“I like that sling,” Veronica said of the device Presley Ann had her baby in. “It looks like a fashion accessory. Where did you get it?”
Presley Ann beamed with pride. “I made it.”
“Really? It’s exquisite. If I had a small baby, I’d sure want one of those.”
Charlotta didn’t think she missed the sly look Veronica shot her husbands.
Presley Ann didn’t seem aware of the byplay. She got up so they could see the sling better. “Actually, it’s great for toddlers, too. You see how the wrap goes like this around my middle? Well, with a small adjustment, instead of cradling a small infant, you can slip a toddler’s legs through here, and here, to form a seat, and then carry him…or her. .”
Charlotta smiled in response to the sales pitch. “You use lovely materials. Are you making these and selling them?”
“I am! My dream is to turn this sideline into my main source of income. The key seems to be making them from better fabrics, in a large range of sizes, and with finer attention to details. Then I could be a stay-at-home mom.”
“My money’s on you,” Hank said. “I think you can do anything you set your mind to.”
“Thank you.”
The waitress returned, and took everyone else’s order. She let Presley Ann know her order would be a few more minutes.
“How weird is it that the two strangers who came to my rescue turn out to be family of friends?” She nodded at Charlotta. “You’re right, it is a small world.” She turned her attention to Jesse and Barry. “So, you’re here visiting from Montana?”
“No, we’re here visiting from Lusty,” Barry said. “We relocated from Billings last spring.”
Presley Ann looked at Veronica. “That must be so great for you. Wait, didn’t you already have brothers in Lusty?”
“Cord and Jackson,” Veronica said. “My oldest brothers. Jesse and Barry are my youngest brothers, even though they’re a year older than I.”
“Two sets of twins?” Presley Ann sighed. “That’s so nice. It was only Leah and me, growing up. Sometimes I wonder what it would have been like to be a part of a big family.”
“Twins actually run in the Benedict family,” Jesse said, “going all the way back to the late 1800s, and the first Benedicts to settle in Lusty, Caleb and Joshua.”
Barry looked at his sister. “Have you ever toured the Lusty Historical Society Museum?”
Veronica shook her head. “No, I haven’t.”
“We should do that someday,” Travis said. “It’s only a few hours’ drive over to Lusty. We could tour the museum, and then visit Grandma Kate.”
The mention of the feisty nonagenarian made Veronica smile. “I’d like that. It seems like forever since we’ve seen her.”
“Anyway, when you do, prepare to be shocked,” Barry said. “Just as you enter, there’s a picture of the first Benedicts to settle there—Caleb, Joshua, and their wife, Sarah. Cord and Jackson are their doppelgangers.”
“I haven’t heard from Deke in a while. Any news on the Maxwell boys?” Travis asked.
“No,” Barry said. “They’re still at large.”
“The Maxwell boys?” Presley Ann had been looking at Veronica when Travis had asked that question, as Charlotta had, and likely saw the sour look that crossed Veronica’s face.
Jesse sat forward. “Two losers from back home that Barry and I had the poor judgment to be friends with.”
Charlotta had asked her men if Veronica knew about their part in their former friends’ arrest. Jessie had replied that he didn’t know, as neither of them had ever spoken to her about it.
She wondered now if Jesse would expand on that paltry explanation. Instead, Travis did it for them.
“Phil and Gord Maxwell decided to help themselves to what wasn’t theirs. Jesse and Barry had set aside a parcel of their own land as a donation to the BLM for their wild horse and burro program—to serve as a temporary sanctuary for the animals. The Maxwells stole some of those horses and sold them for profit—some of them went to a slaughterhouse.”
“That’s horrible!” Presley Ann was as appalled as most decent people would be.
“So, with Jesse and Barry’s help”—Travis nodded toward the two—“the BLM investigator arrested them. They were charged, tried, and sent to prison.”
“Good.” Presley Ann nodded.
“Except they escaped on Thanksgiving and haven’t been recaptured yet,” Barry said.
“I’m sure they will be.” Presley Ann looked like she had something more on her mind. “So…” She leaned in closer. “Ménage families really are the norm in Lusty?”
Charlotta thought she might have been interested because she was in a ménage herself—or so she presumed, based on Hank’s words of a few moments before.
“It’s why the town was founded,” Jesse said. “And why our grandfather, Emerson, chose to leave, moving all the way to Montana. Because beside ménages running in the family, so does ranching.”
“It’s what we were in Montana, and what we continue to be here in Texas,” Barry said.
“Are you a rancher, too?” Presley Ann turned her attention to Charlotta.
She chuckled. “No, though I did grow up on a ranch. I’m actually a psychologist. I work with kids, mostly, at a wellness center in Waco. I’m also the psychologist-advisor to Healing Rides, an equine therapy program. In fact”—she looked down but was using her peripheral vision to see Veronica’s reaction—“that’s how I met Jesse and Barry. They’re registered instructors with the program, certified with PATH International.”
“We’re going to be adding a special equine therapy program at the Hill Country Boy’s Ranch,” Travis said. “I’ve only learned about the existence of the programs recently. I’ve done my research. They work—not only with emotionally disturbed kids, but with physically handicapped kids and adults, too.”The waitress came to the table with a large bag. After saying something to her privately and placing her hand on Presley Ann’s shoulder, the waitress went back to the kitchen. Presley Ann sighed. “Thanks for letting me sit and chat. I do feel a lot more settled.” She got to her feet, but before she could take hold of the bag of food, Hank grabbed it.
“I’ll just walk you to your car,” he said.
Charlotta thought the young mother was on the verge of protesting. So, apparently, did Hank, because he gave her a stern look. “Don’t argue, Presley Ann.”
“All right, I won’t. Thank you.” She nodded to Jesse and Barry. “And thank you, again, for your quick action. You might not think you’re heroes, but I think you are.” Then she smiled at Veronica. “You must be very proud of your brothers.”
“Take care of yourself Presley Ann. I’ll call you.” Veronica turned her attention from her friend, but didn’t look at either Jesse or Barry.
“It was nice to meet you, Presley Ann,” Charlotta said.
“Same here.” Presley Ann waved and then turned to follow Hank out of the restaurant. The lawman wasn’t gone more than a few minutes. Charlotta thought it telling that in that time, the five of them sat in total silence.
The waitress brought everyone’s drinks just as Hank returned. He met Travis’s gaze, then spoke into his cell phone.
Travis chuckled, and it didn’t take Charlotta long to figure out why. Hank addressed the person he’d called—Jared—and then gave him a quick recap of recent events. Hank assured him Presley Ann was fine, if still a bit shaken up. Then he finished the call and set his phone away.
“I agree with Travis,” Jesse said. “I’d want to know, too.” And he gave Charlotta a look that made her female parts begin to hum.
“Jared is pretty savvy,” Hank said. “He and Kendry will drop in on her this afternoon just to ‘say hi,’ something I understand they do fairly often, anyway.”
The waitress and another server arrived with everyone’s lunch. Talk centered around the food, comments on its appearance, requests for salt and pepper. Everyone began to tuck into their meals. Veronica si
ghed and set down her fork. She looked at her brothers.
“I’m with Presley Ann. That was a heroic thing you guys did today. The fact that you did it without thinking—that speaks to your characters. And even though I didn’t respond when she said it, yes, I am proud of you.”
“We can’t undo the past,” Jesse said. “And we’re still dealing with our personal epiphanies of last Christmas.” He shot a look at Charlotta, then turned back to Veronica. “But there is one thing I know Barry and I can both say. We never didn’t love you, Veronica. Never.”
Veronica nodded. Then she got up and hugged each of her brothers in turn.
It was a good moment between siblings, and Charlotta felt the atmosphere at the table lighten. She caught the look of pride that both Hank and Travis gave their wife, and knew that this lunch had turned out a lot better than her men had even dared to hope for.
Families are messy and involve a lot of hard work. But as with most things, sometimes the harder one has to work for something, the greater the appreciation and sense of accomplishment one had when it was achieved.
Huh. I should maybe make an appointment with myself and listen to my own advice sometime.
Chapter 18
The queen-size bed was a bit of a tight fit for three adults, but Jesse didn’t mind. The room at the quaint Hourglass Inn in Divine was cozy, and even included a fireplace. It was the only light in the room, as, beyond the windows, the lights of Divine twinkled serenely in the night.
Best of all, he and his brother had Charlotta tucked in between them.
“I have to confess. I thought I wouldn’t like her.” Charlotta snuggled against his chest, the perspiration from their loving cooling on her flesh. Barry spooned her and seemed fascinated with the sensation of her shoulder under his stroking fingers. I can sure as hell relate to Barry’s fascination with touching her. She feels like the softest silk.
Jesse kissed the top of Charlotta’s head and met his brother’s gaze. “Veronica?”
“Yes. I thought I wouldn’t like her—but she’s nice—smart and funny. I do like her. And I like her husbands. I think they’re very well matched.”
“We think so too,” Barry said.
“You’re all right with coming back here for New Year’s Eve?” Jesse asked her. The invitation to party with the Stinsons and their friends at the Dancing Pony had been a pleasant surprise. It had been a good day—lunch at the restaurant, and then accompanying them back to their home, spending the afternoon, having dinner. Jesse felt as if they’d forged a new relationship with their sister and brothers-in-law, one of friendship.
“I am. Especially since Camilla and her guys will be there.”
Jesse laughed. One of the lighter moments had been when out of the blue Hank had looked at Shar and said, “You’re that Charlotta! Camilla’s friend!” He’d shaken his head and laughed. “You were right when you told Presley Ann it’s a small world. We’d have met in the summer at their Fourth of July shindig if the fish cop here hadn’t had that party out at the boys’ camp.”
Their woman had blushed and then laughed. “I was wondering if you’d make the connection. I love my name but it’s really not a common one.”
Charlotta sighed, bringing him back to the moment.
“I’m disappointed in myself, thinking to judge your sister before I’d ever even met her. That’s not like me at all.”
Jesse was sorely tempted to tell her that her expectations had been built on her love for them. He knew she loved them—he and Barry both knew that. What he didn’t know was whether or not she was aware of the fact herself.
That was the main reason they hadn’t told yet her they were in love with her.
“Don’t be too hard on yourself, baby. If it helps to balance your personal scales, Barry and I owe you a debt of gratitude. If it wasn’t for your encouragement, who knows how long we’d have put off this reunion. If not for your faith in us, we wouldn’t have had to courage to really try.”
“Of course you would have, eventually.”
“No, princess.” Barry stroked her, shoulder to hand. She laced their fingers, and then turned over, lying on her back between them. “We’d become so used to accepting our role as outcasts—a role we cemented with our mother when we helped the BLM investigator in the case against the Maxwells—that we couldn’t see ourselves beyond that.”
Charlotta sighed. “I know the feeling. My parents weren’t too pleased when they found out how I paid my way through college.”
“Some folks have closed minds.” Jesse turned onto his side, supporting his head on his hand so he could see her face. “We had a high school classmate who did the same thing—lap-danced her way to a law degree.”
“Brenda Armstrong,” Barry said. “She ended up graduating law school with no debt. Her parents fully supported her part-time job.”
“You were just dancing, baby, not prostituting yourself. Maybe some older folks don’t know the difference.”
“My dad said that I’d likely end up doing just that—whoring myself—if I didn’t end up on drugs and dead at the end of some junkie’s knife, first. I couldn’t believe he said that to me.”
“When it’s our parents who are down on us, it’s a hundred times worse than when it’s anyone else.” Barry kissed her shoulder.
“I know. I know. I see it all the time with my clients. Parents have no idea how much power they wield over their children. They have no idea that negative words can do so much damage. You’d think, being a trained psychologist that I would understand all that and be able to let it go. And most of the time, I think I do. But every once in a while, the hurt ambushes me.”
Jesse didn’t think she’d let it go at all. In fact, he was beginning to get an idea—yes, mostly because of how he felt about the things his mother had said to him—that she’d done just the opposite of letting it go.
Somewhere, deep down inside, Charlotta had accepted and internalized her father’s hateful words as being gospel.
“Yes, you’re a trained psychologist, Charlotta.” Jesse kissed her forehead. “But first, you’re a woman, a human being with all the complications those two words imply. It’s easy to understand principles, and tough, sometimes, to apply them to ourselves.” He’d wondered lately if her parents hadn’t done something to damage her self-esteem. Now he knew, and as sorry as he was that it was so, he was glad to finally have a clue about her behavior toward them.
It sure didn’t matter if the words and judgments came when a person was an adult. They damaged regardless of when they were delivered—and when they were said later in life, they had the power to ferment not only self-doubt, but self-loathing as well.
Don’t I know it?
Since their woman did speak often and fondly of her uncle, he was hoping that man had been more circumspect in his behavior.
“Knowing Mom and Dad weren’t going to be there has made the prospect of going home a lot less stressful. But…” She sighed.
“But you want to try and restore your relationship with your parents.” Barry tucked her hair behind her ear.
Jesse figured that between them, they’d make it a habit to pet and coddle her every night. A woman of strength—Charlotta was all of that—needed as much, if not more care than any other woman.
“I do. But do you know what? I’m slowly coming to the conclusion that the repair really has to be a two-way thing. For the last couple of years, I felt like it was all on me—even when I was furious with them for judging me. I felt that I’ve owed them an apology, and that I’ve needed to make amends. But since I’ve been with you two, knowing the situation you’re in with your mother, I’ve begun to see that it’s really not all on me.”
“No, it’s not.” That was the same conclusion that he and his twin were coming to themselves. Of course, above and beyond their woman, they had the help of their brothers, and their sister, and even, recalling the telephone conversation on Thanksgiving Day, their dad.
Charlotta only had them,
because he was certain she’d not told another soul what her father had said to her.
Jesse decided it was time to lighten the mood. He leaned over and placed a soft kiss on Charlotta’s tasty lips. “When I’m a father, I’m going to be very, very careful not to fuck up my kids—well no more than is normal, that is.”
“Amen to that, brother.”
Charlotta laughed, and it did him good to hear it. She’d been feeling down on herself the last few hours. He understood her somber mood was because they’d be leaving for Austin in the morning.
“That’s a worthy goal,” she said.
“Yes, ma’am, it is. And I’ve just thought of another worthy goal.”
“And that is?”
“Seeing if we can make you scream our names.”
Charlotta looked from him to his brother, and if that wasn’t love shining in her eyes, he’d eat his horse. Then she smiled, and he fell in love with her all over again.
“Bring it on, cowboys. Bring it on.”
* * * *
“This is Charlotta, the day she and her momma arrived.” Aunt Bella sat on the sofa between Jesse and Barry, her family albums stacked up on the coffee table.
They’d arrived a couple hours before. Charlotta had helped her aunt with some of the supper preparations while Uncle Leroy had taken Jesse and Barry on a tour of the ranch. He’d introduced them to her cousins Don and Tim, who were just finishing up their work for the day. They and their wives were due to arrive within the hour for Christmas dinner—two days before Christmas.
In the year or so since she’d been back here, she’d somehow forgotten what a wonderful cook her aunt Bella was. The aroma of turkey roasting permeated the air, and her mouth watered.
“She looks…serious.” Jesse shot her a grin, and then gave his full attention back to Aunt Bella.
“Boy howdy, she was the most serious ten-year-old girl I’d ever laid eyes on. And she held herself so still, as if she was afraid to draw attention to herself. And prissy! Why, she would come down stairs each day dressed just so, and she moved carefully lest she get a smudge on her knee or a wrinkle in her skirt.”
Love Under Two Outcasts [The Lusty, Texas Collection] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Page 17
