Chapter Two
Resituating his Stetson for the tenth time since he’d slapped it on his head, Wyler strolled into the restaurant and was greeted by the blonde host standing at the podium. “Good evening, Mr. Ranks. Mr. Rose is waiting for you. Right this way.”
No matter how often it happened these days, he still wasn’t used to being greeted by name. Hell, everyone in Sagebrush Pine always greeted him warmly, but he never would have believed he could walk into some fancy restaurant and be recognized. Of course, that came with the territory when one married a Rose. People seemed to have a second job around these parts making sure they treated the reputable family with extra consideration. Sam owned the largest cattle ranch within a two-hundred-mile radius and an extensive portfolio of investment properties. Anything he touched regarding land turned to gold.
When Wyler first started working at Sagebrush Rose, he thought Sam and his daughters were a knock-off version of the Kardashians, but boy-oh-boy had Wyler learned a lot in the last year—especially the last four months since he’d married Liberty. His eyes had been opened wide to the hard work the family put into their legacy.
Sure, the family farmhouse had rugs and antiques that cost more than he made a year, but most everything in the farmhouse mansion had been handed down by generations of Roses. The first-generation of Roses had landed on the undeveloped Sagebrush Rose Ranch in eighteen-ninety-four. Each generation after poured blood, sweat and tears into making the beautiful ranch into what it was today.
The sisters were spoiled, no doubt, but they were also some of the toughest women he’d ever met. Talented. Business savvy. And could handle a horse better than most men.
The first week he worked as a hand, one of the horses had been spooked by a rattlesnake and jumped a fence. He was caught at the east pasture tangled in barbed wire and fought against it, only making things worse. Liberty had ridden up so fast that she’d lost her cowgirl hat in the wind and was pulling on her gloves before she even left the saddle. There had been an undeniable connection between her and the horse that calmed it enough that she could give him a shot of sedative so he wouldn’t hurt himself or one of the hands. Several of the hands had started cutting the wire away from the horse’s injured legs, but Liberty had demanded that everyone step aside and let her help her horse. After being freed, and the vet checking for life-threatening injuries, Liberty had begun belting out demands for the crew to immediately remove every single strand of barbed wire fence on the ranch and put-up cattle panel and pipe fences in the horse pastures. All the while she was covered in blood, some of her own and some of the horse’s.
Normally the expensive request would require Sam’s prior approval, but none of the hands had the courage to go behind Liberty’s back and get her father’s signature. She’d looked a bit like a warrior princess who’d gone to battle and shouldn’t be crossed. When Sam found out, he’d stayed silent too.
Wyler’s curiosity and interest had been tweaked then. He watched for Liberty, stealing glances every chance he could. There was something very different in her, unlike any woman he’d ever met. He admired the fact that she was the most ladylike tomboy. Not to mention the most beautiful. Eventually, stolen glances led to flirtation, mostly on her part. Wyler couldn’t have ignored the temptation if his life had depended upon it.
One night after the other hands had gone to the bunkhouse, Wyler was out by the river alone enjoying an evening by a fire under the stars when Liberty had unexpectedly come off the path, walked into the firelight, and stripped down to her itty-bitty bra and panties. She’d started for the water and got about halfway then looked back at him with a smile that could have easily knocked his boots off if he’d had a pair on. Her voice had sounded like liquid velvet when she said, “You coming, cowboy?”
Of course he was. He got hard right then and there like a schoolboy seeing tits for the first time.
In his defense, a man would have to be out of his mind to turn down an opportunity to be near a woman as beautiful as Liberty. From her tousled curls to her engaging eyes to hips that begged for a man’s grip, she was amazing.
He should have denied himself the temptation, walked away like an idiot, but the whiskey in his system had lent him enough bravery to deny all logic. He’d stripped down to his boxers and join her in the ice-cold water that didn’t even touch his hard-on.
She must have liked it because over the next month, he’d found himself, and his heart, right where they shouldn’t be. Balls deep in sweet pussy and pleasured to near-stupidity. She simply said “hard” and his body reacted like a racehorse coming out of the gate. He was caught up in an invisible wire like that poor horse she’d saved.
He wasn’t schooled in how clandestine affairs worked, but he was willing to learn everything there was to know., with Liberty’s guidance. When she’d mentioned marriage, she could have easily said “be a dumbass” and he’d gone right along all too willingly. He’d fallen for her like a dumbass would. Lock, stock, and barrel.
What had he thought would happen?
When she’d mentioned divorce, he’d been unraveled—the rug pulled out from underneath him. He’d been at war within himself, wanting to fight for her, but pride had rendered him silent. There came a time when a man needed to remove the claws from his balls.
Yet, truth was, he didn’t want to lose her. He had one chance and he aimed to tell her exactly how he was feeling. He would lay it all on the line and let her decide. He didn’t want a divorce, and if that meant giving up his dreams of ever running his own ranch then so be it. What he wanted right now, more than his next breath, was his wife. He wanted to make their union real. To wake up with her each day.
He patted his shirt pocket to make sure the ring tucked in the velvet pouch hadn’t disappeared. The keepsake had belonged to his mother, the only thing of hers that he had left. It wasn’t much, not a big diamond, but it meant a lot to him.
Sweat beaded his brow.
Would she even like the ring? It wasn’t what some rich fellow could give her, but Wyler knew all the money in the world couldn’t make a person happy. He would gladly spend every day treating her with love, kindness, and respect, until he took his final breath. Unlike how his father had treated his mother. Even as a kid he’d tried to protect her—swearing he’d never be like his father. When he passed away, Wyler had gone to the graveyard, the only one in attendance, and said goodbye to the man who had never fit the bill as a dad. The only thing he’d done for Wyler was leave him a plot of land that was worth a million which Wyler refused to do anything with because it meant nothing to him. It was the moral of the situation. Even today, he couldn’t believe the old man hadn’t sold everything he had for a bottle of whiskey and a temporary high.
Wyler wasn’t his father. He wanted a family. And if God willing, he’d be blessed enough to have a house full of kids. He wanted this with Liberty. The perfect unification of her stubborn character and his patience. Her beauty and strength and his determination. He’d consider his life a success.
His cheeks burned as a smile took up residence on his lips. Imagining Liberty carrying their baby made his heart heavy and his chest puff out some. He knew she’d be a good mother. She came across as hard knocks, but he knew it was a defense mechanism. He’d seen the softer side of her. Saw how she cared for her family and went to bat for them
He wanted to plant his seed inside her and create the family that he’d always wanted.
“Have a wonderful dinner, Mr. Ranks.” The hostess offered him a lingering smile and he guessed most men would be flattered at the uninvited attention from the young woman. Yet, as beautiful as she was, Wyler didn’t have any desire for any woman but his Liberty. The woman who’d shown him what he wanted—needed.
“There he is,” Sam’s booming voice rattled the chandeliers as he marched toward Wyler, extending his gnarled, leathered hand. Wyler gripped his father-in-law’s roughened hand for a firm handshake. “Liberty isn’t with you?” Sam looked beyond Wyler’s shoulder.
“She must be running behind.”
“Every time I complain about my daughters’ punctuality difficulties I always get, ‘Daddy, we’re being fashionably late’.” He snorted. “Whatever that means. What’ll you have to drink, son? You tried their bourbon yet? Made and aged right here in the U.S. of A.” Sam waved over the bartender and flashed two fingers.
“Is Trinity here with you?” Wyler searched for the young woman that Sam had been spending a lot of his time with.
“Nah. She’s studying for her bar exam. Wouldn’t invite her anyway.” He paused while the bartender set two tumblers onto the slick, black bar top and poured a liberal amount of whiskey into each. “You’d think it’d kill my daughters to treat Trinity with some respect and kindness.” He scratched his temple. “They aren’t the ones dating her.”
“Have you factored in that Trinity is younger than Liberty and Honor?” Wyler appreciated that he could have a raw conversation with the other man. “They’re just looking out for their father’s interest.”
“Ain’t a man allowed to have some fun?” Then his hard frown softened some. “No one will ever replace their mother. She was my everything—my world— but until the day comes when the good Lord takes me home to see her, I have to live on this earth each day with only a memory.” He swallowed some of the whiskey as if to ease the sorrow. “Trinity makes me happy. She doesn’t expect too much.”
Wyler slapped Sam on the back, feeling a bit sorry for him. Wyler understood loss and pain. “Then there’s nothing else to explain. If you’re happy, your daughters should be happy. I know myself that’s what they want.”
Sam downed the rest of his whiskey in one gulp and smeared the back of his hand over his mouth. “How are things going with you and my daughter? She seems a bit frazzled lately. Has she been feeling okay?”
With an exaggerated pause, Wyler finally said, “She’s been busy.”
“With the business. Yeah, I get it, but is she pregnant?”
Wyler nearly choked on his whiskey. Once he managed to get his hacking under control, he shook his head. “No, sir, she’s not pregnant.”
“Better get to working fast there, young man.” Sam slapped Wyler on the shoulder. “You should know by now that Honor and Liberty are always in competition and can never do anything alone. I’m relying on babies being one of those.”
“Can I get you another?” the bartender asked.
“I’ll take a beer.” Wyler thought it best to go lighter and keep his wits about him.
Sam’s cell phone rang. He checked the screen and sighed. “Ah, shit. I better take this call. Can’t get one evening of peace,” he muttered as he left the bar for the balcony.
Wyler sipped on his expensive bottled beer. He was more of a simple man and preferred domestic.
He felt a bit out of sorts. Confidence had never been foreign to him, but in his defense, he’d never asked a woman to marry him.
Through the mirror behind the top shelf of bottles he saw Liberty making her way into the dining room.
He turned to get a better look as she sashayed his direction in a crème-colored dress that scooped low on her chest and stretched across her curves perfectly. She garnered multiple appreciative glances from men, and women. Pride grew in Wyler. Not because she was the most beautiful woman in the room, but because he remembered what they’d shared last night.
She swept up to him in a breeze of spiced vanilla and morning dew. He loved her scent. He inhaled it deeply into his lungs. She leaned in and kissed him on the cheek. “I almost didn’t make it. One of the horses was limping and I had to call in Keller,” she said as she pulled away.
“I just got here. Sam is on the balcony taking a call.”
Her gaze narrowed. “Are you okay?” She set her purse on the bar and slid upon the stool.
“What do you mean?” Could she sense his tension?
“You just seem a little uptight.” Tendrils of hair had fallen from the neat style that showed off her long neck. She’d been outside working so much she had a scattering of freckles across her nose and on her shoulders.
“Liberty, I—”
“It’s okay, Wyler. Honestly, I’m a little nervous too. I’ve never done a staged breakup before. I feel like we have one chance to get this right.”
He rubbed the burden from his brow. “There’s something I need to speak to you about.”
“Sure, what is it?”
“Hello, honey.” Sam swarmed in and gave her a hug, drawing her away from what Wyler had been about to ask.
“Daddy, you best put that phone away,” she chastised her father. “You’re supposed to be away from the office.”
“The ringer’s off. Come and have a seat at the table.”
She scooted off the stool and slipped her fingers around Sam’s bent elbow. He led her to the table, pulled out a chair for her, and said proudly, “I just sold the property over on Redneck’s Ridge for triple what I paid for it.”
“Congratulations, Daddy.” She kissed him on the cheek then took a seat.
“Congratulations,” Wyler said, a little upset that Sam had the worst timing.
Wyler sat down next to Liberty and looked at her profile. Damn. He had to get tonight right.
“Where is everyone else?” Liberty said.
“Late as a Sunday, as usual.” Sam took his place at the head of the table. “I’m starving.”
Freedom, Justice, and Hope came strolling in with a flurry of chatter. Cave and Honor were close behind. While the sisters greeted each other, Wyler stood as Cave came over to give him strong handshake.
“I didn’t think we’d make it. I could eat a damn horse.” Cave dropped down into the chair and dramatically resituated his large, but lean, body in the chair that barely fit his frame.
“Tired?” Wyler asked.
“We have to get our wives on good terms again. I love Honor and there’s nothing I wouldn’t do to make her happy, but there are things I have no clue how to fix. Like raging pregnancy hormones. Hemorrhoids. And going to the bathroom every five minutes,” Cave shook his head. “You know how many times Honor has asked me for a divorce just this week?”
“Is this another competition?” Wyler muttered, shooting a glance at the circle of sisters.
“What?” Cave asked.
“How many times?” Wyler thought it best not to discuss his discussion with Liberty. Picking up his beer, he drained the bottle.
“Three times. The first time was because I accidentally left the toilet seat up and she got wet. Then I forgot to grab the right flavor of ice cream. Who knew there was a difference between brownie batter swirl and brownie batter marble. And hell, the third time? I still don’t have a clue. Maybe I looked at her wrong, or my tone was off. Nothing makes a strong man more powerless than not knowing how to take care of his wife.”
“You know she’s not being serious. You two are like butter and bread.”
Cave shrugged. “The pregnancy and the fact that she hasn’t spoken to Liberty in a couple of months is adding up. You know how those two are. They finish each other’s sentences.”
Wyler looked back over to where the sisters were gathered in a huddle. All five looked alike, yet there were unique differences, even between Honor and Liberty. He watched his wife play with a piece of her hair, twirling the strand around her knuckle repeatedly. It was a nervous habit. The planned break up must really have her in a spiral. Or the fact that she and Honor weren’t even acknowledging each other. Wyler knew Liberty missed Honor. He didn’t know quite what had come between the sisters, but they were both stubborn and prideful. One of them would give in, eventually.
When Liberty came to sit next to him, he whispered into her ear, “Why don’t you just speak to her?”
“There’s only one person who’s more complicated than me. And it’s not my father.” She took a sip of wine and her pert nose wrinkled. “That doesn’t taste right.”
“The expensive stuff never tastes right.”
“Taste this and tell me what you think.” She slid the glass toward him.
He took a gulp. “Tastes as disgusting as white wine always does.”
She sighed and pushed the glass away. “That was no help.”
He reached for his bottle and remembered it was empty, so he downed the contents of his water glass. “Liberty, I need to speak—”
“Can I have everyone’s attention.” Sam stood up, his commanding voice gaining everyone’s attention. “I’d like to first wish my lovely daughter, Freedom, a happy birthday.” He saluted her with his glass.
Everyone at the table, and surrounding tables, followed suit.
Freedom brushed her hair over one shoulder, looking a bit flustered. “Thanks, Daddy.”
“It has just been brought to my attention that Honor and Cave have found out that they’re expecting a baby girl. Congratulations to you both.” Pride shone in Sam’s expression.
Honor stood and went to give him a hug.
“Thank you, sir.” Cave shook Sam’s hand.
“They’re expecting a girl,” Liberty whispered as if Wyler hadn’t heard Sam.
Wyler leaned forward, seeing a mysterious gleam in her eyes. “Are you crying?”
“Of course not. I’ve got something in my eye. I need to go to the restroom.” She pushed back her chair and practically flung herself out of the room.
“Is she alright?” Freedom asked, a look of concern in her silver-blue eyes.
“Something in her eye,” he said as he kept his eyes on Liberty.
“Should I go and check on her?” Freedom started to get up.
“I’ll go.” He quickly stood up. Now was as good as a time as any to have that talk.
He strolled down the corridor toward the women’s restroom and knocked on the door. “Liberty?”
“What, Wyler?” she called through the door.
“Are you alone?”
“No. I have half of the restaurant in here with me and we’re throwing a rager.”
He could practically hear the eye roll in the tone of her voice.
Grunting, he opened the door, and peeked in. She was standing at the sink, and she caught his gaze through the mirror. “This is the women’s restroom,” she whispered.
He crouched down and looked for feet in the stalls. He stepped deeper inside, closed the door, and blocked it with his body. “We need to talk.”
She swung around, her eyes wide and glazed. “It couldn’t wait? I need to use the toilet.”
“Go ahead.”
“Not with you in here. What’s so important?”
Swiping off his hat, he pressed it against his chest, feeling like he’d been socked in the stomach. “Don’t do this, Liberty.”
“Don’t use the toilet?” One brow lifted. “You’re acting weird. And I guess I am too. I don’t know what is wrong with me.”
“Liberty, you and I…we need...” He took a step toward her.
“I’ve been so tired. Overwhelmed. In a brain fog,” she said, throwing up her hands in frustration.
“I need to air my feelings—”
The door came swinging open and struck Wyler in the back. He stepped aside and Justice entered, stopping mid-stride. She swiped her curious gaze from Wyler to Liberty. “Please tell me you two aren’t planning to do the bathroom bliss .”
“Yes,” Wyler said, unsure what bathroom bliss referred to.
“I can come back.” Justice started to back out.
“Justice, you came at the right time. Wyler has just asked me for a divorce,” Liberty blurted, wringing out her hands nervously.
“He what?”
“I what?” Wyler muttered at the same time.
“No, he didn’t.” Justice narrowed her gaze on him, and her mouth twisted.
“Yes.” Liberty moaned. “I haven’t been the best wife. I tried, but I failed.” She slipped Wyler a wink.
“I think you two need to discuss this in private. I don’t need to use the bathroom that bad.” Justice took a step toward the corridor.
“Wait! I’m leaving too.” Liberty spun to look at Wyler. “Fine! I’ll give you a divorce!” Liberty sprinted for the door. She looked back at Wyler, her eyes glistening. She was playing the part so well that she appeared sorrowful. “You’re right, Wyler. We should separate. You deserve better. I’m sure you’ll want to move out of the Manor. I only wish the best for you.” Then she was gone.
Justice, who was still standing in the doorway, exchanged a look with Wyler.
“Well, this isn’t awkward at all,” she said.
Wyler stood frozen on the expensive Italian tiled floor, trying to catch up to what had just occurred. He felt like he’d been slammed against the wall a few times then kicked in the face. Everything spun around him like a racing funnel cloud. The air was thin, and he couldn’t quite drag enough oxygen into his lungs.
Finally, his mind kicked back into gear.
“Justice, give your family my regards. I’m not feeling up to dinner.”