Hero Bear

by Raines, Harmony

  “You enjoy the work?” Lynn asked.

  “I do. It’s easier this time of year. But when the calves are born, it’s long, hard work. There’s nothing better than going to bed at night with an ache in your arms to remind you how hard you’ve worked and what you’ve achieved.”

  “I can relate.” She lifted her arms and said, “I have aching muscles where I never knew I even had muscles. Who needs a gym when you have a dilapidated house to clean?”

  “But you get the sense of satisfaction.” He nodded at her.

  “I do.” She sat up in her seat as he parked the truck in front of the horse barn. “Wow, is this a welcoming committee?”

  “They are dying to meet you,” Adam said.

  “And this isn’t creepy at all,” she murmured.

  “I’m sorry, I asked them to be more discreet…” He turned to face her. “Look, I don’t bring women home. Like, not at all. So you are a bit of an oddity.”

  “An oddity,” she repeated.

  He groaned. “I didn’t mean it like that.” He took a breath, trying to figure out why he kept saying the wrong thing. “I mean they are happy I found someone I wanted to bring home.”

  “I still think I’m out of place. This is a family decision,” Lynn said, looking at him as if she was about to open the door and bolt back home. He couldn’t have that, he needed her to be here with him. He wanted her to be with him.

  “Too late,” Adam said, opening the truck door and climbing out. “And anyway, you deserve a break from cleaning. Come for a ride, and then we can go back to your place. I promise you won’t regret it.”

  “OK.” Lynn opened the truck door, and Jon, Jordan, and Skyla pretended to be busy brushing the horses, while Adam brought Lynn over to meet them.

  “Guys, this is Lynn. Lynn, these are my brothers, Jon and Samuel.”

  “Hi, Jon,” Lynn said. “Sam.” She lifted her hand to wave at Samuel, who nodded and then went back to brushing his horse.

  “Excuse Samuel, a man of few words,” Jon explained.

  “Whereas Jon likes to talk. A lot,” Adam teased.

  “My brother thinks he’s funny. But it’s probably true. Good to finally meet you, Lynn,” Jon said, saluting her.

  “And this is Jordan and Skyla. My older brother and his wife.”

  “Hi, Lynn.” Jordan grinned, making Lynn feel like an exhibit in a zoo. Then Skyla stepped forward and looped her arm under Lynn’s.

  “Come on. I think this is your horse,” Skyla said, leading her into the barn. “Don’t worry, this is all new to me too. I’ve only been married to Jordan for a couple of months, and this is the first time we’ve come to visit the family.”

  “I’m not used to big families,” Lynn admitted.

  “Me neither. So we will get through this together. I thought one man was enough, but these four together are a bit of a handful.”

  Lynn turned around and looked at Adam and his brothers, her expression unreadable. Silently, he thanked Skyla for making friends with Lynn. If he’d thought it through, he would have realized how unusual this was for Lynn. A man she had just met had asked her to come on a horse ride, with a family she did not know, as moral support for a decision he had to make.

  It said a lot about Lynn’s character that she had come. He wanted to let himself hope it was because she liked him, Adam, and could see herself as part of his life. But he couldn’t. Not yet.

  “Hey, Adam, get in there.” Jordan nudged him forward, and Adam woke up from his daydreaming to realize this was his chance to make Lynn feel as if she were part of the family, rather than a woman caught up in a family feud.

  He stumbled forward, all fingers and thumbs and two left feet, his usual cool confidence lost. This was his domain, the ranch was what he lived and breathed; if he was ever going to show Lynn his true self, this was it.

  “Thanks, Skyla.” He flashed his sister-in-law a smile, then he said to Lynn, “This is Honey.” He stroked the big golden-colored horse, whom he had picked out especially for his mate.

  “Honey, she’s beautiful,” Lynn said. “I forget how much I used to love being around horses. Do you think I’d be able to have one on my ranch?”

  “Yes, although they don’t like to be alone, you’d have to have a couple. Maybe a riding horse and an old pony to keep it company.”

  “I like that idea. I could give an old pony a home.” Her face lit up and Adam found himself grinning. That kind of sentimentality didn’t belong on the Williams Homestead, but it could survive and thrive on the Hawkins Ranch.

  “When you are settled, I’ll help you choose the right horse. I might even be persuaded to part with Honey here. She’s getting too old for ranch work, and could do with a quieter life.” That wasn’t strictly true, Honey could still do a fine job herding cattle, but if his woman was going to have a horse, Adam would take it upon himself to make sure she had one that was safe and knew how to look after her rider.

  “Do you think your dad would let you?” Lynn asked.

  “It’s not all up to him,” he answered honestly.

  “No?” Lynn asked. “Even when the woman you want to sell your horse to is the one who has something he wants?”

  “He’ll get over it,” Adam said confidently.

  “Hey, are we going to ride, or are we going to stand around flirting all day?” Jon asked, already saddling his own horse.

  “We are good to go,” Adam announced. “Want to help me?”

  “Sure,” Lynn replied.

  Adam tacked his own horse up first, a big black horse called Midnight, whom he had bought and broken in himself. Midnight was one of the few things on the Homestead that actually belonged to Adam. Everything else was part of the ranch. That had never struck him before, but now it did, it was like a worm in his brain. He began to understand why Jordan had left, why he had struck out on his own.

  “How does it feel, having the ranch as your own?” he asked Lynn as they did the cinch-up on Honey’s saddle.

  “Good. This morning was tough, I’ll admit. There is so much to do, it’s overwhelming. I didn’t expect the wiring to be in such bad condition.”

  “You have no power at all?” Jon called over.

  “No.” Lynn raised her voice to reply. “I turned it off at the fuse box. I was scared the ranch would burn down, since some of the wires are exposed.”

  “Hey, Adam, there’s a spare backup generator over in the storeroom. Lynn could use it until she’s had an electrician in,” Jon said.

  “No, it’s OK. I can manage,” Lynn insisted.

  “Jon’s right, we don’t need it. It’s an old one, a backup to a backup, if you know what I mean,” Adam said, wishing he’d thought of it.

  “I’m not so sure. I mean with your dad and this feud. I don’t want to get you into trouble,” Lynn said.

  “Our father’s not that bad,” Jordan said.

  Jon huffed. “He’s calmed down now, but you weren’t here. He got himself in a state over the Hawkins Ranch.”

  “We don’t need to talk about that now, Jon,” Adam warned.

  “Sorry, Lynn,” Jon said.

  “Don’t be. I’m glad I know. Is he going to hate me for not selling?” Lynn asked.

  “Not hate, and his anger isn’t directed at you,” Jon said, mounting his horse and then waiting for everyone else.

  “It’s more aimed at your Uncle Freddy,” Adam assured her.

  “Why?” Lynn asked.

  “We looked after him. When he was ill, and my dad figured in return he might let him have the ranch back.” Jon quickly added, “That isn’t why we helped Freddy. We would do the same for any neighbor, and Dad didn’t expect to be given the farm in return. He offered Freddy a fair price and the chance to stay there until he died, but he wouldn’t sell.”

  “I don’t understand why. He knew how much the ranch meant to your family, you deserved it, more than me,” Lynn said. “You were more like family to him. I hardly knew him.”

  “We’ll
never know,” Adam said. “But I for one, am glad you are here.”

  They shared a moment, their eyes connecting, and he felt hope surge in his heart that fate had stepped in and brought Lynn here. If he accepted that, then he could accept that his dad would come around, that Lynn would come around, and everything would be OK. Eventually.

  “Come on, Merry wants to be on his way,” Jon said, with a wink at Adam. “Or do you two want to spend some time in the hay barn, rather than riding with us?”

  Adam shook his head at his brother. Although the hay barn was a tempting proposition, he was here to talk to Jon and Jordan about their collective futures, and that’s what he planned to do. “We’re all set.” Adam checked Honey over and then said to Lynn, “Are you ready?”

  “Yes.” Her eyes shone and she looked excited. “I am.”

  “Then let’s get you onboard.”

  “Hear that, Honey, we’re going to go for a ride, and I am trusting you to look after me,” Lynn said, stroking Honey’s soft golden coat. Honey looked around, her eyes soft and calm. “She is beautiful.”

  “She is,” Adam let his eyes linger on Lynn’s face.

  “I meant Honey,” Lynn said, and Jon burst out laughing.

  “My brother is not exactly subtle, is he?” Jon joked.

  “It’s a good thing you are already on your horse, or I may be tempted to dunk you in the water trough,” Adam responded.

  “Jordan was right, you two are like a couple of big kids,” Skyla observed. She was sat astride her horse; Jordan was by her side, his face showing his amusement.

  “Just as I remember,” Jordan said.

  “And you are an adult now?” Adam asked, swinging himself up into the saddle, and wincing inwardly at his words. Seeing Jordan today, his body whole, his legs working, it was easy to forget everything he had gone through, and the mental scars that he must carry with him.

  “Oh no. Jordan has regressed, thanks to the guys he works with. Dylan, his boss, is the biggest kid of them all. Especially since he had kids of his own.”

  “Wait till you have kids. I can just imagine Jordan playing with action figures. Like we used to when we were kids,” Jon said.

  Jordan and Skyla exchanged a look, and Adam felt his heart beat harder in his chest. He didn’t have to ask; Adam knew Skyla was pregnant.

  They rode away from the Homestead, down along the lower pasture, where the cattle grazing around them took no notice of the riders. Samuel rode out in front, while the rest of them formed a tight group, the horses jostling each other, eager to go faster. The nervous look Jordan cast over to Skyla as her horse swished his tail at Midnight said it all. The first of the next generation of Williamses was on its way. It made what Adam wanted to do even more important. It was time they discussed the future.

  “I thought we’d head across toward the falls,” Adam announced.

  “The falls? That sounds inviting,” Skyla said.

  “It is, we used to go there and swim when we were done after a hard day in the saddle,” Jordan told her.

  “I don’t know about a swim, but I think I’m going to need a soak in a hot bath after this,” Skyla said. “How do you ride all day?”

  Jordan laughed. “I might be joining you. I think my butt got soft.”

  Lynn giggled. “This outdoor life is harder than it looks.”

  “It is,” Skyla agreed. “And there was I thinking you cowboys have to easy.”

  “Might not be easy, but I would not trade it for anything.” Jon urged his horse forward as they climbed the steep slope into the upper pasture.

  “Which is what I want to talk to you all about,” Adam said, catching Lynn’s eye. She smiled encouragingly. “When we get to the falls, there’s something I’d like to talk over with you all.”

  “Something you don’t want to talk about in front of Dad?” Jordan enquired.

  “No, I wanted your opinions before I discuss it with him,” Adam responded.

  “Well, you are in charge of the Homestead,” Jordan said. “Whatever it is, you have my full backing, as long as it doesn’t involve selling any of the land off.”

  “It doesn’t involve selling, but it does involving restructuring,” Adam hinted.

  “Then we’ll listen.” Jordan urged his horse on. “You know, we always used to race to the falls.”

  “Then let’s do it,” Adam said. “Ladies, if it’s OK with you, we’ll see you there. Don’t worry, Honey knows the way.”

  “Then go.” Lynn held her reins tighter as Honey was enthused with energy. “Quiet, girl, we’re just going to walk with Skyla.”

  “Are you sure you’ll be OK?” Jordan asked his wife.

  “I am. Jesse here is not interested in going any faster than a walk, and neither am I.” Skyla patted her painted horse.

  With that, the three cowboys urged their horses faster into a gallop, and raced up the hill, passing Samuel, who then encouraged his horse to go faster, racing to catch the others. The four brothers disappeared into the distance, leaving Skyla and Lynn behind.

  With the wind in his face, and Midnight’s hooves pounding the ground, his brothers whooping and hollering by his side, Adam could almost believe he was a carefree boy once more. But he wouldn’t trade those days for what he had now, even if he had a difficult decision to make. Because to do so, would be to forget Lynn, and that he would never want. Ever.

  Chapter Eleven – Lynn

  “Good girl, Jesse,” Skyla crooned softly as her horse watched the others racing. “Boys will be boys.”

  “Yes, they will.” Lynn held her reins tighter, and then loosened them when Honey showed no intention of wanting to go faster. “Good girl.”

  “It’s good to see four brothers who get along, though.” Skyla relaxed as her horse followed Honey’s lead, walking at a steady pace after the others. “You seem to get on well with Adam.”

  “I like him. But we’ve only just met.”

  “He asked you to come today. That means he thinks a lot of you, wouldn’t you say?” Skyla asked, trying not to sound as if she were prying.

  “He is a little intense,” Lynn admitted. “It’s like he thinks we’re going to be together.”

  “And you aren’t so sure?” Skyla patted her horse.

  “Was Jordan the same?” Lynn asked. “I wondered, since they are brothers, if it’s something in the way they were brought up. You know, lonely cowboys seeking wife.”

  “It is in the way they are made up, rather than brought up.” Skyla cast a sideways glance at Lynn. “You’re not from around here, are you? With the talk about your ranch, and the family being surprised the ranch was left to you, I figured you were from out of town.”

  “I am. I visited my uncle a few times, but my mom and dad never talked about him. And I haven’t been this way for years.”

  “OK, all I can tell you is that the family has this thing where they know when they meet their mate,” Skyla said evasively.

  “Their mate?” Lynn frowned at the strange term. “You mean their true love? They all believe in love at first sight?”

  “They do. True love. Yes. Let’s go with that,” Skyla stumbled over the words. “All you need to know is that if Adam thinks you are the one for him, I can say with almost certainty that he is right.”

  “And I’m supposed to go along with it?” Lynn asked.

  “Oh, I didn’t say that. Make him work for it.” Skyla gave her a wicked grin. “I believe the best kind of relationships have to be worked at, not taken for granted. But if you give him a chance, I can tell you, it will be the best thing you have ever done.”

  They had reached the stand of trees and followed the trail that led beneath the branches, the cool shade welcome. Honey called softly to the other horses, who were standing in a line beneath a big ash tree. Their riders were nowhere to be seen.

  “Looks like the men have gotten a head start.” Skyla pointed through the trees to where the three Williams brothers were stripping down, thankfully not compl
etely naked, but down to their underpants, and then with a holler, they jumped into the inviting water of a large pool.

  “Looks as if they have,” Lynn agreed.

  “I don’t think I’m going to be swimming in there, but I am going to sit with my feet in the water,” Skyla said, sliding down off her horse, and stretching her legs. “What do you say? A little man-watching?”

  “I think I’d like that.” Lynn got off Honey, and winced as her feet touched the ground. “Definitely out of practice.”

  “I’m not looking forward to getting back on. No offense, Jesse.” Skyla kissed her horse’s nose and then looked around. “But I’m glad we came, this place is beautiful.”

  Skyla was right. The trees hid what could almost be an oasis. The falls, as Adam had called them, emptied into a hidden pool, like a sapphire amongst the emerald trees. Deep blue, with only the frothy water of the falls breaking the surface, this was a perfect place. Skyla and Lynn found a place by the north side of the pool, where the sun broke through and gave them some warmth, while they dipped their feet in the cool water of the pool.

  As her feet numbed, Lynn tried to figure out how the Williams brothers could stand being under the freezing water. “They must have hot blood,” she muttered to Skyla.

  “You better believe it,” Skyla said with a knowing smile. “You ever want a man to keep you warm, then Adam would be it.”

  “I can believe it,” Lynn was starting to come around to the idea of being part of this family. Skyla’s words had stuck in her head, and she liked the idea of true love, and all that went with it. No room for doubt, or for second-guessing. Life would be simple.

  Adam was a good man. She should count herself lucky. However, she was not willing to just go with someone else’s plans. She wanted to be her own woman and make her own decisions, and that included choosing her man. Just because the Williams men thought they knew their true love at first sight didn’t mean she had to cave in and do what Adam wanted.

  That was a lesson she had learned from dealing with her parents. But as she watched him get out of the pool and drag his jeans up over his wet legs, she sure did wish she felt the same way.