Stetson's Storm

by Kathleen Ball

  She tiptoed down the wooden staircase. Storm concentrated. There were a few steps that creaked, and she needed to avoid them. Relieved with her success, she hurried into the bathroom and got dressed.

  After leaving a note next to the coffee pot, she was off. Getting into one of the ranch trucks, she hoped she wouldn't waken anyone when she started the engine. It was still dark out, but she figured the sun would be coming up right about the time she reached her father's ranch.

  Her heart beat faster, thinking about the upcoming confrontation. Instinctively, she wanted to turn around and return to the safety of her bed and Stetson's arms. Realistically, she drove on. There would be no real peace until things were resolved.

  Her father was a hard man, but she knew he wasn't a killer. Smitty had been his best friend. Storm refused to entertain the idea her father had anything to do with Smitty's death.

  Turning onto the dirt road that led to the ranch, she felt sick. Maybe Stetson was right. Maybe she should stay out of it. Taking a deep breath, she drove on. She'd been right, the sun was just rising, and activity had just started on the ranch.

  Seeing the log house that she'd grown up in astounded her. She'd missed her home. It looked about the same except there were no flowers anymore. It always amazed her that a house could be made out of massive logs. The porch was the same, but there were no chairs on it.

  Before she could fortify herself, the front door swung open and her father bounded out of the house. He swiftly walked over to the truck and opened the door.

  Storm didn't know what to expect. She certainly didn't expect her father to pull her into a big bear hug. Returning the hug was impossible. Too much had happened.

  "Where is my grandson?" He let her go and looked in the truck.

  "It's just me. I need to talk to you." His grandson? What was going on? He'd spent five years denying him.

  "You look good, Storm. Come on, let's have some coffee." He led the way inside, grabbed two mugs, and filled them. Motioning for her to sit down, he then handed her one of the mugs.

  Storm's heart hurt. Her father looked the same -- big and brawny with thick red hair. The kitchen looked wonderful. The hand-honed cabinets were pieces of art that he'd made for her mother. The butcher-block counters reminded her of happy times spent cooking.

  "I'm glad you're here. I suppose you heard about Smitty?"

  Nodding, she took a sip of her coffee. "Stetson and I found him."

  "Oh no, sweetheart. I'm so sorry."

  "I'm not your sweetheart anymore, Daddy. I stopped being your sweetheart the day you threw me off the ranch."

  He mumbled something, and his face grew bright red. The look of sorrow in his eyes surprised her. She had long ago thought him to have no feelings. Not that it mattered now. Sometimes too late really meant too late. His façade of being contrite was too late.

  "Where's Chrissy?" Looking around Storm didn't spot anything of Chrissy's not even a flip-flop.

  "She's taken up with Evers. He's my new foreman, and since he has a house she skedaddled."

  Storm nodded. Nothing surprised her about Chrissy. "She's not carrying Stetson's child."

  "I know." He sat down across from her at the big oak table. Reaching across, he tried to take her hand.

  Storm snatched her hand back quicker than lightning. "What do you mean you know? For how long have you known?" Her voice was getting louder, but she didn't care.

  "That there Stamos fellow showed me the paternity test." At least he managed to look sheepish.

  Still, she was unmoved by his sorrow. "Why?" Storm's heart felt as though it had formed a big lump in her throat and no other words came out.

  "I don't rightly know. Think that little gal is a bit loco. She had me believing her. I feel like an old fool."

  "The Scott's cattle has been rustled. From what I hear, it's been going on for over five years. I found the path in the canyon. I know all about the deals you promised Stetson's dad that would make him money. I know how you bankrupted the whole operation and demanded that Nellie marry you."

  She couldn't sit and watch him stare into his coffee anymore. Standing, she took a spot viewing out the window over the kitchen sink. The magnolia trees her father had planted for her mother were thriving. Her mother had been so pleased when they finally bloomed.

  "They stole you away from me. It was only fair." The fury in his voice made her shiver.

  Turning toward him, she didn't know what to say. Taking a deep breath, she stared him down. "You threw me away like garbage. It had nothing to do with the Scott's."

  "You think you know it all. You're stubborn just like your mother. The Scott's started it. I was just finishing it." He shrugged as if it was no big deal.

  "I guess it doesn't matter."

  "It does matter. They turned me against my own daughter. To my eternal shame, I allowed them to sully your name. I didn't stop them."

  Closing her eyes, Storm felt dizzy. Nothing made sense. Not one thing. Cautiously, she walked to the wooden chair and settled herself in it. "I don't know what you're rambling on about."

  Her father reached across the table again. He held her hand tightly. It took some pulling, but she snatched it back again. "Don't. Don't touch me!"

  His shoulders slumped and he nodded. "I can't say I blame you. That night I went over to the Scotts to make Stetson take responsibility for you and the babe, I was told lies. Lies I'm ashamed to say I believed. Damn, Senior was so convincing. He had two men there to back him and the details they had. It hadn't helped any that Stetson had fled. It just made their stories of you getting around all the more believable."

  Gasping for air, Storm got up and ran outside. She wanted an answer and she got one. Her father thought she was a whore. Pain washed over her. They'd always been so close until that evening. How could he have believed Senior Scott, and not even talk to her about it?

  Tears ran down her face. Well, now she knew. Looking in the distance, she saw the dust kicking up on the drive. Someone was in a big hurry.

  The screen door slammed and Storm felt her father grab a hold of her arm. It made her cringe. "I'm no good at sayin' sorry."

  The tension in her neck and across her shoulders became unbearable. "I don't want or need an apology. Why? Why Chrissy? What was it about her that had you trying to stop my wedding? You would steal away what little happiness I had found and give it to a stranger?" Her chest was heaving, and her heart beat painfully against her ribs.

  "You were already branded a whore. I didn't want the same for little Chrissy. She's a sweet little gal. Your reputation had been dragged through the mud so many times."

  Staring at him, her heart shattered. She couldn't find the man he used to be. As a child, she thought her father was a loving giant. Now all she saw was a malicious, pathetic, cheat.

  The worst part was the way he looked at her as if he expected forgiveness. Shrugging again, he gave her a tentative smile.

  Storm's stomach rolled. Spotting the truck flying toward them, she let out half a laugh. Stetson looked none too happy. Storm couldn't face him. Running to her truck, she quickly climbed in, locked the doors, and started the engine.

  Making a wide turn, she gunned it down the drive. Stetson probably wouldn't talk to her now. At least she had a few answers. The truth didn't make her feel one bit better. Her heart squeezed painfully.

  "Damn him!" Slamming on the brakes, she hit the steering wheel, hurting her hands. "Damn! Damn!"

  Hearing Stetson pulling up behind her, she dreaded the confrontation. Better here than at the ranch. There was no need to get others involved.

  Taking a deep breath, she exited the truck and looked back at Stetson. She wanted to be brave and stand her ground. She had every right to confront her father. Her mind was ready for battle, but her upset stomach had her running to the other side of the truck, heaving.

  Stetson took a deep breath. He wanted to throttle her. Why couldn't she trust him to take care of the situation with her dad? Frankly, it h
urt.

  Finding her gone this morning provided quite a ride. First, he was worried, then he was angry, and finally he felt as though she cut out a piece of his heart. He didn't know if she'd ever trust him. No trust, no love, that's what he believed.

  Pulling his blue bandanna out of his back pocket, he went to her. Her heaving looked painful. He'd been there before. She didn't even give any indication that she knew he was there. Stetson handed her the bandanna and held her waist.

  Coughing, Storm shook her head. It was too bad, he wasn't leaving. "I have some water in the truck if you want it?"

  "No. No, I can't." Straightening up, her glance found his. The raw pain in her blue eyes was jarring and alarming.

  "I wish I could say I'm sorry, but I'm not. I had to find out. I had to know and you not wanting me to talk to him hurt."

  Drawing her into his arms, he could feel her tremble. Whatever that son of a bitch said, it was bad. "It's all right. We'll be fine. I'm worried about you though."

  She snuggled closer and wrapped her hands around his middle. "I hate him." Tears fell onto his shirt.

  "Do you want me to take you home?" He had one hand in her hair and the other rubbed her back. Her trembling began to subside.

  "No, let's talk here. I don't want the rest of the family upset."

  She said family. Things may be all right, eventually. "Come on, I have an old blanket in the truck and we can sit and watch the leaves change colors."

  Storm gave him the slightest smile. "I like to watch the leaves turn." She followed him into the woods.

  "A bit chilly, but not too cold." Stetson laid out the old army blanket and waved his hand across it, offering Storm a place to sit.

  "Is Nellie watching Scotty?" She sat on the furthest corner of the blanket.

  Stetson sat right next to her, giving no quarter. "Joe took him this morning. They are going to Garrett's for a bit."

  Storm nodded absently. "I don't know where to begin. I feel as though my life keeps getting shredded and shredded. I can't seem to feel whole. Nothing I do is right. People I trusted betrayed me. I feel as though someone stomped me to the ground and mashed me with the heel of their boot."

  Tempted to take her into his arms, he decided to hold off. She didn't look as though she wanted warm and fuzzy at the moment. He yearned to take her pain away. "Why don't you tell me what happened?"

  Storm nodded, avoiding his gaze. She picked up a blade of grass and examined it. "Your father convinced my dad that the baby wasn't yours. Senior said I got around and he had two hands there to back him. Oh Stetson, they gave details. My father believed them."

  Stetson felt a rage start to run through him. "Did he say which hands claimed to have been with you?"

  "No. I didn't think to ask. He gave me a half hearted sorry as though it would wipe it all away." Storm threw the grass into the air. "I asked about Chrissy. I needed to know why he would defend her when he threw me to the wolves." She hiccupped.

  Stetson took her hand. "What did he say?"

  Storm finally looked at him. Her forlorn look devastated him. "He said I was already known as a whore, and that I have a bad reputation, and that Chrissy was a sweet little gal."

  "That good for nothing--"

  Storm shook her head. "It's not worth it. My father conned Senior into bad investments and that's why Nellie was to marry my dad. She was to be a payment so the ranch wouldn't go under."

  "Why?"

  "He figured out that your father lied about me and wanted revenge I guess. It's all about him. He didn't give a damn about me. So much has happened because of your father's lie." Tears trailed down her cheeks. "Why would he have done such a thing?

  "My father was a hard man. I couldn't get along with him." He intertwined his fingers with hers, lifting her hand, and kissed the back of it. "If I hadn't gone off cock sure, none of this would have happened."

  "You are not to blame."

  He lay down and pulled her on top of him so her ear was over his heart. "Do you want me to go and sock him one?"

  Raising her head, she smiled. "Yes and not just one." She pinned him under her as he made a move to get up. "But don't."

  "Why not? He deserves a pounding."

  Putting her fingers over his lips, she smiled. "It's enough that you want to pound him. Stetson, I'm sorry. I should have talked things out with you instead of flying over to my dad's. I should have trusted you. I'm not saying you were right and I was wrong, but I shouldn't have worried you."

  Stetson smiled back at her. "As long as we have each other, we can move mountains."

  "Mountains?"

  Stetson looked down her shirt. "Yes, two very fine mountains."

  Storm stared at him and laughed. "My heart still feels like it's been ripped apart, but being with you makes it easier. I prefer to think of them as nicely rounded hills."

  Rolling so that Storm was under him, he looked into her eyes. The love he felt was all in that one look. Leaning down, he kissed her. "I love you."

  "I know."

  "If it were any other day I'd strip your clothes off and make sweet love to you."

  Storm shivered. "Today sounds good."

  "No honey, your feelings are too raw. I want to make love to you and know that you trust me enough to be included in your life."

  "I—"

  Stetson shook his head. "I'll hold you, I'll bathe you, and I'll sing to you to make you happy and to help you forget your father. I will not be your panacea." He kissed her again, this time he stroked her cheek. "Do you know what I'm saying?"

  "I do actually. I don't want to have regrets later, but it sure as hell would have been fun."

  Storm stood and Stetson watched her walk to her truck with misgivings. Had he done the wrong thing by refusing to make love with her? She seemed to understand, but the pain in her eyes ate at him.

  Maybe he was just trying to be noble, not realistic. Damn it, his wife needed comfort and he offered a bath. When he made the offer, he'd been sincere. He grabbed the blanket and walked to his truck, watching the dust kick into the air from the truck Storm drove. Punching the truck door, he stared at it. Damn it, that was his wife suffering. Her world had come down on her today and he failed her.

  Shaking his head as he drove home, he recognized the ridiculousness of the whole thing. He'd been thinking of nothing but getting into bed with Storm. Calling himself a clueless cowboy, he got out of the truck. Doubt assailed him. What if she didn't want to make love after his speech?

  Taking off his Stetson, he raked his fingers through his curly blond hair. He almost laughed. What the hell was he doing outside? Storm needed him and he'd oblige her anyway she wanted. Yep, rocks for a brain, that's what he had.

  His time for thinking was cut short. Buck came bounding out of the house along with Scotty. Stetson picked up Scotty and held him close.

  "Hey partner, why all the tears?"

  "Nellie said that Mommy was phroke-ed. She barely said hi to me and she didn't say hi to Buck. Can we fix her?"

  Stetson's heart ached. While he'd been thinking about sex, his son thought Storm was broken. "Let's go into the house and see what we can do."

  Scotty nodded his head against Stetson's shoulder. "I'm a good fixer, Daddy."

  "I know, cowboy."

  Nellie looked worried. She held out her arms to take Scotty, but he had a death grip around Stetson's neck. Nodding at Stetson, she backed off.

  "So tell me, cowboy, what would make you feel better if you were sad?" Stetson asked him.

  Loosening his grip, Scotty looked solemnly into Stetson's eyes. "Cookies and milk."

  Feeling his lips begin to twitch, he kissed his son's forehead. "Sounds like a good plan."

  Putting Scotty down, he grabbed an old wooden tray and three plastic cups. Filling them with milk, he hoped that Scotty's plan worked, a bit. "Grab the cookies for me."

  Scotty grabbed a chair, pushed it over to the counter, and climbed onto it. He grabbed a plate, and carefully put it down.
Opening the cookie jar, he took out handfuls of chocolate chip cookies that his Aunt Nellie had made. "How's that, Daddy?"

  "Looks good, champ." Stetson took the cookie-laden plate and added it the milk on the tray. "Let's go cheer up your mother."

  Scotty ran up the stairs ahead of Stetson, but he waited at the door for him. Stetson nodded and Scotty opened the door.

  "Your guys are here, Mommy!"

  Scotty's face was bright and smiling in stark contrast to Storm's red and pain filled face. Stetson's heart turned over when he saw his wife trying to smile. She certainly was a trooper.

  "I'm so glad you're here. I was feeling a bit blue, but I'm better now that you're here." Her try at cheerfulness amazed him.

  "Scotty suggested cookies and milk for sad times. I agree." Setting the tray on the table, he handed out the cups of milk. Winking at Storm, he put the plate of cookies on her lap.

  Scotty sat on one side of her and Stetson sat on the other side. Kissing her neck, he smiled. "Feeling better?"

  She nodded and gave them both a tremulous smile. "How could I not feel better? I have my guys and the special milk and cookies treatment. I'm blessed and pleased to have you both."

  "You betcha! You are the luckiest mommy in the whole world and when my brother or sister comes I'll be the happiest brother!"

  Wide-eyed, Stetson turned and stared at Storm. The look of confusion on her face mirrored his. "Maybe someday partner, but not right now."

  Scotty nodded his head. "Yep, Aunt Nellie told me so."

  "What did she say exactly, kiddo?" Storm handed him another cookie.

  "That you were sick a lot and you had all the signs. I've looked, but I don't see any signs."

  Storm looked at Stetson. "Do you know what he's talking about?"

  "Scotty, when did Aunt Nellie tell you this?" Stetson felt his heart beat faster.

  Scotty frowned. "I know'd that I wasn't apposed to hear, but Aunt Nellie told Joe. They kept saying it's a secret."

  Storm laughed a deep, hearty laugh. She kissed Scotty's head and reached for Stetson's hand. Placing it on her abdomen, she laughed again. "Now that I think about it, I think she's right."

  Nellie's head poked in, her eyes twinkling with excitement. "I couldn't help but overhear."