“Suck-up,” Dex whispered to Rafe.
The ranch hand grinned as he dried his hands and followed Dex toward the kitchen.
“You two boys come eat this before it gets cold.”
The men sat at the scarred round oak table, and Nana Dunbar dished up chicken and noodles. For as long as Dex could remember, his grandmother had rolled out homemade noodles at least once a week and hung them on the wooden racks to dry. Flavor exploded over his taste buds at the first bite.
“You’ll get to heaven on your cooking alone, Mrs. Dunbar.” Rafe spooned the soup into his mouth like a machine, nodding as he chewed. “Yes, ma-am. No one cooks like you.”
Dex rolled his eyes at Rafe, but kept any comments to himself. He was glad Rafe and his grandmother got along. She treated Rafe like he was another grandson, and that suited Dex just fine.
Nana Lucy sat across from them, steam curling upward from the cup of tea in her hands. “Rafael, you can have a second helping even without the blarney. But compliments will get you a third bowl.”
After Lucy had refilled Rafe’s bowl, she sat between the men.
With the exception of major holidays, Dex had never seen his grandmother sit at the dinner table with the family. She always stood by the stove, a teacup in her hands, ready to refill plates or glasses.
His grandmother cleared her throat, placed the cup on the table and folded her hands in her lap. She wanted to discuss something, and he knew from experience she’d expect an answer. “I hear Mavis Panzeri is in town.”
Dex nearly choked on a mouthful of food. He wiped his chin with a paper napkin and shot Nana a sideways glance. “She got back a couple of weeks ago. Why?”
“Finally decided to pay a visit to her aging mama?” Nana shook her head as she walked to the stove and poured more hot water into her cup.
“I wouldn’t call Alma Panzeri aged. She’s not even fifty yet.” He fished a chunk of chicken out of the broth and popped it into his mouth.
Nana dunked the used tea bag a few times before turning to Dex. “Have you forgotten what that girl did to us last time she was here?”
“She didn’t do anything to you, and I don’t want to talk about this. How’d the grange meeting go?” Dex took another bite, but he wasn’t hungry any longer.
“If anyone hurts one of my family, they hurt me.” Nana gave him the look that used to send him hunting for cover. It still made him sit up straight. “The Panzeri girl is no good for you. She’ll be gone before you know it.”
Head bent over his bowl, Rafe was doing a good job of pretending to be invisible.
Dex placed his spoon on the napkin and stood. “I’ve got work to do.” He started to walk away then turned and picked up the bowl of chicken and noodles. No use going hungry all afternoon.
Nana followed him halfway to the barn, calling after him. As she shouted, the words tumbled over each other, her voice high-pitched and scratchy. “I won’t let her hurt you again. Do you hear me?”
The angry words from his beloved grandmother made Dex’s chest clamp down with anxiety. Memories of the fights and pain came flooding back.
He’d been a junior in high school when he first brought Mavis home, and she’d soon become a part of the family. The good feelings lasted until the first time Mavis insisted on going on the round up instead of staying in the house with the other women, cooking for the crew.
Horses were Mavis’ first love, and she’d enjoyed learning to work cattle. House cleaning and cooking hadn’t even made the list.
His Nana Lucy, on the other hand, was old school ranch wife. A woman’s place was in the home taking care of her husband and children. That was all it had taken to make his grandmother disapprove of Mavis.
Dex stalked through the barn and climbed the bales of hay stacked against the east wall. Below him, twin baby goats ran circles around each other while their mother munched corn stalks. The sun sank toward the horizon, and heat settled around him like a wool blanket.
It had been expected he’d marry and live on the ranch just like his dad and grandfather. Mavis hadn’t agreed, and she’d been right. They’d been much too young, and with Nana Lucy’s influence he’d let Mavis leave.
When he’d told his grandmother he wanted to go after Mavis, to talk things out, she’d given him a hug, sat him in one of the old high-backed kitchen chairs and put her hands on her hips. “Junior, if Mavis loves you, really loves you, she’ll come back on her own. If she doesn’t, we don’t need her. We’ve always gotten along fine the three of us.”
So he’d taken his grandmother’s advice and waited for Mavis to come home.
Mavis never had.
Through the years, he’d played with the idea of looking her up, but each time his grandmother’s words raced through his mind. “If she loved you, she’d come back. But she’s not here, is she?”
He looked out across the dusty pens. Sitting here, sweating in the sun was getting him nowhere. He had supplies to pick up at the feed store, and if he hurried, he’d have time to make an impromptu visit to his dad before the co-op closed.
He passed Rafe as he walked to the farm truck. “Going to town. Don’t know when I’ll be home.”
“Sure, boss.” Rafe waved and started toward the barn.
Dex called out to his friend. “Want to go visit Dad with me?”
Rafe turned mid-stride and hurried back. “I’d never pass up a chance to visit with the old man. Even if he doesn’t know me, I like seeing him.”
The drive through the canyons between the ranch and the Treasure Valley was made mostly in silence, both men enjoying the scenery. He’d heard it described as barren country, but among the dust and sagebrush were hidden springs and rock formations that took Dex’s breath away.
Fighting down an unexpected jolt of anger as he pulled into the nursing home parking lot, Dex tried to push away his apprehension. His father had been the most independent person he’d ever known. During the time it had taken to get here, he’d kept his fingers crossed. Each day Ben Dunbar was lucid was a gift now, and Dex desperately wanted to talk to his father today.
In a perverse way, he got what he’d wished for. From the moment they walked into the room, Dad remembered he was a rancher who owned the Rafter D. He didn’t do as well keeping his visitors straight. Today, Ben thought Rafe was one of his sons. Dex could deal with that. He sat in the corner and listened to Rafe and his father plan for the coming year.
“If you’ll order the lumber and roofing—” His father had been studying the rough drawing Rafe had made on a piece of scratch paper when he stopped speaking. He lifted his gaze to Rafe, his voice rising with confusion and panic. “Who are you? Where’s my son?”
Rafe hurried to find help as Dex leaned down and kissed his father’s forehead. It was a gesture he’d never have made if his dad were in his right mind. “Take it easy, Dad. I’m right here.”
As the nurse hurried in to comfort his father, Dex couldn’t get out of the room fast enough. Ben Dunbar had lost his way—again.
“He didn’t seem too bad today.” Rafe climbed into the truck and looked at Dex. “Til the end.”
“I hate to say it, but this was the happiest I’ve seen him in a couple of weeks.” During Dex’s last visit a few days before, Dad had insisted if he couldn’t live on the Rafter D, he didn’t want to live at all. Today, he’d been full of plans for a new hay barn.
Dex rolled his window down as they drove away. The heat of the day had faded, and a breeze caught the scent of fresh cut lawns. “I feel bad when I don’t see Dad every day, but it kills me to watch him slide away.”
“He told me once if he had his way, he’d drop dead of a heart attack while checking cattle. Fast, easy and doing something he loved.” Rafe rested his elbow out the open window and leaned his head against the headrest as Dex drove through town. “I think he had the right idea.”
“Not a bad way to go.” Dex pulled into the Feed and Seed. It was a few minutes before closing, and they’d caught
Clyde as he battened down the hatches on the store for the night. The middle-aged man was as wide as he was tall. Even after a long day, his hair was slicked down tight, and the crease in his jeans was sharp.
“Got time for me to pay for the vet supplies I ordered?” Dex climbed the steps to the door, and Rafe followed.
Clyde grinned and waved them inside. “Always got time for someone to give me money.”
CHAPTER FIVE
Mavis pulled up to the stop sign in the middle of Homedale then turned on to the side road that led to the arena. The rodeo board had opened the grounds for public riding a couple of times a week during the summer, and she was taking advantage of a new place to work her horses.
This was Paycheck’s first time away from home. One of the things Mavis liked best about working with young horses was watching how they reacted to the new surroundings. Tuneful, an old campaigner, would take it all in stride.
Winding through the narrow streets of an old neighborhood, Mavis entered the fenced lot surrounding the Homedale Rodeo arena. Just as she’d hoped, she had the place to herself, but as she saddled Paycheck, she heard a familiar rumble. Betsy, the Dunbar’s farm truck, came into view, and a smile spread across her face.
She and Dex had had some good times in the timeworn truck. The Chevy had been ancient when they’d first dated, but old girl had always run. A shiver of sadness washed over her. Those times were gone, and even if she’d wished otherwise—and she didn’t— they weren’t coming back.
What the hell was Dex doing here, anyway? This arena was at the edge of town on a dead-end road. Nobody drove by without planning to get here.
After much consideration, she’d decided to let bygones be bygones, and she turned toward the truck with a smile she didn’t have to force. If they were both going to live in this area, she’d have to get over her lingering doubts about not making a life with Dex. It was past time to move on.
She ran the brush through Paycheck’s long black mane one more time, slipped the bridle on and led the horse to where the men stood leaning against the truck’s fenders. “Betsy is still going strong, I see.”
Dex patted the heart-shaped primer spot on the hood. “She reminds me of the energizer bunny, except not as cute, and she makes more noise.”
“Good thing Dex isn’t an Army scout. He couldn’t sneak up on a deaf man in this thing.” Rafe smiled at Mavis, his grin infectious. “How’ve you been, Mavis?”
“That’s why Dex’s Indian name is Moves Like Buffalo.” She turned her attention fully on Rafe. “And I’m doing fine.” She’d always liked Rafe.
Rafe had wanted to be a buckaroo since they were in grade school. Much to his dad’s chagrin, he’d spent many weekends working for area ranchers for free to learn the business of ranching. The day he’d graduated high school, he got a job at a local ranch. She’d heard his dad hadn’t spoken to him since.
“I don’t see any horses. What are you two doing here?”
“Dex saw you drive by the feed store. Our next stop was either Burger Town or wherever you ended up. Guess he likes you better than food.” Rafe ducked a half-hearted punch Dex threw his way, his smile growing wider.
“I wanted to check up on the colt. How’s Paycheck coming along?” Dex ran his fingers through the horse’s mane, working out a tangle.
Mavis shivered watching Dex’s strong hand stroke the horse’s neck. She remembered the feeling and got lost for a moment in long ignored memories.
Rafe cleared his throat, and Mavis glanced up to see his all-knowing look. She forced her brain to concentrate on the conversation. “He’s doing great. I’m getting ready to ride. I guess you could stay and watch.”
Dex turned to Rafe. “We have time, right?”
“Like I have any say in the matter.” Rafe rolled his eyes. “You can stay as long as you want. Toss me the keys. I’m going to town for a burger before I die from lack of food.”
Dex lobbed the key ring across the hood of the truck. “Here you go, Rafael. Bring me something good.”
Ignoring the men’s good-natured ribbing, Mavis mounted Paycheck and rode into the arena. As she warmed up her horse, she heard Betsy rumble away. How many times had she waited on her parent’s front porch straining to hear Betsy’s engine?
Mavis bit the inside of her cheek, hoping the pain would put a halt to her rampant thoughts. She needed to tuck the useless memories of Dex away and deal with the here and now.
A here and now without Dex in the picture.
A deep, hollow thunk echoed through the air as Dex tossed a metal, fifty-gallon barrel over the fence.
Mavis dismounted and rolled another one to the opposite side of the arena. As Dex positioned the third barrel she heard a woman’s voice echo through the dusty air.
“Hey handsome. How’s your daddy doing?” The thin blonde was dressed in men’s Wranglers and a plaid flannel shirt, her hair scraped in a tight ponytail. She rode her horse up to Dex, her smile as wide and welcoming as a summer day.
Dex gave her his lady killer grin. “Some good days and some bad. How’s Major doing after the colic surgery?”
The woman stepped off her horse and gave Dex a hug. “Colic surgery is an expensive operation, but Doc Hayes says it was a success. I couldn’t bear to put old Major down.”
Mavis led Paycheck toward them. When they were in grade school, the three of them had been inseparable. When Dex and Mavis had started dating in high school, Deena had remained a good friend to them both.
The woman glanced across the arena toward her, and Mavis raised her hand in greeting. Deena’s look was so cold it almost froze the dirt beneath Paycheck’s feet. The woman turned her back without a word and concentrated on Dex.
What the hell? Deena had been one of her closest friends. Was she mad Mavis hadn’t kept in touch?
Well, she hadn’t come here to socialize. Mavis had work to do, and she’d learned through the years horses generally were much more sociable than people. She trotted Paycheck around the edge of the arena, working on flexibility and response.
The blonde caught up with her halfway around, her thin ponytail bouncing in time to the trot. “Still got Dex fetching and toting for you, I see.”
Mavis glanced into the grandstands where Dex was now sitting. He was concentrating on his phone. She smiled at Deena. “It’s been a long time.”
“And whose fault is that, Ma-ple?” Scorn filled Deena’s voice and anger flashed across her face before she replaced it with an impassive look. “Good thing we haven’t missed you.”
Mavis stiffened. No one called her Maple except Dex. Years ago, he’d told her she was sweet as maple syrup. Now even he’d lost the right to use the nickname.
Deena’s high school nickname flashed through Mavis’ mind, and she snapped her mouth shut before it flew out. She would not lower herself to her former friend’s level.
Mavis struggled for something civil to say, something to put them both at ease.
Deena didn’t give her time. After studying Mavis for a moment, her eyes narrowed, her lips thinned, she turned and rode away.
Mavis’ plan when she’d decided to come here had been to ask Paycheck for more speed. She’d wanted to see how he handled a new place. That plan had changed. No way was she working the colt in front of a crowd, and this arena suddenly seemed jam-packed. Mavis stepped off Paycheck and loosened his cinch.
“Don’t let me run you off.” Deena’s smile was anything but friendly as she sat by the fence. “Oh, that’s right. You don’t need an excuse to run away.”
Where had all the animosity come from? Mavis didn’t know and tried not to care. She waved to Dex and Deena as if the uncomfortable exchange hadn’t taken place then hurried to her trailer. She unsaddled and loaded the horses. Time to make her escape.
Unfortunately, her escape would be slow. Potholes the size of craters marred the dirt parking area. She was creeping across the uneven ground when the passenger door opened.
Dex jumped onto the running
board then slid into the seat.
Good thing they were hardly moving. Mavis eased her foot on the brakes until the rig came to a wobbly stop. “What the hell?”
“Rafe got held up. Can I ride along to your place? He can pick me up there.” He grinned as he slammed the door.
His smile set her girly parts to tingling, and she shifted in the seat. After putting the truck into neutral, she turned to him. It took all her concentration to keep her face expressionless as her heart raced.
Dex fastened his seatbelt before looking at her. “That’s not a problem, is it?”
“Rafe got held up at Burger Town? Really?” What the hell was Dex pulling now?
His grin filled the cab of the truck with warmth, and she had to force her hormones into the box where she’d kept them since she’d left home. “Betsy went lame, and he’s at the tire shop getting her fixed. So, what do you say?”
What did she say? She’d thought she’d made it clear they weren’t friends. As usual, Dex hadn’t listened.
“Deena lives a block from the tire store. It would be closer for Rafe if you rode with her.” Not that she needed an excuse to turn him down, but she felt better having found a reasonable one.
Dex swiveled in the seat to face her. “I can if you really don’t want to take me.”
“Going with Deena would be easier all around.”
He nodded and reached for the door handle before glancing back. The corners of his mouth lifted and ruined the sad face he was trying to portray. The humor faded from his expression as he reached out and touched her arm. “Somewhere along the line, Deena changed her mind about being friends. She wants more. I’ve tried to tell her that’s not going to happen, but she won’t take no for an answer.”
Exactly like a certain someone sitting beside her. If she put her foot down, she knew Dex would leave her alone. If she insisted, he’d get a ride from Deena. Why the hell she didn’t do either was beyond her mental capacity at the moment.
Mavis turned the key, and the Dodge rumbled to life. As they started for the gate, Deena trotted from the arena and up to the passenger side of the truck.
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