Taking Charge

by Ruth Cardello

  The sheriff spoke into his radio and called for an ambulance and backup. All the while he kept his gun aimed on York.

  A black Lincoln Town Car pulled up and an older gentleman, still ruddy and muscular from years of manual work, stepped out of his car. He walked right up to York and backhanded him across the face, sending the man to his knees. He kicked the gun away from him and growled, “You stupid bastard. If you kill someone, we lose everything.”

  The sheriff rushed in and cuffed York. He spoke to the man who had just taken down York in a tone David couldn’t hear. The older man’s voice boomed back: “You were right to call me, Dan. I needed to see this for myself. Yes, take him in.”

  Bill stirred, and David told him help was coming. Tony kept his shotgun up and cocked.

  York’s attention was on the older man. “Dad, it’s all Harmon’s fault. He—”

  The old man straightened, his face ugly with revulsion. “Shut up, Ted. I should let your ass rot in jail, but it would break your mother’s heart. You’ll get a lawyer, but not the expensive one you’re hoping for. That one will be working on the pile of shit lawsuits you brought on us.”

  “Dad—”

  The older man turned away, got in his car, and drove off. The sheriff put York in the back of his car.

  An ambulance pulled up. The sheriff spoke to Bill briefly as he was being put on a stretcher and taken away. Bill retold what he’d come across and how York had shot him.

  The sheriff looked at David and said, “You might want to see a doctor, too, David.”

  I might just do that. David touched his forehead and almost went to his knees when dizziness hit him.

  Tony was beside him, propping him up with his shoulder. “I’ll take him.”

  Suddenly feeling dazed, David said, “Thanks, Tony.” Odd how life came full circle.

  Walking him over to his SUV, Tony said, “You saved my life once. I’ve waited a long time for the chance to save your sorry hide.”

  A detailed statement would wait until later. As they pulled back onto the road, David rested his head on one hand and said, “I almost feel sorry for York now that I’ve met his father.”

  Tony shook his head. “Not even you can save them all, David. Let that one go.”

  Won’t argue that one. “He made his choice; now he has to live with it.”

  Tony remained quiet for a moment, then said, “You came real close to dying today.”

  David grunted.

  “You and Lucy need to live in Fort Mavis. I’m not impressed with this town.”

  Something about how Tony had dismissed the town and everything that had happened that day struck David’s funny bone. He laughed, which only made his head hurt more.

  Tony looked over, then back at the road. “Are we done here? I’m ready to go home.”

  “Me too,” David said with a groan. Home being wherever Lucy was.

  Lucy and Sarah were on a plane so fast neither of them took a thing with them. Tony had called and said David was at the hospital being treated for a concussion. They were keeping him one night for observation. Tony gave them an outline of what had happened. Thankfully, Charles’s plane was still there or Lucy and Sarah would have stolen the first one they came across.

  They rushed to the hospital where Tony met them. He hugged Sarah for a long heartfelt moment, then looked at Lucy. “Go easy on David. He’s had a really bad day.”

  Lucy wiped a tear away from the corner of her eye. Tony was the master of understatement. “I will. I love him. Nothing else matters.” She threw her arms around Tony and hugged him so tightly, he laughed. “Thank you for everything.”

  When she pulled back, Lucy saw someone in a suit that made her look twice. “Steven?” The man turned, and Lucy’s heart leaped into her throat. Even though he was thin, he looked exactly the way she’d hoped he would. He was sober, his hair was neatly trimmed, and he met her eyes like a man who had found his footing again. “What are you doing here?”

  He walked over and his shoulders slumped a bit. “David asked me to come back. He said having me here would help, but I wasn’t with him when York went after him. I’m sorry, Lucy. I failed you again.”

  Lucy wrapped her arms around her brother and hugged him with all the love in her. This was her chance to tell him what she’d felt for a long time. “You. Never. Failed. Me.” She kept hugging him. “Mavis. The ranch. They’re not what matters. You and I were never meant for ranch life, Steven. This isn’t where our hearts are. Mom and Dad wouldn’t have wanted this for us. It’s not what they meant when they asked us to try to hold on to it. We matter more than a plot of land. All I care about is you.”

  Steven wrapped his arms around her and quietly sobbed against her neck. “I’m so sorry, Lucy. I had to get out. I wanted to talk to you so many times, but I was ashamed of how I left. I didn’t think you’d want to see me.”

  Lucy held her brother’s face in her hands and said, “You’re my brother, Steven. Nothing you do can change that.”

  Steven nodded and wiped his face. “David told me you’d say that. We need to talk about the ranch, though. I have a job in Nevada. It’s a good one. I can help you out now. If you still need me.”

  “Money isn’t necessary, but I will always need you.” As she said the words, she realized how much she meant them. So much of what she’d thought mattered didn’t. Steven was alive and looking as if he was on a good path. That’s all that mattered.

  “You found yourself a good man.”

  Lucy smiled through the tears still pouring down her cheeks. “I know exactly how lucky I am. I want to go see him, but I don’t want you to leave.”

  “I’ll be right here when you’re done.”

  Lucy wanted to ask him to promise. She felt a familiar fear nip at her heels, but she kicked it back. No amount of promising would make Steven stay if he wanted to go. She couldn’t decide what he would do, but she was in control of who she was and what she did. She had always believed in people, and it was time to start doing that again.

  Believing was a choice. It wasn’t easy, but without it, life held no magic. She gave her brother a kiss on the cheek and headed in to see David.

  He was sitting up in his hospital bed with a bandage on his head, looking miserable until he saw her. His face lit up, and she had no doubt how he felt about her. He looked down at his hospital gown. “Not exactly how I hoped to look when I saw you next.”

  Lucy ran across the room and threw herself into his arms. They kissed long and deeply, like the reunited lovers they were. When they finally broke the kiss, Lucy said, “I love you, David Harmon. I love you so much, I’ll beat your ass if you ever do anything that foolish again. I want to marry you, raise a family, and live happily ever after with you. We can live in Mavis or Fort Mavis or on the moon. I don’t care as long as we’re together.”

  David chuckled and hugged her tightly to his chest. “You stole my speech.”

  “You stole my heart.”

  They kissed again deeply. “I have missed you so much. I’m sorry about lying to you.”

  Lucy hugged him tightly. “I understand why you did it. I’m sorry I doubted you. I never will again.”

  “I love you.”

  “I love you, too. Now shut up and kiss me again.”

  “Gladly.” And he did. A lot. She started smiling even through their kisses.

  He raised his head, sporting a huge smile of his own. “Now that we have that settled, can you get me out of here? I want to go home.”

  “Which one?”

  “Whichever one you’re at will be just fine.”

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  On a beautiful sunny afternoon two months later, Lucy stood with her arm linked with Steven’s, waiting for the music to begin. The flurry of getting primped and made up was done. All she had to do now was walk down the aisle, not trip over the hem of the most beautiful dress she’d ever worn, and say, “I do.”

  Lined up in front of her were Chelle, Melanie, and Sarah
in classic navy bridesmaid dresses. David had said he wanted Lucy to have the wedding of her dreams; his only request was that they marry soon. He was impatient for her to be Mrs. Harmon.

  Lucy had chosen to have their ceremony on the lawn of Ribblan Ranch, their new home in Fort Mavis. It would be a celebration not only of their wedding, but of the new life they were starting together. It was a simple setting: just white chairs in rows facing a makeshift altar beneath a large tree near the house. The view of the valley below was spectacular, though.

  She couldn’t look out at the people waiting for the ceremony to start and not reflect on how grateful she was for how her life had changed. David was a large part of it, but even though they were marrying, she’d paid him back the full amount he’d loaned her for her ranch. Saving her ranch, knowing that she’d done what her mother had asked her to, had freed her.

  She and David had talked about the future of her partnership with TAP. Although David loved trying out the toys and reading her blog, he asked her if it was her dream job. When Lucy had admitted that marketing was her dream, but not necessarily marketing for one business, he encouraged her to look into helping other companies, also. Lucy had been afraid it would take her away from David and their new home, but he assured her they could make it work. And she believed him—because David didn’t say anything he didn’t mean. She trusted him in a way she never thought she would trust anyone again.

  The open setting allowed Lucy to see David as he stood with the minister, waiting for her. Their eyes met, and even across the distance, she saw his love for her shining in his eyes. She blew him a kiss and hugged Steven’s arm to her side.

  Steven bent toward her and said, “Mom and Dad are looking down, and they’re proud of you.”

  Lucy glanced up at him. “You too, Steven. Your suggestion that we give the ranch to Wyatt, but keep the mineral rights would have made both of them happy. He has been family to us, and he loves that place.”

  “Think they’ll ever find oil there?” Steven asked, glancing across at Wyatt.

  Lucy shrugged. “I don’t honestly care. I have everything I want.” She smiled up at her brother. “There would have been a huge hole in my heart today without you here.”

  Steven ducked his head in a show of shame. “I’m back, and I’m not going anywhere. Well, I am going back to my job in Reno, but I’ll visit often.”

  Sarah turned around and said, “David asked me to read over the vows he wrote. He is so romantic. How did yours come out?”

  Lucy gulped in surprise. “He wrote his own vows?”

  Sarah’s eyes rounded, and she smacked her forehead with one hand. “Did he say it was a surprise? I wouldn’t forget something like that, would I?” She turned forward again. “Pretend I said nothing.”

  The music began, and Chelle slowly walked down the aisle. Melanie followed her. Sarah went last.

  The music changed to the wedding march, and Lucy started down the aisle, holding Steven’s arm. At the altar, the minister asked, “Who gives this woman?”

  “My brother,” Lucy said before Steven had a chance to answer. She couldn’t help it. She was simply that happy to have him by her side.

  Steven blinked back a tear and kissed Lucy’s cheek. “I do,” he said, then shook David’s hand. “If my father were here, he would have said that he couldn’t have found a better man for his daughter.”

  David’s smile widened. He took Lucy’s hand, and they both moved to stand in front of the minister. In all of Lucy’s life, she’d never seen anything more beautiful than the man she loved looking across at her, waiting for the minister to speak. She hadn’t written her own vows, but she wasn’t worried. It was hard to be afraid of anything with David at her side.

  The minister welcomed everyone. At Lucy and David’s request, he kept the opening short and simple. He asked for the rings. Jace, who was almost seven, walked up the aisle with two rings on a white pillow. He handed them to the minister, then turned to David.

  “David, do we get to eat after this?”

  Everyone laughed.

  David nodded.

  Melanie, Jace’s mother, called him over. Jace ignored her, his focus remaining on David. “Mom said getting married means you might have a baby soon, but she said that won’t change how much you love me. Do you make the baby at the wedding or after?”

  David ruffled Jace’s hair and winked. “After. But you should ask Charles about that.”

  Satisfied, Jace went to stand beside Charles and took him by the hand with an expression that implied he would do just that the first chance he got.

  A roar of laughter erupted, and Lucy joined in. If the wedding was any indicator, a life with David would be filled with love and joy.

  The minister asked, “David, you said you wrote something you wanted to read?”

  David nodded and took a piece of paper out of his pocket. A slight shake in his hand was the only indicator that he might be nervous. He cleared his throat. “My parents would say I’ve always been a bit stubborn. I get something in my head, and there’s no shaking it out. Until you, Lucy, I didn’t know my heart was the same. I knew you were the one for me from the very first time we met. The road here was bumpy, but I don’t regret a moment of it because it brought you to me. I promise to love you, to cherish you, to challenge you for the rest of our lives. I promise to be faithful, loving, and supportive of anything you choose to do. Give me your forever, Lucy, and I’ll give you mine.”

  “Yes,” Lucy said as David slid a ring onto her finger.

  Smiling, Lucy gently teased David. “I was not told we were writing our own vows, but it’s not hard to know what to say. David, your faith in me, your belief that I could get to this place, is probably what I first loved about you. I don’t know, though, because I could go on and on if I tried to list what I love about you. You have a heart the size of Texas. You are kind when others would judge. You are strong when others would run. I was lost when you found me, and you led me back not only to myself but also to my family. I promise to love you, to cherish you, to challenge you, too, for the rest of our lives. I promise to be faithful, loving, and supportive of anything you choose to do. Give me your forever, David, because you sure as hell have mine.”

  The minister made a tsk sound.

  “Yes,” David said.

  She slid the other ring on his finger.

  The minister looked out at the crowd. “Is there anyone here who knows a reason why these two should not wed?”

  With preplanned synchronization, the wedding party turned to look at Chelle, who had accidentally spoken up at Sarah and Tony’s wedding.

  Chelle blushed, but took the ribbing with a smile and proclaimed, “Not this time.”

  Laughter echoed through those gathered, leaving a few whispering questions about why.

  “Then I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride.”

  David didn’t need to be told twice.

  After the ceremony, David and Lucy made their way through the crowd, toward his parents. When he’d called them and announced his engagement, he expected them to express some sort of disappointment. He hadn’t known if it would be because they thought it would keep him farther from them, or because she wasn’t working in a profession they approved of. He hadn’t given them a chance. He’d immediately informed them that Lucy was the love of his life, and he expected them to respect his choice.

  His father had taken his time answering and eventually said, “David, we will love her if for no other reason than you do. All we ever wanted was the best for you.”

  “You mean what you thought was the best for me.”

  In a sad voice, his mother had said, “When you have your own children, David, you’ll see that it’s not easy. Yes, we pushed you, but look at the man you’ve become.”

  “A horse trainer,” David said, echoing the disgust they’d once shown toward his career choice.

  His father had sighed. “A fine man. That’s all we ever wanted for yo
u. No, we didn’t approve of all of your choices, but you’ve made a good life for yourself. What we want now is to be part of it. We don’t see you nearly enough. Bring this Lucy home for us to meet. She might be just what we all need.”

  Lucy had been. It might have been because she’d lost her own parents, but she took to his like a long-lost daughter. She even seemed to enjoy his father’s long-winded stories and his mother’s questionable cooking.

  Lucy said he brought her family back to her, but she’d done the same for him.

  After giving Lucy a long emotional hug, David’s mother asked, “Lucy, I didn’t realize you were an author, too. Sarah was just telling us that you also write stories. Are any of them published? I’d love to read one.”

  Lucy blushed and shook her head. “Sarah has a wild imagination.” David heard her mutter under her breath, “And a potentially short life.”

  To save her, he asked, “Wasn’t Jace a hoot?”

  His parents agreed, and the conversation turned to how soon David and Lucy thought they might be having a child of their own. Normally, it would have been an awkward conversation, but it was a whole heck of a lot less awkward than explaining to his mother why he enjoyed helping Lucy find new material for her blog.

  Mason joined them with Chelle at his side. David introduced them to his parents. Another couple came by to meet David’s family, and Mason used the opportunity to pull Lucy and him aside. He took out an envelope and waved it in the air. “I don’t want to say that I’m the reason the two of you are together, but—”

  David laughed. “But you will.”

  Mason smiled widely. “I didn’t mind helping out. When it comes to knowing how to win a woman’s heart, I’m gifted.”

  Chelle slapped her hand on his chest and rolled her eyes. “It’s his humility that I fell in love with first.”

  Mason looked down at Chelle and arched an eyebrow. “Humility. Is that your nickname for it this week?”