Southern Comfort: Compass Brothers, Book 2 (17 page)

“Okay. So you haven’t told mom?”

Seth closed his eyes wearily. “No.”

“I wanna be there when you do.” Sam’s voice was regaining its strength.

Seth soaked it in. Let it wash through him. “Okay.”

“So I’ll see you at the airport.”

Seth stood up. “Yeah.”

“I’ll text you the flight info. Seth?”

“Yeah?”

“We’re gonna get through this, right?” Sam’s voice took him back. Reminded him of the time his younger brother had broken his leg after falling out of the hayloft. Seth had carried him to the truck, while Sawyer ran to get their folks. Sam had only been ten at the time, and he’d looked at Seth as his savior, asking him if his leg would be okay, if he’d be crippled or walk with a limp.

He said now what he said then. “We’re gonna get through this just fine.”

He hung up the phone, praying his words were true. Seth stiffened his spine and walked toward the truck.

He could do this. All he had to do was put one foot in front of the other.

He could do this.

Chapter Twelve

Seth was surprised by how natural it felt to be back home, sitting around the dinner table with his family. Sam had shown up late last evening. Along with his brothers and JD, they’d broken the news about their father’s cancer to their mother.

Seth had wasted countless hours throughout the day worrying about Vicky’s reaction, but he should have put the time to better use. His mom was the perfect counterpart to her tough-as-nails husband. She took the news calmly, nodded as they spoke and asked quite a few questions. Luckily Silas had been strong enough to stay put at the doctor’s office to get the answers for her.

Afterwards, she simply stood and excused herself. He’d never seen his mother fall apart, never seen a chink in her resolute spirit. JD had followed her out of the room and Seth knew they would comfort each other in private. For her sons, Seth had no doubt Vicky would continue to put on a brave face, offering each of them a comforting shoulder and a sympathetic ear, but he was concerned how she would handle her grief when JD was gone.

Seth looked around the table, studying the composure of his family and he felt humbled by their strength. JD was calmly discussing a problem they were having with one of the ranch hands with Silas and Colby, while Vicky and Lucy laughed about some local gossip regarding the preacher’s wife and one of the less devout members of the congregation.

Only Sam was unusually quiet. Seth knew there was a story behind his sudden trip home. Something involving a woman. Something painful. He’d pull him aside tonight with a bottle of Southern Comfort and get to the bottom of it. Maybe Sam could offer him some advice in regards to Jody.

They were just finishing up their meal, when the doorbell rang.

“Damn. Who visits at suppertime?” JD grumbled, rising slowly.

“I’ll get it,” Sam offered, but JD waved his hand for his brother to sit back down.

“Naw. I’m the closest.” JD walked out of the dining room and the conversation continued, as Silas and Colby began filling Seth and Sam in on some of the more recent improvements they’d made to the ranch. Seth had been gone a long time and it would take a while to get up to speed on the way things worked at Compass Ranch.

JD reappeared at the doorway. “Uh, Seth. Maybe you should come out here, son.”

Seth felt all eyes at the table looking at him as everyone recognized JD’s bewildered tone. The unshakable man was definitely floundering over something out of the ordinary.

“Oookay,” he said, drawing out the word and rising slowly.

As he walked to the doorway to the front foyer, he was aware that everyone in the room had risen and was following him. He chuckled softly. Nosy family.

His laughter died when he saw Jody standing just inside the front door to his family’s home. She was in her mother’s wedding dress.

She looked haughty and irritated.

She’d never looked more beautiful.

Seth studied her silently, trying to find his words while wondering what the devil she was up to. Finally, he said the first thing that came to his mind. “Nice dress.”

She ran her hands along the silk skirt. “I wore it for you.”

He narrowed his eyes. “For me? Not Paul.”

She shook her head. “Paul’s still at the ranch.”

“What about the will? The marriage of convenience? Your promise?” He stressed the last question, knowing it was that damned promise that was fucking with his future happiness.

She blew out an annoyed breath. “Paul’s married. The will’s been satisfied.”

He was confused. She’d married Paul?

“Why are you in Wyoming if you married
him
?” He wanted to wince at the bitter tone in his voice. The stress of the last few days had worn on him until he thought he’d shatter under the pressure.

She scowled. “I didn’t marry him. Chase did.”

“Chase?” he asked.

She shrugged and, for the first time, he saw a touch of fear in her eyes hidden behind the anger. Her demeanor didn’t make any sense. She was clearly furious, and unless he was misreading her body language, a bit anxious. He’d asked her to choose him and made it clear he would respect her decision. Why was she so mad? So nervous?

“Apparently there was a loophole in the will. It only said Paul had to be married. It didn’t specify that the spouse had to be a woman.”

Seth heard Silas chuckle softly behind him, but he didn’t acknowledge it. He couldn’t focus on anything except her.

Jody took a step closer. “Regardless of that, Paul said he wouldn’t have held me to the promise. Said he’d started looking for another option the day we showed up at the ranch.”

“Why?”

“Because of you.” She shook her head. “No, because of me. Because of us. The way—” Her words faltered and again he was struck by the idea that she wasn’t sure of his feelings.

Then Seth considered the brief time he’d spent with Paul at the ranch. Now that Seth was away from the situation, he could see that Paul had been pushing him and Jody together.

Letting Seth take Jody to the barn to see the puppies while he stayed behind with Chase.

Asking Seth to drag her out of the bachelorette party.

Encouraging Jody to sleep with Seth.

Paul knew her, understood her. Paul knew she’d never willingly break a promise, so he broke it for her. “Good friend.”

“He thinks so.”

Seth gestured at to the white silk. “That still doesn’t explain the dress.”

“Apparently you and I have a very different opinion of what forever looks like. I thought I’d let you see my version. You left without saying goodbye,” she said, her voice equal parts accusation and pain. She glanced around at his family. He got the feeling their presence was holding her back from really tearing into him. What the hell had he done to piss her off?

“I wrote a note. I explained why I had to come home, Jody.”

She frowned, angrily. “No. You didn’t. There was no note.”

Seth was confused, then a light went on and her attitude suddenly made sense. Shit. If she didn’t see the note, then she must’ve thought he’d left her.

Christ. No wonder she hadn’t called. Yet here she stood, swallowing her pride and setting herself up for possible rejection. She was one of the bravest women he’d ever met.

“Oh God, Jody. I’m so sorry. I swear to you I left a note on the kitchen counter. At the cabin. I told you my family needed me and that I had to leave. I said the two days were up and the decision was yours to make. I begged you to choose me.”

She was silent for several moments. Her face betrayed so many emotions, all tumbling one after another—he couldn’t keep up. Anger, confusion, relief, hope.

Then, she smiled. “You begged me?”

Sam laughed and Seth threw his younger brother a dirty look. “Let’s just say I asked emphatically.”

Jody’s grin grew. “I think I like the sound of begging better.”

JD snorted. “Dear God, son, you need to marry this one.”

Seth chuckled, his father’s words reminding him that his family was probably wondering what the hell was going on. He hadn’t mentioned Jody to anyone, not even Silas. There’d been too much to consider with JD for him to unload his secret fears about losing the love of his life to anyone. “You’re right, JD. I do.”

Jody walked closer and some of the tension drained away from her face. When she was right in front of him, she stopped. There was still something holding her back. “I was afraid when you left without a word that I’d—”

She glanced around at their audience.

Seth didn’t take his eyes off her. “Afraid you’d what?”

She lowered her voice. “Gone too far. When I tied you to the bed.”

“Oh fuck, yeah,” Silas said. “You definitely need to marry her.”

Seth laughed and ignored his brother. He raised his hand and touched her face. He’d been fighting the impulse to drag her into his arms since spotting her in the doorway. “Christ, Jody. I love you. I love your sassy, smartass comments. I love the way you lose your inhibitions when you drink, though I can promise you’ll never do tequila shots with anybody but me. I love how independent and smart and loyal you are. You’re the only woman in the world for me and if you wanna tie me up every night for the rest of our lives, so be it.”

As he finished speaking, he bent down on one knee as Jody—and his mother —gasped. He took her hand in his as he looked into his beloved’s beautiful face. He quickly spotted a tear in her eye. “I love you, Jody Kirkland, and I wanna marry you. Wanna tie myself to you in the most binding, forever way possible.”

She sucked in a breath that sounded suspiciously like a small sob, and then she nodded. “I want to tie myself to you too.”

He kissed her hand, rising quickly to seal the deal with a stronger sentiment. He claimed her lips, only vaguely aware of the squeals of delight from his mother and Lucy, the loud, joyful laughter of his father and brothers.

“Well, hot damn,” JD said. “Looks like we got a wedding to look forward to.”

His father’s words permeated the lust consuming him and he pulled away, suddenly concerned. Jody blinked in surprise at his quick retreat.

“I wanna get married right away,” he said, realizing time wasn’t on his father’s side. There was no one he wanted at his wedding more than JD. “No long engagement.”

Jody laughed and pointed to her dress. “Sweetheart, if there was a minister here, I’d marry you tonight.”

“Oh no,” Vicky cried out, rushing over to where he and Jody stood. “I want a proper wedding. We can hold it right here at the ranch. Lots of flowers and friends and a big-ass party afterward.”

Jody turned to Vicky, grinning. “That sounds terrific.”

Vicky paused in her planning, realizing she was putting the cart before the horse. “Hell, darlin’, here I am organizing your wedding and I haven’t even introduced myself. I raised my son to have better manners, but it’s clear he’s a wee bit too distracted tonight to do the introductions himself. I’m Vicky Compton, Seth’s momma.”

Jody reached out to shake his mother’s hand, but Vicky shook her head, reaching out instead to envelop Jody in a big hug. “Nope. None of that,” Vicky said, tightening her grip. “You’re gonna be my daughter soon. And given what I’ve just seen here tonight, I’d say you and I are gonna get along real good.”

Seth watched Jody return the embrace and saw the first tear fall. When they parted, Jody quickly swiped at her damp cheek. “I’m Jody Kirkland.”

“Kirkland?” JD asked, coming to stand beside his wife. “Thomas’s little girl?”

Jody nodded.

“Well, now, I’ve had the opportunity to talk to your daddy quite a few times over the years. Great man.”

Jody smiled, proudly. “Yes, he is,” she agreed, accepting JD’s hug.

Seth introduced the rest of his family as they each took turns hugging his bride-to-be, welcoming her to Compass Ranch.

Finally, his parents and brothers returned to the dining room, so that he and Jody could be alone.

They grabbed her suitcase out of the car, and Seth carried it to his bedroom. She studied his childhood room as he shut and locked the door behind them.

“Nice room,” she said.

He walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist, his fingers rubbing the soft silk.

She laughed softly. “My father going to have a field day with the
I told you so’s
.”

He pressed a light kiss on the top of her head. “What do you mean?”

“He said you’d never leave me, that your sudden disappearance would be easily explained and that I’d misunderstood.”

He turned her, bending down to kiss her. “I’m so sorry about that damn note. I don’t understand—”

She placed her finger against his lips. “It’s okay. We’re here now. Together.”

Her words, though wonderful, reminded him of why they were in Wyoming.

She studied his face, a frown creasing her brow. “What is it? What’s wrong?”

He blinked, amazed at how astute she was. Having her here was the answer to a prayer. He’d felt alone and adrift for days, trying to come to terms with his father’s illness. Now that she was with him, the cracks in his composure widened. He swallowed, unable to speak.

“Damn,” she whispered, turning quickly. “Take this silly dress off me. It’s too bulky. I need to be closer to you.”

He unzipped the dress, watching as she pushed it off. Stepping out of the voluminous material, she took his hand in hers. She was wearing only a bra and panties, but even that glorious sight couldn’t wipe away his fears, his pain.

“Tell me. Say it fast. It’ll be easier. Daddy said you came home because of a family emergency. I thought it was because of Silas, but he looked fine just now.”

“My father is dying,” he said, the words shattering him.

She didn’t say a word. Simply led him to a chair in the corner and pushed him into it. The second he sat down, she climbed onto his lap and gathered him into her embrace. She wrapped her arms about his neck and held him tightly.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered.

Her words were his undoing and he let the tears he’d held at bay fall. Men weren’t supposed to cry, he’d always heard that, always been able to abide by that unspoken law. This time he couldn’t. He was with Jody and she’d never judge him as weak, never think less of him for falling apart. He locked his arms around her waist and let her comfort him as the tears fell.