One Way Home

by Jennifer Youngblood

  She needed to go home.

  The biggest problem with that scenario was that Carl had joint custody, and she needed Carl’s permission to take the kids out of the state. That’s when Zoe concocted a plan that she knew would be foolproof in getting Carl to comply with her wishes. She forfeited any claim to Carl’s business, even though it had been her money that was used to start it, on the condition that Carl allow her to take the kids to Tennessee. Zoe wanted the house, which Carl was all too happy to give up, since it was mortgaged to the hilt.

  Initially, Zoe intended to sell the house and pay off the mortgage. She’d hoped there would be a small profit left over that she could use to get back on her feet. However, the house didn’t sell. Maybe it was the time of the year, the high price of the house, or just plain old rotten luck. Try as she might, Zoe couldn’t sell the house, even at a discounted price. In the end, her daddy purchased it and paid off the mortgage. He said that it couldn’t hurt to have a house next to a ski resort in the event that he might one day take up snow skiing—a highly unlikely event considering that her dad was a dyed-in-the-wool Tennessee boy who liked to keep his feet planted firmly on the ground. Unless, that is, he was riding a horse.

  The upside of the situation was that Zoe had been able to leave the contents in the house. She’d packed mostly clothes for her and the kids, taking only her computer and other important files. Eventually, she’d have to figure out what to do about the house. It wasn’t fair to saddle her daddy with it. Yet, she was grateful for his help. Maybe Carl was right on some level. Maybe she did depend too much on her daddy. As the only daughter in the family, Zoe was the apple of her daddy’s eye. Zoe had been close to her daddy from birth, but when he and her mama divorced, she grew even closer to him. Was it so wrong to lean on family?

  Zoe turned off the Interstate and drove into the outskirts of the town of Franklin. The feeling of familiarity that swept over her was so tangible that she could almost taste it. She soaked in the architecture of the venerable homes with their wide front porches and lush, green yards. Large, sturdy trees dotted the landscape. Everything was so green and fertile. While the West was more rugged and primitive, the South was a genteel lady who unfolded her charms a little at a time. There was something indefinable, yet so powerful that seeped into her, infusing new marrow into her bones. Coming home was a good move.

  “It’s really green,” Madison observed as if reading Zoe’s thoughts.

  “It is,” Zoe answered.

  “The trees are ginormous,” Madison said in awe.

  “I hate green, and I hate trees,” Milo pouted.

  Zoe bit back a smile. Of course, you do. “It’s still chilly in Park City. Here, you can wear shorts and a t-shirt.”

  This was met with a stony silence.

  “How much farther?” Milo asked in a surly tone. Zoe could feel his hostility burning into her back. She hoped that once they got settled, Milo’s attitude would improve. Milo was transferring all of his anger and frustration over his dad to her, the parent most accessible. While Zoe understood what was happening, it was still hard to be his punching bag. If Carl were here right now, she’d give him a good tongue lashing and claw his eyes for all the hurt he was causing her and the kids.

  “Only about ten minutes.”

  “I’ve got to go to the bathroom,” Madison announced.

  “We’re almost there,” Zoe assured her.

  “I have to go bad.”

  Zoe looked back at Madison who was holding herself and squirming in her seat. Zoe pushed her foot on the accelerator. “Hold tight, Toots. We’ll be there soon. I promise.”

  “Don’t think of rushing waters or waterfalls,” Milo taunted with a grin. “Gallons of water rushing over a cliff—"

  “Stop it!” Zoe warned, giving him a hard look through the mirror.

  Milo’s expression soured as he averted her gaze and looked out the window.

  The houses got farther apart as they drove. The rolling hills and pastures were a sight for sore eyes. Zoe had forgotten how much she missed the beauty of the South. When they pulled up to the impressive entrance with the black iron gate, flanked by tall posts and a stone wall, Zoe’s stomach knotted, partly from excitement and partly from apprehension. She was going home divorced with two kids. Everything would be different from here on out. An unbidden image of Briggs flashed before her mind. She blinked to clear it, frustrated with herself for even thinking about him. She’d had the first dream about him the night on the couch in the den while waiting for Carl to come home. The past several months, the dreams had gotten more frequent and vivid, bring back all of her old feelings for Briggs. Stop it! she commanded herself. She wasn’t going down that road. Not again. Too much tainted soil. Maybe her mind was unearthing the past because she was desperately searching for some sort of connection to ground her.

  “Thousand Acres Ranch,” Madison said, reading the arched sign overhead. Madison was a superstar reader for her age.

  Thankfully, Daddy had left the gates open for them. In the old days, the gate had been more of a formality than a necessity. Franklin was a tight knit community with the neighbors looking out for one another and their properties. However, ever since Zoe’s younger brother Cash hit it big in the country music world, everything had changed. Now, the family had to be concerned about paparazzi, the occasional star-struck fan, or other unsavory person lurking around. Cash became a superstar while Zoe was away in Park City, so she’d never had to deal with the fallout up close. Noah, on the other hand, was paranoid about being in the limelight, which is why he used a pseudonym for his photography.

  Zoe had always sculpted under her own name. Would she need to reconsider her stance now that she’d be living back home? She grunted. Now was not the time to be thinking about her sculpting. At this point, the goal was simply to pull herself back together for her kids. Zoe’s hands were sweaty as she gripped the steering wheel, her pulse picking up its beat. Why was she so dang nervous? Another image of Briggs flashed before her eyes as she squelched it flatter than a bug under the heel of her boot. Sure, she knew that Briggs worked at the ranch and lived on the property, but it was a big place. She’d just have to make a point of avoiding him. I’m not coming back here for Briggs, her mind shouted. She needed clarity to sort out her feelings and to make sense of her life. No place better to do that than here.

  “Is the ranch really a thousand acres?” Milo asked in an upward lilt.

  Zoe grinned. His curiosity was outweighing his anger.

  “Yep.” Her voice took on the recollective tone of a teacher. “The ranch was first purchased by my grandfather, Hugh Romeo. Back then, it was five thousand acres. But over time, parcels were sold off and developed into neighborhoods. It was my grandfather’s wish that the ranch remain at least a thousand acres, hence the name.”

  “There are lots of cows,” Milo said.

  Zoe looked past the black-brown farm fence that framed the thick blanket of green grass like a neat grid. Her eyes surveyed the hundreds of calico-brown cows grazing in the pasture. “We raise cattle and breed and board horses,” Zoe said with a touch of pride.

  “What does breeding mean?” Madison asked.

  “I’ll explain it some other time,” Zoe chuckled.

  By the time they pulled up to the white antebellum home, Zoe’s nerves were jumping like frantic frogs trying to escape a hot kettle of water. The center section of the home was all that existed when Zoe’s grandfather had purchased the ranch. However, over the years, several additions had been added, giving the mansion a sprawling effect. It was a magnificent structure, with the artful landscaping and tall sycamore and oak trees standing like sentinels, keeping their careful watch over the home. The house was a unique piece of history blended with the present. Merely seeing it helped to restore a sense of calm to Zoe.

  “Where are the horses?” Milo asked.

  “In the stables and pastures. You can’t see them from here, but they’re directly behind the house.” Zoe
was surprised that her kids knew so little about the ranch. Then again, it had been several years since they’d been here. Carl hated coming to the ranch. Every trip back home became a battle of wills. It was easier to just go somewhere else on vacation. Shame on Zoe for allowing Carl to distance her children from their heritage. Had she not been so close to her daddy and brothers, Carl would’ve succeeded in isolating Zoe from her family. That had been his intent, after all. Well, her days of being influenced by Carl Stevens were over. Anger burned through her like acid as she thought of her lost opportunity with The Gads Art Gallery. Zoe sucked in a calming breath before releasing her seatbelt. “Let’s get you to the restroom,” she said to Madison as they got out of the car. “We’ll get our suitcases out later.”

  The first thing Zoe noticed was the faint taste of rain in the muggy, dense air. She looked up at the heavy clouds crowded together in the sky, kind of liking the energy that was building. As they stepped onto the porch, the wood planks creaked out their familiar welcome chant. A thousand memories of her childhood assaulted Zoe as the front door swung open. “Hello,” Daddy boomed, holding out his arms. Madison bounded into them, giving him a fierce hug. “How’s my little butter bug?” Knox asked.

  “I’m not a butter bug,” Madison countered indignantly, wrinkling her nose.

  “Sure you are,” Knox laughed. He held her at arm’s length, inspecting her. A minute later, he shook his head. “You’re a beauty, just like your mama, and your tongue is sharper than a double-edged blade.”

  Zoe’s mouth dropped. “Daddy.”

  He grinned like a possum. “It’s the truth. My little firecracker,” he said affectionately.

  “Thanks.” Zoe hadn’t seen Daddy since Noah and Piper’s wedding. He looked great donning his usual ranch attire of Levis and weathered boots. Right at six feet tall, Knox was a cowboy to the core with his weathered skin and lean muscles. Constantly working on the ranch kept him in topnotch physical condition. His once jet-black hair was now salt and pepper and although it wasn’t quite as thick as it had been when he was younger, it was still dang impressive for his age. His unencumbered smile and zest for life were his best features. Zoe had always thought her daddy was larger than life. He reminded her of the actor Robert Duvall in the movie Secondhand Lions. Daddy was a renaissance man who loved hard, laughed hard, and fought hard. His laughter came easily, and he had a heart of gold, but he also had a sharp temper. Her younger brother Jaxson was the official manager of the ranch and ran it like a finely oiled machine. However, everyone knew that Daddy was the real power behind the throne. The ranch was Daddy’s lifeblood and he made sure to keep a pulse on everything that was going on.

  Knox stepped up to Milo and ruffled his hair. “How ya doing, kiddo?”

  “Okay,” Milo said with an indifferent shrug of his shoulders, indicating how not okay he was.

  A look passed between Zoe and her daddy. The concern on Daddy’s face caused her eyes to go dewy. She didn’t have to say a word. Daddy got it. That’s how it had always been between them—a strong connection that defied words. Knox turned back to Milo. “You ready to get on a horse?”

  Milo rocked back, eyes bugging. “Now?”

  “Tomorrow morning.”

  “Okay,” Milo said, a genuine smile peeking out beneath his carefully crafted mask of indifference.

  “Once we get you whipped into shape, we’ll take you to the rodeo, do some steer roping.” He flashed a wide grin. “How about that?”

  “That would be great,” Milo exclaimed with a large smile.

  “Uh, let’s take it one step at a time. You need to learn to ride first,” Zoe said.

  Milo scowled. “You suck the fun out of everything.”

  Knox winked. “Yep, that’s your mom. A fun-sucking scalawag.”

  Not sure how to respond, Milo just gaped.

  “Mo—om! I’ve gotta go to the bathroom,” Madison hollered, yanking on Zoe’s hand.

  “Okay, let’s go.”

  “Gina made us a big pot of chili and cornbread,” Knox said.

  “Sounds great. I’m starving.” Gina was the housekeeper and cook. She’d been with the family since Zoe was a kid. In her late sixties, Gina was like a second mom, grandmother, and drill sergeant rolled into one. “Is Gina here?”

  “Nah, she left around five. I reckon she’s home with Hank this evening,” Knox said.

  Zoe frowned. “I thought Gina and Hank were moving into one of the guest houses on the property.”

  “Nope. Hank didn’t want to give up his barn or his tractor. Can’t say as I blame him,” Knox said with a grin.

  Zoe clicked her tongue. “Southern men and their tractors.”

  Madison’s eyes bulged. “Mom!” she said in exasperation.

  “Oh, yeah. The bathroom.” Zoe quickly led her to the guest one near the foyer. A few minutes later, everyone gathered in the large farm-style kitchen. Zoe surveyed the space that was the beating heart of her childhood—the sturdy butcher block island, the creamy white cabinets, the overflow dining room and sitting area nook with the fireplace. The spicy scent of chili tingled Zoe’s senses, causing her stomach to rumble. “Smells good.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” Knox drawled as he looked at Milo. “Be sure and eat up. That’ll put some hair on your chest.”

  “Really?” Milo squeaked, wide-eyed.

  “Yes, siree,” Knox answered.

  Apprehension snaked over Madison’s face. “But I don’t want hair on my chest.”

  Laughter gurgled in Zoe’s throat as her hand encircled her neck. “It won’t really put hair on your chest. Papaw’s just teasing.” She shot Daddy a look of reproof, but he just grinned. She could tell right away that Daddy was determined to toughen Milo up and make a real man out of him. That was all well and good, but one thing at a time. Milo had enough to deal with already with his parents divorcing and moving to a new place. Zoe glanced around. “Where’s Jaxson?”

  Knox ladled a large spoonful of chili into a bowl and handed it to Milo. “Get yourself some cornbread,” he urged. “Silverware’s on the table.” He turned his attention to Zoe. “Jax went to Atlanta to check out some new farm equipment. He’ll be back next Thursday.”

  She made a face. “It’s Friday. That’s a long time to be gone checking out farm equipment.”

  “You know your brother. I suspect there’s a woman involved.” He chuckled. “He’s got ‘em coming out his ears.”

  Yep, Jaxson was the player in the family. Zoe was looking forward to catching up with her younger brother of three years, but she was secretly glad that she and kids could have the house all to themselves—well, with Daddy, of course—to get settled in.

  “Here you go, sweetheart,” Daddy said as he handed Madison a bowl of chili.

  “Careful not to spill it,” Zoe cautioned as Madison cupped it with both hands, walking slowly to the table.

  Next, Daddy gave Zoe her bowl. He threw Zoe a casual look. “Oh, Briggs was gonna stop by and eat with us, but something came up last minute. He said he’d catch up with you later.”

  Zoe nearly choked on her own saliva. “What?” Heat scorched trails over her cheeks, and for a second no words would come. An unexpected longing welled inside her, bringing such a swift horror that it nearly pickled her insides. Stop having these irrational thoughts about Briggs!

  Daddy winked. “Get yourself some cornbread.”

  Her eyebrows shot up. Lowering her voice, she leaned in. “Daddy, Briggs and I are ancient history … and when I say ancient, I’m talking pre-caveman era.”

  His eyes sparkled with amusement. “Alright, darling, no need to get your panties in a wad. I was just letting you know what’s going on.”

  Zoe’s spine went poker straight as she shot him a death glare. “I know what you’re up to Daddy, and it won’t work. I didn’t come home for Briggs.” She could tell Daddy didn’t believe her, and it rankled her last nerve.

  “Panties in a wad,” Madison giggled as Milo sniggered.

>   “Daddy!” Zoe hissed. “Watch your language.”

  He laughed. “That is watching my language, sugar pea.” His head swung back and forth as he reached for a bowl. “Living with that cream puff in Park City has made you soft. It’s time you remembered where you came from.”

  Zoe just rolled her eyes. “Yeah, yeah. I have a feeling I’m about to get a crash course in Southern 101.” Or redneck 101 is more like it, she silently added.

  “Darn tootin’,” Daddy said.

  “Who’s Briggs?” Milo asked.

  Zoe’s heart stopped cold. Her throat closed to the size of a straw as she swallowed. “Uh …” She clutched her chili bowl.

  “Briggs is a blast from your mama’s past,” Knox answered. “Pre-caveman era,” he added, his light eyes dancing. “I guess we’re going back to the beginning, huh sugar pea? Better buckle up tight because it’s about to be a bumpy ride.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” Zoe demanded.

  Knox helped himself to two large pieces of cornbread. “You’re a smart girl. I’ll let you figure it out,” he said as he traipsed by her and joined the kids at the table.

  Well, Daddy was right on one level. It was bound to be a bumpy ride. “Welcome home,” Zoe mumbled to herself as she plunked a slice of cornbread into her chili and stomped to the table.

  5

  The next morning, Zoe yawned as she slid her foot over the cool sheets, which felt like silk beneath her skin. As the dreamlike state of sleep slipped away, she blinked to orient herself as she looked around the room. That’s right, she and the kids were home. Zoe was in her old room in the east wing of the house. Her eye caught on the pink and white floral valance atop the window before moving to the posters of Justin Timberlake and Zac Efron. Yep, definitely time for a remodel. The room was exactly the same as it had been when Zoe first left home, right after high school.