The Stolen Suitor (23 page)

Jeremy had a gut feeling this was serious and maybe he ought to try being a decent brother for a change. He pulled out one of the kitchen chairs and sat. “What happened?”

Eric glanced up at him, his blue eyes dark with misery. He took a deep breath. “Billy has decided, as his son, I’m to get a piece of Big Basin. He’s got some lawyer drawing up papers now that’ll give me two hundred acres of it.”

Jeremy had heard that from Chris, though he was surprised it was happening so fast. “And you’re depressed, why?”

“Billy called Trix and me into a meetin’ before I could even talk to her about it and announced it just like that. Now Trix hates me. She fired me and she hates me, Jer. She thinks I set her up or somethin’, I don’t even know.”

Jeremy wasn’t terribly surprised. He’d always doubted Eric could get Trix Stubben to take him seriously. But he also knew Eric had really wanted it. He’d never seen Eric want something so badly, work for it so hard.

“I’m sorry about Trix. But look at the bright side. You’ve found out you really love ranching, you’re going to freaking
own
your own two-hundred-acre ranch, and you have a dad who’s alive and who wants to be around you. That’s all good, right?”

It was good for Jeremy too. If Eric owned his own ranch, he’d be able to make a good living and he and Ma would be okay financially. Then maybe Jeremy could leave, even though the thought of leaving Chris made him want to hurl.

“I know what you’re sayin’,” Eric said, “and I am… thankful. But what does it matter without Trix?”

The words were simply spoken and heartfelt. They surprised Jeremy. It appeared he wasn’t the only one who’d spent the summer falling in love.

“If you really want Trix, fight for her. Chris is out of the picture now, so she’s not seeing anyone.”

“She hates me.”

“Eric, no one can
hate
you. You’re not hateable.”

It was true, Jeremy thought. Eric might be lazy at times, but he was inherently likable. He had a good heart, all in all. Jeremy had never heard him say a bad word about anyone, no matter how much crap Henry Atkins had spewed in his presence.

“Well, Trix has figured out a way to hate me. And the stupidest thing is, I don’t even deserve it this time. She thinks I knew all about Billy bein’ my dad, and I was somehow usin’ her to get to him. But it’s not true.”

“Then tell her that. And keep telling her until she believes you.”

“She won’t.” Eric gave Jeremy a look he’d seen too many times. It was Eric’s
why bother
look, a
giving up
set to his mouth. Jeremy knew all about the weight that drew Eric down, made him feel like he wasn’t worth it. And it pissed Jeremy off.

“Listen: Don’t give up. You’ve come too far. Don’t. Just don’t give up.”

Eric stared at him, considering.

“Everything’s lined up for you, Eric. Just be sweet to Trix, be super nice to her, and she’ll come around eventually. You’ve got time. Don’t. Give. Up.”

Eric sat up straighter in his chair. His eyes went distant, and a slow smile spread over his face that was sexier than anything Jeremy ever wanted to see on the face of his sibling. “Yeah. Maybe you’re right.”

“There you go.” Jeremy was happy to see Eric’s mood improve.

He wanted Eric to be happy. He wanted Eric to have Trix and Janie. God, wouldn’t that be awesome? To see Eric happily settled with such a great girl and doing well? And with a dad who cared about him too.

And what about Jeremy? He wasn’t going to have some nice, well-to-do father step out of the shadows for him, like Cinderella. But that was fine. The one he’d had might have died in prison, but he’d loved Jeremy and he was a hero to Jeremy at least.

No, what Jeremy wanted was Chris—not for Ma’s sake, or Eric’s, but for himself. And maybe he’d have to stick around and prove that to Chris too.

Don’t give up.

“I’m still your brother, right? Hundred percent?” Eric said.

“Sure. Jerk-off.”

“Scribbler.”

Jeremy smiled, but his heart wasn’t in it.

THE
week after that terrible day at Billy’s house—the day she’d lost her mind and thrown herself at Chris Ramsey—was one of the hardest Trix could remember. All week, the ranch had been at loose ends. Hemmy was filling in here and there, but he was too old to get around well, and there was too much work. Why did it seem like there was way more work now than there’d been before she’d hired Eric?

Janie had been a pill all week. It wasn’t even like she was mad at Trix. She was just unhappy—unhappy, bored, and resentful deep down inside in a way that broke Trix’s heart.

Billy came over on Thursday and took Janie out for a long ride and picnic to give Trix a break. Before they rode out, he gave Trix a piece of his mind.

“Why on earth did you fire Eric? He woulda kept workin’ for you. Hell, you need him around here.”

“I don’t trust him,” Trix had said flatly. She didn’t care to discuss it.

“As far as I can see, he never did anything to earn your distrust.”

How could she tell Billy that Eric played them both? She knew he wouldn’t take kindly to her insulting his new son.

“Giving him those back two hundred acres was my idea, Trix, and you know you can do without ’em. I tried my best to be fair.”

Guilt dug into her. After all, she wasn’t Billy’s flesh and blood. He didn’t have to give them anything, much less the best part of the ranch. She felt ashamed of herself. “I’m sorry, Pops. Of course, Janie and I are more than fine with the main ranch. And I’m so grateful for all you’ve done for us. Truly.” She impulsively gave him a hug, and Billy hugged her back, the air around them speaking of loss.

Billy pulled back and shook his head. “I wish you’d reconsider about Eric. Ever heard the phrase ‘cuttin’ off your nose to spite your face’? You need the help around here.”

He started to walk away, but Trix had to ask. “How long has Eric known that you were his daddy?”

Billy turned and gave her a scolding look. “Mabe Crassen kept that secret so well, I’m not even sure her baby doctor knew. I just found out about it myself, and twisted Mabe’s arm to get her to tell Eric. And that there’s a fact.”

Billy’s tone convinced Trix that he, at least, thought that was true. She wanted to believe him, but she still couldn’t dismiss the coincidence that Eric had shown up on her doorstep wanting a job so recently. Unless, maybe, Mabe had known and Eric hadn’t? Had Mabe encouraged Eric to apply for the job for her own reasons? If only Trix knew for sure.

She sighed. “Thanks for takin’ Janie out today, Pops.”

“Always my pleasure.”

BY
dinner time on Friday, Trix was exhausted and plumb out of any reserve she had. Fortunately, Janie was quiet and ate her mac ’n’ cheese and chicken without making a fuss.

“What are you thinkin’ about, Bug?” she asked. She’d never seen her four-year-old so preoccupied.

“Pops told me that Eric is my daddy’s brother,” Janie said, watching her spoon go round and round in the mac ’n’ cheese.

Trix would have preferred to have had that conversation with Janie herself. But then, maybe Pops had figured Janie already knew. “Yes, I guess that’s true.”

“So he’s my
Uncle
Eric. Pops says that’s the way you say it: ‘un-
cull
.’”

“Yes, that’s very good. And I suppose Eric is your… your Uncle Eric.” Trix carefully carved off a piece of her own chicken and took a bite she didn’t really want.

“How come I didn’t call him Uncle Eric, then? How come no one told me?” Janie seemed both bewildered and annoyed. It was a reasonable question.

“Well… when Eric worked here, we didn’t know he was your uncle. We all just found out that he’s your daddy’s brother.”

“How could you not know?” Janie asked with a frown between her golden eyebrows.

Good Lord. Trix wasn’t ready for this conversation. Janie knew that “mommies” and “daddies” made “babies,” whether they were humans or horses. But she didn’t know the how of it, and Trix wasn’t about to tell her. Not for years, if she could help it.

“Well… I know you don’t remember your Grandma Polly very well, but she was your daddy’s mommy. And Eric has a different mommy, a lady Pops dated when he was young. And
that
mommy had Eric, but didn’t tell Pops about it until just a few weeks ago.”

Hell, it didn’t even make sense to Trix. She didn’t know how Janie was supposed to understand it.

“You mean, like Triumph has babies with different mommy horses?” Janie suggested.

“That’s exactly right,” Trix said, though she didn’t think Pops would appreciate being compared to a breeding stallion.

“Uncle Eric is Daddy’s brother, even though he had a different mommy?”

“Yes. Actually we say he’s a ‘half-brother.’ That means he has one parent who’s the same and the other parent is different.”

Janie’s face was screwed up with concentration. “So I hafta say ‘half-uncle’?”

Trix smiled. “No, Bug. You can just call him Uncle Eric.”

“Okay.” Janie smiled wide for the first time all week.

Trix felt a wave of relief, followed swiftly by a niggle of guilt. It was true, Eric
was
Janie’s uncle. Did Trix have the right to keep them apart? Maybe Eric’s affection for Janie was genuine, and obviously Janie wanted him in her life. It was Trix who was freaking out about it. But wasn’t that what being a parent was about? Putting the good of your child above your own interests and hang-ups?

Cutting off your nose to spite your face
, Pops had said. Maybe she was. And maybe she was stubborn enough to accept the difficulties she was causing herself by firing Eric. But it didn’t seem right to make her daughter’s life any harder.

Before she could say anything, though, Janie changed the subject. “Can I go to bed after supper?”

“What’s wrong? Aren’t you feelin’ well?” Janie didn’t look sick or tired.

Janie shrugged. “Just wanna. Can you read me Grumpty Bear?”

“Sure, Bug.”

Janie normally didn’t go to bed ’til eight thirty, but the rain outside had brought a chill to the air and an early darkness to the sky.

Actually, snuggling in her jammies sounded pretty good to Trix about then too.

CHRIS
took his time getting ready for his Friday night date. He decided, screw it, if he was going to be escorting Jeremy around town tonight, he was going to be
visible
. He ironed a grape-colored button-down shirt until it squeaked for mercy, and paired it with tight jeans, stitched white cowboy boots, and a white-and-purple long tie. He applied extra product to his front bangs to make them arch up like angels in ecstasy. And he slapped on a heavy dose of his favorite musky cologne.

He went into the front room to say good night to his parents.

His dad took one look at him and sat up straight in his recliner. “You got a date with Trix tonight?”

Chris braced himself. He’d known this was coming. “No, Dad. I’m not seeing Trix like that anymore. We’re just friends. I have a date with Jeremy Crassen.”

Silence. His mother and father stared at him from their respective chairs. His mother loved Western decor, so the chairs were plaid with oak wood accents, and the light above their heads was black wrought iron with deer on it.

Chris felt like those deer about now. Someone on the TV laughed, and it was so very wrong at that moment.

His father stood slowly, disappointment on every line of his face. “I thought you were going to turn your life around.”

Inside Chris, the floodwaters rose and he couldn’t hold his tongue. “I don’t need to ‘turn my life around.’ I’m gay. I’m a gay man. I thought about marrying Trix, yes, because I wanted to do right by John, and I wanted a family. But I came to realize that wouldn’t be fair to her or me. I still hope to have a home and a family, but if I do, it will be with a man. I’m sorry if that disappoints you.”

He hadn’t put it so bluntly to his father, ever. They’d danced around it plenty, pretty much since Chris was fifteen. But it was the first time he’d just put it right the fuck out there.

His father stared at him, his face bewildered, like he just didn’t get it.

His mother put her hand on his father’s arm. “Chris, you know we love you no matter what. Of course, we’re disappointed. But if you need to be with a… a man to be happy, then that’s what you should do.”

It was a big effort from her, Chris knew. She’d been so excited about the prospect of having a daughter and granddaughter.

“Thank you, Mom,” Chris said.

She came over and hugged him. When she pulled away, she was wearing a determined smile. “So you’re dating Jeremy Crassen? Is this new?”

“Not all that new,” Chris admitted. He couldn’t help the smile that snuck over his face.

Her own smile slipped into something more natural. “I don’t know him very well, but he always seemed like a nice, quiet boy.”

“He is.”

“He works at the diner, doesn’t he? Nora seems to like him.”

“Yeah, she does. Well… have a nice night.”

“You’d better put on a raincoat and take an umbrella. It’s getting stormy out there. The news said we could get up to two inches.”

Argh. So much for his perfectly styled hair.

Chris gave his mother a final hug, dug a rain slicker out of the closet, and left the house.

His father hadn’t said another word, but that was probably a win for both of them.

JEREMY
had arranged to meet Chris at the Merc for their Friday night date. They could have met at the diner, but Jeremy wanted to walk through town. And since the Merc was on the other end of Main Street from Nora’s, it gave him the perfect excuse.

He didn’t tell Chris that’s why he wanted to meet there, but he was pretty sure Chris knew, especially when Jeremy pulled into the Merc parking lot and got a look at what Chris was wearing.

Dear Lord. Jeremy had to pinch himself to believe it was real.

Chris was carrying a raincoat over his arm, and Jeremy was glad he hadn’t covered up all that pretty. He was wearing a purple shirt, a long fancy tie, jeans that fit him within an inch of his life, and white cowboy boots. His hair was all… Chris-afied. He looked like he was about to get on stage at a country music concert. Or a beauty contest for hot gay men.