by Avery Gale, Jess Buffett, Willow Brooke, Lynn Ray Lewis, Gracie Meadows
Immediately after graduation, she went away to college, coming home only to give birth and stay with her dad until Jackson was big enough to take back to the city. Her dad had helped her get an apartment and made weekend trips up to help so she could get caught up on her studies and get some rest. It had been hell, but worth every sleepless night. Now, she had a perfect little eleven-year-old angel and was an accredited, established physician. Her father never asked who the father was, and she never volunteered the information. Maybe he knew all along about what had happened that night, or maybe he didn’t want to know. Either way, it had worked out for the best. Tim was still clinging to a rodeo dream, living paycheck to paycheck with a never-ending list of broken bones and scars to show for it.
“Short Stack, are you okay?” The concerned tone of her dad’s voice dragged her out of the long-buried thoughts, giving her a startle. She shook her head and nodded, hoping that he wouldn’t pick up on her sudden mood change.
“Sorry, yeah, I have a headache coming on, and something tells me these two goons are going to make it worse.”
“Oh, now they aren’t that bad. Roger has come to help me on the farm many times when I was in a bind. He has moved back into his parents’ house to help take care of them now that they are getting older. And Tim is back in town because of his father’s heart attack. I figured you already knew he was back, from George’s visits. All that man ever talks about is Tim. I think he is living his dream through his son. George was on the rodeo circuit for a few years too, did you know that?”
“No, I don’t guess you ever mentioned it.”
“Yeah, he was a pretty big deal back in the day before he got on a gnarly bull named Blazer and got run through. Broke both legs and his collarbone, and had to have stitches in a bunch of places. Put him out for a long time.” Frank opened the door and looked back at her. “Anyway, old glory days, I guess. You ready?”
“Yeah, I guess.” With a heavy sigh, Harley stepped out and walked around the truck. She followed her dad just a few steps behind, feeling almost like she was walking straight into her nightmare and facing the monster who had haunted her all of her adult life.
Thankfully, her father took the reins when they approached and did the talking. “Nice wheels, boys. You get those factory or are they custom?”
“Well, hello, Frank. Yeah, these here are top of the line hot rods. I am running one horsepower with a turbo boost.” Tim held up his foot to reveal the spurs that clanked on his boots. Cocky fucker.
For some odd reason, his lame response cued Roger to chime in with his two cents. “I got me a mustang right here…black with white racing stripes. I can do zero to forty five in about two minutes.” His drunk, lopsided grin was almost too much. Roger hadn’t been in the jock asshole group of kids in school, and was one of the very few who had been nice to her. He was a normal hick cowpoke, who came to school ninety percent of the time straight from the milk barn reeking of cow shit every morning. Today, he was dumbass number two. She rolled her eyes, biting her tongue to keep her not-so-friendly comments to herself. Unfortunately, Roger noticed her. “Well I’ll be a coon’s ass, is that you, little Harley Brannon? Look at you, girl! You are all grown up in all the right places!” He almost fell off sideways before he finished talking.
“Hello, Roger. Good to see you too…drunk in all the wrong places.” Her voice held a sarcastic snottiness that surprised even her. Frank turned around and looked, quirking an eyebrow in question. With another dramatic eye roll and shrug, she continued to smooth it over. “I haven’t seen you in forever. How ya been, Rog?”
“I’ll be right back.” Tim guided the horse over to the window and proceeded to place his order while the three talked. The lady at the window burst out laughing, calling some of the other workers in to look at the jackass on the horse. Great. That’s all he needs—an audience. Don’t encourage him, woman!
“Aw, I am better now that you are here. You wanna climb on up and go for a ride? We can gallop down memory lane on some of the old dirt roads and nurse this thirty pack.” Roger drew her attention back, calming the anger that had already started to bubble up. He reached back and patted the saddle bag, grinning from ear to ear. He was still handsome, but didn’t ever grow huge like most of the farm boys did. At maybe five foot nine, weighing around one forty-five, he was the same small cutie cowboy she remembered. His blonde hair was still cut short, accenting the high cheekbones with a smile that could charm the pants off a donkey. His baby blues and easygoing personality left few people who didn’t immediately love him.
“As irresistible as that sounds, I am going to have to take a rain check. We do need to catch up sometime. Stop by the ranch for supper with us one night. I make a mean roast beef and cherry cobbler.”
“Dang, gorgeous and knows how to cook. So, who snatched you up and slapped a ring on your finger?”
Harley held up her hand, showing no wedding ring. “No one. I have an office here in town that keeps me busy. Between that and the ranch, no time for play. How about you? Dad said you have dropped in a time or two. Where you living now?”
“Wow, not married? I may just have to remedy that.” He grinned, winking playfully. “I am out at Maw and Paw’s over in Pine. I gotta come to the big city a few times a week to stay current with all the trends and newest fashions.” He laughed, looking down at the plain white t-shirt and worn-out blue jeans he had on. Pine was only about fifteen miles south, and was half the size of Heart’s Peak. Most everyone came to Heart’s Peak or went over to Watts to go shopping, and to Walmart. The only store Pine had was a small grocery store that sold a few extra items more than most food markets.
“Yeah, can’t have you dressing like a hick, now can we? How are your mom and dad?”
“They’re okay, I guess. Mom’s Alzheimer’s is getting pretty bad, and Dad has no patience for it in his grumpy old age. He ends up telling her to shut up and walks away. It’s okay though, she doesn’t remember it ever.” He laughed, but underneath the drunk and the jokes, she could tell it hurt.
“Why don’t you bring her into the clinic next week. I just heard of a new medication that was released to help with the symptoms. Maybe it will make things a little easier on you all.”
His face lit up in a grin. “I will do that. That would be great. I would be happy if she remembered to put her pants on once in a while. I came in from feeding one day and found her sitting on the couch with a pair of dad’s boxers on and one of her church blouses. Dad was just sitting there, watching the PBA paying her no attention. His only excuse was that she seemed to be comfortable, so why bother her? I wanted to send him to his damn room. I guess it is true what they say…the older you get, the younger you act.”
Frank snickered, earning a playful slap from Harley. Before Roger got a chance to go on talking like he was known to do, Frank spoke up, “We stopped to give you boys a hand. Ol’ Walt is on duty today, and I couldn’t let you two get hauled in. I am gonna run you boys home, and Harley is gonna take the horses back to the farm. Y’all can come pick them up tomorrow.”
“Shit, Barney’s on duty? I knew we should have called to check first. That crooked bastard is waiting to find a reason to nail me and Tim. Well, I was really looking forward to cruisin’ through town, but I guess it will have to wait until before we make a beer stop next time.” Roger hopped down and walked over to them. Without hesitating, he shook Frank’s hand, and gripped Harley in a huge bear hug. “I missed you, hot stuff.”
Harley had to laugh. He was too damn lovable. “I missed you too, Rog.” Tim’s horse’s hooves clanked on the asphalt over to them, stopping next to Roger’s horse.
“I didn’t know what you all would want, so I ordered you a number two with fries. How the hell you been, Frank?”
“I’m good. Was driving by and seen you two goons swaggering on your mounts and told Harley we better get you before Walt does.”
His eyes widened in shock. “Harley? Well fuck me sideways. I didn’t recognize y
ou. You are…wow. You look great. I thought you got you a younger woman, Frank! How ya been, Harley?”
She didn’t want to answer. The pompous asshat didn’t even recognize her! He could sleep with her, but didn’t even know who she was a few years later. Hell, she was willing to bet money that he hadn’t given her a single thought since that whole horror show went down. Granted, she had filled out and grown out of the gawkiness and lost the braces…but still. There was no way he could get off on any excuse. “From the looks of it, better than you.” Her tone could have cut glass.
Whether it was drunken stupidity or just his normal ignorant blustering personality, he took it as a sign to continue, “You are definitely lookin’ better than me, sugar. If I would have known what a sexy little number you grew into, I would have come back to town more often. What have you been up to all my life? By the looks of you, it hasn’t been poppin’ out babies and slaving in the kitchen.”
You ignorant son of a bitch! No, just your kid, you stupid fuck. “Not much since prom…oh, besides me being a doctor, and no, only one kid.” She smiled cattily. As much as she would love to shock him to death right now, it wasn’t worth him knowing about Jackson. Their life had been perfect with just the two of them, and she didn’t have room for any drama. Jackson was hers. He wasn’t conceived out of a bad bet to her, but had been for love until the ugly truth had come to a head after. Even broken-hearted and utterly humiliated, she couldn’t stop her heart from hurting because she had been head over heels for him all those years. It took a long time for the pain of that night to go away, and even more for the betrayal. By the look on his face, she had still managed to knock him for a loop. For once, the man who had a line for everything was speechless.
Frank must have picked up on the muddy water and stepped in to save the awkward situation. “I am going to give you boys a ride home while short stack takes the horses back to the farm. You should know better than to come to town drunk.”
“Aw, Frank, that’s why we aren’t driving. It was a long day in the hay field and a few brews were in order. We had to make a beer run somehow.” He cheesed again, finding himself way more amusing than he actually was. At thirty, the years had been good to him. His sandy hair showed hardly any signs of gray, and the few wrinkles around his catlike emerald-green eyes that had so infatuated her were probably more from long days in the sun and less from getting older. She had always loved the shape of his full mouth, and remembered the little burst of excitement that shot through her when she finally got to taste his lips that night. He was bigger and brawnier than he was as a teen, with wide shoulders and muscles that could be seen through the tight black t-shirt he wore. With tight Levi’s to match, he was a sight for sore eyes, and made her want to puke.
“Well, I am happy you drove responsibly, but I don’t think Walter Newport will see it quite the same way. Hop on in the truck and let me get you out of the Sheriff of Nottingham’s sights.”
Right on prompt, Roger started singing the song, “Not in Nottingham” from Disney’s Robin Hood. The goofball went through the first chorus before Frank could get him buckled in the cab. Harley couldn’t help laughing. Roger was the same guy he had always been, and made her crack up every time she was around him. With a shake of her head she grabbed the beer from each horse and put it in the back of the truck, planting a kiss on her daddy’s cheek before hoisting into the saddle. “It was good seeing you again, Roger.” She glared at Tim and didn’t say a word. “I will see you back at the house, Dad. Don’t forget to stop by and get feed and milk, the rest I can come back for tomorrow.”
“Will do. Be careful, and no speeding.” He winked, smiling at her like she held the moon.
“Funny.” She grinned back and, with Tim’s horse tied to hers, started the hour long ride back home.
Chapter Two
Halfway there she had relaxed from the situation and was enjoying the scenery. It had been a long time since she had taken a leisurely ride, and forgot how therapeutic it was. Instead of hurrying, she set a slow easy pace, knowing it was hours before Jackson was due home from school and her dad would probably have to bullshit for a good while before he headed back this way. The sun cast warmth over her arms and face, soaking in like a dip in a hot tub. The small breeze kept the temperature perfect, allowing her to watch the birds above and the fields of animals on each side. By the time she made it home and got the horses tended to and put in the field, she was back to her usual calm, cool, and collected self.
That evening, her dad had hinted a time or two about her previous behavior but dropped it after she dismissed the questions. He was so good at knowing when to push and when to let sleeping dogs lie. All three gathered around the dinner table, having another great family dinner and living the simple life only the farm could give.
Weeks passed, and besides Roger showing up for dinner a couple times, Tim had been pushed to the very back of her thoughts and filed back in the ‘Do Not Touch’ folder. One evening, she had stayed late to tend to the hay fever outbreak of the century and was eye deep in clients. When she opened the door to see her next patient, she almost fainted. There, leaning over on the table, was a very torn-up Tim Kindle. Fuck a duck.
Her first instinct was to turn and walk back out and send him over to the hospital’s ER, but ethics won out. Reluctantly, she stepped in and shut the door behind her, taking a seat at the desk to look over the nurse’s notes. Intentionally not addressing him and keeping the silence uncomfortable, she flipped through the papers casually before finally setting them down and turning toward him. Before she could start her examination and questioning, he said, “I am so sorry. I know words don’t fix the damage I did that night, but I just want you to know I regret what happened every day.” Did she hear correctly? What? There was no way, high and mighty football king and rodeo legend, Tim Kindle was apologizing and admitting he did wrong. No, those words didn’t do shit. Not after everything that had happened, and not after all of these years. Instead of giving him any type of closure or arguing her feelings, in a completely professional manner, she stood and grabbed her stethoscope.
“So, is this the work of a bull I presume?” Her hand moved to put the stethoscope over his heart and was stopped. Tim grabbed her hand and held it, keeping it from its target.
“Harley, did you hear me? I can’t imagine what I put you through. I should have put a stop to it all and didn’t have the balls. That night… I took you because I wanted to take you, not because of the bet. And what happened afterwards was real.” His eyes filled with remorse, drawing the lines in his face down in a sad expression. Is this for real? Harley’s mind spun like a tilt-a-whirl, trying to process what he was saying. It was evident he was speaking from the heart, but truth or not, it didn’t matter. It didn’t change a damn thing.
“Yes, I heard you. Yes, you should have. And no, it wasn’t, or you wouldn’t have allowed the rest to happen. If you came looking for forgiveness, as a Christian woman, I forgive you. As a woman, you are shit out of luck. Now, can you tell me everything that hurts and what happened, please?” Harley took charge with a firm, dominating tone, leaving him no choice but to answer and drop the subject. She went through the normal routine of checking him from head to toe and decided it best to get X-rays. “I will be right back. I want X-rays of your wrist and ankle, and one of your back just to be safe. You have a concussion but should be okay in a couple days. With the exception of the bumps and scrapes, I think a few days’ rest and a mild pain medication should have you back up and running. Let me go order the X-rays, and I will be back with some paperwork and a script.”
“Wait…what about my chest?” He clutched his hand tightly over his heart.
“You are having chest pains? That should have been the first thing you mentioned.” She walked back over and started to do a deeper examination and he stopped her.
“My heart has been hurting for some time now, and all of the other doctors can’t fix it.”
“What do you mean? You have
a heart condition? I need your records before I do anything. Give me the phone number and names of the specialists you are seeing.” She grabbed a pen and pad out of her white coat and handed them to him.
He took them like they were foreign objects. After stalling around a bit, he looked up and straight into her eyes. “Only you can mend my broken heart, Harley. It has always been you.” He was working the playboy lines really well today. Breaking her normal business persona, she half sighed and half snorted.
“Oh, bullshit, Tim. Your player lines don’t work on me. Get back to your buckle bunnies and try them on for size. I am sure you can find a few that will take it hook, line, and sinker, and probably a few other ways if you ask nicely.” Without giving him any room to feed her more of his bullshit routine, she opened the door to go get the paperwork done when Jackson came running in.
“Momma, Dr. Needles needs your help with a patient, right now! Mrs. Allen is refusing to let him examine her and keeps demanding to see you.”
