“I can tell. Just don’t overdo it and exhaust yourself. Any more memories?”
“No.” Disappointment echoed through the single word.
“But you had a memory the other night. That means more will follow.”
“Out of all the pivotal things that have happened in the last two years—the birth of my niece, my brother-in-law getting sent to Afghanistan, my mom getting engaged—I remember something insignificant like a radio preacher I like.”
“Good Biblical preaching is never insignificant. And it tells you a lot about yourself. That you like church, you hate missing the services and you enjoy fiery preaching.”
“I already knew all of that.” Frustration dripped from his tone. “Maybe I could leave my walker here when we go outside today.”
“Not just yet. Walking on uneven ground is a whole different animal. But soon.”
“I’m ready to go when you are.” He navigated the remainder of the bars, then transferred to his walker.
“We need to do the balance ball.”
“Later. I’m tired of being cooped up.” He headed for the door.
“All righty then. I can see we’re not going to get anywhere in here.” She followed as he went down the hall.
But he stopped at the end. “Morning, Ted.” He sounded strained, obviously still struggling with his mother’s engagement.
“Morning. You’re looking chipper.”
“I was,” Clint muttered under his breath, then stepped into the kitchen.
“Hello, Lexie,” Ted greeted her.
“Hey, Mom, Lexie and I were about to go check on the cattle. Do you mind if Ted goes with me today instead of Lexie?”
Audrey’s eyebrows went up. “I, um—”
“I’ll play nice,” Clint promised.
“I’d love to come with you,” Ted said. “Always been curious about beefalo.”
“Great, I’ll show you around and the ladies can visit. That okay with you, Lexie?”
“Of course.”
“You could hang on to my arm and ditch the walker if you want?” Ted offered his arm.
“I’m good.” Clint trudged toward the kitchen door.
So far Ted rated worse than the walker. She hoped this walk went well. Audrey really needed the two men in her life to bond.
Ted held the door open until Clint made it through, then winked at Audrey and followed.
As soon as the door shut behind them, Audrey moved to the window. “What do you think that’s about?”
“I’m not sure. Should I have gone with them?”
“No. Clint told me last night that he approves of Ted, so they should be okay by themselves.” She blew out a breath. “Poor Ted. Not many men would be patient enough to go through the meet-and-win-over-the-son thing twice.”
“He’s crazy about you.”
Audrey smiled. “I’m crazy about him.”
“Good thing, too, since the wedding is in exactly a month.”
“I hope Clint is back to normal by then. Ted thinks we should postpone it. Until my boy fully recovers.”
“You’ve still got time to decide on that.” She joined Audrey to peer out the window.
Ted supported Clint’s walker as he slowly made it down each step. What would they talk about? Would conversation be stiff and stilted between them? Or would Clint grill Ted, give him the third degree? She hoped not. From her vantage point, the Rawlins family needed Ted. Levi’s death had left a gaping hole in the fabric of their family and Ted seemed like just the man to mend it.
* * *
“So what do you like most about my mom?” Clint started things off with the most pressing thing on his mind.
Ted’s eyes softened. “Her kindness, gentleness and her smile.”
“What brought you to Medina?”
“My sister and her husband were tired of the hustle and bustle of living in San Antonio, so they bought a weekend home in Medina. I visited them here and fell in love with the peaceful atmosphere.”
“Do you mind if I ask what your wife was like?”
“Worried I’m trying to find a carbon copy in your mom?” Ted dug his wallet out. “I can assure you that’s not the case.” He showed Clint a picture of a red-haired woman. Freckles and dark eyes. Tiny stature.
Nothing like Mom physically.
“Maryann was vivacious, the life of the party. She lived large and loud, was into raising money for charities, and bungee jumping.”
Worlds apart from Mom’s personality. Though she’d probably like the charity thing since she had a big heart for people in need.
“I loved her dearly, but I’m more of an introvert. Sometimes Maryann wore me out as I tried to keep up with her. Your mom has a soothing, peaceful presence.” Ted put the picture back in his wallet and stuffed it in his pocket. “Can I ask you a few questions now?”
“I may not know the answer, but I’ll try.”
“You’ll know this one. What was your dad like? I’ve tried to get your mom to open up about him, but she thinks we shouldn’t spend a lot of time talking about the past. That we should just move on with the future.”
“It sounds like he was a lot like your wife.” Clint’s heart clenched, as he stared at white puffy clouds in the distance, missing Dad something awful. “He loved the rodeo and was always looking for adventure and excitement. Mom refused to go bungee jumping, but he always wanted to try it. Staying home wasn’t on his agenda.
“When Carly and I were young, we camped along the rodeo circuit during the summers. He was always taking us places between rodeos, experiencing life as he called it. Mom is more like you, I think. She’d have liked to just stay home most of the time.” While Clint had dreaded having to go back to school again when the summer ended and the adventure was over.
“So your mother and I married opposites, and now we’ve found each other and learned we’re a lot alike. Peaceful homebodies.”
“You’ll be good to her?”
“I plan to spend the rest of my life doing my very best to keep her happy.”
Clint looked over at him. “I can’t ask for any more than that.”
“I hope you’ll stick around here. She was dreading you moving to Fort Worth. And I know it’s none of my business, but she needs for you to quit the rodeo,” Ted said firmly.
“I appreciate your concern.” Clint turned his walker toward the barn. “I have no idea why I wanted to move or why I thought the rodeo was the only way I could do it.” Had he seen the Fort Worth ranch as an adventure? “But bull riding was never my thing like it was for Dad. I only resorted to it for cash. And I’ve learned it’s not something you want to do sporadically if you want to stay in one piece.”
“Smart man.” Moos and grunts echoed from the field. “The moos almost sound like those of a regular cow,” Ted commented.
“They’re 3/8 bison and 5/8 bovine, so it makes sense for them to moo, but you should hear the bulls in mating season. They almost sound like donkeys.”
“You’ve got a fine operation here, son.” Ted patted him on the back.
“Have I never shown them to you before?”
Ted hung his head. “It’s been a while and I wanted to spend some time with you.”
“Did we do that before? Spend time together?”
“Some. I always enjoyed it,” Ted admitted.
His heart tugged. “But I never told you why I wanted to buy the ranch in Fort Worth?”
“No.”
But there was something in the older man’s eyes. Like he knew something he wasn’t telling.
“You know something, don’t you?”
“I have a theory. But Lexie said we should keep our theories to ourselves, let you sort things out on your own.”
“Can’t you give me a hint?”
Ted chuckled. “Afraid n
ot. ’Cause if I’m wrong, then you’ll be thinking something you never thought.”
“Fair enough.” His walker knocked against a rock.
“Don’t they make better walkers these days, that scoot along instead of being so unwieldy?”
“Yes. But Lexie says they won’t give me enough stability. It’s not heavy, just noisy.”
“Then I reckon we better listen. That little lady knows her stuff.” Ted walked at a snail’s pace, staying right with Clint.
“I just wish I could remember why I was so desperate for money. I didn’t get into anything stupid, like gambling or anything, did I?” He squeezed his eyes closed.
“Not that I know of. It doesn’t seem like your character and I sincerely doubt you were into anything shady or illegal.” Ted clapped him on the back. “Maybe you just saw a good opportunity to expand. Your mom said online direct to consumer sales are up this year. I can’t believe there’s not some grocery store or distributor out there ready to get in on your business.”
Something flickered in Clint’s mind. But he couldn’t put his finger on it. They reached the barn and his prize bull strolled by.
“I tell you what, if you remember why you wanted to expand to Fort Worth and the place is still up for sale, I’d be interested in putting the cash up for you. We could be partners.”
“That’s kind of you. But the owner had other buyers interested. It’s probably already gone.”
“I’m not trying to be kind. It’s business.” Ted sounded sincere, and he was clearly not trying to throw his money around to buy Clint’s loyalty. On the contrary, he seemed genuinely interested in the beefalo business and it really meant a lot to Clint. “Your mom told me all about how you saved the ranch a few years ago. She’s right proud of you.”
“I couldn’t let her lose the ranch. Not after Dad rode all those bulls to buy it, so she’d have somewhere to be a homebody when he retired.” But she’d ended up without Dad. The loss put a pang in his heart.
“So that’s why she’s so stuck on living here after we’re married.”
“She is?” The perfect opportunity to ask about the date. But he was still getting used to everything. He didn’t need a timeline.
“Says it’s because she doesn’t want anybody to think she’s marrying me for my money. I’m renting right now, but I want to build your mom a house. I sold the home Maryann and I built in San Antonio. Most people don’t need twenty-three bedrooms, but I wanted it to be big enough to accommodate her family reunions. It did and then some, but it was so big it never felt like home to us.”
“Yeah, Mom would hate living somewhere like that.”
Ted nodded. “Just something big enough to have Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner gatherings and a few overnight guests, but still cozy is what I’d like.”
“Maybe she’ll agree after a few years.” He couldn’t believe he was standing here talking about Mom getting married. Being someone else’s wife.
“I’d like to deed the ranch over to you since Carly and Joel don’t have any interest in it. Then to be fair to them, I’d pay them the fair market value of the place.”
“That’s way too generous of you.” Clint had a decent balance in his account, but he couldn’t imagine being able to make an offer like that. “I’m not sure we could accept.”
“Now you sound like your mom,” Ted mumbled, adjusting his hat. “I know there are a lot of changes for you right now, but I’d like to be a good one. I don’t think there’s any law against us hanging out, is there? And I always felt like we could be close if we had the time.”
Ted was a good man and Clint needed Mom to be okay if his mental health took a wrong turn. Ted would see that she was.
“I try to walk about this time every day. Keeps me from feeling cooped up.”
“I’ll make a point to be here part of the time. I don’t want to crowd you.”
Clint stopped, offering his hand.
Ted clasped it. Solid grip.
“I’m okay with you coming round to see Mom.”
Kind, blue eyes went misty. “Thank you. You have no idea what that means to me.” Ted hugged him.
“It means a lot to me that you care that I approve of your relationship with Mom. And that you’ve had the patience to strive for it twice.”
“You mean the world to her and she means the world to me.” Ted clapped him on the back, then let go. “You know Maryann and I never had any kids, so I kind of feel like this is my second chance at that, too. I mean, not to replace your dad, I’d never try to do that. But I want us to be family.”
Clint nodded, not sure he could say anything around the lump in his throat. Ted seemed like a really great guy. But he’d give anything if he could have his dad back.
“Now, show me those beefalo.” Ted offered his arm. “Ready to ditch the walker yet?”
It was one thing hanging on to Lexie. She was his therapist and he trusted her because she’d worked with Dad. Hanging on to Ted would make him seem weak.
“Leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms.” Ted’s rich baritone soothed. “Now I’m not claiming to be God, but I am a Christian and sometimes He provides someone to give you a strong arm when you need it. I just think you’d be steadier out here if you weren’t having to work the walker and your feet.”
Clint took a deep breath, then placed his hand on Ted’s arm.
The older man patted his hand and they headed for the barn.
And sure enough, with Ted’s support, each step came easier.
* * *
“I love jigsaw puzzles.” Lexie’s fingers itched to put pieces into place.
“I’m glad you’re enjoying this.”
And Clint itched to be outside.
She’d actually missed him yesterday, since his mom wasn’t as nervous about him staying home while she’d gone to church and then eaten at Old Spanish Trail. The entire day without him had been long and lonely. A very bad sign.
“Did you notice I came dressed for the occasion?” She’d worn her favorite scrubs, black with neon puzzle pieces everywhere.
“As soon as you walked in this morning, I knew the agenda for the day.” Clint slipped a piece into place, forming part of a palomino horse’s face.
“We can take the puzzle outside if you’d like.”
“I’d rather be outside doing something physical. I’m good with puzzles. We used to do them as a family in the winter months when I was a kid. But I feel so useless sitting around all the time.”
“This is the first time you’ve sat down today. And puzzles are very good therapy. There’s a lot of reasoning that goes into putting them together.”
“Do you think I could go for a horseback ride?” He looked so hopeful. Almost childlike.
She couldn’t burst his bubble. Even though he really needed to work on cognitive and fine motor skills. “You won’t believe this, but since I gave horseback riding lessons to help pay for college, I ended up getting certified as an equine therapist.”
His smile came from within and threatened to light up the room. “Aren’t you just full of surprises.”
“Were you a good rider before your accident?”
“Excellent,” he admitted.
“Do you have a really gentle horse? One that doesn’t spook. No matter what.”
“Yes. But I’ve fallen off a horse before. And I got right back on.”
“You’re recovering from a brain injury, Clint. We don’t need another knock to your noggin. Are there any helmets on the ranch?”
“There are some in the barn. Mom used to give riding lessons when Carly and I were in high school.”
“As good as you’ve gotten with the balance ball, I think a horseback ride is a good idea. If you can find a helmet. And no going alone when I’m not here.”
“Scout’s honor.”
&nbs
p; The two of them alone. For hours. Her heart skipped a beat at the prospect.
Stop it.
“Ever seen a beefalo calf?”
“I’d never seen a beefalo until I came here.”
He flashed her an infectious grin. “That’s about to change. But first, let’s see about getting you some boots.”
“I actually have some in my car.” She slipped a piece of the puzzle in place. “I keep a change of clothes in case I need to go somewhere after work. I hate wearing scrubs in public. They defeat all sense of fashion.”
“You manage to say a lot with scrubs. Will you have to go back to a certain solid color when you start your new job?”
“Thankfully, no. The clinic doesn’t care as long as we wear scrubs. I’ll go get my clothes.” She scurried out of the room.
“Leaving already?” Audrey asked as Lexie cut past to the foyer.
She stopped, popping her head in the living room. “I have clothes and boots in my car, so I’m gonna change real quick, then take Clint on a horseback ride.”
Audrey’s eyes widened. “Can he handle that?”
“I’m a certified equine therapist. He’s been really working the balance ball and the parallel bars. I wouldn’t take him if I was worried he might fall off and I’m making him wear a helmet. Want to join us?”
“No, I’d be a nervous wreck. Y’all go and have fun. But be careful.”
Why had she agreed to go horseback riding with him? Oh, yeah, that’s right. Because surely it would be better than being cooped up in the same room with Mr. Way-Too-Cute Cowboy.
In the car, she sorted through her extra clothes. Jeans and boots, a casual T-shirt that didn’t seem right for riding horses, a pink plaid button-up and a rhinestone-spattered turquoise tee. She chose the last and hurried back inside.
Chapter Eleven
Clint tapped his foot.
“Are you sure you can ride?” Mom asked for the umpteenth time.
“I’m positive. And besides, doctors frequently prescribe equine therapy for patients with balance issues, and Lexie is fully certified.”
The Cowboy's Missing Memory Page 11
