Stone Hearts

by Kelly, Amber

“No, Bellamy wanted to stay at Rustic Peak with Elle last night but needed to be home early to meet her momma, so I left her my truck, and Myer gave me a ride home,” I explain that last part unnecessarily, as she knows Myer was here.

  “That was awfully nice of you,” she says while looking down and stirring the coffee I just placed in front of her, “and Myer.”

  There it is. I know she’s dying to quiz me on what exactly she walked in on last night. I’m sure our disheveled appearances left no question as to what we were up to.

  “It was—if that old truck actually starts for her this morning and doesn’t leave her stranded out there,” I deflect.

  She catches it and looks up at me. Her keen eyes taking me in.

  “Myer sure was helpful last night. He wouldn’t let me clean up, and he promised me he’d stay until you had Beau settled,” she says, the question definitely in her voice.

  “He did. He cleaned everything up and even rinsed the mop and pail outside. He got Beau dressed while I showered the vomit off of me, and then we let Beau talk us into a sleepover in the living room,” I tell her, but she already knows.

  She lives forty feet from my door and gets up with the chickens. I’m sure she watched him pull off this morning while she was baking these muffins.

  “He was always a good boy, and he’s grown into a good man. I prayed he would rub off on your brother,” she sighs.

  Payne is a good man too. He works hard, running the farm, and he helps me with Beau, but he does have a wild streak in him. So do I. I’m surprised she survived either of our adolescence.

  “Yep,” is all the response I offer as I turn to the sink and start rinsing the muffin from my fingertips.

  “And he grew up to be a handsome devil too.” She keeps digging.

  “He did,” I clip, giving her nothing because, honestly, I don’t know what last night was.

  We were all hot and bothered and pawing at each other like hormonal teenagers one minute, and the next, we were tending to my son like responsible adults. We didn’t exactly get the chance to finish what we’d started, much less discuss what it meant.

  Oh God. We are going to have to have a conversation. I hate those.

  “You know, Dallas, you don’t have to have everything figured out all the time. You can relax and let things happen naturally. Life has a way of working itself out exactly as it should,” she consoles, uncannily reading my thoughts.

  “I know, Momma. I just have to be careful now. What I do doesn’t just affect me anymore,” I tell her. I prop a hip against the island and face her. “I don’t want to bring someone into Beau’s life and let him get used to them if I don’t have it all figured out.”

  “Oh, honey, Beau already loves Myer. We all do.”

  “I know.” I look up to her and whisper my biggest fear, “What if I do something to screw it up, and he goes away?”

  She walks over to me and wraps her arms around me. I stand there and let my momma’s comfort seep into my bones.

  “You can’t go into it, expecting to screw it up, or that’s exactly what you’ll do. You’ll sabotage yourself. It’s okay to be scared. You’ve been through a lot, but, baby, Myer is not Travis, and it’s not fair to make him pay for the mistakes Travis made. Myer knows who you are. He knows all your flaws, all your insecurities, and all the emotional baggage you carry. He knows you. If he’s here, it’s because, knowing all of that, he wants to be here.”

  I let my momma hold me a few more minutes, and then I pull it together and back away.

  “It might not have meant anything anyway. So, I don’t know why I’m freaking out.”

  “Oh, if that boy finally showed his cards, then it meant something,” she says matter-of-factly.

  “Finally? What does that mean?”

  She smiles a secret smile that mommas tend to do when they know something their children don’t. A smile that comes from a wise place that we can’t reach.

  She grabs her purse and starts to head for the door.

  “Momma?”

  “Tell Beau his nana made those muffins special just for him. I love you both and I’ll come back to check on him after work,” she says over her shoulder, ignoring my question.

  I sigh.

  I have a feeling my life just got interesting or messy … or somewhere in between.

  Beau seems himself after waking and devouring three muffins and a glass of milk. He hates to miss school but loves when I play hooky from work because he gets to spend the day with me.

  We color, and he builds castles out of Legos for a while. Then, he plays in my walk-in closet, which he calls his Batcave, while I throw our clothes from last night in the laundry.

  Bells picks us up around eleven thirty, and we pile in the truck to take her home.

  Beau chatters the entire way.

  “Mommy, is Myer gonna be there?” he asks.

  “I think so,” I answer.

  “Can I help him feed Thumper?” he asks.

  “Baby, Myer is working. He might be busy,” I say to prepare him.

  “I can help him work,” he offers sweetly.

  Bellamy turns in her seat to face him and smiles. “You want to be a rancher, Beau?” she asks.

  “Yes! I’m gonna be a cowboy and ride a horse just like Myer when I get big,” he excitedly starts telling her his future plan.

  “I thought you wanted to be a superhero like Batman?” I ask.

  “I do!”

  “Well then, you can’t be a cowboy,” I explain.

  “Yes, I can. Batman is Bruce Wayne and wears a suit when he isn’t fighting bad guys. I’ll just wear my jeans and cowboy boots,” he informs me without missing a beat.

  “He told you,” Bells says as she turns back around.

  I guess he did.

  I look at him in the rearview mirror. He has his Batman cape on and his Harry Potter glasses with his cowboy boots. That’s my little man—pure magic.

  “You can be anything you want to be, Beau Stovall,” I agree.

  He grins at me, and I blow him a kiss in the mirror.

  Myer

  I’m on horseback, corralling one of our heifers for Doc and his new protégé from Oregon, Brandt, to take a look at. She has me worried, as she hasn’t been grazing normally and appears to be losing interest in eating. Usually, loss of appetite is the first sign of illness in cattle.

  I get her through the holding yard and into the forcing yard before I dismount. I tie off Bolt—he’s a handsome Appaloosa stallion and my favorite horse on the ranch—and head into the yard. I get her roped fairly quickly because she doesn’t have the energy to resist. I lead her into the cow crush and guide her to the head bail.

  “There you go, girl, nice and easy.” I soothe the animal.

  Once her head is safely secured, I slide the gate closed and join Doc and Brandt.

  “You’re right. She is a smidge thin. How’s her gait?” Doc asks as they both snap on gloves.

  “She’s been a little unsteady, but I’m not sure how long. She calved week before last,” I tell him what I know.

  He takes his time walking around the crush and examining the animal. I hear the sound of tires against gravel and look up to see Dallas’s truck coming down the drive toward the barn.

  “I’ll be right back,” I call to them.

  Doc’s grunt lets me know he heard me, and I walk toward the house.

  “Hey, big brother,” Bells greets as she hops from the passenger side.

  I give her a quick hug, and she wrinkles her nose.

  “Ew, you’re sweaty, and you stink,” she observes as she backs away.

  “Sorry, Truett, Foster, and I have been driving the herd in closer all morning to get ready for sorting,” I apologize as Dallas rounds the truck with Beau.

  Truett and Foster are our two full-time ranch hands. We employ a couple part-time hands as well and take on extra day laborers during the calving season.

  Beau sprints to me when he sees me and wraps his arms arou
nd my legs.

  “Hey, little man. How are you feeling?” I ask as I rustle his hair.

  “Good. Can I help you ranch?” he asks as he disengages and looks up at me, pushing his glasses up on his nose.

  “All I’m doing right now is waiting for Doc to finish looking at one of the cows that’s not feeling real good,” I tell him.

  “Does she have a tummy ache too?” he asks.

  “Yep, I think she does, but hopefully, Doc will have medicine to make her feel all better, like you,” I answer.

  He catches sight of Bolt tied to the fence. “Mommy, can I pet the horse?” He looks back at Dallas.

  “Only if Myer has time to take you over there,” she tells him and then looks at me. “We don’t want to get in the way.”

  “You’re not,” I assure her.

  She’s holding herself funny, stiff, like she doesn’t know how to act at the moment.

  I expected as much.

  “Come on,” I say to both of them.

  Beau runs ahead and straight for the horse.

  “Wait for us, Beau Stovall. Do not get close to that horse,” she calls to him, and he stops his strides and impatiently looks back at us.

  We catch up, and I pick him up and walk him over.

  “This is Bolt,” I introduce him.

  “Hi, Bolt,” he greets the animal, and Bolt nickers and stomps his back leg.

  “Easy,” I say to the animal as I take the reins in my hand.

  “Can I pet him?” Beau asks.

  “Sure. Remember to go real slow. Make sure he sees your hand and then pet above his nose. Be gentle,” I instruct.

  He releases my neck and holds his little hand up and waves it around. “Hey, good boy. I’m Beau, and I’m gonna pet you,” he says as he gradually eases his hand to the horse’s muzzle and lightly strokes him.

  Bolt whinnies.

  “That’s good, Bolt,” I encourage the horse to be nice.

  “I like him, and he loves me,” Beau declares proudly. “Did you see, Mommy?” he asks.

  “I saw.”

  I hear Doc bellow to me.

  “Here, I’ll take him.” Dallas opens her arms for Beau.

  “I want to go see the sick cow,” he says as he wraps his arms back around my neck.

  “I told you, Myer has to work,” she starts.

  “It’s okay. Walk with me.” I incline my head in the crush’s direction.

  She gives in on a sigh. Indulging both of us.

  We round the corner to where Doc is crouched over his bag.

  “Hi, Doc,” Dallas says, and the old man looks up and smiles wide.

  “Well, hello, Dallas,” he returns.

  Beau starts waving.

  “And you too, Beau,” he says as he removes a glove and reaches out to shake his hand.

  “What’s the conclusion?” I ask as he pulls a needle from his bag.

  “Retained placenta. Looks like she’s having a hard time shedding it,” he informs.

  “She got an infection?”

  “Nah, doesn’t look to be infected, but I surmise she is in some pain, and that’s why she’s not grazing. Brandt went to the truck to grab the cooler. I’m gonna give her a shot for the pain. It’ll ease her for tonight at least, and maybe she’ll eat some. I suspect she’ll shed on her own in the next day or so,” he says as he rubs the needle down with alcohol.

  “Anything I can do to help her?” I ask.

  “I’d just keep her in the holding yard for now. Feed her hay mixed with a little grain. Bring it high and make it easy for her. And keep an eye on her. You’ll know when she sheds and starts feeling better.”

  Brandt walks up from behind us, carrying a small cooler.

  “Look who it is. How are you, Dallas?” he greets her.

  How do they know each other?

  “Well, if it isn’t my second favorite vet in the county,” she flirts as he passes the medication off to Doc. “How are y’all settling in?” she asks.

  “Good. Everyone’s been very welcoming.”

  “You two meet already?” Doc asks as he loads the needle.

  “Yes, sir. She makes the best blueberry pie I have ever eaten for breakfast,” he says with a grin.

  What the hell?

  “Yes, he and his lovely momma came into Faye’s. I’m afraid the credit for the pie goes to my momma though. She owns the bakery two blocks down from the diner. You’ll have to take Miss Elaine and go in and try her other pies.”

  “I’m sure Mom would enjoy that.” He smiles down at Beau in her arms. “Who do we have here?”

  “This is my son, Beau. Beau, say hello to Dr. Brandt,” she prompts.

  “Hey, Dr. Brandt.” He obliges.

  “You find a place yet?” she continues her banter with the good doctor.

  “Actually, I’m thinking about converting the storage space above the medical office into an apartment. It’s two floors, and it has a lot of space and a separate entrance. It’d be convenient to be right upstairs when after-hours emergencies call; plus, Mom loves downtown.”

  “You should talk to Myer about that. He practically built his cabin with his own two hands, and the boys are all pitching in to get my best friend’s house built. He can probably give you some pointers,” she volunteers for me. When I don’t say anything, she elbows me in the side. “Right?”

  “Yeah, sure, anytime,” I say tightly, and she gives me a quizzical look.

  After Doc finishes administering the shot, he loads his bag back up. “That oughta do it,” he says.

  We walk him and Brandt up to his truck.

  “All right, I’ll see you at the shindig this weekend,” he says as he shakes my hand, “and we’ll be here the next Saturday for the branding. If she doesn’t improve, just call, and I’ll swing back by to see her again before then.”

  “Thanks, Doc.”

  He turns and tips his hat. “Dallas.”

  “Bye, Doc. See you this weekend,” she replies.

  “It was good to meet you, Myer.” Brandt offers his hand, and I take it.

  “You too.”

  He moves to Dallas. “A pleasure seeing you again and meeting this young man,” he says to Beau.

  Doc starts the truck, and he hops into the passenger side. Then, they drive off, leaving us alone.

  “Well”—she blows out—“I guess we’ll also head out and leave you to it.”

  “No,” Beau protests. “I wanna stay and ranch with Myer.”

  She gives him a stern look. “Beau Stovall, did you just tell me no?”

  His eyes widen slightly. “I’m sorry, Mommy.”

  “You tell Myer good-bye and thank him for letting you pet the horse,” she commands.

  “Thank you, Myer,” he says as he wraps his arms back around my neck and squeezes.

  “You’re welcome, buddy,” I say as I hug him again.

  He pulls back in my arms. “Bells is right; you do stink.” He starts cackling.

  Dallas laughs with him.

  “Thanks for calling me out in front of your momma,” I say as I stand him on his feet.

  Momma and Bellamy come out the door, and he trots off to tell them good-bye, leaving me and Dallas alone for a brief moment.

  “So,” she says as she chews nervously on her bottom lip.

  “So,” I repeat, letting her take the lead.

  “Last night was … interesting,” she says as she looks off to the side, not meeting my eyes.

  I reach, gently clasp her chin, and turn her back to face me. “Last night was amazing. It’s all I’ve thought about the whole damn day,” I assure her, and I don’t miss how her breath catches.

  “Yeah,” she agrees.

  Beau comes running back to us, his cape blowing behind him.

  She looks down at him. There’s a long, loaded pause.

  “I guess we’re gonna go to Rustic Peak for lunch,” she finally says and looks back up at me.

  “Yay!” He jumps and does a fist pump in the air.


  “Okay. Be careful.”

  “Okay,” she says and awkwardly spins toward the truck.

  “Dal?”

  She turns back, and I reach out, snake my hand around her neck, and draw her face to mine.

  I briefly kiss her. Not a peck, but not a deep kiss.

  Then, I step back. “I’ll call you later.”

  “All righty,” she says as Beau, who stands between the two of us, looks up at us and giggles.

  I turn and stride back down to Bolt.

  Dallas

  “Oh my God, you would not believe my day,” I say as I take a seat at the kitchen table beside Sophie.

  “What happened?”

  Do I tell her?

  “I just got back from dropping Bellamy off at Stoney Ridge,” I start.

  “Yeah, I knew she was picking you up,” she prompts me to continue.

  “Well …” I stop mid-sentence.

  Doreen walks in with Beau on her heels.

  Sophie looks up from the papers she has in front of her. She reads my face and looks over at her aunt. “Aunt Doe, do you think you could let Hawk out for me?” she asks sweetly.

  “Sure,” Doreen agrees without hesitation.

  “I bet Beau would like to help. Wouldn’t you, Beau?” she adds.

  “Yes, ma’am.” He turns to me and asks permission, “Can I?”

  “May I,” I correct him. “And, yes, you may, but you listen to Miss Doreen,” I instruct him.

  “I promise,” he says, and Doreen takes his hand.

  “Grab a treat for Hawk,” she says as they pass a basket on the counter.

  Beau reaches up and pulls out three dog biscuits.

  “Braxton is gonna have a fit if that pup weighs too much at the vet again.” She shakes her head.

  Charlotte walks in, yawning.

  “Where have you been?” I ask.

  “Napping,” she answers as she shuffles in and starts to pour herself a cup of coffee.

  “Out late, huh?” I ask.

  “Yep, we couldn’t get Walker out of the bar and Payne wouldn’t leave without him,” she says as she sits down.

  “That’s why we don’t go out with Walker on school nights. He’s always fine the next day, but the rest of us are the walking dead,” Sophie tells her.

  “Where was that voice of reason yesterday?” Charlotte groans.