by Ali Parker
I busied myself mending fences and had almost caught up when I heard the dinner bell. Mama always rang us in for lunch and dinner, and it didn’t matter what kind of groove you were in, you didn’t ignore it. That was rule number one at the Dawson ranch. I hurried in with a nagging in the pit of my stomach knowing I’d see Lauralee. I went in the back door and straight to the mudroom, which was standard practice before lunch. Mama didn’t allow any dirty hands at her table, and we had been trained to wipe our mucky boots too. I crowded into the room with my brothers and Lauralee who seemed so small in the midst of us. We waited for her to use the sink, ladies always first, and then to put some space between us, I waited for my brothers to go ahead of me.
I made my way to the table and frowned that Mason had made room for her to sit between us. That was standard practice as well, and I hadn’t told my brother what had happened between us. I dragged my chair out and plopped my ass reluctantly into it, careful to angle myself slightly away from her. I noticed my father’s empty chair.
“Where’s Dad?” I looked up to meet Mama’s eyes.
“He’s gone into town. My medicine’s in. I told him to wait, but you know how he is. I’ll eat with him when he returns.”
“He won’t like that, Mama. You shouldn’t wait.” Luke’s eyes were full of concern, and I couldn’t help but feel the same. Mama had lost too much weight since her surgery, and her appetite had never fully returned.
“It will be okay. I had a big breakfast. You kids enjoy.” She left the casserole on the table and disappeared into the kitchen.
Mason slid his plate across the table and then went to take the chair across from me. “What time do you think you’ll turn us loose for the day, brother? There’s a party tonight in town. Everyone’s going to Ella’s birthday party. My phone’s been blowing up all day, and your presence is requested too, by the way.”
Lauralee glanced my way, and I shifted in my seat giving Mason a hard glare. “I don’t know. I guess it depends on how fast we can get things done.”
“Come on, man. Turn us loose at six, at least. You’ve been working us two extra hours a day since David left, and my social life is feeling it.”
“You said your phone has been blowing up all day, you dope.” Luke chuckled as Mason flashed him a hard stare.
“You’re invited too, asshole. As a matter of fact, Cindy said she’s been calling you, all day and you won’t answer. Turn your damned phone on.”
“It’s on. I blocked her calls. You should do the same, brother. She’s a freak.”
“Teddy and I like the freaks, don’t—we.” My brother’s voice fell as he realized Lauralee was still there. I pegged him a hard glare and cleared my throat.
“You can talk about it later. Let’s focus on getting things done.” I had to deter the conversation, and I noticed that Lauralee had stopped eating. She twirled her fork into the noodles and stared down at her plate. The last thing I needed was my brother going on about Ella’s party. I knew all too well about her annual party. It was at that particular party when she and I had hooked up and destroyed her and my brother’s engagement. We hadn’t enjoyed each other’s company since, but it sure didn’t stop her from trying. Her philosophy was if she couldn’t get David, she’d get me. But she failed to realize that neither of us wanted her.
“You can come too, Lauralee,” said Luke. My head snapped up to meet his eyes, then I gauged her response.
She shook her head and pushed her food around her plate. “No thanks. I’ve got plans.”
It wasn’t that I wanted her to go because I didn’t, but only because I thought it might not be her scene. Ella’s parties were infamously wild, and I couldn’t imagine a good girl like Lauralee there. Ella treated her birthday as a sacred holiday, and it never mattered what day of the week it fell on, Ella was going to party. Even if most people who attended had to call into work the next day.
I couldn’t imagine Lauralee there. At least not without me. But now I wondered what kind of plans she might have. Surely it wasn’t a date. My nostrils flared at the thought. “We’ll talk about it later. Let’s eat so we can get back to work.”
Mason glanced between the two of us and then shook his head before making quick work with his fork. I scarfed down my food and was up and out long before their asses left their seats. I didn’t even want to know what was said in my absence. Okay, maybe a little, but if I couldn’t live without knowing, I could get it out of one of my brothers.
Two hours later, all the fences were mended, and I made my way back to the office about the same time that Mason and Lauralee entered and took a seat, both looking for their next assignment.
Lauralee pulled her hair out of its band and shook it out, running her fingers through the tangles. I tried not to get hard watching her as I gave Mason an injection packet and promised him his freedom when he finished. He beat feet, still hoping for an early day, leaving us alone.
I honestly couldn’t think of anything for her to do, but I wasn’t ready for her to go. Besides, she needed the hours on her check, so I asked her to sweep the office and clean out some of the drawers Dad had stuffed with old papers.
We sat in silence, and I had decided to fire up the computer when I heard a horn. I glanced up to see Ella’s car turning in the drive, and I figured I’d better intercept her before Mama saw her and came out to give her a piece of her mind. She’d finally heard about what we’d done to her precious Davey boy, and Mama wasn’t happy that she’d been deceived all these years. She’d even asked Ella to help her try and run off Sarah, which almost worked.
I ran out to meet her as Lauralee dug out the papers and I prayed she wouldn’t know who it was. I’d make it fast and get rid of Ella to avoid any other problems.
As I approached her car, she put down her window. Ella was a beautiful buxom blonde, but I had already tasted the fruits from her bitter tree and found them lacking. I slapped on a fake grin and stood to block her from Mama’s view out the kitchen window, praying that she wouldn’t storm down the front steps and send this little homewrecker packing.
“You are a hard man to reach, Ted Dawson.” She tossed her long blond hair over her shoulder and pursed her lips into a pout. I’d seen her do that same stupid move on my brother, but I wasn’t falling for it like he did.
“You shouldn’t have come out here, Ella. Mama knows, and you’re not exactly her favorite person anymore.”
“I’m not scared of your mama. That little stunt with David’s new city whore was her idea, not mine. I only played along because it’s so much fun to see you Dawson boys squirm.”
I glanced to the office in time to see Lauralee peeking out the window. She ducked away when she saw me looking, and it occurred to me that I better get rid of Ella fast.
“I’m afraid you came at a bad time, we have lots of work today.” I stared off into the field cursing Mason for bringing the party up in front of Lauralee and not being here to handle this himself.
“You’re coming to my house later, aren’t you?” Ella’s voice brought my head around. “It’s never a party until you show up. How many girls did you fuck last year?”
My foot tapped nervously as I thought of Lauralee finding out about that. “You were there. You can count.”
“Next time, I’d like something a little more private for the two of us.” She placed her hand on my arm, and I pulled it away, glancing once again to the window.
“That’s not going to happen,” I said, causing her face to fall into a scowl. “We can’t do this thing anymore, Ella. I’m not interested, and I know you only come around because of David. He’s moved on and so should you. And just because I threw you a pity lay last year and pulled you into my threesome, doesn’t mean I like you for more than that.”
That sent her into a fit of giggles, and I stared down at her like she’d gone crazy instead of being born that way. “I don’t like you like that either, so don’t flatter yourself, honey. I think it’s a shame for us not to enjoy each othe
r on occasion. We’re old ghosts, you and me. We’re liable to haunt each other now and then. Besides, I came here to see Mason. I’m hoping he can come tonight.” She slipped her hand down and opened the top button of her shirt revealing a peek of her cleavage, and as my eyes lingered there, she started her car. “I hope to see you there, but if not, maybe Mason will keep me company.” She threw her head back and laughed as she pulled away.
I’d have to have a talk with Mason about that one. She’d been on more dicks than he had horses, and I hated to think of him being used by her too. I took my time going into the office knowing that my little redhead would be in a bad mood. I wasn’t wrong.
“You need a paper shredder.” She slammed the stack down against the desk to straighten it and then stuffed the papers into a bag. Her jaw was clenched so tight I saw its muscle flex as she lifted her chin.
“Yeah, I know. We need a lot of things.” I stared at the computer wondering if I was ever going to have time to work on it. It needed a complete security program before I could even add the business programs, and I wasn’t sure how long any of that would take. I watched as she fumed, her eyes now and then glancing up at the window as if to remind me that she saw everything.
Not too long after, Mason came in with his empty packet and tossed it in the garbage can. “I’m done. Catch you later, brother.”
“You had a visitor earlier,” I said, keeping it vague. I figured he’d know who, but the silence I expected was filled with Lauralee’s voice.
“Ella was here,” she said. Then she went back to straightening papers and shoving them in the bag.
“Really? So what did she have to say? Why didn’t you call me up?” Mason’s disappointment worried me. I hoped he wasn’t falling for her.
“I didn’t think she was that important to you?” My brow raised.
“I’ve heard forever how it’s the party of the year, and now that David isn’t around to keep me from it, I want to go.”
“I’m here to keep you from it. Let’s go out to Kinsey’s for some beer and shitty music. You don’t need to go to Ella’s for a good time, trust me.”
“Come on, man.”
“No way. David would have my ass, not to mention Mama would have yours.”
“I guess you’d know more about her reputation than me.”
Lauralee’s back stiffened, and I couldn’t help feeling defensive. “We’ll talk about it later, over beer at Kinsey’s. I’ll get Luke to go, too and make it a boys’ night out.” Mason still wasn’t convinced. “Fine, I’ll buy.”
A big smile spread across his face. “Sounds good to me, but I’ll meet you there. I’m taking my own truck in case I can’t talk you into going.”
Mason was bad about ditching me to go home with women, but then again, I’d taught him that trick.
Lauralee stood and handed me the bag of papers. “Here. Since you don’t have a paper shredder, you can figure out how to dispose of these.”
“I’ll burn them later, thanks.”
She smiled and headed for the door. I couldn’t help but see how suddenly eager she was to leave, too. And without much of a goodbye. I wondered if it were all the talk or Ella’s visit, or if she really had a date. I followed her out and caught up with her across the yard, startling her as she stopped in her tracks.
“Did I forget something?” She crossed her arms and stared off into the field.
“Yeah. You barely said goodbye.”
“You ran after me because you wanted me to say goodbye?”
“I didn’t run after you. I—” Dammit, I had run after her. I stood there like an idiot as I thought of something to say, but nothing sounded right.
“Well, bye,” she said. As she walked away, I kicked the dirt at my feet.
I wanted to know what she had planned, but I didn’t know how to interrogate her without it being obvious.
Chapter 10
Lauralee
I stormed through the door of my family’s farmhouse and headed straight upstairs to my room. Granny called after me, but I kept going. I was too angry to talk and so hurt that I had tears in my eyes. I couldn’t believe that Ted had the nerve to walk out to see that woman in front of me.
I knew exactly who she was and what she was all about. Ella Patterson had once been engaged to Ted’s brother David, but the romance had ended weeks before they were set to seal the deal. I hadn’t thought much of it at the time. Ella’s reputation had never sparkled, but David seemed to adore her for some reason so I didn’t think she could be all bad. But then I’d heard through my brother’s ex that the reason the engagement ended was because Ella had hooked up with Ted at her yearly party.
Remembering, I balled my fist and burst into my room, slamming the door behind me. I never thought Ted would stoop so low as to hurt his brother, but then again, he had hurt me, and I hadn’t expected that either.
The problem was if Ella was still sniffing around, and David wasn’t around to deter her, she and Ted might find it much easier to hook up again. The very idea of it made bile rise to the back of my throat and my heart sink to the pit of my gut.
I pulled off my mucky boots and filthy clothes and tossed them in a pile near my hamper. I sat on my bed and fell back to stare at the ceiling. It was something I’d done many times when thinking about all of my Ted issues, and I didn’t think my relationship with the white popcorn texture would end anytime soon.
I couldn’t help but think of David and what he’d think of his brother still being in contact with Ella. Sure, he’d moved on, but I didn’t think he’d considered the fact that if Ted and Ella ever did get together as a couple, he’d have to put up with the two of them for the rest of his life. I didn’t think his new city girlfriend would appreciate that so much.
David probably wouldn’t care. He had Sarah now, and I could only daydream of a relationship as happy as theirs. The two of them seemed perfect for one another. Not only was David following his dreams, but he’d found someone to share the experience with. I had been a fool to think that falling so hard again for Ted would be anything other than counterproductive for my life. I should be out trying to prove to my own father that I was fit to take over our farm instead of putting my alcoholic brother in charge.
I had worked harder than any of them to learn the ins and outs of the business and had even taken courses at the community college to strengthen my knowledge of management. I had done all of that, worked the farm, and still managed to help Granny with everything else, to prepare myself for stepping up.
A sinking feeling pinched in my heart as I considered my lifelong dream. I hadn’t let myself think about it in a while, but I wanted to buy my own patch of earth and have my own farm one day. I’d had my eye on the same thirty acres of land for twelve years now. My only hope was that the family who owned it could hold off selling it long enough for me to get enough money to secure a loan.
I hadn’t told Ted about it when he’d hired me. He’d think it was as ridiculous as he did years ago when I’d told him, just like Bailey and my father. I guess everyone thought I was kidding around back then or that I’d change my mind, but it’s always been my secret dream, especially since Bailey had always been a shoe-in to take over the farm. Daughters move away and get married, that’s what Bailey used to tease. I figured having my own farm was better than having a husband and decided early on that was my future’s path.
I imagined the small farmhouse I’d build, the stable and horses, the long winding drive. I wanted a family to fill the rooms and my own kitchen, and so many animals that I’d have to hire hands too.
After Ted and I got together, I always imagined him there with me. I never wanted to marry anyone else. Hell, I never wanted to date anyone else, not to mention I’d never been with anyone else. I had always known deep down inside that I was his girl, though I’d rather die at times than admit he still had that kind of hold on me.
I had given myself to him after two months of dating, and anytime I imagined my future since t
hen, Ted was there beside me. The image of him leaning down into that car set my jaw tight, and like a dummy, I’d told him I had plans only to get to him. He probably didn’t even care. I should have agreed to go along. At least that way I’d know what was going on.
I had half a mind to go out anyway.
I sat up in a hurry and got to my feet. That’s exactly what I’d do, go out anyway. He didn’t have to know I would only be there to spy on him, that is if he didn’t let his brother talk him into going to that party. I decided to clean myself up and get ready to grace Kinsey’s with my sparkling presence.
***
Two hours later I was all dressed up and headed down to my car when Granny stopped me.
“You missed dinner,” she said. She put her hand on her hip and looked me up and down before shaking her head. “You going back out to that bar again?”
“I am, but don’t worry, I’m not my brother. I’ll be fine.” I met her eyes to show her that I was serious and my word was a promise and not all talk.
Before I could leave, she ladled a bowl of soup and put it on the counter and motioned for me to sit. “You shouldn’t go out drinking on an empty stomach.” Most grandmothers would have discouraged me from drinking, but not mine. She had spent a day or two of her life far from sober, and though she wasn’t in the habit, she wasn’t going to be a hypocrite either. She motioned to the bowl and cleared her throat.
