Texas Hope: Sweetgrass Springs Stories (Texas Heroes Book 16) (10 page)

Ian approached the ranch house he’d lived in all his life, dread filling his chest, dragging at his heart. His father had done everything for him, had raised him alone, had taken him up before him in the saddle when he was too young to help and could only have been in the way, had cooked for him, read to him at night, put him to bed. Later, when Ian had proven to be a gifted athlete, Gordon had never missed a game, in town or out of town. He’d been there for every school program, every milestone of a young man’s life.

Ian had no idea how his father had managed everything through so many lean years. He knew he was a fortunate son, one who’d never once had reason to doubt that he was important to his dad.

Which was why he’d come back from college instead of traveling the world as he’d craved to do. He’d majored in agribusiness so that he could help preserve this land that his ancestors had fought and died for. Many a night, reading about places he’d never visit, of course he’d felt an itch to roam, but he never would.

Because he owed his dad more than he could ever begin to give back. His dad had stuck by him when Sophia McLaren had cut and run. Now his dad was the one who needed care, after his stroke. He was getting stronger, but the doctors said he’d never lose the limp completely and wasn’t likely to overcome the weakness in one arm. Ian didn’t mind. He’d be his dad’s arms and legs and anything else he needed.

Thank God he’d stayed. If he’d been off globetrotting, he wouldn’t have been here when Scarlett showed up in town. Responsibility might have kept him here, but in return, he’d garnered the big prize, all five foot three of her, long black hair and Gallagher blue eyes. He grinned. Okay, maybe not so tiny now as her body ripened with his baby.

His baby. His woman. His land. Some days his heart was so full he couldn’t contain all he felt. He had all the riches of this world he would ever need.

His father hadn’t had the same luck. One of the reasons Ian had resisted Scarlett so long was that she’d been a city girl, just like his mom. He’d been sure she wouldn’t stay. Yet here she was, knee-deep in Sweetgrass, thriving and happy and oh, God, so loved and so loving Ian knew himself to be the luckiest man on the planet.

How could he tell his dad that the city girl who’d broken his dad’s heart was still alive and, worse, had borne a child she cared about enough to stay? He wasn’t bitter about that, not really. She meant nothing to him.

But his dad meant everything, and he honest to God could not figure out how to break the news.

Damn you, Michael Cavanaugh. Why did you have to show up?

“You gonna grow roots if you stand there much longer,” called his dad from the porch. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” he said automatically.

Gordon tilted his head, doubts clear as day. “Son, I’ve been looking at that face since you drew your first breath. I know when you’re lying. Is Scarlett okay?” Gordon loved Scarlett like she was his own.

“She’s fine,” Ian hastened to reassure.

“Something with the cattle?”

“No.” Ian exhaled.

His dad crossed his arms over his chest. “Well, I guess we could stand out here until I figure out how to read minds, but I’m not real optimistic. Spit it out, son.” As always, Gordon was calm and even-tempered. “I’m not getting any younger, and Ruby’s chicken-fried is calling my name.”

Ian wished he’d been able to talk to Dev first, but he didn’t dare wait. He huffed out a breath, planted his hands on his hips as he cast his gaze to the ground. “I can’t figure out how to say this.”

“Only way I know is just to get started. Guess you’ll get there when you do.”

Ian glanced off to the side. “You ever think about her, Dad?” When he glanced back, his father’s shoulders had tightened slightly.

“Her who?” But Gordon’s expression said he knew. “Is this because of the baby? You know Scarlett will stick. She will never leave that child, and she’s as crazy over you as I’ve ever seen a woman be. She’s happy here, son. She won’t do like your ma.”

Ian met his dad’s gaze. “Have I ever told you what it meant that you stuck with me, Dad?”

Gordon’s features softened. “You tell me every day that you work your tail off to keep this place going instead of living the life you wanted. You worried about being a good dad?”

“No. I’m really not. I learned from the best.”

Gordon shrugged off the compliment, but his eyes sharpened. “What’s this about, son?”

Son
. Ian met his father’s gaze squarely. “A guy showed up in town today.” Ian took a deep breath and went on. “He says he’s my brother.”

Gordon’s mouth fell open. “Brother?” he echoed. Then understanding dawned. “Half-brother. She had another son.” Gordon shook his head. “Well, now. Sure didn’t see that one coming. What’s he like?”

Ian took off his hat and scratched his head. “He seems like a good guy, damn it.” He huffed a short laugh. “He’s a veterinarian.”

Gordon’s brows flew high. Then he chuckled. “Wonder what his socialite mama thinks about that. She still living?”

“I guess. I don’t know. Don’t really care.”

“Of course you do. She’s your mother.”

“She’s nothing to me—nothing,” Ian growled, fists clenching. “I don’t want to know him. Don’t want to hear about her. Don’t care if he says he’s angry with her—” He barked a choked laugh. Looked up. “He says he never knew I existed until recently. She never told his dad or him that she’d been married or had a child. You believe that?” Ian shook his head. “So screw her. Just screw her. Dad, I’m sorry. I didn’t want to tell you, I just wanted him to go. But he came to the cafe, so I knew word would get out, and I didn’t want you to hear it from someone else.”

“What are you sorry about?”

“Because she—”
Hurt you
. She had, Ian knew that. Gordon had never talked about it much, but he’d also never gotten seriously involved with another woman. Ian had been scared to death of trying that himself.

Until Scarlett. Scarlett had been worth any risk. “She wrecked your life, Dad. Left you with a child to take care of when you were already busting your butt to keep this ranch solvent. You can’t tell me I didn’t complicate your life, and you could have pawned me off on someone else, hired help or something or—” He shrugged. “You could have taken it out on me because you were working yourself half to death—”

“You just hold on here, Ian.” His dad stalked down the steps. “Don’t go painting me a martyr. No man ever had a finer son, and I would have done a lot more than that to keep you safe, to see that you never again felt unloved the way she left you thinking you were.” His dad’s eyes sparked with temper. “I am the luckiest man in the world, and don’t you ever assume I have one moment’s regret for the choices I made.”

“Even her?”

His dad stilled. “Without her, I wouldn’t have you, now would I? I told you when you were worried over giving your heart to Scarlett that our breakup was as much on me as on her. I tried to make her into something she wasn’t, and I didn’t hear her when she tried to tell me how she felt. I didn’t meet her halfway. No telling what might have happened if I had, but…” He exhaled. “She was running for her life, I see now. I can’t condone her leaving you behind, but she really had no choice, Ian. There was no way on this earth I was letting you go. She tried, I told you that. But that was my line in the sand.”

“She didn’t love me, or she would have found a way to stay in my life.” Ian could never forgive her.

Gordon sighed and clasped Ian’s shoulder. “I wish I could have provided you with another mother, Ian. Maybe the hurt would have gone away. But I just never…” He shook his head and went silent.

Then he smiled, if faintly. “Well, I gotta say that’s nothing I woke up this morning thinking would happen. Where is he now? What’s his name?”

“I told him to leave town. I don’t want to know him.”

“Ian…” His dad squeezed his shoulder. “It’s not his fault. None of this is. You know how to get in touch with him?”

“I don’t want to, I told you.”

“Okay, look. You’ve had a lot to absorb for one day, and an empty belly doesn’t help. Let’s go get some of Scarlett’s cooking and table the topic for now.”

Ian eyed him. “You don’t seem upset. Doesn’t it bother you?”

“Is it gonna help anything if I let it?” He shook his head. “Ian, I made my peace with all this long ago. I knew I couldn’t be a good father to you if I was always stewing over what happened. It’s old news.”

But it’s not
. Ian didn’t like the mess roiling around inside him. He just didn’t know how to get a handle on it. “I was really worried about how you would take it.”

“I’m a grown man. I’ve handled worse.” A quick grin. “I’m probably more fine than Arnie right now if Ruby’s heard about the radio station.”

The relief of the change of topic was immense, and Ian gratefully took it. “Jackson says Big D wants to make it into an internet radio station, too.”

Gordon snorted. “The whole world able to hear Harley Sykes yammer on and on.” He laughed. “Well, son, you wanted to bring Sweetgrass into the public eye, you and Scarlett. Guess you have your chance now.”

“I think Scarlett was more interested in her cooking being the reason, not the freak show that seems to be brewing.”

“I hear they want to remote broadcast from Ruby’s.” Gordon’s sides were shaking. “I’d bet five bucks against that happening. Want a piece of that?”

“Sucker bet, Dad. My pop didn’t raise a fool.”

“He certainly did not,” Gordon agreed. “And I know you’ll do right by your brother, in the end.”

Ian’s grin dissolved in a frown. “I’m not so sure about that.”

“I am.” His dad clapped him on the back. “You’re a good man, son. You’ll do the right thing. You always do.”

Ian didn’t share his father’s certainty, but he took his first deep breath since he’d walked into the cafe earlier. His dad was, as always, rock solid.

And whatever this new brother or his faithless mother thought, Ian would make sure Gordon stayed that way.

Chapter Four

“P
ablo, we’ll get something to eat, then be back to take over. I’ll get you a plate, too. Thanks for taking a shift,” Mackey said. He turned to Michael. “Ruby’s serving chicken-fried steak tonight—let us feed you. You’ve worked your butt off, man. I don’t know how to thank you.”

Michael rolled the shoulder the colt had kicked. “It’s what I do. No need. I can just grab a bite on the way out of town.”

“That is not going to happen,” Rissa responded. “We’re putting you up for the night, and we’re feeding you.” She cast him a glance. “And you figure out your bill. Feeding you isn’t a trade-off.”

“I don’t think—”

Mackey spoke again. “Look, the man you saw is not the Ian I grew up with. He’s had a shock, but there’s not a better man anywhere. He just needs a little time.”

“It’s mostly his dad he’s worried about,” Rissa added. “They’re really close. Ian had lots of dreams and plans to travel, but he never left because of his sense of responsibility to his dad.”

“To the whole damn town,” Mackey amended. “Honest to Pete, Sweetgrass still exists because of Ian and Ruby. Neither would let this town dry up and die.”

“You don’t have to sell me on Ian,” Michael said. “I get it. I dropped a bombshell in his lap. And I honestly don’t blame him for how he feels. I cannot for the life of me understand the mother I knew abandoning a child. She and I have had some hard words over it.” He shook his head. “That’s why I need to go now, tonight. The man you’re describing deserves a break to absorb all this. Much as I want to know him, the next move has to be his.”

Rissa’s eyes were warm. “The two of you are a lot alike, I can already tell.” She rubbed Michael’s arm. “He’ll come around. I know he will.”

“What about his father?”

“Gordon never married again. I never even saw him with a woman when we were growing up. He really loved your mother, I think.” She shook her head. “Now that we have a son, I realize more clearly all he was juggling as a single parent. He could have dumped Ian’s care onto a housekeeper or something. He did have one to help around the house at one point, but Gordon never expected her to raise Ian. Somehow he managed to do it all.”

“So Ian never had a mother in his life after…” What did he call her?
Mom
felt wrong. It was like he’d stolen his brother’s mother.