by Mari Carr
Lorelie shrugged. “No idea.”
“Think we should go over there?”
Lorelie shook her head. “Nope. As a wise old man once said, ‘It’s not my circus. They’re not my monkeys.’”
“You realize Facebook isn’t a wise old man.”
Lorelie chuckled, though she looked more tired than entertained. “It should be. God knows everybody quotes it enough.”
“You okay?”
Lorelie reached for her purse. “Yeah. I think I’m going to head home.”
“What? Have you ever left a bar before last call?”
Searching for her keys, Lorelie said, “Between the drama taking place over there with the ranch hands, and you and Tucker making out like the plane’s going down, I’m starting to feel like a sixth wheel.”
Lela instantly felt guilty. She and Tucker had been acting like a couple of teenagers on their first date, groping at each other more than was appropriate. “I’m sorry.”
Lorelie waved her off. “Do not apologize. I’m happy as shit for you. You’re exactly where you’re supposed to be. I’m just feeling grumpy and sorry for myself. Everybody in this town seems to be having great sex while I’m still making love to my vibrator every night. If I don’t leave right now, I’m going to pick up the next available redneck who looks my way and the only things that will come from that are lackluster sex and a lot of self-loathing come morning. Been there, done that, burned the t-shirt.”
“You okay to get home?” Lela was worried about her friend, but she knew Lorelie was right. She’d had to build her friend back up after one too many of those regretted nights.
“Yep. Only had water tonight.” Lorelie leaned forward and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. “Tucker’s perfect for you. He always has been.”
With that, her friend made a quick exit, not bothering to say goodbye to anyone else.
Lela’s heart gave a little pang as she considered Lorelie’s comment.
Perfect or not, there was still a very good chance this go-round with Tucker would end exactly like the last. Only this time, the goodbye might be forever.
Chapter Ten
Tucker parked his car in front of Coach’s house two days later, a spring in his step as he got out of the car and met Lela at the passenger door. He gave her a quick kiss. He was going to relieve Wade and Jackson, taking a shift on the ranch, while Lela and Lorelie packed up all the sweets they’d baked for the sale and drove them to the fire hall.
“I’ll see you later this evening at the yard party,” he murmured when their lips parted.
“Save me a dance,” she teased.
“I’m saving them all.”
“You can give the Texas two-steps to someone else,” she joked. Then she gave him a saucy wink and started for the house. She stopped when the sounds of shouting came from the barn.
“Help me! Oh God! Help!” The fear in Lorelie’s voice sent a chill through Tucker’s blood. He took off at a sprint, Lela on his heels. They nearly collided with Joel and Oakley, who were rounding the corner, heading the same direction.
When they entered the dim building, Tucker felt a sense of panic as he spotted Lorelie bent over Coach. He was sitting with his back against a stall, looking pasty and far too weak.
“What happened?” Tucker asked.
“Is it his heart?” Joel’s question came on top of Tucker’s.
Tucker glanced at his friend and saw he’d already pulled out his cell phone.
“If you dial 911 on that thing, Joel, it’s the last thing you’ll ever do on this ranch.” The strength in Coach’s voice made them all pause.
Lela knelt next to the older man. “Are you okay?”
Coach nodded. “I’m fine. Do you mind helping me convince my girl? She’s freaking out.”
Tucker’s gaze traveled to Lorelie and he had to admit Coach had a point. Lorelie was white as a ghost, her hands visibly shaking.
“I’m freaking out because you scared the shit out of me.”
Coach narrowed his eyes. “Language, young lady.”
Oakley chuckled, but the sound was cut short when Lorelie threw him a venomous glare.
Tucker wasn’t able to laugh either. He was in the same boat as Lorelie, freaking out. Big time. “What happened?” he repeated.
Coach didn’t have much more color in his face than Lorelie, his complexion pale with a thin line of sweat at his brow. He also seemed to be slightly out of breath. “I got tired of playing invalid in the house.”
Joel slapped his dirty hands against his jeans. “Goddammit, Coach. I told you this morning, we got things under control.”
“Yeah. I know that’s what you said, but no work on a ranch is ever wasted. I didn’t feel like sitting in that damn kitchen, bagging up cookies anymore. Figured I’d muck out a stall or two.”
Lorelie added, “When I couldn’t find him in the house, I came out here. He collapsed just as I walked in.”
Coach rolled his eyes. “‘Collapsed’ is hardly the word I’d use. I just got a little tired. Thought I’d sit down for a second.”
His daughter didn’t buy that version of the story. “You went down, Dad. Hard.” She looked at Tucker. “That’s when I yelled for help.”
“Overreaction,” her father muttered. Coach tried to rise, but it was obvious his strength was completely gone.
Tucker and Oakley quickly stepped forward, helping him to his feet. Tucker kept a strong grip on the older man’s arm as they left the barn and headed for the house.
“Joel, call Dr. Griffith,” Lorelie said as they crossed the yard.
Coach stopped walking and turned to Joel. “Do not make that call.”
Joel started tapping out the number.
“Did you hear me?” Coach asked.
Joel nodded. “Yep. But I’m way more afraid of Lorelie, and since you raised her, you’re just going to have to deal with it.”
Coach shook his head, but clearly he didn’t have it in him to fight. Once they got him back to the living room, Lela went to the kitchen for a glass of water.
Lorelie perched herself in front of her father, sitting on the edge of the coffee table. “You can’t do that again, Dad.” She seemed only somewhat calmer.
Now that he was back inside, some color had begun to return to Coach’s cheeks. “Lori, honey. I’m not a man who can sit on his ass and let others do his work. You know that.”
“Coach, we came home to Quinn to help. We don’t mind doing the work. As long as it takes.” Tucker was only just starting to breathe easier himself. Coach was the closest thing he’d ever had to a father and after all the turmoil and pain of the last year, Tucker wasn’t sure he could get through what came next without the man.
“Not a question of what you mind,” Coach replied. “It’s what I mind. I hate this. All of it. I’m tired of being useless. Helpless.”
Tucker could relate to Coach’s frustration. It had been unbearable to sit in the locker room during the last playoff game of the season, watching his team struggle, then fail to get the win.
“Coach—” Tucker started, but Lorelie cut him off before he could continue.
“I don’t care. Suck it up.”
Lela had returned from the kitchen with water and Jackson and Wade in tow. From the concerned looks on their faces, it was clear Lela had filled them in. “Lorelie,” Lela said, frowning at her friend.
Lorelie ignored the tone of reproof from Lela. “I mean it, Dad. I know this is hard for you. It’s hard for me too. And I know you hate sitting around. I’ve tried to come up with things for you to do around here to keep you from going stir-crazy.”
Coach’s face softened a bit. “I know that, sweetheart, it’s just—”
“No.” Lorelie wouldn’t back down. “It’s just nothing. You don’t get it. I don’t want to live in a world where you don’t exist. You mean everything to me.” Her voice broke.
Tucker felt his throat clog in the face of the absolute fear in Lorelie’s eyes. Her words rang
true for him too. Even through the years Tucker had been away, Coach had still remained an important part of his life.
“Lori.” Coach cupped her cheek.
“I need you to swallow your damn pride, just this once. Do what the doctor says, rest, take time to recuperate. Do what you have to do to get better. I love you, Daddy. Please. Will you just do it for me?”
Tucker swallowed heavily as Coach reached out, Lorelie curling against him for a hug. “I’m sorry, baby. I’m so sorry. I’m going to be okay. I promise. I’ll do whatever it takes.”
Tears flowed down Lorelie’s cheeks and it occurred to Tucker that he had never seen her cry.
After a few moments, Lorelie seemed to recall the rest of them were there. She quickly batted away her tears, the same tough façade Tucker had watched her wear like a coat of armor falling back into place. She turned away from them, attempting to compose herself.
Joel must have realized she was embarrassed, so he stepped closer to Coach. “When the doctor gets here, maybe we can ask him for a list of do’s and don’ts. And I don’t think it would hurt for you to get out of the house more, do some work in the barn.”
Lorelie scowled, but Joel ignored her. “I just think mucking out stalls was a bad place to start. We’ve got some harnesses that need cleaning, stuff like that you can do sitting down. Nothing like the smell of manure to get a man back on the right track, right, Coach?”
Coach chuckled. “I do like the smell of horse shit.”
Everyone laughed as Joel looked at Lorelie, trying to make amends. “I don’t imagine Doc would have a problem with Coach doing stuff like that, do you?”
Lorelie shook her head. “No. That sounds good.”
Coach gave Joel an appreciative smile.
“And as for the other stuff,” Oakley added, “you gotta believe it when I say we got this.”
“I’ll never be able to thank you boys for all you’ve done for me. I’m not sure what I did to deserve such devotion, but—”
“Not sure?” Tucker interjected. “Damn, Coach. You were there for us when even our own folks weren’t. There’s nothing we wouldn’t do for you.”
Coach blinked rapidly and Tucker realized his old coach was fighting back tears of his own. “Thank you, son.”
Lorelie stood. Lela nodded her head toward the kitchen. “Want some help packing up the cookies for the sale?”
Lorelie wiped her eyes. “Sure. That’d be nice.” She looked at Jackson and Wade. “Y’all mind helping us load it in the car?”
The four of them left the room as Joel and Oakley excused themselves to head back to work.
Tucker walked closer to Coach. “You sure you’re okay?”
Coach sighed. “Yeah. It’s like I said. Helpless doesn’t sit easy on my shoulders.”
“I get it, Coach.”
Coach studied his face. “I suppose you do.”
Tucker gave him a sympathetic grin as he pointed to the couch and then said, “So you’re staying put?”
Coach nodded, then glanced toward the door Lela just left. “Yep. And it looks like you are too. Finally ready to admit it, huh?”
Tucker narrowed his eyes. “Are you saying I knew when I came back to Quinn, I was coming home to stay?”
“I think that’s why you came home, Tucker. As much as you claim to hate this place, it’s home. You’ve got family here who love you.”
Family.
They may not be blood, but there was no denying Coach and Lorelie were his family. And he sure as hell wanted to make it legal as far as Lela’s relationship status was concerned. “Yeah. I guess I do.” He didn’t bother to hide his big ass smile. He felt good.
“What’s Lela think about all this?”
That dimmed his smile a bit. “Um…”
“Did you tell Lela yet?” Coach asked.
Tucker shook his head. “No. Not yet. Truth is…until you just said it, I wasn’t a hundred percent sure I was staying.”
Coach rolled his eyes. “Glad to know I’m not the only idiot in the room.”
Tucker laughed. “You’re right. I’m acting like a jackass. It’s time I tell the woman I love that we’re running a new play.”
Coach chuckled. “You might want to say it in a way the woman will actually understand. She’s never been much of a fan of the game. Just of you.”
Tucker walked toward Coach and reached out. Coach took his hand to shake it, but it was Tucker’s turn to lean down and give the man a hug. “Thanks, Coach.”
“Get out of here, you lunatic. Go propose to the girl.”
Propose.
Tucker was quitting the NFL. He was moving back to Quinn.
Tucker walked to the kitchen to find Lela. “You got a minute?”
“Sure.”
He took Lela’s hand and dragged her to the porch. He suddenly felt nervous. He needed some air. Needed to set some things straight. Right now.
“What is it?”
He didn’t bother to stop, but instead kept walking, propelling her toward the car. “I need to talk to you.”
She nodded slowly. “Okay. Sure.”
Tucker struggled to understand her sudden stiff tone, but he was still too shaken by what had just happened with Coach. He felt as if a ton of bricks had fallen on his head.
He climbed into the driver’s seat and they rode in silence. Tucker had intended to take them to Beyer’s Creek, but his attention was diverted when he spotted a sign.
“The Potter place is for sale?”
His question seemed to jerk Lela out of her own deep thoughts. “Yeah. The sign’s been up there for months, Tuck.”
He considered that. Typically he came to the ranch from the other direction. The only time he’d gone this way since his return was when Lela had driven him to the creek. He’d spent that entire drive enjoying the sight of her singing along to the radio, her hair blowing in the breeze.
He’d missed the sign.
“Where are they moving to?” he asked.
“Oh, gosh. You don’t know. Mr. Potter died a couple years ago.” She paused as if he’d need time to absorb that news, but the truth was Tucker could barely remember the man…or his wife.
When he didn’t respond, she continued, “Mrs. Potter wants to move to Chicago to be closer to their daughter. Do you remember Emma? She was a few years younger than us.”
“Vaguely.” Not at all.
“Well, she got married and she’s having a baby. Mrs. Potter is dying to be a hands-on grandma. And while their property is pretty small by Quinn standards, it was too much for her to handle on her own.”
Tucker stopped the car, pulling up beside the Potter fence.
“What are you doing?” Lela asked.
He didn’t bother to answer. Instead he got out of the car and walked over to her door, opening it. She took the hand he proffered without question and let him lead her to the white picket fence.
She laughed when he climbed over it, but didn’t put up a fuss when he gestured for her to follow him. “Are you trying to get us arrested for trespassing?”
He shook his head. “Nope.”
“Good thing. Because Mrs. Potter is currently at the fire hall with my mom making potato salad for the chicken dinners.”
Tucker knew she was joking, but his heart was racing and his hands had suddenly gone clammy. Jesus. He was known for having the coolest head in the NFL, but right now, he was so nervous, he could almost taste the emotion.
“Lela—”
Lela raised her hand to cut him off. “No. You don’t have to say it, Tuck. I already know.”
His brow furrowed. “Know what, L.B.?”
“That training camp starts next week. I Googled it.”
He frowned as the impact of what she was saying hit him. She thought he was leaving. “Listen, Lela—”
“I didn’t go into this with my eyes closed, Tucker. They were just as open as my heart.”
He smiled, touched by her honesty. Lela never hesitated to put it a
ll out there, taking chances even if she did face heartbreak. She simply gave it all, withholding nothing.
“That’s what I want to talk about.”
She continued speaking as if he’d said nothing. “Twelve years ago, I asked for a long-distance relationship. You were right to say no. We were young and we had a lot of growing up to do. The thing is…my feelings for you haven’t changed.”
“Mine haven’t either.”
She reached out and clasped his hand. “If you need to go back…” Her words faded, but he didn’t have to hear the rest. She thought he was leaving and telling him she understood. She wouldn’t stand in his way.
For some reason, that idea rubbed him wrong—then Tucker saw tears in her eyes. “If I go back and take another hit, I risk serious brain damage, L.B. Maybe even death.”
She sniffled. “God. Don’t you think I know that?”
It was his turn to speak. He needed the answer to a question. “Do you want me to go back?”
She shook her head. “No. But that’s not my call.”
He cupped her cheeks. “I’m making it your call.”
“What?”
“Tell me what to do.”
“Hell no. No way. Tucker—”
“Just listen to me. I want you to forbid me to go back. The way Lorelie just put her foot down with Coach. I’ve spent my entire adult life alone without a single person to give a shit if I live or die.”
“That’s not true. I’ve always cared about you.”
“I know that…now. Dammit, L.B. I don’t want that fucking Super Bowl ring. I thought I did, but the fact is it’s just a meaningless, inanimate object. It won’t make me happy. Won’t make me feel less alone. I want what Coach has. People who love him, who rally around him when he needs them.”
“I’m not going to forbid you to go back, Tucker, because I don’t have to. I can see you’ve already made that decision for yourself. And I’m glad. But I will say this. I would be utterly devastated and lost without you. I love you.”
