by Linda Warren
“Where you going?” Grandpa called.
“I’m going to Jenny’s to see if she needs any help.”
“What kind of help? It’s dark.”
Elias laughed and Grandpa turned on him. “What’s wrong with you?”
Elias snapped his fingers. “Think, Grandpa.”
Quincy wasn’t hanging around for this dog and pony show. “I’ll see y’all later.”
He drove into Jenny’s yard as eager as a teenager. It had been a long time since he’d had these feelings. Maybe too long.
Jenny met him at the door in a short bathrobe. She leaped into his arms and her lips caught his in a passionate kiss. The kiss went on and on and Quincy wondered how he ever lived without this.
She wrapped her legs around him and whispered, “Bedroom.”
He managed to kick the door shut and they turned and twisted through the living room and down the hall. They knocked something over but they didn’t stop to see what it was. They were otherwise engaged.
Quincy had always been a stickler for time, but once again he lost track of it and where he was. They made love. They slept. They took a shower together and time ceased to exist. It was just the two of them and that was enough.
At 5:00 a.m. he woke her up. They dressed in silence, and arm in arm, they made their way to the front door.
“Your phone’s in your dad’s truck. It’s toast,” he told her.
“I’ll get another one today.”
“Call or text me when you do, so I can stay in touch.”
She stood on her toes and wrapped her arms around his neck. “I love you.” His arms tightened around her and they had a hard time letting go.
“I know you’re worried about Paxton...”
“It’s almost Thanksgiving, and he and Phoenix are coming home. I’ll tell him then. I’d rather not do it on the phone.”
“I forgot about Thanksgiving. I’m not sure my dad will be home.”
“We’ll spend some time together no matter what’s going on.”
She drew back and smiled. “I knew I loved you for a reason.”
He stole another kiss and walked out. He didn’t look back because he wasn’t strong enough to resist the temptation of going back into her arms.
* * *
THE NEXT FEW days were difficult for Jenny. Her father developed pneumonia and she and Lindsay never left the hospital. He looked so pale, and Jenny worried he might not pull through even though the doctors assured her and Lindsay that he was getting better. Her only bright spot was Quincy. He brought her food and he brought her love. The latter was what she needed the most.
On Thanksgiving morning, her father turned a corner. He was awake and talking and Jenny immediately ran to call Quincy, but caught herself in time. She knew he was with the Rebel family because it was a big holiday and she didn’t want to interrupt.
Besides, this was the day he was going to talk to Paxton and she worried about that. With Quincy’s high moral character, she was nervous about how Quincy would react if Paxton became angry. Sometimes Paxton could be an ass. Well, that wasn’t exactly correct. He could be an ass most of the time, but Quincy was a big boy and he could take care of himself.
Lindsay walked into the waiting room. “You look beat.”
“Thanks.”
“Dad kicked me out of his room. He said for me not to come back for a few hours, so why don’t we go home and change and fix something to eat.”
“You go ahead. I feel someone still needs to stay here. He’s not completely out of the woods yet. When you come back, I’ll go.” She had a devious plan. The Rebel dinner would be over by then and she might get a chance to be with Quincy.
“I plan to take a long nap.”
“Fine.”
After Lindsay left, Jenny paced, and she thought this was the most exercise she’d had in a while. Not exactly, she reminded herself, remembering her nights with Quincy. Her long, wonderful nights with a man she loved.
Paxton had called her a prude, but with Quincy she found she wasn’t. She was free, uninhibited and brazen and she was going to die if she couldn’t see Quincy soon.
She paced. She wanted everything to go smoothly when Quincy talked to Paxton, but she had this eerie feeling she couldn’t shake. Quincy was so honorable. Would he go against his brother for their love?
What was going on at Rebel Ranch?
* * *
QUINCY’S MOTHER’S KITCHEN smelled of cinnamon, apples and turkey. It reminded him of all the love and happiness they’d shared together as a family. Everyone was there, except Phoenix and Paxton. They were still waiting for them to arrive. Everyone was asking about Jenny’s father, but Quincy’s attention was on the back door. Where were his brothers?
Everyone took turns holding baby John, even Quincy. John had big dark eyes and he looked around at everybody with a smile. He was a happy baby. But soon Eden took him and handed him off like a football to someone else. There was a lot of laughter and love in the house and Quincy wished Jenny could be there. He missed her.
“Uncle Quincy.” Zane approached him. “I’m going to race Bear this afternoon and show Dad how fast he can go. You want to watch me?”
Quincy was hoping to get away and go see Jenny later, but... “Sure, partner. You’ve been practicing a lot lately.”
“I have to. That’s how you get better.”
“They’re coming,” Elias shouted. “I see Phoenix’s truck.”
Grandpa pushed up from the sofa. “About damn time. I’m getting hungry.”
“Dinner will be on the table in fifteen minutes, Abe,” their mother said. “The girls are setting the table now and the food is ready.”
The back door burst open and Phoenix came in. Quincy got to his feet, but Elias was the first to respond.
“Where’s Paxton?”
Phoenix plucked a tomato out of the green salad bowl on the bar and popped it into his mouth. “The crazy fool went to California to spend Thanksgiving with Lisa.”
This immediately had their mother’s attention. “Why didn’t he call and inform me of this change?”
Phoenix plucked another tomato and got his hand slapped. “Ouch.”
“Why didn’t he call?”
Phoenix cocked a hip against the counter. “Well, Mom, you know how he is about phone calls. He knew you’d get mad, and since he’s a big chicken, he didn’t make the call. He and Lisa are having some issues and he wanted to see her in person.”
“What kind of issues?” Quincy asked.
Phoenix shrugged. “Who knows? One minute he’s in love and the next minute he’s with some buckle bunny.”
“He’s seeing other women?” Kate asked with her hands on her hips. She wasn’t happy. And neither was Quincy. That ingrained habit of making peace reared its ugly head and all the happiness he was feeling took a hit. It didn’t diminish anything he felt for Jenny. Nothing would ever change that.
“Ah, Mom, I don’t want to answer questions like that.”
She stuck a finger in his face. “Tell me what’s going on with your brother.”
“He’s confused and I don’t think he knows what he wants. He’s calling Jenny again.”
The world tilted. For a moment.
Jenny had told him to trust her, and his world righted itself. She and Paxton had a history and they were friends—just friends. Quincy would never interfere with that, so he had to cowboy up. A friendship didn’t mean anything else. It was Paxton’s charm that gave him pause.
Elias shoved a glass of wine into his hand. “Drink. Don’t ask questions. Just drink.”
“Why do I need this?”
“You know.” Elias gave him a cockamamy grin. “He’s baaack.”
“That doesn’t bother me.”
“Oh, yeah.” Elias tipped up his wineglass. “And pigs have been known to fly. Don’t fool yourself, big brother. A showdown is coming and you better be packing every weapon in your arsenal because it’s not going to be pretty.”
“Love is about trust.”
Elias laughed hard, slapping his leg and almost spilling his wine. Their mother gave him a sharp glance and Elias sobered immediately. “Love, huh? You’re finally admitting you love her? But love’s about trust? That’s pure Quincy and pure bull you-know-what.”
“Shut up.” Quincy thought it funny that tough Elias never cursed in front of his mother.
“Now, listen up. This is truth and fact. I know Paxton. You know Paxton. If he’s breaking up with Lisa, you can bet every dollar in your pocket he’s coming back for Jenny. It’s a tradition with him.”
“Are you drunk?”
“Not yet, but I plan to be by the time the sun sets tonight. All this family togetherness is a load of you-know-what. I’d rather be drinking down at Rowdy’s with women who appreciate me.”
“Why don’t you go tell Mom that.”
“I don’t have a death wish.”
Elias was one of the hardest-working men Quincy had ever known, but his views on life were attached to a beer bottle and easy women. Elias had to find his own way, just as all the brothers had. Sometimes it wasn’t easy for any of them.
“Just remember what I told you.” Elias said as he walked off to get another glass of wine.
Dinner was a fun affair with lots of talk about the holidays. Of course, baby John was the center of attention, sitting in a high chair between his parents. Elias and Phoenix got into an argument over the last piece of pumpkin pie. While they argued, Grandpa ate it. Their mother saved the day by bringing out another pie. Everyone was happy.
Later that afternoon, Quincy walked with Jude and Zane to the barn. Zane was as excited as Quincy had ever seen him. He saddled Bear, talking nonstop. They all left the barn to prepare for the race.
Jude had a stopwatch. “Okay, son, when I say ‘three,’ go. One, two, three.”
On the count of three, Zane dug in his heels and Bear responded and off they flew toward the cattle guard.
“I wouldn’t read too much into what Phoenix said.” Jude had picked up on his mood.
“I’m not.”
“You are,” Jude contradicted him. “You were all happy and now you look as if somebody let the air out of your tires.”
Quincy was dealing with a lot of conflicting thoughts and he didn’t want to share or talk, but he found himself saying, “I trust Jenny.”
“Good for you. They have a history and it’s hard to wipe that away. Doesn’t mean she still cares for him or loves him. It just means they’re talking.”
“I know that.”
“If you’re feeling any doubts, talk to Jenny. Take it from someone who didn’t talk when he should have.” His brother was talking about his affair with Zane’s mother. “I should’ve told Paige I didn’t want to give the baby up. I should have voiced my opinion. Now she doesn’t know our son is with me and I don’t know how I’ll be able to tell her if she comes back to Horseshoe.”
“That’s probably not going to happen.”
“Yeah. She left us behind a long time ago and my wish is that she stays wherever she is.”
Zane zoomed past them, Bear’s hooves barely touching the ground. Zane trotted the horse to them. “Did you see?”
Quincy watched his nephew’s excitement and he was happy for him. Inwardly the doubts were about to kill him. He’d told Elias that he trusted Jenny. Now his faith would be challenged. But he couldn’t get the thought out of his head: If Paxton wanted Jenny back, what would she do?
Chapter Fourteen
Jenny checked her phone to make sure she had it on. The hospital frowned on cell phones, but this one time she ignored the rules. Quincy should’ve called by now. It was late afternoon and the Rebel dinner was over, so why hadn’t he called?
A bad feeling settled in her stomach. What if he and Paxton had gotten into a fight? That wasn’t Quincy, though. The Rebel brothers were known for fighting, but Quincy was the peacemaker and he rarely resorted to violence. So why hadn’t he called?
To ease her distress, she went to check her dad. He was sleeping peacefully and his vitals were fine. Even his color had improved. Soon they would be able to take him home. She went back to the waiting room to stare at her phone. When it rang, she almost jumped off the sofa.
Glancing at the caller ID, she frowned. Paxton. Ignore it. It kept buzzing. What if it was about Quincy? She clicked on.
“Paxton, why are you calling me again?”
“I need someone to talk to.”
Jenny sat back on the sofa. “Don’t you have a fiancée?”
“That’s the problem.”
Jenny didn’t want to hear this and she didn’t know why she didn’t just click off. She wanted to hear how it had gone with Quincy, though.
“You need to talk to Lisa, not me.”
“That’s what I’m trying to do. I came out to California to talk to her and she’s with some casting director and I’m sitting in her apartment waiting.”
Jenny leaned forward. “You didn’t come home for Thanksgiving?”
“No.”
“Did you call your mother?”
“No.”
“Paxton, you know how she is about the holidays. She’s going to be so upset you didn’t call.”
“I know. I’ll call her in a few minutes.”
Paxton was selfish and uncaring and she saw that now more than ever. He only thought about himself and his needs.
“Did Phoenix come home?”
“Yes, and he’s mad at me, too. We’re going to Vegas in a few days and my riding is off because I can’t stop thinking about Lisa.”
“I can’t help you with that nor do I have the inclination to try.”
“She wants me to stop riding the circuit and get a job. You know, Jen, the rodeo is my life. I’d be miserable in a job.”
She could almost feel Paxton’s pain. He loved rodeoing.
“I’m sure you can work something out. If you love each other, there’s always a way.” She couldn’t believe the words coming out of her mouth. But they’d been friends for a long time. She knew what true love was now and she felt bad his life was falling apart.
“I hate it out here. There’re no horses or wide-open spaces unless you travel for miles.”
“Just talk to Lisa. I really have to go.”
“If she was here, I would. Who gets a casting call on Thanksgiving?”
“Did you call her?”
“Yes, and she said she’d be home shortly.”
“There’s your answer. You just have to wait. Goodbye, Paxton. Call your mother. You really need to think about others every now and then.”
“Don’t preach to me.”
“Fine.” She ended the call. She didn’t want to listen to Paxton’s problems. Cradling her phone, she murmured, “Quincy, why aren’t you calling?”
* * *
AFTER JUDE AND Zane went back to the house, Quincy saddled up Red Hawk. The horse needed exercising and Quincy needed to get away with his thoughts.
He’d call Jenny when he got back. Right now he just needed some time alone to deal with the turmoil in his head. Before he could swing into the saddle, Grandpa walked into the barn and eased onto a bale of hay, chewing on a toothpick. “Wondered where you went. Jude said you were out here and I thought I’d come and see what we’re gonna do for supper, eat at home or over at your mom’s?”
Yep, he’d created a monster. But it wasn’t so much that as it was his grandfather needed someone and Quincy was that someone. Everyone needed somebody.
�
�Mom has all that leftover food and it would be silly of us to cook more. Besides, I’m not all that hungry.”
Grandpa shook his head. “Boy...” He had a look on his face as if he wanted to hug Quincy.
He put his boot in the stirrup and swung into the saddle. “I’m fine.” Red Hawk pranced around, wanting to run. “I’ll catch you later.”
“Quincy...”
He pretended not to hear and shot out of the barn. He gave Hawk his lead and the cool November air embraced them as they flew over winter coastal fields and wide-open spaces. It was invigorating and freeing, and it was what he needed to think clearly.
Sometime later, he rode back into the barn, unsaddled Hawk and rubbed him down. As he led the horse to his stall, Jenny walked in. Quincy’s heart lifted at the sight of her. He hated he had doubts. He loved her, and that was all that was important.
“How’s your dad?” he asked, as she went into his arms.
“Much better. We’re taking turns sitting with him. Lindsay’s with him now and I have the whole night free. I’ve been calling and calling to tell you that, but you haven’t answered.”
“I was giving Hawk a workout.”
She moved away, eyeing him. “Something’s wrong. You’re tense. Why?”
He sat on a bale of hay and she took a seat beside him. No touching. No smiling. The temperature in the barn dropped a few degrees. “Paxton didn’t come home for Thanksgiving.” He glanced at her then and saw the flash of guilt on her cheeks. “But you know that already, don’t you?”
“Yes.” She clasped her hands in her lap. “He called me. He and Lisa are having some problems and he’s under the impression that I could help him.”
“Phoenix mentioned he’s been calling you.”
“I wasn’t trying to hide it. Does that bother you?”
“I thought it wouldn’t and it has surprised me that it does. I’m not proud of that and I’m struggling to handle it.”
“Why? I told you I don’t love Paxton anymore. Why don’t you trust me?”
“I’m trying to figure that out myself. I think it has to do with the fact that you and Paxton have a history of getting back together. Somehow I just can’t ignore that.”
