by Laney Powell
“Ride what?” I asked.
“A horse?” Axel’s brows went up.
“Never been on one.”
He nodded thoughtfully. “Well, we’re not all wild west out here. It’s actually pretty low key. But it’s easier to ride. You want to learn?”
“I saw my doc before I left and told him I was coming here. He sighed, gave me a list of stretches, told me that anything I was doing here was far easier on me than my old job, and wished me well.” I also had instructions from my torturer PTs, and instructions on getting my sorry ass to the nearest VA.
“We’ll go easy on you,” Axel said. “It’s not like the old days or anything. But before we get into the horses, I’ll show you to your room. Granddad said it might be weird for you to have to be in the house with us, so you have a choice. Your own cabin, or a room in the house?” He looked over at me.
I hesitated, not sure of which way to answer.
“There’s no wrong answer,” Axel said. “I know I’d rather have a choice.”
“I’ll take the cabin,” I said.
He laughed. “You just won me five bucks. Pris thought you’d stay in the house.”
I grinned as I followed him out of the barn. “Why? I’d much rather be on my own. No offense to any of you,” I hastened to add.
“None taken. She really enjoys having her family around. You really lucked out—I mean, missed out. Her mom was here until last week. That woman takes no shit from anyone, but she did cook a lot for us while she was here, so I can put up with her giving out the grief. Anyway, here you are. We eat at six, and you should join us.”
Giving me a look, Axel clapped me on the back, and then went on toward the ranch house. It was a two-storied, made of wood and stone, and it had a steep metal roof. The best thing about it, in my opinion, was the porch that looked as though it wrapped all the way around the house along the second story.
I brought my bags in from the Jeep and took a look at my new digs. The cabin was small, with a bed, a couch and dresser, a counter that had a fridge under it and a microwave on top. There was an equally small bathroom, and that was it. But it was private, and I didn’t have to share. That, to me, was the best thing. I was used to being on my own, and honestly, I didn’t feel like I was the best company. Having somewhere to get away would be a good thing for everyone here.
I unpacked and then went to walk down to the river. The ranch house was situated along a bend in the river that ran behind it, with white cliffs that rose up on the other side of the river. It was beautiful, like the kind of picture you saw on postcards.
There were chairs along the riverbank, and I went and sat, just watching the water go by. It was the first time since I’d slammed out of the infirmary on the ship that I’d sat still without something weighing on me. I didn’t have kids, a house, not even a dog. I had an ex-wife, and she was part of my past. And yet, sitting here, next to the river, I felt better.
You know, in some respects. I still had no career. I didn’t know what to do with myself as something other than a SEAL. It was all I’d ever wanted to do. And now that was gone. What would I do? I was a broken-down ex-SEAL with a lot of scars and a sketchy arm.
I hated being a broken-down ex anything. I’d never been anything other than in shape and ready to kick ass. Now I couldn’t. I worked out, and I was checking out where I could run daily, but I had to eat better, cut down on the salt, and live a less stressful life. My PTs had mentioned more than once that stress made things worse for me. Great.
Sitting here, I could imagine being a lot less stressed. This was beautiful, and it was quiet. I could hear something off in the distance that I thought might be cows. I turned as I heard someone approaching.
It was Freeze. “Hey, there, Jensen! You all moved in?”
I got up. “Didn’t have a lot, so yeah.”
He laughed. “Sometimes it’s nice not to have a lot of baggage.”
Smiling, I said, “Well, I don’t know about that, but at least it didn’t take long.”
“Why don’t you come up to the house and have some dinner?”
“Sounds good,” I said. “I was just admiring the view.”
Freeze nodded. “I love this place. I know I’m biased, but it’s the best place I’ve ever been. Any time I was away from here, I wanted to be back home.”
“I don’t blame you,” I said.
“Well, I’m glad you’re here. I know your former CO, and he’s a good man. He spoke highly of you.”
Now it was my turn to laugh. “That’s pretty damn generous of him.”
Freeze laughed with me. “We’ll see, won’t we? You should probably know that around here, you screw up, and you’re shoveling shit for a week.”
I looked at him.
“Seriously. Losers of bets, big stupid mistakes, all sorts of things—we all get rid of the stable duty. It started out as a joke, sort of, when Axel came home, and now it’s evolved.”
“I don’t mind shoveling shit. Spent ten plus years doing the same sort of thing,”
He laughed again and clapped me on the back. “Well, you’re warned. You’re probably on kitchen duty.”
We walked up to the house together. This, I understood. A clearly defined chain of command. Tasks that had to be done, a schedule. A routine.
As I thought about it, I realized this was what I needed. Even just the mention of regular jobs made me feel calm. Less stressed, I thought to myself with a grin. Which was just what the doctor ordered in no uncertain terms.
The house was welcoming with lights on, and I could hear laughter from within. Maybe this would be just what the doctor ordered.
Maybe.
Chapter Four
Carissa
I pushed a strand of my hair away from my face, sweating in the heat of the attic. “Gran, how did you get so much stuff up here?” I called down.
She said something, but I couldn’t understand her. I heard steps getting closer and then Gran’s head popped up into the attic from the narrow staircase. “This is where everything goes to die,” she said cheerfully, as though I wasn’t covered in the dust of decades.
“Well, let’s hope we bring it back to life enough to entice someone else to want it,” I grumbled.
“Oh, this is all vintage,” Gran said. “Slap that label on something, and it goes up in value exponentially.”
I laughed, which ended in a cough, because of the dust. “Well, for your sake I hope you’re right. You sure you want to move?”
“Are you going to move up here?” She gave me a look I couldn’t decipher.
“I’d love to be near you, but I don’t think I’d be able to find work.” I worked for a law firm as a forensic accountant. Ted, my boss, was one of the partners who dealt with the financial side of clients’ cases. Which is a fancy way of saying I was an accountant paid to dig into other people’s finances. It was a good job, and I was paid well. Enough that I’d gotten my CPA designation and asked for a raise. Ted had ranted on for a bit and then given it to me. With medical, dental, and a retirement plan and a salary that allowed me to live in San Diego—it was a really good job.
Which Stephen had jeopardized for me. Good thing I had plenty of vacation time saved up. What would I have done had I not been able to take off for a month?
I stopped. Stephen had been taking time off all the time lately. He never wanted me to go anywhere with him, always subtly reminding me of cases I was working on. Which would send me into a low grade panic, and I agreed it would be best if he took time off without me.
Had he been going away to gamble? That’s what everything suggested now.
The irony of a forensic accountant not being able to see the gambler in her own home wasn’t lost on me. Thankfully, no one who knew about this had mentioned it. Mel had emailed me to request a copy of my bank records to show that I was paying Stephen for half the rent, and sent me a notarized statement that he did not hold me responsible, and that I had offered to pay him immediately upon learni
ng of the arrears of rent.
While I hadn’t considered it at the time, I would need this for myself—I couldn’t do what I did and not have questions about me if my now ex-boyfriend was up to his ass in money troubles. So before I’d come up to Montana, early that Monday after I’d learned about Stephen, I’d gone into see my boss. Even though we had the day off, Ted was working. I took him all the correspondence between Mel and I and gave a statement that was notarized in the office as to what happened. I’d already lost my home, and the future I thought I was planning. I didn’t want to lose my job as well.
So even though I was madder than a wet hen about Stephen, I was able to leave San Diego for a month with nothing hanging over me in regard to my money, job, or integrity.
The personal side of things was not quite as rosy. I cried a lot. I couldn’t figure out why he hadn’t come to me. Why he had just left me the way he did? Did I mean so little to him? I didn’t see him before I left. I had no idea why he treated me like I didn’t matter.
I must not matter as much as I thought I did. As I drove during the three-day trip to Gran’s, I had a lot of time for soul searching. I gave my heart fully when I was in love. I’d been blinded by Stephen. A lot of little things he’d said and done had a different look when I was seeing them now. I had no one to blame but myself.
By the time I drove into the town limits of Paulson, I’d made a decision. I didn’t know what was going to happen after this month with Gran. I had my job still, but nothing else was firm. I wasn’t going to look for anything remotely related to romance. I was going to buy my own house—no waiting on some guy. And I wasn’t going to allow myself to fall for the bullshit again. Had I not been so blind, I might have seen some of this before it hit me with a stupid note on the counter.
Not that I was responsible for Stephen, but I owned my shit.
“You never know, sweetie,” Gran said, bringing me back to my present situation of being surrounded by dust. “People need accountants everywhere.”
I smiled but didn’t reply. Her hints were heavy handed. I got it. My parents, which included her son Royce, my dad, were useless. She and I were pretty much one another’s family. I didn’t see me moving up here happening, though.
“Listen, can you help me get those two picture boxes out? I have a friend coming over who wants to look at them. I was good friends with his wife, and he asked if I had any pictures of her I’d be willing to part with.” Gran changed the subject, which I appreciated.
Together, we moved the boxes down into the dining room. I went to wash my hands and try to clean up a little when I heard the doorbell ring, and Gran speaking to someone. When I came out of the bathroom, she was talking with an older man, a big smile on her face.
“Carissa, this is my good friend Freeze. His late wife and I were besties, as you say.”
I held out my hand. “Freeze, it’s nice to meet you.”
He had a wide grin and weathered skin under his cowboy hat. “Likewise, Carissa. What brings you here?”
“I’m helping Gran with her clear out,” I explained.
“You’re not moving in?” His eyebrows went up.
“No,” I shook my head. “I’m from San Diego. It’s too cold up here! I took a month off work.”
“Good girl,” he said approvingly. “Nice to see you whippersnappers do the right thing.”
Gran laughed. “Stop it. She’ll think you’re a rude old man.”
“According to Pris, I am,” Freeze said. “That’s my granddaughter-in-law. She takes no nonsense from me.” He grimaced dramatically, but I could tell that Pris, whoever she was, was someone he adored.
“Come and look at the pictures we found,” Gran said, walking to the dining room. Freeze followed her, and they sat down, diving right into the stacks of pictures in the boxes.
I sat opposite them at the table. I opened my laptop, listening to them laughing as the pictures brought up memories of the past. It was nice.
While Gran and Freeze talked, I went through my email. I liked sitting with them, even though I had nothing to add to the conversation.
Mel had emailed to say he’d filed a lawsuit against Stephen, and that he’d keep me updated. Ted, my boss, wanted to know if I’d be willing to do some work remotely. He ended his email with, ‘I know you’re on vacation, but I can’t believe how much things are piling up without you! The temps aren’t you, Carissa! Please say yes! I’ll pay extra!’
Well, wasn’t that interesting? I’d only been gone a week. It was nice to feel appreciated. And for my boss, a notorious cheapskate, to offer me more money, told me he really was desperate. I emailed him back and told him to send whatever it was he was needing help with, and I’d get back to him with the vacation rates. The thought of his reaction made me smile. Ted was a good guy. It was just his reactions about having to spend money were so funny.
I looked up, realizing that Gran had asked me something. “I’m sorry, what was that, Gran?”
“I asked you if you’d be willing to help out Freeze?”
Blinking, I asked, “With what?”
“We started this business this year, and none of us are all that comfy with numbers. I want to make sure we’re not going to lose our ass after the first year,” Freeze said. “I’ll pay you, of course.”
“Um, sure. That would be all right, but I need to get things done with Gran,” I said.
“How about I send my grandson and our new hand over to help you move the big things?” Freeze asked, a twinkle in his eye.
“Oh, Lord. Here he goes. Hang on, Carissa, he loves to dicker,” Gran exclaimed.
Freeze did look like he was gearing up for a fight he was going to enjoy.
“Sure, that would be great. I’m not a fan of all the moving of furniture and all the crap that’s still in the attic. But I’ll still cost you,” I said to Freeze.
“Fair enough. What’s your going rate?”
“I’m paid extremely well by my firm, and I’m a CPA,” I said. “But you’re a good friend of Gran’s, so you get the discounted rate of fifty dollars an hour.”
His eyebrows went up again. “That’s it? I paid my former guy a lot more than that. Probably why he was able to retire this year.”
Laughing, I said, “I didn’t come here to make a buck, and I’m happy to help you.”
Freeze stuck out his hand. “It’ll be at least a couple of hours. I’ll send over Axel and Jensen later today. Would that be all right?”
I reached across the table and shook his hand, looking at Gran. “Would that be all right?”
She nodded. “I’m delighted that I get the furniture moved with so little trouble to me. Thanks for doing all the work, Clarissa!” She laughed. “Freeze, let me get you a box for the pictures.” She went into the kitchen to grab one of the million boxes that had sprang up all over the counters.
“I really appreciate this,” Freeze said. “Tom just retired, and right when I really needed him. You’re doing me a big favor.”
“Right back at you,” I said. “I didn’t want to move all that stuff upstairs, and Gran isn’t up for it.”
“If you need more help, you let me know. Nora’s a good lady, and I don’t want her to hurt herself.” There was no trace of humor in his words.
“Thanks, Freeze. I appreciate it.”
He nodded as Gran came back with a box, taking the stack from the table and putting them into the box. “There you are,” she handed them to Freeze. “I’m glad they’re going with you.”
A soft look crossed Freeze’s face. “I’m glad to have them.”
Gran patted his hand. “I miss her too. Come on, I’ll walk you out before we both start wailing.”
“Probably a good idea,” Freeze said. “Can’t have my reputation suffering like that. I’ll call the boys on the way home. They should be here in an hour or so if they’re not too busy.”
“Thank you,” I said.
“And I’ll be calling you so you can come over and help me cook my boo
ks,” Freeze added.
I laughed as he and Gran walked outside. When she came back in, I said, “He’s a character.”
“Yes, he is. He had a scare last year.”
“As in?”
“He had prostate cancer. His grandson—that’s Axel, you’ll meet him later—came home from the Army right around that time. Pris, Axel’s wife, wasn’t his wife then. She’s a nurse, and Freeze had hired her, not knowing that Axel would be coming home. He was hurt over in Afghanistan,” she added. “Anyway, when Axel came back, he and Pris fell in love, and Freeze was like a new man.”
I shook my head. “Wow, Gran, that is a lot of small-town gossip to unpack. Holy hell.”
Gran smiled. “All that matters is Freeze is in remission, and he and his family are doing well. How about that for a summary?”
“Much better,” I said.
“Let’s have some lunch before we get back to work?”
I nodded, and we made sandwiches and sat out on the porch together eating. We’d finished but were still sitting on the porch when a dark blue truck with ‘Broken Falls Ranch’ on the door drove up to the curb.
A man came around from the driver’s side and walked up to the porch. “Mrs. Webber?” he asked as he got closer. “I’m Axel, Freeze’s grandson. I don’t know if you remember me. He said you needed some help with moving things. We’re here, so put us to work.” He grinned.
Gran got up. “Axel Buckley, don’t you stand on formality with me. Just because I haven’t seen you since you were little, and you and Pris got married down in Mexico, and cheated us all of a big wedding, we’re not strangers.”
“Jesus, you give Granddad a run for his money in the guilt Olympics,” Axel laughed, taking a hug from Gran.
Gran sniffed. “He’s an amateur.”
“Well, that may be, but he got us over here lickety split to help you. Good thing you two aren’t teamed up for anything. We’d all be goners.”
Gran turned to me. “Axel, this is my granddaughter, Carissa.” I stood up to shake his hand.
