Chapter 31
Chapter Thirty-One
GRACE
I t’s an impressive sight. The horseback duo. Hats. Winchester rifles and snow-dusted carts. Harry and Louisa trot past. Louisa waves as they head to the south fields today, bringing in the last of the cows and calves. Harry salutes me before they round the barn and slip out of sight.
I salute him back, leaning on the porch post, coffee in my hands. A chuckle sounds behind me. I turn back to find Mack in the doorway, cane in hand. The brace over his abdomen supporting his lower back. His dressing gown is open, and his winter PJs are crumpled. He had a better night last night. Still, this is a setback neither of us saw coming.
Work was understanding, giving me two weeks off to help him settle into a routine again. It breaks my heart seeing him like this after how hard he fought to return to his old self. His face sports a shadow of stubble, his hair messed up from sleep. The pain meds have him groggy and he wants to wean off them. I’m sure it’s too soon. It’s not even been a week.
Compared to the first time he went through this, he’s a different man. Not the angry, sulky version who had given up when I met him. If anything, he’s forging ahead too quickly. And I know why. He wants to protect me. It’s the sweetest thing I’ve ever felt. I pray the absence of calls and texts since the scare after class two weeks ago means Joel has moved on. Deep down, I doubt he’s done with me. His ego and malicious mind would never allow that.
“You’re up!” I smile at him. Even disheveled, he sends my heart into a rapid beat, something akin to a hummingbird’s. Maybe more so. I usher him inside before the cold finds him. He tucks me into his side as we amble for the sofa. With his arm around my shoulder, he steers me toward it. I help him sit before snuggling up beside him. “At least there’s more time for cuddles,” I whisper.
“Always a silver lining, Gracie.” Mack hugs me tighter, dropping a kiss to the crown of my head. “You should do some painting while you have the time off.”
“I want to take care of you. I want to be here for you.”
“You are, but I don’t need a babysitter, gorgeous. I do, however, need you to be happy.”
I huff a small laugh at him. His hands cup my face, tilting my head up to his.
“I’m serious, Grace. You’re it for me. My priority. You always will be.”
The breath I took lodges in my throat. I can’t pull in another. I open my mouth to say something, anything. Dumbfounded, I study his face. I knew he was in this for the long haul. But those words cement every feeling, every sliver of hope I have for the future I want for us.
When I haven’t responded, he pulls me into his chest. It’s one of my favorite places. Second only to having him wrapped around me while he’s inside me. We are joined, so intimately, the rest of the world simply ceases to exist. “You’re it for me, too.” The words are muffled.
He chuckles and releases one breathy word. “Good.”
My phone vibrates in my bag.
An alarm I set last night. I’m due over at R & R ranch to hand over six of my landscapes for Ruby to place in her cabins. Mack’s hold loosens and I lean back, taking in his handsome face. Looking this man over never gets old. “I’ll be back in a few hours. Need me to take anything to Reed? Bring anything back?”
“Nope. Just you.” His smile cracks and I rise up on my knees to kiss his mouth. He grabs my face. I deepen the kiss, tasting morning coffee and the man I love. Perfect way to start the day, if you ask me.
“I’ll be home for lunch, alright?” I say, pushing from the sofa reluctantly.
“Yes ma’am.” He stands with the help of the cane and follows me. I swipe up my bag and keys from the kitchen counter and throw them over my shoulder. Walking to my art room, I hug the six canvases, individually wrapped in brown paper, close. They’re large, more than an armful. Mack hobbles to the front door ahead of me, opening it for me. He walks out into the chilly air, robe still flapping, and holds Blue’s door open as I slide the paintings onto the back seat.
I wrap my hands around his face, thanking him with a kiss. “I love you, Mackinlay Rawlins.”
“Yeah, I know.” He winks at me and runs a thumb over my jaw before stepping back cautiously to allow me to open the driver’s door. I slide into Blue and start her up. She’s cold and splutters a little before finding her rhythm. Clouds puff from her exhaust as I shift her into gear and head down the driveway.
R & R is the place I would go if I didn’t have anywhere else in the world to be. It’s stunning. Every time I drive under the oversized sign at the entrance, it hits me all over again. It should be one of the great wonders of the world. Truly.
Pulling over next to the small gate by the homestead, Ruby waves from the porch. Already bundled up, she holds a tablet. Always working. So damn inspiring. She meets me at the car, and I haul out the paintings. “Morning, Mrs. Rawlins.”
I beam at her, knowing calling her that name is a double-edged sword.
She scoffs. “Morning, Gracie. I’m so stinking excited to see these. Are you excited to have your work out in the world?”
She is all but jumping out of her skin. The red scarf around her neck flings as she bounces on the balls of her feet, blonde hair dancing around her shoulders. Her warm coat is collar up. Skinny jeans and those tan-and-pink boots she’s always wearing finish her outfit. Always so put together. Ugh. Changed my mind. I want to be Ruby Rawlins when I grow up. Honest to god.
“A little, I guess.”
“Grace.” She slaps my shoulder, jostling the pile of canvases. “This is only the beginning.”
I chuckle. “Sure.”
She relieves me of half the canvases. “Come on, let’s hang these beauties on the walls.”
We wander to the first cabin. I hold my breath when we step inside and she unwraps the first one. It’s the view of the mountains from under the entrance sign. Big blue giants—snow-capped, of course—golden grass trimming the base. The rustic barns in the foreground.
“Oh wow!” Ruby holds one up. I worry my bottom lip through my teeth. She pivots on her heels to find the natural light, painting in her hands, eyes lit up. “Seriously, this is incredible. The detail, the colors. Just... wow.”
The front door snaps open and Reed wanders in. “Hey, our artist in residence!” He folds me into a hug. “Mornin’, Gracie. How’s that grump of a brother of mine today?”
I soak up the friendly hug for a heartbeat before breaking away. “He’s doing good. I swear, he thinks his recovery is a sprint. Much different from last time.”
“He has a better incentive this time.” Reed’s face is stretched by a megawatt grin.
Heat rises in my face. I guess it’s true. I’m glad Mack has someone with him all the way this time. But I would rather he never had to repeat this process in the first place. He’s gone through plenty. It’s enough already.
Ruby hangs the artwork on the wall and bends down by the entrance table, writing something on a piece of white cardstock. After she’s done, she slips it into a small black photo frame and walks to the wall by the painting, propping it up by my artwork on a shelf Reed must have made.
“Stellar work, Gracie.” Reed studies the work. “Jesus, it’s like standing by the front entrance.”
Ruby nods, throwing him a knowing look with wide eyes.
I glance at the price on the card in the frame and my mouth drops open.
“Five hundred! No, that’s far too expensive.” I wring my hands together.
“Actually, it’s not. I ran the comps. For the size. The technique and local talent element, it’s midrange. We could ask more. However, this is a smart starting point, which allows you growth, artistically and financially.”
For the second time today, I have no response. My breaths shorten as the bridge of my nose prickles. She’s put so much thought and effort into this.
Reed slings an arm over my shoulders. “I would pay ten times the price to have a Gracie original on my wall. You’re the talent around here, darlin’.”
Ruby loses it over his old-man talk. They all do it. Imitate Harry. It’s funny that he has such a unique way with people and words. They are so incredibly lucky to have a father like him.
“If you say so, Rawlins,” I spout back.
“Sure do, sweetheart.” Reed can’t even keep a straight face. I slap his arm, and he squeezes my shoulders before releasing me to his wife. “Catch you later, captain.” He tips his hat to me.
I am dying to know what the captain thing is all about. I make a mental note to ask Mack about it later. Ruby walks me back to Blue, offering a coffee, which I decline. I want to get home to Mack. Lunch and pain meds will be due when I do. I don’t want his pain to break through because I was lazing around, sipping coffee with my idol.
“Thanks for everything. Thanks for helping me with the art.” My words almost wobble. I am so grateful for everything Ruby has done for me. This whole family has done for me. I can’t imagine where I would have ended up if Ruby and Louisa hadn’t offered me a place and a job.
Just like that, the thought of not having Mack in my life steals the icy air from my lungs. Urgency thrums through my veins. All I want to do is get home. I give Ruby a rough hug, holding her as she chuckles and says, “You’re so welcome, Grace. We’re basically sisters at this point. You do for family. It’s a Harry rule. One I fully support.” She tightens the hug momentarily before pushing me to arm’s length. “I’ll let you know when your payload comes in.”
I scoff a laugh and drop into the driver’s seat.
All I want to do in this moment is bury myself in Mackinlay’s embrace.
Melt into him and never ever leave.
The sun is high in the sky when I turn Blue into the ranch’s driveway. The small tracks of my little VW Beetle have been marred by bigger ones. My brows drop. We weren’t expecting company today, and Harry and Louisa aren’t due back until after lunch. I can just see the front grill of their silver Chevy through the barn door.
Heart flinging in my chest, my gut sinks as I round the gravel drive and find the white Volvo sitting behind the trees before the house yard. Panic clawing up my spine and flooding my body, I scan the porch for Mack.
Passing the car, I see the last thing I want to lay eyes on ever again. Joel and Timmy. Boots on the dash, they sit in their car, smoking. Timmy drains a beer.
Jesus fucking Christ.
My heart jumps into my throat as Joel’s gaze meets mine, and he turns his head to keep eye contact as I drive past. It’s like the interaction happens in slow motion, sending my gut into a knot of sickness and splinters.
“No,” I breathe. Not this time. Not on our ranch. Not in my home. I slam Blue to a halt and kill the engine. He wants to do this? Bring it on, asshole. I get out of the car and walk into the yard as if I hadn’t seen him. I open the front door, and Mack is asleep on the sofa. He must not have answered the door.
Maybe I can have those two losers gone before he wakes up. He doesn’t need this kind of stress.
I walk back through the front door, ready to set them straight. To tell them to leave and never look back. I close the door behind me with a soft click, and when I turn back to the yard, I find Joel gripping the stair rail with one hand. His strung-out eyes meet mine.
Dammit.
“Graceless. You know, this town put up a good fight, trying to hide you from me. But here’s the thing, I’m smarter than them. Than you . You’ve got nowhere left to run. Time to go home.”
“I’m not going anywhere with you. Leave, and don’t bother coming back. Ever.”
I square my shoulders back and set my jaw, like that will make my words pack more punch.
He takes a step moving onto the first tread. “Yeah, you realize you belong to me . You don’t belong here.” He waves a hand around and leans forward.
I step back.
Sliding my arms crossed, I think of Louisa, Ruby. Addy. Every woman in this wonderful family who owns their life. Doesn’t take shit from anyone, least of all a pathetic excuse for a man like Joel. “Listen to these words because they’re the last you’re getting from me: We are over. Leave. Now.” My words are a growl.
Something thumps inside.
Shit.
Please stay asleep, baby.
Joel closes the distance between us until he towers over me. The tang of stale cigarettes and old bourbon hits me. I recoil and put space between us. I grit my teeth, grinding my molars before tilting my head to meet his bloodshot gaze. “Get away from me. Get out of Montana. I’m not yours. I never will be, ever again.”
He rubs a hand over his chin and scoffs a manic laugh.
The door opens behind me.
Sweet Jesus, no.
Joel backs up a step. His face splits with a smirk. “Oh, now I see how it is.”
The guttural raw sound leaving Mack sends goosebumps over my skin. He hobbles over the threshold on his cane.
“The fuck off my property, asshole.”
The vein in his neck thunders. His knuckles are white around the stick.
Something is clip-clopping toward the house, but the sound is drowned out by the blood now thundering through my head. Rage swells like wildfire in my core. I step in front of Mackinlay. I shove Joel with one hand, hard. “Leave.”
He cackles. “After you.” He waves an arm toward the car, his movement sloppy.
“Never.”
His head snaps down as his lip curls up with a growl.
His hand slams around my throat.
“Fuck you, bitch. You come with us, or we torch this whole fucking joint, with your loser of a fuck buddy inside.”
The loudest crack splits the air.
Every head swings toward the sound.
I smack his hand from my throat, breathless as fire flings into my veins with his cruel words. It’s all I can do to keep my gaze on the source of the sound. Rifle. Horse.
Louisa sits on her black horse, her rifle still pointed at her target. The Volvo’s trunk. Timmy flies out of the car in a tangle of limbs, curses tumbling from his mouth.
“She asked you to leave. I suggest you do as she says, son.” Louisa trains the rifle on Joel and cocks the lever in one fluid motion. Her face is stone, black hat tilted so she can find her aim. Gaze homed in on Joel.
Harry sits on his horse, hands resting on the pommel, reins rolling through his fingertips. The epitome of calm. His gaze is set on me. One the protector, one the fighter. I huff an elated but surprised chuckle as emotion clogs my windpipe.
“What the fuck?!” Joel stumbles down the stairs.
Louisa jerks the rifle toward the car.
He turns back to me and points with a dirty finger. “This isn’t over, Grace. Enjoy your damaged boyfriend while you can. Your days here are over.” He pushes through the gate. Louisa’s horse steps forward, closing in on him as he slips into the Volvo. He starts it up as Timmy clambers back inside, winding his window up, like it will help him. The idiot.
“Not over, Graceless!” Joel roars as the car spins out on the gravel and barrels along the driveway.
The first breath I take burns as I turn back to Mack. He’s gripping the doorframe, his cane fallen to the floor. I didn’t hear it fall. My hand flies up covering my mouth. I shake my head. He hobbles, eating up the distance between us.
Joel called him damaged .
The piece of my heart that tore with the comment sinks to the depths of my soul. Mack’s hands have me safe against his chest before I take my next breath.
“Sweet Jesus, I’m so fuckin’ proud of you, Grace.”
I close my eyes, letting the fear, the anger, the wounded part of me over Mack having to bear any of this, fade away.
As soon as it’s gone, the reality that this really isn’t over hits. Joel isn’t going to let this go.
And now, I have everything to lose.