Redeeming Rafe (19 page)

“Jimpson told me. But that doesn’t mean anyone told
him.”
Heath chuckled a little, which was as close to a laugh as Abby had ever heard him get. “Jimpson just seems to know things—absorbs truths out of the air.”

“Maybe Rafe told him,” Abby said. “Jimpson’s been helping Rafe almost every day.”

“So what does your family say? Are they happy for you?” His face said that he doubted it.

“I haven’t told them. There’s really nothing to tell. It has only been a few weeks.” It was mind boggling that she had come to feel so intensely connected to Rafe is that space of time.

“That’ll be a tough conversation to have—especially with Gregory’s parents.”

“You should know,” Abby said. Heath had married young, and his even-younger wife had died six months later. But surely he’d had at least one relationship since. It had been years.

Heath shook his head. “No. I never had to have that conversation with Aimee’s parents. I dated some after she died, but nothing ever got that far.”

“Maybe this won’t either.”

Heath gave her a knowing look. “I suspect it already has.”

As Abby opened her mouth to protest, Alice cried out, “Mama! Out!”

Heath nodded, and might as well have said, “I rest my case.” But Heath wasn’t one to speak the words if a gesture would do.

“Well.” Abby rose and handed her mug to Heath. “Somebody’s been in the stroller too long. Thanks for the tea.”

“Abby, wait,” Heath said. “I was going to call you today anyway. I have a check for you.”

“A check?”

“I sold one of Gregory’s pieces a week ago. I didn’t tell you sooner, because the client wanted to live with it a few days and make sure. But he called this morning and said he would be keeping it.”

She’d almost forgotten. Gregory’d had three pieces for sale when he died. Heath had asked her if she was sure she wanted to sell, and she had assured him she had. There had been a mission-style lampshade, a fireplace screen, and a small rose window. The lampshade—the least expensive item, had sold right away, but nothing since.

Heath seemed almost apologetic when he handed her the check. Two thousand dollars. So it had been the screen. “Maybe I should have asked you before I sold it, but you seemed so sure when we last discussed it.”

“I
was
sure, and I am.” She pocketed the check. While she wasn’t as desperate as she had been, this was still a very welcome bit of insurance against emergencies. “Thank you, Heath.”

“That leaves only the window.” He glanced to the spot where the light danced through the rich purples, reds, and blues of the piece. “Are you certain?”

Unspoken words hung in the air.
It was the last piece he made.

“I’m sure,” Abby said crisply.

“Don’t you think maybe … for Phillip? Gregory was really beginning to find his way with that piece.”

“Gregory’s son has to eat and have shoes.”
And Gregory did nothing to help ensure that.
Abby wished she could call the words back—and unthink the unspoken ones.

“If it’s a matter of money, let me—”

“Buy the window and save it for Phillip? No, Heath. It’s not just a matter of finances.” Abby recalled what Neyland always said about her jewelry and revamped it for her own purposes. “The greatest honor an artist can receive is to have someone purchase a piece and cherish it. It would please Gregory more for someone to buy his window because they fall in love with it.”

Heath nodded. “All right. Still, I’ll call you when I get an offer. I’d feel better about that.”

“Sure. Ready to go, kiddos?” she said cheerfully. “We need to get those Halloween costumes.”

“You’re getting soft.” Gabe finally stepped off the treadmill. He retrieved a bottle of Gatorade from the refrigerator before sitting down on the weight bench facing the juice bar where Rafe and Jackson sat.

“Yeah. That’s us. Soft.” Jackson took a drink of his own Gatorade.

“I stopped trying to keep up with you in the womb,” Rafe said. “That’s why you got out first. I could’ve. Easy.”

“Looks like you’d get enough of a workout with your team,” Jackson said.

“If I didn’t work out here, you two slackers never would.”

“Working out would have been easier before we ate,” Rafe said. Though sometimes Dirk and Gwen ate with their kids at their own house and Gabe and Neyland went out, everyone had sat down together tonight, as they seemed to be doing more and more these days. With all the noise, good food, and kids, it had been fun. Plus, Abby had looked hot in a short, khaki skirt and white T-shirt. If Alice hadn’t crawled in his lap and demanded to eat from his plate, he might have put the moves on Abby under the table. “Why did we have to wait until after dinner?”

“Because you were out playing with the horses,” Gabe said. “And Gwen waits dinner on no man.”

“I might quit working out,” Rafe said. “This might be my last one.

“Not working. Not working out. What
do
you plan to do?” In spite of his words, Jackson was smiling, clearly elated that Rafe had announced his retirement.

Now was as good a time as any to tell them what he’d been thinking.

“Actually, I wanted to talk to y’all about that—what I intend to do. Jimpson and I have the stable in good shape. I can’t ride Arion and play with my kids all day for the rest of my life.”

“Yeah,” Gabe said. “Eventually, the little vampires are going to leave home. Then you’d have no one to play with.”

Rafe was still afraid of those little vampires, but less every day. They were so cute and smart.

“You’re not rethinking your retirement are you?” Jackson asked.

“Like you did? No. One revoked retirement per family is enough.” Oddly, Rafe was relieved to be off the circuit—off the circuit and in Abby’s bed. “Still, a man’s got to work—especially this man. I’m going to have all manner of tutus and such to pay for.” And maybe he’d have a boy to take care of, too. It was too soon to say for certain, but it sure felt like it was headed that way.

“What have you got in mind?” Gabe asked.

“I thought I might have to beg Emory to take me on as a waiter for Around the Bend, but I had a better idea.”

“Bartender?” Gabe asked. “She’d hire you for that. And you’d get tips.”

“Gabriel,” Jackson said. “Let’s hear him out.”

“Do you remember how when I was a kid I used to say I wanted to breed Tennessee Walking Horses?”

Gabe and Jackson exchanged a concerned look. They always thought he was dumber than he was, or at least more naive.

“Rafe,” Jackson said almost apologetically, “that industry is in trouble—has been for a while.”

“I know that. Besides, I was a kid. I liked horses, and someone had given me a book on Tennessee Walkers. But buying Arion and Snowball and cleaning out the stable got me thinking, and I’ve done a little research. I’d like to start a stock contracting company.”

Jackson’s and Gabe’s expressions went blank.

“I don’t know what that is,” Gabe said.

It was a fair bet Jackson didn’t either, but he wouldn’t say so unless he had to.

“A stock contractor provides the rough stock for rodeos—broncos, bulls, steers for wrestling. I could do it, and I have the rodeo contacts.”

“Where would you have to go to do this?” Jackson looked alarmed, but Rafe knew he’d like the answer.

“The south end of Beauford Bend, if the two of you and Beau agree. There’s nothing out there, and it’s far enough away from here that there’s no danger of a bull getting loose and tramping through an Around the Bend event.”

Jackson nodded. “Good to know. Emory wouldn’t take too kindly to that.”

“So about the property?” Rafe asked.

Jackson and Gabe looked surprised.

“That’s a given, Rafe,” Jackson said. “This is your home. I admit I wouldn’t want to live in the middle of a bunch of wild rodeo animals, but this a big property.”

“We’ll ask Beau if he ever calls again,” Gabe said. “But he’ll feel the same.”

“Gabriel,” Jackson said sharply. “Don’t imply your brother might not call again.”

“Sorry,” Gabe said. “It’s a figure of speech.”

“Sorry, too.” Jackson covered his eyes briefly. “It’s been a month. I’m edgy.”

“We all are.” Gabe turned back to Rafe. “Do you have the money for this?”

Rafe nodded. “I do. To be honest, it will take everything I’ve got to get set up right, but there’s money to be made, and I intend to make it. And, meanwhile, the girls and I aren’t in danger of having to live on the street.”

“I hate to see you use everything you’ve got. Suppose I invest?” Jackson said.

“I hadn’t considered investors,” Rafe admitted, which pointed out how little business sense he had. Breeding and selling the stock was one thing. He knew in his gut he’d be good at it. But the money, especially investing almost every penny of his hard- earned savings, part gave him pause.

“I wouldn’t be doing it only to help you,” Jackson said “You say there’s money to be made. I want some of it. I trust that you know what you’re doing.”

Rafe nodded. “I don’t really care what your reasons are. If you want in, you’re in.”

“Me, too,” Gabe said. “Only I don’t trust that you know what you’re doing—on the business side anyway. As for the rest, if you say you can do it, I believe you.”

Gabe had a nose for business and, for the most part, managed his own investments.

“That’s fair,” Rafe said. “I don’t know everything about the practical parts, but I know enough to know what I need to learn. As for the business side, I had thought I’d have to hire a manager.”

Gabe shook his head. “It might come to that, but for now, you’ve got me.”

“Do you have a plan?” Jackson asked.

Rafe laughed. “No. But I have a plan to make a plan. And the first part was to talk to y’all and find out about the location. Check. And since I got investors, I’m two checks ahead. Jackson, I’m sure you’ll want lawyers involved.”

“Lawyers always have to be involved. But not to protect us from each other. Never that.”

“One thing I did think of,” Rafe said. “When Beau comes home, he’s going to need a job, and he’s not going to have any money. He might want to be part of this.”

Jackson’s head snapped up. “Perfect!”

“Don’t jump the gun,” Gabe said. “Beau always did have an opinion.”

“I guess we found that out when he ran off and joined the army instead of going to Vandy like he was supposed to.”

They’d been over this a thousand and one times, and it looked like Jackson was never going to make peace with it.

“Well, it’s an option for him.” Gabe turned to Rafe. “What does Abby say?”

“What?” He hadn’t told anyone about Abby and him, wasn’t sure what there was to tell. And he doubted if Abby had. Had Gabe read his emotions about her after all? “Why would I discuss this with my nanny?”

Jackson and Gabe both burst out laughing.

“Seriously?” Jackson turned to Gabe. “He seriously doesn’t know that everyone on this plantation knows.”

“I need a shower,” Rafe said. And he was gone.

• • •

Later, showered and dressed in shorts and a T-shirt, Rafe stretched out on Abby’s bed. He’d given up all pretenses of using his room. He didn’t even shower in there anymore. No wonder everyone knew what they were up to. Not that he cared.

He opened his iPad and brought up the book he’d been reading on the history of horse breeds. After his talk with his brothers, he was even more sure he could make a go of this. With their help—he stopped short.
Help.
Somewhere along the way, it must have become acceptable to have help.

He hardly recognized himself anymore.
Sorry, Camille. I don’t deserve this life that seems to have been put in my path. Can you forgive me for being happy? Is that okay?

He never got an answer, never had time to even think about it, because the door burst open and Phillip and Bella, wearing only diapers, barreled through. Abby was hot on their trail, with a naked Alice in her arms and a diaper clutched in her hand.

“Hey! I told you Daddy would come in and say good night.” She’d changed into the shorts and Boston Bruins shirt she would sleep in, and her color was high. Everyone smelled of soap and baby shampoo.

“Sorry,” Abby said. “I guess I left the nursery door ajar.”

“Daddy! Up!” Bella was struggling to climb onto the bed, to get to him.

Until lately, it had been a long time since someone had struggled to get to him. Not since Camille. He laid his iPad aside and reached for her. “Come on up, kid. You too, Phillip.”

Abby put Alice on the bed, and she immediately began to crawl toward Phillip and Bella, who were now on Rafe’s chest. Bella was pulling on his nose and babbling about something that seemed extremely important to her.

“I’m sure that’s true, Bella,” Rafe said. “Whatever it is.”

“No you don’t.” Abby captured Alice and began to wrestle her into the diaper.

“I should have helped with the baths,” Rafe said to Abby.

She grinned. “I’m going to stop giving baths. I’m just going to throw them in the yard and hose them down. There.” She patted Alice’s bottom. “You can go to Daddy now.”

Alice crawled to the foot of the bed and kissed the bottom of Rafe’s foot.

“Hey!” Startled, he looked at Abby. “Does that meet anybody’s standard of hygiene?”

Abby burst out laughing. “You taught them about foot kissing.”

“Join the puppy pile.” He stretched out a hand to Abby and pulled her onto the bed. “Their feet are so chubby and cute. I can’t help it.” He pulled Abby under his arm, and Phillip climbed over and draped himself over her chest.

“They are,” she agreed. “And that might be why you do it now. But at first, you kissed their feet because to kiss their faces was getting too close.”

Was that true? He couldn’t remember his motives. He only remembered being terrified.

“They’re scary little vampires,” he said. “But I’m not afraid of you.” He dropped a kiss on her mouth—whereupon Bella pulled his hair, and Alice hurled herself between them.

He pulled away and groaned. “We’re going to have to get a bigger bed if this is going to happen very much.”

“Do they make a bed big enough for five to puppy pile?”