dazed, cold and exhausted from trying to get out. But we gave them plenty of food and hay. Stockings was cleaning him up and he was moving around, so he should be fine by morning.”
“Thank you. For finding them.”
“Dad and I will finish loading the truck and get it secured, then I’ll check on him again before I head to the cabin with them.”
“Do they know about Mason and Madison?”
“Not yet.”
“Why is Ron here?”
“Apparently he was my surprise. But he had no idea I was here with you.” He took his hat off long enough to slick his hair back under it. “I’ll hash it out with Ron tonight. Find out what his plans are. I can almost promise you he has no interest in the twins.”
Distrust shone in her eyes. “He saw them. For the first time.”
“If I know my brother, it won’t make any difference.”
“I hope you’re telling me the truth.”
“That’s all I’ve done since I’ve known you, Stacia.” His words came out sharp. “I can’t help it if you don’t trust me.”
“Will you tell your parents tonight?”
“Hey,” Dad’s voice came from a few yards away. “The workshop is locked.”
“Sorry Dad.” He turned away from her, unable to stand the torture of looking at her a minute longer. “I’ve got the key.”
“Thank you so much for helping with the horses and for agreeing to load the truck, Mr. Lyles.”
“Please, call me Sam. And it was my pleasure. It was kind of nice to do ranch work again. Thank you for letting us come to visit Ross. I look forward to getting to know you and your twins better.”
“Me too.”
Ross forced himself to look her way. A silent agreement passed between them. Tomorrow.
“Let’s go, Dad. It’s getting late.” He turned away from her and darted toward the workshop with Dad following.
Every muscle he owned ached. From manhandling the foal out of the mud and onto his horse, from loading the claw-foot tubs earlier. And he still had more to load. But more than his muscles, his heart hurt. No matter what he did, no matter what he said, Stacia would never trust him.
* * *
Bone-tired, Ross left his mucky boots on the porch and followed his Dad into the Bandera rental cabin.
“You found them?” Mom started to greet them with a hug, but stopped to scan their dripping attire and scurried to the adjoining bathroom. “I’ll get towels.”
Ron sprawled on one of the beds, barely looking away from his phone to acknowledge them.
“We did find them.” Dad dried off, then removed his jacket and explained about the foal.
“Will he be okay?”
“He’s warm in a stall with his mom now.” Ross dried off enough to earn a hug from Mom. He clasped her tight against his chest, feeling a bit like the foal. The familiar smell of her Avon perfume soothed his soul. “I’ve missed y’all.”
A lump formed in his throat with all he wanted to tell them. But Stacia needed to be there when the truth came out. She’d earned that right by raising the twins thus far.
“You too. So what’s the mystery? If Stacia isn’t your girlfriend, why are you here?”
“About that, Stacia and I will explain everything tomorrow. Tonight, I need to talk to Ron for a minute.”
Ron looked up from his phone.
Mom chuckled. “Well, I’d love to give you boys some privacy, but the only place your father and I can go is in the bathroom and it’s pretty tight quarters.”
“In my truck.” He shot Ron a look, daring him to argue.
“Let’s go.”
“It’s late, so after we talk, I’ll shove off. But I’ll see y’all in the morning. Come to the ranch about ten or so.”
“We’ll be there.” Dad’s eyes said he wanted to ask more questions, but he didn’t.
Ross ushered Ron out and to his truck. Inside the cab, he gripped the steering wheel, focused on the sheet of rain crashing into the windshield.
“Why are you here? With her?” Ron slammed the passenger’s door.
“I wanted to see my niece and nephew. To make sure they’re all right.”
“They looked fine to me. Have you been here the entire time?”
“Seeing them did nothing to you, did it?”
“They’re kids. You know that’s not my thing.”
“I don’t understand you.” Ross gripped the steering wheel even harder. “From the moment you told me about them, I had to see them. And once I did, they melted my heart. I can’t imagine my life without Mason and Madison in it.”
“So that’s what she named them. I’d forgotten. Clever for twins.” Ron stretched his back, something he’d done often since his accident. “Look, I told you about them, in a weak moment when I thought I might die. I didn’t mean for you to go all uncle on me. I guess you plan on telling Mom and Dad.”
“Of course I do.” Ross let out an exasperated sigh. “They’re grandparents, don’t you think they’d like to know that.”
“I guess.” Ron shrugged.
“I was about to head home to tell them, when they called and said they were being evacuated. Since they’re here, Stacia and I will tell them together. I don’t guess you’d like to be there.”
“Not at all. I was planning to take off and this whole hurricane thing put a wrench in my plans. All I want to do is get back on the road and salvage what’s left of my career.”
“I’m not surprised.”
“Enough of the browbeating, big brother. I’m not a paragon of virtue like you and I never will be. So get over it already.”
“Trust me, I am.”
“I’m supposed to be in a treatment center right now.”
“Well, that’s a good plan.”
“If I have to stay in this tiny cabin with the folks one more minute, I’ll go crazy. I’m thinking I need to take off tonight.”
�
�Um, in case you haven’t noticed, there’s a hurricane-scale storm out there.”
“It’s letting up.”
Ross peered through the windshield. He could see more clearly and the rain wasn’t pounding anymore.
“You could take me to a center in San Antonio.”
“Tomorrow.”
“Tonight. I don’t know, all this drama, it’s making me antsy.”
For the first time in years, Ron was clean and Ross didn’t need a reversal. “What about Mom and Dad?”
“You can tell them where I went when you get back.”
“You can tell them now.”
“Seriously?”
“If you go in and tell them, right now, I’ll take you. Tonight.”
Ron rolled his eyes, but opened the truck door and got out.
Ross followed.
“What?” Ron splayed his hands. “You don’t trust me?”
“No, brother. I’m afraid I don’t.” He checked his watch, almost midnight. “Hurry up with it, we’re getting soaked again and I’d like to go to bed sometime tonight.”
They splashed their way back to the cabin.
Ross didn’t trust his brother just as surely as Stacia had no faith in him. But the difference was, Ron had given him plenty of reason for distrust, while Ross hadn’t given Stacia any.
Chapter Twelve
Though it was Thursday, school was out due to flooded roads on the bus route and an enormous fallen tree that damaged the lunchroom. Stacia had left the twins to sleep in with Daddy. With the B and B order complete and loaded, she was at loose ends and it wasn’t time to open the store yet. She stepped outside, saw Ross’s truck and vaulted toward the barn.
The rain had stopped during the night, but the ground was soaked, sucking at her boots with each step.
The cattle and horses stood contentedly at their troughs and she found Ross in the stall with Stockings and Rust. The foal was up and nursing.
“He looks great, doesn’t he?” Ross didn’t turn to face her. “If you could have seen him last night, you’d be impressed with his progress.”
“I’m really glad you found them. So, did you tell your folks yet?”
“No, I told them to come to the store at ten. I figure we can break the news together.”
She drew in a big breath, closed her eyes. “What about Ron?”
“He left last night. Being here was too much for him.” Anger edged his tone. “I took him to a treatment center in San Antonio.”
“In the storm? When did you get back?”
“It let up a little by the time we left. I got back about two a.m.”
“You must be exhausted. We could put off—”
“No we can’t.” He whirled around to face her. “It’s been put off long enough.”
“Okay. But school’s out, so the kids are still in bed. We’ll have to have our discussion in the workshop.”
“I figured as much. That’s why I told them to come to the store.”
“Have they heard anything about their house or the business yet?”
“No. They probably won’t know until they head home. Unless some of their neighbors get there before they do.”
“That would drive me crazy, not knowing if I still had a house or not.” But not as bad as how she felt right now. Waiting for his folks to show up. They’d probably be angry she never tried to find them.
“I guess they’re used to it.”
An engine sounded, the crunch of gravel.
“I think they’re here.” He finally came out of the stall, ambled through the galley around the cows and peered toward the drive. “Yep, that’s them.”
She checked her watch. “It’s nine fifteen.”
“I guess they’re eager. They were wanting to know what was going on last night. The only way I was able to put them off was leaving and staying gone so late.” He adjusted his hat, turned in her direction. “You ready?”
“No. They’ll probably be really mad.”
“Probably. But they’re good folks. They’ll forgive and the important thing to them will be Mason and Madison.”
So important they’d want custody?
“Come on.” He reached a hand toward her.
She frowned at his outstretched fingers.
“I figure we’re in this together.”
Forcing her feet to move, she took his hand simply because she wasn’t sure her noodle legs would hold up without his support. They rounded the barn and as they neared the store, his parents got out of their car.
“Sorry we’re early.” Ross’s mom glanced at their linked hands. “We were just so anxious to know what’s going on. Are you sure Ron is okay?”
“I dropped him at the treatment center. He was settling in when I left.”
“Your mother worried all night about y’all being out in the storm.”
“I’m sorry, Mom. It was so late, I didn’t want to call and wake you.”
Stacia felt sorry for the woman. One son was a mess and in treatment and now her world was about to be shaken with the discovery of five-year-old grandchildren.
“I apologize, Stacia.” His mom smiled. “We barely met last night and we’ve dragged you into our family drama.”
“No need to apologize, Mrs. Lyles.”
“Please, call me Karen.” So friendly and warm. Her eyes the same shade as her sons’. White hair cut in an attractive face-framing short style and large trendy glasses completed her look.
“Let’s go inside.” Ross gestured toward the store.
Stacia unlocked the front door and stepped aside so his parents could enter first.
“Oh my, this place is really something.” Sam scanned the space. “It reminds me of that TV show, where they salvage old buildings.”
“Daddy owns a salvage business and that is where we get a lot of our pieces. But he started about ten years earlier than those guys on TV and he never got his own show.”
“Everything’s so unique.” Karen spun a circle. “Everywhere I look, I want to explore.”
“Let’s talk first.” Ross opened the door to the workshop. “You’ll have plenty of time for exploring.”
“I’m not sure how much longer we’ll stay, son.” Sam ushered his wife ahead. “We still haven’t made it to your grandfather’s and we’ll want to get home soon and see what’s left.”
“I think after you hear what we have to say, you’ll decide to stay.”
Sam and Karen caught each other’s gaze as they stepped inside the workshop.
“You’re kind of worrying us,” Sam admitted.
“It’s good news, mostly.” Ross gave his parents a tight smile.
“Please, have a seat.” Stacia pulled four office-style chairs into the center of the room, forming a trapezoid with two close together for his parents and two farther apart. “Excuse the dust and debris. This is where we sand, build and paint.”
His parents sat side by side while Ross and Stacia claimed the two chairs facing them.
“The suspense is killing us, just spit it out, son.” Sam clasped his wife’s hand.
“Okay. Y’all are grandparents.”
“What?” Karen glanced from Ross to Stacia. “I don’t understand. Are you preg—”
“No!” Stacia cut her off.
“The twins y’all saw last night.” Ross drew in a deep breath. “They’re your grandchildren.”
“So you and Stacia had a relationship in the past?” Sam ventured.
“No!” Stacia shook her head.
“We only met a few weeks ago,” Ross clarified. “Ron is their father.”
“So Stacia and Ron—”
“No!” Stacia interrupted again. “Ron and my sister.”
“Twins. Our grandchildren?” Karen shook her head as if to clear it.
“She died three years ago and left custody to me.”
“And Ron?” Sam’s gaze fell to the concrete floor. “Does he know about them?”
“Yes.”
“Let me guess, he’s had nothing to do with them.”
“He signed his rights over to Stacia’s sister and then Stacia.” Ross summed up Ron’s disinterest for them. “He’d never even seen them until y’all showed up here last night.”
“How old are they?” Karen asked.
“Five.”
“We’ve missed out on so much.” Her shoulders slumped. “What are their names?”
“Mason and Madison. I’m sorry you’re just now finding out.” Stacia’s voice trembled.
“Someone should have told us all right.” Sam stood and paced the floor. “But it should have been Ron.”
“Or Ross.” Karen pinned him with a look. “Why didn’t you tell us?”
“I didn’t know. Not until after Ron’s accident. I spent the night at the hospital with him after his back surgery. He was in so much pain he thought he might die and confessed to fathering twins and giving them away. I got Stacia’s name out of him and came here to see the twins and make sure they’re all right.”
“So you’ve been here since you left? Getting to know our grandchildren.” Sam paced faster. “But no one thought to invite us to meet them.”
“My intention when I came was to make sure Stacia was a suitable guardian. Once I checked things out, I planned to tell y’all. But Stacia had a big order for a B and B, I needed to stay here until we finished it, and I didn’t want to tell you over the phone. I was planning to head home when you called and told me about the evacuation order.”
“Ron told us he didn’t have any family.” Stacia’s voice cracked. “I can assure you both, I’m a suitable guardian.”
“Mom, Dad, I promise you, Stacia and her father love the kids and the kids love them. They’re happy and healthy. And Stacia and her dad are willing to let us be a part of their lives.”
“Y’all are welcome to stay as long as you want and spend as much time with Madison and Mason as you like.” She could only hope she didn’t sound as desperate as she felt. “We hope you’ll visit often. And maybe on school holidays or in the summer, they can visit y’all in Houston.”
A Texas Bond Page 16