Page 19 of Burning Skies
Honey, please come over tonight at six for dinner. We need to discuss something.
Son of a freaking mountain goat. Not today.
While my mom might say “please,” what she means is that my father is demanding to see me, and what my father wants, my father gets.
After I drop off my school stuff at home, I change into some jeans, a t-shirt, and boots before I head over. As I drive my old SUV along the road to my family’s ranch, I take in the acres of rolling hills dotted with cattle and sheep, and my heart aches.
As much as I enjoy teaching, I miss life on the ranch. But my father will never view me as an equal like he does my brothers, and I’d rather not be relegated to planning dinners and functions. My dad’s old-school and thinks women are fragile little flowers.
A wave of remorse hits me for feeling snarky toward my dad. I should be grateful his health has improved. He had dangerously high cholesterol for years despite not being overweight, and my mom struggled to find the right foods and medicines that would help him.
Despite how much he frustrates me with his outdated opinions about how I should live my life, I don’t want to argue with him.
Before I head for the house, I sneak into the barn to pet Sunshine. She’s the sweet Palomino I got as a teenager. When my horse sees me, she stamps her foot.
“I know. I’m sorry it’s been so long.” I hug her neck, and she rests her head on my back. I run my hand through her white mane and down her golden coat.
“She misses you.”
I smile when I hear Cash’s voice. “I miss her. She has my whole heart.” Because a horse will never break it the way a man will. I let go of Sunshine to hug my oldest brother. “You always say you’re going to stop by my apartment, but you never do.” When I let go, I poke him in the shoulder. “That’s rude. Where are your manners?”
“I’m sorry. You know how crazy things get around here. Between the ranch and juggling time with Summer, I’ve been swamped.”
“How is my favorite niece?”
His eyes light up. “She’s so fucking funny and smart. Wish I had her brains.”
Cash can seem like a jerk on a bad day, but he has a huge soft spot for his daughter. “When can I see her? I’d love to take her to lunch.”
His face falls. “I’m supposed to get her Saturday, but her mother’s been giving me the runaround. I switchedoneweekend because we had some sick cattle, and now Natalie tries to changeeveryhandoff at the last minute.”
I wince. “Does that mean you’re going back to court again?”
He pinches the bridge of his nose. “I fucking hope not. Things are bad enough with Nat now. I don’t wanna go that route if I can help it.”
“Sorry, bro. I know this has been hard.”
“I’m trying to be a good person and share custody with Summer’s mother, but she’s making it impossible to co-parent.” He pulls off his baseball cap to wipe his forehead. “She’d be easier to deal with if Dad wasn’t on a rampage lately.”
“What’s going on with him? Any idea why he wanted me to come home tonight?”
“He’s been bitchin’ about everything lately. My guess is he probably wants you to move back.”
“If I live here, Dad will want to know my every move, and I hate being managed.” Remembering my interaction with Beau, I frown. “Are you going to tell me why Trig and Beau Walker fought? Trig’s black and blue. He said he got into it with Beau but didn’t say why.” I leave out the part where he denied fighting about me.
My brother sighs. “You know Trig. Always looking for a fight.”
“So he started it?”
Cash looks away. “Wouldn’t say that. You know the Walkers are assholes.” He turns to me as his eyes harden. “Or at least you should. Not sure how I feel about you hanging out with their girlfriends and wives.”
I’ve been waiting for him to say something ever since he saw me chatting with them at the Rattlesnake Ridge Ranch Rodeo last spring. “I was friends with Baylee and Paige before they got together with Rhett and Maverick.” Sort of.
He sighs again. “You’re just making trouble for yourself.”
“Here’s an idea. If you mind your own beeswax, then it’ll be my problem, not yours.”
Grabbing me in a headlock, he sticks his finger in my ear. “Stay out of trouble, Honeybee. Don’t want my baby sister mixed up in anything.”
