Stone Hearts

by Kelly, Amber

  I take an extra minute to just sit and collect myself. Then, I grab shirts from Myer’s drawer and join my boys in the chaos that is bathing a six-year-old with a broken arm that’s covered in spaghetti. It’s not easy.

  Once we have Beau clean and towel-dried, I pull Myer’s tee over his head, and he looks like he’s wearing a tent. Which he thinks is cool.

  Myer loads the wraparound couch with blankets and pillows and builds a fire.

  I open one of the reclining ends, Beau hops up, and I tuck him in, snug as a bug.

  “You comfy?” I ask him, and he nods enthusiastically. “Who’s my favorite boy in the whole wide world?”

  “Me!”

  “That’s right.”

  He grins.

  “I don’t have a book with me,” I tell him.

  “That’s okay. I’m ready to sleep now,” he whispers.

  “Good night,” I say as I kiss his forehead.

  I look up, and Myer is standing there, watching us. He’s changed into a pair of lounge pants.

  “Good night, Myer,” Beau calls.

  “Good night, buddy.”

  One more yawn, and his little eyes start closing.

  I tiptoe away.

  “I’m going to change. I’ll be right back,” I whisper to Myer.

  I make my way to the bathroom and decide to step into the shower quickly. I grab the soap to lather, and it smells like Myer. Woodsy and clean. I love the way he smells.

  I’m out in minutes and return to the living room. It’s dark with only the glow from the fire lighting the room, and both Myer and Beau are fast asleep.

  I take a pillow and curl up beside Myer. His arm comes around me in his sleep, and he turns into me.

  In no time, I drift off too.

  Dallas

  “Can you climb down?” I ask as I open the truck door for Beau.

  The doctor suggested I keep him out of school today just to give him time to adjust to the cast.

  Everything takes a little longer, but he’s maneuvering around reasonably well.

  I have to fight the instinct to do everything for him.

  Once he’s out of the truck, I hand him the bouquet of flowers we picked up in town. He wanted to bring something to Miss Madeline to make her feel better.

  I follow him up the stairs, and when he gets to the screen door, I can see the frustration well up. He usually bursts through doors at warp speed, but holding the flowers in his good hand, he can’t manage the door.

  I reach around him and open the door, and he trots in.

  We find Doreen, Ria, Sophie, and Madeline in the kitchen.

  “Hi, Beau. How are you feeling?” Madeline asks as soon as she catches sight of him.

  “I’m good. I brought you flowers.” He proudly presents the bouquet he picked out himself.

  She takes them from him and brings them to her nose, making a big show of inhaling their scent. “These are beautiful, and they smell so good. Thank you,” she praises as she hugs his neck.

  “See my Hulk arm?” He holds up his cast for all to see. “Isn’t it cool?” he asks, and they all answer in the affirmative. “Mommy, can I go show Emmett?”

  “Yes, but be careful and watch your step,” I warn, and I walk and open the back door for him.

  “Dallas, I’m—” Madeline starts.

  I put up a hand. “Don’t apologize. It was an accident, and if it weren’t for you being willing to throw your body in the way to protect him, he could have been seriously injured or worse. I’m grateful you are his instructor,” I tell her.

  She tears up. “I hope you let him continue. The boys know that they aren’t allowed to be on a tractor, mower, four-wheeler, or any other machine anywhere near the stables during my lesson hours ever again. It’s important that he comes back, especially after a fall,” she explains.

  “He’s already been on the back of a horse since we got home,” I tell her.

  Her eyes widen. “Really?”

  “Yep. Myer insisted on taking him as soon as we got to his place from the hospital,” I tell them.

  “That was smart,” Doreen says as she starts setting coffee cups around the table and pouring.

  “That’s what he said. I nearly threw up at the thought,” I confess.

  “I broke my arm after falling from Blackberry when I was little. Do you remember that?” Sophie asks me.

  “I sure do,” Ria answers before I can reply.

  “Daddy made me get right back on her too.”

  We hear the front door swing open.

  “Hello?” my mother’s voice calls.

  “In here, Dottie,” Doreen answers.

  She enters the kitchen, her arms loaded down with boxes. “I brought bagels, muffins, doughnuts, and a few fresh-baked loaves,” she says and hands them off to Doreen.

  “Thank you. I’ll toast up some bagels now. You want a cup of coffee?” she offers.

  “That would be lovely.” She looks around the room. “Where’s my grandson?”

  “He’s out, showing his cast off to the fellas,” Doreen answers.

  She sits down beside me. “And how are you holding up, sweetheart?”

  “Hanging in there. I hope I never get another phone call like that though,” I answer and lay my head on my momma’s shoulder.

  She reaches up and pats it. “Oh, honey. He’s a boy. It’s just the first of many, I’m afraid.” She laughs.

  Yes, laughs. Sometimes, I think she enjoys watching my perils in motherhood a little too much.

  “He’s going to fall from horses, trees, monkey bars, and he’ll wreck bikes, four-wheelers, and motorcycles. Payne once flipped the riding lawn mower while racing one of his friends down the hill near the creek. I can’t remember how old he was, maybe twelve or thirteen. He could have cut his foot off. That boy nearly drove me to drink.”

  “Are you trying to make me feel better? Because it’s not working,” I grumble.

  “I’m just saying, as their mothers, we do the best we can to protect them and teach them to use good sense and act responsibly, but we can’t control everything. When you had that fender-bender on the way to school the week you got your driver’s license, my first instinct was to take that car away and never let you back behind the wheel again. Your father wouldn’t let me. He said I couldn’t let my fear keep you from living. Scared me to death every time you drove out of the driveway for months. He would have to hold my hand while I cried, watching you disappear through the gate.”

  “I don’t even want to think about Beau driving a car. I might not survive the teen years.”

  “It doesn’t get any easier once they are adults. You still want to protect them from pain, physical and emotional,” Madeline adds.

  “The emotional ones are the worst. Broken bones can be set, and you can give them medicine to ease the pain. But broken hearts? Those you have to watch them go through helplessly. As a momma, that’s the worst,” Momma says.

  “I don’t look forward to that either. I would hate to have to whoop some little girl’s ass,” I say.

  Her eyes round at my statement.

  Ria chuckles.

  “You might have to stand in line behind his nana,” Momma declares.

  We all giggle.

  “I need a couple of days, but I know you’re right. I guess I’ll let him go back to his riding lessons as soon as you’re recovered and ready to return,” I tell Madeline.

  Momma looks at me thoughtfully. “You’re a good mother, Dallas. Do you hear me?”

  I look up at her. Tears start to well, and then my insecurities leak out and roll down my cheeks.

  “You are a good mother. We all doubt ourselves and second-guess our decisions sometimes, but never, ever forget that.”

  Agreement rings out from all of them.

  “I feel like I fail him constantly,” I admit.

  “Do you love him?” Momma asks.

  “More than life itself.”

  “That’s all he needs. That’s all a
ny child needs to thrive.”

  “It’s what we all need,” Sophie adds.

  I look over at her. I catch what she’s throwing.

  “Yep,” Momma agrees.

  Guess she caught it too.

  Myer

  It’s branding day. I wake up, excited. It’s practically a holiday on the ranch. Everyone looks forward to and anticipates it like it’s Christmas.

  I’ve been so busy the past few days that I haven’t seen Dallas and Beau since they stayed over on Tuesday.

  Waking up to them snuggled up in my living room was my favorite thing ever. I could wake up to that sight for the rest of my life.

  I get dressed and head out to the corral. Braxton and Jefferson are already standing there with Pop.

  “Hey. Man, you guys are early,” I say as I slap Braxton’s back.

  “Nah, your lazy ass just slept in,” he says with a grin.

  “Whatever. Let’s go pick the horses.”

  He follows me to the stables.

  “I’ll be on Bolt. Any of the others on this side would be great out there,” I point out.

  “Which one is the most temperamental?” he asks.

  “The gray-and-white one. The damn thing is like riding a bull,” I inform him.

  He grins. “Walker can ride that one.”

  I shake my head. We are mean sons of bitches to each other.

  “I really appreciate your help today,” I tell him as we walk the horses to the corral.

  “Happy to be here. Now, let’s go round up some calves.”

  Walker and Emmett have arrived when we make it back up.

  We mount and take off to the pasture.

  By the time we return with them and get them sorted into the branding pens, the crowd is already assembling.

  Payne and his pop are raising the tents for the food tables, and Reverend Burr and some of the men from the church are unloading and setting up folding tables and chairs.

  Ladies are coming down the drive, carrying pots and ceramic dishes.

  Children have gathered in the field beside the barn and are chasing each other.

  I spot Momma fussing over tablecloths with Bells and Dallas by her side. Dallas is wearing a pale blue sundress with yellow-and-white flowers.

  She takes my breath.

  Braxton follows my gaze. “How’s that going?”

  “Your guess is as good as mine,” I tell him.

  “That well, huh?”

  “Yeah,” I admit.

  “Sounds about right. Women have a way of keeping us on our toes.”

  As the words leave his lips, Sophie comes walking down the drive with Elle.

  “But they’re worth it,” he says as he clasps my shoulder and walks off toward his bride-to-be.

  Dallas breaks off from Momma and walks down to me.

  “Hey.” She smiles a blinding smile and walks into my side.

  I wrap an arm around her and look down at her face. I’ve missed her the past few days.

  “Is everything ready for the day?” she asks.

  “Everything is perfect now,” I tell her, and a blush hits her cheeks. “Where’s Beau?” I ask.

  “He’s chasing the Andersons’ twin girls with his Hulk arm.” She rolls her eyes.

  “Already a little Casanova,” I muse.

  “He’d better slow his roll, or he’s going to be grounded till he’s thirty,” she says.

  “He’s a stud, and he has the same genes as Payne, so you’re going to have to deal,” I tease.

  “Jesus, help me.”

  I chuckle and plant a brief kiss to her lips.

  “Doc just arrived. The show’s about to start.”

  “Good luck,” she offers before taking off and joining Sophie and Elle on the hay-bale bleachers.

  We spend the rest of the morning and into the early afternoon roping calves, and Pop and Jefferson freeze-brand them.

  We have a robust and healthy herd this year.

  There are few things I enjoy more than riding and roping. Braxton, Walker, and I are worn out by the time the last calf is branded and cut.

  A cheer rings out across the crowd, and then Reverend Burr stands to pray the blessing over our ranch, the land, the cattle, and the hands that work it.

  This is Pop and Momma’s thirty-fifth branding as owners of Stoney Ridge. My grandfather passed it down to Pop and his brother before he died. Uncle Ray wasn’t that interested in being a rancher, so Pop bought him out a few years later.

  I watch as Pop proudly embraces her at the reverend’s side.

  He finds me standing to the side and beckons Bellamy and me to stand with them.

  After the blessing, the reverend says grace, and everyone disperses to the backyard to start filling their stomachs with food.

  Pop puts his arm around my shoulders as we watch everyone retreat. All of them chatting and laughing.

  “This is what life is all about, son. Friends and family and honest work,” he says with pride.

  “It is,” I agree.

  “The work is over; now, let’s go eat and celebrate,” he prompts, and I follow behind him.

  We’re all seated with our plates piled high.

  “Brandt! Over here,” Dallas calls out.

  I look up to see the new doctor crossing the lawn with a nicely dressed older lady.

  “Guys, have you met the new vet?” she asks the table.

  “He came by the ranch with Doc Sherrill last week,” Braxton answers.

  “Wait, that’s the new doctor in town?” Elle asks as she watches him approach.

  “Sure is, and he’s single,” Dallas singsongs.

  “Really?” Elle’s interest is obviously piqued.

  “How old is he?” Braxton asks as he frowns in Brandt’s direction.

  “Twenty-six,” Dallas answers immediately.

  “I see you’ve done your research,” Sophie adds.

  “You bet. Plus, I was at Janelle’s this week. Janelle knows all,” Dallas replies.

  They make it to the table, and she introduces them around.

  Sophie forces Braxton to move down the table, so they can squeeze in seats, putting Brandt right next to Elle.

  “Don’t they look good together?” Dallas whispers in my direction once the doctor and Elle are caught up in conversation.

  “I guess.” I shrug.

  “Braxton keeps giving him the stink eye,” she continues to whisper conspiratorially.

  “He’s a big brother. It’s our job to intimidate any man who sniffs around our little sister,” I explain.

  She huffs. “Payne never gave two cares who I was dating.”

  “Yes, he did. He and I got in more than one fight because of some jackass you were seeing in high school.”

  She blinks at me. “What?”

  “When we were seniors and you were a sophomore. Every other weekend, he was dragging me with him to warn a guy off.”

  “You’re joking.”

  “Nope.”

  “I had no idea.”

  Then, she looks back at me and narrows her eyes. “I guess you passed the test, huh?”

  “Yep.”

  I grin at her, and she rolls her eyes.

  Dallas

  The party moves to Myer’s cabin after the picnic. Braxton and Walker build a fire out front and pull out the coolers they have stashed in the beds of their trucks.

  The boys start a cutthroat game of horseshoes while the girls sip moonshine and dance in the yard to the radio.

  Doc Sherrill gave Brandt’s mother a ride home so he could join us.

  He and Elle are currently up on the porch, chatting. Both Braxton’s and Walker’s attention have been focused in their direction all night.

  They finish up their game, and we all sit around the fire. Myer finds me and settles on the step behind me. I lean back into his chest, and he wraps his arms around me.

  “Sorry to break up the party, guys, but we’re going to head home,” Braxton says as he pulls Sophie up
from her perch on a bale.

  “Damn, son. It’s only eight,” Walker points out.

  “Some of us have been up since five,” Braxton retorts.

  “You’ve gone soft, man,” Walker says as he shakes his head.

  “We working out at the house tomorrow?” Silas asks.

  “I am, and I’ll take any free hands you guys have to offer,” Braxton answers as he slaps hands with Silas.

  “I’ll be there.”

  “I’m there too, man,” Myer says. “Thanks again for today. We couldn’t have done it without you, brother.”

  Braxton gives him a macho two-finger salute, and then calls to Elle, “You coming, sis?”

  She looks up from her conversation with Brandt and frowns.

  “I’ll bring her home,” Walker offers.

  Braxton’s forehead wrinkles.

  Walker reassures him, “I’ve only had two beers, I swear, and I won’t have another. Scout’s honor.”

  “You weren’t a Boy Scout, dumbass,” Payne says.

  “Still counts,” Walker insists.

  “What’s up with you tonight?” Myer asks.

  “I’m working with Jefferson in the morning to build the new troughs. I know better than to show up late or hungover. He’ll create more work and do his best to make me puke,” he says.

  That makes complete sense, so Braxton relents.

  “Fine, but not one more, and don’t stay much longer. Jefferson is going to expect you at sunrise.”

  “I know,” Walker moans.

  Everyone clears out by ten. Including Brandt, who got Elle’s number before Walker wrangled her into his truck.

  “Do you have to be home?” Myer asks as he starts to back me up the porch steps.

  I shake my head. “Beau’s staying with Momma tonight, and I brought an overnight bag. It’s in my truck,” I inform him.

  He sticks his hand out. “Key,” he demands.

  I pull the key from the pocket of my dress and place it in his hand, and he immediately turns and jogs out to retrieve my bag.

  I go in and kick my shoes off. Then, I fish two more beers from the fridge and curl up on the couch.