Rocky Mountain Shelter

by Vivian Arend

  “We weren’t quite as ambitious back then,” Randy pointed out. “Even with the six of us boys doing as much as we could, we weren’t using all the land nearly as efficiently as we do today. Plus, your grandpa was a force of nature until he passed away.” Randy’s admiration was clear as he spoke of his father. “I swear that man put in twice as many hours as the rest of us even when we were young bucks.”

  “I wish I would’ve met him,” Trevor said seriously.

  “I wish you could’ve, too.” Randy stared over the land, thoughtfulness drifting over his face. “It could be, though, that work ethic of his was what killed him in the end. As if he used up all the energy that was supposed to last a lifetime before he turned sixty. One minute he was there, and the next he was gone.”

  “Good reminder we need to take care of ourselves.” Trevor waited for his father to respond to his blatant challenge.

  Randy sighed heavily. “Did your mother put you up to this?”

  “Totally my own idea,” Trevor admitted. “I thought getting you out on a horse to do chores was inspired.”

  “It was a good move.” Randy gave him a dirty look, before shaking his head. “Being sick is frustrating like nothing I’ve ever experienced,” he confessed. “I might not have had as much energy as my dad, but I’ve never felt like a lazy fool before this past year.”

  “And yet, the Moonshine Colemans continue to do well.”

  His father looked disgusted. “It’s the three of you boys, plus Anna and Mitch, plus Melody, plus Kate, who’s working harder than I ever intended her to when I asked her into my life.”

  “But this is why we’re here. We’re family,” Trevor said firmly. “And Mom knew damn well what life was going to be like on a ranch, and she still signed up for it.”

  “So maybe she’s not as smart as I always thought she was,” Randy snapped.

  Trevor pulled Tigger to a halt, eyeing his dad. “And maybe you need to accept that we all love you a hell of a lot, and it’s not the extra chores that’s gonna break us, it’s worrying about you. Wondering if there’s anything we could do to help you feel better.”

  “They can’t figure it out—”

  “Not when you throw up your hands and stop looking for a cure.” Trevor leaned forward on the pommel of his saddle, his concern cutting through his manners. “You want to make Mom’s life easier? You get your ass in to the doctor again, and if it means I have to haul you to Calgary or Edmonton, or even further to get some testing done, it’ll be worth it.”

  Randy sat silently glowering at him.

  “Maybe you’re not out there at all hours dealing with the chores, or physically attacking all that needs to be done, but you’re the heart and soul of this family. Not trying to get better is slacking off in your job, and I’ve never seen you be a slacker before this.”

  A dozen years ago his father’s expression would have sent him hightailing it toward safety, but now Trevor stared him down, confident that nothing he’d said had been over the line.

  Grasses swayed around them, a soft breeze brushing them as time slowed. A long while passed before his dad nodded, mouth set in a tight line.

  “Stubborn bastard. Fine. I’ll call the doctor when we get back today, and see what cockamamie thing he wants to try next.” Randy snapped up a finger to point at him. “But I’m holding you to your promise. I don’t need Kate spending any more time in those damn hospitals, so from here on, you’re my ride. And if I want to tell you all the gory details, you have to listen.”

  “No problem.” He’d accomplished what he’d set out to do. Anything else was bonus. “I have this great stereo system in my truck. I’ll crank that baby up to maximum, and you can describe anything you want.”

  His dad rolled his eyes before grabbing his horse’s reins and heading off to the next section they needed to check.

  It still seemed as if something was on Randy’s mind, but Trevor waited. Not so much because he had great patience, but because he’d begun daydreaming about Becky.

  Another good reason to be out on the horses instead of the quads—the animals knew the route off by heart, walking slowly over the rough terrain, pausing as soon as he signaled them with his knees so he could dismount to tighten a line.

  It gave him lots of time to think back to Becky’s face as he’d touched her, the layer of bubbles a screen of innocence covering her while he’d done wicked things to her willing body. He could hardly wait to see her again. To touch her, and get to know her better.

  His father interrupted a lovely daydream involving him, Becky and the sturdy kitchen table that was the right height that if he stripped her down, he could feast on her before sliding between her thighs and fucking them both senseless.

  “We did get a lot done in the old days.”

  Trevor blinked himself back to the here and now, a trifle embarrassed by the direction his thoughts had drifted. Very glad his father couldn’t read his mind.

  Randy glanced at Trevor almost nervously before looking away. “Although we didn’t always get along as good as you kids.”

  Okay, this was new. Trevor’s curiosity rose rapidly. Conversation about the original six Coleman brothers was rare. He’d asked a lot of questions when he was young, but for the most part the answers had always been so boring that slowly he’d let it drop.

  Maybe he shouldn’t have.

  “There were only three of us boys, and Anna. And all of us knew better than to push her around too much,” Trevor admitted, trying to make an opening for his father to follow.

  “Just like Mike,” Randy returned. “He was the bossy big brother, but none of us minded because he was right so damn often. It was hard to argue with him when you knew you’d just end up looking a fool a few days later.”

  Mike Coleman was the head of the Six Pack clan—Jesse’s father. And, yeah, Trevor had always minded his manners around the man, yet never really been afraid of him. Not the way he disliked Uncle Ben.

  Randy held the reins loosely in his hands, the motion of his horse rocking him slowly.

  “Mark was the one who reminds me most of you,” his father confessed. “And I don’t think anything like generations repeat themselves, but you’ve got the same giving spirit.”

  “I’m glad you can say that after I bullied you into seeing the doctor,” Trevor muttered. “Is Mark the one who died?”

  “That was John.”

  They’d reached the highest point of the Coleman land in the area. Too hilly for pastureland, it was used for grazing. Years ago Trevor used to come up here to stare out over the Coleman land, because from this vantage point, he could see in all directions almost to the borders.

  A neat, orderly rectangle divided into…

  Jesus Christ. He was a fool. He was a fucking fool.

  Six brothers.

  He twisted in the saddle toward his father, pointing to the northwest at the different clan holdings in succession. Gathering frustration made his voice shake as he recited the names. “Angel. Whiskey Creek. Six Pack and the extra family holdings. Those were the bits that belonged to John, right?”

  Randy nodded stiffly, his face tightening as Trevor continued to point around the circle.

  “Moonshine land. And the land where the rental sits—which still belongs to Mark Coleman. Your brother who moved away. He never sold it, even though I thought he did.”

  His dad didn’t answer. Didn’t have to.

  Trevor was torn between laughing and swearing. “You know I’ve been trying to find out who owns that parcel for nearly a year.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that. But you didn’t ask me,” Randy said quietly.

  Fuck. “And this is the all-fired secret that everybody except me, Rafe and Jesse seems to know? That there’s a chunk of land in the area that belongs to the brother who took off and has had nothing to do with the family for thirty years.”

  “Pretty much,” his dad admitted. “I don’t know who knows and who doesn’t at this point, actually.”

/>   “Damn stupid secret, if you ask me,” Trevor snapped. “If he still owns it, but he’s not using it, then there’s no reason why we can’t—”

  “Drop it,” his dad ordered. “Mark left for his own reasons, and I don’t want you to go stirring up trouble.”

  “How is getting in touch going to cause trouble?” Trevor demanded. “You’re not making any sense.”

  “And sometimes things don’t make sense until you know all the details, and I’m not ready to tell you the rest of it. I just wanted you to know…” Randy dragged a hand through his hair before jamming his cowboy hat back on his head, frustration clear in his every move. “I should’ve kept my mouth shut, but maybe it’s nearly time to try and do something, but it’s not time yet. Trust me on this.”

  Crazy mixed-up…

  From one extreme to the other, Trevor wasn’t sure if the day had been a screaming success, or if he should go home and scream.

  He shook his head. “And here I thought one of the reasons for living in a small town was that secrets couldn’t last.”

  “Some things are better not talked about,” Randy said quietly. “Look on the bright side. I promise I’ll tell you everything, sometime soon.”

  Great. “I’m looking on the brighter side. When we get home today, you’re going to call the doctor, and that means a lot more to me than missing brothers, or the fact I’ve been searching for information that’s been under my nose for a hell of a long time.”

  Randy made a face. “You had to remind me of the damn testing, didn’t you?”

  “It’s my giving spirit,” Trevor taunted before softening his tone. “I’m sorry, I’m being an ass. I won’t poke for more information until you’re ready to tell me, but I will keep you to your promise to be here for the family.”

  “Agreed.” His dad rode close enough to pound him on the back briefly. “Now, if we want to finish this section before the sun goes down, we’ve got to stop chattering like old men on a porch with nothing to do but rock and chew.”

  Getting back to work was a good thing. It gave Trevor time to mull over all of the revelations he’d had tossed his direction.

  Once again secrets hovered, but he’d told the truth. The best thing about the day was his father’s promise to try to get healthy. The rest of it would be dealt with whenever.

  The future might be filled with unanswered questions, but that was fine. Today, and tomorrow were enough to focus on.

  Chapter Sixteen

  The family barbecue didn’t start until midafternoon, which gave Trevor plenty of time to do the things he had to in the morning, including help his mom arrange far too many chairs into groups near the fire pit.

  “You guys must be getting old, or something,” he drawled. “I don’t remember all these places to sit years ago.”

  Kate gave him a loving swat on the back of his head as she paced past him. “I never got to sit in those days because I was too busy running after you, you hoodlum.”

  “Should’ve raised me better,” he teased.

  They both knew she was pleased as punch with him.

  Randy had cooperated without a single complaint, informing Trevor a couple days after their ride that he was on a waiting list with some fancy-schmancy doctor. He’d also told Trevor they’d be driving Randy’s truck to any appointments, i.e., the one with nothing but a feeble am/fm radio, which Trevor promptly named the Bitching Mobile.

  He escaped from the party preparations to zip over to Becky’s house, pausing outside of his truck to straighten himself up.

  A long, low wolf whistle snapped his attention up to the deck. Becky had caught him primping, and he didn’t even care.

  One glimpse her direction was enough to have his jaw dropping and eyes bulging. “I’m the one who should be whistling. Sweet mercy, Rodeo. You clean up nice.”

  She twirled, the pale pink skirt of her sundress flaring enough to give him a glimpse of her thighs, long and smooth, with a hint of a tan line where her shorts usually ended.

  “You like it?” she asked. “Rachel came by the shop during my lunch break and took me to this place that’s one step up from a thrift shop.”

  He was on the steps, approaching quickly. Her cheeks had a lovely dusting of colour to them as she showed herself off in her pretty packaging.

  A pretty package he really wished he could unwrap. “You look beautiful,” he said with complete sincerity, leaning down to give her the shortest kiss he could manage, which still meant they were both breathless at the end of it.

  They grinned at each other for a moment before he offered his hand. “Come on. We have a party to get to.” Moments later they were in the yard and headed for the main party area. He’d made sure they were there on the early side, before the masses descended. “Anytime you want to leave, you let me know.”

  Becky seemed to be searching for someone. “If I get tired, I can walk home.”

  “You could, or you could take my truck.”

  She waved into the distance, and he followed her line of sight to discover Rachel coming out from the house with an armload for the picnic.

  Becky twirled, her eyes bright with excitement. “I’m going to help the girls. I’ll find you in a little bit, okay?”

  She was gone before he could answer, a whirlwind of pale pink, with pretty white sandals, and a lot more through-and-through happiness than he’d seen before.

  Something strangely like pride rocked him, although the emotion made little sense. She was the one moving forward with her life, and making new friends, he noted happily as Rachel put down her load to envelop Becky in a big hug.

  Nope, this was all Becky, and he was so pleased.

  He wandered off to find his brothers as the rest of the family slowly arrived, cars and trucks lining up in the front yard, the number of bodies continuing to increase. Shouts from his cousin’s children of various ages and stages filled the air, which he figured was his cue to go find the adults.

  Of course, the instant he found them, he was ready to turn heel and walk away again.

  Uncle Ben was pontificating. Rafe’s dad looked old, his hair and beard gone gray-white, and a scowl that turned him into a very un-jovial Santa.

  “No way we could’ve had everybody over at our place,” Ben complained, looking around to see who was listening, which was everyone within earshot—he’d raised his voice over the conversation next to him and forced their attention. “Complete mess in the yard, and everything’s torn up to hell everywhere.”

  Aunt Dana looked uncomfortable, as did the rest of the family who were gathered, coffee cups in hand. “It’s only temporary,” Dana said softly. “Just while we transition—”

  “Stupidest thing I’ve ever heard of,” he grumbled, cutting off his wife as he glared into his cup as if the black liquid in it had somehow personally offended him. “Don’t see any reason to build a new barn, or why it’s got to be hell and gone at the other end of the property. Extra costs and extra labour, and all of it because he wants to rub it in my face.”

  Trevor sighed, recognizing the part of family get-togethers that was on his, and everyone else’s, least enjoyable list.

  Listening to Ben complaining about how Gabe had taken control of the Angel quarter and was slowly turning things around had become a regular event. Whatever stick he had up his ass, Trevor wished his uncle would keep it quiet and grumble to himself rather than trying to get the rest of the family stirred up.

  Randy obviously thought the same way. “Things change. It’s not always easy, but it’s life,” he said in a reasonable tone of voice to his brother.

  “Did everyone get the notice about the renovations to the rec center?” Kate piped up. “It’s going to be nice to have—”

  “Going to cost us extra on our taxes. There’s no reason for us to support a swimming pool and two hockey rinks.” Ben again. “Kids these days are lazy, spoiled creatures.”

  His mom tossed a dirty look toward Ben, and another meaningful one at Randy as Ben went
off on a long-winded tirade about everything that was wrong with the community project that he’d decided was being done to annoy him.

  Trevor could tell his father wasn’t feeling well today, but he still leaned forward, getting Ben’s attention.

  “I’ve got some new animals in the barn. Come take a look with me.”

  Randy got ignored as Ben focused instead on his son who’d walked up to offer his mom a plate of goodies. Rafe handed it over with a smile, then silently laid a hand on her shoulder as he turned to go.

  Ben made a rude noise. “Of course, you don’t get anything for me.”

  Raphael blinked at his father in surprise. “Didn’t want you to think I considered you incompetent to get yourself a snack.”

  Tension rose as Ben narrowed his gaze, standing to approach Rafe.

  Trevor glanced around, wondering where his Uncle Mike was—Ben didn’t act up nearly as much when Mike was there.

  He’d just decided he’d have to step in and offer a distraction when Randy pushed himself into the middle, catching his brother by the arm to pull him away from the gathering. “Breath of fresh air, Ben. This way.”

  Ben shook off Randy’s grasp, stepping closer to glower at Rafe. “Don’t sass me, boy. Or think you’re too good for me. You’d be out on the street if it weren’t for me, so mind your manners, or you’ll find yourself in a heap of trouble.”

  Raphael stared him down, not flinching as his father roared in his face.

  “Enough.” Randy caught Ben again, more firmly this time, jerking his brother hard enough to rock him off his feet and get him moving in the direction of the barn. “This isn’t the time or the place. Come on.”

  There was silence as he manhandled Ben until his brother shook off his hand and marched stiffly away.

  Then Rafe turned toward Trevor’s mom, putting on a happy face and pretending as if his father wasn’t the world’s biggest ass. “Thanks for making gingersnaps, Aunt Kate. I know it’s not Christmas, but they’re my favourite, anytime of the year.”