Galloping Hearts (Contemporary Cowboy Romance) (Texas Heat series: Book 2, Mitchell and Moira's story)

by Amelia Rose

  Her brow creased as she heard his whisper. “Why, what’s going on?”

  “I didn’t text you back earlier because he asked me not to say anything in the first place. Still… this ain’t right. You need to be here for him. There ain’t no excuses. He’s losing his mind here. He spent an hour crying in the bathroom earlier. He told me he was taking a shower but you know how thin the walls in hotels are. I could hear him crying over the running water.”

  Her shoulders slumped. “Shit. His momma is hitting him hard.”

  Billy sighed. “For being so smart at school, you sure act dumb sometimes.”

  She was angry that he’d call her stupid. “What’s that mean?”

  She heard him pause, a door open and then close again. He’d left the room – when he spoke his voice was louder.

  “It means that, sure, he’s sad about his momma but that’s not what has him all tied up.”

  “What is it then? Daddy promised to save his job for when you two got back. Grannie said so.”

  He chuckled. “For knowing so much and being in college, you sure can be a dingbat.”

  “Get to the point then, jerk.”

  “He’s sad about the funeral but he’s more sad about you. He thinks he’s lost you. You know why I called you?”

  “Besides making me feel like crap, you mean?”

  “Yeah, besides that?”

  She sighed. “No.”

  “He finally fell asleep and he started talking in his sleep. I didn’t know he was a talker. Anyway. He started saying your name and asking you not to leave.”She choked back a sob. “What?”

  “Yeah. He thinks he ain’t got nothing to come back to at the ranch other than a paycheck, Moira. You need to be here for him.”

  She looked at the clock and sighed. “It’s nearly two thirty. What time are the services tomorrow?”“Eleven. We’ll be heading to the funeral home a bit earlier. There’s some things Miss Lee couldn’t do for him as he’s kin and all. He has some things he needs to sign but she was nice enough to get everything set up.”

  “Where’s it at?”

  “I honestly don’t remember. Get on the road and I’ll call back with the name when I get in. You should have enough time to pack and get going.”

  “How’d you know I was coming?”

  “Because I know you love him and you were taught to do right by people.”

  She sighed. “Y’all have more faith in me than I do right now.”

  He laughed. “Nah, you’re just predictable. Leave everyone a note, they’ll get it. You can call when you get into town to let them know you made it safe.”

  “Okay. Don’t forget to get me that name.”

  “I won’t, Baby Girl. Just get yourself pulled together enough to drive. Shoot, wake Grannie. I’m sure she’d be willing to help right now.”

  She shook her head. “William! I won’t do any such nonsense. I’ll just make a pot of coffee to take with me before I go.”

  Another chuckle from her brother eased her as it was more relaxed. “Love you, sis. Drive safe.”

  “Love you too, Billy. I will, promise.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  Moira crept down the stairs, working to miss the spots that creaked in the old wood. She started a pot of coffee in the dark kitchen before heading back upstairs to pack. She’d have to make some good time if she hoped to be there and ready.

  She took another shower, even though her hair wasn’t quite dry from the one the night before. When she finished, she was grateful it had woken her up as that’d been her goal when she climbed in. In her room, she dressed in what she’d wear when driving. She needed something comfortable but would also be appropriate for a funeral. She rustled through her clothes before finally settling on a pair of khakis and a black blouse. She decided on a pair of black slides and some simple stud earrings before braiding her hair down her back.

  As she looked herself over in the mirror, her only thought was, This will have to do.

  She packed some shorts and a t-shirt before heading downstairs to fill the thermos. When she went into the kitchen, she found it lit. At only three fifteen in the morning it was too early for Grannie to be up making breakfast. She usually didn’t start things in the kitchen until closer to four thirty.

  When she finally made it in there, she saw her grandmother packing a cooler, the thermos already full. She sighed in exasperation.

  “Grannie! Why are you up?”

  Grannie’s laugh was warm as she answered. “Sweetheart, even if I hadn’t heard you head into the shower, I always know when someone’s in my kitchen.”

  She shook her head. “You still didn’t have to get up.”

  “No, sugar. I didn’t. But I couldn’t pack this cooler for you if I didn’t.”

  She rubbed her forehead. “Grannie, I’ll be fine.”

  Her grandmother turned around after closing the cooler. “It’s not you I’m worried about. You can’t cook worth a lick and that boy of yours is gonna need a good meal when everything is said and done.”

  “How’d you whip up a meal that quick?”

  Grannie winked. “I figured you’d come around. I cooked a small ham yesterday afternoon and made a bit extra potato salad and coleslaw. I also made a Johnny Cake so you guys can make some sandwiches if you want. There’s enough ice in here to keep it from going bad until you eat.”

  She went over to the matriarch of their family, unsure how to handle her emotions. Instead of saying anything, she hugged her grandmother.

  Grannie hugged her back and then pulled back, stroking her hair. “We all love you too, sugar. Now go on and git yourself to Austin.”

  Moira smiled, only nodding as she picked up the cooler.

  Grannie walked her to the door, whispering before she closed it. “I’ll tell your daddy where you went.”

  She whispered over her shoulder, heading to her car. “Thank you, Grannie.”

  The old lady nodded as the door began to close.

  ******

  Moira drove, racing against the clock to get to Austin in time to meet the boys. She would feel even worse if she missed the service. The only times she stopped were to get gas for her car and pour herself another coffee.

  By the time she hit the Austin city line, she was buzzing on caffeine. She wasn’t sure how she’d drive on the way home. She decided to worry about that when the time came.

  She’d received the directions for the funeral home in a text around seven that morning. She put it into her phone’s GPS and let it guide her in. She spent the last leg of her drive listening to an automated woman’s voice give her directions.

  Finally, at ten thirty, she arrived at the funeral home. Looking at it, she could tell it was a small family owned one. It was also obvious from its downtown location that more of its clientele were likely not very upscale. She sighed, wishing to herself that she could’ve helped Mitchell afford something better for his momma.

  At ten fifty, she climbed out of her car, took a deep breath, and wiped her sweaty hands on the front of her pants. She wished she could’ve said it was from the heat. She knew better. She knew her palms were sweaty whenever she was nervous. In this case, she was nervous because of the funeral and because she had to apologize for being a dunce.

  She walked into the building, followed the sign that indicated where the service would be. Outside the small viewing room, she took a deep breath to steady herself. She saw Billy sitting in a seat along the side. When he caught sight of her, he gave a small nod and an equally small smile. Mitchell was standing in front of the casket, by his momma. Walking in as quietly as possible, she didn’t stop until she stood next to him.

  He looked down at her as she brought her hand into the crook of his elbow. His eyes widened, almost as though he were seeing a ghost. His voice was quiet as he spoke.

  “You came.”

  She nodded but looked away from his eyes. “Yeah. I realized I was being an idiot.”

  He shook his head. “Nah, it was
a lot to take in and you were right, I should have told you sooner. Sorry about that.”

  She turned him toward her and wrapped her arms around his waist. As his arms went around her shoulders, she felt his back muscles relax.

  Shaking her head, she spoke evenly. “I’m the one who messed up here, Mitch. Don’t you be apologizing to me. I’m the one who needs to say it. I’ll say it now, and probably a couple more times, I’m sorry.”

  He held her close, whispering to her. “I’m just so happy you came.”

  “I should have been here the whole time. I’m sorry I wasn’t. What can I do to help you now that I am?”

  He leaned back to look at her face. “I know this is going to sound weird given the circumstances but would you like to meet my momma?”

  She smiled. “I’d be honored.”

  They both turned toward the casket. When Moira looked at the woman, she was shocked by the dichotomies of her. She looked to be young but it was obvious her life and illness had aged her greatly.

  She asked quietly. “What was your momma’s name?”He looked down, his hands resting on the side of the casket. “Maryanne.”

  “She looks young. How old was she when she had you?”

  “She was only twenty.”

  She was shocked. Maryanne had only been forty-one at the oldest when she left this world and a life that’d been too much for her to handle.

  “What was she like when she wasn’t sick?”

  She watched Mitch stroke Maryanne’s coifed hair. “She was always a little unsure of the world. I think, even when she was on her medicine, her world would blur with the real world. Still, she was soft spoken and kind. Even though it wasn’t always shown the right way, I know she loved me my whole life. It took me longer to realize that her illness was stronger than her love but not as deep.”

  She couldn’t help but put her hand over his. “So, have you thought about what you’re going to do with the ashes?”

  He shook his head. “No, not really. I’m going to pick them up when we come back for school. The mortician said he would keep them safe for me until then.”

  “Well, you have at least a couple weeks to decide then.”

  He nodded.

  Just then, Moira noticed the mortician come in to lead the ceremony. As Mitch led her to a seat, she noticed Miss Lee in the front row. They smiled at one another as Miss Lee gave her a small nod. Once everyone was seated, the service started.

  ******

  Mitchell had thought he was having a sleep deprived daydream when Moira came to stand next to him. In the little bit of sleep he’d had the night before, he’d been plagued by nightmares. Nightmares that, even when he went back to the ranch, he was alone. In his dreams, Moira wouldn’t even look at him, much less speak to him. He was again relegated to his quarters, nothing more than an afterthought. Much like most of his childhood.

  He was surprised she’d forgiven him for lying to her, more surprised she thought she didn’t have a right to be angry. She’d given him so many chances to come clean and he hadn’t. What made him happiest, after seeing her standing next to him, was that she asked about his momma.

  There’d been so much of his life that he’d been embarrassed about her illness and the actions it led her to have. But he’d loved her and he knew more than anything else, she’d loved him too. He didn’t realize how much until he’d gone to the funeral home and Miss Lee had given him a small bag of all his mother’s worldly belongings.

  All of the things in her bag, the only things she’d carried around with her until the day she died, revolved around him. There were some of his school pictures, the program from his high school graduation, pictures he had drawn her when he was little and some cards he’d given her as he’d grown older. She even had his first report card from kindergarten in that bag. Her whole life was him and her voices. One was intangible and the other was all held within a gallon sized Ziploc bag. It meant a lot to him, that as non-traditional as his mother, and the relationship he’d had with her, had been, Moira wanted to know about her.

  When the part of the service had come to play Amazing Grace, he held Moira’s hand as he cried. That had always been his mother’s favorite hymn. It was the one she would sing, whether she was lucid or not. As he thought about how his mother was finally at peace, he had an idea of where he’d like to spread her ashes. He’d have to discuss it with Moira later.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Moira spent the service with her hand in Mitchell’s. She still had a hard time finding the words to tell him how truly sorry she was. This was especially true once he showed her his momma. She was beautiful and his stories of her made her more so.

  After the small service, they went and got the picnic Grannie had packed. She was happy to have Mitchell sit right next to her. His body was lined against her as they ate. They were sitting underneath a tree, much like they’d done over the summer in the field. This time, Billy sat with them.

  The mood of the day was somber, given the event they’d just come from. Still, they sat talking and laughing. They talked about their drive down to Austin, having to use two separate cars to get there, that alone had them laughing. Especially once Billy got started.

  He looked to her, gesturing his hand in aggravation toward Mitchell. “And then this one! What is this? I swear he has the bladder a size of a peanut. How on Earth did he make it all summer without pissing by your tree every day? Shoot, how did he make it without going all through the stalls when he was mucking them?”

  Mitchell smiled, shaking his head. “It wasn’t all that bad. Really. I only asked you to stop a couple times.”

  Billy grumped in exasperation. “Whatever. You wanted to stop every hour. I wanted to put an adult diaper on you. I swear, we would’ve made better time if you’d hadn’t gotten crazy with going the bathroom. I was half tempted to give you my styrofoam cup.”

  She laughed as Mitchell chuffed his response. “Please. I wouldn’t want my pecker that close to your tobacco spit!”

  Billy smiled as he waggled his eyebrows. “You wish anything from my mouth was that close to your pecker!”

  She feigned shock, putting her hand over her heart. “Billy! I can’t believe you’re speaking like that in front of your baby sister!”

  Her brother laughed. “Please. Looking at this city the last twenty four hours, I’ve realized you’re probably less naïve than any of us thought back at the ranch. Shoot, just last night, I saw a man walk into our hotel with a hired friend. Did I mention this friend was in a dress, with a five o’clock shadow and an Adam’s apple?”

  She laughed. “There’s scarier things to see in this city than a drag queen hooker.”

  Billy’s eyes widened. “Like what?”

  She giggled, looking between the two young men. “Like my brother hitting on my boyfriend.”

  Mitch laughed as her brother’s jaw dropped. Billy was left speechless and she took great joy in that fact. Luckily, Mitch took the cue and cut in with her.

  “Well, he did accidentally brush my leg when we were driving. I thought it was just an accident because he was trying to go for his chew tin. Now, well, I just don’t know.”

  She feigned sadness as she looked between the two. “I know! Still, he’s not quite ready to admit it yet.”

  Pausing, she shook her head for dramatic effect. “I just wish you’d come around, Billy. I really do! You could even room with me in my apartment this last year. Meet a nice… person… and settle down.”

  Mitch laughed. Billy turned slightly red. She didn’t know if the embarrassment was because what she said was true or because they were from a small town and he didn’t realize there were things much worse than being gay. She sighed, dropping the issue.

  When it came close to time to head back, she was ready to fall asleep. She was groggy from lack of sleep and it looked like Mitchell wasn’t far behind. She sighed to herself, thinking it was really too bad she’d driven separately. She wanted to just sleep the whole ride back.r />
  As Billy cleaned things up, Mitch put his arm around her waist. She curled into his side as she rested her head on him. Just after she drifted off, her caffeine high completely gone, Billy woke her back up.

  “Hey, sis. Daddy gave us as long as we needed. I know he wasn’t expecting the service to be today. Why don’t we stay the night here instead? We can all get some rest. Your boy here looks dead on his feet too.”

  She wiped her eyes, thinking. Finally, she nodded. “I only have my shorts though. I don’t have any pajamas with me.”

  He shrugged. “There’s a Wal-Mart in town. We can stop there and get you some pajamas. Maybe a toothbrush. Then again, if we don’t buy that, maybe he won’t kiss you tonight.”

  Mitch chuckled, wrapping his arm around her closer. “Yeah, I will.”

  Billy sighed. “Fine. We’ll get you a toothbrush. If I have to watch you two kiss, then I don’t want to smell your stank breath too.”

  She laughed. “I knew you’d see reason. Let’s see if we can find somewhere to stay then.”

  ******

  Mitch was beside himself with happiness when Moira agreed to stay with them in town for the night. He didn’t know why, but he knew that he needed her next to him to get through the night. He hoped she’d let him drive with her the next day but he’d deal with that later.

  He knew they still had things to talk about, things to sort out, but he felt more comfortable about where they were. He was pretty sure that, even if they were going to fight, they would stay together. That’s all that mattered to him.

  When they got to the hotel, they booked one room.

  As they checked in, he asked the desk girl, “Can we get a roll away bed too?”

  The girl nodded. “Yes, it will be an additional fifteen dollars and we can have it brought up to your room.”

  He was surprised by Moira’s shocked reaction. “Why are we getting a trundle bed, Mitch?”

  He looked to her. “There’s only two beds. I didn’t think you would be sharing a bed with me tonight, I won’t share a bed with your brother, and I just figured you were too old to sleep next to him yourself.”