by Linda Warren
She laid the hammer on the vanity. “I guess. Chase just got his father back into his life and he could have been gone in a heartbeat.”
“Ah, Maribel. You’re making my poor ol’ heart flutter.”
The sadness in her eyes disappeared. “You’re crazy.”
He winked. “And you love crazy.”
“I guess,” she hiccupped.
They were the most beautiful words he’d ever heard.
Chapter Eleven
June faded into July and Maribel was happier about her future than she’d ever been. The house was looking great and the mildew smell was gone. She picked out paint colors, tile and bathroom fixtures. It was exciting and she couldn’t believe the beautiful house was going to be hers. She went with the color wheat for the whole house, but in the master bedroom she’d chosen a barely-green color. It was relaxing and soothing, and she couldn’t wait to move in.
Elias was installing the new air-conditioning and heating unit, and his brothers stopped by every now and then to help him lay tile. But Elias really didn’t need any help. He was a workhorse and knew how to do everything.
She loved her job at the diner and getting to know the people in Horseshoe again. Her brothers stopped by with their families and she got to meet them on neutral ground and she loved it. Even her twin brothers, Ashton and Axel, brought in their families. They always asked about Rosie and she told them the truth, that she was having a difficult pregnancy. The McCrays were slowly coming back together. But her father stayed away. Oddly, that didn’t bother her too much.
She opened the door to the house and a cool breeze embraced her. Elias had the AC on. It was working. She called but no one answered. Looking out the patio window, she saw Chase on a riding lawn mower with Elias giving him directions. Chase had never mowed a yard and she started to go outside to let Elias know that, but then she stayed where she was, watching.
The mower was a John Deere and worked with levers instead of a steering wheel. Those were difficult to learn, but Chase was getting the hang of it. Just like Elias, he learned easily. Elias walked toward the house and let Chase mow.
His easy confident strides always made her take a second look. That’s who Elias was, self-assured and capable. She’d always admired that in him and looking around at the house, she couldn’t have admired anyone more. They’d washed all the windows and Elias had taken down all the screens and new ones were being made. Soon the house would be brand-new—because of Elias.
“What do you think?” Elias asked as he came through the door.
“It feels great.” She knew he was talking about the AC. It was hot in Texas at this time of year.
“Did you see the kitchen? The backsplash is finished.”
She swung around. She was so busy watching Elias she hadn’t even looked at the kitchen. “Oh, it’s beautiful. Just like the picture I had in my head with the creams, tans and browns. It matches the granite perfectly.” She smiled at him. “Thank you.”
His eyes met hers for a moment and that old flame sparked between them. She felt as if she was in high school, looking at him across the room and wondering what it would feel like to be kissed by him.
“Paxton came by early this morning and we got the tile down in Chase’s bathroom and in the spare bathroom. Tomorrow, the kid and I will work on the kitchen floor.”
She clapped her hands. “It’s all coming together.”
“Yep. I picked up the flooring today and most of it is stacked in the living room.” He walked into the living room and ripped open a box. Pulling out a plank of dark wood, he said, “That’s what you picked out.”
She took the plank from him and ran her hand over the smoothness. “I was afraid it was going to be too dark, but the hickory color goes good in here with the dark trim.”
“Yeah.” He sat on the floor and leaned back against the wall. “Soon you’ll be able to move in.”
She eased to the floor, sitting cross-legged. “I can hardly believe it.”
“I want to talk to you about something.”
A chill ran up her spine. When anyone said those words to her, it meant bad news and she didn’t want to hear anything bad today. But he didn’t say anything and she wondered if he was going to speak at all. He wiped his hands on his jeans.
“I think a lot about Chase and his being without a father all those years. I’m going to be in his life twenty-four-seven from now on.”
“I know. You’ve made that very clear.”
He looked at her then. “Does that bother you?”
She brushed a speck of dirt from her jeans. “Not anymore. You’ve been very good for Chase. I’ve seen him change right before my eyes. He respects you.”
A crooked grin cracked his stern expression. “We’ve come a long way in a few weeks and...and I want us to go further.”
“What do you mean?”
“I want us to move into this house as a family.”
She was confused. “You mean like we’re living in Paige’s house?”
“No. I want to make it official. I want us to get married and make a real home for Chase.”
Marriage!
It took a moment for her heart to stop soaring. Was he serious? From the stern expression on his face she knew he was. When she was a naive teenager, she used to dream of them getting married and living happily ever after. But she was an adult now and this was for real.
She never for one moment thought he would propose to her. Much less on the floor of the house they were remodeling. She supposed it was a proposal. There were no words of love nor did she want them. The emotion was highly overrated.
The proposal sounded perfect for them—no emotions involved. She just had this feeling he was adrift and needed an anchor. She wanted it to be more than that. Why? She couldn’t explain.
“Elias, you really need to talk to your mother and smooth over all the hurt and pain and go home to Rebel Ranch. That’s where your heart is.”
He shook his head. “I thought I would never leave the ranch I loved and grew up on, but lately I haven’t thought much about it, nor have I yearned to go back. My place now is with you and Chase. I want us to be a family like we should have been all those years ago. Although, I’m not sure how that would’ve worked out back then. But I know it can work now.”
“Marriage is never a sure thing.”
He frowned. “You’re resisting this. Why?”
His phone buzzed and she waited for him to answer it. He didn’t.
“Aren’t you going to see who that is?”
“Nah. It’s just one of my brothers.”
“Look at it.”
Reluctantly, he pulled the phone out of his pocket and stared at a text message.
“Who is it?”
“Bob, from Rowdy’s.”
Before he could put away his phone, she scooted closer to see the message:
When are you coming back? The ladies are missing you.
“Ladies?” She lifted an eyebrow. “How many women are you seeing?”
He stuffed the phone back into his pocket. “None. And I haven’t been to Rowdy’s since the night Chase was arrested. I haven’t had any beer, either. I’ll never drink in front of my son.”
“Elias, Chase doesn’t care if you drink.”
He shrugged. “I don’t have the need for it anymore. I know most people thought I was an alcoholic, but I never really drank that much. I just liked going down to the bar and hanging out. Life gets lonely sometimes. And, believe me, I haven’t felt lonely in several weeks.”
Maribel sank back on her heels, not knowing what to say. Was this Elias? The real rebel in the family? Pouring out his heart like he cared? She glanced around the room and saw all the love he’d put into the house. It was her future. It was his future.
He handed it to her with his trademark frown etched on his face.
She texted Bob:
Elias is not coming back unless I’m with him, so tell the ladies to back off.
She tossed the phone back to Elias and he read her message.
His eyes met hers. “Is that a yes?”
“On two conditions. One, that you don’t expect vows of love.”
“O-kay.”
“And...”
“What?”
“That Chase approves of the marriage.”
“Maribel, he can’t even say my name. It will take time for him to accept me. We’re the adults and we have to set the rules.”
“I know, but I can’t just throw something else at him again like the move to Horseshoe. I have to be honest with him and let him have a say on what happens next.”
“You’re going to put our future in our son’s hands.”
“Don’t you trust him? I do. He’s not the same kid who stole beer and ran from the law. He’s changed and I want him to feel a part of our future.”
Elias got to his feet in one swift movement. “Okay, let’s do this.”
They walked out to the patio and sat on the step, watching their son as he circled the backyard with the lawn mower. He made the last round and stopped the mower about six feet from them. He jumped off and brushed his brow with the back of his hand.
“What’s up? Why are y’all sitting out here?”
“Go get something to drink,” Maribel told him. “You look hot.” Sweat stained his shirt and shorts.
“This isn’t going to be easy,” she said to Elias as Chase walked off.
“Do you want me to do the talking?”
She shook her head. “No. I’m his mother and I need to do it.”
Chase came back with a bottle of water in his hand. “What’s up?” he asked again.
“We want to talk to you.”
“About what?” He took a long drink of water. “I know I haven’t done anything wrong so it must be that you’ve decided to buy me that red Silverado down at Bubba’s garage.”
“It’s not about the truck,” Elias said.
“Dang.” Chase sat on the lawn mower, and placed the bottle of water beside him.
“We’d like to talk to you.”
“Sure.” He glanced at them with big brown eyes.
Maribel wasn’t sure where to start, as she looked into his trusting eyes. She cleared her throat. “Your father and I have been talking.”
“About me?”
“Mostly about us, but it includes you.” She glanced at Elias. “We’re talking about getting married and moving into the house as a family and we’d like to know how you feel about that.”
An Elias-frown marred his face and Maribel held her breath. “You mean like man-and-wife?”
“Yes, son,” Elias said. “We want to make a home for you as you go into your senior year and off to college.”
“Aren’t you supposed to be in love or something?”
Maribel linked her arm through Elias’s. “We feel very deeply for each other and we always have. We feel this union is right for all of us.”
Chase slid off the lawn mower. “I mean...Billy Tom and Brandon have fathers and...well...if you really want... I mean he is my father. He’s my real father. He’s my father. He’s my father.” Chase couldn’t stop saying the words over and over and Maribel’s heart stopped at her son’s obvious distress.
Before she could move, Elias got to his feet and went to his son. “That’s who I am—your father. And that’s never going to change. I’m always going to be here for you, looking over your shoulder, supporting you, loving you. That’s who I am.”
Chase brushed away a tear. “You’re my father.”
“Yes.” Elias enveloped him in a big hug and Chase wrapped his arms around Elias’s waist and cried into his chest. Maribel hadn’t seen him cry in a long time. She went to them and wrapped her arms around the two.
“We’re a family,” she said, pushing past the wad in her throat.
Chase raised his head. “Yes, we’re a family. A real family, and we’re going to move into this house as a family.”
“Yes, we are.” Maribel smiled. It had gone better than she’d ever expected, but she knew her son admired Elias. It was just a matter of time before he admitted it.
Grandpa came out the patio door. “What’s everyone doing out here where it’s hot?”
Chase ran to him. “Guess what, Grandpa? Mom and—” he glanced at Elias “—Dad are getting married.”
At the word, Elias’s heart almost pounded out of his chest.
“You don’t say.”
“That’s better than red-eye gravy on a biscuit, right?”
“Right.” Grandpa grinned.
Chase jumped on the mower. “I have to mow the front yard. I’m getting really good at this, Grandpa. You have to come watch.”
“I’ll be out there in a minute,” Grandpa said. “I need to talk to your parents first.”
Chase cranked up the mower and off he went.
There was something in Mr. Abe’s voice that bothered Maribel. He wasn’t as happy as she’d thought he would have been.
“I’m real happy about you two. It’s about time to make this legal, but Elias, I think you have to make things right with your mother first. I know you think I’m the last person who would say that. She hasn’t been the same lately, though. She stays in the house and doesn’t join the boys in the hay fields like she used to. She’s made a mistake and she can’t admit it. You need to talk to your mother. You have to be the one to bend. I’m sorry. That’s just the way it is. I wouldn’t ask this of you, but she’s not looking good. I saw her this morning and she was very pale and I don’t think she’s eating. I know John wouldn’t want this. I’d be the first one not to bend to Kate Rebel. I’m just worried, son. Something has to be done.”
She watched Elias’s face. He stood there strong as any oak, nothing showing on his face but strength and determination. “I’m sure she’s fine, Grandpa. We have to deal with this in our own way.”
“You love that ranch,” Grandpa kept on. “It’s struggling right now because you’re not there. There’s hay in the field and more to be baled. It’s going to be a big loss to lose a crop of hay. At least think about helping your brothers. They need you.”
“They’ll do fine,” Elias replied. “I have work to do.”
“You’re as stubborn as your father.”
Elias patted his grandpa’s shoulder. “That’s where I got it.”
Maribel followed Elias into the house. “I don’t want to interfere, but shouldn’t you think about what your grandfather said.”
“I can’t go home until my mother asks me to come back. Can’t you understand that?”
The pain in his voice made her heart skip a beat. She’d never seen him so emotional unless it was about Chase. “Elias.” She stepped closer to him. “It’s your mother. Be the bigger person. Take the first step to heal this rift within your family. What kind of life can we build on sadness?”
He threw up his hands. “Don’t try to fix this. You just don’t understand.”
“I understand. You had to leave because of me and Chase. I understand that. I lived with the Rebel/McCray feud all my life. It’s time to put it to rest. If you make the first step, your mother will meet you halfway. I just know that.”
“You don’t know that. You’re sticking your nose in something that doesn’t concern you.”
That revved up her blood pressure. “If I’m marrying you, it’s my business.”
“So you’re changing your mind?”
“I didn’t say that. I’m saying you
love that ranch and I know you miss it. It’s time to think about talking to your mother.”
He removed his straw hat in anger and roughly threw it with a strong hand. It landed somewhere in the living room. “I’ll think about it. Okay?”
He leaned against the new granite countertop and she went to him and wrapped her arms around his waist, resting her head on his chest. It was the first time she’d willingly touched him. There were so many times she’d wanted to, but today she needed to.
“I’ll be here and so will Chase.”
His arms tightened around her and they stood there holding on to each other, knowing their past and their futures were entwined in ways that could never be undone.
Elias’s phone buzzed and Maribel stepped back. “Aren’t you going to answer it?”
He shook his head. “No. It’s just one of my brothers with the same message as Grandpa.”
Maribel took the phone out of his pocket and looked at it. “It’s Quincy.” She handed it back to him. “Answer it. It’s not a text.”
“Maribel...”
“We can handle this.”
With a sigh, he clicked on and she watched as the blood drained from his face.
“What is it?”
“My mother... My mother just had a heart attack.”
Chapter Twelve
The ride to the hospital was made in silence. Elias broke the speed limit but he didn’t care. He had to get to his mother. Every mile, he kept thinking it was all his fault.
Maribel sat on the passenger side and Chase and Grandpa were in the back seat. Maribel had his phone and was giving him updates.
“The ambulance just pulled into the ER and they’re unloading her,” Maribel read from Quincy’s text. “She still not conscious.”
“Tell him we’ll be there in less than five minutes.”
Elias pulled in to the parking lot with a lump in his throat. He found Falcon’s truck and parked beside it. He got out and grabbed Maribel’s hand and ran for the ER. Chase and Grandpa followed more slowly. Since his father’s death, he’d never needed anyone, but today he needed Maribel to get through this.
