Gone Country: Rough Riders, Book 14

by Lorelei James

  Why hadn’t Sierra come to him with this name change business? “And because she’s accepting of the family tie, that gives you the right to try and buy her love or affection or attention or whatever it is you want from her?”

  Vi skewered him with a hard look. “That gives me the right to spend my own damn money however I see fit. I bought gifts for my other granddaughter, so it’s only fair I do the same for Sierra. And don’t forget, you wouldn’t let us buy her anything for her sixteenth birthday. Then today she sees me buying things for Amelia’s birthday? How do you think that made her feel?” She jabbed her finger at him. “Exactly like you do. Like you aren’t really part of the family. Like some family members matter more to me than others.”

  “Fuck.”

  “Why did you move here, Gavin, if you didn’t want your daughter to be part of our family? You expect her to stand at arm’s length like you do? She is not you. You are her father, but you shouldn’t have the only say in whether we can build a relationship. Doesn’t what she wants matter?”

  “Oh, trust me; she’ll be your BFF if you keep buying her things every time you’re together.”

  “That’s the only reason Sierra could possibly want to spend time with me? That’s bullshit. You’re making horrible assumptions about her. And about me. That girl is not shallow, and yet I suspect sometimes you treat her like her mother. So you shouldn’t be surprised when she acts exactly how you treat her.”

  Gavin’s jaw tightened.

  “I’m not trying to buy her love. I’m not fostering a relationship with Sierra to get to you either, because if I thought I could buy your love? Son, I would’ve gladly paid the price the day you came looking for us. As far as today? I won’t apologize. I won’t let your paranoia and distrust ruin the wonderful afternoon that I got to spend with my granddaughter.”

  They stared at each other without speaking.

  Gavin knew Vi had several legitimate points, but he was still pissy.

  “I can’t deal with this right now.”

  It wasn’t until he went looking for Rielle that he realized she’d witnessed the whole scene…and he’d left her in the kitchen.

  Rielle should’ve snuck out when she had the chance. Maybe she still could. But one look at Vi’s miserable face and she knew she wouldn’t. Especially after Vi drained her drink. “Want another?”

  “I’d like to have the whole damn bottle.”

  “To drink? Or to smack Gavin upside the head?” Rielle asked lightly.

  “Both.” Vi studied the ice cubes in her glass. “I wasn’t in the wrong.”

  A statement Rielle let lie.

  “I keep hoping he’ll come around.”

  “He will. However, it may take more time than you think it should.”

  “Being pushy, am I?”

  “No. Gavin has his own way of thinking.” Rielle didn’t say more. She wouldn’t violate the trust he’d placed in her.

  “He’s being ridiculous if he believes I was trying to buy Sierra’s affection. When he lived in Arizona, I followed his parameters. But then he moves here, down the road from us, and I’m still supposed to wait for him to give the green light so I can get to know Sierra? Or she can get to know me? Gavin sure doesn’t have a problem with Charlie spending time with Sierra, or that Charlie buys her food and little tokens every damn day. But he objects when I do essentially the same thing? That feels a lot like punishment and a little like manipulation.”

  Rielle agreed. “So you, or Charlie, or both of you haven’t brought any of this up with Gavin?”

  “No. We’re aware of Gavin’s boundaries. Before he moved here we kept contact casual because we were afraid if we pushed too hard, he’d cut off all contact with us.” Vi’s chin trembled, but she firmed it.

  In that moment Rielle clearly saw the family resemblance between mother and son and her heart broke for both of them.

  “Does he want me to apologize for giving him up for adoption?” Vi asked softly.

  “Maybe this sounds simplistic, but have you sat him down and tried to explain to him what you went through? What it really meant to be pregnant at sixteen? How you felt during the pregnancy and after?”

  “Not since he first came to us and I was in such a…state of shock that I don’t think I explained myself very well. He hasn’t brought it up since and I’m afraid to.” Vi looked at her. “Have you talked to him about your life as a pregnant girl?”

  “A little. But he doesn’t understand. It’s…vague to him. Like watching a forgettable TV movie of the week.”

  “We’re different sides of the same coin, aren’t we? You kept your baby; I gave mine up.”

  “Is that why you were so nice to me and Rory?”

  “Out of guilt? Maybe. Nothing against your folks, Ree, but I got the feeling they saw Rory as a mistake. I admired you for doing what I couldn’t. So part of me always wondered if I’d kept Gavin, if some woman would’ve taken the time to make sure I was okay.”

  From the moment they’d met Rielle had seen behind Vi’s brusque nature to the sweet thoughtful woman beneath. It hadn’t escaped her notice that a lot of people said the same thing about her being so prickly, which was probably why she and Vi had always gotten along so well. “I appreciated those random visits. Not because you brought over a bag of groceries, but because you spent time with me and listened to me.”

  “I only wish I could’ve done more. But I was happy that you broke free of your parents’…mold, for lack of a better word, and raised Rory how you wanted.”

  “Rory had as normal a childhood as I could give her.”

  “Is that the gist of this? Gavin doesn’t know how thrilled I was to get to buy Sierra a pair of pink cowgirl boots? Every girl her age needs something frivolous. When I was her age I had the world on my shoulders and I’m happy that she doesn’t.”

  Rielle reached for her hand, her heart hurting for Vi. “Gavin lashed out before he thought it through.”

  “Maybe I should consider it a good sign that he cared enough to get pissed off at me.”

  “There’s a healthy way of looking at it.”

  “Can I ask…does he talk to you?”

  “About his relationship with you and Charlie? No.”

  “But he does open up to you about other things?” Vi clarified, “I don’t want specifics. I just want to know that he’s finally got a woman in his life who cares about him like he deserves.”

  “I care about him. He knows that. He’s just adrift in a lot of aspects of his life. And his ex-wife really did a number on him so he doesn’t trust easily. Even with me.”

  “I’ll admit I was happy when Sierra told me about you and Gavin. You two are good for each other. But between us, I won’t tell him that, in case he gets it in his fool head to rebel against my approval and break it off with you.”

  “Deal. And I won’t tell him he was acting like an ass.”

  “Oh, no, go right ahead and tell him that part.”

  After Vi left Rielle heated up a plate of leftovers. One thing that hadn’t changed in their relationship was separate mealtimes. She’d done that intentionally—it’d be easy to get into the habit of cooking for him and Sierra and horn in on their family time.

  Gavin was frustrated by Rielle’s “separatist” attitude. But Sierra needed that alone time with her father. Just the two of them, cooking together and catching up on their days.

  Rielle found Gavin upstairs, watching a game. She plopped down beside him. “You all right?”

  “Nope. Still a little pissy if you want to know the truth.”

  “Should I trot my little self downstairs?”

  “Funny. But if you expect me to be charming and witty? Probably.”

  “Mmm.” She ran her hand over his short, bristly hair. “Sometimes I like a broody man. It’s a different kind of sexy.”

  He expelled a disbelieving snort.

  “You could drag me into your bedroom, using terse commands while having your wicked way with me. No talking
. Just intense sex. Fast and demanding.”

  “You trying to get me hard, Ree? ’Cause it’s working.”

  She angled her head to place a soft, sucking kiss on the skin below his ear. “I’m not busy now, Mr. Hot Brooding Man.”

  Sierra’s music drifted down the hallway. Rielle shifted back so Sierra didn’t see her mauling her father.

  Seconds later, Sierra appeared. “I’m starved, Dad. What’s for supper?”

  “Hadn’t thought about it. I could heat some soup. Or there’s lunch meat for sandwiches.”

  “I was hoping for something like pork chops.”

  “We’ll fix that tomorrow night.” Gavin lifted a box off the floor. “Must be your day to get presents. This came from your mom while you were shopping with Grams.”

  A snarky remark from Gavin? He was pissy.

  “Yay!” Sierra grabbed a pocketknife from the bar. She carefully slid the tip of the knife along the airmail tape covering the box. As soon as she opened the flaps, a heavy perfume poured out.

  Rielle sneezed.

  Sierra offered an apologetic smile. “Sorry. Mom loves spritzing perfume on everything.” She excitedly pulled out wrinkled sheets of white tissue paper dotted with black images of the Eiffel Tower. Then she stopped. A bewildered look settled on her face.

  “Sweetheart, what’s wrong?” Gavin asked.

  Rielle watched the girl struggle to get control. Sierra tipped her head down but not fast enough; Rielle saw two tears plop onto the tissue paper.

  Then she reached into the box and angrily threw a handful of material on the coffee table.

  Upon seeing the contents, Rielle’s stomach dropped and she shot Gavin a sideways glance.

  He appeared calm, but the air around him vibrated with fury.

  Sierra handled each piece of lingerie. A black peignoir, sheer except for the lace edging and the tiny, strategically placed pink bows. A pair of matching G-string panties. The next piece she held up was a short white bustier with what looked like padded cups. Another pair of panties to match.

  No one said anything. Rielle expected Sierra to explode with the drama sixteen-year-olds were prone to. But she just shoved the lingerie back in the box.

  “Sierra, sweetheart. Can you look at me, please?” Gavin said gently.

  She glanced up. “Mom doesn’t know me at all, does she? This is what she sends me from Paris? Not perfume or chocolates or even something tacky like a plastic Eiffel Tower, but something she likes?”

  Gavin was on his feet, pulling Sierra to hers, hugging her. He murmured to her, comforting her as he led her downstairs.

  As bad as she felt for Sierra, this was another reminder that Gavin had a higher priority than spending his free time with his live-in girlfriend. He needed to stay focused on raising his daughter. He also needed to deal with his hot and cold attitude toward Vi. That attitude didn’t extend to Charlie, as far as she’d seen.

  Rielle realized she’d been lax in keeping in contact with Rory since the incident a few weeks back. She returned to her room and called her, expecting to settle in for a chat, only to have that parental gut wrenching worry as her level-headed daughter sobbed hysterically. School stressed her out. Her landlord was a prick. Her best friend in the Ag program was taking a job in Brazil. They’d overscheduled her at the bar. After Rielle calmed her down, she promised she’d spend the weekend in Laramie. She packed, made last minute phone calls and forced herself to sit at her spinning wheel and finish a few odd projects rather than pace and fret about her daughter.

  A few hours later Gavin knocked on her door. She let him in only after she’d promised herself to resist the heated way he looked at her that always made her clothes fly off.

  But there wasn’t any sign of her insistent lover. He dropped into the chair next to the bed. “Sorry I bailed on you before.”

  “No worries. Sierra is your priority, as it should be. She had upheaval in her life today so it’s natural she’d need her dad. I assume she’s okay?”

  “Yeah.” He dry-washed his face. “I don’t know what the fuck Ellen was thinking, giving a sixteen-year-old fuck-me lingerie. Jesus. How oblivious is she?”

  Rielle didn’t comment, just let him ramble and started winding loose yarn into skeins.

  “Plus, there wasn’t a note, or anything personal.” He slumped back in the chair. “Sierra hasn’t talked to her mom since that phone call, what…? Last month? I mean yeah, half the time I think Ellen is psychotic and she’s manipulative and Sierra is better off. But Sierra misses her and it’s cruel how Ellen just cut Sierra out of her life.”

  He wouldn’t see the parallels to his relationship with Vi, so she kept her mouth shut.

  “I told Sierra she didn’t have to write her mother a thank you note for an inappropriate gift. But now I’m thinking if we let it slide, Ellen will see it as acceptable and send her more of the same—or worse.”

  She pulled more yarn.

  “So I’ll have Sierra call her tomorrow from my office so I can hear what she says.” He paused. “Do you think that’s a good idea?”

  “Sierra is your kid, Gavin. You know what’s best for her, not me.”

  “Are you pissed off at me too?” He released a deep sigh. “I’m sorry I left you with Vi.”

  “I like Vi. I always have.”

  “What’d she say?”

  “Don’t you think it’d be better if you asked her?”

  “Jesus. You are mad. Are you so damn busy fussing with your knitting you can’t even look at me?”

  Rielle glanced up. “A, I’m not knitting. B, I’m not mad at you. How you handle your family business is your business, not mine.”

  “Meaning I fucked up with Vi today.”

  “No, meaning I don’t want to get involved. I’ve been neighbors with the McKays for years, and that hasn’t always been easy, but I won’t jeopardize that because I’ll still be neighbors with them when I build my new place.”

  That reminder angered him. “So you have no opinion?”

  “If I did I’d keep it to myself. Look, we’re roommates and lovers. It’s not my place to offer you advice or suggestions on how to deal with your family or to play referee when things don’t go your way.”

  His mouth flattened. “Thanks for letting me know where I stand with you.”

  “Huh-uh. You don’t get to get pissy with me. I like you. I like spending time with you, naked or not.”

  “But?”

  “No buts. We agreed to continue to lead our separate lives. We agreed that if we each had free time, we’d try and spend it together.”

  Gavin stood and started unbuttoning his shirt. “Fine. I’m free right now. Let’s fuck.”

  “Don’t be a jackass.”

  “What’s the problem? Didn’t you just tell me this is all we are? Fuck buddies? So come on.”

  She’d never seen this side of him and she didn’t like it. “Not interested. Now get out of my room.”

  His shirt fell open. “Oh, so you can proposition me, like you did upstairs three hours ago? But I can’t proposition you?”

  “Let’s fuck is not a proposition. It’s a demand, said in anger, just to be a dick.” She tossed the yarn winder aside. “Know what? I don’t have to put up with this shit. Get out.”

  “Why? This approach has worked for you in the past. No pretty words, no foreplay, just ripping our clothes off and fucking on the floor like animals. What’s different now, Rielle?”

  “You’re different now. And fuck you for coming in here and taking out your shitty day on me. And double fuck you for taking something that’s good between us and twisting it into something ugly.”

  The stark realization of how asinine he’d acted hit him. “God. Rielle. I’m sorry—”

  When he moved toward her, she recoiled. “Get out.”

  “Can’t we talk…?”

  She vehemently shook her head. “It’s best if we take a break. I’m leaving for Laramie tomorrow to see Rory anyway.”

  �
��You are? Since when?”

  When she didn’t respond, he sighed.

  “All right. Please drive safe and I’ll see you when you get home.” He walked out and quietly shut the door.

  After living in each other’s pockets for the last couple months, a cooling off period would do them both good.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Gavin hung over the top of the wooden corral, watching Quinn drive cows into a semi-truck as Dalton and Tell pushed the cattle into the loading chute. Ben was on horseback culling from the corralled herd, while Brandt—also on horseback—chased down the runaways and drove them back to the penned area.

  He’d been surprised when Charlie had called, inviting him to watch them loading cattle to take to auction. He’d been curious about how the auction process worked differently than sending cattle to a feedlot.

  With temps in the low teens and the gray skies spitting snow, he bundled up, figuring this weather wouldn’t faze hardcore ranchers like the McKays.

  But Gavin also wondered if Charlie had issued the invite to chastise Gavin for the argument he’d had with Vi. An argument they hadn’t resolved.

  During a lull in the action, Quinn wandered over to the corral. The man was sweating despite the frigid air temp. “Dad, I might need a hand in a bit.”

  “No problem.”

  Quinn flashed Gavin one of his rare grins. “Ever ridden in a fully loaded cattle truck?”

  “No. Why?”

  “Because I need someone to ride with me. And since the old man is retired, he’s no help, sitting at home with his feet propped on the coffee table having Mom wait on him.”

  “I done my share of cattle sale runs, boy.”

  “I’ll be back from the sale barn tonight?”

  “Yep, but it’ll be late. And the weather and road conditions are flat out gonna suck.” Quinn crossed his arms over his chest as if expecting Gavin to refuse. “You up for it?”

  “Sure. Do I have to help unload cattle?”

  “Nope. Ben and Tell will be in the truck behind us.”

  “Damn. I was hoping I’d get my own cattle prod.”

  “Somehow I knew you’d say that.” Quinn wandered back to his post when Dalton yelled for him.