Chapter 14
Mallory arrived at the barn as Chase was starting out to get hay. "Hey Mallory where you headed in such an all fire hurry?" He grabbed her reins and waited for her to catch her breath. It was evident in the stormy look on her face that something was wrong.
She pointed behind her and almost growled in frustration. "That brother of yours will be the death of me. He's the most frustrating man I've ever met and I just can't deal with him and his mood swings today." Swinging her leg over the back of the horse she stepped down and snatched the reins from Chase.
He grinned that charismatic way and draped his arm across her shoulders. "I told you he's a complex man."
"Well that complex man is on his on for a couple of days to think about it. I'm heading to Florida to get my head on straight." She unbuckled the girth strap and pulled the saddle from the horses back in quick motion. "I'll send Mack out to help with the shoeing tomorrow."
"Don't run away Mallory. That's not the answer." Chase tried to reason with her, but he could see there was no use. Her mind was made up. Maybe a little time apart would mend raw wounds.
"When I return he's getting a piece of my mind and then I don't know where we'll be, but I have to get back to normal." Then she placed the saddle on the rack and walked toward the door. "I'll call your dad before I leave."
"Have a good trip and stay safe." He waved to her as she climbed in her truck and left. Ridge had messed up royally this time and he needed to realize his mistake.
Chase walked out to the hay barn and grabbed two small bales. When he headed back to the main barn he saw Ridge slowly coming up from the back pasture. He looked a little worse for wear. It looked like he'd been crying which was out of character for his macho brother. Nothing phased Ridge Cauthen. Secretly he grinned knowing the reason for Ridge's emotional state.
Ridge almost jumped out of the saddle as he entered the barn. "Have you seen Mallory?" His voice was gruff as he cleared it to speak. "I need to talk to her."
Chase pushed his cowboy hat back on his head and chewed a piece of hay slowly. "She's gone. I don't know what you did to her but it pushed her over the edge." Then he straightened from the side of the door and looked his brother square in the eyes. "Don't you know what a catch she is? That's a great woman that you hurt today. She's a caring, sweet, intelligent, and most of all drop dead gorgeous woman and you just threw it away because you can't seem to come home from war."
"Don't start with me Chase. I know I've been a complete idiot where Mallory is concerned but I have my reasons." He turned to unsaddle his horse.
"Well I hope you enjoy being alone because she's gone. According to her words she needs to get her head on straight." Chase leaned down and picked up the bales of hay he's dropped earlier. "You're a fool for letting her get away and I think a time apart will tell you more than you think."
Ridge stood watching his brothers retreating back. Gone, where had she gone to? He pulled out his phone and hit her number. Of course she didn't answer, it went immediately to voicemail. "I'm not leaving a message. If she wants to talk to me she can call me."
The horse looked around at him as though calling him an idiot. "Nobody asked you." He said roughly and grabbed his reins, pulling him to his stall.
A little while later his dad walked into the barn. When he found his oldest son he leaned in the doorway of the stall watching him brush his horse. "Son, I know you've got a lot on your mind. It's not easy coming home from war, watching your friends come home in a box and then trying to get your head back home, but you need to think about what you're pushing away with this edgy attitude. Mallory is an extraordinary woman and she cares deeply for you." He looked at Ridge for a moment and then back down at his boots. "And if I had to say what I seek, you care for her too, much more than you want to."
Leaning into his horse with his head he let out a long breath. "Dad, I just can't seem to do anything right with that woman. She wants a whole man and I'm not that man."
"Son, she evidently sees a whole man. Ever since you've been home she's watched you and made it quite obvious that she's interested. What you need to do is explore your heart." He turned to go, and then turned back. "I'm sorry about Sloan, but nothing you say or do will bring him back."
"I know dad. When will I feel normal again?" His dad had served in Vietnam and knew firsthand what battle can do to your mind.
"You may never feel totally normal again. What you've seen and done will haunt you for a long time, but I can tell you from experience that the love of a good woman can make all the difference. The best thing that ever happened to me was your mother. She stepped in and made me realize I had to change my attitude and when I owned up to that I made the turn." On his way up the aisle between the stalls he called back. "Think about it before you lose everything."
For a long moment Ridge just stood there, not quite knowing what to do next His heart told him that what he felt for Mallory was real. Then his cell rang bringing him back to reality.
It was Josh. "Hey man, what's up?" He said as he walked out of the stall, closing the door behind him.
His friend wanted to let him know the arrangements for Sloan's funeral. Sitting down in his office he pulled out a pad and pencil. Maybe writing down his eulogy would help get his mind occupied. But his mind kept straying to Mallory. The look in her eyes when he pushed her away earlier had been his undoing. Had he pushed too far this time?
Oakley stepped into his office around lunch time. "Hey brother, let's head to the diner for lunch. I'm buying."
"Well, if you're buying, then how can I refuse?" Maybe it would get his mind off her if he spent some time with his brother.
Several people looked up and nodded at the brothers as they walked to their usual booth. Rachel took their order and walked back to the kitchen without a smile. Oakley gave Ridge a strange look as he watched her retreating back.
"Wonder what's up with Rachel?" Ridge said as he looked up again.
"Evidently things aren't coming up roses with her and Luke. They've had a couple of dates."
"Could be they weren't compatible." He said as he leaned back and thought about Mallory. "Sometimes it's just not the right timing."
Oakley studied his brother for a moment and tried to get his response right before it came out of his mouth. "Do you want to talk about it?" He decided to let Ridge make the first step.
"Oakley I messed up today with Mallory and probably lost her forever." He ran his fingers through his hair and groaned. "I just don't want to hurt her, but I keep doing it over and over."
"You're human Ridge. She'll be back, I'm sure of it. It's obvious she's in love with you and well, look at you, you're a mess. That tells me the feeling is mutual." He leaned forward as he spoke. "Call her and tell her how you truly feel."
Rachel brought their sweet teas quietly. Oakley gave her a smile and she smiled back but it didn't meet her eyes. "Rachel is everything alright?"
Tears welled in her eyes as she looked from one brother to the other. "I'm alright." She started to turn but Oakley gently grabbed her hand.
"Did my brother do something stupid? Do I need to give him a black eye?" He winked at the waitress making her smile through her tear soaked eyes.
"No, don't do that. He's been really sweet, but I haven't heard from him in a couple of days." She said on a pitiful sob.
The brothers shared a look, knowing their youngest brothers tendency to be flighty. "Don't worry about that. You know Luke, when he gets something on his mind, well, he sort of loses his mind." Ridge said as he gave her a sympathetic look.
"Yeah, he's been working with a new horse at the ranch. Luke is completely engrossed in the operation of the ranch, so don't worry if he doesn't call every day." Oakley tried to calm the obviously upset woman, but inside he wanted to strangle his little brother. Leave it to Luke to choose the ranch over a woman.
"Thanks. Just tell him I said hello." She turned and walked back into the kitchen.
"I'll t
hrottle that boy when we get home." Ridge said as he took a long sip of his drink.
"Get in line brother." Oakley said with a grin.
Once they got back to the ranch Ridge felt somewhat better, but his heart ached to talk to Mallory. She didn't return any of his calls and ignored all his texts. Knowing he deserved the silent treatment, he decided to let her have time, although being a control freak made it hard to do.
Ridge Page 14
