The Cowboy's Family (Family Ties Book 2)

by Carolyne Aarsen

  “Mom was pregnant before me?” Shock reverberated through her at his unexpected revelation. Her mom had never said a thing to her about that. “Why didn’t you tell me that before?”

  “Your mom said it was a private thing, and that you weren’t to know. Besides, it didn’t matter once you were born.”

  “But why keep it quiet?”

  “I’m not sure why she insisted on that, and now we’ll never know.” Her father’s smile turned melancholy. “I wanted to tell you sometime, but the opportunity never came up. So I thought I would tell you now.”

  Tricia’s mind ticked back to the period after her mother’s death. How hard it hit the family. How her father retreated, and she went a little wild. Of course he wouldn’t have told her. Not at that time.

  “She was so thrilled to finally have a baby. She could never say no to you. You were such a gift after so much struggle, heartache, and pain.”

  “So I really was spoiled, like the boys said I was.” She smiled as she said the words to show her father that it didn’t matter so much anymore.

  “Indulged maybe, but never spoiled. You were a precious gift always. There was nothing wrong with you.”

  “Except the fact that I can’t read.”

  “That’s not a fault.” Her father’s voice grew firm, almost angry. “Don’t you ever think that. Ever.”

  “But it will be a factor if I go to school.”

  “Again, I’m not trying to talk you out of it. Like I said, you’ve always done what you set your mind to do. Got that from your mother. But I think you should also think about your dreams and your gifts. God gave them to you for a reason, and I’d much rather see you follow through on them than do something you think you should do. Kane told me that Mason said you have a real gift with horses. We talked about it and would like you to think about staying here. Let us help you set up a training facility.”

  “I thought you were strapped financially. I know Kane said you were having trouble getting a loan to expand the cattle herd.”

  Her father waved off her concerns. “We can get the money if we really want to. We’ll just have to do some juggling.”

  “And if you want to help me out? What kind of juggling will you have to do then?”

  “Whatever it takes,” he said. “I have another confession to make. When the boys came I was so happy to have sons working alongside me I think I focused too much on them and not enough on you. I don’t want to make that mistake again. So I want you to do this.”

  “And the expansion of the ranch?”

  Zach sighed, shaking his head. “That was my own particular dream. I guess I always hoped Elliot would come back. Settle down. Stick around.”

  “Elliot has his own demons to slay,” Tricia said quietly.

  “What? What do you mean by that? What demons?”

  Her father’s abrupt question made her realize she had said too much. She and Elliot had always been the closest of all the family members. Probably because they were the same age. They attended the same parties, hung out with the same rough crowd. Shared secrets that no one else knew about.

  She held up her hand to discourage any further questions. “I’m sorry. You’re not the only one who has secrets that need time to come out.”

  “But he’s my son.” Her father’s deep frown told her that he wasn’t happy with that, but she held her ground.

  “And he’s my brother, and it’s his story to tell when he’s ready to tell it.”

  The silence that followed her comment grew long, and heavy and then he nodded.

  “I’m sorry. You’re right.” He heaved out a sigh heavy with old regrets and sorrow, and for a moment Tricia was tempted to tell him.

  “It’s not about you and Mom,” she said, knowing she had to offer him at least that much.

  “Thanks for that.” His expression shifted, and he rested his hands on his knees. Preparation for getting up. “Anyhow, you study on what you and Kane talked about. I would love to see you stay here. I want you to make your own plans, but I also want to give you space and the opportunity to use your own talents.”

  He stood, then he bent over and dropped a gentle kiss on the top of her head, stroking her cheek at the same time.

  “I love having you around, you know. You and the kids. It makes my life complete.”

  With those loving words echoing between them, he limped away, leaving Tricia with a whirl of thoughts and shifting plans.

  “I can't work with the horses this afternoon,” Tricia told Mason when he came in for breakfast Monday morning. “I’ve got to take the kids in for their booster shots.”

  He nodded, ducking his head to hide his surprising disappointment as he poured himself a cup of coffee. After church yesterday he had gone for a drive out to the local ski hill and then for a walk along one of the trails available. Ate in a restaurant by himself. Was thankful Roger was gone so he didn’t have to check in.

  The entire time he wondered what Tricia and the kids were doing.

  “Okay. I’ll leave Abby for tomorrow then.”

  “So which one will you be working with?” Tricia asked.

  “Not sure.” He thought of his offer to help Kane with the haying. Joe hadn’t shown up yet, so Mason’s own plans might have to be put on hold so he could help. The thought gave him a tiny thrill of anticipation. It had been years since he ran a tractor.

  Kane came into the house, the door falling shut behind him as he talked on his cell phone. “So you’re not coming,” he was saying, his voice a growl as he walked into the kitchen. “That sounds like just another excuse. Give me a reason I shouldn’t fire you right now.” He paused, giving both Mason and Tricia an apologetic look as he walked into the office, closing the door behind him. But his voice still carried.

  “Sounds like Joe is doing a runner again,” Tricia said with a sigh.

  “What do you know about him? He doesn’t seem very dependable.” Mason popped a couple of pieces of bread into the toaster, leaning against the counter while he waited.

  “Not much. He was here when I came. I understand Dad hired him because he felt sorry for the guy, but he’s not been around when he should.”

  “And he has a huge crush on Carmen, the gal who runs the cafe.”

  Tricia chuckled at that. “He doesn’t have much of a chance with her. I heard there’s a new teacher in town, Brent Wierenga, and he seems to have caught her fancy.”

  “Blond? Neatly dressed? Charming smile?”

  “I think so. I saw someone like that talking to her after church yesterday. They seemed pretty cozy.” She shot him a frown as she took a sip of coffee. “How do you know him? Have you met him?”

  “I saw him at the cafe. The same day that Perry came in.” As soon as he mentioned his name he wished he hadn’t. Tricia’s expression grew troubled and she ducked her head as if hiding her shame.

  Immediately his thoughts went to what Roger had told him about Perry. Should he tell Tricia? Cause her greater concern? Did she even know?

  The twins were still sleeping as was Zach, so it was just him and Tricia.

  And Kane, who was still in the study.

  “How long did you date Perry?” he asked, curious about their relationship. The more he knew, the more he could defend her to Roger.

  “Too long,” she said, taking another sip of her coffee. “About six months. The first couple of months he was nice. Charming. Fun. Took me and the kids places I couldn’t begin to afford. He even talked about going to Disneyland, though I told him the kids were too young for that.”

  “Disneyland?” He couldn’t keep the censorious tone out of his voice. “Who can afford to take kids there?”

  “Don’t sound so disapproving. My parents took me.”

  “They took everybody?” Mason was surprised. Zach didn’t seem the type to indulge in that kind of extravagance.

  “No. Just me. We went before Kane came. My dad didn’t think we should go, but Mom insisted.”

  Mason though
t of Tricia’s comment about how her life changed when the boys came. Guess that was one of the changes.

  “Anyhow, I didn’t want to make a trip like that with him. I wasn’t ready. He pushed and pushed, and when I held my ground I glimpsed what Perry was like.”

  “Was that when you broke up with him?”

  This elicited another sigh. “No. It took a punch to the stomach before that happened. I quit my job, moved away, and ended up in Cranbrook. He tracked me down there. Followed me to the training seminar I was at, and now he’s followed me here.”

  She dropped her head into her hands, sucking in a long, slow breath.

  Mason couldn’t stand it. He sat down beside her, his hand resting on her shoulder, his thumb gently caressing her collarbone. “You couldn’t know he would.”

  “I wonder how he found me?”

  Just then the phone rang, and Tricia stood to answer it.

  She said hello, leaning against the wall, as if still carrying the burden of Perry’s presence.

  “Hey, Trent,” she said. “What can I do for you?”

  She answered a few questions, her voice curt, and then she pushed herself away from the wall.

  “Are you kidding me?” She closed her eyes, her hand massaging her temples. “A drug dealer?”

  Guess the local cop, Trent Siler, had also found out about Perry.

  “Do you know if he’s still in town?”

  More silence, and Tricia’s frown deepened, her eyes grew more troubled.

  “Of course I’ll let you know if I see him again,” Tricia said. “No, I’m fine. No, I’m not by myself. Thanks for asking. See you around.”

  With a beep, Tricia ended the call and dropped the handset into its cradle. She pressed her palms into her eyes, leaning against the wall again, looking utterly miserable and defeated.

  Mason watched her a moment, then, unable to stand it another second, stood and walked over to her. He slipped his arms around her and held her close, supporting her.

  “That was Trent from the police station.” She hesitated, and Mason could hear her swallow. “I guess you heard what he told me.”

  “I did.” It was all he could say.

  She sagged against him, her arms circling his waist, her head tucked under his chin.

  Mason’s arms tightened around her, wishing he could keep her safe, wishing he could do more for her than this.

  But while he held her, he was aware of the children down the hall and Kane in the office behind him. If either of them came in on them now, it would be difficult to explain.

  Much as he wanted to keep her in his arms, he had to be realistic.

  He gently eased her forward, his arm still around her shoulder as he escorted her to the table.

  She sat down, shaking her head.

  “So you had no idea he dealt drugs?” Mason felt like a heel for asking, but he had to know.

  “Of course I didn’t. I had no clue.” She pressed her eyes closed, her hands massaging her temples. “This is terrible. I can’t believe I spent time with him. I can’t believe I let my kids spend time with him.”

  “How often did the twins see him?”

  “Lots of times.” She shook her head, pressing her finger to her lips. Then she looked away as if ashamed. “The kids were in there one time…” Her voice broke and she stopped speaking.

  “One time what?” Mason encouraged her quietly.

  She was quiet another moment, then she drew in a shaky breath. “It was the time I broke up with him. We had a big fight, and he hit me, pushing me against the wall. Hope was very upset. Now I find out he was a drug dealer. As if my taste in men wasn’t bad enough.”

  “But if the local cops know, they’ll be keeping an eye on him.”

  “Trent says they went to the hotel he was staying at but he’s skipped town. I just pray he went far away.”

  “I’m praying the same thing,” Mason said, his hand on the back of her chair, his finger gently stroking her arm. A discreet touch that hopefully wouldn’t be misinterpreted if anyone came in on them. “I’m also hoping he knows there’s someone watching out for you.”

  As soon as he spoke the words, he realized how they sounded, but he wasn’t taking them away.

  Saying them aloud made him realize how true they were. He wanted to look out for her. He wanted to take care of her.

  Slow down, cowboy.

  Tricia’s eyes flew to his, as if she understood as well what he had just said.

  But just then the door of the study flew open. Mason dropped his hand, and Kane strode into the kitchen. He shoved his cell phone into the back pocket of his jeans, a look of disgust on his face.

  “So, Mason, that offer you made the other day about helping us out if Joe didn’t show up, is that still good?”

  Mason stood, his hands on his hips. “I’d be glad to,” he said. “Tricia said she can’t help me this afternoon, so I don’t mind.”

  “It would sure help me out a lot,” Kane said. “I know Dad is still tired. And I can’t do this on my own. You still know how to run a tractor?”

  “I’m sure it’s no different from the Massey 310 that I—” He stopped himself in time. He was about to say, the Massey that he had run for Roger Bouche. “That I’ve used before.”

  “Let’s go then.” Kane marched ahead of him, but before he left, Mason turned to Tricia.

  “Will you be okay?” he asked.

  “I don’t think I’ll be going to town,” she said. “I don’t dare. What if he comes back?”

  The fear in her voice made him want to get in his truck and chase Perry down and…what? Beat him up? Threaten him again?

  “You’ve got your cell phone, and we’re not far,” he said. “The cop said he left town.”

  “I’m hoping for good,” she said. “I think I’ll be okay. Dad will be here, and maybe Joe will eventually show up.”

  The trouble in her eyes bothered him. He gave into an impulse, leaned forward, and pressed a kiss to her lips. “I’m praying God will watch over you,” he said. It was all he could do. He hoped it was enough.

  “You look worried,” Kane said as he joined him in the yard.

  So Mason told him about Perry. What the cops had told Tricia.

  “If it’s any comfort, we’ll be working along the road today,” Kane said. “It dead-ends at the ranch, so we’ll be able to keep an eye on anyone coming here.”

  That was a comfort.

  They walked over to the tractors parked in a metal shed. Mason got inside one and Kane showed him the controls. They were pretty basic. Kane would drive ahead of him, raking hay for Mason to bale. They started up the tractors with a growl, Mason following Kane.

  They drove through the yard, along the road, and then into a field where the hay lay in rich, thick swaths, a beautiful yellow green.

  Mason inhaled the rich, earthy scent of ripening hay, warm in the sunshine, and melancholy washed through his soul. He remembered helping his father when he was young. Haying season was always fraught with tension. Watching the weather, hoping it wouldn’t rain.

  But on days like today, with sunshine pouring down from a bluebird sky, with mountains etched a blinding white against it, and thick, heavy swaths waiting, it was perfect.

  He let a sigh ease past his lips. Despite his concerns for Tricia, he was encouraged by the fact that he could still keep an eye out for her.

  And when you leave?

  Mason pushed that thought aside. He didn’t want to think about leaving.

  And how can you stay?

  He wasn’t sure how that would look. How it could happen.

  How about working with Kane and Zach?

  Clearly Joe was a no go. But could he really be a hired hand again? He had been saving up money for his own place. His own business, however that might look. The entire point of all his investing and scrimping had been for that purpose alone. He didn’t want to be beholden to a boss. To answer to anyone except himself.

  He pushed the thoughts a
side. For now he was doing something he enjoyed.

  He waited while Kane got a few rows ahead of him, the huge rake sweeping two swaths of hay together, piling them up in a thick row, waiting for Mason to run them through the baler.

  Twenty minutes later he was out on the field, the chugging of the baler rolling up the hay a rhythmic accompaniment to the country music twanging out of the radio. He glanced back from time to time, adjusted his speed to allow for thicker and thinner parts of the swaths, watching with pleasure when another bale rolled out of the baler as he was starting another one.

  The rhythm of farm life, he thought as he slowly made a curve around a corner of the field. This was what it was all about. Following the patterns of the seasons, working the land. This was the season of harvest. Of putting aside food for the winter. He felt a peace wash over him. Peace he hadn’t felt in years.

  As he worked, however, he kept one eye on the road. But no plumes of dust billowed from behind a vehicle. Nothing, not even Joe’s battered pickup, made its way down the dead-end road.

  At noon his cell phone buzzed. Puzzled, he pulled it out. It was Kane.

  “Tricia called to tell me she’s bringing us lunch, and she’s coming right now,” he said.

  And why did that make his heart lurch?

  “I’ll finish up this bale and then I’ll be there,” he said, glancing behind him to see Zach’s pickup bouncing across the rough field.

  The thought of seeing Tricia was tempered by the fact that Kane would be there.

  Tricia had the truck parked by the time he walked over to join them. The twins were running up and down the field between the swaths, jumping on them and getting covered in hay.

  “You two be careful,” Kane warned, scooping Hope up in his arms. “You don’t want to end up stuck in a bale.”

  “No stuck. No stuck,” Hope squealed, laughing as Kane tickled her.

  Mason felt a shaft of envy at Kane’s ease with the kids. He wished he could act so casual with them. Act like he was a part of their lives.

  The thought slipped in unawares and once again Mason felt his confused feelings toward Tricia and her children rise up.