Sea Of Grass (24 page)

“Who’s challenging? I’m asking…practically begging.”

Both women laughed, then stopped when they heard Jack and Jed’s voices in the living room.

“Fun’s over,” Claire said sadly and stood.

Tess leaned back and slid under the steamy water as Claire left.

After the hot bath, Tess felt much better—tired but no longer exhausted. The night was warm and the sun was still hanging in the western sky. Claire was sitting on the back porch with Jed. Tess walked out and stretched.

“What a glorious night. It’ll be a wonderful sunset. That bath did the trick.”

Jed stood and stretched, as well. “You worked hard today, Tess. Claire’s right. Take a day off tomorrow. The boys can handle things. Listen to Claire.”

Tess frowned and avoided Claire’s look of superiority. “I’m fine.”

“And you’re stubborn,” he said. He winked at Claire. “Gets it from her mama.”

Claire laughed and rocked in the chair. Tess stumbled forward as Jack opened the screen door. “Oh, sorry, Tess.”

Jed laughed. “It’s getting crowded. Jack, how about a game of gin?”

Jack glanced from Tess to Claire. “Um, maybe later, okay, Jed? I need to talk to Tess.”

Claire stopped laughing. The look of terror on her face had Tess chuckling.

“That’s fine, son.”

When Jed was out of sight, Jack looked at Tess. “Would you take a ride with me?”

Claire looked as if she was about to be sick. Tess now felt about the same. “Sure,” she said, trying not to sound petrified. She absently looked around for the shotgun.

“Great. I’ll go saddle the horses.” He kissed Claire on the cheek before walking to the stables.

Tess glanced at Claire, who still looked ill. “Well, this should prove very interesting.”

As she stood, Claire reached over and grabbed her arm. “What do you think he wants?”

Tess heard the terror in her voice and had to laugh. “Claire, he’s your son. Don’t worry.” She bent down and kissed her gently on the lips. “But if I’m not back by sunset, send Chuck.”

By the time Tess got to the stable, Jack had saddled Stella and was finishing up with Zeus. He looked up and smiled. “All set.” He led both horses out by the reins; Tess followed behind.

“Where would you like to go?” Tess asked as they mounted their respective horses.

“I thought the south pasture. I love it there.”

The late afternoon sun was warmer than expected as they neared the pasture. Jack stopped Zeus and Tess followed. For a moment or two, neither said a word; Tess got worried and stole a glance at Jack, who was gazing out at the green pasture. She smiled slightly as he pushed his cowboy hat off his forehead.

“Sure is beautiful here. I can see why you love it,” he said.

“I do,” Tess said; she now looked around. “I remember as a girl, I’d ride out here and lie in the tall grass and look up at the clouds passing by. I felt like I was swimming in a sea of grass.”

“That’s very poetic,” Jack said with a laugh.

Tess laughed along. “My great-uncle Jeremiah said that first. It always stuck with me.”

“And you’d fight to take care of this and make sure nothing happens to it.”

Tess cocked her head and looked at him. “Yes, I would.”

Jack nodded, still not looking at her, which made Tess more nervous. “I remember when I was a kid, Mom would always make sure I was safe. It was only the two of us. I’m not sure what she’s told you.”

“Not much,” Tess said. When Jack frowned in concentration, she smiled, thinking how much he looked like Claire. “I’ll tell you what I told your mom. I’ll listen to whatever you have to say.”

“No matter what?” Jack looked down at his hands as they rested on the pommel.

“No matter what.”

He looked up once again, studying his surroundings; Tess sensed he was picking his words cautiously. It seemed a lifetime before he spoke once again.

“Mom is always protecting me, not wanting me to get hurt. Like with the knife and the apple.” He laughed. Tess laughed, as well, but said nothing. “I overheard her one night. It was maybe three years ago. She thought I was sleeping and was talking to her friend, Brenda. I remember Mom saying, ‘Jack and I are a package deal.’ I wasn’t sure what she meant, but then I remembered seeing Mom kissing Brenda, then I knew.” He looked at Tess and smiled. “I always
kinda
figured. Mom never dated guys, ever. And on the rare occasion when she went out for fun, it was with women. But she never let on and never had anyone stay over. But I remember, when she broke up with Brenda, I remember hearing her cry and I wanted to go to her, but I didn’t know if she’d be embarrassed or not.”

He stopped for a moment and took a deep breath. “When I was little, she told me about my dad. Said he loved us but had an accident and died before I was born.”

“I’m sorry, Jack,” Tess said.

Jack shook his head. “No need. A few years ago, I found a letter. He’s alive.” He looked at Tess. Tess was stunned; she could feel her mouth hanging open.

“So I did a little digging without Mom knowing. I found out he’s some rich asshole on Long Island. He knows all about me, and in the letter, he said ‘I’ve told you for the last time, I don’t want anything to do with you or him. I’m married and have a family. And you won’t get any money.’” He shook his head again, this time in disgust. “He’s a bigwig in some law firm, and he married into a political family.”

“Shit, Jack, I’m sorry.” Tess felt stupid repeating the same thing, but she had no idea what else to say.

“In the letter, Mom said she just wanted to let him know how I was and what a good young man and all that and she didn’t want any money.” Jack shrugged. “He doesn’t care.”

“What did your mom say when you told her?”

“I didn’t.”

Tess leaned in. “You never told her about the letter?”

“Nope. Or hearing her talk with Brenda.”

“Why not?” Tess asked. When she saw the tears well in his brown eyes, her heart ached. She reached over and placed her hand on his forearm.

“She was protecting me, telling me he loved us and died in an accident so I would grow up thinking he loved me. And if I told her, she might be ashamed and that would hurt her.” He looked at Tess. “And I won’t let anyone hurt her ever again. She gave up her whole life to make me happy and safe. Gave up Brenda and who knows who else, for me. Anyway, we finally talked about it earlier, and I did tell Mom. She felt bad and ashamed. I know she hasn’t told you.”

“I can understand her apprehension in telling me.”

He smiled then, as if remembering some happy time; this too broke Tess’s heart.

“She always had daisies on the kitchen table. No matter where we lived or how broke we were, Mom always had daisies.” He took his hat off and angrily slapped it on his thigh. “And it really pisses me off now thinking that she had to buy them for herself.”

He jumped off his horse and turned away from Tess, who immediately dismounted Stella and rushed to him. She pulled him into her arms and held him as he cried.

Jack pulled back and sniffed as he wiped the heel of his hand across his eyes. “I’m okay.”

“I know,” Tess said. “I know you love your mother very much.”

Jack nodded and took a deep breath. He glanced at Tess, then looked away. “I know you do, too, but I won’t see Mom hurt anymore. You protect and fight for this land. That’s how I feel about her.”

And there it was.

Tess stepped back; actually, she nearly staggered and put her hands deep in the pockets of her jeans. She gazed out at the pasture and the mountains in the distance. Myriad situations flashed through her mind, all of them too fantastic to comprehend. She thought of her own childhood and how safe and happy her parents made her and Steve feel, how Uncle Jeremiah, even as an old man, lifted her onto his lap and told her about the land, and how important it was, but family, he said, family was everything. And their land was part of that family. That’s why she went to the same university he did and learned what he had learned so many years before. She was more useful there than on the ranch. And now, with Steve gone, she was needed back here with her father and—she looked at Jack who was staring at the ground.
 
And who? she asked herself.

“Walk with me, Jack,” she said, motioning with her head.

Jack dutifully walked beside her in the tall grass. They walked with their horses trailing behind them, neither of them speaking for some time. They stopped by the huge oak tree. Jack leaned against it and absently kicked at the ground with the toe of his boot.

“I do love your mother,” Tess said, nearly shocking Jack and herself.

His head shot up at the declaration and he nodded.

“And I admire you for protecting her and loving her. It couldn’t have been easy for her or you. I admire you both.”

“I know I’m just a kid and you probably don’t think I know much about such things, like lesbians, ya know…and maybe I don’t. All I know is she’s my mom and been alone all her life. I love her, and if you love her, too, then it’s okay with me. Someday I won’t be around, and I’d like to think she’s happy with someone. She deserves to be happy.” He looked at her and shrugged, then smiled.

Tess grinned, as well. “You know, I told your mother the best way to her heart was through you. But she told me it wasn’t the only way. I guess I’ll just have to figure that out.”

Jack walked over and mounted Zeus. He pulled on the reins, smiling as he looked down at Tess. “Make sure she has daisies on the kitchen table, Tess.”

Tess stood there, dumbfounded as she watched Jack ride through the pasture and away from the house. She leaned back against the tree and shook her head. “That young man is no kid.” She mounted Stella. “Now where am I gonna get daisies?”

Chapter 17

“Where have you been?” Chuck asked.

Tess swung the saddle over the post and picked up the brushes. “I was out riding with Jack. It was very enlightening.” She shook her head in amazement and started brushing Stella.

“Enlightening how?” Chuck asked.

“What’s enlightening?” Jed asked as he walked into the stable.

Tess groaned and put her head on Stella. “Nothing.”

“Tess went for a ride with Jack that was very enlightening,” Chuck said to Jed.

“Really? Enlightening how?”

“That’s what I asked, but she ain’t
sayin
’,” Chuck said.

Tess heard them snicker and raised her head. “Will you two go away?”

“I don’t think so,” Jed said. “Now tell us.”

Tess looked from Jed’s eager face to Chuck’s innocent grin. “Jack told me about his father, which I can’t go into until I talk to Claire. So don’t even ask.” She took the brush to Stella once again.

“That can’t be all,” Chuck said.

Tess felt Jed’s gaze and looked up to see him smiling. “It’s not, is it?”

“Nope. It appears that young Mr. Redmond is quite the worldly fellow and is in tune with his mother, whom he adores.” She smiled fondly, remembering their conversation.

“And whom you adore, as well,” Jed said.

Tess avoided both men but nodded obediently while she continued to brush Stella.