Dirty Sweet Cowboy

by Bentley, Jess

  Candy shakes her head. “Well, that’s just silly. She’s going to think we’re a bunch of inbred hicks who are horrible to outsiders. You need to be on your best manners, even if she is a lot .”

  As if on cue, Anna comes running into the room, her cheeks bright red. “Mama! Hawk is stealing my clothes and giving them to that… that woman !”

  “Anna Nell! You are a grown woman. Stop acting like a child. You have more than enough clothes to share, and I won’t hear another whisper of rudeness in this house while that woman is here. She’s a guest for crying out loud! I swear, it’s as if everyone has gone plumb crazy! I don’t remember you being this hysterical when you were an actual teenager .”

  Anna scrunches up her face and looks as if she’s about to settle in for a world-class pout, but instead, she lets out a huff that blows her bangs up and out of her face, then plops down on the couch .

  “Fine. But I don’t have to like it. And if he so much as touches my cable-knit sweater, I’m pushing him off the balcony .”

  Candy waves at her. “Then go get it! For goodness sake. If this reporter has clothes that aren’t hers to dirty up, it’s one less thing we’ll have to hear about while she’s here .”

  Anna jumps up to go get her favorite sweater that she’s had since we were kids, and she disappears back up the stairs, yelling, “Hawk! Mama said not to touch my sweater !”

  I can’t help but laugh. Candy hands Gracie a doll. “Sometimes… I swear this little baby is better behaved than my grown children .”

  “I’m not sure I would disagree with you about that, Mama,” I say with a chuckle. Candy reaches out and gives my cheek a pinch, then brushes it sweetly .

  “Have I told you lately how happy I am to have you two here with us ?”

  I choke up a little, then push it back down. “Not lately .”

  “Well, I am. I don’t know what Sam and I would do if you moved away. Speaking of, sort of, have you heard from your mom lately ?”

  I shake my head. My own mother was never what you would call, “present.” Even when I was a kid, I mostly took care of myself, because she’d go through phases of spending all of her time out drinking, and sleeping around. Most of my first memories are of figuring out how to open cans of soup, or make myself peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to take to school. By the time I was ten, I’d gotten really good at scamming meals off the neighbors. So, when the McCormick’s took me in and made me a part of their family, it was like they’d opened up a whole new world to me. Then, when I lost Matt, I thought for sure that Gracie and I were going to be on our own. The fact that they’d kept us so close, and had continued to love us, and take such amazing care of us, had meant the world to me. A day doesn’t go by where I’m not grateful for it .

  “Last I heard, she was in Florida somewhere? I got a card for my birthday four years ago. It was three months late, which is pretty par for the course. She doesn’t even know I have a daughter, or about…” I can’t bring myself to say his name in front of Candy, and she seems to appreciate that I cut myself off .

  Candy shakes her head. “Your mama doesn’t know what she’s missing, Parrish. If you were my daughter, I’d thank heaven every day for you .”

  I reach out and squeeze her hand. “I am your daughter, Candy .”

  She sniffles. “That’s true, isn’t it? And I do thank my lucky stars that my boy chose you, and brought us all this little angel.” Candy gives Gracie a kiss on the top of the head that makes her giggle. “Well, enough of that. I’m going to mess up my makeup!” she says with a laugh .

  “Do you want me to make some lunch? I could …”

  I don’t get a chance to finish my sentence. We hear the sound of Anna running back down the steps, following my Hawk’s heavy thuds . They are bickering, but we can’t make out what they’re saying, until they both come sliding into the family room .

  “Mama! Will you please tell Anna to just let Simone pick out what she wants and stop dictating every choice she makes? We’re going to be here all day and I don’t have time for this bull…” he stops short of swearing in front of Candy, who would give him an earful .

  “And mama, would you please tell Hawk to stop trying to give that woman all of my favorite clothes on purpose so I have nothing to wear for the next month but college sweatshirts and leggings ?”

  Candy throws her hands in the air. “That’s it! I’ve had it with you two! You’re acting like a bunch of spoiled, selfish little animals and I can’t deal with it. I’m going to go make lunch. Parrish, you handle them. Once you’ve figured it out, we can all eat at the table like a normal, functional family .”

  Hawk scoffs. “That’ll be the day .”

  Candy turns on him and shoots him a death stare that we all know very well. He takes several terrified steps back and hides behind Anna .

  “Hawk, when you’ve sorted yourself out, go find your father and tell him to come in for lunch. And find out what that reporter eats. I don’t want to be accused of starving her too.” Candy walks out of the room and into the kitchen. “Honestly. Behaving like a bunch of out-of-control children,” she mutters as she walks out. I pick up Gracie from the floor and walk over to them with a sigh .

  “Anna, honey, your mom is right. It’s on us to make this month as easy as possible, and acting like spoiled brats isn’t going to get us anywhere. If she was the same size as me, I’d give her some of my stuff, but you’re the tall, skinny one. So, I’m afraid this is your burden to bear. I’m the one who will have to show her around and deal with all of her questions. I had to give up my house. Gracie had to give up her room. Just consider this your contribution. You can borrow my sweaters if you need to in the meantime. Hawk, stop giving your sister shit. She’s not used to sharing anything with anyone, even me. You can’t expect her to learn overnight .”

  For a second, they look like twins. Their shoulders droop in exactly the same way, they pout in exactly the same way, and they huff in exactly the same way. I’d laugh, if I didn’t feel like I was punishing kids .

  “Now, Anna, just… go upstairs and give her whatever you can spare. Hawk, go find your father for lunch. And Anna, send Simone down here so I can find out what the hell she actually eats .”

  Neither of them says a word; they both just turn on their heels and disappear out of the family room, leaving me with Gracie. I turn to my daughter and kiss her on the cheek .

  “Never be a pain in the butt like your aunt and uncle, okay Smallfry ?”

  “No, mama,” she says with a giant grin, and I don’t know if she’s disagreeing, or agreeing with me. But for now, I’ll take it .

  I set Gracie back on the floor as I hear Simone lightly pad her way through the dining room and into the family room .

  “You wanted to see me?” she asks, her arms crossed over chest .

  I dig down as deep as I can and summon up my biggest, friendliest smile. “We’re just about to get lunch started. What are some of your favorite foods? Is there anything you don’t eat ?”

  Simone brushes her hair from her eyes and looks up at the ceiling like she’s pre-cataloguing a list. “Well. I don’t eat red meat. Or pork. Or sugar. Or gluten. Or fried foods. Or dairy. Or grains. Or anything made with palm oil, saturated fats, or corn syrup. Oh! Or corn .”

  My jaw drops. “Okay… so… I can steam you some broccoli and chicken? Bake you a potato ?”

  She snaps her fingers. “No potatoes either! No nightshades at all, actually .”

  I run my hands over my face, unable to hide my exasperation. “So, the ribs and homemade fries I’m planning for dinner are out. I will, um, do the broccoli and chicken for lunch and then we can go to the store and figure out some things for the rest of your time here .”

  “Are the broccoli and chicken organic? I only ask because …”

  She doesn’t have a chance to finish because Candy comes back in, and I can tell by the look on her face that she’s heard everything. “Well, hey there, honey! Aren’t you just the p
rettiest thing I’ve ever seen? I’m Candy McCormick. It’s wonderful to meet you. Now, I overheard you from the kitchen, and I can promise you. The vegetables in this house are grown in my very own garden. Only the healthiest foods for my family! And the chickens come from a farm right up the road. Humanely raised, not a lick of the horrible stuff you get from that grocery store stuff. So, don’t you worry your precious little head. I’ll take care of your lunch, and why don’t you go back upstairs and collect your clothes from Anna? Everything will be ready in a two shakes of a lamb’s tail !”

  Simone smiles sweetly and disappears back up the stairs. Once she’s out of earshot, Candy turns back to me .

  “You’re right. I hate her.” Then she walks back into the kitchen without another word, leaving me laughing hysterically in the family room .

  Hawk

  T he sound of the cement mixers rumbling on the edge of the property are more soothing and less of a nuisance than Simone jabbering in my ear .

  “Now, can you tell me about the reasoning behind the new farm?” she asks with her tape recorder jammed in my face .

  I take a deep breath and try to smile. “Well, as I’ve mentioned, we aren’t a farm. We’re a ranch. We breed horses, and enter competitions. We’re one of the foremost horse ranches in the country, and place third nationally when it comes to cumulative medals and prize winnings.” I try to ignore her when she waves a dismissive hand at me .

  “Okay, fine. So, why the new… whatever it is you’re building ?”

  I can feel my jaw clenching. “Stables. It’s a new, state-of-the-art stable. My father is merging our ranch with another, smaller ranch in the hopes of breeding some real champions. The goal was to create an updated environment where they could thrive, while still keeping a bit of that down-home charm .”

  “You’re quite the idea man, Hawk,” she says, batting her eyelashes at me .

  “Actually, that was Parrish’s idea. Initially, I had drawn up something far more grand. But she reminded me of my roots, and that what would best suit this place was something comforting, with a real homey feel. She’s the one with the ideas .”

  Simone doesn’t even seem to hear me. It’s like she shuts off when I mention Parrish. I’m just about to make sure she registered it wasn’t my idea when dad comes walking across the property, his old poker buddy Russell by his side .

  “Son! You remember Russell Edwards, right?” he asks as he gives Russell a pat on the back. “Russell, this is my boy, Hawk .”

  I shake his hand, and for some reason, I get a real uneasy vibe off of him, one I don’t remember feeling when I was a kid. But I nod at him. “Sure. Good to see you, Mr. Edwards .”

  He chuckles heartily. “We’re grown men now, Hawk. You can call me Russell. And who, may I ask, is this lovely specimen standing next to you ?”

  Simone isn’t paying attention. She’s tugging uncomfortably at Anna’s sweatshirt and watching the workmen as they double-check the markings for the foundation .

  “This is Simone Leoni. She’s a reporter for Modern Architecture and she’s covering the build,” I answer as I instinctively step in front of Simone so he can’t continue to eyeball her .

  “Well, I sure hope I get to know her better,” Russell says with a leering grin that makes my skin crawl. My father is equally distracted by the comings and goings of the builders, so I feel like I’m the lone witness to a car wreck and it’s making me feel sick. I turn to Simone .

  “Simone, I was just about to go to the shop that is supplying the brick to finalize the order? Why don’t we head over together and you can get some shots of the vintage materials we’re using ?”

  She nods absent-mindedly and starts walking toward the truck. Once she’s entirely out of Russell’s line-of-sight, I take my father’s arm .

  “Dad, can I speak to you for a moment? Just over by the house? Alone?” Dad looks at me like I’m nuts, but nods “yes” just the same. When we get to the porch, I turn so I can keep an eye on the truck, and ensure that Russell leaves Simone alone .

  “What’s the matter, boy? I need to head over to the office and chat with Parrish about the price estimates from the guy who is going to sand out all the wood .”

  “Dad, why did you hire Russell for this job ?”

  Dad furrows his brow in confusion. “Huh? Why wouldn’t I? He’s one of my oldest friends, and he gave us a good deal .”

  “Dad, he’s a creep .”

  My father bursts out laughing. “What are you talking about, son ?”

  “Did you not see the way he was looking at Simone just now? It was weird. And gross .”

  Dad tilts his hat up with a chuckle. “She’s a good-looking woman son, you have to admit that .”

  “That isn’t the point. He wasn’t just giving her an admiring glance. It was skeezy .”

  Dad turns around and looks at Russell, who has wandered over to the work men and is jovially chatting with them. Then dad turns back to me with a shrug. “I didn’t see it, but if you say so, Hawk. I’ll have a talk with him. But just remember, he’s an old dog. It’s hard to teach fellas like him to behave .”

  I cross my arms over my chest with a scowl. “That’s not an excuse. Just makes sure he knows that I won’t put up with any bullshit on my worksite .”

  Dad raises an eyebrow at me. “Correct me if I’m wrong, but aren’t you quite the ladies’ man back in Los Angeles ?”

  “You are wrong, dad. I do my share of dating. I’ve slept with my share of women. But I never do anything without their consent and I don’t treat them like pieces of meat. Your buddy would do well to learn the same lesson .”

  Dad holds up his hands defensively. “Fine! Fine. I’ll talk to him. Point taken. Now, go take care of the brick. I’ve had enough serious conversations for one day.” And with that, he turns on his heel and stalks off toward the build site. I grumpily walk over to the driver’s side door and jump in. When I do, Simone is looking at me with wide, surprised eyes .

  “What?” I ask .

  “I… heard all of that. Thank you,” she whispers. Shit , I think, annoyed that she had to be made aware of Russell’s behavior when she hadn’t been before .

  “Hey, don’t worry about it. I just don’t appreciate women being treated that way, you know ?”

  She reaches over and squeezes my hand. “But you didn’t have to stand up for me like that. A lot of men wouldn’t have. Thank you, really .”

  I shrug. “Really, it’s fine.” Now, I’m suddenly uncomfortable with the change of tone in the car, because she’s looking at me like she’s never seen me before, and the last thing I want is her getting the wrong idea. I pull away from her and slip on my sunglasses .

  “Let’s go buy some brick, huh ?”

  * * *

  E verything that follows the rest of the day with Simone is slightly awkward. She was suddenly quiet, and spent a lot of time staring at me. I don’t want to make assumptions about what she was thinking or feeling, but I also don’t want to encourage anything when I’ve got enough bullshit floating around in my head right now. So, as soon as I was able, I left her with the contractor and snuck back up to the house, hoping to find my mother. Instead, the only person in the house is Anna .

  She’s sitting on the couch, watching TV and eating ice cream, despite the fact it’s one in the afternoon. I roll my eyes and plot down next to her .

  “Shouldn’t you be working?” I ask as I steal her ice cream away, despite her curse-filled protest .

  “It’s check-up day. The vet is in with the horses, and that’s Parrish’s thing. So, it’s easier if I stay out of the way. Besides, what do you care ?”

  “You look like you did when you were five, and I came down here and found you eating caramel corn and watching Freddy Krueger at two in the morning .”

  Anna snorts. “I need to do that more often. Speaking of Freddy Krueger, Russell Edwards is pissed at you .”

  I groan and flop backwards, inadvertently hitting my head on the bac
k of the couch. I swear, and rub the lump that is already forming. “Dad told him I was the one who called him out ?”

  Anna shrugs. “Whatever. The old perv had it coming. He’s disgusting. I can’t believe dad hired him for this. Then again, dad is pretty clueless about anything not related to this ranch .”

  I sit up and look at Anna, rage burning my cheeks. “Anna, he’s never… to you …”

  Anna shakes her head adamantly. “Oh, hell no. I don’t think he’s that stupid. But I’m pretty sure he was creepy with Parrish when he showed up the first time the other day. She didn’t say it outright. But she mentioned it in passing that she wasn’t crazy about him .”

  I’m suddenly just as angry at the thought of him going near Parrish as I am at the idea of him doing anything to Anna, but for very different reasons. “Well, if he so much as looks at either of you while he’s on this property, you better tell me. You hear ?”

  Anna salutes me. “Yes, sir! So, how was your morning with the princess ?”

  I chuckle as I lean back again, more carefully this time. “Fine. Uneventful. She took some pictures at the mason’s, but she’s been pretty quiet today .”

  “A nice switch,” Anna says as she steals the bowl of ice cream back from me. I don’t put up a fight .

  “Whatever. I’ve dealt with a lot more annoying in LA, I can promise you that much .”

  The front door to the house opens, and Parrish comes in, her face streaked with tears, and her cheeks bright red. Anna drops her bowl on the coffee table and runs over to her .

  “Parrish! What’s wrong? What happened ?”

  Parrish sobs. “It’s… Moonfire… She’s… sick…” she coughs out .

  I walk over and take her hand in mine. “Take a breath, Parrish. Sick with what ?”

  “The vet said… she has Cushing Syndrome. Your father wants to put her down. He said… he doesn’t want to spend the money on a horse that isn’t even in competition.” She’s still having trouble catching her breath .

  Anna kicks the wall in anger. “That miserable old goat .”