Cowboy Country (35 page)

“But Dad, this is prime land,” he said, taking in the pond, meadow, and his favorite oak.

“We all agree it’s more yours and Regina’s, you two have been meeting here since you were kids.”

He felt a flush rise up his cheeks to be busted at thirty-two years. They’d known all along he and Regina met and went skinny dipping here.

Gramps added, “And before you think we were spying on you, your grandma and I caught your ma and pa  here as well.”

“Hush, dad, the boy don’t need to know that.” His dad actually blushed.

“Guess you could say, we’ve all have a turn here,” Pop said, shuffling his feet.

Sterling coughed. “Too much information guys, but thanks just the same.”

“The point is,” Dad said. “Grandpa Bronco has ten thousand acres, Grandpa Svensen has fifteen thousand, and your ma and I have grown our ranch to sixty-thousand acres. Your mom and I are only children so we want you and Regina to have this is one nice parcel of land, ten thousand acres. It’s time we start thinking of how we’re going to split it with you boys. You’ve always talked about raising horses and we thought this would be a nice location for you to build your home and start your herd. It’s up to you and Regina to decide where to put the house. We set up an account at the lumber mill for you to get started. All you have to do is give Henry Carver a call and he’ll start working on some plans for you. We all want to help you build it, just like we did with the main house.

“I don’t know what to say. Thank you.” He hugged his dad and both grandfathers. “I can’t wait to show Regina and Silver.”

“Consider it our wedding present to you,” Gramps said.

“About time too, don’t you think?” Pop added.

“Let’s hope Regina has forgiven me for everything. I guess it’s time I go pick out a ring.”

“Sounds good to me, son. I swear I’ve never seen your mother so happy. She has her first born son back home, safe and sound. Silver is calling her Grandma. Now all we need to make it perfect is to find Virgil.”

“Sorry Dad, I’ll track his ass down if it kills me.”

“You better boy, your mom is really worried. Virgil is a good boy, for him to leave like that is just not him.”

“I’ll take care of it, don’t worry.”

“Glad to hear it. How about we head back to the house and grab some lunch?” Dad said.

“I’m starving and the smell of mom’s Apricot preserves is was out of this world.”

“You don’t listen very well, do you boy,” Gramps said ruffling his head.

“What?”

“That’s Regina’s doing, the preserves are for her fair entry.”

“Really?”

“Told’ja boy, that girl can cook.” Pop’s said. “She really needs to take over that restaurant she’s working at.”

“Let’s get back, I’m hungry,” Dad said.

They jumped into the wagon and headed for the house.

How would he tell her about the land? Did he want to surprise her or let her help plan their dream home?

****

Regina stood on the front porch sipping as glass of sweet tea. Dane, Clayton, and Quinton rode up, laughing like a bunch of loons.

“Are they back?” Dane asked.

“Is who back?” she asked.

“Never mind,” Dane said.

“Where’s Captain Bly?” Clayton spouted.

“Down with his ship, hopefully,” quipped Quinton.

“You boys better be nice to him,” she said. “Sterling is still trying to figure things out.”

“Mommy, why are they calling Daddy names?” Silver folded her arms and glaring at her uncles.

Dane explained, “Your dad was the star of our football team. He knew how to make the team work together to win the game. He also knew how to create a strong team defense. And, he didn’t care if he yanked a few chains to get the end result.”

“Huh?” Silver cocked her head. “What’s he talking about Mommy?”

“Daddy upset his brothers. What your uncle is trying to say is that to your Daddy, the safety of his men was the most important thing. He wasn’t in the war to make friends but to keep them safe. That’s why he’s such a good man.” She glared at the boys. “He was there to make men out of boys. You know, kind of like when Mommy has to scold you for misbehaving. I’m doing it so you won’t get hurt.”

“Oh. Why didn’t he just say so?”

“No idea,” she laughed. “Lunch in on the counter if you boys are hungry.” No sooner had she finished her sentence, the Suburban drove up and parked. Nate, Dante, Tate, and Sterling jumped out.

“Daddy,” Silver shot off the porch and jumped into her father’s arms.

“Hi Pumpkin, any chance you made us some lunch, we’re starving.”

“It’s in the kitchen,” Silver said.

“Run along and tell Grandma we’re back,” he said.

Silver took both her Great-grandfathers by their hands and pulled them into the house, with Nate bringing up the rear.

“Smells wonderful, Sweetie. You’re going to kill’em at the fair,” Nate said as he walked past her and winked. What were they all up to? All the Bronco men were acting strange.

“Come on Rooster, grubs on,” Dane said.

“Stop calling him that. He’s not in high school anymore,” Clayton scolded.

“Yeah but he’s still the jock with the walk,” Quinton insisted, flicking his chin toward Sterling.

They went inside leaving Regina and Sterling alone. She loved to watch him walk, the way his massive thighs filled a pair of jeans. Each step he took, flexing his muscles, feet slightly turned out, made her remember all the times in school then the girls would swoon over the way he walked down the halls.

“The boys in school were so jealous of you,” she said, shaking her head when he stepped into her arms. “The guys called you were the jock with a walk. The girls said you were a jock with a cock. Me, you were always the cock with walk. You still turn my head just walking like that.”

“Are you trying to smooth talk me?” he asked. His randy smile sent her heart skittering.

“Why, is it working?”

“Sure is, baby.” He kissed her then they went into the house for lunch holding hands.

Once their plates were full, Regina and Sterling took their food and went out to eat on the front porch. The skies were blue and cloudless.

“If this weather keeps up we’re going to have a great Spring Fling,” Sterling said.

“What all you do you have left to do?” Regina wanted some time alone with him. They still needed to talk.

“Not a thing, we’re done,” Dane said as he joined them.

“Maybe you don’t, but Clay and I need to get some practice in for the rodeo,” Quinton said snidely, as if he were angry with his twin.

“We don’t need no practice, we’re already on top.” Clay grinned then dove into his lunch.

“Who’s gonna help me practice on the sheep?” Silver asked as she carried her plate out of the house letting the screen bang closed.

“I’ll help you Munchkin,” Clay offered.

Quinton countered, “No I will, Princess.”

“The heck with them, Pussycat, I’ll do it,” Dane said.

“Now listen here Cupcake, it’s been ages since any of them rode a sheep. I help the 4-H kids all the time. If you want to win this thing, I’ll help you,” Darcy said then put her arm around Silver, leading her away from the uncles.

Her daughter was no dummy. She walked from one uncle to the other, eyeing them up and down, before sitting down beside her Aunt to eat her lunch.

“Do you really think you can help me win Aunt Darcy? I only have three days to practice.”

“It’s just a fun rodeo game,” Regina said. Just because Silver was a Bronco didn’t guarantee a win of any kind. Better to let her daughter down easy.

“No Mommy, it’s not a game.”

“What’s so all fire important about winning?” Sterling frowned at his daughter’s attitude.

“Because when I told the class I was a Bronco, Bruce Stoddard said no dumb ole girl, ‘specially no dumb ole Bronco girl was gonna win the buckle out from under him. I gotta beat him. I gotta,” Silver strongly urged.

Silver’s pleas set off a whole slew of new offers to help her get ready for the ride. No one was louder than Darcy.

“Hush up you lunk heads,” Darcy shouted over the men’s voices. She cupped Silver by the chin and said, “Don’t you worry your head, no dumb ole Stoddard boy is going to take that buckle from you. I guarantee it. And Broncos don’t break promises, do they?”

“No Aunt Darcy.” Silver beamed and finished her lunch.

“Mommy can I go play in the barn. I wanna see the baby kittens.”

“Sure just don’t get too close, you don’t want the mommy to scratch you, trying to protect her babies.”

“I’ll come get you when it’s time to practice,” Darcy said.

“Okay.” Silver ran off happy as a child could be.

“Now Darcy, just because Silver’s a Bronco is no guarantee she’ll win.” Regina had to voice her opinion. “She needs to understand you can’t give her that win.”

“It has nothing to do with being a Bronco, but in this case. I’ll make sure she wins because I know every trick his uncle will try to teach Bruce. Only I have a few new tricks up my sleeve that none of the Stoddards ever dreamed of.” Darcy had a vindictive look in her eye.

The boys eyed one another before all settled on Darcy who got up and stormed into the house muttering, “…show those dumb assed stupid boys.”

Regina finished her lunch before she broached the subject they all wanted to devour. “I know all about the history between Jake Stoddard and Darcy. Just because Blake embarrassed the boy who started that rumor about Darcy is no reason to start teaching Silver about revenge.”

“Rivalry is good for the soul,” Sterling said.

Dane laughed. “Rivalry my ass, Darcy’s out for blood.”

“The Stoddard kid might as well forget it. When Darcy’s pissed, nobody wins but her,” Clay chuckled.

“I’m bringing my camera, I want video of this,” Quinton added. “Are we placing bets on what she’ll do to Jake if she sees him?”

“Okay guys, what am I missing?” Sterling brow knit deep lines across his forehead.

The boys exchanged glances.

“You really don’t know?” Dane snickered.

“I heard Blake chased him off. That’s all,” Sterling said.

The boys started laughing, talking over one another.

Regina whistled, splitting the air. “I’ll tell it, you boys hush up now.”

She had to choose her words wisely. She knew more than the boys did because Darcy confided in her. She still wanted to slap Jake silly for starting that rumor. It was all over town and took six months before she could figure a way to stop it cold. But she wasn’t about to betray Darcy’s confidence.

“Well,” Sterling asked.

“You’re right, Blake chased off Jake. The problem is on his way home Jake’s car broke down.”

“Broke down my ass…Blake scared that dumb kid so bad, he fishtailed into that ditch over by Mulligan’s Pond.” Dane snorted.

“Some of his buddies stopped to pull him out, afterwards they harassed the heck out of him for wrecking his car. He got embarrassed and started making some comments about Darcy to get his buddies off his back.”

“And—” Sterling asked. “There’s more to it, I can feel it.”

“Nothing. It’s over,” she said.

“Bull shit! Quit sugar coating it, tell him the rest,” Dane insisted.

“Regina?”

“Honestly, the rest is speculation. I have no intention of talking about this further.”

“I heard he spread rumors that she stuffed her bra,” Clay said. “She never needed to, she was an early bloomer.”

“Guys knock it off,” she shushed them. “You don’t want Darcy to hear you talking about this. You know how sensitive she is.”

“I heard she beat the crap out of him when she found out he spread that.” Quinton grinned. “I guess having eight older brothers helped in this instance.”

“Guys, you’re not helping matters. That’s how the rumors got started,” she said, trying to shut them up, but they had other ideas.

“And I heard he and his buddies got caught watching the girls skinny-dip to find out for sure and were threatened with charges if they didn’t stop harassing Darcy,” Dane said, giving her the evil eye.

How the hell did he find out she threatened to press charges? She had to derail this entire conversation before Sterling went ballistic. “That’s not what happened at all.” This whole situation was getting blown out of proportion. The less she said the angrier Sterling became.

“And—” Sterling asked again, his voice deepened.

“That’s it.”

“Rumors about what?” Sterling carefully enunciated. He dropped his plate on the porch then turned and asked, scowling at his brothers.

“Now calm down. It’s not as bad as all that?” she said, patting his hand.

Luckily Darcy chose that moment to reappear, thank God. She’d save the explanation for a private moment.

Darcy had changed into her jeans. She was pulling on her gloves when she came out on the porch. “I’m going to take Silver out to practice.” She headed toward the barn muttering, “…damned busy-body brothers and dickheads.”

Regina glared at the men. “Nice going.”

When Darcy reached the barn they watched her enter then slowly back out.

“Sterling, Gigi, get over here, fast.”  She waved them over with short, fast, blasts of waving hands.

They all took off at dead run. The boys hauled ass over to their baby sister.

“What’s the matter?” they all asked in unison as Darcy continued to back up, arms wide, forcing them back as well.

****

Silver snuggled the little black and white kitten in her arms. It was only a little larger than her Mommy’s hand. Its fur was so soft. She nuzzled her nose to its cheek. It was time to ask Mommy and Daddy to keep one. She pushed her way past the partially opened barn door to find everyone standing there. Their eyes were wide, mouths dropped open. They were all backing away from her.

“What’s the matter with everyone?” she asked, as she stroked her kitten.

They kept backing up.

“Can I keep it?”

“Pumpkin, you need to put it back,” Daddy said.

“But I want this kitten. It’s so soft and cuddly,” she said, nuzzling the baby again.

“Silver, put it down. That is not a kitten,” Mommy said.

Why they all acting so strange and moving away from her.