Bound to You

by Vanessa Holland

  “I’m already worn out,” Sam told his mother and Frankie.

  They both laughed at him. Crystal and Becky were on the floor, entertaining the kids, but they heard and laughed at him, too.

  His mother was working her way through Ethan’s baby book, which Sam had brought to show her.

  “And all I did was drive him out here,” he continued, enjoying the attention. “He screamed bloody murder till I got him strapped into his car seat. Then he settled down. He thought I was kidnapping him.”

  “He looks just like you,” his mom said, gazing fondly at Ethan. “I’d have known in a second he was yours.”

  Sam smiled at her, proud to hear someone say it out loud. He’d tried to get Jenna to admit the resemblance, but she probably preferred to think Ethan looked like her.

  He remembered the flash drive in his pocket. He handed it to his mother. “More pictures of Ethan. I thought you’d want them on your computer.”

  “Crystal, honey,” Sunny said, holding the flash drive as if it were a bug. “Can you, please?”

  Crystal, who worked as a freelance web designer, came over, took the flash drive, and left the room.

  His mother shrugged helplessly. “I can get to my email and that’s about it.”

  “Make me a copy,” Frankie yelled after Crystal.

  “Jack moved to Cincinnati,” Sam mentioned.

  They all nodded, not seeming surprised. “He came out to say goodbye last night,” his mother informed him. “Another one gone.”

  “But it’s for the best,” Frankie said, holding her big belly and shifting uncomfortably in her seat. “He was rotting here all alone.” She brightened suddenly. “When do we get to meet Jenna?”

  His mother shifted, seeming equally interested.

  “Probably not till the weekend. She’s busy with work. But I did it. We’re doing it. Getting married.”

  That got the reaction he’d expected. Sounds of excitement. Congratulations. Becky hugged Ethan who tolerated it, but frowned at her, having no clue what was going on.

  His mother hugged him and Frankie held out her hands to him, too bulky to get up to hug him.

  “So, when’s the big day?” Frankie asked.

  He gave her a hug and sat down again. “We haven’t talked about it yet. We still have things to work out.”

  “You know,” his mother said, standing and moving away, “Jackson’s house is just sitting empty now. After all that work he did on it.”

  She handed the baby book to Frankie and left the room. Becky raised her eyebrows at him, smiling, nodding. He knew what they meant, what they wanted. They wanted him to move back and take Jack’s house. They wanted him to move back, marry Jenna and keep his new family nearby.

  Not a bad idea on the surface. Jenna could keep her job, but he’d have to give up the ranch, and his life there. He’d have to break his promise.

  “You don’t have to sell the land,” Frankie said as if reading his thoughts. “I know what Granddad was afraid of. Losing it all. The land won’t evaporate without you there. It’s not like you need it to survive.” She nodded toward Ethan. “But him…. Him, you do need.”

  She was right. Now that he knew about Ethan, now that he’d come to know the boy, he couldn’t live without him. Or Jenna.

  “He wanted someone in the family to have it,” Frankie said, flipping through the baby book. “For it to mean to us what it meant to him. I know. But some things can’t be helped.”

  “There’s no one left to take it,” Sam said, thinking aloud. “Jack’s in Cincinnati, Boone’s got his planes and flying school and Mike’s got his music business. You and Steve don’t want it. None of the kids are old enough or would know what to do with it even if they were.”

  “The cousins?”

  The Texas cousins? “They all have their lives sorted. And Granddad’s ranch is like a joke compared to what they have.” He lowered his voice. “It’s even a joke to Mom and she grew up there. That’s why he left it to me. He knew I was the only one who cared.”

  “What about Little Bucky and Carol? His dad and Granddad were best friends for eighty years. They’re all practically family by now.”

  Sam had thought of that. He was considering it. Buck had grown up on the ranch and in truth had a closer connection to the land than Sam did. But even if he left Buck to run the ranch that would only solve one problem.

  “What would I do here?” he asked. “Be Mr. Mom?”

  Frankie could only shrug. “What would Jenna do on the ranch? She’s a lawyer, right?”

  “No, she had to give that up. Because of….” He watched his son crawling across the floor dragging a colorful toy behind him. He gave the toy to his new cousin, Maisey, then stood and ran away. Sam chuckled in amazement. Just moments before, Ethan had held on to the toy for dear life when Becky’s three-year-old, Josh, tried to take it from him. “But she’s a paralegal now.”

  Frankie nodded as if impressed, then confessed. “I don’t really know what that is.”

  “Me, neither.” But he knew Jenna considered her promotion an accomplishment. One he couldn’t imagine her wanting to give up.

  “I don’t know how you stand it,” Becky said. “I was only there for one week and I almost went crazy. There’s nothing out there but endless pastures and cows. If you hadn’t had satellite, I’d have died.”

  “I agree,” Frankie said. “You had Granddaddy to take care of before. With him gone now you’re out there alone. Mom always said you have to be born to that life and I think she’s right. You weren’t born to it. I never understood why you went out there in the first place.”

  “Me, neither,” Becky said. “You’re so outgoing. How can you stand to be out there so far from everyone?”

  He could only shrug. The isolation had been tough at first, but he’d stayed busy and eventually grown used to it. He’d learned to appreciate the raw beauty of the land, the hard work. He loved just getting on his horse and riding for no good reason, on his own land. He loved the wide-open spaces of Texas.

  On the other hand, most of his family lived here and he enjoyed being around them. Most of the time, anyway, when they weren’t pestering him. He was missing his nieces and nephews grow up. He loved spending time at the lake or the river with his brothers and old friends, and riding with his dad. He loved the lush beauty of Tennessee.

  Ethan ran and jumped onto the big blue ball, rolled off and fell onto his back on the floor. Sam leaned to the side to make sure he was okay, but Ethan laughed happily and jumped up to do it again - reminding Sam of Jenna at the waterfall. Of Jenna back in the days when she was full of laughs and smiles and boundless energy. Not stiff with worry and walking around with dark circles under her eyes.

  His mother returned holding a pale gray velvet box. She sat down and took out a diamond bracelet, the kind with nothing but diamonds all the way around. Except only a few diamonds remained. “I thought we could use these for the wedding band,” she said. “This was my sweet sixteen present. I like putting something of mine in all the kids’ rings. I’m taking the necklace to my jeweler this morning for the engagement ring. He promised he could have it done within a week. And he’d better considering the amount of business I give him. Did you get her ring size?”

  Sam had completely forgotten. “I can call her. She knows about the ring, anyway.”

  “I need you to get that,” his mother ordered and he nodded obediently.

  “My fingers are all swollen right now, but it’ll look just like this,” Frankie said, lifting a ring on a chain around her neck. He looked at a silver band with five diamonds across the top. Becky held up her hand and showed him her identical ring. It all seemed fine to him.

  “We’re going with platinum,” his mother said. “I hope that’s okay.”

  “Whatever you think.” He didn’t know why they even bothered to ask.

  Crystal returned with two flash drives. She handed Sam his and gave the other to Frankie.

  Ethan ran over an
d stopped in front of Sam. He started patting on Sam’s knee, staring up at him with his big blue eyes.

  Sam leaned forward. “Whatcha want, bud?” he asked, tousling Ethan’s hair.

  Ethan didn’t answer and continued to pat Sam’s knee.

  Sam looked to his mother for help. “What’s he doing?”

  “He may need changing,” Frankie suggested.

  Crystal scooped up Ethan, checked his diaper, and set him back down. “He’s fine.”

  Ethan ran away a few steps, then turned back and began patting Sam’s knee again. “What’s that?” he asked.

  Sam lifted Ethan to his knee. “What’s what, buddy?”

  Ethan started patting Sam’s chest. “What’s that?”

  “What? My shirt?” Sam looked around to the mothers in the room. “I’m not getting it.”

  “Oh, I know,” Becky said, coming over. “He wants to know who you are.”

  “That’s your daddy, darling,” his mother told Ethan. “You know your daddy, don’t you?”

  Ethan stared at her then looked back at Sam. “Who’s that?”

  “I’m your daddy, bud. Do you know what that is?” Sam looked helplessly at the women circling them. “I don’t think he knows what that word means.”

  He only received murmurs of sympathy from the room.

  Ethan reached up and rubbed Sam’s cheek to feel the stubble there. He’d forgotten to shave, too busy trying to keep Jenna in his arms, and then trying to keep his screaming, kicking son in his arms.

  “What’s that?” Ethan asked again, but softly this time, distractedly, and he continued to rub Sam’s cheek.

  Suddenly, Sam felt like he might faint. He wished Jenna were here to deal with this situation. She’d planned to tell Ethan, to explain, but the right time hadn’t come up. He wasn’t even sure they should be talking about this without her knowing.

  Sam’s father came into the room, spotted Ethan and in his ever-boisterous way, yelled, “There’s my new grandson! Give him here. Let me get a look at him.”

  He grabbed up Ethan and bounced him on his hip. Sam jumped up certain Ethan would start screaming in fright, but his son only stared at the man with disheveled gray hair who smelled like horses.

  “Wanna go for a ride, honey?” Knox said, already leaving. “Let’s go for a ride.”

  The older kids wanted to go riding, too, but their mothers called them back.

  Sam rushed after his son, knowing for a fact Jenna wouldn’t want Ethan on a horse without Sam’s supervision. She probably wouldn’t want Ethan on a horse at all. But he was a Strickland now and they’d all learned to ride early.

  He saw his father had been planning this. Popcorn and Froggy, two of his work horses, were saddled in front of the stables and ready to go. His dad climbed up with Ethan and settled the boy in front of him. Ethan fussed for a moment, a little startled, but then became fascinated by Froggy’s black mane. They set off at a walk.

  Sam joined them on Popcorn, keeping a close eye on Ethan, and Froggy. The bay had earned his nickname because as a yearling, he’d hopped like a frog when startled or excited, and Ethan was now kicking the horse roughly.

  But Froggy was five years old now and took it in stride, only giving the annoying kicking thing a backward glance.

  They set off across the meadow. The morning was nice, still cool and just enough breeze to keep the air fresh. It had been less than a week, but he’d missed the feel of a horse beneath him.

  “Saw we had a new dog all of a sudden,” his dad said.

  “Yeah, he needed a home. I figured it’d be okay.”

  Knox shrugged as if he didn’t care one way or another. “Your mom’s in charge of the dogs. If she says it’s okay, then it’s okay.”

  “She said it was okay.”

  “Well, okay, then. Heard you’re getting married.”

  “News travels fast.”

  He patted his shirt pocket where the shape of his cell phone had created a permanent outline. “Your mother called me.”

  Sam chuckled. “Am I in trouble?”

  “Trouble? No. Glad to hear it. This girl, the boy’s mother, she’s a Morgan, is she? The late mayor’s daughter?”

  “Yeah. Why?”

  “Your Uncle Sage called me this morning. Says he found the boys bullying some rich kid out in the barn.”

  Sam wasn’t interested in hearing about the high school pranks of his uncle’s kids. He had problems of his own.

  “Said they had the kid cleaning out the horse and pig stalls all night,” his dad continued. “Wouldn’t let him go till he was finished. And they said it had to do with you. The rich kid was causing your girl some problems?”

  “Brandon Stewart? He’s the one?”

  “Wanna tell me what’s been going on?” his dad asked.

  Sam thought about it, wondering how the Strickland kids had found out about Stewart and the problems he was causing Jenna. His Uncle Tad was doing some background work on Brandon Stewart, but certainly wouldn’t have instigated that kind of behavior. Then he remembered Brianna had befriended his young cousins. Brianna must have called them about the threat Brandon had sent in the flowers. And they must have talked to the boys about teaching Brandon a lesson. He made a mental note to speak to his cousins about doing things like that. And he needed to talk to Brianna, as well. Some of the Strickland kids were still wild and reckless. They’d end up getting her into all kinds of trouble.

  “He’s been harassing Jenna,” Sam said. “Making threats. But I didn’t sic those kids on him. I wouldn’t do that. I was planning to talk to Brandon. I’ll try to smooth things over.”

  Knox gave Ethan a pat on the head. “Look at this boy ride. Like an old pro.”

  Sam needed the laugh. Actually, Ethan was hopping in the seat and swaying from side to side, singing, but he was having a good time.

  Knox gave Ethan a kiss on the head and gently asked him to stop pulling so hard on Froggy’s mane. “Those kids are full of spit and fire. You need to keep your name out of it.”

  “I know what they’re like. I don’t need teenagers to take care of my business.” But Sam knew the kids must have had a blast. A part of him would have liked to have been in that barn, watching that spoiled brat muck out stalls. The thought of it made him laugh.

  Ethan looked at him and laughed along. “Having fun, buddy?” Sam asked him. “Like riding horses?”

  “Horsey!” Ethan declared, kicking again. “Oh! Right there!” And then he sang a short song about horseys.

  “That’s right, sonny boy,” Knox said. “You’re a riding a real live horse. You’ll have your very own horsey someday living on your daddy’s ranch.”

  “Yeah,” Ethan agreed. “My horsey.”

  “That’s yet to be decided,” Sam said.

  “You’ll work it out. Seems like yesterday,” Knox said, “I heard a ruckus up at the barn and found my little brothers doing the same thing to that Morgan kid. Guess it’s turned into some kind of family tradition.”

  “I’m not following,” Sam said.

  “Oh, Larry Morgan. He was a mean pest in high school. Drove my brothers to distraction. He and his rich friends were always picking on them, calling them names. One day, Morgan and his friends put manure in your Uncle Tucker’s truck. So, they got their revenge. A little backwoods justice. I told them to cut it out. It doesn’t help anything.”

  “Wait a second,” Sam said, finally catching on. “Your brothers took Jenna’s dad up to the barn and made him muck out stalls? Well, that would explain a lot. I think that’s why my son had to be born in Atlanta. And why Jenna had to fight to put my name on the birth certificate. Stupid, old grudges.”

  “Human nature, kiddo.” They turned back toward the stables. “You know,” Knox said, “I wonder what’ll happen to this place when I’m gone.”

  “You’re not planning on dying on us, are you?” Sam said. Because he knew where this conversation was going.

  His dad sent him a warning glance. �
��You know, I’ve got two hundred acres of some of the prettiest land you’ve ever seen. I’ve bred some fine racehorses here. I always thought my boys would take over the farm. But you were the only one that showed any interest at all in the horses and you moved off. Your mom wants to travel more. She’s on me to retire.”

  “My horse,” Ethan said, leaning forward to pat Froggy’s neck. “Yeah.”

  “So,” Sam said, just to sum things up, “you want me here, Mom wants me at Jack’s, Granddad made me promise not to leave the ranch, and I don’t know what Jenna wants. I’m not gonna have any arms or legs left after this visit.”

  “You’ll have one leg left, son,” Knox said, finding himself amusing. “I’m just saying if you wanna stay here and take over the farm and live at Jack’s that’s an option. Just laying out options. If you feel you need to go back to your granddad’s place then that’s what you have to do. Remember when you were a kid and you said you were going to breed the next Triple Crown winner? I wonder what ever happened to that dream.”

  Thankfully, Sam’s phone chimed and he dug it out of his pocket. It was Jenna, calling to check up. He held up his finger and they stopped the horses. “We’re doing fine,” he assured her. “He’s been playing with his cousins.”

  “Can I speak to him? Is he right there?” she asked, as if wanting proof Sam hadn’t dumped Ethan in a ditch somewhere.

  He handed his dad the phone who then held it to Ethan’s ear.

  “Mama?” Ethan said. And then in a moment he said, “Yeah. My horse. My horsey.” He listened some more and then said, “’kay. Love. Bye-bye.”

  Popcorn, probably bored, started snorting and neighing and whipping his mane. Sam patted his neck, wishing the horse would shut up.

  He took back the phone. “What’s this about horses?” Jenna immediately asked, sounding suspicious. “I hear horses.”

  “We’re just playing outside,” he answered, evading her question. He’d confess later but didn’t want to worry her at work.