Chapter 14 #2
Her gaze matched her wistful smile. “For me, it was when he hijacked the announcer’s speaker system and asked me to marry him on a gorgeous fall day a million years ago.”
“What? When was this?”
“It was after he won one of the local rodeos. There was a packed crowd. He proposed in front of all the people in the stadium.”
I couldn’t believe I’d never heard that story. “So you told him yes?”
“Oh, heavens, no. I was eighteen years old and my father would not have approved. Besides, I had two other boys I liked at the time. I made him wait four years until after I returned from college. My father only allowed him to visit me when I returned for Christmas break and summer. As you well know, your dad isn’t a patient man. ”
“You’re kidding me?” No, he wasn’t. A trait I’d inherited.
“My dad, your grandfather, had a very hard head, but he wanted to make certain I had an opportunity to go away to college and experience all that life had to offer.”
“That’s why you encouraged me to go away to school.”
“I needed you to be certain what you wanted in life. Your father did too, no matter his blustery actions.” Her smile was mischievous. What was she up to?
“And Dad waited?”
“Not patiently, but he did. Granted, he was a little rough with a guy I dated while away at school, but I put him in his place. He never liked to follow the rules. Don’t tell your dad, but that was another reason I adored him. He was such a bad boy.”
“Mother!”
“Don’t you ‘Mother’ me,” she teased. “The time away was exactly what I needed to accept what I already knew in my heart.”
Nodding, I tried to remind myself he did have some redeeming qualities. “Daddy is pushing for rodeos in Missoula, hoping to fill the resort he invested in. Wade confided in me.”
“I’m glad he did. Wade is as worried as I am that your father bit off more than he could chew.
I wasn’t happy at first with the idea, but I think he’s trying to recreate magic.
Don’t be too hard on your dad. He does love you and the only thing he ever wanted was to have you working with him.
I know. However, as I said to you before, you deserve to have your life so this must be your decision.
” She squeezed my arm before moving toward the kitchen.
If I didn’t know my mother better, I’d say she was in on a little scam to try to keep me here permanently.
“Mom. Do you believe in love at first sight?”
I’d always adored her laugh. “Absolutely. I fell in love with your father at fourteen and even after all the crazy things he’s done over the years, I never really fell out of love.
Getting close to another man allowed me to see just how much I cared about your dad.
I think that’s a little bit like you. Now, isn’t it?
” She tipped her head, even arching her eyebrows. “David was your testing ground.”
I laughed almost nervously. I’d never been able to keep a secret from my mother. “I know what you’re thinking and that was a long time ago. We’re both different people now. David helped with the loneliness.” The admittance was strangely easy. “Isn’t that sad.”
“That’s what happens when you fall hard for someone. You need to ask yourself a very important question. Did the eight-year absence make the heart grow fonder? If it did, I think you have your answer.”
She winked before disappearing into the kitchen. My mother was the instigator of good trouble.
As heat shifted across my jaw, I groaned and fanned my face. I wanted to make a strong appearance with my dad, but my mom was right.
After taking a few deep breaths, I headed to my father’s office. He was obviously waiting for me. How did I know? When he pulled out his office putting green, he was nervous.
“Hi, Dad.” My mother’s words about him reverberated in my mind, which tempered the anger.
He didn’t bother looking up, taking his time to take a shot, his concentration as if trying to win a competition.
That he missed.
“I’m glad you’re safe. I was worried about you, McKenzie.” My father was the only one who insisted on calling me by my given name more often than not.
His voice was gruffer than I remembered and from where I was standing in the doorway, I could tell he’d aged.
“It was harrowing, but it wouldn’t have occurred if the dams on Clark Fork River had been repaired properly.” There went my mouth again.
“And I suppose you blame me for that as you have everything in your life?” He finally lifted his head, studying me the same way I was doing with him.
He had a point. I had blamed him for everything in my life. “Well, you are a powerful influencer with the city council. From what I heard, the full repairs have taken a back burner.”
“Let me guess where you heard that. Your new boyfriend.”
As usual, my father was trying to inflame me. “Nice try, Dad. Axe Beckett saved my life. Maybe I wouldn’t have been in the dangerous situation had the repairs been made.”
“For your information, McKenzie, the monies were appropriated at the last meeting. There were months of discussion about which firm to hire. Infighting. I finally brought a recommendation to the table both sides could actually agree on.” Whether or not he was telling the truth was impossible to tell.
“Then perhaps I’ll take my concerns that they move expeditiously directly to the council at their next meeting. Two people lost their lives because of playing politics.” To my surprise, he was trying to convince me he’d changed his ways. It would take more than just words.
His laugh sounded as bitter as my words. “You might be surprised these days. Didn’t you hear about the special election? Two new members. One died. One resigned under direct scrutiny.”
“No, I didn’t hear. I’ve been busy with my career, Dad. What is it you want to talk to me about?”
“I’ll guess Wade already mentioned what I have in mind.”
Leaning against the doorway, I didn’t physically react. “He mentioned the stadium.”
“Something Missoula has needed for a long time.” His excitement was almost catching.
I was surprised my father was honest with me, at least to a point. As he explained the new stadium, he did so with pride. However, I had no doubt he was hiding certain truths from me. I could always tell when he was hiding something.
“Rodeos,” I muttered, already sizing up pros and cons. “So you’re asking me to help by talking with the rodeo associations and convincing them that Missoula should be on their roster for next year and every year moving forward.”
“That’s exactly what I’m asking. You’re an attorney. You can speak their language.”
When I laughed, I wasn’t doing so to make fun, but I sensed he took it that way. “They already have their lineup in motion.”
“Then maybe you didn’t hear that the Dallas stadium burned a few weeks ago.”
“Wow. No, I hadn’t.” That at least opened up a spot. “They would want proof of concept.”
“Understood. If we have a benefit rodeo that’s sold out, then they might see that the city can handle the crowds and the requirements.”
“A rodeo. What are you talking about?”
“We’ll highlight past stars on the rodeo circuit. A one-day event.”
With proceeds going to fund the investors. In truth, it was not a bad idea, but there was no way we could pull it off for months if not longer.
“And what about your issues with the city council?” I asked, even though I wasn’t certain why.
“They are considering pulling approval for the stadium itself. There are some issues with zoning requirements.”
“Let me guess. They were ignored.”
“Not ignored. Just altered.”
As with everything regarding my father, if he didn’t like the rules, he bent them.
Sighing, I folded my arms. “You’re not telling me everything.”
“I’m telling you what I know. The current council members aren’t sharing their reasons with me. I heard this through a buddy of mine.” He was already becoming agitated.
“Ah. What you’re really asking is for me to look over the contracts and approvals and see if they have a right to shut you down before you’re able to open the stadium to any form of entertainment?”
With a sheepish look on his face, he nodded. “I am.”
“And if I don’t, your investors will come after you for fraud. Isn’t that the case?”
He acted as if he was about to become angry with me. “You don’t understand the work I’ve put into this.”
“But you cut corners. Didn’t you? My guess is you didn’t have the required study performed as to how the stadium would affect the surrounding area. My guess is that you lied to just about everyone.”
“Don’t you dare talk to me that way. I’m your father.
I’ve put my heart and soul into this project.
Everything is on the line. Everything!” He slammed his hands on his desk, his face red with fury.
When he dropped his head, I was scared he was about to have a medical episode.
He sobbed briefly, something he’d never done in front of me.
“Everything. This house. The ranch. Everything I’ve worked for. ”
All the hateful things that had crossed my mind to say had suddenly disappeared. Shelved, at least for the moment. With no understanding of the depth of what he was going through, I realized he was more broken than I’d believed.
“Well, I’ll look over the contracts and all the information you’re willing to give to me. I’ll go as far as committing to providing legal pointers, but I am not making any promises.”
“Fair enough.”
“When is this event supposed to take place?”
“August first.”
I burst into laughter. “That’s insane; the timing is impossible.” I studied him and groaned. “You’re already set the plan in motion.”
The box tickets weren’t returned. They were shifted to this event because my father had already spent the money.
“Haven’t you?”
“I need this to work, Kenzie. I need your help. It’s difficult for me to ask, but I do.”
Un-fucking-believable.
“Pull the information I requested. That’s all I can promise.”
“Alright. I can do that. I’ll have it ready for you in a few hours. I assume you’ll be staying here?”
“I don’t know, Dad. I haven’t felt very welcomed.”
His entire face was pinched.
Seeing him this way was difficult, but I knew my father. He’d gotten himself in this position. I backed toward the door, furious I’d been talked into even trying to help. Another flash of anger was just as I’d expected. I certainly would never be allowed to have the last word.
“Stephen isn’t good for you. He’s a bad seed.”
“A bad seed? You mean the man who saved my life?”
When he waved it off, all the concern I’d felt earlier slipped away.
“Here’s the thing. I’m a big girl now. You don’t get to tell me what’s good or bad for me, Dad.
You treated Axe horribly for years, including accusing him of cheating simply because your bull rider wasn’t good enough.
Yeah, I heard all about it. And you know what?
He’s carried that with him for years. As if he should feel guilty for your accusations.
For some stupid reason, he wanted your approval, but you didn’t want to give that to him.
He was a goddamn champion and you acted like he was some thief.
Don’t worry, Dad. He has another career now.
He won’t be bothering with your great rodeo.
His injury prevents him from doing so, but I will say this.
That man was the best bull rider this entire state has ever seen, maybe the best in the history of bull riding.
Now he’s a hero and you can’t tell me otherwise. ”
I spun away before I said anything else. Goddamn, the man made me livid.
“He lost his nerve, Kenzie. That’s why he was injured. It was time for him to quit.”
My God. It was as if I’d never left home.
“Do you know why he lost his concentration on that fateful day, Dad? Do you?” I could tell he didn’t.
I dared look him in the face again. “Because his mother was diagnosed with cancer just before the event. He cares about his family like he cared about your son. They were best friends. I’ll venture a guess you’re the reason why they aren’t any longer.
You always interfere with people’s lives.
I don’t know the reasons for why you hate his family so much, but it just doesn’t matter.
If you aren’t careful, your own daughter is going to learn to hate you. ”
With that, I walked out with nothing else to say.
And the only thing on my mind was Axe.
Maybe my mother was right after all.
Absence could make the heart grow fonder.