Love Came Home (4 Oaks)

by Gayle Eden

  Not that Kane and Carter were close as brothers should be either.

  Kane had grown up influenced greatly by their iron-willed and hardworking Grandfather. Carter’s mother had lived in the Carolinas, married her part time farmer, part time English teacher. Carter experienced all the usual southern boy stuff, school athletics, college scholarship, and had his career in pro sports equipment sales—before Kane’s middle of night call brought him back to the ranch.

  He’d not ever wanted to leave it. Not back then. It had torn him up to leave 4 Oaks. Eventually, he had to make the new life work though. He had always missed his grandfather. His brother. And 4 Oaks.

  When he had arrived a few days ago, Carter had brought his step dad’s 24-year-old daughter, Kelly Harris with him. He had always been a bit overprotective of Kelly. She was one of those introverts who hid behind her glasses and read a lot. He didn’t know what she thought about 4 Oaks yet. They had been so crazy trying to make all the arrangements and deal with people coming by.

  Curious as hell, neighbors, and townsfolk.

  Everyone knew most everyone else’s business. Crofts were no different. People respected the old man—knew and respected Kane too. Some obviously remembered Carter. There was no real hiding that folks wanted to see them all together, and were curious what would happen since the grandfather had left them all equal shares in 4 Oaks.

  There was no question but that Kane wanted to keep 4 Oaks intact and in the family. He had offered to buy Carter out.

  Nevertheless, the brothers knew—this was not just about the ranch.

  Their Grandfather had been a man of few words. Yet he’d always wanted his grandsons with him at 4 Oaks. He had begged Carter to move back for years. He wanted them to be a family. The kind he didn’t get to see with John.

  Carter cleared his throat and swallowed a lump that clogged it. Guilt gnawed at him for not coming when JC got bad off. It was in Kane’s hard stare at him when he did pull in, Kane having called him from the hospital room. Carter didn’t have a good excuse except that it had been so hard to leave the first time that he’d get a knot in his stomach every time he thought of coming back…

  His reason for not coming when JC had gotten bad enough to be hospitalized? He had been in a dive of a hotel waiting for his ex-fiancée Stephanie to pack up her shit and move out of his apartment—He’d come in from a trip and caught her in bed with his best friend.

  “You’re up late.”

  Carter turned as Kane emerged carrying coffee.

  He smiled sadly at the memory of their grandfather saying that. They were always up before daylight to do the feeding. Rio had said he would do the feeding this morning. It was a good hour past sunrise.

  Carter started to say something in response, and then spotted Rio as he came round the side of the house to the steps. Boots muddy and shirt dirty, jeans obviously for work, given the wear and stains on them.

  Since he had been preoccupied with the arrangements, grief, and greeting people, Carter hadn’t spoken beyond an initial greeting to Rio.

  He started with, “I understand you have a daughter?”

  Rio nodded, “I’ve got to meet with a lawyer later.” He headed for the door, also obviously not intending to have a conversation with them.

  Kane informed, “Food’s ready. I heated up ham and biscuits.” He settled down in a rocker, his long legs lifting until his booted feet rested against a planter while he sipped from a mug

  “I’ll eat after I shower.” Rio went inside.

  Carter raised his brows and looked from the closed door to Kane. He ambled over to seat himself in another chair. He’d put Rio’s attitude down to the fog they were all in. They’d hardly decompressed between the wake and funeral. For Carter, just being home again was a little surreal. He had known about Rio for a long time, talked to his Grandpa about him, but they were strangers.

  Resting his now empty cup on his thigh, he eyed the scruff on Kane’s strong jaw, then the shaggy honey and brown hair lightened by days in the hot sun. Kane was two years his junior at thirty-three. There was a time, as boys, they had been inseparable. They’d ran wild and free over every acre of the ranch. Raced their horses, roped, and fished in the streams. It had been like severing part of himself to leave. The years apart shaped them differently too.

  “He’s not very talkative, is he?” Carter jerked his head toward the door.

  Kane swallowed the drink of coffee he had taken and glanced aside at Carter. “He is sometimes.” Kane shrugged. “Spends more time with animals than people, I guess.”

  “So you two have developed a friendship… his living here and all?”

  “I wouldn’t call it that.” Kane formed a dry grin. “I respect his skills. His right to be here—since he has Croft blood. He thinks I’m territorial when it comes to the ranch. I’m not. I’m just used to how it needs running. Grandpa was more like a father to me. He tried to be that to Rio. But Rio has a lot of pride. Probably because he grew up knowing he was a Croft—and anyone who knew Marie, knew she was never without a man. Most weren’t worth much, or kind to Rio.” Kane shrugged again. “Everybody has their issues, I reckon.”

  Carter asked something that he had wondered about for years. “Do you. With Mother?”

  “Likely. But I wouldn’t have left with her, so...”

  “She loved Grandpa. She said that he begged to keep you. It wasn’t easy for her to let him. She felt he’d already lost a son, and he’d always understood her issues, struggling to stay married to Dad. Who was a chronic cheater.”

  Kane nodded and sipped. “I didn’t understand it at the time, but Grandpa didn’t have any illusions about Dad. He was honest in his disappointment—in both the cheating, and the drinking he’d done all day, that got him killed.”

  “Took a while for all of us to absorb all the realties,” Carter agreed. “So. What’s town like these days? I didn’t see much but the flower shop.”

  “The same, mostly.” Kane lowered his feet to the porch floor. Leaning over, his elbows rested on his thighs, he looked down into the cup. “Other than new chain stores and restaurants, tanning places, fancy steakhouses—the bowling alley and Rocking Horse café are in the same place. O’Malley’s bar is still popular. Kids still cruise the strip on Saturday nights.”

  “Yeah? And who do you see in town on your time off?”

  Kane leaned back and rocked his gaze distant. “No one in particular. Best go eat. We have some work to do today.”

  Carter got to his feet, a little intrigued by his brother’s expression but went inside without comment.

  He was in the kitchen when Rio entered, freshly showered, and shaved. He had on new denims and boots, a red chambray shirt. His wet hair was combed straight back.

  Rio filled a plate and came to sit across from him at the table.

  “So how old is your daughter?”

  “Fifteen. Sixteen in a couple weeks.” Rio chewed toast and cut into his ham.

  Blinking, Carter muttered, “You started early.”

  Before taking a bite Rio replied, “I lived with Delany Smith part of the time as a teenager.”

  He consumed the food before wiping his mouth and adding, “Delany was ten years older, divorced.” He shrugged and stood, going over to the coffee pot and refilling his cup. “She had a few boyfriends. I wasn’t ever sure Willow was mine. She remarried eventually. I didn’t push the issue.”

  “So why’d she tell you now?”

  As Carter was washing up his plate and cup, Rio scrapped his own plate and brought it over. “She didn’t. Willow did. She doesn’t want to move—Delany got a transfer to Dallas. Willow covertly got a DNA test done.”

  “How’d she do that?”

  Rio grunted. “She asked me to meet her at the café. We had lunch. She got my DNA in the process.”

  “So, you know her fairly well?”

  “I’ve always been friends with Delany and—seen Willow. I don’t really know her well.”

  “So
what is happening that you need a lawyer? Is she petitioning to live with you?”

  “Something like that.” Rio nodded. “It’s why I agreed to live here, in the house. Willow only has a year of school left. Not even that, just a few months. Delany doesn’t want to drag her kicking and screaming to Dallas.”

  “Good luck.”

  Rio set his cup down. “I heard you were married once?”

  Carter dried his hands. “Engaged. We did live together for three years.”

  “What happened?”

  “She slept with a buddy of mine while I was doing a circuit of demos for Bass pro shops.”

  “No Shit.”

  Carter smiled cynically. “He was the better prospect. More refined taste—I believe that’s how she put it in the glow paint note she pasted to my headboard.”

  Rio looked at his cell phone then clipped it on his belt. “I’m running late. I am hoping Brice Salinas will have some idea how to handle all the legal shit. Meeting him at O’Malley’s this evening. But I want to catch Delany before work and talk to her.”

  “Good luck.” Carter said again before he left.

  Carter then cleaned up the kitchen before changing into old Levis, a flannel shirt, and his worn boots. Grabbing a hat, he headed out to the barn to meet Kane, who had two studs saddled and ready. There were several dogs running round the place that bounded after them. They rode for quite a while, both their minds on old JC as they did the familiar ranch work with ease—checking on stock, making some fence repairs, looking over the newborns. Later, they rode in and simply ambling over to stand by the fence.

  Kane was wearing Levis, boots, a cream long sleeved undershirt. That scruff on his jaw had been there even during the suit wearing at the funeral and military graveside services. It suited Kane’s rugged edges, Carter smiled to himself. His brother was a good-looking sonofagun.

  “What?” Kane looked at him having felt his stare.

  “I’m a sonofabitch for not coming to see Grandpa. And for not coming back—to see you.”

  “Yeah. You are.” Kane’s cheek flexed but he turned his eyes to the mountains. The landscape had cleared of morning mist and a weak sun shone.

  Diluted or not, Carter was bit in awe of how it sprayed over the valley and autumn landscape, and illuminated the colors—having taken that view for granted all those years living here as kid. For several moments, he simply absorbed the beauty of the fiery display, watching it lit the mountains.

  “So catch me up, Kane. On other things around here.”

  “You must mean Skye, since you was struck dumb seeing her in the flower shop.” Kane dug a cigarette out of his shirt pocket.

  “She’s grown up. Attractive. Said she moved back here a couple years ago?”

  Kane murmured, “Remember that week before Dad died, you beat that Taylor boy’s ass for making fun of Skye?”

  “From the way she acted—the stares—the whole vibe in the flower shop, things didn’t get much better.”

  Kane said “No. It took balls for her to come back here. I’m not sure I would have. Her wedding business is a success. Time and everything doesn’t matter to some people determined to keep account of every scandal. Rayne is the rebel—tattoos and long hair—works as a bouncer part time, bartender the rest. I’ve never had a problem with him though. I’m not sure if he came back wearing a suit it would matter to some. They couldn’t live down their mother’s scandals. But Rayne left his own mark here. All Chloe’s doing. He was young and going to the prison to see her, and she manipulated him so that he believed he was helping her—and ended up getting busted. He got out after doing 6 months—and lit out. Skye left shortly after.

  Before all that with Rayne though, the Cassel’s always let everyone know they were ashamed of them. When they died, they left that mansion on Main Street to the Historical Society. I don’t think they left Rayne and Skye a penny.”

  “I don’t understand that. It was Chloe who fucked up.”

  “Yep,” Kane agreed. “She’s doing hard time now though.”

  “Skye mentioned that Jesse is a partner with her. Didn’t you take Jesse to a prom or something? Seems to me, Grandpa mentioned it.”

  “I did. Senior year.” Kane looked blindly outward. “I was the quarterback. She was Home Coming attendant.”

  “I recall she was a pretty girl. Are you telling me it was an obligation?”

  Kane sighed and shifted his shoulders. He drew in and blew a stream of smoke before saying, “Jesse had a thing for Rio. Still does. He’d been living with that Delany woman on and off since he was fourteen.” Kane shook his head. “It’s a long story. Delany has been married for a long time. Though Rio suspected Willow was his, he hasn’t exactly lived a settled life. And her husband is a decent guy. Somehow, Willow found out about Rio’s past—not too hard to figure out with the gossips—but she asked Rio to meet her at the Rocking Horse café. She covertly got his DNA and had a test done.”

  Carter whistled. “That’s what Rio said over breakfast.”

  Kane grinned dryly. “Her mother has been transferred. She works at the plant, some kind of engineer. Willow is a senior, doesn’t want to go, so she’s stirred this up.”

  “What’s the lawyer going to do?”

  “Don’t know. Rio don’t exactly confide in me. All I know is he finally moved in the Ranch house when Willow called him with the results. JC always believed she was his too. By all accounts she’s mature for her age.”

  “I’ll say.” Carter chuckled. “Covertly gathering DNA. Sounds sharp to me.” After lighting his own smoke, Carter murmured, “About that prom. Why’d you take her?”

  “To make Rio jealous. It didn’t work. He knows Jesse, sees her often. Rio never had a shortage of women—of a certain type. Jesse’s grown now and not so obvious. Except to me.”

  “Why to you?”

  Kane shrugged. “We hung out, rode horses, and worked cattle together. Jesse is easy to be around.”

  “You serious with anyone?” Carter wanted to know.

  “Nope.”

  “Why not? Or are you not susceptible.”

  “I loved someone once. Adeline…”

  “Of the flower shop?”

  “Yes.” Kane stood and went back to the post. A sharp wind teased his hair. “Everyone said she was plain as dirt. But I used to go to church to hear her sing. I still think she’s beautiful.” Kane smiled slightly in memory. “She wouldn’t go out except to church. She was devoted to her parents. When they died, she took over the flower shop.”

  “You weren’t dating her?”

  “I think I kissed her once.” Kane laughed and turned to regard Carter. “She seemed relieved when I stopped coming around, and I knew she’d never marry.”

  “Or fornicate?”

  “I don’t know. Not with me.” Kane crushed out the smoke. “It wasn’t lust on my part anyway. I just… loved her.”

  “That’s not love, Kane. That’s a…crush. You got a woman now, right?”

  Kane’s grin widened. “I have—accommodating—female—acquaintances.”

  Carter snorted. They began walking to the house. He had a feeling Kane was blowing a different kind of smoke. But, Kane wasn’t an easy man to read either.

  Kane asked, when they were inside, “You consider my offer?”

  “I’m trying to absorb that the old man is gone— and being here again. Everything.”

  They drifted to the great room, and while Kane put a log on the fire, next looking up at the painting of his Grandparents, his dad at about ten years old—Carter sank into one of the comfortable chairs.

  “You can stay—live here, and work the ranch.”

  Carter reminded him, “I’ve just moved Kelly in with me.”

  “She can stay too. There are opportunities in town for work, or the colleges, corporations. Memphis isn’t that far…”

  “Do you want me to stay?”

  “Grandpa did…he wanted all of us here.”

  Carter arche
d his brow. “I’m asking what you want, Kane. This is really your home. You’ve earned your right to this ranch, no matter what JC put in the will.”

  Kane’s sinewy cheek flexed. “I can work this ranch. The routine is like breathing to me. It would grow a lot faster, and be easier, if you were working it too. You could still keep your contracts.”

  “It’s not the job, Kane. It matters to me what you think.”

  Kane turned and regarded him.

  Their green eyes clashed a moment.

  Kane uttered, “Don’t we owe that old man something? I do. You do too. He would say after every phone call to you, I wish Carter would come back. Until the very end, he thought you’d show up.”

  Carter looked up at the painting. “Yeah. I should have.” Glancing back at Kane, he supplied, “I can’t tell him I’m sorry. I owe you an apology too.”

  “I don’t want a damn apology. I want an answer. I know you, Carter; no matter how many years we lived apart.”

  Carter already knew what he was going to say. He knew the moment he had come back to 4 Oaks. The moment he’d felt that restlessness leave his spirit. He mused aloud, “It will take a bit to get things settled in South Carolina. I’ll head out next week, get back as soon as I can.” After a beat, he added, “I don’t know what Kelly will want to do.”

  Kane nodded. “Fine.”

  Carter got to his feet. “I think I’ll ride into town and eat at O’Malley’s.” He went out and up the stairs to his room to get clean clothing and was soon showering.

  * * * *

  An hour later, Carter drove down the dirt road from 4 Oaks in an absent-minded muse. His custom pick up had been his home on the road the last few years.

  Hell, that wasn’t exactly true. He hadn’t felt like anywhere was home since the day he left. Because he was used to being on the road so much though, he tended to drive on autopilot. That’s why when the motorcycle came from the overgrown side lane—he was unprepared, and hit his brakes, skidding almost in a circle.